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July 31, 2005

Fantasy Football Forecast: RB Ratings

The lifeblood of any legendary fantasy football team has always been the running back position. Sure, having a great QB stat hound is a great conversation piece for that braggadocios owner in your league who waxes poetically each week about Peyton Manning's six touchdown passes, but is conspicuously silent three weeks later when his star QB endures a two-point performance on the strength of four interceptions and 180 passing yards.

Alas, the running backs, when selected with care and attention to detail, provide a steady supply of points that can be counted on week in and week out. Many a fantasy owner has rued his/her first-round pick of a QB and second round WR selection. Without the stability of solid running back options, it is almost a given that your team will fall into the pit of anonymity, regardless of what league format you adhere to.

In the second installment of my fantasy football ratings, I offer up the top 40 ground-gainers to be had. In case you missed installment one, which rated the league's quarterbacks relative to fantasy football, I recommend checking out the article (for totally non-narcissistic purposes, I should add), as it presents a detailed, if not overly scatterbrained, explanation of roughly how my ratings are discerned.

With that, let's segue right into my fantasy football running back power rankings. Again, I've included each player's strength of schedule, as calculated by yours truly, in parenthesis aside each player's name. I should note that the running backs list includes the strength of schedule relative to the opponent's run defenses, whereas the QB ratings included the combined (pass/run) strength of schedule. Additionally, after each entry you'll find projected 2005 statistics (again, based on my analysis formulas and methodology, described in my "Rating the Quarterbacks" article).

1) LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers (21)

Surprise, surprise. As inadequate as any explanation given in regards to L.T.'s exceptional talent is, it would be remiss of me to simply list his name as the top-rated rusher and to not offer any insight as to why. Tomlinson is one of a dying breed in today's NFL — a three-down back who can hit you between the tackles and at the goal line, as well as in the open field. Add to that Tomlinson's unequaled value in the passing game and you have yourself the best overall player in any fantasy draft.

With San Diego's resurgence, the difficulty of L.T.'s schedule is not as large a negative as with most any other skill position player because he has proven year-in and year-out that he'll get his, regardless how bleak the outlook. If he's not a top three pick in your draft, pick up your things, go home, and find yourself a real league.

(2005 projected stats: 1,406 rushing yards/65 catches, 506 receiving yards/19 TD)

2) Priest Holmes, Chiefs (30)

I can hear it now. "How can you possibly have Priest Holmes rated this high — the guy is always hurt! And with Kansas City's schedule — fogitaboutit!" Well, the man played in eight games last year and scored 15 touchdowns. His 111 yards per game was second to, well, nobody. As horrifying as his schedule is, Holmes does have a dominating run blocking set of offensive linemen in front of him and need only be given a small crease for a split second to really make an impact on a game.

If you are in the unenviable position of picking third or fourth in your draft and Tomlinson and Manning are off the board, take Holmes and plan on reaching a bit in round five or six for his backup, Larry Johnson (see below). If he does manage to stay healthy for 16 games, you can all but engrave your name on your league championship plaque now and if not, he'll give you the best 10-14 games of any back in football.

(1,120/59, 457/20)

3) Tiki Barber, Giants (14)

I have to admit, after all the number crunching, I was as surprised as anyone to see this name so high on my value list. But, as I've said before, the numbers don't lie and Barber is as good a two-way threat as there is coming out of the backfield. With Tom Coughlin's passion for power running and scare-you-to-death approach to coaching, Barber has managed to learn how not to fumble and showed last year that he can take a beating and keep on ticking.

While I personally wouldn't draft Barber in round one, that's more a matter of preference than it is an edict of fact and I wouldn't be honoring the integrity of my list if I recommended anything less than a top-10 pick being used on Tiki.

(1,269/81, 630/14)

4) Domanick Davis, Texans (6)

Though I'm from Houston (not originally, of course — I'm a Mainer by birth), this had nothing to do with my high rating on Davis nor did it factor in my equally lofty ranking for his QB David Carr. Houston is a team on the rise and Davis, when 100%, is a deadly weapon to have. Look for Davis to replicate last year's numbers with a marked increase in touchdowns, as smart money has the Texans offense putting many more points on the board than most would anticipate.

Domanick, like the others in my top four, supplements his running prowess with a proven effectiveness in his team's passing offense. D-squared should be a top-10 pick in any league format, and if he happens to be sitting around early in the second round, try not to pee yourself and snatch him up quickly.

(1,246/74, 578/14)

5) Jamal Lewis, Ravens (10)

One of the three one-dimensional backs in my top-10, Lewis is looking to prove all of his detractors wrong. If memory serves, the last time he came out with a chip on his shoulder was 2003, and we all know what that year had in store for Jamal. The Ravens have a weakened offensive line, but one that underperformed last season (read: it will improve) and his battering ram style of running mixed with exceptional size-to-speed ratio makes Lewis an easy pick as you approach the back end of the first round, even if he has zero contribution in Baltimore's feeble passing game.

(1,470/19, 149/16)

6) Shaun Alexander, Seahawks (5)

Another that I would classify as one-dimensional (though he did post 4 receiving touchdowns a year ago), Alexander is a bit of an enigma. His attitude is annually on the wrong side of the surly-scale, yet he continues to be one of the most consistent scoring threats this side of Wilt Chamberlain (read into that what you will).

The more concerning issue surrounding Alexander is the undeniable reality that his team's window of opportunity is quickly closing, and an unhappy player with a bad attitude playing for a sub-.500 team is never a good mix and could ultimately effect the last handful of games he plays this season. Still, the man is a touchdown machine and should be an easy first-round selection to make.

(1,418/23, 178/16)

7) Willis McGahee, Bills (27)

For all the bad things you will read in my future NFL-related articles about Buffalo (I am, after all, a proud Dolphins backer), I can't possibly say enough good things about McGahee. He has big play potential to spare and, even though he is cursed with one of the harder rushing schedules, his grit and skill make him a safe play, regardless of his competition's dossier. With little-to-no depth at the position behind him, the only question facing Willis will be if he can stand up to a full 16 games of steady pounding.

McGahee is a very safe early-to-mid second round selection, but be careful not to jump on him to quickly, as you'll be hard-pressed to pick one of his backups later in the draft to protect your investment. Let that be another of your league's owner's problems, not yours, but don't hesitate on him if he's still there with your second pick in the draft.

(1,185/53, 409/14)

8) Julius Jones, Cowboys (11)

While this may be a wee bit high for Julius, his talent shined brightly once he shook an early rash of injuries. The Tuna loves hammering his backs with heavy workloads, which is a big red-flag for a relatively injury-prone young halfback, but it should be noted that he more than handled just such a task throughout the second half of the season a year ago. Jones should also be able to contribute in the passing game, assuming that Drew Bledsoe stays upright long enough to get him the ball.

The one major drawback of a player like Jones is the possibility that his veteran coach will spare him some abuse inside the five-yard line, which would cut into Jones' touchdown potential. Still, if you can manage to make Jones your number two running back by picking him late in round two or early in round three, you're in very good shape and shouldn't waste a minute thinking about the selection.

(1,337/24, 188/13)

9) Ahman Green, Packers (29)

Green is clearly not the slam dunk pick he would have been two or three years ago, but he is still a multi-skilled weapon who should not be ignored. Eventually, the promising Najeh Davenport will cut into his workload, but that day has not yet come and, despite playing a brutal array of run-stuffing defenses, you could do much worse than Ahman Green. Again, recent history suggests that he will be used less and less inside the 10-yard line, but he is still a worthy of a second round choice.

(1,159/47, 365/8)

10) Corey Dillon, Patriots (24)

Dillon had somewhat of a rebirth last season in New England, and nothing that has transpired since February's title game indicates that this trend will not continue. The Pats will be business as usual, making Dillon the beneficiary of a dozen or so goal line opportunities and a valuable asset guaranteed to see plenty of action regardless of field position. Dillon's value is somewhat tempered by his aging body, which did show signs of breaking down at times last year, and his lack of value in the passing game, but he is tough and is playing with a passion that was missing in Cincinnati, which makes him a great second-round option.

(1,462/13, 99/12)

11) Steven Jackson, Rams (4)

Steven Jackson is one year away from being near or at the top of this list. His value is hurt by the presence of Marshall Faulk, who, even at this advanced stage in his career, will still command 5-10 carries a game and will also cut into Jackson's field time in third-down situations. The Rams have a relatively easy strength of schedule and even Mike Martz addiction to the pass shouldn't be able to damage Jackson's second-round value.

(1,350/51, 393/10)

12) Edgerrin James, Colts (15)

As strange as it is to say, Peyton Manning's brilliance actually lessons the value of Edge. James has not been the medium Tony Dungy has preferred for turning short yardage opportunities into points. This likely won't change, making James the least valuable 2,000-yard player in the history of football. For this reason, I recommend no earlier than a late second- or early third-round pick on James, which pretty much means some other poor schlub will snatch him up early and kick themselves later as they watch Peyton throw for his two- and three-yard scores.

(1,394/57, 444/7)

13) Michael Bennett, Vikings (9)

This talented Viking runner has never really been fully healthy, which is somewhat scary considering the aggregate numbers he's been able to manage on gimpy legs. If Bennett does, as advertised, emerge as the benefactor in Minnesota's running game, he should produce nicely. But, as is the case with James in Indianapolis, Bennett will almost certainly be pulled as his team approaches paydirt. For this reason, I'd slate him as no better than an early third-round choice.

(1,289/43, 336/9)

14) Deuce McAllister, Saints (26)

Another somewhat surprisingly low-ranker, McAllister has struggled to remain consistent. Speaking from experience, he has quickly become one of the most frustrating plays in fantasy football. As such, my advice would be to keep him off your chart unless he falls to round three, especially since Antowain Smith stands to take some of the short yardage carries from him.

(1,211/61, 473/8)

15) Brian Westbrook, Eagles (7)

A wide receiver trapped in a running back's body, Westbrook is more of a hybrid than any other player on this list. He regularly will lineup as a wide out in the Philly offense, which makes him a risky play at running back. Correll Buckhalter's health will ultimately play a key role in Westrbook's value, as the oft-injured Buckhalter is clearly a better runner than Brian. Still, 70-plus receptions is a nice insurance policy to have in your running back and even if he splits time, he's still good for 10-15 carries a game and 60 or so yards in addition to his contributions as a receiver. Solid third-rounder.

(797/83, 650/10)

16) Rudi Johnson, Bengals (17)

For all the players on this list that startled me when I started assessing their projected value, no player's slotting befuddled me more than that of the powerful Bengals runner. The Bengals look to have a very productive offense and Johnson is a cinch inside the five-yard line. However, second-year man Chris Perry will certainly get some action this season, cutting into Johnson's opportunities and third downs should belong to the versatile Kenny Watson. I like Johnson a great deal and would likely reach for him in round two, but to stay true to my rankings, I'd call him a firm third-round choice.

(1,296/9, 71/11)

17) Kevin Jones, Lions (20)

Another of the emerging players at his position, Kevin should have no problem keeping up with the other Joneses on this list (namely Julius). His value falters a bit as his wide out teammates Mike and Roy Williams stand to see plenty of opportunities in the red zone, but Jones is still a very solid third round prospect.

(1,226/23, 177/10)

18) Clinton Portis, Redskins (13)

I can't stress enough how sure I am of this slotting. It may seem low, but Washington's offense is a mess and Portis stands to either a) take an unholy beating and get hurt by midseason; or b) gain lots of yards, but not get many valuable scoring opportunities. Either way, let him be someone else's headache. Third-rounder on my list, but he'll go much earlier in most leagues.

(1,365/28, 221/7)

19) DeShaun Foster, Panthers (22)

Foster has frequented the injury list on every level he's ever played. That won't change anytime soon. Very good when healthy, but rarely healthy. An easy choice to make if he's still around in round four, but if you already have a couple of backs, pass on him.

(997/43, 336/7)

20) J.J. Arrington, Cardinals (2)

A player that would be much higher if he wasn't a rookie, Arrington is almost sure to beat out Marcel Shipp as Arizona's primary ball-carrier. Should be very productive, but will likely not be thrust into too many goal line situations until he gets his feet planted in the NFL, so his touchdown numbers will suffer. Still, if he's around in round four, well worth the risk.

(1,381/37, 289/3)

21) Curtis Martin, Jets (32)

A solid character and as good a back as I've seen in my lifetime, but time is short for this horse and he will soon be put out to stud (not bad work, if you can get it). Last season will look more and more like his last hurrah as this year rolls on, especially when you glance through their schedule. Take him if he's still around in round four or five, but anything earlier would be on the short end of the risk vs. reward spectrum.

(974/24, 186/9)

22) Kevan Barlow, 49ers (3)

A riddle wrapped inside a mystery located firmly within an enigma. Finally got his shot to be "the man" last season and promptly fell flat on his face. New management in San Fran may be just what the doctor ordered, so don't rule him out. A better bet would be to pray that the others in your league didn't read this article so you can snatch him up in round five, because with his schedule, he may flourish.

(1,033/34, 265/8)

23) Warrick Dunn, Falcons (16)

The touchdown numbers from last year are somewhat of an apparition, so don't be fooled into grabbing him early. T.J. Duckett was hurt and didn't get the goal line carries one would have expected, and this stands to change in 2005. Still, you could do much worse in rounds five or six than the diminutive Falcon starter.

(1,000/34, 266/7)

24) Lamont Jordan, Raiders (25)

Oakland's revamped passing attack should work nicely in Lamont's favor. Jordan is a very talented runner who has ached for this opportunity, and don't expect him to disappoint, but Zach Crockett and Amos Zereoue are still wearing silver and black, so you have to expect Jordan to lose out on third down and goal line duties. Round six would be a perfect time to pick up the unproven Jordan.

(1,061/46, 356/5)

25) Travis Henry, Titans (8)

With the recent acquisition of Henry, Chris Brown should slide down a rung on the depth chart. Henry will score the bulk of Tennessee's rushing touchdowns, which may be a relatively small number, but still is a very real advantage. Take him in round six, and look to grab Brown later on for insurance.

(1,024/10, 75/9)

26) Ronnie Brown, Dolphins (18)

Let's set the record straight once and for all. Brown didn't lose carries to Carnell Williams in college, it was the other way around. Like Westbrook, Brown is a gifted receiver and should see plenty of action split out wide in multiple receiver sets. Also like Westbrook, Ronnie should eventually lose short yardage opportunities to a better pure runner, in this case the wayward Ricky Williams. Still, Brown will be very productive and is well worth a sixth-round choice.

(825/54, 418/7)

27) Carnell Williams, Buccaneers (23)

Gruden loves this rookie, as well he should, but Tampa lacks the offensive fortitude to really pump up any prospective numbers for Cadillac. Still, assuming he wins the starting gig, Williams merits late sixth- or early seventh-round consideration.

(970/38, 295/7)

28) Cedric Benson, Bears (12)

The fourth of the premier running backs selected in this spring's draft, Benson perhaps has the toughest road to hoe. Ced should get ample opportunity to be the goal line back (which in Chicago, may or may not be a strong point), but Thomas Jones is a solid guy to have pushing you, and, in the end, this may be more of a platoon situation than any fantasy owner would like. Benson should be no higher than a seventh-round choice.

(1,116/16, 128/7)

29) Fred Taylor, Jaguars (1)

How could the starting running back that has the easiest rushing strength of schedule just barely crack the top 30? I told you, my ranking factors in games played — and there it is. Taylor is to the injured list what your local mailperson is to your mailbox — certain to fill it. Personally, following my risk vs. reward theory of fantasy football, I'd take Fred a bit earlier, but round seven will be where his stats place him come season's end, barring a miracle, so that's where I rank him.

(1,158/41, 321/3)

30) Jerome Bettis, Steelers (19)

The one major anomaly on this list, Bettis is a certain backup runner who is worthy of higher consideration than his starting counterpart (Duce Staley). Why? If you need to ask, you need more than this list if you have any visions of fantasy football championships in your near future. Look to grab The Bus in round eight.

(562/5, 40/11)

31) Larry Johnson, Chiefs (30)

See Priest Holmes. If you have Priest, you'd better reach into round six and take Johnson. If not, he's worthy of no higher than ninth-round consideration — unless you're a jerk and want to screw over your buddy who drafted Holmes.

(582/35, 269/9)

32) Marshall Faulk, Rams (4)

Sadly, the curtain is beginning to close on Marshall's brilliant career. Statistically speaking, this year will almost certainly be the last in terms of Faulk's steady contribution to his team. Unless you're a Jackson owner, taking Faulk any earlier than round nine is little more than wishful thinking.

(632/66, 512/4)

33) Tatum Bell, Broncos (31)

While I still contend that Mike Anderson, Quentin Griffin, and Maurice Clarrett will cut into Bell's production considerably, I can hardly justify having no Broncos back in the top 35 and Bell has the most upside. Look for Bell right around the ninth round — Denver's schedule is second hardest in football and Tatum has little shot of inheriting the goal line carries.

(908/8, 65/6)

34) T.J. Duckett, Falcons (16)

Part three of the "DVD" combination Atlanta rode to the team rushing title last season, Duckett is a horse who is faster than he looks, but less powerful than his size would indicate. Still, T.J. is a solid play and should be considered in or around the tenth stanza in any draft.

(614/10, 77/9)

35) Duce Staley, Steelers (19)

My projections have Staley gaining a 1,000 yards this season. But they also have him scoring one measly touchdown (thanks a bunch, Jerome). While I'm fully convinced Bill Cowher is a career fantasy owner of Bettis in a touchdown-only league, there isn't much we can do other than to hold off on drafting Staley until very late in the draft.

(1,119/26, 199/1)

36) Ricky Williams, Dolphins (18)

Ricky may move way up this list once his role (and, more importantly, his commitment and conditioning) is more clearly defined. He was a proven producer prior to his sojourn across the Australian Outback and, if he proves to be ready to play, will be a valuable touchdown threat on a team that stands to see several more opportunities to score this season. Watch Williams closely, but as of the writing of this article, he's a solid 13th-rounder.

(565/12, 93/8)

37) Correll Buckhalter, Eagles (7)

Westbrook's running mate in Philly could be a very nice steal for your team, if you play your cards right. Coming off an injury, Correll is likely flying beneath most prospective owner's radars. He stands to handle the bulk of the Eagles carries and should comfortably 40-50 yards a game on average. Look to grab Buckhalter as you near the 14th or 15th rounds, and grab him even earlier if you drafted Westbrook.

(825/27, 207/4)

38) Chris Brown, Titans (8)

Brown showed he could be productive last season as a rookie. He also showed that he could not be counted on to stay healthy or gain the tough yards. Alas, the ownership added Travis Henry, who will almost certainly, at a minimum, hose any ideas prospective Brown owners had of Chris having any touchdown value whatsoever. Snatch up brown late in the draft, unless you drafted Henry, in which case you may want to look for Brown in the 11th- or 12th-round for insurance.

(962/19, 147/3)

39) Thomas Jones, Bears (12)

Another backup who has some question marks surrounding his playing time, Jones may ultimately wind up the starter in Chicago. If he does, jump on him around round six or seven, but if the status quo remains as it is now and if Benson gets in camp sooner rather than later, wait around a bit and snag the versatile veteran in the late rounds.

(455/57, 441/4)

40) Rueben Droughns, Browns (28)

Another that is getting the benefit of the doubt in terms of his starting status, Droughns showed last season that he is an effective between the tackles guy and a solid fantasy football option. Still, William Green and Lee Suggs will almost certainly cut into his playing time, but Droughns stands to get the touchdown opportunities in close, though these will be limited on the sad sack Cleveland team with a rough schedule. No better than a late round pick.

(641/25, 191/5)

***

Depending on league formats, the number of running backs carried on a roster varies greatly. My rule of thumb, though, regardless of format, is to be sure your number one guy is someone you are very comfortable with. Beyond that, you can take some high risk vs. reward guys, but be sure that you don't have a team full of such players.

My draft netted me Priest Holmes (and yes, I did also snatch up Larry Johnson), Kevan Barlow (grabbed his rookie backup, Frank Gore), and The Bus, along with Marshall Faulk. Not the best of selections, but true to my strategy of picking a sure bet (Holmes) and a hunch (Barlow) and a couple of players that may wind up being steals (Faulk and Bettis).

Having stability at running back is paramount to your team's success. The best thing you can do is watch the preseason diligently, as injuries are a real factor at this position. Don't be afraid to reach for your primary runners' backups, keeping in mind the goal is to be able to field at least two serviceable backs in any given week.

Don't miss the QB ratings. Stay tuned as Matt Thomas brings you more fantasy forecasts!

Posted by Matt Thomas at 4:41 PM | Comments (0)

July 30, 2005

The NHL's Unanswered Questions

"If the game ends in a tie, a shootout decides the winner."

"If a player is called for fighting, he is immediately suspended for one game."

"There are no two-line passes."

“The game plays more like basketball, which might make it more enjoyable for a non-hockey person."

Lines pulled from the NHL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement?

Nope. What you just read are the basic tenets of Roller Hockey International, a summer hockey league that enchanted literally hundreds of fans during the 1990s. RHI wanted to provide the kind of goal-scoring the modern day National Hockey League failed to consistently deliver. And the roller league followed through on its promise — RHI boasted an average of 16.7 goals per game to the NHL's 7, and an average of 96 shots per game to the NHL's 60.

Did the emphasis on goal-scoring work? Well, the league lasted less than a decade, went through more teams than Drake Berehowsky, and is best remembered today for having convinced Bryan Trottier to play roller hockey and for franchises with names like the Atlanta Fire Ants and the Toronto Planets. So you tell me if it worked.

Now it's the NHL's turn to legislate against defense and physical play in the hopes that pucks in the net will turn into fannies in the seats or eyes on the television. (If and when the league gets around to television — still haven't gotten a call from Bettman on my "NHL on HBO" idea from last week. Perhaps his Hobbit-like fingers can't work the touch-tone keypad.)

Some of the NHL's rules changes for the upcoming season are, admittedly, good ones. Goalie pads will be reduced by 11 percent, meaning Jean-Sebastien Giguere will now simply look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy instead of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Tag-up offsides are back, which should increase forechecking and offensive pressure. And the league claims there will be a "zero tolerance" policy on interference, hooking and holding/obstruction — unless, of course, it's the last two minutes of a game, it's a playoff game, or if the Rangers are winning.

Some of the rules changes are, admittedly, bad ones. If you've read this column long enough, you know specifically which one I'm talking about. If you haven't, let me drop a hint: it rhymes with "blootout."

Some of the rules changes ... well, some of them have me just plum confused. I've read though NHL.com's section on the new regulations several times. I think there are some rules that need a little elaboration. Such as:

Icing the Puck — One of the most subjective calls in the NHL is when a referee or linesman decides that an iced puck is actually "playable" for the defensive team, and icing is waved off. There's no standard for this call — it's inconsistently enforced, and often misapplied.

What has the NHL done in its new rulebook? Given the referees and linesmen more subjective decision making on icing, of course.

They'll now have the "discretion to wave off apparent icing infractions if they are deemed the result of an attempted pass." The catalyst for this rule is the "elimination" of the red line when it comes to two-line passes. Obviously, more passes will miss their mark than hit their targets down-ice. Normally that would mean a slew of icing calls, something that could actually encourage offensive pressure and goal-scoring. But it would also give professional hockey the kind of flow I have after eating a block of cheddar.

So the league now deputizes the linesmen and refs to wave off icing if the player was actually “trying" to complete a pass. Here's a scene we'll be witnessing six or seven times a game:

A player shoots the puck down the ice, the linesman calls icing, and then the player skates over raising holy hell because his teammate was "in the vicinity" of what he deems a "passing attempt"; or, better yet, he claims he simply misfired on what was intended to be a pass.

There's another rule in sports that deals with the "intent" of the passer. The NFL calls it intentional grounding. It's one of the single most frustrating, inconsistent, and enigmatic calls an official can make, and now the NHL might have created something as equally insufferable.

Three-Man Shootout — One of the biggest knocks on the shootout format is that it won't actually involve all the players who saw action in the game up until that point. In other words, a minority of the game's participants will decide its ultimate outcome.

The NHL did little to soothe those concerns by making the shootout a three-on-three affair, which virtually guarantees that defensemen won't be a part of exercise — unless your team is lucky enough to have Scott Niedermayer or Rob Blake.

So we go from two defensemen on the ice at virtually all times in regulation and overtime, to zero defensemen on the ice during its most critical juncture. And this is supposed to be hockey?

Defensive Clearing — This one might just need a little clarification. The new rulebook states, "any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game."

That can be read two ways. Does it mean a player who is in the defending zone and who shoots the puck over the glass in the defending zone gets a penalty?

Or does it mean a player in the defending zone who shoots the puck over any of the glass in the rink, like the "delay of game" rule for goaltenders, gets a penalty?

Because if the rule means Option A, what's to stop a player in his own zone from simply clearing the puck out over the glass in the neutral zone?

You know, where the fans are completely unprotected?

Shootout Points — A team that wins playing five-on-five hockey for 60 minutes will earn the same number of points in the standings as a win in a three-on-three shootout.

If the shootout is a joke, this is the punchline. The NHL actually did the impossible: it found a way to further devalue a regular season that the mainstream sports media already reviles as being irrelevant.

Diving — Here's another confusing one. The league is going to crack down on diving and feigning injuries by using video replay to identify the embellishers. The first incident will earn a strongly worded letter; the second a fine of $1,000; the third in a $2,000 fine; and the fourth a one-game suspension.

But is the league going to just further punish players who get called for a minor diving penalty during the game, or is the league going after anyone it can find who dives whether the ref nailed him for it or not?

The rule states that Hockey Operations will assess fines to players "who dive or embellish a fall or a reaction, or who feign injury in an attempt to draw penalties." There's more acting in a typical NHL game than there is in a Mamet play. Is it humanly possible to assess that many fines during the course of a season without the aid of a NASA Supercomputer?

Talking Bad About Hockey — Finally, here's this interesting rule. The NHL claims that "public complaints or derogatory comments toward the game also will result in fines."

Does that include those times when Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic, and their ilk bitch about obstruction? Does the cash register ring every time Mario Lemieux starts yapping about "letting the players play the game?" And if so, can the league levy fines for the last 15 years worth of Mario moaning, like the IRS going after back taxes?

I guarantee it'll make the NHL more money than its next TV deal will...

Greg Wyshynski is the Features Editor for SportsFan Magazine in Washington, DC, and the Senior Sports Editor for The Connection Newspapers of Northern Virginia. His book “Glow Pucks and 10-Cent Beer: The 101 Worst Ideas in Sports History" will be published in Spring 2006. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].

Posted by Greg Wyshynski at 5:15 PM | Comments (1)

Just Another New York Sideshow

Note to my New York basketball brethren:

Larry Brown is not bringing a championship to the Garden.

Walking around the Big Apple today, all the back pages were devoted to the one NBA coach who personally has kept U-Haul in business, moving from city to city during his career. From eavesdropping to conversations on the corner about how Steph [Marbury] and Co. are going to take the Atlantic, to the glaring lights on the marquee at MSG which read, "Welcome Home, Larry," it seems that New Yorkers are either way over-hyping this signing or suffering hallucinations from the recent East Coast heat wave.

I'm not a Larry Brown hater. I think he is a great coach, definitely top-five in the game today. But what you have in New York is a team, if you want to call it that, which is no better than a six seed — at their best.

Save me all of your hoopla about how he's a winner everywhere he goes, the man has won one, that's right, one NBA championship. If you're satisfied with bringing a team back to the playoffs, then L.B. is certainly your man, but he is in no way shape or form bringing the Larry O'Brien trophy back to New York.

Similar to how Bill Parcells is heralded as such a great coach, Larry Brown is glorified in many of the same ways. Parcells only won Super Bowls with one team, yet is given the red carpet treatment as if he is the ultimate savior wherever he goes. Last time I checked, though, the Cowboys didn't seem like a contender to finish the season in Ford Field in 2006 and the same will be true with the Knickerbockers and their postseason accomplishments.

Look at the Eastern Conference — Detroit, Miami, Indiana, New Jersey, and Boston all have better teams right now. Chicago and Washington will also probably have playoff-caliber records, but considering those two teams lack of experience in the postseason and by cutting the Knicks some slack, we will lump them right in there with the lower half of playoff contenders in the East.

Is Channing Frye going to handle Shaq, Ben Wallace, or Jermaine O'Neal down low, though? Can Steph really out duel J-Kidd, Chauncey Billups, or even D-Wade, for that matter, in a seven-game series? Does Jamal Crawford have what it takes to stop Vinsanity, Paul Pierce, or Rip Hamilton coming off those screens? The answer is a resounding "no," and the orange and blue would be lucky to see the second round of the playoffs in '06.

I think Brown will get Steph to become a better all around point guard, develop "Nasty" Nate Robinson into a solid backup, and the team will be better than the garbage they put on the floor at the "world's most famous arena" last season. But when it's all said and done, you still have a squad that will be counting on underachievers like Tim Thomas and Jerome James and role players like Jerome Williams and Malik Rose to bang with the best in the NBA. — and until he is given his official pink slip or someone decides to physically give him the boot, you still have Allan Houston clinging to his roster spot and enormous paycheck in William Rehnquist-like fashion.

So yes, the buzz will be back at MSG for a while this fall and the Knicks will win more games than last. But those rafters will still be empty come next spring, and the spring after and the spring after that, around the time when Coach Brown decides to ship off to his next NBA coaching destination. You would think that in a place that considers itself the Mecca of basketball, they would have had enough after over 30 years without an NBA title, but I guess in traditional New York fashion, all they look for is a good show and at least that's what they'll get for a few months starting in October.

Posted by Seth Berkman at 4:48 PM | Comments (0)

July 29, 2005

A Tale of Two Chicago Hoods

For one, it is the best of times. For the other, the worst.

On the South Side, 2005 is the age of wisdom, the epoch of belief, the season of Light. Southsiders have everything before them, and most coveted is an autumn anticipated with uncharacteristic optimism.

To the north, it is the age of foolishness, the epoch of incredulity, the season of darkness. For Northsiders, there is nothing before them, only the prospect of another long winter in the wait.

We are, of course, in a Dickinsian Chicago — one city, two teams, each from neighborhoods as diametric as their seasons have been.

In the midst of Chicago's North Side along the Lake Michigan shoreline sits Wrigleyville. Upscale streets are lined with pubs and specialty shops and brownstones. It's a pleasant meander from the Chicago Transit's Red Line along West Addison into Wrigley Field. Inside, patrons are treated to ivy-covered walls, baseball nostalgia, and a team whose bumper-boat has kept them between five games in either direction of .500 all season.

Eight miles south, the neighborhood is not as appealing. Here, patrons detrain the same Red Line cars, but move along 35th Street in the Armour Square neighborhood more robustly. Gone are the brownstones, replaced by high-rise subsidized housing. No quaint shops catch the eyes of passers-by. The U.S. Cellular Field is of the modern, calculated breed, a seller of corporate naming rights built for the efficient execution of baseball games.

Here is home to the Chicago White Sox, owners of the best record in Major League Baseball nearly two-thirds through the season.

Descendants of the infamous Eight Men Out and still cloaked by the cloud of disgrace bequeathed to them, every White Sox team since 1919 has been typecast by non-partisan America as the evil stepsister to Chicago's Cinderella Cubs.

But perhaps America has it all wrong.

As the baseball world eagerly waits for the glass slipper to fit their debutant Cubs, it has simultaneously turned its back on the poorer sibling. Each year, the Cubs are lent a shoulder to shed a victim's tears from their plushy uptown 'hood while the White Sox dwell in baseball obscurity in the bowels of Chicago's South Side.

The working class communities of the South Side share with their resident White Sox a similarly tumultuous upbringing. Irish immigrants who settled here during the mid-1800s endured racial epithets and derision from the City Proper, even as the canal they dug was establishing Chicago as a major trade center. Years later, their back yards would serve as catch basins for the growing city's sewage diverted from Lake Michigan.

However, it is this South Side neighborhood scarred by the remnants of a sludge-laden canal upon which the Fairy Godmother has now descended.

Now in his second full season, manager Ozzie Guillen is quietly credited with bringing about the White Sox renaissance. He is regarded as the consummate manager's manager who counsels and seeks counsel, but in the end leaves no doubt as to who is in charge. Long-time broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson frequently cites the unanimous clubhouse respect accorded Ozzie during his customary pre-game interviews when the ChiSox are on the road.

Wait a minute. Isn't this the same clubhouse that has as members Frank Thomas and Carl Everett? To exacerbate the matter, the two compete for the same at bats as designated hitters.

Believers will point to the peace accord Ozzie brokered between these two temperamental players and the rest of the world as one manifestation of Ozzie's hold over his clubhouse. In Texas and Boston, merely to come away from an Everett encounter without a black eye would have been peace enough for management.

Yet, intangibles like clubhouse leadership have to materialize in on-field performance to make a noticeable difference in the way the world looks at you.

The White Sox arguably have the best five-man starting rotation in baseball, anchored by the majors' first 15-game winner in Jon Garland. Going into 2005, Garland was a career 46-51, including three straight 12-win seasons. In spring training, he heeded Ozzie's advice and established the inside of the plate with hitters. The results are tangible enough — a season-over-season increase in strikeouts-to-walks from 1.5 to 2.4 and a decrease in ERA from 4.89 to 3.17.

To extend his reach beyond the dugout, Guillen vested confidence in catcher A.J. Pierzynski. His offseason acquisition has solidified a rotation rounded out by homegrown Mark Buehrle, ex-Yankees Orlando Hernandez, and Jose Contreras, and 2004's big midseason acquisition, Freddy Garcia.

The full rotation has compiled a 49-20 record. Even more impressive, they have collectively missed only five starts all season, those being filled by Triple-A phenom Brandon McCarthy when Hernandez was injured.

Of all the testaments to Guillen's accomplishments, none resonates louder than the criticisms leveled against him all season. It is the price of success, the same price paid by Joe Torre in New York and Terry Francona in Boston.

While most gripes circulate only within the Windy City, others are carried to a mainstream audience. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley recently critiqued Guillen's decision to use Brandon McCarthy when Hernandez went on the DL: "That was stupid. That was terrible."

Barring a last trimester collapse, the White Sox are primed to bring Chicago its third division championship of the new millennium — the White Sox also won the American League Central in 2000 and the Cubs the National League Central in 2003. In doing so, it can end the futility of finishing second to the Minnesota Twins in each of the last three years and seven times overall in the last nine.

As the blistering sun bakes all of Chicago in triple-digit temperatures these days, North Side cafes are filled with red-and-blue attired patrons who sip their double-chocolate cappuccinos and discuss last night's Cubs win or today's Cubs loss. Anything but the success of their South Side siblings. There is no joy in Wrigleyville.

Tens of blocks to the south, there is discussion, too. It's not over last night's game, but of the coming autumn.

Posted by Bob Ekstrom at 2:02 PM | Comments (0)

Fantasy Football Forecast: QB Ratings

As the slow gait of the NFL offseason transitions into the trot of the preseason, fantasy football fanatics everywhere are tweaking and tuning their respective value lists in hopes of taking home their league's version of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. This fanatic is no different, save for my opportunity to impose my will onto the masses via this site.

Never being one to shy away from the chance to present my opinion as fact, I triumphantly present my lead-pipe, stone-cold, no questions asked/no answers given positional ratings for the 2005 fantasy football season! Having already whet the collective appetites of fantasy football fans on this site with a past article, this one delves a bit deeper into my subconscious and gives a much more inclusive summary of my insights for the upcoming season.

Though it certainly isn't warranted, given my fantasy football credentials (hopefully, none of my league-mates respond with the truth about my credentials), let me take a moment to qualify my ratings with some insight into the "how" of my lists. I do warn the reader that I've never been accused of being simple-minded in my approach to fantasy football, so proceed with caution and be sure to have a cool washcloth and some aspirin available for the next couple of paragraphs.

Step one is a compilation of strength of schedule — the true backbone to any effective fantasy football prognostication. To obtain this, a point value is assigned for each team on a per-game basis both as a run defense and a pass defense, taking into account cumulative stats for the past three seasons and any impacting offseason additions and subtractions. This number serves as an "adjustment rate" for each and every player evaluated.

Secondly, a player's raw value is assessed and quantified, again using a three-year model to account for up and down seasons. All of these values are tied back to games played, which, theoretically, will give a rather reliable baseline for each player's anticipated performance on a per-game basis. "Immeasurable" value is factored into the player's actual statistical performance relative to offensive tendencies, injury history, and supporting cast, so this is more than just a measure of stats, which levels out one-season-wonder type of players the likes of Nick Goings who ended last season carrying the load for an injury-stricken Panther running game.

Finally, the adjustment factor for strength of schedule is applied to each player's per game rating for every game on the schedule. These numbers, when added together, give an aggregate projection for statistics each player should get if they were to play a 16-game season. These numbers are divided by 16 and then multiplied by projected games played (again, the purpose of this step is to level out players who are not starters or those who are injury-prone) giving each player a final total of projected statistics.

Once you have this, you can easily adjust these values to any fantasy league format (i.e. if a player is projected to have 10 touchdowns and you get six points for each touchdown in you league, you can easily figure that the player is projected to score 60 points on touchdowns this season).

While I don't pretend to think that anyone with a life would even care to understand all of this mumbo-jumbo, I did think it was important to demonstrate that this was much more than just a listing of my favorite players devoid of reality. And, to be fair, I warned you that my interest is borderline obsessive-compulsive fanaticism as opposed to general curiosity.

With that out of the way, let's get right to my rankings, beginning with the signal callers. My top five are accompanied by detailed analysis, and the rest of the top 25 include a brief summary of their value. I've included as a parenthetical each player's team overall strength of schedule ranking, with the lower numbers being the most favorable. Appended to the end of each entry are statistical projections for each player based on my calculations.

1) Peyton Manning, Colts (12)

No surprise here. Manning's '04 performance was arguably the second greatest statistical output for a QB in the league's illustrious history (Dan Marino's 1984 numbers are overall just a hair better, and, yes, I am a loyal Dolfan). While smart money almost guarantees that forty-nine touchdown passes are an exception not a rule for Peyton, there is no debating that his offensive scheme, supporting cast, and experience are evidence enough that Manning will again rise to the top of the charts as a difference-maker in any fantasy league format. Even with a relatively difficult schedule against the pass, Manning is a sure-fire top-three pick in any draft.

(2005 projected stats: 4,219 yards, 42 TD, 12 INT)

2) Donovan McNabb, Eagles (7)

With or without Terrell Owens, Donovan is for real. McNabb's innate ability to make plays in the face of adversity all but assures any prospective owner that he is a weekly force to be reckoned with. If the T.O. situation was a bit more clear at this point, my rating system would actually have McNabb slightly higher than Manning on this list, but, as I said, a true and accurate value system for fantasy football brings all variables into the equation and that certainly cannot be overlooked. Still, an early first-round selection of McNabb certainly would not be a regrettable move by any stretch of the imagination. The Eagles' lack of a short-yardage horse opens up red zone opportunities for McNabb and inflates already impressive touchdown numbers both through the air and on the ground.

(4,249, 33, 8/270, 3)

3) Daunte Culpepper, Vikings (8)

With Randy Moss, Culpepper is an otherworldly statistical performer. Without him, Culpepper is merely way above average. While I fully expect a marked drop-off in touchdown passes without the dominating red zone option he had in Moss, Coach Mike Tice's affinity for involvement of his backs in the passing game should make for a continued commitment to the pass regardless of field position. The one thing holding back Daunte is his history as a turnover-machine (which, to be fair, was a whole lot less of a problem last season), which may once again become a point of concern without a solid go-to guy to fall back on in times of duress. Definitely a first-round option, but a steal for anyone who can grab him early in round two.

(4,157, 32, 14/445, 3)

4) Byron Leftwich, Jaguars (1)

Though I'm certain many readers are trying to rub the dirt out of their lying eyes after reading this particular entry, the numbers don't lie, and mine have Leftwich exploding onto the scene on the strength of the easiest passing schedule in football. Factor in an ailing backfield-mate (Fred Taylor), a good defense that should get him on the field often, and an improved offensive line and you have the makings of a break-out season in Jacksonville. Again, interceptions may bring Byron's value down a bit, but rookie Matt Jones could provide a nearly unstoppable red zone option, if utilized properly. If Byron is still around in round four, jump on him, and don't feel bad about taking him as early as round three.

(3,949, 31, 10/195, 3)

5) David Carr, Texans (5-tie)

Being one of many to point out that Carr has not yet lived up to the hype, it can also be said that he has not performed horribly despite having spent the formative part of his career behind the worst offensive line in recent football memory. Also, featuring a light schedule in terms of passing defenses to be faced, Carr has a fast-maturing stud of a go-to guy in receiver Andre Johnson and an outstanding running back (Domanick Davis), which should keep the opposing linebackers out of the mid-range passing game. Additionally, a weakened defense should work in Carr's favor, as you can safely anticipate more chances being taken in the deep passing game.

If there is one question mark that bears watching (beyond, of course, the expected progression of the offensive line), it is the relatively pedestrian touchdown numbers Carr has (or has not, more accurately) accumulated in his first three seasons. Bottom line, his protection cannot possibly be worse than it was a year ago and the natural progressions of the young trio of skill-position players certainly bodes well for a team poised to make big strides on offense. Carr is one that may slide a bit in drafts, but I wouldn't let him get past you if he's on the board in round five, allowing an owner to concentrate on backs and receivers in the first four rounds without giving much up at the QB spot.

(4,059, 28, 11/437, 1)

6) Marc Bulger, Rams (5-tie)

Ease of schedule notwithstanding, Bulger is not as consistent as you'd like from a top-tier quarterback option. Interceptions and a renewed commitment to the running game should impact his numbers, but he'll still produce solid aggregate stats. Let another owner reach for him in any of the first five rounds, but grab him if he's still on the board in the mid rounds.

(4,568, 31, 18)

7) Kerry Collins, Raiders (26)

A bit of a sleeper, all things considered. Obviously, Moss, Jerry Porter, and a healthy Ronald Curry give him a solid bevy of options to throw to, and the fact that the Raiders will be playing catch-up doesn't hurt, either, but the Raiders do play a very difficult schedule and face some of the league's elite defenses. I like Collins as a solid fifth-rounder, but like Bulger, his inconsistency bears watching.

(3,800, 36, 19)

8) Michael Vick, Falcons (14)

Vick is a top round talent, but has the occasional negative-point game, a big no-no in fantasy football. His running ability makes him an intriguing pick, and personally I'd use a second round pick on him, but that's just a hunch and the raw numbers slot him more as a fifth- or sixth-rounder.

(3,186, 19, 10/814, 4)

9) Steve McNair, Titans (9)

If healthy, McNair would certainly be much higher on this board. But he's not. One word to the wise, however, in leagues that employ a team quarterback concept, the Titans have one of the best backups in football and the combo of McNair and Billy Volek is much more enticing than McNair alone. Taking McNair before round six is a gamble, but if you are set at the position already, he's a solid guy to be able to start the weeks he plays the Colts, Browns, Raiders, and Rams and well worth the investment.

(3394, 25, 8/232 rush yards, 4 TD)

10) Matt Hasselback, Seahawks (6)

Another guy that you'd be best serve talking up pre-draft and letting your buddy waste a fourth-round pick on. Big question marks at receiver and the improvement of his divisional rivals' defenses make him a player with a value that should slide relative to previous seasons. Nothing more than a sixth-rounder on my board.

(3,980, 28, 17)

11) Jake Delhomme, Panthers (21)

A healthy running game will normalize Delhomme's rather inflated 2004 numbers. Still, a solid mid-round option.

(3,658, 27, 12)

12) Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (24)

Not a numbers guy, and without Plaxico Burress, Jerome Bettis will still be the main beneficiary of an efficient offense. Taking Big Ben before round seven is a stretch.

(3,131, 29, 14)

13) Carson Palmer, Bengals (19)

Could put up huge stats this season, but fantasy football isn't won on hypothetical performances. If you pick a QB early, Palmer is a great guy to grab in rounds six through eight as a backup.

(3,721, 26, 11)

14) Tom Brady, Patriots (23)

See Roethlisberger. If I were building a real team, Brady would be my guy, but in fantasy, his propensity to do just enough to win scares me. Let someone else scream at the television all winter begging Bill Belichek to pass the damn ball.

(3,546, 27, 10)

15) Drew Brees, Chargers (22)

Last year was nice, but a year does not a trend make. Anytime before round eight is too early, as backup Phillip Rivers should see some spot duty this year.

(2,883, 26, 9)

16) Kurt Warner, Cardinals (3)

Fluff schedule and stud receivers should make for a nice story in the desert, but the interceptions and fumbles are maddening to fantasy owners. Hope he doesn't get picked by any savvy league owners and watch him closely in preseason, or maybe take a late-round flier on him, but don't count on him as your regular guy.

(4,081, 29, 24)

17) Drew Bledsoe, Cowboys (13)

Drew Bledsoe is benefiting here from the "Tuna Factor." Could be a nice surprise, but more likely will be the same old, happy-footed Drew.

(3,490, 28, 19)

18) Trent Green, Chiefs (30)

Eventually, Green will revert to his turnover-prone self as the Chiefs inexplicably still haven't addressed their glaring needs at receiver. While Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez help his value, both are a year older and their improved defense should eliminate the need the Chiefs have had in recent years for chucking the ball Mike Martz-style.

(3,435, 29, 21)

19) Brett Favre, Packers (28)

I love Brett, but hate Brett's schedule. With receiver Javon Walker on board, perhaps Favre would be a good mid-rounder, but that's a big if and there's no Bubba Franks yet, either. Lots of touchdowns should still make Favre a great late round addition, but don't be fooled picking Brett on reputation alone, as he certainly will see somewhat of a down year.

(3,134, 26, 19)

20) Aaron Brooks, Saints (25)

For Brooks' sake, I hope this rating is a little low. If he remains as inconsistent as recent history suggests, he may be a short-timer in N'Orleans. Late round pick at best.

(3,419, 20, 16/143, 4)

21) Rex Grossman, Bears (15)

Please don't draft him. Seriously. But don't be ashamed to watch him closely to see if any rapport develops between he and Muhsin Muhammad and to pick him up after the draft as a free agent.

(2,813, 21, 14/220, 4)

22) Joey Harrington, Lions (16)

If Jeff Garcia wasn't around and with those weapons on offense, Harrington could be a solid sleeper. But with Garcia breathing down his neck, Joey will have to improve to keep his job. If he wins it outright, snap him up post-haste.

(2,973, 21, 9/207, 2)

23) Chad Pennington, Jets (31)

Brutal schedule gives him an almost unfair disadvantage. Losing Santana Moss may help their offensive flow, but certainly the big-play-phobic Laveranues Coles won't help his yardage and touchdown stats any. Should go undrafted or maybe worthy of a very late-round flier.

(2570, 20, 8/259)

24) Eli Manning, Giants (17)

Not yet, grasshopper. Though Jeremy Shockey provides the younger Manning a nice fallback option on broken plays, New York's young signal-caller is still a year or two away from being able to fully handle the speed of the big-time NFL. Still, in a pinch, Manning may be an adequate backup, so don't feel ashamed if you find yourself picking him up near the end of the draft.

(2,952, 25, 15)

25) Brian Griese, Buccaneers (20)

Griese could be one heck of a free agent pickup, come season's end. He has proven that he can put up nice numbers, but with Tampa's offense in transition, he is a risky fantasy play. Best bet would be to snatch him up if one of your other quarterbacks gets injured, but if you don't mind carrying three at the position, he'd be a decent gamble with one of your last few picks.

(2,645, 20, 13)

***

For what it is worth, my two QBs this season are Mike Vick and Byron Leftwich — as I said in my breakdown, Vick is a pure hunch and Leftwich is my insurance policy. I've found the best strategy in these things to be to always play the hunch, but to also make sure your "plan B" is not a similar hunch, but that is just my opinion and my recent track record is, well, less than brilliant.

That said, I do offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you follow my rankings and are not satisfied with your results.

Now, exactly how much are you paying for this article?

Stay tuned as Matt Thomas brings you more fantasy forecasts!

Posted by Matt Thomas at 1:38 PM | Comments (5)

2005 NFL Preview: Denver Broncos

Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com

Last Year

Last summer, the running back factory that is the Denver Broncos partnered in a blockbuster deal, trading their backfield star, Clinton Portis, for a defensive backfield star, Champ Bailey. The ground attack didn't suffer much as Quentin Griffin and Reuben Droughns replaced Portis' yardage totals and Bailey was an excellent addition, but he wasn't able to stop the Indianapolis Colts from ending the Broncos season for a second consecutive season. Memo to Denver: avoid Indianapolis.

What We Learned From Last Year

The Denver Broncos keep producing stellar running backs like 50 Cent keeps pumping out hits.

Second-year runner Quentin Griffin was the first to step in for Portis and proved to be a wanksta after a stellar opening game in Kansas City. Injuries took care of him the rest of the way.

That paved the way for Reuben Droughns, who had been patiently waiting for his turn for five years. He only carried the ball in 10 games, but still finished with 1,240 yards.

Even so, nobody mistook him for the explosive Portis. Droughns was a drone — more of a workmanlike back with decent speed. Droughns' yards-per-carry average faded as the season progressed and he was not the homerun threat head coach Mike Shanahan typically pines for.

Droughns would poof and disappear during critical situations such as third downs and inside the opponent's 20-yard line, which was part of the reason the Broncos ranked 28th in red-zone offense.

Contributing to that distressing stat was a very inconsistent group of receivers. Ashley Lelie finally broke the 1,000-yard benchmark in his third season with 56 receptions, but he had only one catch in the red zone. Rookie Darius Watts did only one better. If you watched how they moved on downfield plays, you could mistake them for a playa or a pimp, but when it came to tough yards or a demanding catch over the middle, both went limp.

In his second season with the Broncos, Jake Plummer tried to take the offense to the candy shop, but his play was sweet and sour. His 4,089 yards and 27 touchdowns ranked highly among quarterbacks, but so did his 20 interceptions. At times, he tried to do too much which usually resulted in turnovers and usually made Shanahan hot as a tea kettle. Plummer looks more comfortable out of the pocket, which is a serious concern if he cannot resolve his issues inside it.

On defense, the Broncos added safety John Lynch and Champ Bailey in the offseason to inject playmaking and aggressiveness, but neither of those characteristics rubbed off on the defense.

The statistics were so seductive at every point — except takeaways. The Broncos finished with 20 — tied with Kansas City's much maligned defense — and with the personnel they have, it is simply unacceptable.

Sacks were a deceiving stat for the Broncos as 38 seems like a reasonable total, especially since 16 different players registered sacks. But the problem was dominance; only one player totaled more than three (defensive end Reggie Hayward) and consistent blitzing was required. Losing Trevor Pryce for the bulk of the season with a back injury didn't help.

Champ Bailey wasn't the P.I.M.P we are accustomed to seeing in 2004 and his partner, Lenny Walls, still didn't expose his full potential, but both did upgrade the 2003 duo. Considering the team used its first three selections in the 2005 draft to pickup cornerbacks, it gives you an idea how they feel about the position.

The heart and soul of Denver's D-Unit, middle linebacker Al Wilson, got some company in 2004 with the additions of John Lynch and linebacker D.J. Williams. Lynch was a shrewd pickup and represented the Broncos in the Pro Bowl, while Williams led the team in tackles as a rookie.

If you are wondering how a team can have the fourth-ranked defense and the fifth-ranked offense and still get crushed in the first round of the playoffs, you can blame it directly on the lack of defensive/special teams playmaking and offensive consistency in the red-zone. Therefore, a 10-6 record sounds about right.

But if they can remedy those maladies and Plummer can be more efficient, the Broncos will have an opportunity to put some hardware in their piggybank.

This Year

An aging Jerry Rice, one-hit wonder Maurice Clarett, and two Cleveland Browns underachievers, Courtney Brown and Gerrard Warren, could round out a cast of VH1's The Surreal Life, but all are part of the Broncos 2005 roster instead.

Rice is a shade of what he used to be, is past his prime, (insert "old" synonym here), but for a receiving corps that has nervous hands in tense situations and doesn't run precise routes, there is no better teacher. The main goal here is for Rice to rub his work ethic and route-running mechanics off on Lelie and in turn, morph him into an all-around receiving star. Regardless, Rice will still be a reliable third-down option and has more trustworthy hands than Darius Watts.

As far as Clarett goes, you would have to be a fool to doubt the Broncos running back decisions.

Tatum Bell looks like the next big thing in Denver. His speed, burst, and explosiveness is phenomenal, but he hasn't displayed great vision yet. That's not a problem right now with a superb offensive line in front of him. He was a bit fragile in his first season and that will probably be the only way that Mike Anderson or Maurice Clarett will see the field.

Anderson heads into training camp as the starter, but he will be 32 in September and is coming off a serious groin injury, which kept him out last season.

To some onlookers, the signing of Stephen Alexander may seem a bit odd considering the Broncos invested in budding tight end Jeb Putzier this offseason, but the receiving corps is not trusted. The team needs help on third downs and in the red-zone and if last year's distressing trends resurface in 2005, expect the Broncos to get a lot of use out of both tight-ends.

Plummer is the unquestioned starting quarterback, but he won't be at the end of this season if he can't smarten up. Consistency is the key here and his high and low streaks will not get this team to the Super Bowl. He doesn't have any excuses with a top-notch offensive line in front of him and (what should be) a quality running game behind him.

The defensive front was the Achilles heel of the defense last year and there is a horde of new faces in town — most of which came from Cleveland.

Courtney Brown and Gerrard Warren are still chalk full of potential and a change of scenery could revitalize both of them. Brown has been riddled with injuries through his career and isn't a great speed rusher, but he's still a bully on the defensive line. Warren, on the other hand, has motivational problems. In Cleveland, Butch Davis allowed him to be lazy, but the coaches in Denver will get on him. Don't classify these two as busts quite yet.

Even though the leading sack artist from last season (Reggie Hayward) is departed, the Broncos are still fairly deep on the line. Former Pro Bowler Trevor Pryce should be healthy, Mario Fatafehi, John Engleberger, Luther Eliss, and Raylee Johnson have experience in primetime roles and Ebenezer Ekuban, although he underwent a couple of offseason surgeries, was the Browns leading sacker a year ago. There is a world of talent here, but making them a cohesive unit is another task in itself.

Ideally, they would get enough pressure without the excessive use of blitzes, force turnovers, and play man-to-man coverage in the secondary. The Broncos are praying that one of their three rookie cornerbacks will pan out because they don't have much depth behind Bailey and Walls. If not, they will pray they don't face teams that can spread them out (i.e. Indy).

Ian Gold returns to Denver's linebacking corps and will likely push D.J. Williams to the strong side. With Al Wilson in the middle, the Broncos have three premier backers.

At safety, Nick Ferguson will replace Kennoy Kennedy at strong safety, who was a hard-hitter, but not much else. The duo of Lynch and Ferguson lack speed.

The addition of Todd Sauerbrun will ameliorate the Broncos field position battle, but the team still doesn't have a threat returning punts.

They have all the mixings of a championship team — particularly if Plummer can stay smart and the defensive line can generate pressure — but just like the Colts cannot beat the Patriots, the Broncos cannot defeat the Colts.

Over/Under: 8.5

This total seems a bit low, but the Broncos are in a tough division. Kansas City won't be as bad as they were last year and San Diego won't be as good. Randy Moss is in Oakland now, but Denver is still the most complete team in this division. They can win at least three games here, so they'll need another six from the following: @MIA, @JAX, WAS, NE, @NYG, PHI, NYJ, @DAL, BAL, and @BUF.

Fantasy Sleeper

Don't believe the Mike Anderson or Maurice Clarrett hype. Clarrett is a rookie, Anderson is over the magical age of 30 and is recovering from a groin injury. Tatum Bell is one of the fastest running backs in the league, averaged 5.3 yards-per-carry in a limited role last year, and barring injury, will be the next in a long line of successful Broncos backs.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)

Three (or More) Rivers Run Through it

Throughout history, there have been a lot of easy jobs. Saddam Hussein's college genocide professor, for example.

Or coaching the Dallas Cowboys' team that won Super Bowl XXX. If Barry "Yeah, I'll Carry That Handgun Through Airport Security" Switzer can do it, the job can't require too much heavy lifting, intellectually speaking.

But both of those occupations pale next to that of the Army Corps of Engineers' fish population expert on the Ohio River in 1956.

The actual mechanics of obtaining a fish population sample 49 years ago on the Ohio River was relatively simple. Close down both ends of a lock — the Montgomery Lock near Shippingport just on the Pennsylvania side of the Ohio state line in this case — inject the water with a chemical that retards the fish ability to absorb oxygen, then wait for them to surface.

But that wasn't what made the job so easy.

It was the result. The guy from the Army Corps of Engineers could have counted the fish population sample on one hand.

In fact, he could have done it on one finger.

Wouldn't that have made the Bassmasters fishing tournament simple — "Hey, I caught the fish! I win! Let's get drunk!"

Or, since this is fishing, "Let's get drunker!"

A lot of things have changed in a half-century, not the least of which being the fish population near the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers in downtown Pittsburgh, site of the Bassmasters Classic July 29 to 31.

Even though the Montgomery Lock is about 30 miles downriver from Pittsburgh, the Corps of Engineers' 1956 population count took place at a time when only garbage fish such as carp thrived throughout the southwestern Pennsylvania's watershed, including this year's Bassmasters' venue.

By the way, a fisherman friend of mine has a recipe for cooking carp: first, take the carp, remove its head and tail, and nail it to a piece of lumber. Put the whole thing in the oven for 35 minutes at 400 degrees.

Then, take it out of the oven, throw away the fish and eat the block of wood.

Carp is an anagram for the word crap, which is fitting because until well into the 1980s, there was plenty of both — as well as other types of pollution — in the rivers that will play host to this year's Super Bowl of competitive fishing.

The sewers had, and in many cases still have, release valves that release untreated human sewage into the streams during heavy rainstorms. Factories throughout the Ohio River watershed, which includes about 50,000 square miles in Pennsylvania alone, dumped raw nitrates, oil, and other liquid pollutants directly into rivers and streams.

The Clean Water Act of 1972 and the collapse of southwestern Pennsylvania's heavy industry alleviated some of the water pollution.

But even then, the problems didn't go away, with one of the biggest being acid runoff from abandoned mines ran into the streams, which made them uninhabitable for most game fish.

Regardless of the outcome of this year's event, the real standout performances in this year's Bassmasters won't come from circuit leaders Kevin VanDam or Michael Iaconelli, or any of the other guys dipping their lines into the water.

Those efforts have already come from people like the members of Turtle Creek Watershed Association, a citizens group that has worked on projects such as limestone filters that treat runoff from abandoned coal mines to reverse its acidity. Turtle Creek runs into the Monongahela near Braddock, only a few miles from Pittsburgh.

Or the hundreds of volunteers who scoured the riverbanks near the point in preparation for the Bassmasters tournament.

Or the kids who have gone through Alicia Dwyer's sixth-grade classes in recent years at Riverside Beaver County Middle School in Ellwood City, PA, who began monitoring water conditions on the Connoquenessing Creek half a decade ago when it was named one of this country's five most polluted waterways by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

The Connoquenessing runs into the Beaver River, which flows into the Ohio about 20 miles downstream from Pittsburgh, which might be one of the target areas for this year's Bassmasters.

And the involvement of Dwyer's pupils is indicative of a southwestern Pennsylvania community that now values its waterways. Thanks to their work, and that of like-minded people throughout the region, fishing in the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers have become the sports comeback story of the half-century.

And to those who look forward watching the ultimate backwoods competition held in an urban setting, find an environmentalist and say thanks, if only because cleaning up the rivers has been a lot tougher than counting one fish.

Posted by Eric Poole at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)

July 28, 2005

2005 College Football Preview: Big 12

The Big 12 will once again be a very competitive conference. Oklahoma's iron grip over the conference will be weakened and upsets will be the rule instead of the exception. Teams like Missouri, Colorado, and Kansas State will not win their division, but should be competitive enough to play the spoiler role. Both the North and South divisions will be close, but there are certain teams that have the potential to have a breakout season. Without further ado, here are the squads that should be the most competitive in the Big 12 conference.

5) Nebraska (Projected Record: 7-4; League: 5-3)

I have good news and bad news for Nebraska fans. The bad news is that 2005 Cornhuskers will not remind anyone of the Nebraska teams of yesteryear. The good news is that they will win the Big 12 North division (and Bill Callahan will be gone after this season).

If Bill Callahan wants to continue to jog onto Memorial Stadium in years to come, he is going to need Zac Taylor to play like a champion. Taylor, the transfer from Butler Community College, seems to be a better fit for Callahan's West Coast Offense than Joe Dailey, the Cornhuskers' previous QB. He had an excellent spring and has shown good touch on his passes, which is a must in the vertical offense Nebraska employs. Of course, screens will also be utilized, due to the talents of Cory Ross.

Cory Ross, Nebraska's primary running threat, will look to improve on a strong 2004, where he rushed for over 1,100 yards. His size (5-6, 200 pounds) reminds people of a Big 12 legend Barry Sanders, and his rushing skills are underrated. Ross is a multi-dimensional talent who can also catch the ball, as he was third on the team in receptions last year. Speaking of receptions, Husker fans are looking for someone to step up at the wideout position.

The receiving corps are a big question mark in Lincoln this season. There is no one guy that we can earmark to perform at all-conference level, but collectively, they may get the job done. Current starters Terrence Nunn and Isaiah Fluellen will have strong competition from recruits Frantz Hardy, Chris Brooks, and Tyrell Spain. The success of the offense will depend on who can make things happen out of this group, and improve the 81st-rated offense in America.

Another way to improve an offense is by having a solid offensive line. One guy that should provide instant help will be Greg Austin. He's finally healthy and should be able to help an improving unit. Kurt Mann will be solid as usual and if Cornealius Thomas lives up to his potential, the Huskers offense should improve their output.

The offensive output will need to be increased this season, as the Nebraska defense will prove to be inconsistent in 2005. The Huskers' defense is talented, but suffered through frustrating lapses last season. When Texas Tech dropped 70 on the Huskers last October, it looked more like target practice for the Red Raiders than an actual football game. Nebraska fans are definitely not looking for a repeat performance, and one guy that can be counted on to play at a high level for 60 minutes is Le Kevin Smith.

Smith, along with Titus Adams, will lead one of the strongest defensive lines in the conference. Smith is an all-conference nose tackle who stuffs the run and has been working on his "bull-rush" skills to get to the passer. Adams is an effective run stopper and loves to get into the backfield to disrupt plays. The key for this unit will be how effective they will be on passing situations, as the secondary will need them to put pressure on the opposing quarterback.

The linebackers will need Stuart Bradley to emerge as a leader. Bradley was second on the team in tackles last year and he's a Zack Thomas prototype who flat-out makes plays. The other guys in this squad have relatively little experience, but are very talented. JC transfers such as Steve Octavien and Dontrell Moore will be counted upon to produce immediately.

The secondary must improve on a 2004 performance that contributed to the Huskers being ranked 110th in pass defense. The competition for spots is wide open and I think Zack Bowman, a JC transfer from Alaska, will be the man to watch. Bowman possesses the speed and killer instinct needed to play safety in the Big 12. Nebraska would like to play more man coverage in 2005, but their lack of size hinders that possibility. The secondary is a huge question mark, and we will see how it is answered.

The Huskers are a team full of question marks from top to bottom. Bill Callahan has recruited a ton of JC guys who will hopefully help him win immediately. Of course, the cupboards are relatively empty for the following seasons, but Nebraska will never have a problem recruiting so long as they are winning. It should be a very interesting and intriguing 2005 for the folks in Lincoln.

4) Texas A&M (8-3; 5-3)

The Texas A&M Aggies will be the team nobody wants to play in 2005. They have an offense led by an electrifying Heisman candidate in Reggie McNeal and their defense should keep them in games. They will rebound after getting pummeled in the Cotton Bowl against Tennessee. Dennis Franchione's team has a superb early season schedule and if they don't look past anyone, they should be 8-0 going into the Texas Tech game. The Ags are my sleeper team in this conference.

Coach Fran has had success just about everywhere he has been. His tenure at A&M will be no different, thanks to Reggie McNeal. McNeal is one of my top-10 Heisman candidates and will take his place on the national stage this season. He is one of those rare quarterbacks who can run and pass effectively. He completed over 58% of his passes last year and ran for over 700 yards. I look for his passing yardage to increase in 2005 as he will trust his teammates more and not need to improvise as much. The person who will do a lot of rushing for the Aggies is Courtney Lewis.

Courtney Lewis must be healthy and play well for the Aggies to be contenders in the Big 12 South division. He has shown flashes of brilliance against lesser opponents, but he had an abysmal end of the year in 2004. He has the talent and the frame to handle a ton of carries and he will have to prove to be a threat so that defenses will not key in on Reggie McNeal.

The Aggies' receivers will improve in 2005 and will seek some of the spotlight. Earvin Taylor (the Magic Man) will be Reggie McNeal's primary pass catcher. He is an excellent route-runner, and the chemistry between him and his Heisman quarterback will be much improved. DeQawn Mobley will team up with Taylor and be the A&M deep threat. He has great speed and should have opportunities to make plays on a team that lives by the "busted play."

Another key to this year's success will be the offensive line. Last year, A&M really struggled against physical, blitzing defenses like Texas and Tennessee. They allowed an inexcusable 28 sacks, and that must improve this year. Jami Hightower has a perfect name for an offensive lineman, but he has got to get his frame into shape. He was listed at 355, but I've heard reports that he was playing north of 370 at times. He has busted his butt his spring and lost the weight, and if he keeps it off he will anchor this squad. Chris Yoder and Cody Wallace will help and if Aldo de la Garza can contribute, A&M's offensive line will be solid.

Texas A&M has always has always been known for its players on defense. Carl Torbush, the Aggies' defensive coordinator, wants to make sure that this year is no exception. The defensive line's motto this season is "size matters." There is no question that the A&M will have one of the biggest D-lines in the Big 12, but will they be one of the most skilled. Depth will be a concern, but I believe they will be improved with Chris Harrington, Red Bryant, and Jason Jack making strong contributions.

Upperclassmen dominate the linebacking unit this season, and that is often a good thing. Justin Warren is my pick to have a standout 2005, as his talents are suited for the middle linebacker position. His move from outside linebacker will pay dividends this year for Aggie fans. Archie McDaniel and Lee Foliaki will provide senior leadership, blitzing ability, and pass coverage skills (all of these necessary for the A&M to run a successful 4-3 scheme) to this area that could be the X-factor for the defense.

The secondary is will be a concern for Carl Torbush this season. They were 93rd in the country in pass yardage and can't afford to get any worse. They should be better this season with more experience and talent. The Aggies will play more man defense due to an improvement in the pass rush. Redshirt freshman Danny Gorrer and Broderick Newton possess the size needed to get physical with the opposing receiver. The secondary will be better, and Texas A&M supporters will not have to hold their breath when the other team is in the shotgun.

This will most likely prove to be a rollercoaster of a season for Texas A&M. They should be at least 6-0, if not 8-0, in the early going. If they are lucky, that momentum will carry over into the final third of the season, and propel them to an upset over Texas, Texas Tech, and/or Oklahoma. Franchione and the coaching staff will try and take some of the pressure off of Reggie McNeal and create a balanced attack that can launch A&M to the top of the conference.

3) Texas Tech (9-2; 6-2)

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the best team in America that no one has ever heard of. Mike Leach, Tech's head coach, has done a wonderful job of creating a strong program in Lubbock. The offense is simple (Karl Dorrell and Bill Callahan, take notes) and effective due to constant repetition and efficient execution. This season, Leach's program has a chance to be mentioned with the elite teams of the Big 12.

If the Raiders are to maintain the momentum gained by the whipping of the California Golden Bears in the Holiday Bowl, they'll need Cody Hodges to have a strong year. Hodges will hope to join the string of recent Tech quarterbacks who have had abundant success in Mike Leach's "Air Raid" offense. He is a fifth-year senior with experience and a strong arm. The key will be his accuracy as it is vital to the offense. If Hodges can prove that he can throw the ball with precision, the Raiders will roll.

If you haven't heard of Taurean Henderson before, you will this season. He is a Marshall Faulk prototype —, a back that can do it all for a team. He is super-fast and creates mismatches when he lines up at receiver. Shannon Woods and Taurance Rawls will spell him and give added production as well.

Jarrett Hicks will lead the Raider receiving corps to a banner year in 2005. At 6-4, he creates mismatches and has the route-running ability that all Tech receivers require. Danny Amendola, L.A. Reed, and Joel Filani round out the ubiquitous four-receiver set used in Lubbock. These guys will snare the many spirals out of the West Texas sky and will combine to give Cory Hodges all the options he will need.

Texas Tech's defense has been steadily improved the last two years and I expect this trend to continue in 2005. The Raider "D" barely gets talked about, but this year, with eight guys returning, they have the opportunity to be one of the better units in the conference. Their defensive line will be the key as teams had a ton of success on the ground. Chris Hudler, the Raider starting nose guard, will be instrumental in closing up the holes opponents have been using to exploit the defense. Seth Nitschmann will also need to continue to improve his already solid run defense, and Keyunta Dawson must put pressure on the passer. If the D-line can accomplish these objectives, Raider fans will be in very good shape.

The linebackers will be led by one of the most intelligent players in the Big 12, Brock Stratton. Stratton is all a conference performer on and off the field, and will have a breakout season. This unit may have more opportunities to blitz this season and John Saldi, Fletcher Session, and Sylvester Brinkley should all benefit.

The reason the backers will be able to blitz more is because the Red Raiders have one of the strongest secondaries in the country. They were 15th in the nation in pass defense and look to improve on that already impressive mark. Khalid Naziruddin and Antonio Hoffman anchor the corners and will press their receivers. Vincent Meeks, last year's Holiday Bowl MVP, will continue to play excellent at safety and give offensive coordinators a ton of headaches trying to figure out how to move the ball through the air.

This could be the season that Raider fans have been waiting for. There will be a tremendous amount of pressure on Cody Hodges to perform, as he is a major factor in their success. He hasn't had too much previous game time, but that didn't stop B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie from having superb seasons. As long as they can move the ball like they are accustomed, and stop opponents from wearing out their defense on the ground, they just might come out on top.

2) Oklahoma (9-2; 6-2)

This just might be the season that the Sooner Schooner gets some much-needed repairs. After dominating the conference for much of the new millennium, the Sooners will not have nearly as much talent as they are used to. However, Bob Stoops still has an excellent stockpile of players that can compete with the nation's best on any given day.

The question on Oklahoma fans' mind is who will be Jason White's successor? There are credible arguments for both Rhett Bomar and Paul Thompson. Thompson has some slight game experience and has the nod as far as experience, but I think Bomar will end up being the starter. Bomar, once the quarterback of the scout team, has amazed Coach Stoops' staff with great mobility and excellent accuracy. The redshirt freshman has all of the skills to succeed, and if he's practiced handing the ball off to Adrian Peterson, he'll be just fine.

Adrian Peterson is one of the top three running backs in the country. He possesses an uncommon mix of explosiveness and patience. He knows exactly what hole to hit, and pity be upon that unfortunate linebacker that's on the other side, because Peterson introduces himself with his helmet. Peterson excelled last year by rushing for almost 2,000 yards, and will probably break that amount this year. He will be asked to shoulder much more of the offensive load due to the departure of Jason White. His durability will be pushed to the maximum, and his performance in November will have a great impact on the Sooners' future.

Travis Wilson was the unheralded receiver who led Oklahoma in touchdown passes last year. This season, the onus of leading the Sooners to the end zone through the air will be on him. He can handle this responsibility as he has the best hands on the team. The issue for this group will be who else will step up to fill the huge void left by Mark Clayton. Jejuan Rankins has a ton of talent, but has had personal problems, which have translated to dropped passes on the field. If Rankins falters, Quinten Chaney, Lenny Holmes, and super-recruit Malcolm Kelly will also have opportunities to see more playing time.

Oklahoma's offensive line was superb last season. They gave Jason White all of the protection he could ask for and Adrian Peterson wouldn't have rushed for 1,925 without them. Depth will be a concern this year, but as long as Davin Joseph, a potential All-American, Kelvin Chaisson, and Akim Millington stay healthy, the Sooners should be fine.

One area where the Sooners all always "fine" is the defense. The OU defense has been spectacular throughout the Bob Stoops era. They have dominated their opponents with an aggressive, hard-hitting brand of in-your-face football. They may not have Roy Williams out there, but they will put a team of guys who play hard every down. The defensive line will still be strong against the run this year as in years past, as they are even stronger at the tackle position with Dusty Dvoracek and Remy Ayodele. The ends won't be as talented, but Larry Birdine and C.J. Ah You (I love the name) would be stars on about 80 other programs across the country.

Clint Ingram, Zack Latimer, and Rufus Alexander will make an interesting trio at linebacker. Only Ingram has huge breakout potential, but this group just may be better than last season's. The secondary is the area of concern for the defense as they gave up far too many yards last year. The talent is there, and the question will be how well they use that talent on the field. If the secondary can improve this season, and there's always a chance if Chijoke Onyenegecha can live up to his huge potential, this defense will live up to the lofty expectations of the folks in Norman.

There are three big games (at UCLA, the Red River Shootout, and at Texas Tech) that will determine the fate of the Sooners. UCLA will be a good litmus test in September as the Bruins are a top-25 team. The biggest test will be on October 8th against Texas in the Red River Shootout. If OU is undefeated and gives the Longhorns another defeat in Dallas, these guys just might run the table.

1) Texas (9-2; 6-2)

I really think 2005 is the year Mack Brown and all the Longhorn fans have been waiting for. This should be the season that they finally defeat Oklahoma and take home the Big 12 South crown. Of course, if they go undefeated or maybe even with one loss, the Horns could even be headed to Pasadena this season. The player that will try to lead them to the promised land is Vince Young.

Vince Young is the most talked about Texas player since Ricky Williams (sorry, Major Applewhite fans). His performance in the Rose Bowl last year against Michigan was awe-inspiring and his running abilities are unreal. His passing abilities have been questioned, but I think he will answer his critics in that area this year. He will throw for over 2,000 yards and if he maintains his 60% efficiency, the Heisman just might fall in his lap.

With all of the emphasis on VY and his throwing ability, people forget that Texas is a team that loves to run the ball. Young will be running, but it will be Selvin Young that will be doing the damage on the ground. Selvin Young, the Longhorns' junior, will get about 15 touches per game this year and he should be successful. His speed is ridiculous, and now that he's back from his injury, his endurance is restored and he will be able to handle the exorbitant load Mack Brown loves to put on his backs.

If Limas Sweed is a household name in December, then Texas is probably on its way to Pasadena again. Sweed is another burner with excellent hands who should be the primary Longhorn threat at receiver. Nate Jones has had an excellent spring and will also catch plenty of passes. David Thomas, the starting tight end, will contribute, as he is very skilled and running quarterbacks love to hit big targets.

Every program that is based upon rushing usually has a strong offensive line. That is no exception in Austin as this O-line is probably the best in the country. There are a couple of guys (Justin Blalock & Will Scott) who will be playing on Sundays and the rest of the group is outstanding, as well. Texas will play a bruising, physical game and run their opponents into the dirt.

The Longhorn defense should be extremely successful in 2005. They have nine guys returning and a new coordinator Gene Chizik, who helped orchestrate Auburn superb squad last year. Chizik should be very pleased with his defensive line, as it is one of the best in the country. Rodrique Wright leads a dominating front four, which will excel against the run. These guys can also get after the quarterback and they should wreak havoc on opposing units.

The linebackers are a bit short on experience, but will do their best to replace the huge shadow cast by Derrick Johnson. Aaron Harris was all over the field last year, making 118 tackles, and I expect him to make even more plays this year. Robert Killebrew and Eric Foreman will help Harris keep the ship afloat and keep this group playing to its high expectations.

The Longhorn secondary is one of the best in the conference and should get even better. The starters are all upperclassmen and experience is one of the most valuable assets a defensive back can have. Michael Huff is a guy who can do it all at safety, and Cedric Griffin and Aaron Ross will give most receivers fits on the corners. This bend-but-don't-break unit will keep everything in front of them and prevent the big play.

I'm sure there have been many prognosticators who have picked Texas year after year, and have gotten burned. Mack Brown is on the hotseat, and there are a couple of games that should determine his fate. If the Longhorns can go into Columbus and knock off Ohio State and defeat Oklahoma in Dallas, they will be in the driver's seat to win the Big 12. Of course, in this conference, nothing is guaranteed, as every week will be tough. One thing is for certain, though — it will be fun to see who comes out victorious.

Also, see previews for the Pac-10, SEC, and Big 10. Stay tuned for more college football previews!

Posted by Avery Smith at 1:21 PM | Comments (8)

Sweeney's Paid His Due, Let Him Go

The Kansas City Royals have seen some difficult results in recent memory. Including 2005, it will be 20 years since the franchise's last playoff appearance. From the end of the strike in 1994, K.C. has enjoyed only one winning season. And in the last few seasons, the Royals' small market stature forced the team to sell off its best talents.

Johnny Damon landed in Oakland via a trade after the 2000 season. Jermaine Dye, picked up in a trade with Atlanta in 1997, ended up joining Damon midway through 2001. Carlos Beltran took a detour south to Houston for last year's stretch run.

Now, with the Royals plodding through another insignificant homestretch, a player that's stuck by the team in this pretty miserable run needs to move on. He might have started as a catcher in 1995, but Mike Sweeney has provided consistency in the field and at the plate since converting to first base.

Before the 2002 season, the K.C. front office made a commitment to Sweeney, signing him to a five-year, $55 million extension. The club also tried to make a stance on their losing ways. They promised the first baseman that he could opt out of the contract if the franchise didn't field a team with a winning record by the end of 2004.

Sweeney has continued to deliver pretty well on his end, hitting .309 and averaging about 24 doubles, 19 home runs, and 74 RBIs in those three-plus seasons. However, the new attitude of the Royals has barely come to fruition.

The team showed its two worst results (in franchise history) in '02 and '04, losing 100 and 104 games, respectively. Unfortunately for Sweeney, sandwiched in between those two dreadful seasons was one of mediocrity — enough mediocrity that K.C. ended up 83-79. That meant Mike would have to honor the rest of his extension.

And as far as anyone knows, he's not going to back down from his promise. He's the face of the squad, does bundles of charity work, and is apparently content to stay in town. All that being said, this guy deserves a shot at a winner. There will be no chance for him to do that as long as cheapskate David Glass is in charge.

Call me a hater. Call me callous. Call me Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock. (Then again, scratch that last one. Even I have my standards.) In the end, I think Sweeney should be moved to a place that's much closer to the brass ring.

Just think of what his steady bat (.316 BA, 25 2B, and 15 HR this season) could do for a contender in need of some offense. He could especially cause waves inside the division. It would be interesting to see him DH for the Twins or (uh, I can't believe I'm saying this) White Sox.

In the Star on Wednesday, columnist Joe Posnanski showed the argument of why the Royals should keep Sweeney around Kauffman Stadium for as long as possible. I'm a Royals fan. I'd love to see him keep producing clutch hits in the K.C. humidity. But in sports, there's always a stigma that the nice guys finish last.

When baseball's trade deadline comes up on Sunday, the organization should do the right thing. Let him play — somewhere else.

Posted by Jonathan Lowe at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)

Playing Golf Under the Lights?

This past Monday night was the Battle at the Bridges, a yearly golfing exhibition match featuring Tiger Woods in some form of match play. In this installment, Woods teamed with long-baller John Daly to take on the team of Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen in a best ball team format.

As a golf fan, the match was admittedly boring and difficult to watch. With no real prestige, a secondary effort by the players, and a guaranteed paycheck, there was no real compelling reason to tune in to the match. Even for people who love to watch these four men play, something just did not click about this exhibition. As a result, ratings were down 7% this year from 2004's version.

It turns out, though, that this Battle at the Bridges was the last under the contract Tiger Woods and ABC signed seven years ago. Woods and his representation at IMG have publicly said they would like to put the series on hold to allow Tiger to concentrate on winning more majors and breaking more records. That seems perfectly respectable, especially now that Woods has crossed the halfway mark toward Jack Nicklaus' impossible mark of 18 professional majors.

But, despite the downward trend in intrigue and quality of play in recent years, the Battle at the Bridges does still have some cool features. Of particular intrigue to me is that if the match extends to the 15th hole and beyond, the fans get an opportunity to watch golf under the lights. Enormous lighting fixtures, powered by generators, are placed on the final four holes to allow for night golfing. I love this concept and get a kick out of watching the fellas play in the dark. I just wish I had the facilities to do that myself.

So, I was trying to think of a way to exploit this awesome niche in the event for a positive gain for the game of golf. And then it hit me: have an entire event played completely under the lights in the dark. You could call it the Midnight Open or something catchy. It would be a limited-field event, meaning that only maybe 50 players could get into the event. Sponsors could jack up the purse and the Tour could even convert the event into one of the World Golf Championships events. It could be held in May, just after the Masters, but just before the spot where the Players will be come 2007.

In terms of televising the event, the Midnight Open could bring huge numbers of casual fans to golf telecasts. Let's face it: people don't watch golf on Thursday and Friday afternoon because they're working. Only the unemployed and rich get to see the opening rounds. People tend not to watch golf on the weekends because they're doing other things in the afternoon like lawn work, drinking, or something else.

So, by having an event played only at night, the event would have to be televised live and in primetime. You could take the drawing power of the night game in other sports and make it viable for golf for four straight nights. While it might be difficult to get primetime network coverage for the event, ESPN would almost surely pick up a guaranteed ratings gem like this. They could have SportsCenter at the Midnight Open and all the other self-promoting crap the worldwide leader does. Besides, the World Series of Poker would still be several months away, and I think everyone could use a four-day break from the six-month-long NBA payoffs.

It makes sense. Golf at night, bringing in viewers, playing the pros big bucks, and exposing the game to a segment of fans that are dying for sports alternatives in May. Yeah, it's crazy, but I'd watch it. Would you?

Posted by Ryan Ballengee at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 20

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson — Starting in his spare car due to a crash in practice, Johnson managed a near-top-10 finish, despite falling a lap down early in the race when he green flag pitted, only to see the caution fly seconds later.

"In NASCAR, they call that 'getting the (drive) shaft,'” jokes Johnson. "It looks like Jeff Gordon's bad luck is rubbing off on me. Of course, bad luck to Jeff results in a 34th-place finish. Bad luck to me is a 12th-place finish."

Dang, Double J, that's your car owner you're cracking on there. Who do you think you are? Ryan Newman?

On the surface, it was a decent day for the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy. Dig a little deeper and you'll see that five of Johnson's six closest pursuers in the points gained ground on him. The sixth, Greg Biffle lost ground, but only a nominal 10 points. Now Tony Stewart is bearing down on Johnson and his points lead.

After a week off, NASCAR heads to Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400, where Johnson has only one top-10 in three tries, including a 36th last year. Stewart, Biffle, and Kurt Busch all scored top-10s at Indy last year, so Johnson should heed the track advice of Gordon, who's won four times there, to maintain a healthy cushion in the points.

2. Tony Stewart — Although he didn't win the race, Stewart remained red-hot, finishing seventh for his sixth consecutive top-10 finish, and unseated Greg Biffle for second place in the points. Stewart now trails Johnson by only 66 points, and certainly has more momentum than anyone heading into the Brickyard 400.

"That qualifies me to make a bold guarantee," says Stewart. "I guarantee that more than six cars will start the race at Indy, unlike those clowns from Formula 1, who made the United States Grand Prix a joke. Also, if I win, I guarantee I will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated and not Danica Patrick.”

Stewart has made it evident that a win at Indy would mean more to him than a Nextel Cup championship. Whether or not we should believe him, I don't know. In any case, a win by Stewart at the Brickyard would be historic, as he would become the only man to win an IRL points championship and the Brickyard 400. Stewart came fairly close last year, with a fifth. Nothing would match the excitement of Stewart battling defending race winner and four-time Indy champ Jeff Gordon for the victory.

3. Greg Biffle — What may be a slump to Greg Biffle would be a streak to many others. Biffle has gone five races without a win, and has only logged one top-10 in that span. However, the No. 16 Roush Racing Ford has only finished lower than 17th once in those five races, and still is only 87 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

"So what's the problem?" asks Biffle. "Sure, I haven't won a race in a while, but when you win five so soon into the season, you have to call off the dogs at some point and let others win. Besides, I star in a great Subway commercial in which I act circles around my crew chief, Doug Richert."

Yeah, Greg, you make me want to eat at Subway about as much as that geek Jared. Give me 500 grams of heart-stopping fat in a Double Whopper any day.

Biffle finished sixth at the Brickyard last year in only his second Cup race there, a marked improvement on his 21st result in his first outing at Indy.

4. Rusty Wallace — Wallace and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge were a force all day, and he led the race as late as lap 177 until succumbing to the car of Kurt Busch. Wallace's second was his best finish of the year, and he was followed across the line by fellow veteran Mark Martin.

"And I bet you guys didn't even know it was old-timers day at Pocono," says Wallace. "All Geritol and Depends Undergarments jokes aside, I'm just tickled to finish second, but I would love a win in my final year to send me on my way."

Behind Tony Stewart, Rusty has been the hottest driver in NASCAR, with seven top-10s in his last nine races, and no finish lower than 12th. If Wallace gets a win at the Brickyard, he will surely have earned it. In 11 career starts at Indy, he has three runner-up finishes in his eight top-10s. Like Tony Stewart, a win at Indy has so far eluded Wallace. If his form of late holds, Wallace should finish in or around the top 10.

5. Kurt Busch — Busch bagged his second win of the season, and first since winning at home in Las Vegas, by sweating out four late cautions after dominating early. Busch led 131 of 203 laps, and 110 of the first 150, but had to pass Wallace with 17 remaining, and held on for the win. The four late cautions necessitated three extra laps and a green-white checkered finish.

"It's NASCAR's version of sudden death overtime,” explains Busch. "What a perfect way to cap one of the most boring and uneventful races of the year than to make us run three more laps with very little passing.”

Busch's record at Indy points to a top-10 finish this year. In four races there, he's scored three top-10s. Look for Busch and teammate Greg Biffle to lead the Roush charge on August 7th.

6. Ryan Newman — Newman was a fixture in the top five at Pocono until lap 139, when a flat right front tire caused Newman to nip the No. 42 car of Jamie McMurray. After pitting for damage control, Newman restarted in 24th and quickly passed 10 cars to breach the top 15. Despite the car's aerodynamics being upset by the damage, Newman was still able to pick off several more cars later in the race to collect his fifth top-five of the year. Newman remained sixth in the points, but gained 33 points on points leader Johnson.

Like Tony Stewart, Newman is another Indiana native who would love for a win at the Brickyard to highlight his career accomplishments. And a Bud Pole Award at Indy is absent from Newman's resume, as well.

"That's fine and dandy,” says Newman. "But race wins and poles don't compare to hearing Indiana homeboy and over-emotive singer Jim Nabors sing "Back Home Again In Indiana” before the race. Who knew Gomer Pyle could sing? Shazzamm!”

I hate to burst your bubble, Ryan, but Nabors only sings that before the Indy 500. You and your NASCAR pals will probably have to live with some American Idol rejects singing "The Star Spangled Banner" off key with a ghetto beat.

Newman's best finish at Indy is a fourth in 2002, and he's qualified in the top 10 in each of his four starts there. He's still searching for win number one this year, and while it probably won't happen at Indy, a top five is very likely, as well as a front row start.

7. Mark Martin — Martin matched his season best with a third place at Long Pond, his fourth third place of the year. It was another strong day for Roush racing, as teammate's Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards came home first and fourth, respectively, with Rusty Wallace disturbing an all-Roush top three with his runner-up finish.

"I guess the old dogs can still run with the big dogs," says Martin. "And I'm pretty sure we could drink them under the table. You know, you could take the number of years of NASCAR experience I have, and that number would be more than the ages of half the guys out here. I don't know if that makes me feel proud, or just old."

In any case, it should go a long way in Martin's decision to return for another year with Roush.

In his first sixth outings at Indianapolis, Martin finished top six or better five times. Since then, he's only seen the top 10 once.

8. Jamie McMurray — McMurray won last Saturday's Bud Pole qualifying, and when the green flag dropped on Sunday, he held it for all of about a quarter mile. Kurt Busch immediately passed McMurray as they entered turn one at Pocono, but the No. 42 car remained in the top 10 for much of the day.

"So I was on pole for about one day and four seconds," adds McMurray. "That's a long time. Now, in actual race time, I was on pole for about four seconds. That's not so good. Pole position is overrated anyway. Maybe it would mean something if we started single file."

McMurray was cruising along towards a likely top-five finish when the No. 12 car of Newman cut a tire ahead, and McMurray could not stop in time. The contact damaged McMurray's front end, and after pitting to repair damage, and re-entered the fray in 26th. Some crafty racing and shrewd pit strategy allowed McMurray to creep up the leaderboard and finish 11th. Currently 11th in the points, McMurray in nine points behind 10th-place Dale Jarrett and 36 away from the 400-point barrier.

Indianapolis may be the track that McMurray needs to penetrate the top 10. In his two races at the Brickyard, he's finished third and seventh. Expect a top-10 at worst for the No. 42 Dodge.

9. (tie) Elliott Sadler/Dale Jarrett — Robert Yates Racing teammates Sadler and Jarrett are separated by only 19 points in the Cup standings, with Sadler ninth and Jarrett 10th. At Pocono, Jarrett crossed the line 15th, with Sadler close behind in 16th.

"That's like receiving a package in the mail from UPS," says Jarrett, "and opening it up and finding a load of M&M's. You can't beat that."

That's amazing. Even in a fictional quote, Dale Jarrett shamelessly plugs he and his teammate's sponsors.

Last year at Indianapolis, Jarrett and Sadler finished second and third, following Jeff Gordon across the brick finish line. Yates engines are always fast at 2.5-mile tracks, so expect Sadler and Jarrett to run up front and fast.

10. Carl Edwards — Apparently, it doesn't matter where Carl Edwards starts a race at Pocono — he's going to finish in a much higher position. A little over a month after starting 29th and winning the race, Edwards started last on the grid this time and improved dramatically with a fourth-place finish.

"If I could start any further back, I would," says Edwards. "At Indy, I plan on starting from my hauler in the garage area. Should I win, you can expect a back flip from atop the Indy scoring tower."

Edwards has never raced in a Cup event at Indianapolis, but does that matter? The same was true in June at the first Pocono race, which Edwards won. As long as he has a good video game on which to practice, he should be good to go.

"One thing's for sure," says Edwards. "Wherever I finish, it will be a career best."

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 12:50 PM | Comments (3)

July 27, 2005

Larry Brown Departs, Yet Once Again

So, he did it.

Larry Brown left Detroit, but we already knew that. Right? We knew it before he even left. It wasn't a poorly-kept secret, because it wasn't a secret at all. Still, Brown left Detroit without a smile on his face, the same way he has left other cities and organizations.

But he did it. Again. However, Brown's agent, Joe Glass, is saying that Brown still wanted to remain in Detroit. Right. He may have, but for Glass and Brown to somehow think that anyone owes an ounce of sympathy towards Larry Brown over how his coaching contracts are handled is ludicrous. They are owed nothing. Did Brown want to remain in Detroit?

Maybe in the end. Maybe the day before the buyout happened. Maybe when Joe Dumars was still saying emphatically that Brown was the coach of the Pistons. Not when it mattered, though. When it mattered, when Brown absolutely had to be there for that franchise, Brown might not have wanted to remain in Detroit.

Nor do you go around talking about other jobs being your "dream job" when you are in the middle of a season in which you are trying to defend the championship you just won. So, Brown can sit there all day and tell you that he was fired, if he wanted to. The ability to decide whether you want to buy what he is selling you, well, that remains up to you.

Brown and Co. looking for sympathy in this situation means nothing, but is also telling.

Brown is a gentleman. He is a classy individual that may just call a timeout for the home crowd to keep up their standing ovation for a departing warrior. When the end of the day comes, Brown undoubtedly cares what people think of him. Otherwise, he wouldn't run so much spin whenever he leaves town.

When he left Philadelphia, man, he loved the town so much that he kept his kids there. That's sure to help the mind of the Philly fan that just wants to have a parade, right? Not really. He is leaving Detroit, but wanted to remain there, he says.

Larry, if you wanted to stay in Detroit, you wouldn't have opened your mouth about New York or came dangerously close to heading to Cleveland. Right?

Still, the Pistons are hardly innocent in this matter. They cut a guy loose, after two very good seasons, to bring Brown to Detroit. There wasn't a whole lot of warning in that matter. Rick Carlisle may have landed on his feet in Indiana, but the Pistons showed a completely lack of loyalty towards Carlisle.

Does any of that all matter?

In the end, Brown and the Pistons both expose just how flawed the business is. Brown comes off as being naive towards the negative ends of his departures. The team from which he just left sits with a shocked look about them.

The Pistons knew what they wanted. Brown knew what he wanted. They came together to win a championship. They accomplished what they wanted. Brown finally had his ring, and Joe Dumars began the return to glory for the Pistons.

It's a shame that the press releases announcing that Brown was done in Detroit hardly mentioned this.

Now, Brown will likely wind up in New York with his "dream job." The Knicks would be the eighth team for Brown during his NBA coaching career. He has coached two college teams, as well. After his two years, or whatever stint Brown puts in this time, where does he head?

The answer is simple.

Anywhere.

Because in the world of Larry Brown, and, let's face it, the world of sports, a dream job can come, go, and then come again.

Posted by Doug Graham at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)

You May Now Kiss the Centerfielder

Weddings...

Yeah, I really don't have much to say about weddings...

Sure, I'll take the proverbial plunge myself one day. A few tax breaks, free Corona, an opportunity to finally let myself go like Phil Mickelson — how can I say no to that?

(Sorry, Phil. I'm writing a column on Major League Baseball and I, in a non-sequitur of sorts, decided to venture into the realm of golf just to call you fat. I apologize wholeheartedly — I should have used the porcine David Ortiz in that context. I don't know if you watch baseball, Phil, but just like yourself, Mr. Ortiz is pretty fat.)

Anyways, Phil, I was coerced into showing up to this wedding Saturday. Don't quote me on this, but I guess my uncle Joe needed something else to do in Los Angeles since the Dodgers have been fielding a team of brides-to-be for so long.

Like I've told you before, Phil, I'm not a real fan of weddings. There's just something unsettling about watching two grown adults engaging in public displays of affection similar to the acts of endearment witnessed between Johnny Damon and Kevin Millar en route to the World Series last fall.

Like Mr. Millar, though, Phil, I mistake Mr. Damon for a woman every time I turn on ESPN and see his shoulder-length hair streaming behind him as he chases down another home run given up by overrated-starting-pitcher-turned-batting-practice-closer Curt Schilling.

With Mr. Damon in the outfield looking like a woman and Mr. Schilling on the mound throwing like one, I think that finally explains the homoerotic feel to last year's playoffs in Boston.

Wasn't Jimmy Fallon in some movie about the Red Sox during that time last year as well, Phil? Hmm...

Not that there's anything wrong with that, Jimmy.

I can see the SNL script now:

Tina Fey: Hello, Jimmy.

Jimmy Fallon: Hehe, you said Jimmy.

Tina Fey: Hehe, you said Jimmy, too.

Queue audience laugh signal.

So back to the wedding, Phil.

I'm sitting there in some uncomfortable chair with my arm around my teary-eyed girlfriend (women eat that whole matrimony stuff up, don't they?) somewhere between the last "I do" and the first trace of remorse on my uncle's face when some drunken old lady (sorry, Mom) decides it is time to start dancing.

Now few things irritate me more than weddings and the Boston Red Sox Nation, but dancing is most definitely one of those things. I do not mince my words, Phil, when I tell you that I would rather watch an entire Red Sox game sober than either witness or participate in anything remotely associated with dancing.

Case and point, Phil: look where dancing got that poor Kevin Federline fellow. He's dancing one minute, Phil, minding his business, you know? Then, out of nowhere, he meets this uber fertile Britney Spears character and ... end of story. Put you and Mr. David Ortiz together, Phil, and throw in that famous hot dog eating Takeru Kobayashi guy and Britney covers you guys carne asada for carne asada.

So, in an attempt to avoid such a fiasco, where I'd end up dating Kristie Alley or something, I pulled my arm from the girlfriend and, more troubling still, dropped my Amstel Light to charge for the nearest exit faster than Manny Ramirez from a steroid screening.

It is all a blur form there, Phil. I suppose I was intercepted on the dance floor, where I proceeded to go into preventative shock, for when I came to I was participating in some absurd, ritualistic motioning of the letters Y-M-C-A with my arms and upper-torso.

This is not something I'm proud of, Phil, but I am of the opinion that people can grow from such traumatic experiences. It was during this dance of sorts, Phil, that I felt a certain sense of oneness with the 2004 world champion Red Sox and, in a larger sense, the city of Boston.

Now, when I turn on ESPN and see Matt Damon and Ben Affleck sitting side-by-side in Fenway Park, I, in an odd way, understand where they are coming from. Love — as in the uniting of man and woman in the sanctity marriage, or in two middle-aged men uniting to catch a ballgame together on a Saturday night — I have realized, Phil, is something to be cherished in all its myriad forms.

Here is to the Boston Red Sox, the Village People of the MLB.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Posted by Kevin Connelly at 12:52 PM | Comments (8)

The Williams Effect, or Lack Thereof...

A short time ago, I had a nice conversation with a very high level Nike executive. Someone from my old high school, a Hall of Fame college athlete, and one generally great guy. He had just moved into a position where for the first time ever, he would have tennis wear under his umbrella. Not really having any experience with the tennis industry, I was able to give him some good sources for information, and we were able to discuss in detail the value of professional athlete endorsement.

I know, you already see where I'm headed. I hope so — otherwise you just don't read this column enough! Well, I was putting the thoughts that follow together when just after Wimbledon, Lindsay Davenport made her comment about the future of American Women's Professional tennis.

To summarize her comments, she basically said that after her generation, there isn't much else in the pipeline for America in terms of top-10 players in the women's ranks. Names like Alexa Glatch and Megan Alexander don't immediately pop off the tongue when talking about future champions. Funny, that was my comment to my friend just a few months ago.

The Unites States Tennis Association (USTA) and other tennis governing bodies here in the U.S. have been banking on a paradigm shift in tennis that they had been ignoring for years. The public parks tennis program, once a thriving portion of the industry, has been looked to of late as the savior of the USTA and the impetus for a whole new generation of tennis players nationwide. I find that funny, because until this current year, the expenditures of the USTA and USPTA in public park and public recreational tennis has been minimal at best. So why have they been looking for this new group to emerge?

I call it the Williams Effect. The rise of the Williams sisters from the mean streets of Compton, CA and the local public court, combined with their obvious urban minority background, had all of the USTA officials super excited. You could hear the meetings they must have been having. Finally, the urban, minority sector will come to tennis. If this were to be true, this is a huge influx of former "street" athletes and a huge boost to the athleticism in American tennis and another big chunk of the tennis retail market. Problem is, the Williams Effect never happened.

Unlike the Anna Effect, where Anna Kournikova's rise in professional tennis and her endorsements and worldwide notoriety has spurned a revolution in professional tennis and influx of former Soviet Bloc women's players in under a generation, the Williams Effect was zero, or darn close to it. It's a shame, but true. What's worse is that it seems everyone connected with the industry bought the idea hook, line, and sinker. Nike paid a humongous endorsement contract to Serena in hopes that she would be to tennis apparel what Michael Jordan is to basketball apparel. Interestingly, I couldn't find any statistic that backed up the concept.

In the time Venus and Serena have been in the pro ranks, there has not been really one player who will cite they got there because they wanted to be Venus and Serena. Mashona Washington was already there, Angela Haynes, Shenay Perry, and the others were young, but already in the queue. The influx of urban players was non-existent, as was evidenced by the recent fight to save the Harlem Tennis Center, which was almost lost. The numbers just never materialized.

Like me at any casino, the tennis industry and associations have lost big time. They bet the farm without taking a close look at what they were betting on. Thank the lord for the Russian women, or Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and all the others might be bankrupt right now. If pro-shop and retail sales of tennis dresses in my area are any indication, Maria Sharapova sells, where Serena doesn't. Three very leggy, cute college-age juniors in my local club had her Wimbledon dress before the tournament was over. I couldn't find anything that Serena or Venus was wearing.

Nor could I find anyone on the public courts. Asbury Park, NJ is a stone's throw from my house. It's about as urban as you will find in Central NJ. I spent the two weeks of Wimbledon tracing a route that took me past just about every public tennis court in the town and surrounding area. I think in two weeks I saw a total of six people playing on the courts. Just after Venus won the Big W, I went past all the courts, as well. In the three hours immediately following her win, I couldn't find a single person, male or female, minority or not, playing on the few public courts in the Asbury Park area. Nor did I find a ton of players on any of the nice public facilities I deliberately passed on my way home.

So, with all that, now Venus and Serena have their own reality show. I don't see this as anything that great, and clearly it won't bring more people to hit the courts and play some tennis. People are barely influenced by or watch tennis because the Williams' are playing. If the tennis community doesn't care, and their apparent base doesn't really respond, then who else really will?

Ashley Harkleroad, where are you? Maybe you will be our savior...

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 12:19 PM | Comments (7)

July 26, 2005

New and True in Yankee Blue

Last week, the New York Yankees proudly welcomed their newest member. There wasn't a press conference or a drawn-out podium spiel. There wasn't even a news release. Last Thursday night, July 14th, 2005, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez became a Yankee.

There's a distinction between wearing the pinstripes and being a New York Yankee. You're not a Yankee just because Bob Sheppard says so. Being a Yankee isn't about statistics or salary or track record. People who unbendingly argue that there is no such thing as a "True Yankee" wouldn't be able to see Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other ballplayers if they were in Field of Dreams. They don't believe. And if you ask any diehard baseball fan, believing is what makes baseball so exceptional.

True Yankees are like your grandmother's signature chocolate chip cookies — imperfectly perfect, special, and completely genuine. Other chocolate chip cookies are good. You accept them. You try them, yet all the while you know that your grandmother's cookies will always be True.

Statistically, Alex Rodriguez may end up being the greatest baseball player ever to grip a bat.

Financially, Alex Rodriguez may end up being the greatest grossing baseball player ever to spit a sunflower seed.

However, two lingering questions hang like Hideki Irabu's splitters over A-Rod's legacy:

1. Will he ever win a World Series? Or, will he emulate his boyhood idol, Dan Marino, the man to which he wears No. 13 in tribute to, and become the greatest player in his sport never to be crowned a champion?

2. The second question was if Alex Rodriguez (.318/27/78) would ever be distinguished by team recognition in addition to his amazing individual feats. Would he ever be a True Yankee?

And now, finally, after a season and half of playing in the Bronx, the latter question has been answered by one thunderous crack of the bat...

True Yankees have markedly Yankee Moments. Bucky Dent over the Green Monster in '78 . Jim "The King" Leyritz off Mark Wohlers in '96. David Wells' Perfect Game ("half-drunk") in '98. Hideki Matsui's Opening Day Grand Slam in '03. The list goes on.

Yankee Moments are pure. They are commonly re-enactments of those backyard wiffle-ball games with your brothers and neighbors. In those moments, anyone can crush the ball over the imaginary Green Monster, sprint from the stump to the bush to the old sneaker to the hat and back to the stump, all while the crowd screams — or at least your mom calls you in for dinner. These moments make you feel like you've hit gold, when really the only thing you were hitting was puberty.

Billy Crystal couldn't have written a better script for Alex Rodriguez's Yankee Moment.

The scene's location was Fenway Park, home of the World Champion Boston Red Sox. 35,232 extras were on the set to witness the greatest rivalry in sports on a striking summer's night. With the score tied at six, the game headed into the ninth inning.

Curt Schilling loped out of the Red Sox bullpen to pitch in his first game since returning from a lengthy stretch on the Disabled List. Schilling had been shifted to a relief role while Boston closer and the Yankees' first-half MVP, Keith Foulke, recovers from knee surgery. As a noticeably heavier Curt Schilling ran to the mound, Fenway erupted with a standing, jumping, screaming, shrieking ovation that registered a 1.3 on the Richter scale.

Schilling can be outspoken. He can be arrogant. He's never met a conversation he hasn't liked. To be curt, Red Sox fans don't care. Pitching injured, with a sock visibly drenched in blood, Schilling stymied the Yankees last October with pitches wounding the strike zone and a fastball that spoke fluent "heat." He's the face and garrulous voice of Red Sox Nation. He's the reason why many New England residents can now die in peace.

Schilling made his way to the hill, massaged the baseball, toed the slab, and then peered into the Yankees' first batter of the inning, Gary Sheffield.

Sheffield, who legally swings the most violent utensil in professional sports, fouled off Schilling's first offering.

Meanwhile, cut-away to Rodriguez. The nine-time all-star was peering in from the on-deck circle and I'll bet that he wasn't reflecting upon how he became the youngest player to 400 homers or one of only three men (Jimmy Foxx, Babe Ruth) to hit 35 jacks, score 100 runs, and drive in 100 runs for seven straight seasons. Maybe Rodriguez was hearing the voices. Maybe he was thinking about what Schilling had said about the frivolous "slap-play" with Bronson Arroyo in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the ALCS last postseason.

"That was freakin' junior high school baseball right there," Schilling stated. Let me ask you. Does Derek Jeter do that? You know for a fact that he doesn't, because Derek Jeter is a class act and a freakin' professional."

Ball one to Sheffield.

Maybe A-Rod was thinking about how he wanted to counter back to Schilling's comments, but had decided it was better not to.

Foul ball. Strike two to Sheffield.

Next, remarks from Boston outfielder Trot Nixon may have snuck under the helmet and into A-Rod's head. "When people ask me about the Yankees, I tell them about Jeter and Bernie Williams and (Jorge) Posada," Nixon had said. "I don't tell them about Rodriguez."

Ball two from Schilling to Sheffield.

Alex Rodriguez is a smart guy. He may give the company line more often than Bill Lumbergh from Office Space, but he knows what people think and what they say about him. How people suppose that he's self-absorbed. That he only cares about statistics. How he sacrificed Ws in favor of more green than Shrek's makeup kit when he signed a $250 million dollar contract with Texas. How you can't win with 24 teammates and one Alex Rodriguez on your roster.

Sheffield fouls off the 2-2 pitch.

Rodriguez takes his last warm-up swings. Maybe he thinks about how he has become loathed by baseball fans in Seattle, Texas, and Boston, and by casual fans all over. He thinks about how he's merely a talented baseball player who happens to make an ungodly amount of money.

He thinks about how his income shadows over who he is. People don't recognize that he's a considerate person. They don't talk about how he is a National Spokesman for The Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America. How he, a celebrity athlete, recently revealed his success with therapy to a world where athletes strive to maintain a macho, water-cooler tossing, bling-sporting image. And moreover, how he and his wife, Cynthia, donated $200,000 to a mental health program at the Children's Aid Society in Washington Heights this summer and how he vigorously strives to provide help for children who endure similar pain as he did when his father left his family at age 9.

Alex Rodriguez is not a bad person. He's not someone who calls out other players publicly. He doesn't beat up cameramen nor is he implicated for steroid use. He's just a phenomenal baseball player. He's a superstar who gets his uniform dirty and will do whatever, even becoming a third baseman, if it means a championship. He knows that you can have all the money in the world, but unless Jose Canseco's selling, you can't buy a ring.

That being said, as Schilling was releasing a 2-2 splitter to Sheffield, maybe Rodriguez came to the revelation that this was time for his Yankee Moment.

Sheffield viciously smoked the pitch off the Green Monster scoreboard in left-center for a double. The Monster was shaken up by the liner, but said it would be day-to-day.

So here it was: 6-6 in the ninth. The first-place Red Sox opposing the quickly-approaching Yankees. A-Rod versus the Big Schill. The go-ahead run was squirming off second-base.

A-Rod jaunted to the plate. He tightened his batting gloves, and then adjusted his helmet so that the interlocked "NY" flawlessly faced forward for Schilling to see.

Schilling checked Sheffield and delivered his first pitch to A-Rod. Rodriguez then unleashed his first swing as a Yankee.

Boom.

A-Rod absolutely crushed a low splitter for a two-run homerun off the back-wall of the centerfield bleachers. Rodriguez circled the bases, knowing that this was his response to Schilling, to Nixon, and to all others who waited in line to vilify him. And ironically, this was more poignant than words could have ever been. Curt Schilling stood there, front and center, took his hat off and wiped his brow. As luck would have it, it was Schilling who had just turned the keys to Alex Rodriguez's Yankee Moment.

For The Moment and the game to be complete, New York's closer, Mariano Rivera, would have to enact some revenge of his own against the top of the Red Sox lineup. While his microscopic ERA (0.89) sounds more like an amount George Costanza would tip, Rivera's only two blown saves were against Boston back in the first week of the season. Rivera proceeded to strike out the side in the ninth. Ballgame over. Yankees win, 8-6.

One game ends, one True Yankee emerges.

My father actually had tickets to see this memorable game. His seats were directly behind home plate with a few friends. Unfortunately though, my dad had to give his seat away because his job called for him to travel to Dallas that night.

Obviously, I talked to him the next morning all about the game. He sounded like a bully had stolen his lunch money. I tried, in vain, to make him feel better about his absence from the game. "It could have been worse, Dad ... it could have been a Perfect Game or something."

"It was perfect," he said.

BEFORE YOU HIT THE SHOWERS:

· One Good Eye, One Bad Eye: Mark Bellhorn of the Red Sox is 1st in the Majors in strikeouts (109) and 5th in the AL in walks (49). That sure is a lot of nothing. Maybe someone should buy him a baseball bat?
· Brotherly Love: Brothers, Brian Giles (San Diego Padres) and Marcus Giles (Atlanta Braves) have eerily similar statistics:

Brian: 325 at bats, 59 runs, 98 hits, 28 doubles, and 9 homers.
Marcus: 327 at bats, 60 runs, 95 hits, 28 doubles, and 7 homers.
…Sounds like the Davis Brothers in backyard wiffle-ball tournaments. Only thing was, whenever we batted, we made sure to have really fast ghost runners.
· The Giambino: Jason Giambi (.288, 15, 38) is raking right now. In the last 30 days he has the Big League’s highest OBP (.547) and SLG (.893). Yet, now, he isn’t talking to local television outlets. Before, amidst steroid allegations and the worst slump of his life, he was compliant with the media. I don’t really understand this move by Jason. This is like raising your hand in class only when you have the wrong answer.
· Off-CenterStage: Is it possible for a human to look more uncomfortable while seated in a chair than Michael Kay is on his YES Network interview show, CenterStage?
· Best Player No One Talks About: Pittsburgh’s, Jason Bay (.298,18,49). Last season’s NL ROY, has the 5th most extra base hits in MLB (51). That’s more than Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, or Alex Rodriguez, just to name a few.
· Old School: Speaking of announcers. Recently, I listened to an old-time 1957 radio broadcast of the Brooklyn Dodgers versus the New York Giants (boy that last line made me sound like a social animal…). Some dude called Mays had 4 hits, but the real thrill was listening to Red Barber hand over a few innings here and there to an enthusiastic pupil named Vin Scully. Scully’s voice and artistry were amazing even back then. One of my favorite parts of the game was when Scully described a fan on the field:
First, for emphasis, let’s portray how a current day broadcaster would handle this situation:
“Time is called as some moron got on the field.”
Here’s how 29 year-old Vinny Scully described it:
“Now two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. And a youngster has just run out onto the field of play. He’s running from leftfield into center and quickly over to right. He climbs back into the seats on the first base side of the ball field where the authorities will likely contact him. Tonight’s paid attendance is…”
Hmmm. I can’t decide which one Abner Doubleday would have been more proud of…
· Safety First: Hall of Famer Mel Ott (.304, 511 homers) was not a particularly fast ballplayer. Yet, he was a smart baserunner. In 22 seasons, Ott swiped 89 bases and was never caught stealing.
· Doctor L: After a game this week,Washington pitcher Livan Hernandez told reporters he was, “done.” And that "It's not the doctors. It's me. I'm the doctor. I don't need it, but I'm going to" have an operation, he said. While I don’t know why anyone would have surgery when they don’t “need it,” I can understand Livan a little bit. Simply put, the guy gets used more often than Times New Roman. In the last three seasons, no pitcher has thrown more innings than the Doctor’s 637.2 frames.
· Sleepy Time: Last week, ESPN baseball analyst, Steve Phillips was late for a scheduled interview on Mike and Mike in the Morning after admittedly sleeping too late. However this wasn’t the first time Phillips had slept through something important. In fact, as General Manager of the New York Mets, Phillips must have been hibernating from 2001-2003. I assume it was some drunken 9 year-old who gave Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar, Jeromy Burnitz, and Rodger Cedeno a combined 38 billion dollars, keys to New York City, and matinee tickets to see Rent.
· NHL Lottery Draft: This kid Sidney Crosby’s supposed to be a stud--like Adam Banks nasty. After winning the lottery, the Penguins will undoubtedly select him #1 overall. I guess Pittsburgh’s better than Columbus or Nashville. For one, he’ll have Mario Lemieux for guidance. However, I’m not condoning cheating or rigging of these lotteries, but the NHL should have cheated and rigged this lottery so that Crosby ended up either in Montreal, New York, or Boston.
· This Week’s Reality TV Moment Proving That There’s More to Life than Sports:
“People in jail have it made.”-Melinda from MTV’s Real World, Austin.

Posted by Billy Davis at 12:52 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Who to Watch in NFL 2005?

The long, dark night of the soul that is the NFL offseason is almost over. And for once in my life, I feel bad for NFL players. I would not want to be reporting to camp in the 100-degree weather that is engulfing the nation. Can you imagine being a 300-pound lineman expected to run around in this weather? Keep the water and Gatorade flowing so these guys don't pass out or worse.

As we get closer and closer to actual football being played again, allow me to offer you a few thoughts on what I am looking forward to this season. As is usually the case, there is no shortage of story lines or personalities when it comes to NFL football.

What Do You Do After 15-1?

As is my wont, I am again going to be selfish and talk about my favorite team first. The Pittsburgh Steelers had an amazing season last year. With a rookie at the helm, they won their division, had the best record in the league, going 15-1, and went to the AFC Championship Game. But with all of that, it had the feel of a disappointment. Seasons like that should get you to the Super Bowl. Instead, the Steelers barely escaped their first playoff game and got roughed up again by the New England Patriots on their home field.

Now, there is nothing particularly shameful about being beaten by the eventual Super Bowl champions (especially when they were out for blood after a thrashing earlier in the season at Hines Field when you have a rookie at QB). But still, that game hurt something fierce.

So one thing that has me excited, and a bit scared I will admit, is to see how Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers respond this year. I think it was clear that Ben wasn't able to overcome the physical and mental strain of a full NFL season. His mechanics and his focus were dragging at the end of the season and it showed. His interceptions went up and his touchdowns went down.

In hindsight, despite having home field advantage and a better record, it was hard to see how a rookie could beat a clutch veteran like Tom Brady. I know football is team game, but the QB position is huge and Brady clearly had the edge. I also know that the Steelers defense gave up some big plays, but Roethlisberger's turnovers and mistakes cost them the game in my mind. I am not saying that to scapegoat Ben, just to point out the reality of the situation.

What is exciting as a Steeler fan, however, is the chance for Ben to grow and mature as a QB. This guy clearly has game. He has surprising athleticism for his large frame and he has the leadership ability to make plays and inspire the team. If he can win 15 games as a rookie, imagine what he can do with experience and maturity.

But along with that potential comes pressure. Big things are expected out of Ben. Steeler fans want a Super Bowl trophy. They haven't had a QB like this since Bradshaw, and that expectation can be a burden. These kind of expectations often aren't fair, but they are real and an important part of being a star quarterback in the NFL is managing the pressure on and off the field.

Kordell Stewart showed flashes of brilliance in his own way during his time in Pittsburgh, but he could never seem to take it up a notch and really hone his skills and improve week-in-week-out. Part of that was the chaos of multiple offensive coordinators during his tenure, part of it was likely personal issues that undermined his leadership role, but it was also the inability of Kordell to live up to his potential in the way say Steve McNair did. Inconsistency plagued him while in Pittsburgh and continues to do so today.

In his favor, Ben has so far shown a remarkable level of maturity and again has a pretty solid team around him. Hines Ward is still the go to guy in the receiving game. Plaxico Burress left for New York, but the Steelers brought in Cedric Wilson from San Fransisco and drafted Fred Gibson to strengthen that position. Plus, fans are excited about Antwaan Randle El seeing more playing time. The former Indiana QB brings speed and versatility to the flanker position.

Also, worth mentioning is Heath Miller at tight end. The rookie out of Virginia brings the potential for one more weapon on offense. The Steelers haven't had a reliable receiving TE for awhile, and with the breakout year so many tight ends had last season, Miller has fans exited about watching a real pass catching tight end playing for the black and gold.

Of course, the Steelers are going to be a hard-nosed running team first. Jerome Bettis is coming back for one more season. There is hope that Duce Staley can stay healthy for a whole season, but it is nice to know that the Bus is there to share the load. Behind that heavy load, the Steelers also have the up-and-coming halfbacks Verron Haynes and Willie Parker — plus the intriguing rookie Noah Heron, who could be dangerous out of the backfield.

The key could all come down to the offensive line. The Steelers lost a couple of key players with the departure of right tackle Oliver Ross and right guard Kendrick Vincent. If the line can get the running game going, I am confident that Ben can avoid a sophomore jinx and take the Steelers into the playoffs. It should be fun, if nerve racking, to watch.

Okay, other than my beloved Steelers, who else will I be watching? Here are a few of the story lines I will be keeping my eye on:

Who Will Be the Next Rookie Sensation?

As a Michigan fan, I would love to see Braylon Edwards break the mold for successful UM receivers bombing in the NFL. But as a Steeler fan, I am not sure I want the Browns to do well. I think Edwards will be a weapon for the perennially rebuilding Browns, but I would guess that Trent Dilfer isn't going to break any passing records this year, so the opportunities for a breakout season might be limited.

Once Alex Smith signs with the San Fransisco 49ers, does he have the potential to have a breakout year? Again, I think the odds are low. With a new coaching staff and no clear leader on the offense, the 49ers don't really have the team to make that happen. Don't look for Smith to replicate Roethlisberger's achievement.

What about running backs like Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, and Cadillac Williams? Hard to say, but there is certainly some talent there. It is a bit unnerving that none of the top draft picks have signed with their respective teams. I guess everyone is waiting for Smith to sign and make deals based on those numbers. (Note: Smith signed a $49.5M deal with the 49ers after this was written. — Ed)

I think the Miami Dolphins are a better team than their record last year, and Ronnie Brown is a solid back, so that has potential. But of course we have the return of Rickie Williams to throw into the picture and who knows what that means. Sure, Ricky ran like a bull for a couple of years, but after his drug problems and his, shall we say, motivational problems, I am not sure what he brings to the table, but he has to make Brown nervous. Given all of this, I have to agree with SC's Dave Golokhov and wonder why the Dolphins want Ricky back anyway.

Brown's Auburn teammate, Cadillac Williams, is also a solid runner, but one wonders if John Gruden has an offensive game plan and the personnel to make it happen in Tampa Bay. Mark Clayton certainly had a great year, despite the troubles, so who knows. I know Michigan alum Brian Griese would love to have a powerful running game to help open up things for the passing game, but my gut tells me this is not the next rookie sensation.

Texas star Cedric Benson isn't likely to start for the Chicago Bears given that Thomas Jones is finally getting his career on track, but I am sure Benson will see plenty of action. You don't draft someone that high to have them ride the bench. But Benson's position on the depth chart, at least at the start of the season, doesn't auger well for a Rookie of the Year type numbers. By the way, it looks like former Michigan standout Anthony Thomas' days in Chicago are numbered.

As the above reveals, it is hard to judge who will be the rookie surprise of the 2005-2006 season. Did anyone think Roethlisberger would be the one last year? This is yet another reason to enjoy the NFL. Every year, there are rookies who fail miserably and there are those who exceed expectations. Watching it live can be a lot of fun (or painful depending on your perspective).

New Coaches

The last thing I will be watching when the season starts is the success of some new coaches. The aforementioned Cleveland Browns have had a nasty streak of bad decisions and bad breaks lately. One has to wonder if Romeo Crennel can turn this team around. The AFC North is a no cakewalk these days with the Steelers trying to stay at the top and with Baltimore and Cincinnati trying to ride their young gunslingers to the top, as well.

The Steelers and the Ravens should have solid defenses with strong running games, while the Bengals should have a dangerous offense as Carson Palmer continues to improve. One has to think former defensive coordinator Crennel is going to try and toughen his defense up, but I am not sure they have the D-line to get things done.

On offense, he will need to pick a strategy and go with it. Dilfer can be counted on not to do too many stupid things, but he won't win games on his own. I expect they are looking for Edwards to make some big plays, but otherwise play conservatively and keep games close. This is not a team made to win shootouts.

One question mark is the running game. Will Crennel go with Lee Suggs the back that has shown the most spark of late, underachiever — and former coach Butch Davis favorite — William Green, or the recently-acquired Reuben Droughns? The rebuilt offensive line might give the Browns the chance to use the power running game and let Dilfer pick his moments down field.

The spotlight will also be on new Miami head coach Nick Saban. I am not a fan of Saban, but it will be interesting to see what he can do with one of the most underachieving teams in recent memory. Year in year out, the Dolphins have had talent on paper, but playing in a tough division has kept them from breaking out and making a run for the Super Bowl. They have often had the makings of Super Bowl-caliber team with tough defense and a good running game, but they have lacked a real leader a QB — or at least a healthy one — since Dan Marino. Saban will have to decide who can take him the farthest this year, A.J. Feeley or Gus Frerotte. Tough choice.

And if being a brand new coach in the NFL isn't enough, Saban has to deal with the Ricky Williams circus and sign a first-round draft pick. Don Shula set the bar very high in Miami and the money Saban is making has to add to the pressure. Should be fun to see how things develop.

So those are some of the things that have me excited thinking about the upcoming NFL season. Hang in there, boys, football is almost here.

Posted by Kevin Holtsberry at 12:26 PM | Comments (1)

John Feinstein is a Jerk

A few weekends back, I was at a cookout with my girlfriend's family when her 16-year-old brother, Nick, pulled some harmless and common prank on a cousin. The cousin didn't make a big deal of it until another cousin, sitting nearby, started loudly whining repeatedly for him to "go tell Mommy." It was then that I suddenly realized what John Feinstein must have been like as a kid.

A little more than a week ago, John Feinstein used a column to tell the country that the "real" Tiger Woods is far from the funny and friendly guy you see in commercials. If that wasn't enough, he then took his "Tiger is a jerk" act to the radio, where he continued to run his mouth more about Tiger's imperfections. Now I could pull a "Feinstein" and tell everyone how to think, but instead of that, I will just tell you what I think — John Feinstein is a dick.

That may be a little harsh, but I'm fed up with this type of crap from columnists. A few years ago, everyone in the sports-media world kept saying Kobe Bryant is a good guy. Then he went a few rounds with that Colorado hotel worker and everyone said the same thing — "we don't really know these athletes we cover." Now Feinstein wants to run smack on Tiger like he has 24/7 access to him. Pardon my French, but cela est merde complete. (My limited high school French only covers the basics, like cursing, but if people want to use the whole "Pardon my French" thing, shouldn't they at least curse in French to keep it fresh?)

Feinstein has several main complaints about Tiger: he curses too much, he once raked his putter across the green after missing a putt and didn't apologize, he doesn't share his thoughts enough, and doesn't reprimand his mean caddie. I'm sorry, but is John Feinstein Tiger's mother? He curses too much? John, are you serious? I may be missing something, but that list doesn't sound very incriminating. What's more disturbing is that Feinstein felt that it was enough to run and tell anyone and everyone that Tiger isn't a true champion.

Now I never knew about Tiger's cursing and putter incident, but I now respect him more because of it. Everyone I have ever played golf with curses on the course, it's just part of the game. In fact, I usually curse before every shot I take, just because I know what's coming. And while the putter incident is Happy Gilmore-esque (I appreciate it, but I'm sure there are some blowhards who don't), you will need a little more than that to prove to me he isn't a true champion.

But wait, Feinstein does have more! For instance, the way Woods treated Phil Mickelson after the Masters this year. In case you didn't pick up on the scandal the first time around, after Phil Mickelson put the green jacket on Tiger, Woods didn't even glance back at him. I'm just damned glad John was there to get that down on paper and frankly, I'm surprised the Washington Post didn't come out with a breaking news late edition that day to cover the scandal.

So why isn't Tiger a true champion? Feinstein implies that Tiger isn't beloved, a statement that Michael Wilbon clearly debunked in a column last week and that's so blatantly false that it deserves a Vince Vaughn-esque (go see "Wedding Crashers," it is well worth it) "ERRONEUS!"

Feinstein may be content to look at petty things to determine that Tiger isn't a true champion, but for me, I have to look at what Tiger is doing off the course, as well. I don't have to look much farther than the eight "Tiger Jam" benefit concerts he's hosted to raise around $7 million for the Tiger Woods Foundation. In the fall, the foundation will open the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a $25 million, 35,000-square-foot facility that will include seven classrooms, a computer lab, a multimedia center, and a 250-seat auditorium will feature an after-school program stressing math, arts, language, and science.

"We felt the youth were getting underserved, especially in the inner cities," Woods told the AP in June. "They weren't given a chance to make something of themselves, so my father and I decided to do something about it. We're going to try and push them, try to get them to become leaders."

While he may have a long way to go in Feinstein's book ("Why Tiger is a Big Meanie Head", coming this fall), Woods is already a true champion in my book. Being an icon and role model to millions, dominating the game of golf like no other and doing the good and charitable work he does with his foundation is enough for me. Tiger, go ahead and curse, rake your putter wherever you want, and if I ever want to read about the time you spilled some milk, forgot to take your trash out to the curb, or ate some cookies after 9 PM on a week night, I'll check out John Feinstein's column.

The Sports Gospel According to Mark is sponsored by BetOnSports.com. BetOnSports.com gives you the greatest sports action to bet on. Wager on football, cricket, boxing, Rugby, horse racing, and more. Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].

Posted by Mark Chalifoux at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)

July 25, 2005

2005 NFL Preview: Dallas Cowboys

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Last Year

The Dallas Cowboys' release of quarterback Quincy Carter came as an abrupt surprise — kind of like 19-year-old Frankie Muniz' engagement. Head coach Bill Parcells felt that his marriage with Carter was built on a faulty foundation — kind of like 19-year-old Frankie Muniz' engagement. Unfortunately, both Muniz and Parcells didn't have the foresight to see what was going to happen. Vinny Testaverde didn't pan out and the Cowboys fell from 10-6 to 6-10. With Drew Bledsoe in the middle, America's team is heading in the right direction.

What We Learned From Last Year

The first thing we learned about the Cowboys was the name Tony Romo. As soon as Carter was cut, the quarterback depth chart underwent an MRI by every media source in North America.

40-year-old Vinny Testaverde became the starting quarterback, but everyone was aware of the fetters with him running the show.

Even with two former Pro Bowl receivers at his disposal, Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn, the Cowboys offense still emulated the characteristics of their aged quarterback: slow and boring.

Running back Eddie George added to the sluggish pace and proved the Tennessee Titans right for dropping him off the roster.

It wasn't until rookie running back Julius Jones recovered from a broken shoulder blade that the offense displayed any vigor.

Injuries to both Jones and Glenn really diminished the explosiveness of the offense, but Testaverde was not capable of exploiting those weapons to their fullest anyways.

He was faced with a lot of pressure throughout the year, but that was not necessarily an indication of poor offensive line play. Without any speed in the receiving corps after Glenn went out, passing plays took too long to develop. Missing Jones and a running threat for half the season also fanned the flames in the pocket.

In the 2004 NFL draft, the Cowboys stunned more than a few prognosticators when they traded out of the first round and in doing so, passed up on running backs Steven Jackson and Kevin Jones. In the second round, they picked Julius Jones instead and so far, he looks to be the most complete back. He displayed a terrific burst out of the backfield and has the best receiving hands of the three backs.

Defensively, the Cowboys simply looked talent-deficient. End Marcellus Wiley was in fact signed during the free agency period to address that issue, but he only supplied three sacks. The Cowboys haven't had a player register double-digit sack totals since 1996 and they fell short again in 2004, as Greg Ellis was the high man with nine.

With a mediocre pass-rush, the Cowboys exposed a bare secondary. Terrence Newman struggled in the early stages of his sophomore season and Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams was only average in pass coverage. Pete Hunter and Lance Frazier were ineffective while Lynn Scott and Tony Dixon were unable to match Darren Woodson's caliber at strong safety while he missed the season.

The secondary permitted 31 touchdowns through the air — two-short of the Green Bay Packers' league-worst total.

Linebackers Dexter Coakley and Dat Nguyen have anchored the center of this defense for years, but with Coakley gone and the scheme switching to a 3-4, the Cowboys will essentially be starting from scratch at this position in 2005.

Overall, this defense lacked playmakers as evidenced by the minimal amount of negative plays and takeaways.

Bill Parcells vowed a makeover and in the offseason he carried it out.

This Year

Like the affluent girls from MTV's Laguna Beach, the Cowboys dipped into daddy's pocket to spend some money this summer.

The result?

Let's just say the offseason looks as good as LC or Kristin poolside.

Daddy, in this case Jerry Jones, gave out more than $30 million in allowance to bring in: quarterback Drew Bledsoe, defensive tackle Jason Ferguson, cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn, and guard Marco Rivera.

With Rivera, a leaner Flozell Adams, and Larry Allen, the Cowboys' offensive line encompasses three linemen who went to the Pro Bowl last season. That leaves Andre Gurode and Al Johnson to battle it out at center and Ben Noll and Kurt Vollers vying for right tackle duties.

Protection will be imperative this season as Bledsoe is even less mobile than Testaverde. He is a statue and will make drive-killing throws if he's pressured. If a pocket is created, Bledsoe can make every throw necessary.

Instantly, the offense morphs into somewhat of a threat with a competent quarterback. Julius Jones will be stressed even more in his second season as he's proven he can be a full-time running back. He is a tough cover for any linebacker in the league which is why the Cowboys plan to use him more as a receiver this season.

The receiving corps is not potent, but is a complete group barring injuries. Keyshawn Johnson provides toughness while Glenn provides the speed. Both are over the age of 30, which is a concern. Depth is not present as Quincy Morgan can't stay focused long enough and Ahmad Merritt and Patrick Crayton are not well-equipped.

Tight end Jason Witten, who emerged with nearly 1,000 receiving yards in his second season, should develop a good rapport with Bledsoe. The media spotlight was kept off of Witten last season as Antonio Gates was much-admired, but Witten is one of the league's premier tight-ends.

While the offense is laced with season veterans, the defense is nearly the opposite and is in a rebuilding mode.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is regarded as one of the top assistant in the NFL, but he has never coached the 3-4 scheme — which the Cowboys will switch to in '05.

Furthermore, the team does have the necessary proven talent in the linebacking corps to switch over to this system.

Dat Nguyen will be facing more traffic as an inside linebacker and will have to come off blocks to make plays. He will team with a slew of prospects, such as first-round pick DeMarcus Ware and fourth-round pick Kevin Burnett, but both are still rookies. Ware will likely be a starter on the outside and has excellent speed for rushing the quarterback. Al Singleton and Bradie James are projected as the other two starters.

On the line, Jason Ferguson will play the nose tackle position and will push La'Roi Glover to the bench. Ferguson should not have much difficulty adjusting to his new role, but teaming him alongside Glover in a 4-3 scheme would seem to make more sense. Greg Ellis should have a pretty good tag-team partner if rookie Marcus Spears can develop quickly at the other end position.

The transition to the 3-4 shouldn't be too arduous, but many of these players have not had experience in this design, including the coordinator, so keep an eye on how they transform.

Terrence Newman will welcome Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn with open arms to team with him as the cornerbacks. This trio is strong upgrade over last season and will provide much needed stability in the secondary, while the front seven is learning and developing.

At safety, Roy Williams makes the switch to strong, which will allow him to creep into the box some more. He will be comfortable there, but needs to adjust to the NFL's ban of his favorite tackle: the horse-collar. Free safety is up for grabs between Keith Davis and Lynn Scott, but if Williams gets hurt, this backfield is in trouble.

With their new playmakers, the Cowboys will be able to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks this year and if they can grasp the new system quickly, they should be near a wild card berth.

Over/Under: 8.5

The Cowboys are well-coached, but with Andy Reid, Joe Gibbs, and Tom Coughlin in the division, they don't have a clear advantage in that department. This team is not overly dominant in any aspect and even though games versus Washington and New York will be tough, they should be able to milk three divisional wins. The play: @SD, @SF, @OAK, @SEA, ARZ, DET, DEN, KC, @CAR, and STL. Let's hope Terrell Owens has a nasty holdout.

Fantasy Sleeper

Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn are not going to top the cheat sheets this season, but both should be in for a significant statistical boost with Drew Bledsoe throwing the ball. Bledsoe had a good rapport with Glenn back in their Patriot-days and Johnson will offer a consistent target over the middle, so don't shy away from these two late in your draft.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:03 PM | Comments (0)

Lance Armstrong: Long Live the King

This year's Tour de France was much less a bicycle race than it was Lance Armstrong's victory lap — a 2,200-mile victory lap around France, with short jaunts into Germany and Spain.

The outcome wasn't in doubt for one moment, not even when his Discovery team collapsed and left Armstrong's well-toned butt hanging in the wind on a stage it hadn't scouted out in advance.

Even early on, when Armstrong wasn't in the overall race lead, none of the other riders actually wore the yellow jersey — they were just renting it.

He climbs better than the mountain specialists, he outperforms sprinters at the end of time trials, and he outlasts the endurance riders.

Armstrong's seven consecutive victories in the world's greatest bike race is spectacular enough, but the way he did it — by first climbing off what should have been his deathbed — only burnishes his legend.

I can appreciate Armstrong's feat of whipping cancer in a way that only someone who has watched a loved one die from the disease can. Both my father and brother succumbed to cancer, almost exactly 30 years apart.

Whenever anyone beats cancer, whether it's a second-grader or an Olympic cyclist, which Armstrong was before being diagnosed, it's a cause for all of us to celebrate, especially those of us who have seen it go the other way.

Even before crossing the line, Armstrong belongs not to cycling today, but to the ages.

"In five, 10, 15, 20 years, we'll see what the legacy is," said Armstrong, according to the Associated Press. "But I think we did come along and revolutionize the cycling part, the training part, the equipment part. We're fanatics."

In another, less cynical time, that explanation might have been sufficient. But this is an age where Barry Bonds gains 30 pounds — all muscle — at the age of 37.

The thought that a man could dominate the best competition in the world without chemical assistance, over a seven-year stretch starting less than two years after almost dying, is beyond comprehension.

With the cheaters consistently at least one step ahead of those trained to catch them, Armstrong can never completely be free of suspicion.

But cycling has the most demanding testing program in all of sports, that Armstrong has probably been tested more times for performance-enhancing substances in the last seven years than any other athlete on the planet.

And he has never failed, either in the laboratory or in the cycling peloton.

In bicycle parlance, Armstrong is the patron of the peloton. Were it a wolf pack, he would be the alpha male.

As the patron, Armstrong enforces etiquette of the peleton and is final authority over matters great — which riders get to make uncontested breakaways — and small — when the peloton stops for bathroom breaks.

And can't you just hear Jan Ullrich saying, "Can we stop now? I reeeeealy have to pee!"

Actually, it might be fitting to find that the world's finest cyclists really are acting like children in the back seat of a minivan, because, Pedro Martinez notwithstanding, Armstrong is the daddy of everyone else on two wheels.

Or, since we are talking about the Tour de France, pere.

Of course, just as with the alpha wolf, Armstrong couldn't be the patron unless he had the ability to punish those who break the rules. In last year's Tour, he led an attack to reel in another rider, denying him a stage victory for no other reason than revenge for a real or perceived breach.

The patron can be a benevolent dictator, as well. In another stage last year, then-Postal Service teammate Floyd Landis, now with the Phonak team, asked permission to make a break with all the deference that Beaumains exhibited when asking favors of King Arthur.

"Ride it like you stole it, Floyd," said Armstrong.

Not only does Armstrong get the yellow jersey, his word also goes a long way in determining which other riders earn honors.

Most alpha males, whether in the wolf pack or in the peleton, end their reign at the fangs and claws of a younger, stronger pretender to the throne.

That's not the case this time.

Armstrong isn't passing the torch — he's leaving it lying around for someone else to pick up. The next patron might be another American, like Levi Leipheimer or Landis, it might be heir apparent Ivan Basso of Italy, or once and possibly future champion Ullrich of Germany, respectively this year's second- and third-place finishers.

And while this year's Tour wasn't a race, next year's might not be either. If cycling fans are lucky, it's going to be a coronation.

Posted by Eric Poole at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)

I Hate Mondays: Trailer Park Boy

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As Ricky Williams arrived at the Miami Dolphins training camp, it seemed like a perfect time to cue the mellifluous music that opens each Trailer Park Boys episode.

In the first installment of each new season, Ricky, a character on the show, is released from prison with his buddies and goes home to Sunnyvale trailer park.

"Tonight, I am getting so drunk and smoking so much dope," he exclaim on his day of release in the fifth season.

Williams, heading into his sixth season in the NFL, might be off somewhere in Australia echoing those very sentiments if it weren’t for financial restraints.

Instead, he’s back in his jail, getting ready to grind through the rigors of another NFL season.

What are his inmates to think of him, a season after he prioritized his blunts over his buddies?

Everyone seems to be under the impression that his teammates will be furious with his abrupt exit, but the truth is that they will have no choice but to deal with it.

Michael Pittman purposely rammed a car containing his wife and son with his SUV and it didn’t phase his teammates. Leonard Little killed an innocent driver while driving under the influence of alcohol and then was caught drinking and driving again years later, but his mates still took him back.

The Dolphins' roster has no choice but to do the same. The burning question for Miami should be: why even open the door to him?

With a new coaching regime, a new direction for the organization, and a new face at running back, the franchise had seemingly moved past this shame.

To bring him back now pulls a band-aid off of a healing wound.

The only theory that makes sense is that the Dolphins plan to trade him.

But even if Williams does flash the skills of the player who burned up defenses for 1,853 rushing yards in 2002, who would want him?

Shaun Alexander and Edgerrin James, two of the NFL’s premier running backs, were on the trading block this offseason and garnered very little attention. The Buffalo Bills could get nothing more than a third-round pick for Travis Henry, a proven back with a miniscule figure on the salary cap.

So who would want Williams after a yearlong vacation with his excessive baggage?

The running back position is the most saturated position in football as every team is content with their main guy or their potential starter.

That means Williams is going to be a backup, and in that case, the Dolphins won’t get much more than a fifth-round draft pick for Williams.

I’m all for second chances if there are good intentions, but the idea of welcoming a 28-year-old running back who is only returning because he had to pay back $8.6 million of guaranteed money has more negatives than positives.

Ricky Williams and the Miami Dolphins mix like Mondays and me.

"Ricky, you're pointing a loaded handgun at a puppet. Behind the puppet is our friend. The bullet will go through the doll and kill Bubbles. Give me the gun." — Julian from Trailer Park Boys

Don't miss next week's installment of "I Hate Mondays," sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great sportsbook for horse racing and casino action!

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2005

The MLB's Arms Race

It's an annual rite of summer. As the days get longer and the humidity increases, baseballs start flying out of the ballpark. General managers cross off the dates on their calendars, getting closer and closer to July 31st.

Then the phone rings.

"Hey, do you guys have any pitchers you want to unload?"

Though it has always been said that good pitching will beat good hitting, this has become particularly true in recent years. With pitching being watered down by expansion, the construction of particularly egregious ballparks that are barely big enough to qualify as bandboxes, and the juiced ball/juiced players of the 1990s and early 2000s, there isn't enough good pitching to go around. This leads to some desperate maneuvering by general managers, and turns the last two weeks in July into a ridiculously entertaining swap shop of aftermarket parts and cheap accessories.

This year has been no different. The rumor mills have been on full blast for weeks, and in any given newspaper in any major league city, names and numbers have been flying as quickly as the readers can open the pages. It must be tough for one of the players on the block, not knowing whether to pack a suitcase for a road trip, or a U-Haul for a potential move.

The most thrown about name this summer has been Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who will be a free agent this summer. Still in the race, the cash-strapped Marlins are hoping to get something a cheap piece for Burnett while still keeping their overall talent level high enough to compete in the wide-open NL East.

Wait a minute, the prize catch of the trading block is A.J. Burnett?

Currently sitting at 6-6 with a 3.68 earned run average on the year, Burnett is, for his career, a less than .500 pitcher. Entering this year, his career ERA was 3.83, which when compared to the adjusted league ERA with Pro Player (now Dolphins) Stadium as his home park, gave him an ERA+ of 109, which makes him approximately nine percent better than the average National League pitcher. For all of his "pure stuff" and all of the oohs and ahhs that his 99-mile per hour heater gets, Burnett has only averaged 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Even worse, Burnett is an injury risk. Burnett has never once started 30 games in a season, starting 20 or more games only three times since his first appearance in a Marlins uniform in 1999. In 2002, the one year in which he had over 30 appearances (29 starts, two relief appearances), is also the one year that he threw over 200 innings.

Burnett isn't even an experienced postseason pitcher, something that is sometimes overvalued, but is still important in the stretch run. Burnett never pitched in a pennant race or the postseason, with Tommy John surgery limiting him to four early starts in 2003 before he missed the Marlins' entire World Series run.

None of this is meant to disparage A.J. Burnett. By all accounts a good teammate and a hard worker, Burnett is merely an example of trading deadline desperation run amuck. He's a nice pitcher, but too many GMs are being blinded by his talent and the thin talent pool out there.

The most heavily rumored trading partner for the Marlins at the time of this writing are the Baltimore Orioles, who are scrapping to keep up with the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East. The Marlins are rumored to be asking for a bounty for Burnett. I can see how the conversations between Marlins General Manager Larry Beinfest and the Orioles' two-headed monster of Mike Flanagan and Jim Beattie might have gone:

Beinfest: Can you give us your starting left fielder (Larry Bigbie) and a fireballing setup man with closing experience (Jorge Julio), both of whom are entering what should be their career primes?

Flanagan and Beattie: Sure, that seems fair.

Beinfest: Throw in your top-rating pitching prospect, who at age 20 already has been called up to the big leagues and didn't entirely embarrass himself (Hayden Penn).

Flanagan and Beattie: All right, that's a steep price, but a fair one.

Beinfest: Oh yeah, and while you're taking Burnett, can you take a 30-something-year-old infielder, who plays at the same position where you currently start an all-star (Mike Lowell)? He has a $21 million contract and has hit 11 home runs in a full season's worth of at-bats since the 2004 All-Star Break.

Flanagan and Beattie: Oh, come on, dude...

Scarily enough for Orioles fans, apparently the general manager duo was ready to pull the trigger on the trade until owner Peter Angelos stepped in and demanded the Marlins pay a significant portion of Lowell's contract. The Red Sox, White Sox, and others are rumored to be willing to step in if the Orioles can't get the deal done.

All of this for a pitcher with a sub-.500 career record, who you might only have as a rental for two and a half months?

The worst part is, this happens every year. Blinded by the calendar and the tightly-packed standings, general managers overpay for players who just aren't worth it. For every midseason deal that brings you someone like Rick Sutcliffe, who won the NL Cy Young after being traded from the Indians to the Cubs in June 1984, there is a trade for someone like Jeff Weaver, who folded in the spotlight of New York and a pennant race and was unceremoniously shipped out a year and a half later. That's not to mention the number of all-stars who get shipped around as prospects at the deadline, names such as Jeff Bagwell and John Smoltz, whose great careers simply obliterate any hindsight discussion of whether it was worth it.

But sometime before the end of the month, perhaps between the time this is written and now when you're reading it, a general manager will look at the standings and think his team still has a shot, and another general manager will agree to take on his future all-star. And so it goes, every summer.

Posted by Josh Frank at 6:12 PM | Comments (0)

Move the NHL to HBO?

From the moment the thought crossed my mind, I haven't been able to shake the fantasy.

The broadcast begins with a montage. Arturo Gatti, Fernando Vargas, and Jermain Taylor throwing punches at random opponents. Bob Costas sharing a laugh with a guest. Bryant Gumble on his soapbox. Cris Carter, Dan Marino, and Cris Collinsworth tossing around a pigskin.

A graphic: HBO SPORTS.

A voiceover: "The following is a presentation of HBO Sports."

Suddenly, we see Joe Sakic unleashing a slap shot. And Chris Pronger demolishing a forward against the corner boards. And Sid the Kid dancing around a defenseman. And, finally, Jarome Iginla and Vincent Lecavalier tussling in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Another voiceover: "And now, HBO's National Hockey Night."

The next minute is a slickly produced opening sequence, the kind of quick-cutting teaser HBO excels at — the kind that gets you excited to watch "Spider-Man" on a Tuesday night, even though you've already seen it five times in the theaters and 20 times on DVD. The kind that makes you count down the days (okay, years) until "The Sopranos" starts up again.

The tease ends, and suddenly we're looking at a studio every bit as spacious and awe-inspiring as TNT's NBA basketball mothership. Costas, our host, sits dead center, a large video screen showing hockey highlights in back of him. To his right are NHL Hall of Famer Cam Neely (most HBO viewers will, of course, remember Cam for his role as "Sea Bass" in "Dumb and Dumber"), and former NHL referee Paul Stewart, the tell-it-like-it-is, old-time hockey advocate. Think of him as HBO's Barkley, at least until Roenick retires.

And to Costas's left is Barry Melrose. Because there's just something about Barry Melrose, people.

After a few minutes of banter between the studio hosts, the camera swoops into a packed arena, gliding over the glass approaching the players near the face-off circle.

All of it in glorious HDTV, baby.

We hear a familiar voice, one that instantly informs the viewer that this is indeed a major league sporting event: Marv Albert's.

"Welcome to HBO's National Hockey Night," he bellows, welcoming in a two-man booth: former New York Rangers goalie Mike Ritcher (an American hockey legend, to calm the natives down) and Pierre McGuire, because this a dream scenario in which Canadian broadcasters would jump at the chance to be anonymous color men on U.S. cable.

The colors on the uniforms are as vivid as the faces under the helmets, which we're seeing clearly for the first time. The two centers prepare for the opening face-off. The screen splits: one half focuses on the players, the other broadcasts the feed of the referee's helmet cam as he drops the puck. The home team wins the draw, and we see the puck trickle back into the defensive zone. Actually, we follow the puck, because we're seeing this thing with more clarity than if we were sitting in the arena.

HDTV, baby.

The rest of the game features moments hockey fans dream of. Rail cams that capture the momentum of the game. Graphics that are able to I.D. players and quantify statistics without overwhelming the play. Open mics that catch everything from the "tap, tap, tap" of the attacking team's sticks on a power play to the occasional F-bomb from a frustrated player. "We want to remind the fans at home that these broadcasts are rated TV-14," Marv vocally winks.

In place of commercials — this is HBO, after all, not TV — are two-and-a-half minute vignettes that spotlight players, like those little asides they roll in during poker tournaments and NASCAR races. (Okay, it's not all commercial-free — there are the trailers for "The Sopranos," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Entourage," and "The Wire." Sure beats the hell out of the same three Mountain Dew ads for three periods.)

Between the first and second period, it's The Penalty Box — a 12-minute, no-holds-barred roundtable about the state of the NHL — moderated by Costas, with panelists Denis Leary, Cam Neely, and a revolving guest chair that promises to be Darren Pang-less, Engblom-less, and Bill Clement-less.

During the second and third, it's a traditional studio show with highlights of other action and a review of the action thus far. In the time remaining after the game, it's a quick recap, a teaser for next week, and, "Thanks for watching HBO's National Hockey Night. Up next is the 10,000th showing of 'Daredevil', starring Mr. and Mrs. Affleck."

The NHL on HBO is one of those concepts that, at first glance, should be easily shot down. Putting the league on a pay-cable network immediately reduces the number of fans that can watch the sport on a weekly basis — and, more importantly, makes it almost impossible for Gary Bettman's mythical casual fans to find their way to the sport. It would also limit the number of games available to fans — even if you could establish a "National Hockey Night" franchise on, say, Wednesday night, you'd be lucky to get another block of time on the network, save for an occasional slot on HBO2 in theory.

While the concept has its drawbacks and institutional problems, let's look at the alternatives:

• Another decade as filler on ESPN, as the network continues to devote more resources and energy to the NBA, MLB, NFL, NCAA, WNBA, X-Games, professional poker, cheerleading, bowling, Streetball, "PTI," "SportsCenter," "Around the Horn," the game show with the really smart fat guy, original series, original programming, the ESPYs, and that thing where the lumberjacks compete to become the world's greatest log roller.
• Spike TV, which would promote the hell out of hockey, but which doesn't have a HD channel.
• TNT, which would promote hockey in a slightly less enthusiastic way and would have to keep answering questions as to why it supports a sport that gets only a fraction of the ratings that "Law and Order" got in the same time slot.
• Comcast, which would offer hockey in HD, but would have to feature most games on the Outdoor Life Network until it gets its ESPN-rivaling sports network off the ground. And while OLN makes sense for Lance Armstrong, what the hell does it have to do with a game played in an arena?

Keep in mind that the NHL drew less than 1 percent (0.7 percent) of U.S. cable TV households during the 2004 season. Some people think you build that audience with saturation, but I say you build it by making the NHL something buzzworthy.

What the NHL would have on HBO is novelty, something the sport needs an infusion of quickly. None of the professional leagues have been featured in an uncensored, commercial-free format on a pay channel before. And while HBO may not have the same level of prestige it had a few years back (Good Lord was "Carnivale" televised Sominex), it's still where the cool kids come to hang out.

The last time HBO committed to a live, non-boxing sporting event was Wimbledon, which it had from 1975 to 1999. The network dropped tennis in 1999 because it decided it wanted a change. Seth Abraham, then president of Time Warner sports, told the Associated Press that it wasn't a money decision, despite the fact that tennis had increased its asking price quite substantially. "Time Warner doesn't scare easily money-wise. That wasn't really a concern," he said.

That's got to be music to the NHL's ears, because it's already accepted one public access TV deal from NBC.

Best of all for hockey, there's something HBO will never concern itself with: ratings. Every American sportswriter who's crowed about the NHL barely outdrawing a test pattern on cable TV can take their constant hockey-obituary writing and shove it up their collective arses. So long as hockey isn't driving away subscribers in droves, viewership won't be an issue. (And keep in mind this is an audience that kept "Arli$$" on the air for about a decade; it has quite a pain threshold.)

I actually had "NHL on HBO" on the brain for a while — mainly because of the HDTV options, and the fact that we could finally hear the players sounding like Reggie Dunlop during the game. Then USA Today television columnist Michael Hiestand actually inquired with HBO about the idea this week.

"That's intriguing," HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg told him. "The only issues would be how much (money) they'd want and the games' significance."

By that, Greenburg meant he couldn't see HBO putting on weekly regular season games.

Fine by me. Get a third entity — Spike, OLN, USA Network, or just local affiliates — for the regular season, and then HBO for the playoffs and the first two games of the Finals before NBC takes over the rest of the series.

The NHL on HBO doesn't mean Tony Soprano doing play-by-play. It doesn't mean Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, Michael Naslund, and Peter Forsberg in "Slapshots in the City." It doesn't mean between-periods performances by the G-String Divas (although maybe it should).

It means rethinking traditions. It means taking a chance. It means rebuilding your street cred in a potentially damaging, yet potentially revitalizing way.

It means people talking about the NHL again — which means it's an idea worth considering.

Greg Wyshynski is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].

Posted by Greg Wyshynski at 5:45 PM | Comments (0)

A New Era: Crosby Joins Baby Penguins

"With the first overall pick of the 2005 draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins select Sidney Crosby."

Those words will be said in about a week, and it should signify a new era of Penguins hockey. Gone are the days of Super Mario (well, almost), Ron Francis, Mark Recchi (oh wait, he's back for more), Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Kovalev, and all of the other superstars that populated the Penguins roster during the 1990s. Instead, there's a bunch of kids, the crown jewel of which is going to be Sidney Crosby.

Will this be enough to win over the masses that have left the Igloo and all of the suffering that has happened since the team dismantled several years ago?

The very fact that Sidney Crosby is going to the Penguins, who desperately need a new face and a new building, has some mild conspiracy theorists pointing fingers. With the constant threats of the team moving, the last legs of Mario Lemieux — the last true NHL superstar — and a building that spells financial disaster for a team with a pretty good hockey tradition, Pittsburgh was a “safe" choice if there was indeed a fix in the lottery.

Most likely, the fix was never in and it was just fate that joined Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux. But Mr. Crosby's got his work cut out for him. However, he's got a pretty good supporting cast to help him out. Besides Sidney Crosby, here are the reasons for Penguins fans to be optimistic.

Marc-Andre Fleury — His time in the NHL lasted about half a season. In that span, he had some great games and some awful games, just like any other rookie should. However, Fleury's good games were really good, so much so that despite the rookie mistakes that he made, many hockey observers are still ready to anoint him as the next great goaltender. Keep in mind that Roberto Luongo didn't develop for several seasons, and Rick Dipietro is just coming to his own now, so give young Fleury a little bit more time.

Evgeni Malkin — The 2004 draft was supposed to be the Alexander Ovechkin draft. Scouts had Malkin ranked second behind the cocky Ovechkin, and Pittsburgh happily gobbled him up with the second overall pick. During the lockout, World Junior Championship watchers got a chance to compare Malkin side-by-side with Ovechkin. Most agreed that Malkin appeared to be as good, if not better on some nights, as Ovechkin. Ovechkin had more flash, more brass confidence, but Malkin's passing vision and hockey sense couldn't be ignored. The fact that Malkin, arguably as good as the No. 1 pick in his draft year, and Crosby will be anchoring the Penguins attack means that Pittsburgh fans may have the next version of Mario and Jagr in their grasp.

Ryan Malone — In a woeful 2003-2004 season, Ryan Malone was one of the few bright spots for the Penguins. Fittingly, Malone is a Pittsburgh native and an NCAA graduate. Forty-three points in a season doesn't seem like a heck of a lot, but considering just how bad the Penguins were last season, it's not too bad for a kid out of St. Cloud State. Malone should prove to be a fine second liner with potential for more. He's got work ethic and skill, and for the Penguins, that's more than enough.

Dick Tarnstrom — Dick Tarnstrom literally came out of nowhere several seasons ago to become a power play stud. Fantasy team owners noticed immediately, but most of the hockey world ignored him, since Tarnstrom was stuck in Pittsburgh's dying glow. Tarnstrom has been one of the most effective power play men in the league since joining the Penguins in the 2002-2003 season. He's just on the cusp of 30, meaning he should be around to help out the Penguins as Crosby and Malkin mature and come into their own.

Aside from the stellar young talent on the Penguins, there's still Mario Lemieux and Mark Recchi to carry some load. The presence of Lemieux and Recchi won't mean as much on the ice as off the ice. Lemieux was the boyhood hero of countless young NHLers and Recchi is a respected leader in his own right. By having those two veterans take charge of the locker room, the young stars of the Penguins will have mentors more than capable of showing them how to carry themselves in the NHL.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Penguins fans can expect a Stanley Cup next season, as nice of a story as that would be. Young players need time to develop together, and the prime trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury will probably not thrive for at least a few seasons. There's even question of whether or not Malkin will play in the NHL this season. And there's always the possibility that one or two of these “can't miss kids" will in fact be a bust. But the potential for another dominating Penguins team isn't too far off the horizon.

The only question that remains is whether or not the Penguins will still be in Pittsburgh by the time they are ready to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Posted by Mike Chen at 4:19 PM | Comments (0)

July 22, 2005

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's ... 30?

Before the age of 30, the fabled Alexander The Great had conquered most of the known Ancient World.

On the eve of his 30th birthday next Wednesday, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has arguably conquered most of the baseball world.

Yet the player who Yankees broadcaster John Sterling has anointed "Alexander The Great" differs from his namesake in one important regard. The senior Alexander was victorious in each of the cities through which he passed.

From Seattle to Arlington to the Bronx, baseball fans have watched Rodriguez in amazement, waiting for the ultimate dividend the home team's huge investments figured to earn. For Seattle and Texas, that dividend never came before they bid adieu. Rather, they found themselves a stronger contender in his wake, lending credence to A-Rod's image as poster child for the Addition-By-Subtraction doctrine.

Given their team's 2004 postseason collapse and sluggish start this year, many short-on-patience Yankees fans have been left wondering if they haven't been hit by a case of the reverse: Subtraction-By-Addition. Recent success has tempered their impatience, but it always lingers near the surface.

So, is this rap a fair one or is A-Rod merely the victim of misguided jealousy?

Pundits point to Rodriguez's triple-crown contending 2005 season and argue that a player with this kind of production can only be regarded as a pure asset. One man cannot single-handedly bring a World Series trophy to any city.

Opponents cite the distractions created by a circus atmosphere this media darling draws into a Yankee clubhouse that has swallowed up its share of superstars and maturated them into a team-oriented dedication to winning.

Oh yes, there's one other thing on their side: his stats aren't what they appear to be.

Perhaps no single example could articulate this dichotomy better than what occurred on a warm Milwaukee night in early June.

It was the eighth inning. Rodriguez stepped to the plate to face Jorge De La Sosa. The Brewer southpaw was making only his 24th career appearance. A-Rod lined his offering into the right field stands for his league-leading 19th homer of the season. What's more, he became the youngest player in major league history to reach 400 career home runs at the tender age of 29 years and 10 months. He rounded the bases, tagged the plate, and stood at the threshold of the doors to Cooperstown.

On the other hand, it was a solo shot. The Yankees were up 10-3 at the time.

When news of his milestone was carried to televisions in Seattle, Texas, and Boston, viewers simply shrugged. Yet another stat-padding solo shot for the $25-million dollar man they all lost out on.

Particularly in Boston, A-Rod is regarded contemptuously as "A-Fraud." This contempt was born of the February 2004 trade that sent him to New York on the heels of Red Sox management's failed attempt to acquire him only two months prior.

Throw in last July's run-in with Sox catcher Jason Varitek that became the rallying cry for Boston's first modern-day World Series title, then The Slap in Game 6 of the ALCS, and A-Fraud has forever embedded himself in the ridicule of Bostonians. He was a favorite target of player and fan ire all through last winter and spring. Even now, boards light up in Boston when a radio caller starts an A-Rod thread.

With so much bad blood spilled between player and city, is it conceivable Bean-towners may have allowed A-Rod's notoriety to preempt a fair bean-counting of his achievements?

Although a career .306 hitter, the chief manifestations of Rodriguez's conquest of baseball are his home runs, followed by RBI and a couple of gold gloves. Not yet 30, A-Rod is already tied for 39th all-time with 407 home runs that — along with 1,173 RBI — will ensure his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Adding six postseason homers, A-Rod's career total rises to 413. Most importantly in Boston, he has hit 65 — nearly one in six — over the last season and a-half as a Yankee. So, how significant are his taters?

First and foremost, the Yankees have a .754 winning percentage (43-14) in games where A-Rod has homered and .549 in which he has not. That's prima facie evidence the Yanks win when he homers. Score this one to Alexander The Great.

On the other hand, 31 — nearly half — were hit in games decided by a margin of five or more runs (26 in wins, 5 in losses). Ahhh, it could be that A-Rod simply homers when the Yanks win, the old chicken-and-egg debate. Give this to A-Fraud.

On 24 occasions, A-Rod homers got the Yankees on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, the Yankees went on to win only 14 of those games, but we're not going to blame The Great for this. Score: 2-1.

How about 34 solo homers compared to only one grand slam? For the record, 21 were two-run shots while the remaining nine were for three. We're back to deuce.

Another 34 homers were hit in either tied or one-run games. But wait! Twenty occurred in the first three innings and only three from the seventh inning on. In fact, A-Rod has hit a mere 14 homers from the seventh inning on since becoming a Yankee, and only three — the most recent against Curt Schilling in Boston — affected the outcome. A-Fraud takes the lead.

Well, not everything's about the long ball. Hitting for average is one of the five tools, too.

We'll measure A-Rod by the same barometer with which all of Yankeedom measures the mettle of its players — how well they perform against the Red Sox, the Mets, and in the postseason.

In his first year in the Bronx, Alex hit a disappointing .286 in the regular season but .320 in the playoffs. His average was .291 in 26 games against Boston and .258 in six against the Mets. Collectively, he hit 5 of his 39 homers and drove in 17 of his 114 runs against his team's major nemeses.

This year has been better. Rodriguez is hitting .311 overall, including a blistering .609 ¬— albeit over six games — against the Mets, but .255 in 13 games against Boston. In the 19 combined games, A-Rod has 4 homers and 12 RBI. Most of this damage came during this past weekend's series in Boston when he collected 3 homers and 5 RBI.

Rodriguez's numbers do tend to hold up regardless of the game situation. In 2004, he hit .286 and drove in 31 runs — slightly less than a third of his production — from the seventh inning on. In close and late situations, he hit .275. The only stunning aberration was with runners in scoring position and two away, where he hit .206.

In 2005 to date, A-Rod is hitting .317 from the seventh inning on, .317 in close and late situations, and a much-improved .304 with runners in scoring position and two out.

Against these good but not spectacular numbers, Alexander The Great fans will point out that objective stats don't measure how much A-Rod improves those around him. Gary Sheffield is the defense's key witness here, hitting as he does just ahead of A-Rod in the batting order most nights.

Those who allege Alex is a fraud will ask for proof of that pudding. They'll want to know how Seattle won 25 more games in the first year without him. If he's such an intangible asset, how did Texas win 22 less games in his first year and decline further in each of the next two until trading him and regaining winning ways?

They'll ask why these teams had a combined .475 winning percentage over their last three years with Alex Rodriguez on their roster, then a .603 percentage in the ensuing years (three for Seattle, one for Texas). Discounted of course will be the presence of Jaime Moyer and Ichiro Suzuki in Seattle, of Alfonso Soriano and Kenny Rogers in Texas. That is only so much noise.

Like Tom Hanks and Shelley Long in The Money Pit, George knows he'll eventually get the house of his dreams, maybe even this year. When he does, A-Rod will undoubtedly be a tenant since his lease still has another five and one-half years remaining.

On that night when A-Rod stands in the locker room with the trophy in hand, we can all debate whether he was chief architect or collateral beneficiary.

Posted by Bob Ekstrom at 4:11 PM | Comments (0)

2005 NFL Preview: Cleveland Browns

Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com

Last Year

Questioning Jeff Garcia's sexuality, threatening to decapitate opposing quarterbacks, and shipments of Pepto-Bismol all factored into making the Cleveland Browns the laughing stock of 2004. The stress swelled between the temples of head coach Butch Davis as he resigned after Week 12 — conveniently right before a meeting with the Super Bowl champs. The Browns have made an effort to clean up their off-the-field problems, which is a step in the right direction, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will translate into on-field success.

What We Learned From Last Year

Finding something good off of the Browns 2004 squad is like trying to find Dave Chappelle in South Africa.

I'm not trying to compete with Buck Nasty, Pit Bull, and Silky Johnston for the Playa Hater of the Year award, I'm just telling it like it is.

Jeff Garcia, who signed as a free agent, was supposed to solidify the quarterback position after years of inconsistency between Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb, but he came in and posted career-lows in completion percentage, quarterback rating, and touchdown passes.

In his defense, there were constant distractions for him, such as Terrell Owens implying that Garcia was suited to play in Chappelle's "Ask a Gay Dude" segment.

On the field, Garcia was constantly under pressure. Playing behind an offensive line that allowed 25 sacks in his first nine games and having no running game for support was, as Rick James would say, cold-blooded.

Lee Suggs garnered praise as one of the few positive spots on the offense but he only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. He has shown some flashes which indicate that he could be a premier back in a superior environment.

William Green, a habitual line-stepper, was finally able to start more than 10 games in his third season, but wore out his welcome with his ineffectiveness (3.6 ypc and 2 touchdowns).

The production from the wide receivers was just as spotty with no primetime weapons. The Browns quarterbacks took the advice of Wu Tang Financial and diversified their bonds, but even so, the combination of Dennis Northcutt, Andre Davis, and Antonio Bryant only combined for 1,768 yards and 8 touchdowns. Losing Davis for nine games with a turf toe injury really hindered this group.

Rookie tight end Kellen Winslow was in-line to be the big-play threat, but was lost for the season on a special teams play in Week 2.

The offense had sufficient talent at all the extremities to succeed, but was never able to get a rhythm going because of a porous offensive line. When they played cohesively, it was evident that Cleveland had enough to be competitive.

On the other side of the ball, the defense was unbalanced and not even a good choking from Wayne Brady would have helped.

The pass defense ranked fifth, the rush defense ranked 32nd.

We could talk about safeties Earl Little and Robert Griffith and cornerback Anthony Henry, three of the four players who started and stood out in the Browns' secondary last season, but they will not be a part of the 2005 roster.

As for the run defense, it was hands down, the worst in the NFL. Even a burned-out Tyrone Biggums could have torched this defense for 100+ yards. With most of their defensive line gone to Denver, along with a change in the defensive philosophy, the Browns will inherit very little from last year's front seven.

When you turn on your TV, what you're going to see now is the Romeo Crennel show. With a massive roster overhaul and a brand new coaching staff who enter along with him, the Browns won't have too much negative carry over going forward.

This Year

The Browns are no longer a soap opera and their concentration is squarely on football matters. But make no mistakes, this is a rebuilding season.

Five wins would be a success.

Crennel made a name for himself as Bill Belichick's defensive coordinator in New England so expect his expertise to stimulate the defense more than the offense.

They will need it because they are light on experience and thin on talent. Just as the statistics from last season indicate, the secondary is the strength and the run defense is the weakness.

Starting cornerbacks Daylon McCutcheon and Gary Baxter are a quality starting duo, but depth at this position is unproven. Michael Lehan, Leigh Bodden, and rookie Antonio Perkins are all unproven, and furthermore, this secondary is not capable of matching up with three- or four-receiver sets.

The future at safety is Sean Jones and Brodney Pool. Jones was last year's second-round pick (and missed the entire season with an ACL injury) and Pool is this year's. Jones is beaming with athletic ability and Pool has great instincts at free safety, but the problem is that both are (essentially) rookies. Brian Russell is the only experienced backup and although he's the projected starter at free safety, his skills are only average at best.

The front seven is switching to a 3-4 scheme, but the tawdry personnel isn't fooling anyone.

The linebackers are a group of suspects and remain a gaping area of need. The Browns attempt to address this deficiency in the offseason was by signing Matt Stewart and drafting Nick Speegle (sixth-round). Stewart is a mediocre fill-in and the expectations for Speegle will be limited as well in his first season. The four starters project to be Kenard Lang and Chaun Thompson on the outside with Ben Taylor and Andra Davis on the inside. Lang has been a career defensive end and should be effective in a pass-rushing role, but has never responded well to running situations.

Thompson and Davis are both raw players who Crennel might be able to turn out, especially Davis, who should overachieve like most players do in a contract year.

The front lines are finally rid of first-round underachievers Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren. Both never panned out, but a change in environment could inspire them. So that leaves Alvin McKinley, Orpheus Roye, and Jason Fisk with — what is becoming a common theme — little depth behind them.

Fisk is too small to play nose tackle in a 3-4 and will likely break down. Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork, both who play the pivotal tackle role for Pittsburgh's and New England's 3-4 are 6-1, 325 pounds. Fisk's sub-300 pound stature figures to be an Achilles heel.

The ends McKinley and Roye don't scare anyone and once again, veteran depth is absent.

Crennel was a wizard at extracting production from no-name players in New England, but he really doesn't have a lot to work with here.

On offense, the most important change will be a revamped offensive line. The addition Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman will give the Browns an excellent guard tandem and tackle L.J. Shelton seems re-energized after signing a one-year deal with the Browns. Ryan Tucker is the team's best lineman and center Jeff Faine should improve with a better cast around him.

Trent Dilfer is Cleveland's short-term solution at quarterback and third-round selection Charlie Frye appears to be at least a year away from starting. It would make sense to get Frye at least a few starts by the end of the season just to see what they have in him. The Buffalo Bills pried Kelly Holcomb away for just $1.5 million per season — the offense would have been more dangerous with him.

William Green and Lee Suggs have both suffered playing behind a terrible line, so look for an increased output from both of them. The acquisition of Reuben Droughns seems like an absolute waste. See Orlandis Gary. What the move does show is that the team, for whatever reason, is not completely sold on Suggs as a starter.

The wide receivers are a shining light, but they have no quarterback to get them the ball. Rookie Braylon Edwards figures to provide the big plays, which should eventually slide Andre Davis, Antonio Bryant, and Dennis Northcutt down the depth chart. They are a complete group, but won't feast on any secondaries with Dilfer at the helm.

The run defense that allowed almost 145 yards per game doesn't look overly improved and while the team has upgraded offensive parts, the skill at quarterback has been downgraded.

Enjoy.

Over/Under: 4.5

Crennel's defense will be a treadmill for run-heavy Pittsburgh and Baltimore, while the secondary will get picked apart by Cincinnati's competent set of receivers. Let's hope that at the very least, Crennel can keep this team somewhat competitive. Outside the division they play: @GB, @IND, DET, @HOU, TEN, MIA, @MIN, JAX, and @OAK.

Fantasy Sleeper

William Green is a forgotten man on this offense and was even on the trading block this offseason, but Crennel has been impressed with his work ethic in early camps. This is the best offensive line he has ever been teamed with and he still has that burst of speed that caught Cleveland's eye in the 2002 draft.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 3:44 PM | Comments (6)

Sports Q&A: Hot Dog! It's Kobayashi!

Oscar from Frankfurt, KY asks, "Who has the more impressive list of accomplishments: Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, or Takeru Kobayashi?"

Oscar, I can't believe you would mention Kobayashi in the same breath with Woods and Armstrong — the five-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champion is clearly in a class by himself. I doubt Woods and Armstrong have eaten 49 hot dogs combined in their lives, much less in a 12-minute span, as Kobayashi did in June to claim his fifth title.

Seriously, Kobayashi's title reign is an impressive series of feats, as are Woods' and Armstrong's. Like Woods and Armstrong, the Japanese tsunami resides at the top of his sport, and spends countless hours mastering his athletic prowess.

What's that? Competitive eating is not a sport, and its competitors are not true athletes? Not a sport? They keep score at these events, don't they? And they showed highlights on ESPN. I think a small Japanese man, sporting a yellow Nathan's headband, inhaling 49 hot dogs in 12 minutes is definitely more exciting than three hours of the World Poker Tour. Do you know what Kobayashi gets for winning hot dog eating contests? A championship belt. If that doesn't make it a sport, I don't know what does.

Boxing is a sport, isn't it? Professional wrestling is a sport. And they award belts. I guarantee that if a belt would have been on the line on Dancing With the Stars, Evander Holyfield and partner would have won easily. All Woods and Armstrong get for their troubles are either a silly green jacket, a tight-fitting yellow jersey, and some cheap silver or crystal wares that probably ends up in their foyers holding junk mail, rubber bands, and paper clips. Can you imagine if Woods and Armstrong were rewarded with a championship belt? Woods wood have passed Jack Nicklaus in major wins by now, and Armstrong would probably be on the verge of clinching his tenth or so Tour de France.

Like his counterparts in the golf and cycling world, Kobayashi is known the world over by a singular name. No matter where you say "Tiger" or "Lance," everyone knows to whom you are referring. The same goes for Kobayashi. Now, he's not just known in hot dog-eating circles, and the name "Kobayashi" commands the same respect as world leaders, astronauts, and reality stars. In Japan, Kobayashi has achieved the same iconic status as Ichiro Suzuki, Pink Lady, and Godzilla. Soon, Kobayashi's likeness will appear on the newly-minted Japanese seven yen note.

Kobayashi's accomplishments become more impressive when you consider the training involved to maintain such a level as a world-class hot dog eater. Woods and Armstrong likely have been golfing or cycling since they were three or four. Kobayashi didn't pick up his first hot dog until he was 21, when he stumbled upon a frank at a baseball game in Tokyo. After devouring the purely American frank in about four seconds, Kobayashi recognized his unrealized talent and began training in essence with a trainer known as the "Mr. Miagi" of the competitive eating circuit.

Whereas Woods and Armstrong can hit golf balls and ride bikes all day, Kobayashi could only train around the three routine meals a day. And let's not forget: Kobayashi is Japanese citizen eating American food competitively. That would be like Woods or Armstrong reaching world-class status on the sushi eating circuit.

Like Woods and Armstrong, Kobayashi's intimidation factor is immense. When he steps to the table, competitors, as well as soon-to-be-consumed hot dogs, cower in fear. It's one thing to strike fear into another human, but the ability to intimidate food is unique to Kobayashi. In the 2005 competition, Kobayashi ate 49 hot dogs. His closet competitor, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, ate only 37. That's a difference of 12 hot dogs.

How does that compare to Armstrong winning Le Tour by three minutes, or Woods winning a PGA major by four strokes? I don't know if it's more impressive, but it compares favorably. In any case, all three athletes are the best in the world at their respective disciplines by a large margin. Maybe in the minds of most people, Kobayashi's sport does not measure up to the worlds of golf and cycling. Kobayashi is on a one-man crusade to change that mindset, and he surely won't go hungry doing it.

Lew from Seattle, WA asks, "Will Derek Lee of the Chicago Cubs win the Triple Crown?"

Currently, Lee leads in each category of the Crown. His batting average of .375 gives him a sizable lead over Florida's Miguel Cabrera, who is batting .341. Although I'm sure Lee's average will fall over the rest of the season, I don't see it slipping enough to matter. He should win the batting title easily.

Lee's current RBI total of 78 gives him a slim one RBI lead over Carlos Lee of the Brewers and the Cardinals' Albert Pujols. Carlos Delgado of the Mets is close behind with 74. Throw Andruw Jones into the mix, and you have a five-man race for the RBI lead. Pujols was third last year, eight out of the lead of 131 by the Rockies' Vinny Castillo, so Pujols could be considered the favorite. However, in my estimation, Lee's considerably higher batting average and slugging percentage (he leads Pujols by well over 100 percentage points in that category) give him the edge in what will be a tight RBI race.

As of Friday, Lee leads the majors in home runs with 31, currently two more than the Braves' Andruw Jones and five more than Albert Pujols of St. Louis. If there's one thing that may keep Lee from the Triple Crown, home runs is the statistic. Pujols tied for the National League lead last year with 46, and with 26 so far this year, he's behind that pace, so he will probably not be Lee's closest competition. Jones presents the greatest competition for the home run title, as he's in the midst of a career year home run-wise, and Lee himself is entering new territory, as he has only 32 home runs last year.

Besides leading in each category right now, Lee has other factors working in his favor. The injured Barry Bonds is not a threat, and if anyone is to pull off the Triple Crown, a year without Bonds would be a prerequisite. Also, Steve Bartman hasn't been seen in Wrigley Field in quite some time. If he chooses to attend a game, officials should make sure he is not given a front row outfield seat, lest he may reach over the fence and steal a Lee homer. To better his chances even more, Lee should avoid all contact with billy goats for the remainder of the season, and refrain from any talk of curses.

Can Lee be the first man to win the Triple Crown since Carl Yastremski pulled it off in 1967, or will misfortune strike the Cubs' organization once again? My feeling is that Lee will accomplish two-thirds of the Crown and fall just short in the home run race.

Get Your Questions Answered!

Do you have a question or comment? Want to be turned loose on a mad rant? Hovering on the edge of insanity? Need your pillow fluffed? Then send your question/MRI/thread count to [email protected]. You may get the answer you're looking for in the next column on Friday, August 5th.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 1:18 PM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2005

The NL East Wildcard Scorecard

Originally, this piece was going to be crafted as a look at the race for the wildcard in the National League. A quick glance at the standings will show you the teams involved (excluding Chicago and Houston) all reside in the tightly-bunched NL East. Although all of the East teams are .500 or better, no team from the East will be able to win the wildcard with so many games left against each other.

Houston pulled off one of the great comeback stories in wildcard history when they snuck up and past everyone a season ago. There is little reason to doubt they could do it again. Health always remains an issue when discussing the Cubs, but IF IF IF Mark Prior and Kerry Wood are healthy, the Cubbies will make a run. That's why the only hopes for an NL East squad to make the postseason remain

New York Mets

Trends

No team still in contention in the National League has been more consistent at being inconsistent than the Mets. Win two, lose one, win one, lose three. That has been the M.O. all season. The Mets haven't won more than three games in a row since May, and although the NL East race is tight, you can't expect to win hovering around the .500 mark all season long.

Schedule

The rest of July will have the Mets face the Padres, Dodgers, Rockies, and Astros. If this is to be a contending team, they will have to be at least 4-5 games above .500 playing three of their four series against the weak NL West. August has matchups against the Pirates, Giants, and Diamondbacks on the soft side, but the Cubs, Nationals, and Phillies on the strong side. No team in baseball has played better against the Nationals then the Mets, and they have also owned the Phillies.

If they didn't run into the Braves, with whom they still have six more meetings with in September, they could very well with the NL East. If they happen to be right near the top of the standings in the final weekend of the season, they finish at home against Colorado. How much better of a final opponent could one receive?

Trade Deadline

The common question come the trading deadline is who will buy and who will sell. The Mets should do neither. Although it's not fashionable to keep a team together in this day and age, if the Mets can do just that, they should be the first to dethrone the Braves within the next two seasons. With David Wright and Jose Reyes still learning to be big-leaguers, GM Omar Minaya better steer clear of going all Steve Phillips at the deadline. They only part they should move, but most likely will not be able to is Mike Piazza. He will be a free-agent come seasons end, and all indications show that he will not be returning to Queens.

Key to October

Consistency. They do have enough talent and starting pitching to make it to the postseason. Carlos Beltran has not lived up to his potential, but has shown the flashes of brilliance that prompted the Mets to spend more than $100 million to acquire him. Pedro Martinez is healthy and dominant, and when Cliff Floyd, Beltran, and Mike Cameron are firing on all cylinders, there are very few outfields capable of smashing more home runs then the Mets. Unfortunately, they are a year or two away from putting it all together.

Florida Marlins

Trends

Coming into the season, this was a fashionable pick to finally dethrone Atlanta's dominance in the NL East. However, after coming out of the gate hot, the Marlins are drowning in the Florida humidity. Their pitching staff, with the exception of Dontrelle Willis, has been sketchy. The Al Leiter project didn't work, and A.J. Burnett appears to be on the first train out of Miami as soon as they can work an acceptable deal. Will Josh Beckett ever be healthy again? If its not a blister, it's a strained muscle or a bruised ego that constantly keeps him from being penciled in.

Schedule

The Fish wrap up July with games at San Francisco, and home against Pittsburgh and Washington. The NATOs are followed up by a trip to St. Louis before things calm with a two-week stretch seeing the Reds, Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Giants. September will sink Florida. The Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Astros, and Braves are the only opponents Florida will face, with 15 of those 22 games on the road. Florida finishes at home against Atlanta in what no doubt will be a meaningful game — for Atlanta.

Trade Deadline

It seems borderline inconceivable that Florida would be shopping not only A.J. Burnett, but Mike Lowell, and shopping them in a package together. Lowell makes a ton of money, one of the factors keeping some suitors away, but what can the Marlins get back in return? If the Marlins are to trade Burnett, they should hold him until the last minute before the deadline to get a desperate team to bite on a solid three starter at best (see the Mets' deal for Carlos Zambrano in 2004).

Key to October

Survive September. An easy schedule in August will have to propel Florida out of the basement, because going .500 in September will be an extremely daunting task. Dontrelle Willis has shown a propensity to have a severe drop off in the second-half of the season, and Beckett will most assuredly be injured with missing genitalia disorder.

Philadelphia Phillies

Trends

Who would have thought the Phillies would get better production at first base with Jim Thome out of the lineup? Ryan Howard has been on fire since replacing the injured slugger in the lineup, smashing 4 home runs and 13 knocked in since taking over. The worst thing the Phillies have going for them, however, is playing at home. Citizens Bank Park is creeping up on Coors Field and the Juice Box in Houston for the best launching pad in the league. The loss of Randy Wolf has not helped a pitching rotation with a team ERA of 4.59. Can't blame the defense with the lowest total number of errors (45 at press time) in the league.

Schedule

The Phillies close out July with the Dodgers, Padres, Astros, and Rockies, with their final seven games on the road. The Cubs will be in the city of brotherly shove to begin August, but the Nationals, Padres, and Mets to close August will be their toughest opponents all month. September will be almost as difficult for the Phills as it will be for the aforementioned Marlins. The Phillies will see the Braves seven times, the Mets four times, as well as the Marlins six times. The only reprieve in September will be the 23-26 against the Reds. They will close at Washington during the final weekend of the season.

Trade Deadline

Dump Billy Wagner. Teams should be salivating at the prospect of landing the closer, even if he will only be on loan through the end of the year. Wagner has been pretty adamant in his stance that he has little desire to return to the Phillies. If the Red Sox could find a way to look past the internal nonsense plaguing Beantown as of late, Wagner would already be in a Sox uniform.

Dump Jim Thome, if you can. Every team still in the hunt could use a bat, and there is plenty of tread left on the tires of Thome. The Phills will have to assume some of that monster contract, but it will be well worth it in return with Howard ready to take first, and young prospects that are MLB-ready.

Key to October

Forget the past. Whether it's Larry Bowa or Charlie Manuel or Emanuel Lewis, no one can get the full potential out of the Phillies. There is always dissension, always turmoil, always mediocre baseball. Much like Florida, September will knock Philadelphia out of the race and the opportunity to ship out Wagner and Thome is a clear-cut sign this team needs to rebuild and start fresh.

Washington Nationals

Trends

The feel-good story of the first half of the season is starting to crash back to reality. Livan Hernandez has been nothing short of a stud, but can you name anyone else on the rotation? Chad Cordero has been simply amazing, but how many times can you squeak out one-run wins? The Nationals have lived dangerously all year, but with juggernauts like the Brewers and Rockies taking series from you, the fairy tale is starting to turn end with a violent thud.

Schedule

After tanking a very winnable two-week stretch of their schedule, they close July with the Astros, Braves, and Marlins. August will see games against the Padres, Astros, and Cardinals, but also the Rockies and Reds. A very balanced month. September will see all NL East foes with the exception of a six-game stretch against the Padres and Giants. If they are to hold onto the division lead, they will have the opportunity to sink every team in it with seven against Florida, six against the Mets, and tilts against Philly and Atlanta.

Trade Deadline

Are they allowed to make anymore deals? The acquisition of Preston Wilson won't set the world on fire, but at least the 29 other teams that own the squad gave them some help. They could use some help offensively, but there is very little to get and very little chance they could get it.

Key to October

Remain confident. No one expected them to get this far, use that as your battle cry. Play with a chip on your shoulder. If you don't know how, Jose Guillen will be more than happy to show you. Frank Robinson can only take these guys so far, it's up to the core (Guillen, Wilkerson, Hernandez) to get them to the promised land. It's not inconceivable, but it remains unlikely.

Atlanta Braves

Trends

How in the world are the Braves in second place? Injuries should have decimated this team. The fact that the starting outfield at the start of the season was Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi should have decimated this team. Having more rookies than a NBA summer league team should have decimated this team. Watching your closer blow game after game should have decimated this team. Yet they are ready to pounce on Washington and head back to the playoffs. Andruw Jones would get serious MVP run if the Lee boys (Carlos and Derrek) weren't putting up Triple Crown numbers. He single-handedly has carried this team, and is finally reaching the status of a complete baseball player instead of just a gifted defensive star.

Schedule

Closing out July at Arizona, vs. Washington, and vs. the Pirates will not exactly strike fear into the hearts of men. August sees the Reds, Giants, Diamondbacks, and Brewers on the schedule, once again making August the month the Braves can steamroll the competition and regain their seat on the throne. Much like the other NL East teams opponents, the only squads out of the NL East Atlanta will face will be the Reds and Rockies. If the other four teams in the division can't pound on the Braves, this race will be over by mid-month.

Trade Deadline

Do nothing. The return of Tim Hudson and Mike Hampton to the rotation will be as if they were midseason acquisitions. The same could be said of the return of Chipper Jones. The future and present are bright for Atlanta. There is no reason to mortgage the future when the division is so winnable in the present while standing pat.

Key to October

Play Braves baseball. Until they lose, they are the favorite. No team in Major League Baseball finds more ways to win (in the regular season) than Atlanta. They get the clutch hits, the timely pitching, and how often do you see Atlanta lose games themselves? They have to be beaten, and Bobby Cox has made an art form out of avoiding self-implosion.

In the end, the Braves are your NL East champions.

Posted by Daniel Collins at 7:10 PM | Comments (0)

Why is There Such Hatred For Tiger?

Here are some Google statistics for you:

Hate + Terrell Owens = 29,400 Google hits.
Hate + Randy Moss = 65,600 hits.
Hate + Mike Tyson = 163,000 hits.
Hate + Barry Bonds = 135,000 hits.
Hate + Tiger Woods = 349,000 hits.

Seem a bit out-of-kilter to you? Me, too.

I studied this on the heels of a Los Angeles Times article by Bill Plaschke criticizing Tiger, and an eloquent riposte by Michael Wilbon (not incidentally, these articles came to my attention on the Sports Central Message Boards). In the Plaschke article, the writer says people just plain ol' don't like Tiger, and it's because "Woods is not simply a golfer anymore, he is Microsoft, he is Coke, he is Steinbrenner, and that isn't fun. He is not as beloved as much as he is feared. He draws fewer embraces than stares."

Wilbon replies by pointing out that it's a sign of progress that black athletes can finally get endorsement deals commensurate with their talent and TV ratings, and he laments that, per Tiger's critics, "...it's not enough to win major championships, to win so much, and with such style it revolutionizes the entire game and elevates the profile of the profession — no, he's got to smile the way they want him to smile, accept only as much money from Coke and Nike as they want him to accept.

First off, to an extent, Plaschke's charges are a fair cop, but Tiger is who he is. When it comes to his golf and his life available to the public, he's stone-cold serious and that's that. He hasn't made any major faux pas (except for his inaccessibility to fans) and I would be surprised if he does make any serious missteps in the future. I, for one, was
rooting for him last week at the British Open over Colin Montgomerie, who is a sour choad.

Another thing to remember is that Tiger's dominance in a white sport as a black guy makes him Jesus Christ to some and the ultimate enemy to others, and the unscientific Google study I did, I think, speaks to that. If you go to the more populous golf message boards (like the one The Golf Channel hosts), you'll see that everyone seems to either deify or despise him to a ridiculous extent. One commenter said, "Watch for the crime rate to be significantly lower tomorrow (Sunday), because Tiger's in contention so the country's blacks will be at home, rooting for him." Consequently, comments like these made me stop going to The Golf Channel's message boards.

So I'm sure that when Tiger does avail himself to the public, he has to deal with a surfeit of certified lunatics that no other golfer could even dream about having to deal with. I don't blame him for withdrawing from that.

And then there's Dad, Earl Woods. "Tiger will do more than any other man in history to change the course of humanity. ... He is the Chosen One. He'll have the power to impact nations. Not people. Nations."

Well, his mother, Kutilda, probably doesn't heap pressure on her son like that, does she? "Tiger has Thai, African, Chinese, American Indian, and European blood. He can hold everyone together. He is the Universal Child." Oh.

Expectations, anyone? I'm lucky to have parents that believed I could do anything I set my mind to, but if any parent sees fit to start making prophecies in the national media likening their progeny to deities and martyrs, most kids, even adult kids, would develop a bit of a complex.

So Tiger has that on his plate. According to Google, people hate him just about as much as Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Barry Bonds, and Mike Tyson — combined. Why? Considering that Woods has never really said or done anything particularly egregious, selfish, or offensive (certainly not compared to Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Mike Tyson, and Barry Bonds), I think the answer to that question is pretty ugly. It has to do with the fact that Tiger is doing what he's doing in a sport that is, for the most part, lily-white, and a sport that too many of its defenders regard as the last bastion of civility.

Wilbon didn't put it this bluntly, but more people than would ever admit it rue the incursion of a dominant black guy in an outpost, golf, that serves as one of the last safe bastions of a white-civility sensibility. They would feel better about it maybe if he smiled more, as Wilbon said, or was more of a grateful Stepen Fetchit type, but maybe that wouldn't even matter. I wonder if Google numbers will back me up on that theory, as well.

Terrell Owens + N***** = 790 hits
Randy Moss + N***** = 956 hits
Mike Tyson + N***** = 9,840 hits.
Barry Bonds + N***** = 5,440 hits.
Tiger Woods + N***** = 18,900 hits.

Looks like The Universal Child has a long way to go in making that impact his father visited upon him.

Posted by Kevin Beane at 5:00 PM | Comments (5)

The Asian Sports Conundrum

Kazuo Matsui came to New York riding a wave of expectation. Ever since he first put on that NY cap two winters ago, though, he has crashed again and again.

Earlier this month while attending a game between the Mets and Phillies, Matsui often felt that wrath of the Met faithful as fans yelled out expletives and slurs towards the second baseman. But it was not only the chants of "Go Back to Japan" that made me realize there was a problem about the treatment of Asian athletes in America, this has been a long standing trend in America's sporting culture.

Not to compare the current state of Asian athletes to the struggles that Jackie Robinson endured over 60 years ago, but it seems as if there is a lot to be learned by both the American sporting fan and athlete when it comes to relations with Asian athletes in this country.

When Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells stepped to the podium after a training camp practice last summer, he knew what he was about to say and its repercussions, yet the words still spilled out of his mouth. Speaking about his offensive coordinator Sean Payton, Parcells iterated, "he's going to have a few ... no disrespect to Orientals, but what we call 'JAP' plays, okay, surprise things."

Now which was worse, using the term "jap plays" to describe some secret football schemes he had concocted, or prefacing the comment by stating "...no disrespect for the Orientals?"

No disrespect? You just managed to insult them before even getting to the main derogatory punch line. What's the big deal — that's what they're called, though, right?

Well, as unbeknownst as it may be to Parcells or anyone else of such ignorance, saying Oriental is like using a term such as "coloreds" to describe African-Americans and if that's what Parcells had said instead he would have had the Rev. Jesse Jackson knocking down the door at the Cowboys' headquarters and been the center of a national controversy.

This past fall in another lowly-hyped sociological mishap, Nike chose to employ a marketing campaign where commercials portray NBA-star LeBron James fighting with a Kung Fu master, two Chinese women, and a couple of dragons.

Calling the ads blasphemous and insulting to national dignity, the Chinese government recently pulled the ads from television. Was this just another example of strict communist censorship or is there more than meets the "slanted' eye?

The ad "violates regulations that mandate that all advertisements in China should uphold national dignity and interest and respect the motherland's culture," the State Administration for Radio, Film, and Television said.

Furthermore, the art of Kung Fu and the symbol of dragons are considered a sacred symbol in Chinese culture. Presenting an image almost as if it feels like American culture has defeated Chinese culture."

Okay, so what is the big fuss with that? Well, perhaps if there was a commercial with an Asian crushing symbols of Americana, say Yao Ming punching Bald Eagles and dunking over Uncle Sam with Old Glory burning in the background, would American television viewers be receptive to that pitch?

The aforementioned Yao has been probably the most visible and significant Asian athlete of our generation, but his arrival in the states has done more than show a 7-6 man who averages 16 points per game. Along with the media frenzy he has created his first three years in the NBA, his entrance onto the worldwide stage has probably also been the most shining example of the preponderant ignorance in America's sporting culture.

From Shaquille O' Neal's disparaging comments before his first on-court encounter with Yao, mockingly suggesting, "Tell Yao Ming, 'ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh," to TNT analyst Steve Kerr referring to him on national television as a "Chinaman," (I'm sure Mr. Kerr wouldn't have made the mistake of describing Carlos Arroyo as a "spic" or Coach Larry Brown as a "kike" while broadcasting), it becomes evident that there is still a long road ahead on and off the court in properly understanding and respecting Asian culture.

Author Mia Tuan posed the question in her book of the same name, Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites? In the sporting world, is the Asian athlete to be perceived as the mysterious stranger, whose culture and work ethics seem to represent the polar opposite of modern western civilization or are they "special" minorities, who enter this country minus the documented countless centuries of oppression which African and Latin-Americans have had to deal with in the United States?

Unfortunately, it seems that most people inside and out of the sporting realm do not know how to classify or even refer to Asian-Americans, whether they be athletes or not in this country and therefore neglect to learn more about their culture.

In essence, sports can be more than a bat or a ball — they can act as an important bridge to understanding certain sociological situations. Many more people now know of the struggles African-Americans have faced through the efforts of people like Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Althea Gibson, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos.

Asian athletes can do the same, although it does put almost an unfair amount of pressure on them to succeed. Nobody cares about the ballplayer who hits .258, but if you get 258 hits in one season, then people become drawn to you and in effect want to learn more about the person.

Hopefully people like Ichiro Suzuki, Yao Ming, and Dat Nguyen can continue to excel in the stadium and overcomes the odds, so they not only enrich people's desire for entertainment, but also their thirst for knowledge and change the perception of an Asian athlete from some sort of a sideshow to a respected member of the American sporting community.

Posted by Seth Berkman at 4:36 PM | Comments (3)

July 20, 2005

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 19

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson held on to his points lead with a 13th-place finish in New Hampshire, but now he has not one, but two competitors in hot pursuit for the points lead. Johnson lost ground to both Biffle and race-winner Tony Stewart, and now both stand less than 100 points behind Johnson.

"I've got no problem making it a three-way dance," says Johnson. "I think in France, they call it a 'garage a trois.' Call it what you will. All I know is that in about seven weeks, it will be a 10-man race. That's when the fun starts."

A month ago at Pocono, Johnson finished sixth, and extended his points lead on Stewart and Biffle, who finished 29th and 30th, respectively. Johnson would settle for an identical scenario this Sunday, but, ideally, he would much rather pick up his third win of the season and extinguish Stewart's recent blaze of glory.

2. Tony Stewart — "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad." So sang chubby rock star Meatloaf back in 1978. After Sunday, Stewart can do the 'Loaf one better, with his third win in the last four races. And Stewart could do something Meatloaf could never do: lift his entire body weight up the length of a fence.

"But let's give Meatloaf some credit," says Stewart. "Maybe he didn't climb a fence, but I did hear of an incident back in 1980 when the 'Loaf, in a cocaine haze, gnawed through a chicken-wire fence to pilfer enough eggs to make himself a 10-egg omelet."

Awesome! That would make Ozzy Osborne envious. But let's give Stewart equal credit. He didn't eat a fence, but he did scale a pretty tall fence in full racing gear in 90-degree heat, and lived to tell about it. And, oh yeah, he led 232 of 300 laps to take the New England 300. The hottest driver in auto racing doesn't just win races, he dominates them.

On June 12th at Pocono, Stewart finished 29th, which was his last non-top five finish. After that mediocre result, Stewart finished second at Michigan, then reeled off consecutive wins at Sonoma and Daytona. This Sunday at the Pennsylvania 500, Stewart goes for the "double-double," two consecutive wins on two occasions.

3. Greg Biffle — Biffle's first top-10 finish in New Hampshire owed a lot to teammate Kurt Busch, a two-time Loudon winner who offered Biffle some track pointers. The information paid off, as the No. 16 Post-It/National Guard car came home fifth, thereby shaving 31 points from the points lead of Jimmie Johnson, who finished 13th. Biffle's interaction with Kurt's brother Kyle was not quite as pleasant, as the two bumped and banged in a battle for fourth place, which Busch eventually won.

"I must say I was a little shocked," adds Biffle. "Not to be involved in hard racing with Kurt's little brother, but the fact that I'm trading paint with this car and I look over to see Tony the Tiger on the hood. I'm used to the morning pleasantry of Tony smiling back at me as I look up from my bowl of Frosted Flakes. I must say I was offended."

A month ago, everyone was wondering who, if anyone, could derail the Roush Racing and Hendrick Motorsports dominance. To that point, those two teams had won 13 of 15 points races. Since then, they've won none. Now, the question is: can anyone stop Tony Stewart? Biffle would be the logical choice, as he leads all drivers with five wins. His four race winless drought matches his longest of the year.

4. Rusty Wallace — Wallace's third straight top-10 solidified his standing in the points, where he is fourth, 230 off of Johnson's leading marker. Wallace is the only Dodge in the top five in the points, and he is one of only five drivers with 10 or more top-10 finishes. Hey Rusty, with such a strong showing so far this year, would it be possible for Roger Penske to convince you to drive one more year? Then you could join Mark Martin next year for the Farewell 2 Tour.

"I'm dead set on retiring," says Wallace, "and concentrating on my many car dealerships. However, I've always wanted to expand into the rental truck arena, and I know Roger's got quite a bit of the market with Penske. If he offered me a cut of that, I could be easily persuaded."

That's great, Rusty. Just remember this: U-Haul kicks ass.

Rusty's last run at Long Pond promises a finish somewhere in the sixth to 12 range. Lately, Wallace and a top-12 are a guaranteed commodity. In his last eight races, he's finished no lower than 12th. That streak should continue.

5. Ryan Newman — Newman is on the longest pole drought of the year, having now gone four races without a No. 1 qualifying run. He has still qualified well, and backed up his fourth place effort in last Saturday's qualifying with a seventh-place finish in the race. Newman climbed back to sixth in the points, thereby regaining the position lost as a result of his 29th in Chicagoland.

"I need poles like I need another hole in my header," says Newman. "What I need is a win. It's been almost a year since I've been to Victory Lane. I really miss that place. And I'm sure Victory Lane is sick of seeing Tony Stewart. Not that Tony ever goes there. He's obsessed with this fence-climbing thing now."

You're right, Ryan. It's getting a little old, especially since it's been done by someone else before. Next time you win a race, do something original, like sprinting around the track ... on foot.

Newman struggled back in June at Pocono, with a 34th-place finish. This time, he hopes to return to the form he displayed in 2003, when he took the pole and won the Pennsylvania 500, his fourth of eight wins that year.

6. Kurt Busch — Busch made a huge jump in the standings, advancing five places to number five thanks to his runner-up effort at Loudon. Busch took the lead with 60 laps remaining, but after exchanging paint with Stewart, Busch was unable to hold the lead and lost by less than a second. It was Busch's second straight top-10, and the 2004 NASCAR champion seems to be working himself into shape for a run at a repeat.

"That's right, repeat," adds Busch. "That means I was Nextel Cup champion last year. I know many fans have forgotten, or never even knew, that I was champion. That's the price one pays for driving for such a talented and well-balanced Roush Racing team. I'm a NASCAR driver and I don't even know who won the title before me. Was it Gordon? Stewart? Yarborough? Cole Trickle?"

No, it was your teammate, Matt Kenseth. And Kurt, if you're going to summon the name "Trickle," it better be preceded by "Dick," and not "Cole." He was the punk driver in Days of Thunder played by Tom Cruise, who's the last person that comes to mind when I think of NASCAR drivers. Give me Barry Pepper as Dale Earnhardt, Sr. any day.

Busch qualified second in June's Pocono race, but only managed a 22nd at the finish. His recent jump up the standings has re-established him as a threat to repeat. Last year, after a 26th in the Pennsylvania 500, Busch only finished out of the top-15 once the rest of the year.

7. Mark Martin — Martin completed a solid run for Roush Racing in the New England 300 with a 15th place finish, the last of five Roush cars in the top 15. He dropped a notch in the points to seventh, 352 points out of first. As if Martin needed more on his mind than qualifying for the Chase, he now must decide whether to take Jack Roush up on his offer to drive the No. 6 car one more year.

"You mean keep the seat warm for Jamie McMurray, don't you?" a skeptical Martin queries. "I'm on to you, Jack Roush. You just don't want to hire a temporary fill-in in the mean time. But that's okay. It just means I get two sets of retirement gifts."

Congratulation on your impending retirements, Mark.

Martin finished seventh in June in the Pocono 500, a race won by teammate Carl Edwards, who has faded in the points as of late. Martin, as well as Greg Biffle, have been Roush's models of consistency.

8. Jeremy Mayfield — After cutting a tire and falling a lap down, Mayfield was unable to return to the lead lap, but recovered to finish 19th, the last car on the lead lap. Mayfield still gained a place in the points standings, up to eight, 387 off the pace. The No. 19 Dodge holds the fortunes of Ray Evernham Racing placing a car in the Chase, as teammate Kasey Kahne has struggled, although he did finish sixth last Sunday.

Mayfield has benefited from his partnership with crew chief Slugger Labbe, who previously served as crew chief for Michael Waltrip. Labbe also has experience with Hendrick Motorsports and Robert Yates Racing.

"Good old Slugger," says Mayfield. "With a name like Slugger Labbe, you think he'd be a lumberjack, or a journeyman boxer with a record of 11-45. But he ain't heavy — he's my crew chief."

Mayfield has improved one spot in the ranking in each of the previous two weeks. To continue that trend, he'll probably have to better his 14th result from Pocono in June. Improvement is definitely possible as he qualified sixth in that race and ran up front early until handling conditions degraded.

9. Elliott Sadler — After qualifying third and reaching the top ten near lap 100, Sadler's day was marred by contact in the pits courtesy of Kasey Kahne. Forced to repit to access the damage, Sadler came out 34th. After grinding his way back into the top 10 with 100 remaining, the No. 38 Robert Yates Racing Ford was rear-ended and sent to the wall by contact from Mark Martin. Sadler finished 39th, his worse finish of the year, and lost four more positions in the points, and currently stands ninth, 396 shy of Jimmie Johnson.

"First I get sideswiped by Kahne," says a disappointed Sadler, "then I get rear-ended by the No. 6 Viagra car. Oops! Did I say that out loud?"

Yes, you did, just as I'm sure you did a few choice words for Kahne and Martin.

Sadler hopes to regain the form that kept him at number three in the points for most of the season. A top-10 at Pocono would certainly stop the bleeding caused by consecutive 37th and 39th results. If Sadler can keep other cars off of him, he should manage a top-15.

10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. — DEI's golden boy recorded his third straight top-10, finishing eighth after starting 24th on the grid. Earnhardt remained 13th in Cup points, but is slowly chipping away to reach the 400-point barrier to qualify for the Chase. Meanwhile, teammate Michael Waltrip announced that he will not return to race for DEI next year. Wow. That makes it sound like DEI wanted him to return in the first place. Junior, what's your take on the situation? Did you call the hit on Mikey?

"What?! Just because the team has my name on it doesn't mean I call the shots," says Earnhardt. "Mikey's like a brother to me. We've done Domino's Pizza commercials together. Besides, I think it's clear that Mikey's true calling in life is broadcasting. Have you ever seen Mikey on television in the studio and not been entertained? And those Aaron's Rents ads with Darrell. They're hilarious. I could see Michael in a Ben Stiller movie someday."

Fear not, Michael. Should you choose to continue your driving career, I'm sure a seat will become available. Maybe that of Sterling Marlin?

Anyway, Earnhardt has turned his season around about 120 degrees with three straight top-10s. A 180-degree turn will be completed when he continues to run up front and finish strong, thereby qualifying for the Chase. Earnhardt finished 33rd after qualifying 34th the last time out at Pocono, so his work is cut out for him.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 8:38 PM | Comments (0)

Foul Balls: Overbearing Parents in Sports

He might not have been good enough for his own coach, but if I had a t-ball team, Harry Bowers would be my first pick.

Before a t-ball game last month, Pennsylvania State Police said 7-year-old Harry, of Dunbar, PA, was plunked in the head with a ball thrown by a teammate. Undaunted, young Harry refused to go down.

So the second boy threw another ball, this time hitting Harry in the groin. After that one, he went to his coach, who told the 7-year-old to sit out that day's game.

And that isn't even the worst part of this story.

The worst part of this story, and the reason the state police are involved, is that the coach, Mark Downs, Jr., has been accused of paying the teammate $25 to injure Harry so he couldn't play.

Apparently, according to an Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report, Downs thought Harry, who is autistic, was dragging the team down. Downs faces a slate of charges, including felony assault and corruption of minors.

If the accusation turns out to be true, Downs also would be guilty of bad coaching, which technically isn't a crime. But if I were in charge of a team that had a kid who could take a baseball in the head without quitting, I'd find a place for him.

As horrifying as that story is, it merely serves as the latest evidence that the biggest problem with youth sports often is adults.

For the past few weeks, the Bravo network reality show "Sports Kids: Moms and Dads," has placed six young athletes and their parents before the camera for entertainment's sake. All of the parents in "Sports Kids" come off better than Downs, although that isn't exactly setting the bar very high.

It's probably no coincidence that the most uplifting tales in "Sports Kids" belong to the older athletes — the basketball player, figure skater, and two sisters who compete in equestrian events — while the most troublesome stories are those of the cheerleader and football player, both of whom are younger than 10.

With the teenagers, it's clear that they are putting in long hours practicing and — in the case of the horse riders, cleaning stables — because the love their games.

Keeping in mind the standard disclaimer that in any reality TV show "reality" is whatever the director says it is, it sometimes appears that the football parent featured on Bravo's show is trying to relive his athletic career through his son.

While both the football and cheerleading parents appear, at least on the show, to be guiding their charges down a path that the kids want to walk, it remains to be seen how the parents will take it if the ambitious workout schedules lead to burnout a few years down the road and the kids decide to walk away.

As much as the football father appears at times to be reliving his own athletic career through his son, things might go even worse for the cheerleading kid, less because of her parents than for the nature of her sport.

In competitive cheerleading — and isn't that an oxymoron? — as in gymnastics, the smallest mistake could be the difference between first and 10th place. In one competition, the cheerleader featured in the Bravo series took a stumble in one competition and was harshly criticized by it for her coach.

In that instant, the child learned that anything less than perfection, an unattainable standard for we fallible humans, is failure. It remains to be seen how that lesson will affect her in the years to come.

And the same goes for other young athletes in all sports. People don't — at least in most cases — become pushy sports parents or coaches because they hate the kids.

Usually, it's because the children experience some success at a young age. The adults then become convinced that they're acting in the child's best interest.

Of course, Farinelli's parents probably felt the same way.

Many music historians regard him as the finest singer who ever lived. And he had his parents to thank for it.

They, after all, were the ones who sent young Farinelli to a doctor who clipped the child's manhood, preserving his prepubescent singing abilities even as the rest of his body matured, according to the Twentieth Century: History With the Boring Parts Left Out, edited by David Wallechinsky.

Farinelli was a castrati, which means exactly what you think it does. During his heyday in the 1700s, parents sent their sons, sometimes as young as six, off for an operation that — they thought — would assure superstardom in church choirs and opera houses.

Today, at least, irresponsible adults mutilate children emotionally rather than physically.

But Farinelli's example does inspire an idea for a fitting punishment if Downs turns out to be guilty.

Posted by Eric Poole at 7:30 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2005

2005 NFL Preview: Cincinnati Bengals

Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com

Last Year

A streak of 13 consecutive non-winning seasons continued in 2004 as the Cincinnati Bengals were unable to surpass the eight-win barrier once again. Second-year quarterback Carson Palmer took over the offensive reigns and unlike many Bengal signal callers before him, didn't do much to disappoint. As the season progressed, so did Palmer and the young team. With the momentum of a 6-3 finish to last season, the Bengals are primed for a winning season, but I would suggest cautious optimism. After all, we're talking about the Bengals.

What We Learned From Last Year

Like Anna Chuboda, the (alleged) trophy wife in the center of NBC's Average Joe 4, Bengal fans were a little confused last season.

They were used to watching their team play like a bunch of average Joes, but when a hunk like Carson appeared — not the 25-year-old night club manager from New York — they got a glimpse of what life is like with a really sexy offense.

Bengal fans, and Anna for that matter, were tired of inadequate men leading their offense (if you know what I'm saying), but those worries can now be alleviated.

If there's only one thing to extract from the Bengals 2004 season, it's the fact that a team that has endured so much unrest at the quarterback position for many years has finally found a franchise starter.

Since Marvin Lewis arrived, the stumbling and bumbling feeling has dissipated. The organization's mentality is to win and to maintain competitiveness at every point of the season. Although the Bengals are only 16-16 during Lewis' tenure, in the two seasons prior to his arrival the Bungles were 8-24.

He's huddled talent on the defense and gathered the makings of a scary offense.

Palmer labored in the first seven games of the season and so did the Bengals. The team was 2-5 while Palmer was only completing 52% of his passes with five touchdowns and ten interceptions.

It was fair for the sophomore quarterback to struggle, as that was his first taste of NFL action. But as he got acquainted, the Bengals morphed from developing to dangerous.

In Palmer's last six games of the season (missed final three games with knee injury), his completion percentage shot up to a Peyton Manning-like 69%, his TD/INT ratio improved to 13/8 and the offense averaged 28 points per game. Furthermore, four of the six opponents in that stretch, Baltimore, New England, Pittsburgh, and Washington, finished with defenses in the top nine.

Carson didn't do this all of this on his own, of course, he just took advantage of all the weapons we knew were at his disposal.

Rudi Johnson provided a consistent ground threat with almost 1,500 rushing yards and Chad Johnson was a secondary killer virtually every Sunday. While Peter Warrick was sidelined with injuries, T.J. Houshmanzadeh supplied a viable threat opposite of Johnson.

But the line was truly the foundation of the offensive stability. With at least 15 starts from four of their five linemen, Palmer was secure in the pocket.

The drafting of Chris Perry was a senseless pick, especially with quality linebackers such as Karlos Dansby, Teddy Lehman, and Daryl Smith available. The fact that Rudi Johnson was on the roster, a proven starter, further made the selection a foolish one. With a mix of hamstring and hernia injuries, Perry's future doesn't look too bright. Meanwhile, the linebacking corps struggled in 2004, particularly after Nate Webster tore his right patellar tendon.

The secondary was a strength as Tory James made a trip to the Pro Bowl and Deltha O'Neal was reliable. Safety Madieu Williams was an obvious standout as he played virtually everywhere in the secondary and finished with 102 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 2 fumble recoveries.

Two years ago, the Bengals were finding novel ways to lose each week, now they are finding new ways to win. Now that they have welcomed back the word "expectations" into their dictionary, let's see how they respond to them.

This Year

Bengal fans were waiting for so long for a miracle to come. Everyone told them to be strong, to hold on, and don't shed a tear.

Finally, those Celine Dion lyrics seeped in and a new day has come for the Bengals.

With the offense returning the majority of its personnel, the defense will be the area that requires tender loving care.

The power of love can only do so much, which is why the Bengals focused on acquiring talent through the draft.

Linebackers David Pollack and Odell Thurman were the first two Bengal selections in the 2005 draft and both will be inserted into the starting lineup. Pollack is more of a pass-rushing threat (played DE in college) and Thurman is a forceful tackler. There are high expectations for Thurman, who was the best available linebacker in the draft. Brian Simmons is the leader, but is the only healthy veteran among the linebackers.

Sack totals were unimpressive last season, as the count finished at 37. The defense will count on David Pollack to find his way to the quarterback while the line undergoes adjustments. Justin Smith is the foremost menace on the front four, but the other end position is up for grabs. Duane Clemons was the incumbent, but Lewis likes the quickness of Robert Geathers. The combination of John Thornton and free agent signing of tackle Bryan Robinson will shore up the center of the line and ameliorate the 26th-ranked rushing defense.

It is a pleasure to see a team who recognizes its deficiencies and addresses them. New defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan should appreciate that, as well.

Linebacker Nate Webster and Peter Warrick were borderline cap cuts, but the fact that they were kept on the roster demonstrates how badly the Bengals want to win this year. They have those positions filled but successful teams always have depth.

Warrick does possess blazing speed and should be more effective in the slot as a third wide receiver. He's been extremely motivated this offseason to get back and make an impact. T.J. Houshmanzadeh will start on the other side of Chad Johnson after a breakout year in 2004, where he skipped over Kelley Washington on the depth chart once Warrick was hurt. Washington may be at the bottom of this stockpile of talent, but the potential is still there and he's the team's most physical target.

You would think that that would be a sufficient set of receivers, but the Bengals also drafted Chris Henry (third round) and Tab Perry (sixth round). Henry, at 6-4, has the size and quickness to offer the positives of both Warrick and Washington in one shot.

On promise alone, there is no better group of receivers but they don't play this game on paper.

The offensive line is same as it was last season and is one of the better groups assemble by the Bengals. Chemistry and cohesiveness on the offensive line in underrated and the familiarity among this starting five should give them an advantage.

Palmer has every possible type of receiver at his disposal, a sound running game, and a stout offensive line, which adds up to a top-10 offense.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will come down off of cloud nine, leaving this division down to the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati. One team has a stellar defense, the other, a stellar offense. So the question remains, can Baltimore's offense outdo Cincinnati's defense?

Over/Under: 7.5

With Cleveland, Minnesota, Chicago, and Houston in the first four weeks, the Bengals have a legitimate opportunity to start at least 3-1 and carry over the momentum from last season. The division is still a tight one and although nine wins may end the streak of non-winning seasons, it may not be enough to get into the playoffs. Outside of their division they play: MIN, @CHI, HOU, @JAX, @TEN, GB, IND, @DET, BUF, and @KC.

Fantasy Sleeper

Chad Johnson — no. T.J. Houshmanzadeh — no. Rudi Johnson — no. The answer here has to be Palmer. Even though he's on the radar, if you take the numbers from his last six games and flesh it out over a season, you're looking at a QB who will give you just under 4,000 yards passing and 35 touchdowns. Not bad for someone who is still learning at the pro level.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 1:12 PM | Comments (3)

A Visit to Redneck Wall Street

A friend of mine, Andrew, came to town to watch the ongoing Michelle Wie saga last Friday in Cincinnati only to arrive at the course minutes before she was bounced out of the tournament by Johnny Noname (who would name their kid that?), who played the round of his life. We decided to move to Plan B, which in retrospect was really Plan A, a trip to the Redneck Wall Street — the horse track.

As we arrived at River Downs in Cincinnati, it quickly became evident why the track was the redneck version of Wall Street. There were betting slips all over the floor, financial futures of families being decided every race, deals being made every minute, and suckers losing money faster than Jose Canseco. I felt severely out of place because I was wearing a shirt. It truly was a wretched hive of scum and villainy. It was great.

I was a rookie at the track game, but while Andrew was explaining the finer points of playing the ponies, I couldn't help but to continue to glance around and take in the scene. What a group of winners — it appeared that the real players all were missing at least three teeth, were smoking, and looked like the only thing they had to wear in their closet was that bag of trash they were supposed to throw out the night before.

I placed a modest bet in the first race and my horse ended up winning easily. As it trotted to the winner's circle I prepared my victory speech. I didn't anticipate my horse winning, but I was able to pull together a pretty typical "I always believed in horse number four. Even when four was on its deathbed with cancer, and all of you wanted to put him on the first train to the dog food factory, I believed. When you give 110 percent, you can't help but feel the energy of success here today. Number four wasn't just racing for me, he was racing for you, and for your children, and your children's children. Number four is a true American hero, one who can finally unite the country. Together, we can all ride number four off into the sunset, where we will all be champions." I'm not going to lie — I was mildly disappointed when Andrew told me I didn't get to give a speech.

After my brief bout of beginner's luck, we both went on an impressive losing streak. I lost hard-earned money on Start Sooner (who didn't actually get to start sooner), Franchise Player (I had to go this way because Cat Launch was scratched and I never really recovered from that), and Success Trapp (I couldn't have seen that one coming). While we had fallen on hard luck, our attention again turned to the crowd there.

After hearing some unpleasant old guy, with an equally unpleasant female, yell enthusiastically what sounded like, "I got oat bran!" but was probably "I got a win," we began to ponder how exactly ugly guys went about picking up girls.

Andrew: Have you ever wondered how ugly people get together?
Me: No, not really.
Andrew: How do they do it? Does a guy just walk up to a girl and use a pickup line like, "Hey, you're ugly," or "Hey, you're close to average?" Do they just talk about the latest episode of CSI: Miami or something?
Me: Scanning the crowd and glancing at some of the couples. I think every guy here used one of two pickup lines:
1) "Crap, I think I just got you pregnant ... again."
2) "Hey, are you a crack whore?"
Girl: "Nooo!"
Guy: "Wanna be?"

Walking to one of the betting machines, we passed a veteran who was intently focused on a TV showing a simulcast race. We stopped to watch it and from the start of the race, all the way until the end, the guy just kept repeating the same thing. "C'mon, 10-3. C'mon, 10-3. C'mon, 10-3. C'mon, 10-3. C'mon, 10-3" in a monotone and slightly annoying voice. How did they finish? 10-1-3, which prompted a louder than it should have been "HA" from me as the man sat down angrily in his chair.

I don't know what I was doing wrong, whether it was thinking of how to spend the money I was sure I was going to win while the race was still going on or the fact that I bet on future bottles of glue like Cuddlebrink, I just could not win. As our impressive streak of losses continued to mount, we changed our focus back to Michelle Wie and, after some discussion, found out what she needs to do to really be successful. She needs a Chubbs.

Famed golfing superstar Happy Gilmore, like Wie, had a wicked drive, but needed Chubbs to teach him how to complete his game before he could take down Shooter McGavin. It's all so simple (but, one of my friends made a good point while I was later explaining this theory to him, as he simply replied, "Who doesn't need Carl Weathers in their life?" to which I had no response). My advice to her is that the day she turns pro, she needs to find the best one-handed golf coach she can, and fast, before grandma loses her house. I don't know, maybe the tour publicity director can lend a hand and be a shoulder for her to cry on.

Now that we had solved Michelle Wie's problems, we again focused on the task at hand, and that was leaving the track with more money than we brought. On the way to make more bets, I suddenly realized it must have been "take your kids to work" day at the track, because I saw more than a few degenerates with multiple kids in tow. And this wasn't like, "Let's bring the kids to the track to see the horses," this was more a, "Here's two fruit rollups, now get out of my face" thing. I started to get the feeling that the kids should eat their fruit rollups as quickly as possible, because as the minutes ticked down until post-time, I sincerely believed the parents were about to reclaim the fruit snack and wager that on some farfetched trifecta.

I felt genuinely sorry for one 2-year-old boy I saw running around aimlessly while his 5-year-old sister, clearly the most responsible one in the group, supervised him. As he started making his way to the escalator, the sister did the smart thing and started calling for her mom. The mom tried to shrug it off, but after about the fifth call, she angrily put down her race program, turned, glared at the daughter, and then turned her attention back to the upcoming race. She gets my vote for Mom of the Year.

Towards the end of the day, I finally got lucky and won $24, leaving me with $35 of my original $40. Andrew advised me to leave while I was close to even, but I didn't see much fun in that. Instead, we decided we were going to beat the system once and for all, by betting on nearly all the horses in the race. We sat down and came up with three good boxed trifectas, and then just blew the rest on about four more last-second ones.

I sat in the grandstand to watch the race feeling smug — I was going to beat the system. As I looked over the betting slips, I dropped the brilliant, "Ha, we bet on every horse except for number eight" line, which I regretted immediately. I couldn't believe I said that, it was a complete rookie move and it all but ensured that number eight was going to win the race and leave us ruined.

It's pretty conceivable what should have happened in that race, but somehow, we did beat the system, as eight got smoked and we walked away with a $400 winning trifecta. Moral of the story? Only good comes from gambling (when you're smart like me).

The Sports Gospel According to Mark is sponsored by BetOnSports.com. BetOnSports.com gives you the greatest sports action to bet on. Wager on football, cricket, boxing, Rugby, horse racing, and more. Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].

Posted by Mark Chalifoux at 12:45 PM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2005

NFL 2005: 15 Games to Watch

Oakland @ New England (September 8)

We all know what the outcome will be: a Patriot win, probably decisive. But it's the 2005 opener, and Randy Moss is in Raider black (which often leads to correctional facility orange) and the Pats open defense of their two consecutive Super Bowls without offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. Eric Mangini has taken over defensive duties, and, as of now, an offensive replacement hasn't been named. Head coach Bill Belichick will probably call the shots.

On paper, the Raider offense has firepower, but New England defenses have often proved that paper is reduced to shreds on the Gillette Stadium grass. Don't be surprised if return specialist Chad Morton endears himself immediately to the Pats' faithful with a touchdown.

Cincinnati @ Cleveland (September 11)

When these teams met last year, they combined for 106 points in a Week 12 game won by the Bengals, 58-48. While the Browns seem to be the last AFC North team mentioned as a playoff contender, they will surely be capable of an opening week upset of the Bengals, who hope for a one or two game improvement on last year's 8-8 record. The Browns, under the supervision of new coach Romeo Crennel, may be two or three years from the playoffs, but they will begin to mark their territory in the North, much to the delight of an anticipatory Dawg Pound.

Green Bay @ Detroit (September 11)

If Lions' quarterback Joey Harrington can't make it work with this offense, which includes wideouts Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, and rookie Mike Williams, plus emerging superstar Kevin Jones at running back, then his days as a starter are finished. Of course, Harrington may not even be the starter in the Lions' opener — Jeff Garcia has reunited with coach Steve Mariucci and may be awarded the QB spot. Either way, the Lions hope to prove that they have an offense that affords them contention is the NFC North, which lately has been a two-team race between the Packers and Vikings.

Philadelphia @ Atlanta (September 12)

The Falcons will seek to avenge last year's 27-10 NFC Championship loss to the Eagles, and possibly get a jump on homefield advantage in the 2005 playoffs, assuming 2004's success was no fluke. A win here will be important to the Falcons — in their next four games, they face Seattle and Buffalo on the road, then host Minnesota and New England. 3-2 in those five should make them happy. Will Philly be graced by the presence of Terrell Owens, or will he continue to hold out for a new contract and alienate the few supporters he has left?

Washington @ Dallas (September 19)

The Cowboys have won four in a row, and 14 of last 15, in what has become a lopsided rivalry. Joe Gibbs may be waving the white flag, signifying his last lap as 'Skins coach, or maybe it's the white flag of surrender, if he doesn't lead Washington to a win over the Cowboys. And speaking of "waving," noted gun-waver and general menace to society Sean Taylor, Redskins safety, will probably be on the field, where he can legally assault his opponents. Those opponents include running back Julius Jones, set for a breakout season, and new Cowboy Drew Bledsoe, whom Taylor should have no trouble catching, even while carrying a firearm, a team of defense lawyers, and a pending jail sentence.

Miami @ Buffalo (October 9)

Ricky Williams returns from a four-game drug suspension, and a couple of years wandering the earth searching for the meaning of life in a bong. I'm sure Ricky's as curious about his performance as you and I are. One thing's for sure: he won't have to worry about defenders dragging him down by his dreadlocks. Even if Williams returns at his optimum playing weight (about 235 pounds, or about 107 kilos), the sturdy Bills' defense will probably leave Williams feeling dazed and confused.

Pittsburgh @ San Diego (October 10)

By the time this Week 5 showdown kicks off, we should know whether these two teams are in line to duplicate last year's success. Remember, at the onset of last season, no one had these two pegged as real contenders. They were wrong. This year, everyone has them in the playoffs. Are they right? And what about quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees? Both are intent on keeping the word "fluke" away after their stellar 2004 campaigns. The Steelers will be rested from a Week 4 bye, while the Chargers will likely be worn from a physical matchup in New England. The Chargers are at home, where they were 7-1 in 2004. Of course, the Steelers were 7-1 on the road.

Green Bay @ Minnesota (October 23)

Can the Vikings win with defense? Can they win without Randy Moss? We should know by this Week 7 contest, when the Pack and Vikes meet for the first time since January's 31-17 Minnesota wildcard win at Lambeau Field. The Minnesota defense include such newcomers as cornerback Fred Smoot, nose tackle Pat Williams, and free safety and former Packer Darren Sharper. The winner seizes an early edge in the race for the division. These two teams battled to the wire for the title last year. The Vikes are much improved, at least on defense, while Green Bay has made few changes. Currently holding out Packers wide receiver Javon Walker should come to his senses, with a little Brett Favre motivation, and be a factor in this game.

Buffalo @ New England (October 30)

New England will enter this ESPN Sunday night game rested, thanks to a bye week, from a brutal stretch of four of their first six games on the road against three playoff teams (Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Denver) and Carolina (who just missed the playoffs). If the Bills are the same team they were in the second half of 2004, they could, possibly, be 5-2, and a win could give them an early edge in the competitive AFC East. Whether or not the Bills are the same team that finished 2004 7-2 in their last nine games falls mainly on the shoulders of new QB J.P. Losman. If Losman produces, Willis McGahee will find room to run much easier. If Losman looks to be the weak link, the Patriots will certainly know it by this Week 8 showdown.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (October 31)

Another gigantic Halloween game in the Steel City, and, in this most heated of NFL rivalries, expect both teams to be in evil mode. Last year, Pittsburgh ended the Patriots' 21-game winning streak with a 34-20 win on October 31. Will five months of freedom have allowed Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis to regain the form that saw him rush for over 2,000 yards in 2003? Only "time" will tell. Last year, when the Steelers and Ravens met for the first time, in Week 2, Baltimore whipped the Steelers 30-13. Pittsburgh didn't lose again until the AFC Championship Game.

The Halloween matchup is the first of two Ravens/Steelers contest in less than a month. The division title may rest on the outcome of those two games. The Ravens' defense will be frightening as usual — their passing game should be improved with the acquisition of WR Derrick Mason an the draft selection of WR Mark Clayton of Oklahoma. Pittsburgh won't run away with the division this year. Even the Bengals may have a voice in the AFC North crown.

Indianapolis @ New England (November 7)

As far as playoff implications are concerned, this game will probably have more meaning to the Patriots (the Colts may well have the AFC South in hand by Week 9). But the Colts know that to be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender, they must overcome the mental barrier that the Patriots exert against them. Regardless of the consequences, expect Colt players to downplay New England's dominance with quotes like this: "No, I don't feel like they have a mental edge against us. We just to execute and play our game." Something they haven't done before. It will be early November with a few snow flurries adding to the drama to be witnessed by a captive Monday Night Football audience. Can the Colts win and evict the monkey known as King Kong from their back?

St. Louis @ Seattle (November 13)

The Rams and Seahawks met three times last year, with the Rams sweeping the series, including a 27-20 wildcard round victory at Qwest Field. Genius/dumbest coach in the league, Mike Martz, hopes his Rams can again overcome genius/most-overrated coach in the game, Mike Holmgren, and his Seahawks and win the West. Martz has named Steven Jackson starting running back — it remains to be seen whether Martz will let him run it. Currently, Seahawks' running back Shaun Alexander is holding out for a long-term contract. Who knows if he'll be in uniform come Week 10, and, if he is, will it be a Seattle uniform?

Oakland @ San Diego (December 4)

Will this game matter come Week 13? Of course it will, despite the records. It's the AFC West — it matters because everybody wants to beat the Raiders. Last year in San Diego, the Raiders got blasted, 42-14, and I'm sure they remember. Featured are two of the NFL's most dynamic athletes, Oakland's Randy Moss and San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson. Moss joins Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry, and Doug Gabriel to give the Raiders arguably the league's best WR corps.

No one doubts the Raiders will score more, with Moss and running back LaMont Jordan from the Jets adding punch. Will they score enough? Last year's raider defense ranked 30th in the league, and Tomlinson rushed for 235 yards and two TDs on 56 rushes in two games versus the Raiders.

Philadelphia @ Arizona (December 24)

If the Cardinals have indeed improved as some have predicted, this game may actually mean something to them. In the NFL's weakest division, the NFC West, Seattle won the division with a 9-7 record. Arizona finished three games back, at 6-10, with two of those losses to San Francisco, one of the league's worst teams. The Cardinals also lost five of their last seven games to shatter any playoff hopes.

Assuming they are healthy when this game is played, Arizona will be bolstered by strong three-man WR corps (Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Bryant Johnson), and two potentially explosive running backs in Marcel Shipp and rookie J. J. Arrington. And QB Kurt Warner will be at the helm, which may or may not be a good thing. The Eagles are still easily the class of the NFC East, and probably the NFC, in general.

Carolina @ Atlanta (January 1)

Let's hope this Week 17 contest is for all the NFC South marbles. Otherwise, this game wouldn't be on the list. And let's hope injuries don't plague the Falcons or the Panthers — otherwise, this might be a battle of teams with 7-8 records. In 2003, Michael Vick's broken leg ruined Atlanta's season. Last year, only a year removed from the Super Bowl, injuries to running backs Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster and wide receiver Steve Smith left Carolina in array, although they still made a valiant playoff run. If all of the big-name players are healthy for this one, it could be a classic in a budding NFC South rivalry.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 12:00 PM | Comments (42)

Palmeiro a Worthy Hall Inductee?

Rafael Palmeiro will represent the ultimate test case for MLB's Hall of Fame voters. How much will the offensive transformation of the mid-'90s weigh down Palmiero's accomplishments?

When you look at the numbers alone, there is no argument. There just isn't a case to be made against him. Of all the Hall-eligible players with 3,000 hits, all are enshrined in Cooperstown. Rafael Palmeiro has 3,004 of them. Of all the Hall-eligible players with 500 home runs, again all are enshrined in Cooperstown. Palmeiro has 567.

In fact, Palmeiro is only one of four players to have accomplished that particular dual feat, along with Eddie Murray, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. And if he slugs 33 more big flies, Hammerin' Hank and the Sey Hey Kid would be Palmeiro's sole peers as members of the 600/3,000 club.

With regards to statistics, the company he keeps is unquestionably extraordinary. But is he as exceptional as his career numbers might suggest, or did he happen to thrive in an expansion-laden era that produced mediocre pitching which was accompanied by diminishing ball parks and juiced up baseballs?

Palmeiro has been the most consistent first baseman of the last 15 years, but he has never been the best — even in his own league. Granted, the competition has been extremely stiff (Frank Thomas, Mo Vaughn, Cecil Fielder, Mark McGwire, Jim Thome, Jason Giambi, and Carlos Delgado to name a few), but never the less, Palmeiro always remained a step behind.

Palmeiro has never won the Most Valuable Player award. The highest he ever finished was fifth, and he's only been in the top 10 three times. He's never won a home run title. The next person on the all-time home run list without accomplishing that feat? Stan Musial, who belted 475 home runs, but won three MVP's and finished with a lifetime average of .331. Palmeiro's career average is .289.

In fact, Palmeiro has won only two silver slugger awards (given to the home run leader at each position in each league), and one of which came as a designated hitter, which brings up another point. How much did Palmeiro benefit from more than 2 ½ seasons worth of at-bats from the DH spot?

Over the last 11 years, Palmeiro has averaged a staggering 40 home runs a season. Two and a half seasons as a DH roughly approximates to 100 home runs, which would bring his total right around the 500 mark.

And it's not like Palmeiro has been hitting in the most challenging of stadiums. Beginning in 1989, he has either played in the sweltering heat and humidity of Arlington or the cozy confines of Camden Yards. In 2003, Palmeiro had a chance to move to a new home, but he invoked his no trade clause in a deal that would have sent him to the Chicago Cubs.

That is probably the largest blemish of Palmeiro's remarkable career. As someone who stood before the Congressional Committee and with valiant conviction rebuked the notion that he had ever taken steroids, Palmeiro's decision to stay in Texas, with a losing club, boggles the mind.

His contract was up at the end of the season, and Rangers made it clear he was not in their plans after the season. Why not go to Chicago and help be part of ending one of the most historic curses the public has ever been saturated to death with?

Palmeiro explained he wanted to stay and help bring Texas back to the .500 mark. I think his reasons were more selfish than noble, specifically that he didn't want anything to jeopardize his home run total. I think he values a Hall of Fame nod more than a World Series ring, and playing in Chicago would have meant splitting time and hitting in a place where fly balls don't sail over the fence with the same regularity that he had grown accustomed to in Arlington.

Palmeiro essentially passed on a chance to distinguish himself, something also lacking from his resume. Palmeiro has been the best player on his team exactly one year — 1995 in Baltimore. The next year, Roberto Alomar showed up and quickly distinguished himself in the playoffs as the man you did not want to have beat you. In five postseason series, Palmeiro's average is a pedestrian .244 with an unexceptional 4 home runs.

Palmeiro does have three gold gloves, although one of them came in 1999, when he played all of 28 games at first, which brings into the credibility the discerning nature of the gold glove judges. Palmeiro is good at first, but I don't think his defense plays any part in his induction into the Hall.

If Palmeiro were to get in, which I think is inevitable, I would have to ask the voters why players such as Jim Rice are kept out? For a six-year stretch, Rice was one of the most formidable hitters in the game. He won an MVP, and finished in the top five on four other occasions, while leading the league in home runs three times. He might not have played for 20 years, but for 14, he more than stood out, which is more than I can say for Palmeiro.

The Hall of Fame is for the elite baseball players. I wasn't on this earth early enough to judge whether or not Don Sutton was a good enough pitcher to be deemed worthy of being enshrined amongst the baseball gods, but I harbor the same kind of reservations about Palmeiro that many others did when Sutton was voted on. Yes, his numbers are certainly adequate, but is he an excellent player or one of the all-time greats?

Palmeiro is an excellent player with all-time great numbers. Anyone who is thrown into a list with Mays and Aaron and cracks 3,000 hits should be a no-brainer. But the fact that Palmeiro has accomplished all he has and is still being talked about as a fringe Hall of Famer makes me believe that voters should save their votes for the exceptional, and not just the number seekers.

Posted by Piet Van Leer at 11:33 AM | Comments (2)

I Hate Mondays: The Contract Year

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The contract year: the final season of a player's agreement before he becomes a free agent.

There is no greater form of deception in all of sports.

One player Mark Blounts his way through half a season and another Carlos Beltrans his way through the playoffs to earn a big payday.

In the NBA, this type of behavior has turned into a recurring theme.

This year's culprits: Bobby Simmons and Jerome James.

Both players, in the final year of their pacts with their respective ball clubs, figured it was time to stop underachieving and start performing.

If there is only one time during your whole contract that you plan to impress, ideally, the end is the best time.

Bobby Simmons must have slipped a derivative of Rohypnol into Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris' drink to earn a five-year, $47 million contract.

Simmons, a three-year lemon for the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers, finally emerged in his fourth and contract season as a Clipper.

He did average 16.4 points per game last year but does one good season justify a $47 million investment? After all, it was for the lowly Clippers.

While Simmons waited until the last season of his contract to show up, Jerome James remained patient, ensuring that not even a single extra calorie of effort was exerted.

James, who is averaging 4.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg for his career, delayed until the postseason to even lift a finger. In his 11 playoff games, he feigned the characteristics of a legitimate center, scoring 12.5 ppg with 6.8 rpg and nearly 2 bpg to go along with it.

That interval of elevated statistics was enough to convince New York Knicks General Manager Isiah Thomas to agree to a five-year, $29 million contract with James.

If you blank out the financial figures temporarily and evaluate the Bucks and Knicks merely from a talent standpoint, sure, they both look good.

The Bucks could have a quick rebound in the East's now that they have plugged Simmons into the one gaping vacancy in the starting lineup. Maurice Williams is a budding point guard, Andrew Bogut could contribute right away at center, Michael Redd is the franchise at shooting guard, and Joe Smith is a quality power forward. Factor in small forward Desmond Mason off the bench and possible contributions from point guard T.J. Ford and the Bucks have made a pretty good turnaround in one offseason.

As for the Knicks, the addition of James means the team is two-deep at every position. Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson at point guard, Jamal Crawford and Trevor Ariza at shooting guard, Quentin Richardson and Tim Thomas at small forward, Michael Sweetney and David Lee at power forward, and James and Channing Frye at center.

On paper, everything looks well-fitted, but as many teams know, especially the Knicks, poor financial decisions can cripple the future.

If you keep telling yourself that the benefits outweigh the price tag, eventually you will believe it.

But Raef Lafrentz, Jalen Rose, Jamal Mashburn, Wally Szczerbiak, and Brian Grant are also examples of decisions that appeared right at the time.

Just ask the Golden State Warriors, who inked Derek Fisher to a six-year, $37 million contract and Adonal Foyle to a five-year, $41 million contract just last year. That's a steep price for a backup point guard and a center that averages 4.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

As it is, most NBA players do not commensurate their long term contracts so at the very least, if you plan on making an investment over a period of time, you may want to bank on proven players and not only contract-year wonders.

The now and the later mix like Mondays and me.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." — Abraham Lincoln

Don't miss next week's installment of "I Hate Mondays," sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great sportsbook for horse racing and casino action!

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)

July 16, 2005

Allen, Redd, Hughes Hit Jackpot

The frenzy that is the NBA free agent signing period is underway and it hasn't taken long for some of the league's top players to sign new contracts. Some stars choosing to stay with their current squad, while others chose big bucks from another squad.

Heading into the postseason, there were many burning questions regarding this year's talented market. Would Ray Allen stay in Seattle and help lead the Sonics to another playoff berth and beyond? Where would the sharp-shooting Michael Redd choose to stroke his silky left-handed jumper for the next five to six years? And what effect would Allen and Redd's destination have on the future on the often underachieving, but immensely talented Larry Hughes? Okay, maybe nobody cared about the third question, but the guy is still talented.

Ray Allen has is one of the league's premier shooters and has broken many hearts with effortless jump shot during his nine-year NBA career. Allen is coming off of one of his best seasons as a pro, averaging 23.9 points per game during the regular season (including a career-high 26.5 points per game average during the post season). His leadership, focus, and business-like approach to the game made him a must-sign for the Sonics, who already have Rashard Lewis as a key piece. The Sonics are still looking for the perfect combination that can elevate them to championship-caliber play, just as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp did for the team in the mid-'90's. And they couldn't afford to let Allen slip away.

Wooed by many suitors, including the Hawks, Clippers, and Cavaliers, the Sonics had to act fast and they did. Allen has always been a key component to every team he's been on. From his days as a member of “The Big Three” with Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell in Milwaukee, Allen has quietly become one of the league's most efficient and productive players. And the five-year $80 million (with an extra $5 million in incentives) deal he signed last week, Allen should continue to mesmerize opposing defenders around the league for several years to come. With the recent departure of former coach Nate McMillan to Portland, Allen's leadership and on court poise will be counted on even more for the young Sonics squad.

With the Ray Allen puzzle settled, it was now time for Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Michael Redd to make his decision. The Redd sweepstakes only came down to Milwaukee and Cleveland, but his decision would alter the course of both franchises. Would the Ohio native and former Ohio State return home to play in his home state with fellow Ohio native and NBA superstar LeBron James? Or would the Bucks be able to secure his services for the next six years with a more lucrative offer?

The decision was fairly simple for Redd. In a game that is so dominated by money, whether it is the player's contract or endorsements, Redd did what any other person would do. He simply chose to take the money. The lure and prospect of playing with LeBron James was not enough to lure Redd back to Ohio, as the Bucks were able to offer him a more lucrative contract. The Cavaliers were only able to offer a five-year, $70 million dollar contract, while the Bucks countered with a contract worth between $90 and $96 million over six years.

With Redd under contract with a maximum deal, T.J. Ford finally being medically cleared to play again, and drafting Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 pick in last month's draft, the Bucks appear to be turning it around, despite what some experts say.

Spurned by both Allen and Redd, the Cavaliers had no other choice but to tab Washington Wizards guard Larry Hughes to become James' side-kick. Hughes comes off of a season in which he missed 20 games due to injury and his durability has always been a factor. But he still managed to have a career year, averaging 22 points, while leading the league in steals (2.89 per game).

Many observers have labeled Hughes somewhat of an underachiever since he was chosen eighth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1998 draft. Hughes only spent one year in college and some feel that his lack of development might have contributed to his subpar NBA career. Still, the Cavs now have their shooter, and with the return of both James and the newly-resigned Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland has a solid trio that might be able to carry the squad back to the playoffs.

But, as we've seen in the first two years of his career, James can get the Cavs close, but he still needs some help. And new Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert hopes Hughes is the missing piece to the Cavs' playoff puzzle. Time will tell.

Posted by Andre Watson at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)

Five Problems Hockey Can't Solve

Before we get to this week's column — and oh, what a column it is — I wanted to take a moment and share some news with you.

I've been writing "The Jester's Quart" since 1997, starting small (one hockey newsgroup) and eventually branching out to over 20 web sites that syndicate the column each week (and a heartfelt "thank you" to all of the editors that have supported my work over the years).

So, it's with humble elation that I announce my first book is scheduled for release in Spring 2006 by Taylor Trade Publishing:

"Glow Pucks and 10-Cent Beer: The 101 Worst Ideas in Sports History."

It's a collection of 101 satirical and analytical essays about the most disastrous gimmicks, inventions, trends, and decisions in professional and amateur sports. And, hopefully, it'll make you laugh until you mess yourself.

I'll share more details when I have more details to share. If you ever want to give me a shout about the book or the column or life in general: [email protected].

Thanks for indulging, and for the continued readership.

And now, let's talk about...

Five Problems Hockey Can't Solve

The National Hockey League's dilemma was captured perfectly on ESPN's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" program the day after the league finally agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with its players association.

The hosts began with a familiar thesis: no one cares about hockey. It's the same harangue hockey fans have heard for their entire lives, from co-workers to radio hosts to newspaper columnists to most of the paid air staff on ESPN (or at least those without mullets).

"Mike and Mike" continued, arguing that the NHL needs to attract "the casual fan" with its litany of rules changes and marketing ideas — all of which are coming from a commissioner and board of governors that haven't shown, over the last decade, they could market a bullet to a gun.

So here's the dilemma, NHL: get people who have an ingrained hatred of your very existence to start watching hockey.

Good luck.

That's not going to happen through any rules changes or extra playoff rounds or more expansion. Every single time the NHL has attempted to go after these mythical "casual" fans, the results have managed to further erode the league's popularity and alienate fans that actually watch the sport.

In the 1990s, violence sold everything from movies to television to pro wrestling to video games. Yet the NHL missed captivating an entire generation of fans by legislating fighting and physical play out of the sport with draconian rule enforcement and new measures like the instigator penalty.

Why? Because Gary Bettman and Co. felt that fighting would scare off the families in new markets. Meanwhile, the same kids dropping coin on Mortal Kombat didn't give a damn how many pirouettes Peter Forsberg could pull off before scoring a goal.

(The marketing foibles of this league all lead back to Bettman, now being viewed as the rock-ribbed negotiator who saved the NHL from financial ruin. Imagine if his testicles had descended back in 1995? The NHL might have a larger market share than Celebrity Blackjack in most American cities.)

The most frustrating part of this lockout settlement is the idiotic notion that things will be dramatically different for the NHL under the new CBA. The CBA is a good way to sure up this league in the short term — it's like hitting the reset button a bad game of Tetris. While the deal plugs up the holes in this financially sinking ship, it does little to cut several anchors that will forever prevent the league from sailing to mass popularity:

1. The Language Barrier

Hockey is not an American game, and the NHL is populated with foreign-born players who don't exactly sound like Darrell Waltrip. That limits promotion, sponsorship, and the overall popularity of the players and the game. Think about if the NBA had 50 Yao Mings instead of one, and there's the NHL. Remember all that scuttlebutt about how putting microphones on players during the game would save hockey on TV? Well, when half of your top players sound like Yakov Smirnov, what good is a live mic?

2. The Game Itself

Hockey is my favorite sport, and for my money the most exciting sport in the world. But I've been watching it all my life. And I've played the game. The same can't be said for the majority of these mythical casual fans that the media thinks the NHL needs to attract. You might get a 47-year-old baseball fan from Nebraska to appreciate hockey, but you're not getting him to watch it. And I'll stop there before we get into a Red State/Blue State debate.

3. The Arena vs. TV

The NHL's TV situation is a frustrating one. Bettman's bungling has cost the league a cable contract, and I'm pretty sure Wayne Campbell had a more lucrative TV deal with Cable 10 in Aurora, Illinois than the NHL has with NBC. (I expect, by and by the way, the NHL will move to Spike TV if the network offers cash up front. And won't those promos featuring Jarome Iginla, Jean-Luc Picard, and Gil Grissom from "CSI" be fun?)

I know HDTV is supposed to change the way we watch hockey on television. And in some ways, it does. But even that technology doesn't solve the basic problems plaguing the game on TV: camera angles that don't convey the speed and intensity of the live game, presentations that fail to inform and entertain the viewer like other sports do, and announcers that just plain suck.

4. Forcing Hockey Into Non-Hockey Markets

There are too many teams in the NHL. The reason there are too many teams is that Bettman and the owners saw expansion as a way to make a big money grab in the 1990s and as the means to a lucrative TV contract. Well, both of those revenue streams have dried up like a Martian river. So let's give some of these teams about three years and then start moving them or contracting them, shall we?

5. The Media

I've heard several talking heads claim that the NHL is now on the Arena Football/WNBA level as far as popularity. This, of course, is a bunch of crap: in 2004, 25 of the NHL's 30 teams drew over 14,000 fans per night, which ain't bad when you consider the cost of attending a hockey game and the complete bungling of the league's marketing efforts. But the fact remains that the media will forever see hockey as a niche sport because most sportswriters don't have an appreciation for the game and because the ratings on television are low. (And if the latter actually mattered, then we'd never have to read the words "Tucker Carlson" in a major newspaper again.)

The problem the NHL has to face is that there have been exactly three hockey players who crossed over into the mainstream as celebrities: Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Mario Lemieux. One guy was the best player of all time, and banging a model. Another guy was a New York sports hero, and banging models. And the third guy had cancer. So let's get Rick Nash to Fashion Week and hand him a few cartons of Marlboro Reds, shall we?

Rules changes and innovative marketing might solve Nos. 2 , 3, and 5. But Nos. 1 and 4 are systemic albatrosses that the NHL will have around its collective neck for decades.

So what, if anything, could bring these mythical casual fans under the NHL's tent?

Parity? I think the NHL needs parity like it needs another Canadian franchise. The leveling of the playing field for 30 teams through the salary cap and a lowered unrestricted free agency age will, in theory, create parity in a league that quite frankly doesn't need it — Calgary and Tampa Bay made the Finals last season, for God's sake. If parity does end up ruling the NHL, I can't wait for the first wave of puckhead bitching about the sorry state of the Original Six and how "nobody" wants to watch the Sabres and Blue Jackets play for the Stanley Cup.

What about a superstar on the Gretzky level? Say, someone like Sidney Crosby, the super-phenom who will be drafted first overall in this month's entry draft?

June 21's draft lottery has the potential to be one of those crossover events, where non-hockey fans are drawn to the notion that any of the league's 30 teams could end up with the chance to draft Sid the Kid. Which, of course, means the NHL will frak it up and only have it available on streaming audio from NHL.com — hell of a time to have pissed away that cable deal, eh, boys?

(By the way: am I the only one who finds it absolutely hilarious that the Devils, Red Wings, and Avalanche have the same shot at Sidney Crosby as the Islanders, Capitals, and Panthers?)

Getting the CBA done was essential, and I'm glad that's behind us.

Now comes the hard part for the NHL: either making another ill-advised attempt to be everything to everyone, or accepting the limitations the sport has and simply putting on the best show it can.

Random Thoughts

I'm convinced they ended the lockout this week to get the taste of Jason Bay's Home Run Derby performance out of Canadian mouths...

Democrats are calling for the resignation or dismissal of Presidential advisor Karl Rove, who is accused of sharing the name of a covert CIA operative with journalists as part of a smear campaign.

Man, last time there was this kind of politically disastrous leak in the White House, it ended up on Monica [Lewinsky]'s dress...

Kwame Brown is reportedly headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, thereby assuring that "The Honeymooners" is no longer the biggest flop in Hollywood this summer...

I went to the dentist this week, and I will now ask this rhetorical question: is there a worse feeling in the world than hearing someone with a mirror and a metal hook in your mouth suddenly say, "Wow! Now what's that?"

It was a cavity. A small one. A little drilling. I like that in my dentist's office they have this wallpaper that looks like the inside of an aquarium stapled to the ceiling for you to look at while you're being worked on. You know, to escape the intense pain of oral surgery by pretending you're being held captive in a large glass box in some guy's living room.

My dentist did the drilling without doing anything to numb me. Evidently, she just assumed I had watched the MLB All-Star Game and was already sedated...

Finally, Ben Jones of the old "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV series has urged fans to boycott the new film starring Jessica Simpson and Johnny Knoxville, claiming the movie's script "mocks the good clean family values of our series" with profanity and sexual situations.

Coming from a guy named Cooter, I'd take those charges seriously...

Greg Wyshynski is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].

Posted by Greg Wyshynski at 6:25 PM | Comments (0)

July 15, 2005

2005 NFL Preview: Chicago Bears

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Last Year

Lovie Smith has no relation to John and Jane Smith, but his new marriage with the Chicago Bears was just as rocky Mr. and Mrs. Smith's in its first year. No, Lovie and the Bears didn't resort to the same violence employed by Brad Pitt's and Angelina Jolie's characters, but a 1-5 start, compounded by season-ending injuries to starting quarterback Rex Grossman and Pro Bowl safety Mike Brown, was enough to remove the Bears from any contention. A 5-11 record does not accurately represent what this team is capable of, so be careful if you plan on underestimating Chicago in 2005.

What We Learned From Last Year

Keep smiling, keep shining, knowing you can always count on me, for sure.

Although that's what friends are supposedly for, the Bears couldn't count on, anyone as most of their starters were unavailable because of injuries.

On offense, the Bears missed guard Ruben Brown (seven games), tackle Marc Colombo (eight games), quarterback Rex Grossman (13 games), and on defense, end Adewale Ogunleye (four games), linebacker Brian Urlacher (seven games), cornerback Charles Tillman (eight games), cornerback Jerry Azumah (four games), and safety Mike Brown (14 games).

It's hard to keep smiling and shining when most of your marquee players are spending more time off the field than on it.

The loss of Rex Grossman was particularly crippling, as the team had no other viable quarterback to lead an already average offense. Chat Hutchinson, Craig Krenzel, and Jonathan Quinn were all abysmal.

To their credit, their task was exponentially more difficult playing behind the league's worst offensive line. They, too, were ravaged by injury and surrendered a league-high 66 sacks.

Surprisingly, though, running back Thomas Jones was still functional behind this deficient line. Matter of fact, he output his best season as a pro and flashed some of the brilliance that the Arizona Cardinals saw in him when they selected him fifth overall in the 2000 NFL draft.

Jones was one of the brightest running backs in the first three weeks of the season, not coincidentally while Rex Grossman was still healthy, compiling 445 rushing and receiving yards and four touchdowns. He finished 2004 with 1,348 combined yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

Although sack totals are not always a precise barometer for how functional an offensive line is in the running game, it's clear Jones was running behind a mediocre group. What makes his accomplishments even more impressive was the fact that the Bears entailed the worst-ranked passing game.

On the other side of the ball, the statistics were distressing, but in reality, the Bears are more advanced than their 21st total defense ranking indicates.

Consider that their offense did not offer much support, hanging the defense out to dry for 31:40 per game (fifth worst in NFL). Eventually, an already short-handed defense simply wore down.

The defensive line was one of the positive spots on this squad. End Adewale Ogunleye was acquired in a trade for wide receiver Marty Booker and anchored a very young and budding line. Alex Brown was adept at keeping double-teams away from Ogunleye and rookies Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson also emerged as quality lineman.

Glimpses of the future sprouted in the secondary and linebacking corps, as well. Third-year linebackers Hunter Hillenmeyer and Lance Briggs materialized as worthy starters. Hillenmeyer is not the most athletic backer, but is a smart defender and Briggs is simply a tackling machine, compiling 126 total tackles in his second season.

In the secondary, Charles Tillman, Jerry Azumah, and rookie Nathan Vasher didn't spend too much time to playing together, but look to be a solid trio going forward. Vasher benefited from Tillman's absence (due to injury) and led the team with five interceptions.

When it really mattered, the Bears defense buckled down and only permitted teams to convert 30.5% of their third downs (first in NFL) and when the veterans return to join the promising young talent in 2005, this will be a premiere defense.

This Year

For a team that was so badly hampered by injuries last year, it's good to hear that the strength and conditioning plan is changing heading into this season. Lovie Smith put the Bears through rigorous offseason workouts heading into his first year, which may have factored into their regular season health. This year, Smith has heeded the advice of new conditioning coach Rusty Jones and abandoned double session practices. Jones will also focus on hydration and nutrition programs and lessen the physicality of the practices.

On offense, Smith will introduce his second offensive coordinator in two seasons. Last year, Terry Shea did an excellent job of putting Thomas Jones in a position to succeed, but the rest of the offense was dreadful.

As Ron Turner takes over the reigns, Jones will be pushed aside in favor of a power ground game with rookie Cedric Benson. Jones was exceptional in an all-around role last season, but he's not a power back who can carry the ball 25 times a game.

Enter Cedric Benson.

He will have one of the better offensive lines in front of him — if they can stay healthy — with Pro Bowler Olin Kreutz right in the center of it. Tackles Fred Miller and John Tait and guard Ruben Brown are in upper echelons at their positions and Roberto Garza is versatile veteran who could start if no one better step up in front of him.

This line will not allow 66 sacks like the one last year.

For Rex Grossman, who has fully recovered from his knee injury, that is great news. With a renewed focus of pounding the ball, Grossman should have some more time to develop as a quality quarterback. He has only started six games in two seasons.

Muhsin Muhammad, who led the league in receiving yards and touchdowns last season, will be a major boost to what was one of the leagues worst set of receivers.

The grouping is still thin without a solid number two receiver. Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage will compete for the immediate starting role, but rookie Mark Bradley could be the long-term solution. Tight end is also a bare position.

But the Bears do not need a ton of production from their receiving corps, they just need reliability — which they should have if either Berrian, Gage, or Bradley can evolve as a weapon.

If the offensive line is as dominant as it looks on paper, the Bears will be able to score more than their league-worst 14.4 points per game in 2004.

On defense, the Bears will put sufficient pressure on opposing quarterbacks with their front four. Ogunleye is the stud, but Alex Brown and Tommie Harris are quickly catching up.

The return of Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown will be an enormous lift to the defense in the clubhouse and on the field.

Urlacher has been much-maligned over the past couple of seasons, but is still a premiere linebacker. He hasn't had legitimate partners to his left and right since Rosevelt Colvin and Warrick Holdman departed in 2002 and 2003, but Hillenmeyer and Briggs have matured into proficient starters.

Brown is an emotional leader and will be teamed with Mike Green as the safeties. Green is only average, so the Bears will be relying on Brown to recover from his Achilles injury.

The Bears defense doesn't have any household names outside of Brown, Urlacher, and Ogunleye and sent zero defenders to the Pro Bowl in 2004, but is laced with young potential.

Charles Tillman is a budding shutdown cornerback and Tommie Harris, Alex Brown, and Lance Briggs are all burgeoning with promise. Lovie Smith is a defensive-minded coach, so you can expect this squad to be ranked highly by the end of 2005.

The reason why the Bears are a sleeper team is because of the weak competition in their division. Even though injuries impeded the defense, they still boasted the highest ranking among their division opponents. Green Bay is declining, even if Javon Walker, Bubba Franks, and Grady Jackson end holdouts, Minnesota has never been mentally tough under Mike Tice, and Detroit, as highly-regarded as they might be, has yet to prove anything whatsoever.

In a division that is up for grabs, I'll take the best defense any day.

Over/Under: 6.5

With Randy Moss out of the division and Green Bay's defense being as horrendous as it is, no team has a clear-cut advantage over the Chicago Bears anymore. They should be able to win at least three games in-house which means they will need four more from: @WAS, CIN, @CLE, BAL, @NO, SF, CAR, @TB, @PIT, and ATL. Considering they have Washington, Cleveland, San Francisco, and a Week 17 meeting in Minnesota — by that time the Vikings will be in the midst of another collapse — seven wins should not be too arduous.

Fantasy Sleeper

If you're in a league that drafts defenses, the Bears will be a nice ace up your sleeve. Lovie Smith worked wonders in St. Louis, leading the league in takeaways with a desolate defense so he should be able to exploit all of the talents of this squad once his full arsenal returns. The team plans to run the ball, control the clock, and play defense, so don't expect them to get blown out very often, especially with Randy Moss far and away.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 4:45 PM | Comments (2)

Oh No, Not Kwame to Lakers!

I woke up Thursday morning ready to write another one of my college football previews when I read that the Lakers have agreed in principle to trade Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins for Kwame Brown. A friend and diehard Laker fan came up to me today and said, "Say it ain't so, Avery, say it ain't so!" Unfortunately for Laker fans, this trade looks like it will go through and it might end up being the worst one in their history.

It looks like D.C. is still the thievery capital of the world. The Wizards will get Caron Butler and most likely Chucky Atkins for their malcontent. The Lakers are trading away two legitimate starters on a Western Conference team to get a guy who couldn't even stay on the playoff roster on an Eastern Conference squad. I wonder who got the best of this one?

This is the classic example of the Lakers "selling low, buying high." If there is anyone who thinks this is an equal trade, I've got a mountain cabin in Omaha I'd love to talk to you about. Caron Butler improved his stock tremendously in the final third of the NBA season and will be one of the primary threats on a team who now misses Larry Hughes a lot less. The Wizards are also getting Chucky Atkins or Devean George, players who have proven themselves in the league. These guys have value, and the Lakers should have waited for a better offer to come along. Instead, they pulled the trigger faster than a guy on Cialis.

Kwame Brown is a joke. Let's start with the stats. He's averaged an inexcusable 7.7 points a game in his career. Even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at age 60 would've gotten double figures in the East. Brown's offensive skills need more work than Tori Spelling's boob job. It is no coincidence that Michael Jordan's rumored favorite two words while in Washington was "Bleepin' Kwame!"

Okay, maybe he can dish the ball. Maybe he can join the list of great Laker centers like Shaq, Kareem, and even Vlade Divac, who could not only score, but also distribute the rock to the open shooter when needed. Nope. This guy has averaged 1 assist a game in his "illustrious" three years in Washington. These are numbers that only World B. Free could be proud of. This guy is a black hole, a-not-so supernova.

On top of all of that, his attitude is far from stellar. He has feuded with many in the Wizards organization, including ex-coach Doug Collins and Michael Jordan, his former teammate and boss. I thought everyone wanted to be "like Mike." Not Kwame — he'd rather fight with him. There is substantial evidence that Jordan and Brown despised each other. I guess we can assume that M.J. never offered Kwame to "Come Fly With Me."

Last year, Kwame raised his outlandishness to a new level by getting kicked off of the Wizards' playoff roster. That's a pretty tough thing to do considering he was their best hope of guarding Shaq. As you can see, this is why Mr. Brown was best in Washington, a city where people make a good living out of being full of hot air and unfulfilled potential.

I guess the Lakers must be looking at his "potential." I sure hope that this guy can develop, because at this point, Kwame the rapper even has a better legacy. It seems to me that if this guy had any chance of being a star, he would've already done in Washington, whose system was designed to showcase his talents. He has been a complete disappointment and has consistently underperformed in D.C. I'm sure Ernie Grunfield, the Wizards' general manager, was more than happy to unload him.

Conversely, Mitch Kupchak, the Laker GM, will try to put some kind of spin on this trade and convince everyone how good it is. Even Bob Cousy can't put enough "English" on this one to make it palatable. If Kwame thought Mike was unnerving, just wait until he meets Kobe. This acquisition has made the already fragile Laker chemistry much worse. This will definitely be the trade the ends up getting Kupchak fired. It breaks down like this, with Brian Grant's impending release — the Lakers have now traded Shaq for Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown. Wow.

I'm sure there must have been a memo, but since when did the Lakers and Clippers switch places? The Clippers are now the young, exciting team with loads of potential. Cuttino Mobley, a proven veteran, will only add to the probability that only one L.A. team will make the playoffs. Unfortunately, that team is not the Lakers. The Lakers have morphed into the West Coast version of the Knicks — a team that shells out a lot of cash, but whose playoff prospects are dim.

The deal for Kwame Brown only makes the chance of Laker success that much more remote. Kupchak and the Lakers are on the wrong end of this game of "Texas Hold 'dem Ankles." L.A. needed to acquire a player like a Jermaine O'Neal, who could contribute and blend in with the triangle offense. Instead, they got a guy who can't even blend in.

Posted by Avery Smith at 4:28 PM | Comments (17)

Jokers Rule NBA Offseason

Each summer, shortly after the championship parades are cleaned up and all the postseason hardware is divvied between the league's elite, the NBA airwaves are saturated with rumors and reports of potential player and coach movements, possible trade scenarios, and other personnel transactions. Of these often fictitious rumblings, a fractious few actually come to fruition, and are generally met with an indignant "huh?!" or a quizzical "what the?!"

Well, if the Academy Awards can give Oscars, than, by gosh, we should be able to give the most infamous offseason NBA mover an award, as well. It is in this vein that I give you the NBA's first-annual "Crazy" nominations.

Early returns on the NBA's annual offseason "Crazy" award (given in homage to the person or people responsible for the "Most Noteworthy Thing That Can't Possibly Happen, But Somehow, Inexplicably, Does" during the always turbulent and convention-defying break between the NBA Finals and the following pro basketball preseason) have some rather interesting coaching situations emerging as favorites ahead of the usual quarry of ridiculous contract signings and pointless locker room in-fighting.

At first glance, the casual fan may assess this summer's NBA landscape a bit differently. After all, seeing Michael Redd's name next to that many zeroes is enough to send even the most intrepid of those among us straight to the nearest defibrillator. Within a month or so, we should see equally maddening contracts for a bean-pole roll player who's played less than 25 minutes per game (Stromile Swift), a bad shooting guard trapped in a good power forward's body (Antoine Walker), and a consistently proficient stat-hound incapable of leading a team to a winning record (Shareef Abdur-Rahim), among others.

Recent history has shown that the player's pay schedule in the NBA, while structured and consistent, is horribly flawed. These resultant bizarro-contracts are just something fans will have to get used to, but they sure do make excellent fodder for tearing down the "House That Stern Built."

Once you clear the fog of confusion created by the realization that relatively ordinary, semi-educated men are earning contracts worth more than the gross domestic product of the Falkland Islands, you can more clearly see the more astonishing signs that things just don't make sense in the king's – er, I mean commissioner's – fiefdom. Of particular note are decisions made regarding the direction of a team relative to coaching.

Take the Larry Brown situation. Here you have arguably the greatest coach, in terms of a coach's truest purpose, there has ever been. No, he is not as highly-decorated as the Red Auerbachs, Phil Jacksons, and Pat Rileys of the league. But here is a man who has consistently taken teams that have long been considered the shock-absorbers on the magic bus that is the NBA — teams that have bore the brunt of the impact from the bumps, potholes, and virgin trails encountered by the league — from second-class status to playoff contention.

The Los Angeles Clippers, for crying out loud, were a playoff team with Brown at the helm! This great coach and master motivator of men is now having to wonder if he'll be needing to fill out change-of-address forms this offseason. Sure, he has some health problems, but I would think a couple of Eastern Conference championship banners, a World Championship trophy, and a track record so consistently good would be worth waiting around for.

Phil Jackson is another of the summer's spotlighted coach who has used re-emerged from his Montana-based Zen trances and anti-Kobe Bryant book-writing in a manner that forces you to furrow your brow and say "What the?!" While it has been very well-documented, it bears repeating. Jackson lambasted Bryant in his book, "The Last Season" (released in the fall of 2004), and rightly so, exposing the petulant superstar as the spoiled, self-serving brat that he is.

Interestingly enough, the book features one line where Jackson is telling his girlfriend, Jeannie Buss (daughter to Lakers owner Jerry Buss), that he will not coach the Lakers, or at least "not if Kobe Bryant is on the team next year" and a second line where he points out that "we [Kobe and Phil] both knew I would never coach him again." How do you take words like that back? While Jackson may now have upwards of $10 million reasons to return thanks to his new contract, he has lost a healthy percentage of his once almost otherworldly credibility and dignity. The fabled Zen Master has become the feeble Zen Puppet — further proof that love does indeed make a sane person go mad.

The latter of these examples would normally be a lock for a "Crazy", if it weren't for some recent news from the Great Northwest.

Seattle Supersonics coach Nate McMillan, fresh off an improbable division-winning campaign that saw his charges overachieve to a 52-30 record, was inexplicably not "taken care of" as a lame-duck coach in the final year of his contract. The team that he had spent the past 19 years of his life representing did not offer a contract extension or any promises of future tenure (in fact, the management painted him into a corner with a seemingly impossible public expression of the team's playoff expectations during the preseason). Had this been the end of the saga, perhaps the SuperSonic front office would be in line for the "Crazy" ... however, McMillan somehow managed to outdo his former employers in the curious business decision department with his next move — to Portland.

To say the Trailblazers are a franchise in transition is a monumentally understated sentiment. Heck, to say the Trailblazers are a franchise in the midst of unimaginable turmoil could even be considered a euphemism for the actual truism regarding this moribund group. Many would opine that Portland is one of a very few spots still open for "Mr. Sonic", who makes his move relatively late in the hiring game. But the writing has been on the wall since last November, and if McMillan wanted any of the other positions in places like Cleveland or Minnesota (which, coincidentally, hired McMillan's assistant coach, Dwayne Casey), he surely could have made the necessary in-roads. Even if timing was an issue, the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks are both enticing, available locales, certainly more appealing than Rip City.

Alas, McMillan has eschewed relatively greener pastures in favor of a purgatory rife with ne'er-do-wells and half-baked prima donnas. Money, as is generally the case, certainly played a superceding role in his decision — though, like most every other professionally affiliated entity, Nate would never admit that. Perhaps a modicum of arrogance factored into the equation. Who could blame any self-respecting person from thinking a little bit of his influence could go a long, long way, even where so many before have failed?

None of those factors will be of any consolation to Coach McMillan as he squanders whatever momentum his tenure in Seattle provided to his burgeoning coaching career. To steal a very apropos line from ESPN's Stuart Scott, Nate McMillan will almost certainly be "drooling the drool of remorse onto the pillow of regret" by next January.

At least he gets one award for his trophy case — the cherished "Crazy," which may not carry the prestige of a Coach of the Year trophy, but at least it's not an Emmy.

Who knows, if McMillan plays his cards right, he may get one of those, too, for his made-for-TV documentary chronicling his life and death as an NBA head coach.

Or, if he's really unlucky, he'll have to stay in Portland for the length of his newly-minted contract. Now that's crazy.

Posted by Matt Thomas at 4:10 PM | Comments (2)

July 14, 2005

MLB Second-Half Predictions

While many prognosticators make bold and daring predictions before the season begins, this intrepid reporter waits to accumulate at least a half season's worth of data before venturing forth with his bold, fearless, and daring predictions for what is to come in the second half.

Sure, I could have told you the Yankees would still be floundering this season due to a lack of pitching depth (I mean come on, did we really think Randy Johnson would make up for both Kevin Brown and Jarrett Wright?), the Washington Expos ... err ... Nationals would be sitting atop the National League East, and the Chicago White Sox would be the class of baseball.

Of course, that's what makes preseason picks laughable and midseason picks bankable. Armed with 80+ games of knowledge, here are my picks for how the remainder of the season breaks down, division by glorious division.

AL East

Let's start with the division that receives the most least deserving publicity. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were eliminated last October and the Toronto Blue Jays, though surprising, must be devastated with the loss of Roy Halladay for the next two months. That leaves three, the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox.

Two months into the season, the Orioles were the class of this division and threatening to run away and hide. You just knew, though, that Boston and New York would sneak back into this, and sure enough, they did. In order for Baltimore to prevent a second-half fade, they must find a stud starter for their rotation.

Offensively, they are even, if not better, than both the Yankees and Red Sox. However, with Curt Schilling returning from the DL in Boston and the Yankees heating up faster than the Bronx in July, Baltimore must acquire a front-line pitcher.

Look for the O's to land either A.J. Burnett, or in a shocker, Jason Schmidt from the Giants. If either of those happens, you will see a three-way race for the title. For my money, Boston's pitching depth is too much for the rest of this division, and they hang on for the division title.

AL Central

Something tells me the White Sox will come back down to earth. While Mark Buehrle proved he deserved to start the All-Star Game for the American league and John Garland has turned into a great front-line pitcher, the innings will begin to wear down on this team. Losing three in a row to the surging A's was a bit of a downer heading into the All-Star Break. Ozzie has his guys playing small ball to perfection, but their style of play may catch up with them in the second half.

The Twins have been an enigma all year. Johan Santana has proven to be mortal and Brad Radke has been inconsistent. A bright spot may be the emergence of Carlos Silva. The Twins may not have enough to catch the Sox, but they are a definite playoff contender. For the first time ever, the AL Central will produce two playoff teams, with the White Sox winning the pennant, but the Twins proving to be the deadlier team come postseason time.

AL West

Though the Angels suffered a humiliating sweep at the hands of the Mariners (the Mariners, for crying out loud!) right before the All-Star Break and their starting staff has an ERA over 7 in their last 12 games, the Los Angles Angels of Anaheim in Orange County, California, USA, Earth (you get the idea) are still too much for this division.

Oakland has been surging and they could be the team the Angels will have to watch. Oakland's big three of Barry Zito, Rich Harden, and Dan Haren have helped Oakland get back to .500. With the reawakening of Eric Chavez and a solid sophomore campaign by Bobby Crosby, Billy Beane's bunch is poised to take over second from the all-offense, no-defense Texas Rangers.

Kenny Rogers' implosion on national TV may be Texas' unraveling. This incident will affect his psyche, as well as cost Texas their best pitcher over 20 games. That is just too many games to be without your stud, especially with the dangerous Angels in this division. Anaheim will eventually pull away and clinch this division, and homefield, by mid-September.

NL East

What can you say about Frank Robinson and the Washington Nationals? The surprise team of this season just loaded up for the second half by adding Preston Wilson to a less than spectacular lineup. While Wilson has been having a nice season, let's see what he does away from the Rocky Mountains. The Nationals have been a nice story, and Florida is an enticing second half pick (with their solid, yet oddly inconsistent pitching), but my pick here are the cockroaches of baseball, the Atlanta Braves.

Bobby Cox has worked his magic yet again, and Andruw Jones has finally realized his all-world talent, leading the young Braves to within shouting distance of the Nationals. With Tim Hudson and Mike Hampton due off the disabled list, and Chipper Jones set to rejoin the club, the Braves are poised to make a second half run. Yep, 14 years and counting, the Tomahawk will be chopping in October.

NL Central

By far, the easiest division to pick, I would like to say Houston, with the never-aging Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt, and Andy Pettite, can make a strong run in the second half and upend the Cardinals. I would like to say that, but I would be a fool. The Cardinals are not only the class of this division, but the class of baseball. With few weaknesses, I just can't see them losing much ground to the Astros. I won't bother with the rest of the division, because outside of Derek Lee's chase for the Triple Crown, there is not much else to pay attention to.

Let's keep an eye on the Astros. Currently five games behind the Braves for the final wildcard spot, I have a feeling this team will stay hot and sneak into the playoffs. With Pettite healthy, you could see a liftoff come playoff time as the Astros again face the Cardinals in a showdown for the World Series.

NL West

Yikes. What a train wreck this division has become. The Padres went a blistering 22-8 in May and followed that up with a phenomenal 15-22 record heading into the All-Star Break. To illustrate how bad this division is, they actually distanced themselves from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres expect the bats of Ramon Hernandez and Phil Nevin back, as well as Adam Eaton, and should be able to put this division to bed. In addition, don't be surprised if the Padres make a play for a solid bat in the outfield.

The truly snake-bitten team has to be the Dodgers. While most people will tell you every team suffers from injuries, what has happened to the Dodgers is just plain unfair. While not a great team to begin with, they definitely had enough to contend in this division before the losses of J.D. Drew, Milton Bradley, and Eric Gagne, to name a few. The West has to be won by someone, and the smart money is on the Padres.

Take these picks for what they are — brilliant, insightful analysis.

Posted by Derek Daggett at 3:00 PM | Comments (0)

Who Are These Characters?

Now that Wimbledon has come and gone, most American fans have tuned off tennis from their world for a few weeks. Along with the start of clay court tournaments in Europe, and the last grass court tournament of the calendar year taking place in beautiful Newport Beach, four people received the ultimate honor in tennis, becoming part of history as inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

This week, Rafael Nadal picked up his clay court dominance right where he left off by winning the Swedish Synsam Open, his seventh clay court title of the year, equaling Thomas Muster's record in 1996. Another clay court specialist, Gaston Gaudio, won the title in the stunning settings of the Swiss mountains in Gstaad. Sticking to tradition, the first seed did not win the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. Greg Rusedski, the third seed, repeated his title of last year on the grass court tournament.

However, the real heroes of the week were four characters, all from different time periods (except Jana Novotna and Jim Courier) who earned their rightful spots in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Courier, Yannick Noah, Novotna, and Butch Buchholz are now part of an elite group called "Hall of Famers."

It never ceases to amaze me how little today's players and juniors show interest to the game of tennis, how little dedication they display toward being "students of the game." I will never forget when I asked a group of kids during a clinic to name the number one male player in the world. It was during the late '90s. Most did not know, one of them said Tiger Woods (oh boy!), and only a little girl came up with the right answer: Pete Sampras. I should add that I asked this question only a few days following one of Sampras' seven Wimbledon titles.

But here is the kicker: when the little girl said his name, half of the other kids did not even know this guy called Pete Sampras. I wondered if I should call "Ripley's Believe It or Not!"

So I got curious again and asked another group of kids recently if they heard any of the four names that were inducted to the Hall of Fame. Jim Courier was the only one that many of them heard about, and that was due mostly to the big poster in the clubhouse promoting an exhibition that Courier played several days earlier, in which a good friend of mine played also as his doubles partner.

If any juniors are reading this article, I apologize because you might find this boring, since it is about these four "mysterious" people who happened to be a part of tennis history.

Jim Courier, a baseball fan as a child, won four Grand Slams, represented United States in six Davis Cups, and finished the year ranked number one in the world in 1992. I remember Courier from my time at Nick Bollettieri's Academy in mid-'80s when he was a quiet junior, not even considered one of the best players at the academy (many of those never made it big-time except Andre Agassi). He was truly a nice guy, came to practice ready to give his best effort.

I was very pleased few years back when he got his first major commentary job with TNT alongside Marv Albert during Wimbledon. I enjoyed his comments and now that he is a regular in the booth, I am all ears when he speaks. One of the few knowledgeable guys in the business, Courier brings an excellent down to earth perspective on the ins and outs of the tennis world. My friend who played the exhibition would not say enough about how nice he was during the event, indicating that all the fame and glory have not manipulated his nice persona. I am happy that he is inducted. Well done, Mr. Courier!

Butch Buchholz, aged 64, was chosen mostly for his accomplishments as a contributor to the game of tennis. One of his major contributions was being the Executive Director of ATP for a brief period in the early-'80s. Although I am glad for him, I can understand (only for once) if most of today's juniors have no clue about Mr. Buchholz.

The only female inductee this year, Jana Novotna, has one thing going for her: irony. Most people who know her probably wondered if she was inducted to the Hall of Fame for a particular negative experience. Ironically, she became famous when she succeeded in pulling off the biggest choke job recent memory when she led Steffi Graf 4-1 in the final set of the 1993 Wimbledon final and managed to get so nervous that she double faulted and missed shot after shot on her way to a loss, finding herself in tears in the arms of the duchess of Kent during the trophy presentation.

Ironically, not everyone knows that, the experience turned her career around. Not everyone knows that she stayed in the top 10 for six years. Not everyone knows that she did not fade away, and in fact, came back to win Wimbledon five years later. But hey, everyone knows that she "once choked like never seen before." Being in the Hall of Fame will state once and for all that 1993 Wimbledon final was simply an incident during a great career of this deserving champion.

Last, but not the least, the one that I am truly happy about, is Yannick Noah, the 1983 French Open champion. I mentioned earlier that four "characters" were inducted in the Hall of Fame. Well, this guy carries the "character" title better than anyone.

Truly entertaining to watch, maybe one of the greatest "athletes" ever seen in any sport, he managed to win numerous titles, including the French Open, mostly thanks to his physical athleticism. Believe me when I say this guy did not have very good technique in any area of the game except his serve, and even had the wrong grip on his forehand volley, not to mention a mediocre forehand from the baseline. But, ah yes, the Frenchman could jump, and he had game — and a personality.

Discovered in Cameroun, Africa, by late Arthur Ashe when he was a little kid, Yannick Noah packed style and emotion in his bag every time he stepped on the court. After his career ended, he brought the same qualities to a music career that still goes strong today. Some of his reggae tunes will have you dancing before you know it. It must be the dreadlocks!

I met Yannick once in the mid-'80s again at Nick Bollettieri's when I was feeling pretty bad physically, sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall. The sun got to me that day during practice and my stomach was about to turn upside down. People were walking by, no one thought about asking if I needed some help.

Well, almost no one...

Then came by Yannick Noah, a top player in the world at the time who happened to be practicing at the Academy for a short period of time. He asked me if I felt okay. Not really listening to my answer of "okay," he took the trouble of stopping where he was going, went and got me a glass of lemonade, offered to assist me in going to my room, even told one of the supervisors to take a look at me. That day, I became the biggest fan of this man, not to mention that I immediately felt better and went back to practice.

Few years later, I saw him practicing at Roland Garros (not during the French Open). I could not believe it when he not only remembered me, but also actually stopped his practice to have a few words. This is exactly how Noah is, one of the most loved men in the world of tennis by all people involved.

I salute these four characters for all the memories. If any current junior player stuck with me through the whole article, you can take pride in knowing that you have one up on the rest of your peers in terms of being a student of the game.

Take care, everyone.

Posted by Mert Ertunga at 2:37 PM | Comments (7)

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 18

1. Jimmie Johnson — Pole-sitter Johnson chose to pit for two tires instead of four during the USG Sheetrock 400's final caution, a move that improved his position from 12th to sixth. Johnson moved up three more positions in the race's final 19 laps, and finished third, his series' best eighth top-five of the year.

More importantly, J.J. gained track position on that ultimate pit stop that placed him in front of rival Greg Biffle, who chose to change all four tires. The No. 48 Lowe's car's day was not looking so bright earlier in the race, when a cut tire left him two laps down. Some timely cautions and quick work in the pits allowed Johnson to make up those laps, and he was back on the lead lap with 80 remaining.

"It seems as though Goodyear can't make a decent tire for NASCAR," says Johnson. "And Michelin can't make a tire worthy of Formula 1 cars. I've seen guys in the Tour De France doing 60 down a curvy, mountainous road on tires an inch thick, and they don't have tire problems. Can we get their tire maker in here?"

Johnson realizes the importance of Loudon's track not only this week, but in the larger picture. New Hampshire is the first stop of the final 10 Chase For the Cup races, when the Sylvania 300 goes down on September 18th. Johnson tested earlier this month on the 1.058 mile oval, so he should be well prepared. He finished 11th in both races there last year, and took both races in 2003. Expect Johnson to put a little more distance between he and Biffle this Sunday.

2. Greg Biffle — Biffle, along with teammate Matt Kenseth, were victimized by the final caution that forced all that chose to pit into a tough dilemma: change four tires and sacrifice track position, or change two tires, gain track position, and hope those with four tires can't make up the positions. Both Biffle and Kenseth chose the former, and this time, the gamble didn't pay off. Biffle, running third at the time of the caution, finished 11th, and Kenseth, dominant in the lead pre-caution, could not catch Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and finished second.

"You know, sometimes four tires pays off, sometimes it doesn't," says Biffle. "We've got no one to blame ... but Kevin Harvick. He's a chicken and a punk. Of course, Harvick had nothing to do with it, but I'm still seething from the Busch race."

Tough luck, Biff. On Saturday, you were outsmarted by the craftiest chicken punk this side of Foghorn Leghorn, Kevin Harvick. It was a brilliant move by Harvick to keep you a lap down. Cowardly, but brilliant.

Biffle lost 35 points to points leader Johnson, who leads Biffle by 108 points. Johnson has been decisively better than Biffle in their careers at Loudon. Biffle's best finish was a tenth in 2003. His goal Sunday will be to race conservatively, steer clear of trouble, and hope for a top-10. Biffle's last three results in Cup races were outside the top 10, the first time he's had three straight out of the top 10.

3. Tony Stewart — After a violent smack of the wall in Thursday's practice, Stewart was too banged up to drive the No. 20 Home Depot Chevy in Friday's qualifying, a duty that fell to Joe Gibb's Racing Busch Series driver J. J. Yeley, who qualified 13th. When Stewart took the wheel on Sunday, NASCAR driver change rules specified that Stewart start at the back of the field. Despite that, Stewart was up in the top 10 with 85 laps into the race. The duel for the win would have came down to Stewart and Matt Kenseth if the race would have stayed green. However, a caution on lap 244 allowed several more cars into the mix, and Stewart finished fifth.

"What can I say?" says Stewart. "I'm the man. Sore ribs. Check. Backup car. Check. Starting in last. Check. And I still finish fifth. We Stewart's are a tough and resilient lot. Look at Martha. She served hard time and still came out on top. No wall's going to stop me, and no minimum security country club jail can hold back Martha."

Stewart finished fifth in New Hampshire last year, and won this race back in 2000, when it was called the "ThatLook.com 300." I bet some sucker investors lost a lot of money on that dot-com joint. Anyway, Stewart is set to make a run at second place in the points. He's 43 behind Biffle — Stewart hopes that number will shrink with a top-10 in Loudon.

4. Rusty Wallace — Wallace's 12th-place finish, coupled with Elliott Sadler's 37th-place result, allowed Wallace to move up one place to fourth in the points. Wallace now has an 11th and three 12ths to compliment his nine top-10s, all of which have fueled his resurgence in the points. And, Wallace did it with the No. 2 car sporting the retro black and gold Miller Genuine Draft paint scheme, which Rusty made famous in the '90s.

"Wasn't she a beauty?" adds Wallace. "Those colors bring back a lot of fond memories, and they should bring in quite a bundle of cash when the souvenir-hungry fans gobble up t-shirts, hats, and die-cast models at outrageous prices. Fans, don't forget to check out the new 1/512th scale MGD No. 2 car. It will fit through the eye of a needle. Amazing."

Let me finish that plug for you, Rusty. Fans, operators are standing by. Please have your credit card, or second mortgage, ready.

Ah, commerce. Back to racing. Wallace has a solid 70-point lead on Sadler for fourth place, and, barring a disastrous finish, should maintain fourth. Wallace's last foray into the top 10 in New Hampshire was in September of 2003, when he finished sixth.

5. Mark Martin — Martin was one of four Roush Fords in the top 11, finishing 10th to regain the ground lost in the Pepsi 400, in which he finished 36th. Martin is now sixth in the points, 346 behind Johnson.

"But I sure wish I knew who'd be driving my car next year," adds Martin. "We all know that Jamie McMurray's got it in 2007. But what about next year?"

Well, Mark, rumor has it that Jack Roush asked you to delay your retirement and return to drive the No. 6 in 2006. And rumor has it you didn't say "yes." Of course, you didn't say "no." I've got a feeling you'll be back. I can see the marketing ploy now: "Get Your Kicks in the No. 6 in '06." I can see some kind of tie-in with Viagra along the line, but I just can't think of a catchy slogan for that one.

Martin has always been solid in New Hampshire. In his last 18 starts at Loudon, he only has one finish lower than 18th, and has eight top-10s, although none in the last three years.

6. Elliott Sadler — Sadler was one of many drivers who suffered flat tires that sent their cars slamming into the wall. The No. 38 Combos Ford spent 57 laps behind the wall for repairs after a cut right tire caused serious right side damage. Sadler finished 37th, his first result out of the top 21 since Texas, and he slipped a notch in the points to fifth.

"Sure, it's disappointing," explains Sadler. "Especially sitting in the garage for 57 laps, helplessly, with nothing to think about except my wreck, and the fact that one week, M&Ms are on my car, a few weeks later, Pedigree dog food, and now, Combos snack food. What's my fan base: the junk food junkie who owns a dog?"

Elliott, you're a good ole boy from Virginia. What you need on your car is RC Cola and some pork rinds. That's your fan base. Sell to 'em, baby.

Sadler's 37th was by far his worst finish of the year, and was the first time he had not finished on the lead lap since Las Vegas. I'm sure he will be expecting a much better result on the short track at Loudon. In four short track races this year (Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond, and Dover), Sadler finished in the top 10 in each.

7. Ryan Newman — Newman was nipped by Jimmie Johnson for the pole in the USG Sheetrock 400, but he did capture the pole for the Busch series' USG Durock 300, in which he finished third. His day as a Nextel driver did not go quite as well, as an aero push on lap 189 sent Newman into the wall, and he finished 29th, eight laps down.

"I'm a college graduate with a degree in engineering," explains Newman, "and I don't even know what an ‘aero push' is. I think Kenny Loggins sang about that in 'Danger Zone,' one song on the fantastic Top Gun soundtrack."

Maybe, Rocketman. Hey, wasn't Rocketman one of the pilots in the movie? Let's see, there was Maverick, Jester, Iceman, Viper, Goose, Aquaman, Green Lantern ... ah, never mind.

Newman has been red-hot in his career at Loudon. In six career starts, he's raced to four top-fives, including three poles, and a win in 2002. He's overdue for a pole, and needs a good finish to strengthen his Chase standing.

8. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. — Earnhardt, Jr.'s first win of 2005 trumpeted loudly and clearly his return as a legitimate Chase contender, and also ensured that many cases of Budweiser would be consumed by the denizens of Junior Nation, the population of which increased dramatically after Sunday's win at Chicagoland. You can best believe that thousands of fans are now proudly displaying the No. 8 Budweiser hats, banners, and vanity plates, all of whom will swear they've been displaying them all along.

Earnhardt, Jr.'s decision to take only two tires during his final pit stop proved to be the game winner, as he resumed racing in the second spot and passed Scott Wimmer on lap 256, and held off Matt Kenseth for the win.

"This Bud's for me," beams Earnhardt, Jr. "I think my crew chief's son, Shane Hmiel, made that quote famous, if you know what I mean."

Junior's win gave him back-to-back top 10s, a feat he had not achieved since mid-April. He's still 91 points away from the magic Chase-qualifying 400-point barrier, so he will need to keep his hot streak alive in New Hampshire.

9. Jeremy Mayfield — Mayfield's sixth-place finish, his fourth top-10 of the year, was something to talk about, much more so than where he and his wife Shana's dog pooped, which is about all you get when you see the Mayfield's on an episode of NASCAR Drivers: 360.

Hey, buddy," says Mayfield, "that is truly reality television. And the reality is, it stinks."

Mayfield qualified 22nd in his backup car after blowing a tire in Friday's final practice. The No. 19 Dodge made up ground on long green runs, but the effort was stifled somewhat by a pit road speeding penalty on lap 165. The subsequent penalty dropped Mayfield to 27th in the order. He quickly advanced to the third spot, but some untimely cautions hindered his advance any further.

Mayfield will have his work cut out for him in New Hampshire. In 19 career starts there, he has only two top-10 finishes, although one came last year in the Siemens 300.

10. Jamie McMurray — McMurray's drive at Chicagoland was overshadowed by his agreement to a deal to drive the No. 6 for Roush Racing, beginning in 2007. The deal apparently didn't sit to well with co-owner of McMurray's No. 42 Felix Sabates, who accused Roush of signing McMurray so Roush Racing would be more attractive to a would-be buyer.

Roush, suave in a straw hat, told Sabates the team was not for sale, then he sprayed a mysterious green mist into Sabates' eyes, rendering him temporarily blind. Oh, wait a minute, that happened on the World Wrestling Entertainment's "RAW" Monday night. Sometimes I get wrestling and NASCAR mixed up. Roush simply said his part and walked away from Sabates.

In any case, McMurray drove like he may have had something else on his mind, like more money, or free Viagra samples. After starting 36th on the grid, McMurray was cruising to what looked like a sure top-15 finish. Then, on a lap 125 restart, McMurray rammed the No. 9 car of Kasey Kahne, who had checked up to avoid a spin. The damage to McMurray's car made adjustments even more difficult to predict, and a 22nd was all that could be salvaged. McMurray dropped a spot to eighth on the points, 358 behind Jimmie Johnson.

McMurray has been a force in his brief Cup career at Loudon. In four starts there, he's logged three top-10s, as well as two top five qualifying runs. He's my darkhorse pick to win in New Hampshire.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 1:54 PM | Comments (0)

July 13, 2005

Show Me the Money!

Drew Rosenhaus served as a consultant during the filming of Jerry Maguire.

His growing reputation might make the film's catchphrase as synonymous with his name as it is with Tom Cruise's.

He is the new face of NFL agents, and perhaps the most visible and talked about name in the last few months of the NFL offseason. His clients include Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and Clinton Portis.

What do these players have in common? They have, or are in the process of, (re)negotiating lucrative contracts from their clubs. Owens, currently sitting on a remaining six years of the contract he signed last year, is threatening a holdout after asking the Eagles to pony up with more money.

Yes, we've endured the big contracts, the bigger contracts, and the break-the-bank, cash cow, buy-a-private-island contracts. It was bound to happen. We didn't like it, but we dealt with it.

Now the public is looking at (what they perceive to be) overpaid athletes selfishly turning their noses up at million-dollar contracts.

Why wait until your contract year to bust out your best performances? Do it now, fire your agent, call up Drew Rosenhaus, call your GM or owner, and tell him that the contract you signed not more than 12 months ago just isn't good enough anymore.

This is the process that is building Senor Rosenhaus an in(famous) reputation among fellow agents and owners.

Who is not complaining, though? The players. They are the ones that have a solid No. 2 man in Rosenhaus — someone on their side not just for the contract negotiations, but now for the renegotiations also.

Is it that simple? Are the players selfish for wanting raises when their play merits it? Is Rosenhaus the fifth horse of the apocalypse?

Not really.

Like everything in life, it's not black and white. There is a substantial amount of gray area to wade through.

That's not to say that each individual case can't be an open and shut affair. If only ESPN could hire Jim Cramer away from Mad Money, we could have instant (and red, angry, and sweaty, for that matter) verdicts on which players deserve to have their old contracts torn up in favor of bigger, better money trees.

Take the case of Terrell Owens. No one is doubting for a second that the man isn't a MVP candidate, and no one is taking away what he did in the Super Bowl, and not even the most casual fan could reasonably say that he isn't one of the best players on the field on any given Sunday.

However, he signed a contract one year ago. And he didn't sign just any contract, he penned a very lucrative deal.

Why isn't that good enough now? In T.O.'s mind, there are at least two reasons, 1) His comeback performance last season, ending with a Super Bowl display that would make his leg worthy of top dollar on eBay and 2) Randy Moss's Oakland contract.

You bet it's an ego thing.

What would Mad Jim Cramer say if he were in the front office of the Eagles? A resounding, immediate, red-faced no.

The Eagles don't need Owens to be good next year. That's not to say he wouldn't improve their chances of making it back to the Super Bowl, but he's not essential. Not only that, but the Eagles, much like the Packers and Patriots, are not the kind of team to let an ego-driven superstar hijack their payroll and dictate organization decisions with petty threats of a holdout.

When a player is drafted into the NFL, they are paid based on playing potential. From there on out, every time that player goes to sign a new contract the team gets to judge him on his past performance, as well as, the prospects for future years.

The NFL also allows players contracts to be cut.

Does that seem fair — that players are vilified for asking for a raise when on the flipside a team can decide to end a contract at a moment's notice?

In some cases, it seems reasonably fair that a player ask for more money. Guy A signs a contract for the league minimum and in the next two years moves his way up the depth charts and ends up a starter and a Pro Bowler. Sure, he has every right to go back to the owner or GM and ask for a little extra something.

Terrell Owens is not Guy A. In fact, he is far from it.

However, there are some instances when a player, let's just call him Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond, may have been underpaid and now has every right to renegotiate.

Then, there are other players, the Steve Harvey Shows of the world, that are just selfishly grasping at straws. The question is whether or not Drew Rosenhaus is telling them stories of grandeur, ignoring the reality of the player's true worth.

There are going to be holdouts as the season begins, but Terrell Owens will not be one of them. Even if he doesn't get a new contract, do you know what T.O. did succeed in doing this offseason?

That's right, getting every sportswriter and commentator in America to mention his name three dozen more times.

Posted by Vince Grzegorek at 10:54 AM | Comments (1)

Long Live the Long Ball

This one was supposed to be different. Something would be missing. No steroids, fewer home runs. That's what everybody thought, maybe what some cynics even hoped for as proof that all those home runs of the last decade were tainted.

And Monday's home run derby was different. Something was missing. Steroids. And that was it. Home runs were alive and well. That was the difference. Lots and lots of home runs.

So many in fact that this won't be remembered as the first home run derby since new steroid testing took effect, the first officially steroid-free home run derby. It'll be remembered as one of the best.

Bobby Abreu made sure of that. The oft-underrated Phillies slugger put on the most unreal show in home run derby history when he belted 24 first-round homers. The previous record for one round was 15. Abreu got that far without breaking a sweat. He backed off the pace in the second round, but got enough to advance to the finals. Then, for good measure, he broke the final round mark by hitting 11 into the seats. His home run total for the night — 41. The previous record was 27.

And even though Abreu beat out Detroit's Ivan Rodriquez, the hometown crowd's favorite, he still got a well-deserved standing ovation.

And thankfully, nobody was really talking about steroids or a lack of steroids. Everybody was talking about what they saw.

It was the first home run derby with real international flavor. In an effort to promote the first-ever World Baseball Classic, set for next March, baseball instituted a new format where each of the eight participants represented his home country. The Latin-Americans — who always seem to have a hell of a lot more fun playing beisbol than anybody else — stole the show. Abreu's fellow Venezuelans wrapped themselves in their country's flag and, seemingly, in pure giddiness during his first-round display. The Dominican contingent and their ringleader, Miguel Tejada, were equally boisterous and patriotic, cheering on David Ortiz to a first-round total of 17, a total that on any other night would have been monumental.

And when it was over, we were left with a barrel full of good memories. It was perhaps nice to know that this wasn't tainted in anyway, that nobody involved had rubbed a little of the cream or the clear on beforehand. But steroids or not, it's the memories that matter. It's the memories that always mattered.

And maybe that's why this home run derby didn't really feel any different, why the only real difference was that more home runs left the park. The home run derby is always a time to look back on long ball days gone by. On Ken Griffey, Jr. hitting the warehouse in Baltimore. On Mark McGwire launching balls over the Green Monster. On Sammy Sosa sending moon-shots out of Turner Field. I don't look back and wonder if steroids played a role. It was fun and that's all that mattered.

Of course, it's easy to say that when we're talking about sluggers taking glorified batting practice in an exhibition with no real impact. But maybe we'd all be better served if we could say that about the whole of the steroid scandal. If we could look back on the great home run races of recent years and know it was tainted but smile anyway.

Mark McGwire took a lot of heat in the media about his remarks during steroid testimony to Congress. He was crucified for not standing up and taking it like a man, for being evasive. His vague answers amounted to non-answers in the eyes of many. They didn't hear what they wanted to hear, so they didn't hear anything at all. And while nobody should be lauded for ducking questions in a congressional hearing, what McGwire did say — and what nobody seemed to hear — made a lot of sense.

“Asking me or any other player to answer questions about who took steroids in front of television cameras will not solve the problem,” he said. “I'm not here to discuss the past.”

McGwire's motives in saying such things probably fell more into the category of not wanting to incriminate himself than into any noble expression of hope. And people jumped on that. Since McGwire was dodging the questions, clearly he was guilty. So who cares what he said? And maybe he was guilty.

But what seems to get lost in the entire discussion is how much that really matters. To some, it matters a lot. Records should be erased, asterisks should be tacked on, legacies should be tarnished, the guilty ones should be forever shunned. But if you look back, if you just try to feel those memories, who's guilty and who's not might not matter near as much.

Even the most righteous critics, still aboard their high horses, can't deny that the 1998 home run race was awesomely incredible. And the memories capture that. If people choose to let steroids taint those memories, that's their fault.

People often point to the records. It's not fair, they say, that Roger Maris is no longer the home run king when the current kings were alleged steroid users. And they're right. It's not fair.

But in reality, records are a lot like memories. They mean individual things to individual people. The number in a book is just a number. The record lives in the people who accomplished it and the people who watched it. This modern-day outcry about the single-season home run record isn't all that different than the one that raged when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's record. Maris, of course, had played in more games. And so there is an asterisk.

But people — fans, media, players — will believe whatever they want to believe. Some believe Ruth was the record-holder all along. Some side with Maris in that debate. Some will never give McGwire, Sosa, and Barry Bonds any credit. In their hearts, in their memories, their home run king is their home run king.

And that's sort of all that matters. When I think of the home run record, my mind flashes back to McGwire and Sosa and how they resurrected baseball for many, including me. Bonds? He's sort of an afterthought in my mind. Probably not so in the minds of anybody who watched number 71 cut through the chilly September night in San Francisco.

It's funny that baseball, for all it's reliance on numbers, isn't really about numbers. It never was. It's always been about stories and memories and feelings. Records and numbers are an anchor. They give context. But the feelings make the game what it is.

And that's why it felt so good Monday night to feel exactly the same way as I always felt when Chris Berman started throwing out names of Michigan cities as landing spots for home run balls, when fans who caught the long balls went nuts, when the game's greatest superstars sprawled out on the ground and watched in awe, like little kids, as Abreu shattered records.

Steroids are history, or at least on their way to being history. But even this new policy is too lenient. If steroids are illegal, then baseball should make them really illegal and set up far harsher penalties. Steroids have disastrous effects on the people who use them, and when baseball's best are known steroid users, the trickle down effect into younger generations of players is even more disastrous.

That's why steroids need to go. That's the future we need to focus on. Dwelling on the past isn't any better for the game than steroids themselves. Nothing changes when the past is the only thing people talk about.

We get too caught up in arguing about who cheated and what records should stand and we get too caught up in ridiculing and criticizing. And we miss the feelings. Luckily, we are not running baseball. In that regard, baseball is bigger even than the people who do run it. And baseball has a unique ability to heal itself. The ebbs and flows of a long baseball season can wash away the remnants of a bad era. But it won't wash away any memories. That's how baseball survives.

And now, I have a new memory to add: of Bobby Abreu doing something nobody's ever seen before. It won't go in the no-steroid era file folder. I don't have any file folders like that. This one's going right next to all the rest.

Posted by William Geoghegan at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)

Michelle Wie's Got Next

After Michelle Wie narrowly missed making history at the John Deere Classic last week, she has become somewhat of a polarizing topic in the sports world. The majority of people seem to stand on the "she's too young to keep doing this and its going to ruin her" side, leaving the short end of the stick to the "she's not going to be great, she already is" people.

Usually, it makes more sense to side with the majority, because its easier than having to think for yourself, but I decided to head to the U.S. Amateur Public Links at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio and find out if she was real.

Wie is the first woman to qualify for the Publinx, whose winner is invited to the Masters every year. Being my first time as a golf spectator, I wasn't sure what to expect. Traditionally, I was told, galleries during the week at this tournament consist merely of friends and immediate family, and usually balloon up to around 100 for the final couple of days.

As I arrived to the course, I was surprised to see only about 150 milling around the tee box. I checked my watch — it was only 10 minutes before she was supposed to tee-off. I started worrying, was I at the wrong course, did I have her time wrong?

I then heard a low rumble and as I turned around, I saw Wie with her parents, two police officers, her caddy, two other players and caddies, and about a dozen other tournament officials, all walking over from the practice range. About 20 yards behind the group was the answer to my question as around 800 people flowed across the parking lot and swarmed around the first tee box. If there were 1,200 spectators there, about 1,170 were in Wie's gallery and the other 30 people were lost.

I tried unsuccessfully to imagine the pressure of playing on a near-empty course with 1,000 people following your around, as my golf game usually wilts under the pressure of the group behind me waiting on me at the tee-box. Wie out-drove both men she was playing with on the first tee as she blasted her shot nearly 310 yards. So she could drive, but how was the rest of her game?

Her short game was on target most of the day and the only weakness she really showed in her game was her putting. She narrowly missed three or four putts early, each one receiving and agonizing groan from the crowd. She seemed to handle pressure well as the crowd only helped her performance and she wasn't easily shaken, even when she had a baby screaming while she was trying to putt on 12 (while the baby got the most death stares from elderly folk in the crowd, I think those stares should have been reserved for the jackass whose cell phone kept ringing and the guy who brandished a disposable camera and took a picture, with a flash, of Wie during a drive).

As I was herded around the course that morning, it was interesting to hear the other fans talk about her.

"She's going to blow up the PGA."
"In three years, it will be all her."
"I just don't get it, what is she doing that I'm not?" (I bit my tongue on this, but I wanted to interject with a "playing golf the right way, for one.")
"She could sleep on a pile of money at night."
"I heard she's gonna sign a Nike deal for $80 million."

And then, of course, there were stupid people there that day, too.

"I bet you anything she's on steroids, Asian people are naturally small." (I thought I should clarify this statement, the man who said it look remarkably like one of the redneck fan extras in Happy Gilmore, and was slightly less intelligent than the umbrella he was carrying.)

Side rant: while most of the comments made were respectful, I did her a few over-the-top statements, usually setup like this:

Man 1 (Who looks old enough that I would have believed him if he started talking about the round he played with Abe Lincoln): "You know how you can tell these players are amateurs? Because they are wearing shorts."

Man 2 (Middle-aged, oaf-like character): Eyes fixated on her backside as Michelle bends over to pick her ball up out of the hole: "I hope she stays an amateur her whole life then, guffaw."

That is just gross. Memo to all other guys out there like Man 2, Michelle Wie is still 15. I heard older ladies call her beautiful and older guys call her cute, but making sexual comments about her is too much. Man 2s, have some freaking respect for yourselves. The only place you can really get away with lusting for minors is Neverland Ranch. End side rant.

I feel safe in saying that she is a good, not great (great for 15, but you can't judge her like that), golfer and can more than hold her own competing against men. Her game will get much better and her time will come, there's no doubt about that. She is going to do some great things in golf. I used to agree with the line that she should just enjoy being a kid and cut back on the amount of tournaments she plays in, but I find that argument weaker by the day.

She said at the beginning of the tournament that she isn't trying to prove anything or change things — she just loves playing golf and enjoys traveling with her parents to the different tournaments. People want either want her to go away or go full-throttle to change things, but she is comfortable right in the middle. And I think that's okay.

The biggest surprise to me when I was there was how many young girls were there to support her. Girls who obviously had never been to a golfing event before were there cheering her on. Old guys were trading stories that all had a similar theme — they couldn't thank Michelle enough because now their granddaughters had a reason to call grandpa on the weekends — to go golfing. She's changing the game without trying and she's enjoying the pace she's at now. She will be great one day, but for now, let her live her life and stop worrying about if she's doing it right, enjoy the show, and just let her play.

The Sports Gospel According to Mark is sponsored by BetOnSports.com. BetOnSports.com gives you the greatest sports action to bet on. Wager on football, cricket, boxing, Rugby, horse racing, and more. Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].

Posted by Mark Chalifoux at 10:15 AM | Comments (5)

2005 NFL Preview: Carolina Panthers

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Last Year

In 2003, the Carolina Panthers played like Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn's characters in the Wedding Crashers, preying on innocent victims who underestimated them. A year later, the Panthers were merely a playoff ex and couldn't perform when it was expected of them. The Panthers were forced to break Rule No. 7 frequently — "avoid virgins, they're too clingy" — filling in with untested players all over the place due to a high number of injuries. Does a clean bill of health mean a playoff party once again?

What We Learned From Last Year

July 11th happens to be the 40-year anniversary of the slurpee and while the sugar-based slush has persisted through decades while healthier choices have surfaced, its perseverance still doesn't compare to the resilience that the Carolina Panthers display under head coach John Fox.

A 1-7 start and long-term injuries to Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster, Steve Smith, Kavika Pittman, Jessie Armstead, and Kris Jenkins would have caused a brain freeze for most teams but not the Panthers.

They rebounded with five straight wins and could have made the playoffs with a Week 17 victory along with some outside help.

Like the hours of operation of a 7-11, the Panthers compete 24/7 and when you have a team that gives 100% effort, sometimes the parts can become interchangeable.

When Davis and Foster dropped out of the lineup, not many pundits believed in a running back that went undrafted in 2001, but for Nick Goings, he was just the next running back in line to succeed.

He started the last eight games of the season and averaged just fewer than 92 rushing yards per start. Not bad considering he was sixth on the running back depth chart at the beginning of the season.

Not many teams can handle the loss of a Steve Smith-caliber player, but for the Panthers, it was just another plug-n-play. Rookie Keary Colbert stepped into the starting lineup the rest of the way, catching 754 yards worth and five touchdowns.

Who does this remind you of? A little New England Patriot-esque, isn't it? A player is injured and somebody else is ready to step in. Now if they can only get this winning-consistency thing down pact...

John Fox is a defensive mind, but last year's defense was ranked lower than either of his first two seasons as the Panthers' head coach (20th). The line was unable to generate as much pressure as it normally does, mostly because of the absence of Kris Jenkins. There was little force from the interior, which led to more attention for the ends, but more importantly, the run defense was vulnerable.

In 2003, the Panthers allowed 107.6 rushing yards per game and only 10 rushing touchdowns, but that stat ballooned to 119 yards per game and 19 rushing touchdowns. Needless to say, there was a lot of work for the linebackers. Dan Morgan still didn't play a full season, but showed why he is one of the best linebackers in the NFC with 78 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions in only 12 games. He went to the Pro Bowl with outside linebacker Mark Fields — even though Will Witherspoon could have gone instead.

In the secondary, Ricky Manning and rookie Chris Gamble enjoyed their first full season of starts. This tandem was sufficient and looks to have a bright future.

There were many eyes on Jake Delhomme last year waiting for the one-hit wonder to fail. That never happened as he emphatically asserted his presence as a legitimate starting quarterback. He augmented his passing yards and quarterback rating while outputting a sparkling touchdown-to-interception ratio (29 TD, 15 INT) while playing behind an unbalanced offensive line. Although the statistics may not incriminate the line, they were definitely a weakness for this offense.

Last year, the Panthers had a big bulls-eye on their back, as everyone wanted to defeat the NFC champions. On top of that, they were handed an unmanageable schedule with five eventual playoff teams in the first seven games.

That won't happen again this year and with a solid core of talent, there is no question that the Panthers will compete for the playoffs once again.

This Year

Considering John Fox's main philosophies are to run the ball and stop the run, getting back a healthy set of running backs along with defensive tackle Kris Jenkins should make a world of difference

DeShaun Foster should see the bulk of the work heading into the season, but Stephen Davis should be back in time for training camp to compete for the main role. Rookie Eric Shelton and last year's runner, Nick Goings, round out the league's deepest set of running backs. Having Foster and Davis injects a stronger burst for the running game as Goings, as effective as he was, only had three runs longer 20 yards last year.

The Panthers needed help on the offensive line and signed free agent guard Mike Wahle for that reason. Wahle, right tackle Jordan Gross, and center Jeff Mitchell will solidify three-fifths of the starting line, but the Panthers have reasonable concern at left tackle and right guard. Travelle Wharton, a converted guard, will take over at left tackle and Tutan Reyes will compete with rookie Evan Mathis for right guard duties. The line needs to be cohesive for the running game to flow, but it can't be much worse than last year.

The return of Steve Smith should restore an explosive punch and return the ability to score on any given play. He will be leaned upon with the loss of Muhsin Muhammad to free agency. Along with Colbert, the Panthers do have a good starting duo of wide receivers, but at 5-9 and 5-10, both lack in height. Tight end Freddie Jones will have to suffice as the tall target. He was a forgotten man in Arizona for three years, but he is still a quality receiving tight end.

On other side of the ball, the Panthers will once again possess one of the fiercest defensive lines with Jenkins back on board. The Pro Bowl tackle is a clog in any running game, but is also an excellent pass rusher for his size. That will keep less attention off of ends Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers and teams will have to pick their poison if they choose to double-team. Jenkins usually plays closer to Rucker because Peppers doesn't need any assistance to wreak havoc.

Dan Morgan enters a contract year and is one of many disgruntled NFL players to join the Drew Crew. Superagent Drew Rosenhaus wants to get an extension done for Morgan, but he will still participate without one.

The Panthers would like to reap a full season of action from their star linebacker before they make any commitments. Morgan has yet to play more than 12 games in a season.

A very solid season from Will Witherspoon was overshadowed by the impeccable return to the lineup of Mark Fields. Fields overcame the Hodgkin's disease to play in 2004, but unfortunately will miss the 2005 season with a recurrence of the illness.

Brandon Short is a competent linebacker and will complete an underrated grouping.

In the secondary, Ken Lucas was signed as a free agent from Seattle and will link up with Chris Gamble in the starting lineup. Ricky Manning was a liability in run support and is, but should still be one of the better nickel cornerbacks in the NFL.

The safety positions are still up in the air depending on how the team decides to use first-round selection Thomas Davis. If he plays strong safety, he will push Mike Minter to free safety. If they feel he is better suited as a linebacker, then Idrees Bashir will likely start as the free safety.

The Panthers' defense will be a difficult test for any opponent as there are not many weaknesses to exploit. Don't be surprised if this squad leads the league in sacks and/or takeaways.

With a complete squad intact, Carolina spent a whole draft building depth at a number of positions to avoid an encore of last season and to further encourage an encore of 2003.

They are definitely capable of it.

Over/Under: 9.5

After a trip to the Super Bowl, the Panthers were slapped with a difficult schedule. Most of their difficult games seem to come at home and their road schedule is fairly light. If they can protect their house and get four division victories, the division should be theirs. Their outer-division opponents are: NE, @MIA, GB, @ARZ, @DET, MIN, NYJ, @CHI, @BUF, and DAL.

Fantasy Sleeper

There was a time when Freddie Jones was in the upper echelon of NFL tight ends and he might be able to find his way back in Carolina. He is not the most complete tight end on the roster, but he is an excellent receiver. Jake Delhomme will be hungry for a big target since his starting wideouts are both under six feet and Freddie Jones, who will likely go undrafted in most pools, just might scratch that itch.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)

July 12, 2005

Making Fantasy (Football) a Reality

Ah, fantasy football. As we hose the blackened residue of our Fourth of July celebration off our driveways, we diehard football fanatics savor our own celebratory pyrotechnics popping, hissing, and shimmering in the skies of our minds. Much to the dismay of our spouses, significant others, dogs, cats, and co-workers, the yearly grandeur celebrating our nation's Independence Day not only symbolizes the birth of the planet's finest country, but also serves as the unofficial starting gun for this nation's finest pastime — fantasy football.

As I'm sure any reader currently engrossed in this article can attest to, pretty much every website, chat room, sports television show, and football magazine universally offer up their time-tested, tried and true, lead-pipe locks for dominance in your particular fantasy football league beginning at just about this time each and every year. Not to be outdone, Sports Central could not be left off of this pseudo-psychotic smorgasbord of football information, and this article will serve as just that medium.

While nothing on this page should be considered a "lead-pipe lock" and by no means is any information you glean from this writ "time-tested," it can be fairly stated that the content of this article is every bit as accurate as that you would read in syndication or anything you'd hear from persons calling themselves Hector, Victor or the Swami.

Without giving up any trade secrets, these are anything but fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants guesses. Rankings are based loosely on my own opinion, which, as un-scientific as that sounds, is based firmly on statistical analysis, team tendencies and philosophies, 2005 scheduling analysis, and offseason team additions or subtractions. As with any other predictions found under this by-line, all projections, both positive and negative, are based on information current as of the moment this article was submitted.

In homage to America's Birthday, the analysis herein will be presented with a patriotic flair. For all you historians out there, you can skip to the next paragraph of this composition. As for everyone else, let me briefly explain my ranking system.

If a player is "Crossing the Delaware," he is considered to be leading the charge and should be a top-shelf fantasy play in 2005. A player said to be in "Rochambeau's Infantry" denotes that, like the French, he is a valuable commodity if utilized properly. It should be noted that, also like the French, there are far more question marks surrounding those included in this group and any relations with members in this group should be handled with trepidation.

The third and final group, "Arnold's Army" (as in Benedict Arnold), are traitorous individuals who promise the goods, but bring nothing but misery and shattered dreams to any owner foolish enough to buy into their false promise.

Quarterbacks

Crossing the Delaware: There are the obvious choices here, in the form of Indy's Peyton Manning, Philly's Donovan McNabb, and the Vikes' Daunte Culpepper, who rate one, two, and three respectively. Manning's indomitable ability to chuck the pigskin sets him comfortable atop the QB value chart, but McNabb in particular is closing rather quickly, with or without T.O. in uniform (McNabb's 2003 numbers were definite precursors to his '04 season, though the addition of Owens certainly marginalized his developmental curve).

While Culpepper loses some value with the departure of Randy Moss to Oakland, he's still a very productive numbers guy who will feel the impact of a Randy Moss-less offense more in the form of interceptions thrown as opposed to taking a real yardage or touchdown hit.

Beyond the three, there are two up-and-comers who slide into my list of sure-fire stat mavens this season — Jacksonville's Byron Leftwich and the Houston Texans' David Carr. Leftwich has shown signs since his rookie campaign, in which he had more than one gigantic stat game, and has a very favorable schedule in 2005. As for Carr, his main go-to-guy, Andre Johnson, has come into his own and with a relatively cupcake schedule, the four-year pro is poised to explode into fantasy royalty.

Rochambeau's Infantry: While some have the Rams' Marc Bulger as a top-line fantasy performer, he still has lacked the consistency to be considered a sure bet. The Rams do feature a soft schedule with the entire division facing enormous question marks in their respective defensive backfields. But alas, Bulger should face a substantial amount of pressure, which translates into mistakes for a turnover-prone St. Louis offense and will ultimately keep Bulger from his very real potential for a 4,500-yard and 30-touchdown season.

Michael Vick is one big-time receiver away from top flight status himself who will easily trounce his passing numbers from last year with another season of familiarity with his new offensive scheme. Even with his inconsistent passing, Vick's 1,000-yard rushing potential ranks him as a top scorer in most fantasy formats and only his week-to-week unpredictability keeps him from being a top-15 fantasy draftee. Jake Delhomme is the third of this not-quite-ready-for-primetime posse who, if provided a healthy Steve Smith and some semblance of a running game, can give any owner a level of comfort on a weekly basis.

Arnold's Army: To say the New York Jets have a rough schedule may be the most understated assessment to date. There is simply very little breathing room in terms of their opponents' defensive strength. As such, Chad Pennington, who generally lets owners down with an injury, makes a very poor fantasy play this season, even if he does stay healthy for a full slate of games.

Drew Bledsoe is a vogue pick to click this season, but let's not forget that no matter who is yelling at him on the sidelines or what color uniform he is wearing, he still has Drew Bledsoe's lack of poise in the pocket, which is almost always good for 15-20 interceptions thrown. Further, the run-first Cowboys won't score nearly enough touchdowns to offset those negative points.

Trent Green is the foreman of this holy triumvirate, with his deteriorating offensive line, aging and overused Priest Holmes/Tony Gonzalez combo, and his maddening lack of consistency at the receiver position. Better defense equals less offensive points for the Chiefs, which may lead to more wins, but certainly puts a damper on Green's value.

Running Backs

Crossing the Delaware: This year's cream of the crop has it all too good — sunny San Diego weather, emerging talent all around him, coaching staff committed to utilizing his substantial skill — of course I am referring to LaDanian Tomlinson. While the Chargers play a first-place schedule, Tomlinson excels in the red zone and in the passing game, which gives him the intangibles needed to edge out his peers for the clear top spot among all runners.

Priest Holmes, though aging and injury-prone, is still ridiculously proficient as a touchdown-scorer and even playing three-quarters of the season is a solid option in all league formats. Tiki Barber of the Giants has eliminated his fumble-itis and has been rejuvenated by the commitment to him as a power runner Tom Coughlin has made. The Texans' Domanick Davis loses some value being kept out of most goal-line situations, but more than makes up for it with his receiving numbers and ease of schedule.

Freshly-freed Jamal Lewis is a monstrously productive runner who will be scampering with a purpose this year as he looks to dispel any residual character questions. Beyond those five, Seattle's Shaun Alexander, Buffalo's Willis McGahee, Dallas's Julius Jones, the Pats' Corey Dillon, and the Rams' Steven Jackson round out the top.

Rochambeau's Infantry: Generally, an ever-deepening pool of running backs is good news to most any owner in most any league format. Unfortunately, the current crop of runners may be evening out in talent for all the wrong reasons, as the elite backs are beginning to wear down as the youngsters get their legs under them both literally and figuratively. Still, the mid-rounds can be a veritable buffet of low-risk, high-reward performers. Players like Minnesota's Michael Bennett, Carolina's DeShaun Foster, Arizona's J.J. Arrington, Miami's Ronnie Brown, and Oakland's Lamont Jordan all can be had between the third and sixth round, which is where most league championships are won.

Bennett will need to stay healthy, but certainly won't be the center of attention for any defense the Vikes face and stands to gain much more red zone exposure with Moss' move west. Foster also fights an injury-riddled career bio, but could emerge as one of the game's most effective speed/power combos if he does manage to play a full schedule. Arrington and Brown are both rookies in name, but showed tremendous poise in college and should have no problems coping with the NFL's pressure-packed atmosphere. Both can catch the football and both will be playing on vastly improved squads, further enhancing their value to an owner in search of consistency. Lamont Jordan could be the most interesting case of all, as he'll be introduced into a wide-open offensive scheme in Oakland and could potentially make good use of the potential he has been rumored to have as he's languished on the Jet bench.

Arnold's Army: Speaking of those Jets, Curtis Martin will be praying for Jordan as a backup by midseason, as their brutal schedule pits them against some of the most formidable run-stuffing defenses in football. Many owners will look at Martin's history and last year's success as definite signs that this guy is top-15 material, but more savvy fantasy participants will recognize that the heavy load faced last year will not help shuffle the stacked deck Martin's Jets face this season.

Carolina's little-known backup Nick Goings is a strange bedfellow to the well-known Martin on this list, but the injury histories of Stephen Davis and Foster will cause some owners to focus on Goings' strong finish last season. Unfortunately, Goings was a one-hit wonder whose 15 minutes were up last January. Tatum Bell is another whose name echoes throughout most every fantasy football cheat sheet that I've seen to this point. While Bell is certainly a talent-in-training, smart money says that a very determined and underrated Maurice Clarett will cut into his playing time and, more importantly, his short yardage (read: goal line) carries. Factor in the league's second hardest running schedule (behind only the Jets) and Bell may be a reach if taken inside of the first seven rounds.

Wide Receivers

Crossing the Delaware: Anybody who can attract an audience (other than me, of course, but it does remain to be seen just how much of an audience I can attract) will direct you to steer clear of Terrell Owens. I'm selling that stock precipitously. Owens is a man among boys and whether he's injured, sullen, spoiled, or a damn serial killer, you cannot argue with his production. He'll play this season, new contract or not, and he'll produce fantastically this season, new contract or not.

The clear number two guy is, as usual, Randy Moss, only this time he's wearing a different uniform. While there is little truth to the rumor that Al Davis has changed his trademark slogan to "Just throw it to Moss, baby," you can bet your salary that is exactly what Kerry Collins does.

Numbers three, four, and five on my WR list may cause some head-scratching, as they each may not be as well-known as some of their contemporaries. There is no denying that the Titan's Drew Bennett has his stars aligned for a gigantic statistical season, what with the departure of that pesky stat-hoarding Derrick Mason and the very clear maturation Bennett showed last season, especially in the red zone.

The Bears' Muhsin Muhammad was huge last season in Carolina and, while he may lose something in Chicago's rebuilding offensive system, his raw skill is breathtaking and he could easily duplicate his gaudy numbers from a year ago. Larry Fitzgerald gives the Cardinals a weapon that went virtually unnoticed last year, even though he did put up very respectable rookie numbers and, with Kurt Warner chucking bombs this season, should show the game-breaking ability to make the big play we became accustomed to seeing from Larry in college. The usual suspects round out the top-10, with the Colts' dynamic duo of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, the Rams' ultra-consistent Torry Holt, the unsung Hines Ward of Pittsburgh, and the Bengals' superstar wideout Chad Johnson.

Rochambeau's Infantry: Lee Evans of the Bills is one player whose performance is almost totally linked to the development of another. If J.P. Losman winds up being even an adequate QB, which is exceedingly likely, Evans should flourish as both a big-play deep threat and a red zone stalwart and could be the horsepower behind a powerful sports car of an offense. Conversely, if Losman is a flop, Evans will be little more than a very fancy hood ornament on a rusted out El Dorado. Smart money says Losman has his ups and his downs, which would create the same result for the young Evans.

Steve Smith of the Panthers is a player who, coming off injury, may slide under a lot of owner's radars. Smith is fast, strong, tough, and driven and will undoubtedly produce. The Pats' Deion Branch also falls into that category of low-flying prospects that have consistently delivered when healthy and should not be overlooked. The Buccaneers' second-year receiver, Michael Clayton, could well be one of the more productive players this season and is certainly worth consideration anytime after round five.

Quincy Morgan of the Cowboys' should realize his substantial potential with a full year under Parcells, but some caution should be paid to the obvious fact that tight end Jason Witten and running backs Julius Jones and Anthony Thomas will undoubtedly be the beneficiaries of what little red zone opportunities Dallas gets.

Arnold's Army: For all the ability and potential for greatness Buffalo's Evans shows, his veteran counterpart Eric Moulds shows equal potential for failure. While Moulds has consistently proven that he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, it seems very unlikely that Moulds will put up Pro Bowl-type numbers with essentially a rookie quarterback and a renewed focus on a very gifted running back (Willis McGahee). Factor in Evans' red zone proficiency last season and the writing is on the wall for Moulds. Hopefully, any owner reading this article will heed that writing and will stay away from wasting an early pick on Moulds.

This might seem obvious to some, but any receiver from the Cleveland Browns should be avoided at all costs, especially since tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. has once again defied convention by his part in asinine activities and/or comments. The Browns have a very rough schedule, have no offensive line, an unproven running back-by-committee approach, and Trent Dilfer at quarterback. Yuck. The Chargers' Keenan McCardell has shown a propensity for being a quality possession receiver, which is fine in yardage only leagues, but his touchdown numbers will never be big as long as Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson are around and the return of Reche Caldwell from injury will surely marginalize his productivity.

Tight Ends

Crossing the Delaware: No position is easier to figure than the tight end position. There is a very real skill set that almost universally guarantees productivity relative to fantasy football — 6'3" to 6'6" in height, relatively fleet of foot, good hands, short passing offense — still, there are a small handful of these offensive focal points that annually can be expected to rise above the rest. Antonio Gates of the Chargers is tops on this list, and may be one of those players that revolutionized the position. He is better in traffic than his two predecessors, Tony Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe, and Gates is better equipped to battle for "jump balls" in tight quarters.

Baltimore's Todd Heap is more receiver than tight end, but we don't care about all that in the realm of fantasy football and even could prefer that type to those who sustain a more regular beating as an inline blocker. The Giants' Jeremy Shockey should be poised to finally fulfill his tremendous potential by staying healthy throughout the year and will get many looks as Eli Manning grows into his role as New York's signal-caller of the future. Two unsung tight ends in Dallas' Jason Witten and San Francisco's Eric Johnson both will capitalize on some red zone opportunities to score big at their position in the world of fantasy football.

Rochambeau's Infantry: Miami's Randy McMichael is already considered one of the top receiving tight ends in football, but his numbers should be even better as Miami cannot possibly have as poor a red zone offense as they did last season. As such, he should last longer than his ability would ordinarily slot him in fantasy drafts, and should be jumped on as one of the top tight ends selected.

Jerramy Stevens of the Seahawks is not only an enigma because of the bizarre manner in which he spells his first name, but also as a result of his strangely haphazard attitude and actions relative to football. Stevens is a talent, to be sure, and just might eventually act on that potential and be the player Seattle thought they were drafting a few years back. With a reluctant Shaun Alexander, no Koren Robinson and a strong offensive line, look for Stevens to get a lot of opportunities to produce.

The Patriots' Ben Watson is good enough to start on most any team, and may or may not beat out incumbent starter Daniel Graham, but even as a second tight end option, Watson is destined for greatness and is a good fit in the New England offense. Even if Watson catches fewer than three dozen balls this season, a third of those could be touchdowns, which would put him in elite company in terms of fantasy football scoring at his position.

The Jets' Doug Jolley is one of the only skill position players on that team that deserves a second look. Herm Edwards has been force-feeding his ill-equipped tight ends for years and now they have one who is the real deal as a receiver. Though it is very likely going to be a down year for Pennington and the Jet offense on the whole, someone has to produce, and smart money says that someone is Jolley.

Arnold's Army: The Colts' Dallas Clark has a lot of expectations linked to his performance. However, without Pollard in the mix, Clark is no longer an afterthought for defensive schemes and his lack of foot speed will create separation problems from opponents' top cover linebacker or safety. Look for a down year from Clark, certainly not a year worthy of the higher pick some owners will use on the Indianapolis tight end.

New England's Graham will fall off from a production standpoint for little more reason than the aforementioned emergence of his counterpart. With Graham's end zone production last year, some owners will undoubtedly reach for him — don't be that owner. Finally, in what may ultimately win the "it goes without saying" award, Kellen Winslow, Jr. should be indelibly removed from any and all cheat sheets. Most will know why, those who don't, well, just trust me on this one.

Team Defenses

I've treated team defenses a little bit differently in these rankings, as they are almost religiously hard to figure out and my explanations would almost certainly bore you to tears, or worse, bore you into closing this article. So, rather than pour over a bunch of names that you barely know or talk about the subtle differences between a cover-2 defensive scheme and a 46 defense (differences aren't all that subtle, now that I think about it, but I digress), I'll simply present, in list form, the five best and five worst team defenses relative to fantasy football.

Before you send your hate mail, please take into account that in fantasy football, special teams performance and turnovers created (or lack thereof) factor in greatly to these rankings.

Best of the Best

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. San Diego Chargers
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Detroit Lions

They Put the "B" in Bad

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Cleveland Browns
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Tennessee Titans

Though I'm sure some post-Independence Day fireworks will emerge from the reading of this article, I do again want to assure all you readers out there (yeah, that's right, both of you) that there actually was a something more than random dart throwing or closed-eye pointing involved in these fantasy rankings.

Ultimately, a true fantasy football champion needs a consistent core to his or her team, more than a couple surprise performers and a lion's share of good fortune. Hopefully, these ratings will help in reaching one or more of those intended results.

Unless you are in one of my leagues, in which case, I made it all up.

Posted by Matt Thomas at 2:00 PM | Comments (6)

Yo! NBA Bad Boy Ron Artest Raps

A season-long suspension from David Stern couldn't keep Ron Artest from fulfilling his dream.

Sure, Artest's absence was a constant burden and ultimate buzz-kill for an Indiana Pacers squad that was expected to contend for a championship.

Without question, it must have been hard for him to watch his overmatched teammates slowly wear down against the Detroit Pistons in this year's postseason. He could have done what Jamaal Tinsley, Stephen Jackson, and Reggie Miller simply could not, shut down Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.

Artest very well might have pushed the Pacers past the Pistons in the playoffs. Who knows how far his team could have gone? He might have even gotten his chance to finally go one-on-one with Bruce Bowen against the Spurs in the Finals.

Ron Artest is probably sick of playing the "what if" game by now. But there's no way he's crying over spilled beer.

Even though he had to spend most of the year away from the game he loves, Artest couldn't have been too disenchanted with the way his season went. He somewhat serendipitously ended up getting the free time he requested from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle before the "Malice at the Palace."

Although he was only asking his coach for a couple weeks off.

Stern's iron fist may have kept Artest's team from winning gold rings. But it couldn't keep a true warrior from trying to go platinum.

It's been a few months since anyone has heard much from Artest during his extended offseason. But he's finally broken the silence.

On the website for Artest's record label, TruWarierRecords.com (proving once again that using spell check will ruin anyone's street cred), the NBA's modern-day Renaissance man has made the first single from his upcoming rap CD available for everyone's listening pleasure.

The song is called "We Party." While the title certainly seems to be geared towards the younger, club-frequenting cultural demographic, it doesn't seem to be for those NBA executives with fingers perpetually crossed that Artest will come back a changed man when he is reinstated. I bet everyone involved in the league would rest a bit easier if Artest's first track was named "We Practice," "We Promise to Be Good" or "We Participate in Anger Management Classes" instead.

In defense of the Artest, it would probably be hard to get "crunk" to those songs, though.

From the title, "We Party," we learn that the suspended hoopster has not undergone an extreme makeover and turned into former Laker A.C. Green. From the lyrics, we learn that Artest isn't the second coming of Shakespeare, Snoop Dogg, or Slim Shady.

But this doesn't mean the song is without any memorable lines. The following I consider to be Artest's "best":

"I got a lot of jewelry, but I ain't trippin', chicken."

"I'm accused of moving too fast. When her head hit the glass, she a snicker. I'm a rapper."

"Why she rippin' off my wife beater? Somebody tell me why I smell cheeba."

Is it possible to read too deep into these lines? Probably not. I'm not even entirely sure what they mean.

But the song's hook pretty much says it all about Artest.

"Ain't nothing like a gangsta party. Ain't nothing like a thugged out party."

It sounds like nothing will ever take the thug out of the league's most infamous deviant.

I bet that's music to David Stern's ears.

Posted by Chris Speckman at 1:05 PM | Comments (2)

2005 NFL Preview: Buffalo Bills

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Last Year

After the first four weeks of the 2004 season, the Buffalo Bills were as average as the Fantastic Four without its super powers. Then, as if a cloud had fundamentally altered their DNA, either that or Willis McGahee joined the starting lineup, the Bills morphed into one of the most fantastic teams in the NFL.

They finished 9-2 in games that McGahee started and were aspiring for the playoffs until a Week 17 lost at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers backups doomed their objective. In 2005, we will see if their young quarterback, J.P. Losman, can be their Mr. Fantastic and keep the team rolling.

What We Learned From Last Year

Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Simpson have a pretty good rivalry going. The two sisters are highlighted on separate magazine covers this month (Cosmo Girl and GQ) and both are starring in summer movies (Undiscovered and The Dukes of Hazzard). But even their domestic competition lacks in comparison to the personal battle between Buffalo Bills running backs Travis Henry and Willis McGahee last season.

Henry, who accumulated over 3,200 yards in 2002 and 2003, was dropped from the starting lineup for good in Week 7 after the Bills offense had produced only six touchdowns in six games — none of which came on the ground.

As Willis McGahee stepped into the starter's role, Henry was quickly tuned out like Ashlee Simpson's singing voice. It's not as if he had lip-synced on "Saturday Night Live" or anything, it was just that McGahee was more productive.

Everything changed from that point. The offensive line, knowing they would need to support their new running back, was inspired by the young buck and instantly improved. It was as simple as that — there were no drastic personnel changes to the line. They surrendered 24 sacks in the first six games and yielded only 14 more the rest of the way.

Needless to say, that led to Drew Bledsoe's second half turnaround. With more time, Bledsoe was more accurate, only throwing nine more interceptions in the remaining 10 games compared to the seven he coughed up in the first six.

When Peerless Price departed for Atlanta after the 2002 season, the Bills passing game took a big step back. That aspect of the offense rebounded in 2004, thanks to a healthy Eric Moulds and the emergence of rookie Lee Evans.

Evans, a near clone of Price, led the receiving corps in touchdowns, yards per catch, and plays longer than 40 yards. His speed distracted attention off of Moulds, who registered his fourth career 1,000-yard receiving season.

The defense remained consistent throughout but was also motivated once the team started to win.

Sacks were a forte as the underrated Aaron Schobel led the way with eight, but there was balance with nine other defenders registering at least two sacks. This consistent pressure forced 39 takeaways as the Bills led the league in that category.

Free agent signing Troy Vincent was supposed to replace the loss of Antoine Winfield at cornerback, but it was second-year defensive back Terrence McGee who slid into that role as Vincent endured injuries. McGee, an eventual Pro Bowler, pushed Vincent into a free safety role.

While the secondary rounded into form, the linebackers were never in question. Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher were the heart of the NFL's second ranked defense; a squad who would have four players named to the Pro Bowl (DT Sam Adams, LB Takeo Spikes, DB Nate Clements, and DB Terrence McGee).

Had Gregg Williams still been the coach of this team, an 0-4 start would have sunk the squad, but first-year head coach Mike Mularkey was able to turn the ship around.

Although the Bills fell just short of the playoffs, they will pay it forward and take a complete defense, a quality group of receivers and a premier running game into 2005.

This Year

When the Buffalo Bills traded into the first round last year to pick up J.P. Losman, they figured a year of learning and developing behind Drew Bledsoe would be worth the sacrifice rather than drafting a fresh quarterback in 2005 and throwing him into the fire.

As it turns out, they would have had a chance to draft Aaron Rodgers or Jason Campbell this year — both of who were more polished than Losman coming out of college — so now we'll see whether their plan paid off.

The Bills have a lot banking on the shoulders of their young signal-caller. But as mentioned above, he is surrounded with an excellent support group.

The defense will likely be leaned upon the most if Losman is mistake prone in the early going. The largest debit defensively — quite literally — will be the departure of Pat Williams. Alongside Sam Adams, the tandem was 650 pounds of immovable force, right in the center of every opponents running game. Tackles Ron Edwards and Tim Anderson are both 300+ in weight and will have to fill the vacancy left by Williams.

Aside from that, the Bills return the same defensive workforce as last year.

The line is deep with Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney in the rotation and Aaron Schobel doesn't get enough recognition for his work at defensive end.

Terrence McGee will be the starting cornerback opposite of Nate Clements and judging the way he played last year, the Bills will have an excellent duo. Clements enters a contract year and is a top-five corner in the NFL. Troy Vincent and Lawyer Milloy are intelligent safeties, but both are past their best years. The depth behind the starters in the secondary is untested.

Linebackers Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher, and Jeff Posey are the keys to the defense. They have a sideline-to-sideline presence and rarely leave the field.

With a fairly complete team already, the Bills had the luxury of drafting offensive weapons for Losman.

The selection of Roscoe Parrish indicates that the Bills believe that Josh Reed has hit a ceiling, but the team won't likely give up on him quite yet. Moulds is the main target, Lee Evans is very explosive, Parrish will provide unique speed in the slot, and Reed should be a pleasant possession complement.

Kevin Everett, a tight end selected in the third round, supplies Losman with a quality tight-end — something the team has lacked for a few years.

The question remains: can Losman get them the ball? The quarterback is the main variable on this team.

In similar sophomore situations, Carson Palmer only led the Cincinnati Bengals to an 8-8 record and Chris Simms struggled in his first taste of playing time. Both quarterbacks did not play in their rookie seasons.

But Losman is in a better environment, possibly more fertile for success. When you consider that Drew Bledsoe didn't exactly drop any jaws last season (56.9 completion percentage and a 76.6 quarterback rating) and the Bills still finished 9-7, there should be optimism in Orchard Park.

Last year when Willis McGahee was installed in the starting lineup, it was a huge rallying point for the team. If Losman impresses from the get-go, he will become this year's flint, but if not, the Bills will not match the intensity of their 8-2 finish to 2004 and it could be a very cold winter.

Over/Under: 8.5

The facile schedule last season had the Bills facing six opponents who didn't make it to seven wins. This year, they have 12 games against teams who finished with seven or more wins and their other games are versus Miami, Oakland, and Tampa Bay — all who expect to improve. Their non-division schedule looks like this: HOU, @TB, ATL, @NO, @OAK, KC, @SD, CAR, DEN, and @CIN.

Fantasy Sleeper

The quarterback play of Drew Bledsoe didn't transcend any standards last year, but even so, Lee Evans was able to pull in 843 yards and nine touchdowns. Some people might shy away from Evans because it is unclear what Losman will turn out but put it this way, his numbers won't be much worse than Bledsoe's. Also, teams will likely focus on stopping the running game and force the Bills to throw often which should translate into more opportunities for Evans in the passing game.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:52 PM | Comments (7)

July 11, 2005

They Were on the All-Star Ballot?

Every year, I try and vote for a player who hasn't been to the MLB All-Star Game and actually has the numbers to warrant a selection. This year, with 11 first-time All-Stars going to the game in Detroit, it wasn't difficult. From Derrek Lee to Brian Roberts to Carlos Lee, there were plenty of league leaders who have never played in the midsummer classic.

Inevitably, though, I overlook someone who deserved to at least be considered. A player that makes you say, “Ah, crap, how did I forget about him?” This year, unfortunately, there were two: Houston's Morgan Ensberg and Cleveland's Travis Hafner.

Let's start with Ensberg. He is tied for the lead among all third basemen with 23 home runs. Alex Rodriguez, who is going to the All-Star Game, also has 23. His 63 runs batted in trail only A-Rod. His OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) is 0.968, again trailing only A-Rod. Lucky for Ensberg, A-Rod plays in the American League. Surely, having the best stats in the National League would win Ensberg enough votes to play in his first All-Star game. Yet somehow these numbers weren't enough to ensure an All-Star selection, nor attention on my ballots.

Scott Rolen, by the virtue of playing before fans in St. Louis, and Aramis Ramirez, also similarly lucky to play before fans in Chicago and nearly every other park (why is not winning a championship so popular?), were selected over the more qualified Ensberg. I'm not going to rant about the selection process because I'm all for fans picking who they think should go, but I'm still trying to figure out why he was overlooked.

Was it that he plays his games in hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park? While his home run numbers are virtually the same, his slugging percentage is a good 80 points lower on the road, and his OPS is 150 points lower. But if players are judged on where they get their hits, Bobby Abreu playing at Philadelphia's Citizen's Bank Park and Aramis Ramirez at Chicago's Wrigley Field, should also have their numbers scrutinized.

Let's not forget Todd Helton, playing at Colorado's Coors Field, has been an all-star regular, excluding this year, since 1999. Abreu's slugging percentage is a good 60 points lower away from home although his average is about the same. Yet, Bobby still made the all-star team. Maybe the reason Aramis is going to Detroit instead of Morgan is that his numbers are actually better on the road than they are at Wrigley. His slugging is 30 points higher, and his OPS is 40 points higher.

I still don't see any clear reason why Ensberg was excluded from a trip to Detroit other than being a young, unknown player for the Houston Astros. His numbers were better than the two third basemen chosen over him. Perhaps next year, if he continues hitting the way he has been, fans will remember him and he'll make his first All-Star Game.

Travis Hafner's case is a bit trickier. Only one DH made the American League all-star roster, Boston's David Ortiz. Ortiz's 21 home runs and 75 runs batted in were the best of any regular DH. He also received the most number of votes of any single player. Despite Ortiz's overwhelming selection, Hafner actually has better numbers. His .319 batting average is five points higher, his on base percentage is 30 points higher, and his slugging percentage is 10 points higher. If the fans were rewarding power, you think they would have noticed Hafner ahead of Ortiz.

Or perhaps they are remembering Ortiz's home run performance against the Yankees. I almost voted for all Red Sox just because they came back from a 3-0 deficit last year, and against the Yankees, as well. We'll credit Boston's World Series win with Ortiz's selection and move on to see how Hafner compares against some of the other AL All-Stars.

Well, four first basemen made the team, Mark Teixeira of the Texas Rangers, Mark Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals, Shea Hillenbrand of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox. Of those four, only Teixeira has comparable numbers. Konerko is closest in home runs and runs batted in, but his .243 average is abysmal, and over 60 points lower than Hafner. Hillenbrand's .304 average is good, but he trails Hafner by 10 home runs and nearly 40 RBI. Surely, we could have found a spot for Hafner instead of one of the numerous first basemen. But if you're still set on having three backups for Teixeira, then let's take a look elsewhere.

Normally, I'm not surprised to see the name of Ichiro Suzuki on the all-star roster, but this season, he was occupying a space better left to someone else. He played quite poorly for the first half of the season (poorly for Ichiro being better than a lot of other ballplayers). His .243 average in the month of June was decidedly low for a player who flirted with .400 for most of last year. Yet, he will be making the trip to Detroit while Hafner, with a better batting average, enjoys a July vacation.

There is one other possible explanation for Hafner's omission. Perhaps it all comes down to karma. He could be paying the price for all the ballot stuffing Cleveland fans did in the '90s. If that's the case, Cardinals players of the future might credit Scott Rolen playing this year with their being overlooked a few years from now.

Whatever the reason, next year, I'll be paying particular attention for two names on my ballot. Unless the Nationals somehow win the World Series.

Posted by Chris Lindshield at 1:30 PM | Comments (0)

I Hate Mondays: A Brave Prediction

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The National League East is baseball's tightest division heading into the All-Star Break, leaving many spectators guessing as to whom their playoff representative will be.

The New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Florida Marlins, and Atlanta Braves are all within eight games or closer of the Washington Nationals, which gives some people the impression that this division is up for grabs.

Those are the same people who haven't learned by now.

The Atlanta Braves have won the National League East 10 consecutive times and will do it again this year.

The competition may seem stiff, but in reality, it is down to two, maybe three teams.

The New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies are treading water at .500. The Mets have the league's second-worst batting average and the league's third-worst on-base percentage. Meanwhile, the Phillies have the worst ERA in their division, have the fewest innings per start average in their division, and have given up at least 39 more home runs than anyone else in their division.

More importantly for these two teams, there are no inclinations that these dilemmas will improve in the second half of the season.

That leaves the Marlins and Nationals as the Braves biggest challengers.

The problem for the Marlins is that they are barely above .500, but how much better can things get? They have the starting pitching and the hitting leaving their bullpen as the source of their difficulties. Their record in one-run games is 10-16.

The batting lineup has been fantastic in every aspect — aside from Mike Lowell. If I described a team that had only two players in the starting lineup hitting with a batting averages under .280 and the top four pitchers of the rotation with ERA's below 3.35, would you think they would be 44-42? Well, that's the Marlins for you. The room for improvement is in the bullpen, but there is no in-house solution for this quandary.

The Nationals have been simultaneously the most impressive and surprising team in this division, but there is no question that they have overachieved so far. Their pitching has carried them — particularly in the month of July, where the team is batting .233. All-stars Chad Cordero and Livan Hernandez have led the way, but it is hard to envision this team winning the division with its current roster. Aside from Jose Guillen's 17 home runs, no player is even in double-digits in that category and if the pitching goes sour for a month, there is no way this team will survive.

As for the Braves, there season couldn't be much worse to this point, yet they are still somehow only 2.5 games out of first place.

Starting with injuries, this team has been ravaged with cuts and sores throughout the season. The pitching staff has been bruised with the losses of Tim Hudson (85.2 IP), Mike Hampton (59 IP), and John Thomson (50 IP), while the batting lineup has only had the services of Chipper Jones in just over half of the games.

The Raul Mondesi and Brian Jordan experiment drastically failed as neither has been of any value at the corner-outfield positions. Danny Kolb was supposed to step into the closer's role, but that was also unsuccessful.

Furthermore, leadoff hitter Rafael Furcal, who is a perennial spark for the Braves' batting lineup, is far off from his career batting and on-base averages. Normally, he sits around .280 for batting and .340 for on-base percentage, but is currently at .245 and .310.

If somebody would have suggested to you that the Braves would have all of this on their plate at the All-Star
Break and would still be within arm's reach of first place you probably would have laughed.

Sure, Jim Thome has disappeared in the Phillies batting lineup, Carlos Beltran may be vastly underachieving from what he was projected to be and Guillermo Mota has been a bust Florida's bullpen but none of these teams have had to deal with as many curveballs as the Braves have been faced with.

Yet Bobby Cox still has this team primed for contention.

Once Wilson Betemit, Kyle Davies, Jorge Sosa, and Roman Colon are replaced by Chipper Jones, Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton, and John Thomson, the Braves will probably cruise to yet another NL East Division.

The Nationals, Marlins, Phillies, Mets, and first-place in the National League East mix like Mondays and me.

"The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender." — Vince Lombardi

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Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)

2005 Reebok ABCD Camp Report

Day One

Greg Oden ('06-IN) showed his stuff and staked his claim early on as one of the, maybe the best big man of the class of '06. His teammate, Daequan Cook ('06-OH), made a name for himself too with some crowd-pleasing plays.

Soon-to-be sophomore Brandon Jennings may be the next high school underclassman making national waves in a few years following in the footsteps of LeBron James and O.J. Mayo ('07-OH).

Texan native Damian James showed his ability to shoot the three, as well, with some highlight reel dunks and blocks. Mayo's AAU and high school teammate, Bill Walker ('07-OH), possibly showed the best dunking ability, rocking the rim on several occasions.

The highlight of day one came at night as O.J. Mayo and Brooklyn freshman Lance Stephenson ('09-NY) squared off in an epically hyped “LeBron/Lenny Cooke” battle, only this time it wasn't as one-sided. The camp quickly turned into a one-on-one street ball battle with all the trash talk and game to back up both players' star reps. After trading baskets for the entire game, Stevenson couldn't convert as time ticked down, Mayo spotted up for a wide-open three then called Stevenson over to guard him and continued to drain the jumper in his grill, sending the crowd into absolute pandemonium.

Day Two

Davon Jefferson ('06-CA), Eddie Rios ('07-OH) Kevin Love ('07-OR), and Derrick Caracter ('06-NJ) made big strides today. Jefferson held his own squaring off against Oden and Rios impressed going up against Caracter and Stephenson in the most heated matchup of the day. Stephenson came out perhaps the most impressive, drawing comparisons to D-Wade with his speed, slashing ability, and perhaps most importantly, his composure.

Day Three

Baron Davis was in the house spreading love and advice to the campers, as Greg Anthony did the day prior. NJ native Troy Murphy also stopped by the campus of Farleigh Dickinson. Jefferson continued a dunking onslaught while O.J. Mayo fulfilled his rep as the next big thing, setting himself apart from any other guard at camp.

Lookout in the next few years for Jianghua Chen ('06-China). If you thought Yao Ming took the USA by storm a few years ago, wait 'till this kid develops. He already impressed many scouts and fans with his combination of flashy passes and baseline jams. Caracter and Oden highlighted the play during the night session. Last year, Caracter got the best of Oden, but Greg came back with a vengeance this year and dominated down low.

Day Four

The all-star games took place with such high-profile names as Will Harris (CA), Mike Conley (IN), and New York natives Paul Harris, Vernon Teal, Eugene Harvey, Rob Thomas, Mike Davis, taking the court along with Chen, Caracter, Jefferson, Cook, and Oden in the Senior Game. The underclass game included Mayo, Love, Walker, Stephenson, and Rios, as well as the best big man of the '08 class so far, Drew Gordon, and the aptly-named guard, Isaiah Thomas ('07-WA).

All in all, Damion James ('06-TX), Corey Stokes ('07-NJ), Renardo Sidney ('09-MS), and Harris and Walker improved their stock the most on the final day. Oden and Mayo began the camp as the two most prolific names and left that way, with Love a close third. Walker and Cook were consensus top-10 players and showed that Ohio is definitely the next hotbed of prep hoops stars. Looks like LeBron was only the beginning.

Posted by Seth Berkman at 11:48 AM | Comments (1)

July 10, 2005

License to Deal: A Season on the Run

Matt Sosnick co-runs a small California agency representing nine major league baseball players, including all-star pitcher Dontrelle Willis. Crasnick, a baseball writer for ESPN.com, spent months at Sosnick's side, watching him work with clients and try to sign up new prospects. — Publisher's Weekly

The following is an excerpt from the book License to Deal: A Season on the Run With a Maverick Baseball Agent.

By Jerry Crasnick
Copyright © 2005 Jerry Crasnick

Chapter One

The road was dry, the sky was clear, and Dontrelle Willis hadn't had a drop of alcohol the day he should have died.

He'd just finished lunch and was headed north up Route 101 near Palo Alto, California, when he heard a bang coming from the right rear of his Ford Mustang. About a half-mile south of the Stanford University exit, Dontrelle felt his car drifting toward the right lane and instinctively yanked the steering wheel to the left to avoid a collision. But the fleeting instant for adjustment had already passed. The Mustang skidded northbound while facing west, then toppled on its side and flipped counterclockwise once, twice, three times before coming to rest beside the center divider, facing the oncoming traffic.

As a minor-league pitcher with the Florida Marlins, Dontrelle was accustomed to setting events in motion. Now, a random and inexplicable occurrence was hurling him down the highway at 65 mph. Buckled in his seat, he felt a sense of horror: his fate was out of his hands. He kept his eyes open through each flip, watched the front windshield shatter, and raised his arms and braced them against the roof of the car. "I don't want to die like this," he told himself. He felt a wet sensation on the back of his neck and later surmised that the radiator had sprung a leak. The scene unfolded with a sickening, slow-motion feel, yet it happened so quickly that there was barely time to pray.

The accident photographs are both grotesque and surreal. They show a green mass of metal propped on its side, so mangled you can barely discern that it's a car, much less a Ford Mustang. As Dontrelle shimmied out the busted back window onto the asphalt, he looked at his vehicle. The hood was gone and the windshield was but a memory. Traffic was passing by so quickly on Route 101 that another car nearly struck him on the highway's shoulder. His blue-and-white polo shirt was stained with some sort of fluid. He later chose to keep the shirt as a memento, to remind him of how lucky he had been.

Dontrelle took a quick inventory, thanked God that he was in one piece, then pulled out his cellular phone. Who to call? His mother was at work, and she'd freak, he knew. So he dialed his agent's number.

"Dude, I've been in a bad accident," he said to Matt Sosnick. "Come get me."

Matt knew it was bad when he called the dispatcher and she told him that several motorists had already reported the accident. He jumped in his Jaguar and reached the scene in 20 minutes, only to find the off-ramp closed. So he drove down the embankment through the bushes, into a place no Jaguar XJ8 had gone before. Then he crossed several lanes onto the shoulder and wedged his way behind a parked police car.

Matt glanced at the traffic and saw passers-by making the sign of the cross. A California Highway Patrol officer later described the accident as "gnarly." Dontrelle was 100 percent, Grade A fine. But he emerged from his car in an almost trancelike state. He approached Matt with tears on his face, and they hugged each other so hard it hurt.

***

The baseball agent exists to negotiate contracts and provide round-the-clock babysitting services for millionaire big leaguers in need. He frets over your salary arbitration case and talks the hotel manager back to Earth after you've skipped out on the bill. The agent exudes an air of mystery: his profession is a marriage of romance and sleaze, and he's either a detail man, an opportunist, or both, depending on your vantage point. He works ridiculously long hours looking out for the best interests of his clients, or risks sleep deprivation hatching schemes to screw management out of every buck. Who knows what motivations race through his head behind that gelled hair and those designer shades? The agent is a riddle wrapped in an enigma, cloaked in a tailored Italian suit.

Matt Sosnick, who runs a growing baseball agency in suburban San Francisco, bats about .500 on stereotypes. "There are four things you need to know about me right away," he'll say, once he opens the passenger door to his Jaguar and you're ensconced in leather. "I live for the Dave Matthews Band. I've taped every Simpsons episode ever made. I don't have a crumb of food in my house. And I only sleep on sheets with a really high thread count."

Matt also owns several top-of-the-line suits that he buys from the Hong Kong tailors who pass through town every few weeks for private fittings. The suits are worth $3,000 apiece, but he purchases them for $800 to $900 each. He's proud of the price and quick to reveal the inner lining, where his name is stitched in fancy script. The suits help him look sharp on frequent trips to the heartland, where he sweeps in like a Texas twister to romance prospects who have 95-mph fastballs and personal relationships with the Lord Jesus Christ.

After all, a man has to make a nice first impression if he wants to make a living.

Matt seems perfectly tailored for his profession, with his flair for shrewd snap judgments and pathological need for action. He talks frequently and he talks fast, with a 10-item-or-less-checkout-line urgency more suited to, say, midtown Manhattan than his native northern California. But the glamour and money aren't what drive him, despite what his competitors say. Matt already has more money than your average bachelor around town would ever need. He's in the agent business for the sense of family it provides, and for the opportunity to play mother hen and surrogate father to a bunch of kids in need of guidance.

Matt and his partner, Paul Cobbe, determined several years ago that the barriers to entry in their profession required them to do more than negotiate draft bonuses and supply batting gloves and spikes to players. The competitive advantage, Paul calls it. Bigger, more established agencies could print slick brochures and crow about multimillion-dollar deals struck on behalf of marquee free agents. Mom-and-pop shops need a more personal touch. So Sosnick and Cobbe decided they wouldn't represent players as much as adopt them. They invest emotionally in their clients and are available for counsel on everything from money worries to girlfriend problems, regardless of the time of day. Their welcome mats are always out — and extraordinarily worn.

Every now and then, the guest stays a while. In October 2002, Matt handed over a spare key to his duplex apartment to a minor-league pitcher named Dontrelle Willis. Four years into an improbable friendship, Matt and Dontrelle shared a 1,700-square-foot space and a life for several months. They broke down enough societal and generational barriers to bridge the gap from affluent Burlingame to hardscrabble west Alameda.

In the summer and fall of 2003, Dontrelle would make an all-star team, win the National League Rookie of the Year award, and become a national sensation as a pitcher for the world champion Florida Marlins. Only a handful of starters in the majors are black; even fewer big leaguers wear their caps askew and play the game with a sense of joy so pronounced, it's palpable. Dontrelle approaches life in a headfirst-slide sort of way, and his pitching motion is so contorted, it looks like a kinesiology experiment gone awry. No wonder fans were lining up for his autograph and a chance to be near him.

There weren't any cameras or reporters waiting to chronicle the event when Dontrelle, an aspiring Carolina Mudcat, moved into the spare room of Matt's $775,000 duplex near the airport in the fall of 2002. Logic would say that a 33-year-old Caucasian wheeler-dealer and a 20-year-old African-American male with street smarts and a gangsta vocabulary had no business cohabiting or bonding with any sense of permanence. Yet bond they did.

***

In his own way, Matt helped Dontrelle prepare for the season. He jostled the kid at 7:00 AM each day for training runs. They'd drive 10 minutes to the Crystal Springs reservoir, and if Matt found a parking place within three spots of the front gate, he knew it was destined to be a good day. The Sawyer Camp Trail is postcard pretty, enveloped in thick groves of oak, and every twist and turn can bring a surprise in the form of a rabbit or perhaps a deer crossing the path. Matt and Dontrelle would begin their runs beneath a blanket of fog, before the sun sliced through the chilly morning air, and they'd feel their hearts race to the accompaniment of heavy breathing. At 6'4" and 235 pounds, Dontrelle was too thick in the legs for serious distance running, but he was dogged enough to keep pace with his agent, who ran with a fervor bordering on desperation.

On many of the runs, Matt talked about world events and misery and strife in far-flung locations. One time, Dontrelle returned to his old neighborhood in Alameda and began rambling on about Pol Pot and the horrors of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. His "people," as he likes to call them, looked at him as if he'd grown a second head.

Agent and player rubbed off on each other in ways you wouldn't expect. Dontrelle took things in stride and approached life with a sense of balance and perspective. He felt strongly that there was a time and place for work and a corresponding time and place for fun. He'd tilt his head with an admonishing look as Matt spent hour after hour on the cell phone doing business.

"He's crazy," Dontrelle says. "He doesn't stop working. He works until he sleeps. There's no leisure time. A lot of times I'd say, 'Hey, you gotta relax, dude.' He's a very important man. His M.O. is to be in control of everything because he's a smart guy. He's a very intelligent guy. He makes good decisions. Therefore, he feels responsible for everyone. He feels accountable for everyone. And it doesn't work like that. But you can't fault a man for that trait. That's a good trait. It's the same trait I have. I think that's why we connect."

The competitive advantage. Matt invited Dontrelle to his grandmother's house for Thanksgiving dinner and took his client to parties full of thirtysomething Jewish singles. Dontrelle would listen quietly and absorb as Matt's crowd discussed the hunt for Osama bin Laden or debated whether the term homicide bomber was preferable to suicide bomber. Then he'd chime in with a few opinions of his own.

Published by Rodale; June 2005; $24.95 US/$35.95 CAN; 1-59486-024-6

Reprinted from: "License to Deal: A Season on the Run with a Maverick Baseball Agent" by Jerry Crasnick. Copyright © 2005 Jerry Crasnick. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at RodaleStore.com.

Author

Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com Baseball Insider, has covered the game since 1988, when he followed Pete Rose and the Reds as a beat reporter for the Cincinnati Post. He has since worked for the Denver Post and Bloomberg News and written columns for the Sporting News and Baseball America. He lives in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two daughters. "License to Deal" is his first book.

Posted by Marc James at 12:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Swagger Factor

There were two of them. The guy on the left was short with a shaved head, looking very much like he wrestled in high school about 15 years ago and then forget how to do a sit-up after that. The guy on the right was tall and bulky, wearing a green shirt and a backwards Washington Nationals hat.

They were standing two sections and about 15 rows away from me, as I sat with two friends in the upper deck of RFK Stadium on Tuesday night. My last-place Mets were losing to the first-place Nationals. These two guys picked me out of a sparse crowd because I was wearing a bright blue New York hat and because my voice has this funny way of echoing through the rafters when I'm cheering for my team.

They didn't want me to cheer. They didn't even want me in "their" stadium.

It became quickly apparent that they wanted to fight me.

One guy flipped me off. The other guy made this "I'm watching you" motion with his two fingers. Both of them pointed their fingers and shook their fists and yelled whatever it is drunken morons yell at their prey when they think their voices can carry over two sections and about 15 rows.

I did my best to ignore them, but couldn't help but notice when they attempted to head up the stairs to my section — only to be intercepted by a perceptive usher, and sent back to their seats.

I'm the first one to admit it when I step over the rhetorical line in the stands, or in fan-to-fan conversation. And I'll take what's coming to me. But on this night, I was sitting there, watching my team, and not being a prick for once. My only sin was that I was a Mets fan in a D.C. stadium, a last-place fan in a first-place town.

During the course of the evening, I got a few "Mets suck!" shouts from other Nats fans. I was most insulted by the guy who told me to "go back to New York" ... because when you grew up in Jersey, that's the last thing you want to hear.

The Mets got plenty of heat, too. [Mike] Piazza was "overrated." [Carlos] Beltran was "overpaid." The Nationals fans even pulled the "Who's Your Daddy?" chant out of mothballs for Pedro Martinez, once again proving that the only group larger than those who hate Yankees fans are the people who secretly yearn to be Yankees fans.

Look, I'm happy the Washington Nationals are having this dream season, and will most likely enter the All-Star Break in first place in the toughest division in baseball. Even if the team falls apart in the second half of the season, the Nats will have a pretty good shot at making the postseason in their inaugural campaign in D.C.

But I was stunned by the ego, the swagger, and the haughtiness of some of the Nationals fans at the game.

They're not in the playoffs yet. Their team is less than a year removed from playing in front of chicken cages in Puerto Rico. If plans for a new D.C. stadium somehow fall apart, they're on their way to Vegas in a few years.

So where do these fans get off talking smack?

Have they earned the right?

To help figure that out, I turned to another franchise with some familiar parallels: a city that saw a losing team leave town, only to be replaced some years later by a relocated Canadian franchise that immediately became a winner.

The city is Denver. The team is the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avs won the Stanley Cup in 1996, their first season after relocating from Quebec. They won a second Cup in 2001, and haven't missed the playoffs since moving to Denver.

So at what point during this incredible run did Colorado fans get their swagger, or feel it was okay to verbally spar with other fans?

I turned to Rob Frakes of Boulder, CO — a big time Avs fans since the team arrived — for the answer.

"The [Patrick] Roy deal did it more than anything," he said, referring to the Dec. 6, 1995 trade that sent Habs Roy and Mike Keane to the Avalanche in exchange for Jocelyn Thibault, Andrei Kovalenko, and Martin Rucinsky. "After suffering through years of ineptitude as a sports town, pulling down that kind of coup just didn't happen that much."

There was another factor at play, Frakes said. "Colorado was going through a population boom. We had a lot of obnoxious transplant [Red] Wings fans lording over us as hockey's nouveau riche and 1996 being 'their year,'" he said. "The swagger developed as a counter to the denigration our fan base."

Like with the Avalanche, early success has given Nationals fans a palpable confidence. And when enemy fans — be they Wings fans or Mets fans — are introduced to the equation, that confidence becomes a formidable braggadocio.

But what if this Nats' season is an aberration? What if next season is .500 or below?

What if this sudden success suddenly disappears?

Frakes hasn't had to deal with that scenario, but he said a few down years wouldn't tarnish his franchise. "The sellouts might stop, but support should remain solid," he said.

Frakes said it would take complete mismanagement to take the Avs down a few notches. "Like what you see going on with the Rockies now or the Nuggets for the past decade," he said.

So whether or not Nats fans can continue their swaggery ways may come down to who owns the team.

And that is yet to be determined...

Random Thoughts

Did anyone else find the irony in Kenny Rogers apologizing for attacking two cameramen while speaking in a tiny room filled with cameramen?

Do you think his hands were trembling as he bottled up his blind rage towards those swarthy little men and their magic picture boxes? How close was he to a total David Banner Hulk-out, smashing the podium in front of him, ripping his shirt off, and throwing cameramen around like they were warm-up pitches in the bullpen?

Nate McMillan announced this week that he was leaving the Seattle Sonics to become head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Money appeared to be the primary motivation, although one can never discount the appeal of high-quality weed and illegal dogfighting...

From ESPN.com's Scott Burnside, regarding the NHL's television contract with NBC: "The league has been forced to give away its product to NBC in a manner more befitting a common streetwalker."

While I appreciate the delicate tiptoe around using the word "whoring," this guy couldn't be more wrong: don't hookers usually get something up front?

Is this just ESPN coming up with another creative way of saying it thinks hockey sucks?

And finally, McDonald's announced it is going to enlist fashion designers from Tommy Hilfiger to P. Diddy to design "hip" new uniforms that its employees will want to wear outside of work.

Because, you know, nothing makes a better first impression on a blind date than looking like you just cleaned the deep fryer...

Greg Wyshynski is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].

Posted by Greg Wyshynski at 12:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Hosting a Classic: Behind the Byron Nelson

Ever wondered what it's like behind the scenes of a PGA tour event? What does it take to pull of a championship week with apparent ease? How do a site and city prepare? Angela Enright, Director of Public Relations for the Four Seasons at Las Colinas in Irving, TX takes us inside the Byron Nelson Championship.

SC: What are some of the challenges to hosting a PGA event?

Enright: The conditions of the golf course. We have no control over the weather, but we study year-to-year patterns, almanacs, and forecasts to do the best we can to prepare months in advance. We're constantly re-evaluating and making subtle changes with the growth of the grass. Remember, we play on two courses, we're one of the few events that do so.

SC: How many people are directly involved with physical course maintenance?

Enright: Sixty. They deal with the aesthetic aspect — the baby grass, the sands. When we experience an especially harsh winter, their expertise is invaluable. Although we're known for a moderate climate, we do have our occasional extremes.

SC: Who are some of the unsung heroes of the Byron Nelson's success?

Enright: The volunteers. They represent charities, and it's unbelievable the man-hors they contribute. You couldn't pay for their degree of help. They help lend an air of quality experience for the spectators, doing everything from parking cars, giving directions, taking tickets, serving food and water. They really contribute to the overall ease and enjoyment of the tournament. When you're at one of these events, you're in an unusual environment, an unfamiliar one. The volunteers, who number more than 500, take seven straight days off, using vacation time, from their jobs to work here. That's not counting advance training days.

They direct traffic, drive players around, stand guard for security purposes, and act as marshalls. They pick up trash. They don't get to see much golf, but without their assistance, the event would not be what it is.

SC: I have heard the wives and girlfriends really enjoy this tour stop. Why is that?

Enright: Anyone married to a person in a profession that demands constant travel, faces certain demands. The environment here allows them to spend quality time with their mate. We create more of a sense of ease. They check in here for seven days. Their spouse is practicing or playing golf four to five hours a day. We have quality childcare, and a great spa experience, as well. At many tour sites, the hotel is nowhere near the course, which raises transportation issues. Older children are more mobile, but little ones aren't. This creates a logistical nightmare. Here, with the course being at our hotel, the families may join the players fairly easily.

The women who tour with their families are very tight-knit — they share baby showers, kids' birthdays, and such. This environment facilitates that.

SC: What would you say makes this event special for the players?

Enright: The main thing I have noticed is the high level of respect they have for Mr. Nelson. I'm not sure it's as high among the European players, but these players study golf, and know the history of the game. As they mature, their respect for those who have gone before them grows. Mr. Nelson is really the last of an era, the period after the Bobby Jones' and Gene Sarazens — he's an icon. Every sport has its historic figures, a Babe Ruth, a Joe DiMaggio. They're appreciative of what he has accomplished.

Over the last few years, a number of books have spoken to this history, and those who read them know of his role. What they appreciate most is his conduct. At 93, he is so consistent in everything. He has overseen four of five generations of golfers and lent his counsel, from the guys on the senior tour on down. He still takes the time to send personal notes to those he feels are having a good week, or a bad week. If a feels a player is feeling down, he'll send him a note. He has so much respect for their coaches, he doesn't offer advice if they're having a tough time, just support — "I've been thinking about you..."

It's his conduct, his gentle manner, that are so impressive. He reminds players to monitor their anger. Tiger Woods holds Mr. Nelson in regard because when Tiger was just a teenager playing here, he sought him out, encouraged him, and told him he had a bright future. He (Nelson) told him to call him any time. He sees this as giving back what the game gave him. He gives a motivational talk each year to thank the volunteers, in advance, for all their support of the tournament, and kind of talks to them all year.

SC: What is Mr. Nelson's week like during the Championship?

Enright: He speaks at an opening ceremony. Until recently, he'd shake lots of hands and sign autographs, but that has lessened with his age. He talks to the ticket salespeople and the sponsors, discusses course conduct. He does interviews non-stop. There's a breakfast or lunch with (PGA Tour Commissioner) Tim Finchem, with the title sponsor thanking them for their support. He has a two-hour interview session in the media room. He's interviewed by CBS and the major sports stations covering the event, like ESPN, the networks, the New York Times.

SC: Does he have a PR staff or aide?

Enright: He's quite expert at media relations, having been a commentator for Shell. I troubleshoot some of the calls and manage the call volume. It hasn't approached the level of hype their was when Tiger was chasing Mr. Nelson's record of tour wins in a year. He's very approachable though, his phone number is still listed with information.

SC: That's old school. What else should fans know about the Championship?

Enright: The role of charity. Proceeds go to the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, which is made of business leaders, and is over 75-years-old. Their Youth and Family Centers for at risk kids, and kids not functioning well within the local public schools, do a tremendous work. This is very expensive, but the Championship raises $6 million a year so these children can receive first rate K-8 education. The kids come out for the tournament, which I really like. It's neat to see the tournament and the charity's magic.

SC: What parts of the next year's event begin taking shape as soon as the Championship concludes?

Enright: We begin checking the calendar for the Pro-Am. We know the Championship dates, but have to massage the lead-up events, and check with sponsors. Sponsors entertain corporate partners at these early events. We plan the programs and art — the look of the tournament. This is quite labor intensive. What will the look be — the shirts, the posters, the tickets, the programs? We start sending letters to previous hotel guests offering them right of first refusal on rooms.

We plan the golf course maintenance. This is based on the past 20 years of the Farmer's Almanac, and weather tracking, and the average yearly scores hole-by-hole. We get a lot of feedback from the PGA office. Most of it is very, very positive, but a question or suggestion may arise about the tee box on eight, or the water issues on three. Right now, we're going to build a lake on 18. It's been under discussion for three years. It is estimated it will add one stroke per 18-hole score.

SC: Who meets to decide on course alterations?

Enright: There's a team of the course architect, our director of golf, and a PGA tour official. They work to enhance aesthetic appeal.

SC: Who organizes security?

Enright: Our hotel director of security, the PGA's representative, the Salesman's Club, and a liason from the Irving Police Department. They hold a debriefing after the event, then beging meeting in January or February each year about the next tournament. A recent issue has been cell phone usage.

SC: How is that dealt with here?

Enright: Players are issued cell phones. As for spectators, we collect them at the point of entry. They are not allowed during play, marshals collect them and place them in a cubby. We try to provide good phone service along the course at hospitality tents.

SC: And what are the major media concerns?

Enright: The press require very accurate information about the courses, and in a timely fashion. They want hole-to-hole descriptions, the challenges, and strategic information on how to play the holes. The PGA's website is a prime source of this type of information. The TV crews want to create drama. The want to find the most pleasing camera angles, and views unobstructed by spectators. This occurs under the auspices of Lance Barrow, Lance Barrow, the Coordinating Producer for CBS Sports' golf coverage.

The networks have a pretty good knowledge of each tour venue, and the onsite producers are good. Field producers arrive here three weeks in advance, to set up camera angles, time the travel between holes, determine camera shots to avoid for aesthetic purposes. For the spectators, because this is a TPC course, we have stadium viewing, and ease of accommodations. There's amphitheatre seating for large numbers. We get immediate feedback, too, what are people buying in the pro shops? The local newspapers are a great guide, with their large maps, their did-you-knows, parking advice, and food. They publish these things in advance.

One thing we've learned was to eliminate the crowd driving in our front entrance. The impact has been enormous. We purchased additional land and built a separate entrance. Now buses can us it, and it's been a tremendous asset. There's one way in and one way out. A retail tent serves food and refreshments.

SC: Who occupies the hotel during the event? Fans? Media? Players?

Enright: We have 357 rooms. Sponsors take 50, and the 60 players have rooms. About 100 go to fans. We are not the media hotel, they stay nearby. Our sponsor, EDS, entertains partners from the U.S., Canada, and Australia here a few days prior to the event.

SC: What, besides the golf, is the big victory here?

Enright: The sheer energy, the joy on people's faces. A good event means a solid crowd, happy, and spending money. Above all this is a celebration. We get 50,000 people here for four straight days. We work so hard to troubleshoot very little concern. Things go off smoothly because everything has been anticipated. What some fans don't foresee is the physical toll moving about in the heat can exact. Some overestimate their ability to spend time out here.

We think about how it will look on TV The drama, the visuals, the excitement, the beauty of it all. Part of my job is to tell them what the story is each year — the tournament, the current course condition, the charity, or anything new. They come here with a story, but there is our story, too.

SC: Thank you for taking the time, Ms. Enright.

Enright: Thank you.

Posted by Bijan C. Bayne at 12:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 8, 2005

2005 NFL Preview: Baltimore Ravens

Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com

Last Year

After a brief playoff appearance and a record setting 2,066-yard rushing season from Jamal Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens were supposed to take another step forward in 2004. Their focus was shifted off-the-field when the team's superstar running back was indicted on drug charges prior to the season but even so, the Ravens still started strong with a 7-3 record.

One of those seven wins came against the Pittsburgh Steelers as Baltimore was the only team to defeat Pittsburgh in the regular season. A 2-6 close to the season would eventually remove them from any contention, but this year the philosophy will remain the same: play defense, run the ball, and pray Kyle Boller doesn't screw up.

What We Learned From Last Year

Mariah Carey's song "Hero" starts off:

There's a hero,

If you look inside your heart,
You don't have to be afraid,
Of what you are

Well, Kyle Boller has looked inside his heart, and trust me, no hero is coming along. Boller is just another Jeff Tedford product who looked as sexy as Carey at the college level and then wilted like her movie Glitter at the pro level.

He's like Michael Vick without the mobility. Actually, he's worse. The much-maligned Vick is always getting guff for his deficient passing skills, but Boller actually had a lower completion percentage and an inferior quarterback rating than Vick last year.

Boller only had three games where he completed more than 60 percent of his passes. Needless to say, the air attack is not the feature of this offense.

After boasting the league's best run game two seasons ago, the Ravens dropped to number nine last season. There were a few reasons for that including injuries and off-field problems that kept Jamal Lewis out of action for nearly five games.

The offensive line was also nicked up a little bit as both tackles Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Brown missed some time with injuries.

It is hard to get a gage on how good the Ravens really are. They did finish 9-7 in a tough conference, but only three of their nine victories came against winning teams. More importantly, they seemed to get a few gimme wins as they played teams like Buffalo, Washington, Cincinnati, and even Pittsburgh early in the season. The Redskins were 1-3 at the time, the Bills were 1-4, they played Cincinnati while Carson Palmer was still getting his feet wet and they caught the Steelers before they heated up. Pittsburgh rocked Baltimore in their second meeting of the season and once Palmer was comfortable, the Bengals went into Baltimore and won.

On the other side of the ball, the defense was stout as usual. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Chris McAllister, and Terrell Suggs were all-world again and Deion Sanders fit in, as well. It seems like every year a new star emerges from the Ravens defense and last year it was free safety Will Demps. He led the secondary in sacks, finished with the fourth-highest tackle total and tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries. Not bad for a guy who was undrafted in 2002.

Speaking of which, B.J. Sams was another useful rookie free agent who really gave the Ravens a spark on special teams. His two punt return touchdowns tied him for the league lead and he proved his value for setting up field position.

Given Jamal Lewis' value to the offense, it's safe to say that without his best effort last year the Ravens underachieved, but it is clear that the foundation for success is present.

This Year

Samari Rolle, Derrick Mason, and Mark Clayton are all quality pickups, but the difference between Super Bowl or bust is Kyle Boller.

The Ravens can play defense just as well as anybody in the AFC — if not better — and their running game has already proven itself as a first-rate outfit, so that places the burden squarely on the passing game.

In previous years, a valid case could be made that the Ravens simply didn't have enough weapons in the receiving corps, but that is no longer convincing. Derrick Mason and Todd Heap have both been to the Pro Bowl twice and rookie first-round selection Mark Clayton has the potential to be selected a few times, as well. Even the 6-foot-6 sophomore Clarence Moore provides a tall target.

The offensive line is sturdy enough to give Boller the time he needs, even though center Casey Rabach darted to Washington as a free agent, which means it is time for him to pull up his pants.

In all honesty, the Ravens are not asking too much of him. They don't need Peyton Manning and they don't need Daunte Culpepper. They just want some consistency. Virtually every other aspect of this team is steady and that is all that they need from Boller if they are to become a contender.

As bad as he was last year, he actually improved on his rookie numbers. His completion percentage augmented by nearly four percent and his QB rating increased by eight points. If he can make the same improvement, the Ravens could be in for a successful season.

When Baltimore went to the Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer as their quarterback in 2000, his completion percentage was 59.3 and his quarterback rating was 76.6. Right now, Boller is at 55.6 and 70.9.

After a season as a consultant, Jim Fassel will be the team's new offensive coordinator. He was brought on to aid Boller's progress so he is familiar with the personnel and the set up.

On the defensive side, Mike Nolan took the San Francisco 49ers' head coach opening which earned a promotion for defensive line coach Rex Ryan. Ryan is the son of Buddy Ryan, the coach who invented the 46 defense for those vicious Chicago Bears defenses, and will morph the Ravens into that scheme from the 3-4.

The 3-4 defense suited the Ravens for a number of years as they have always had profound depth at linebacker but with the offseason losses of Peter Boulware and Ed Hartwell and the transition of Terrell Suggs from linebacker to defensive end, the team is thinner than usual at the position.

The 46 set up will put the NFL's reigning defensive MVP, Ed Reed, in a centerfield safety position and Will Demps will play closer to the linebackers. Considering Demps has excelled at run support and is only average in coverage, this role should exploit his strengths and shield his weaknesses more efficiently.

For the front seven, the transition to the new defensive system should be fairly smooth. Terrell Suggs has been used mostly as a pass rusher and he played end in college. Meanwhile, Anthony Weaver and Kelly Gregg have been prominent on the line before.

Two of the linebackers behind them will be familiar faces, Adalius Thomas and Ray Lewis, while Tommy Polley and Dan Cody are new supplements. Cody is a rookie who will switch from end to linebacker, similar to how Suggs was groomed for linebacker when he joined the Ravens and Polley will be the third starter for now.

The front seven has always been an aggressive group for Baltimore, but Ryan plans to bring more pressure than they have ever come with before. And with versatile players like Terrell Suggs, Dan Cody, and Adalius Thomas, the Ravens are flexible enough to switch out of the 46 to the 3-4 or the 4-3 on a dime.

While the frontlines experiment, the Ravens will be backed by the best secondary in all of football. Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle are a formidable starting tandem at cornerback and with Deion Sanders and a revived Dale Carter played nickel and dime packages, there is no better grouping of defensive backs in the league.

It may seem like a turbulent offseason for the Ravens, considering Jamal Lewis has spent time in jail and the defense is undergoing a systematic makeover, but they will persevere through all of this.

If Kyle Boller can complete 60 percent of his passes and avoid costly interceptions, this will be a daunting opponent.

Over/Under: 9.5

This over/under is very close to where the Ravens will finish. Pittsburgh will come down off of cloud 9, but Cincinnati and — believe it or not — Cleveland should be better than last season. Their out-of-division opponents are: IND, @TEN, NYJ, @DET, @CHI, @JAX, HOU, @DEN, GB, and MIN.

Fantasy Sleeper

Many people perceive Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton to be sleepers, but this is not a pass-oriented offense and Kyle Boller makes fantasy matters even worse. Although Jamal Lewis is not a sleeper, you may get good value with him amongst the top selections, as LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander and Edgerrin James will likely go ahead of him. Keep in mind that Lewis has averaged 1,440 rushing yards and eight touchdowns per season and he is the main offensive weapon on a weekly basis.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:21 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Sports Q&A: Rogers, Chicken?

C.H. Sanders of Henryville, Indiana asks the following: "Does Kenny Rogers deserve a 20-game suspension for his actions against two separate cameramen on June 29th, and how will this affect the operation of Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants?"

Poor Kenny. Everyone considered him the coward of the county .... Oh, wrong Kenny Rogers? Sorry about that. Poor Kenny. It's bad enough that hungry people will only eat at a Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant only if they find that Kentucky Fried Chicken, Popeye's, and Frank Perdue's Coupe De Chicken are unavailable.

What's that? Same Kenny Rogers, but still the wrong one? Oh, you're talking about second-rate Kenny Rogers? That would be the baseball pitcher with a temper and not the silver-haired crooner who never met a duet he didn't like? Okay. Incidentally, stock prices of Kenny Rogers' Roasters plunged from 94¢ to 41¢ as a result of Kenny Rogers the pitcher's actions. And chicken everywhere are refusing employment with Kenny Rogers Roaster restaurants, as well as boycotting Texas Rangers' games.

Heck yeah, Rogers the pitcher deserves 20 games. After all, he shoved not just one cameraman, but two. Who knows for what reason? Probably because, like many dysfunctional pro athletes, he holds himself above the standards expected of reasonable and respectable human beings. And why shouldn't he? He is clearly guilty of assault, but, wait and see, he'll have the charges dismissed provided he performs some useless community service that is of no service to any community.

One of the saddest things about the situation is the fact that Rogers still receives support, despite his eruption. He's still selected to represent the American League in the All-Star Game. And Rangers' general manager John Hart said, and I quote, "It was out of character, way out of character for Kenny.” Out of character?! No, it wasn't. Less than two weeks earlier, Rogers had a hissy fit after getting pulled from a start, and proceeded to slug several defenseless water coolers, resulting in a broken bone in the pinky finger of his non-throwing hand. Boo hoo! So, where does John Hart find the gall to say Rogers acted out of character?

And if you need proof than Rogers is less than a man, he missed a start because of the broken finger. What? It's your glove hand. You barely use it! If the cameraman would have done his homework, he would have circled to Roger's right and forced him to shove with his injured hand.

And that brings me to another point: when is a cameraman going to show some manhood and retaliate when one of these psychotic athletes commits an assault? What's the deal? Are all cameramen afraid to defend themselves? Don't worry. If you lose your job for slugging an abusive athlete, you'll still have book deals and interviews on which to get rich.

Hey, Kenny. If only your wife was named Lucille and she dumped you for being such a hotheaded jerk, you could sadly sing, "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille,” and if you happened to have four kids and a farm, you could continue, "four hungry children and a crop in the field." Sorry, I just had to plug my favorite real Kenny Rogers song, "Lucille." At least when people think of the real Kenny Rogers, they think of a hit song, and not a second-rate chicken restaurant. Now, when people think of Kenny Rogers, the pitcher, they longer think of a pretty good pitcher. They think of a pretty good pitcher with a bad temper, a stigma that will stay with him forever, or until people forget about him.

So, Rogers got some of what he deserves. What he needs now is an assault conviction from a cameraman who's willing to press charges and not let Rogers off the hook by settling out of court. He also needs to be rocked by National Leaguers in the All-Star Game. And an "Islands in the Streams" duet with Dolly Parton wouldn't hurt.

Jack from Columbus, Ohio asks: "With the potential for golf becoming an Olympic sport in 2012, let's assume each country is allowed to select two players to represent their respective nations. Obviously, one member of the United States team will be Tiger Woods. Should the second member of the U.S. team be Phil Mickelson or Michelle Wie?”

First of all, why make golf an Olympic sport? In most traditional Olympic endeavors, like track and field, Greco-Roman wrestling, and rhythmic gymnastics, the Olympic gold is the ultimate accomplishment. In other sports, most noticeably those recently added to the Olympic docket, like tennis, the Olympic gold means very little.

Quick, who won the women's tennis gold in 2004? I don't know, either. Who won Wimbledon in 2004? Easy. Maria Sharapova. The gold in golf, if it does in fact become an Olympic sport, will mean as much to the winner as a ninth-place finish in the Cialis Western Open. Besides, the 2012 Olympics in London will interfere with player preparations for the British Open, which is likely to coincide or transpire near the same dates as the Olympics.

But let's assume golf becomes an Olympic sport in 2012. Seven years from now, Tiger Woods will be 36-years-old, an age known to most golfers as their "prime.” Mickelson will be 42, late in his prime, chasing his second major. In seven years, Michelle Wie will be, what, 14? No, seriously, she'll be, what, 18? She'll be 22 in 2012? Oh. By then, she may be a full-fledged member of the PGA Tour.

This week, she's playing in the PGA's John Deere Classic in Illinois, her third PGA event (she's played in the last two Sony Opens). As of round one, she's at minus 1, better than 63 professional men golfers. So maybe it's not so far-fetched that Wie would represent the United States in golf in 2012. I myself would gladly choose to watch Wie vie for a golf medal than watch the U.S. men's basketball team loose the third-place game to Spain.

Wie's competition in a men's sport in the Olympics would throw athletic completion worldwide into turmoil. If a woman is allowed in a man's sport, you know there would be some punk guy suing for the right to challenge for the balance beam gold. Come to think of it, I'd like to see that. Any man made of 100% man parts willing to assume the risk of performing a somersault on the beam has my full support (no jock strap pun intended.) Seriously, men competing in women's sports is entirely out of the question. Or, at least in sports in which physical superiority is the key determining factor of success. That's not fair to the women. Now, if a women wants to play chess against the men's world champion, more power to her. Men and women are on equal footing in that respect.

In Wie's case, she's already competed against men, and beat some of them. Of course, she hasn't made the cut in either of the Sony Opens in which she's played, but that's still better than some of the men who failed to make the cut. I simply don't understand it when men golfers criticize Wie's intentions and inclusion on the men's tour. She's 15-years-old, for heaven's sake. She may not look it or play like it, but she's still just a girl. Give her a break, and a few more sponsor's exemptions. People want to see her play, and the more men complain about it, the more we want to see her beat you.

Either men players have some ancient, neanderthalic view of women, like Vijay Singh, or they are just afraid of losing to a female. Bobby Riggs didn't fade into obscurity after losing to Billie Jean King back in 1973. Wait a minute. Yes, he did. But that's beside the point. If men golfers feel superior to women golfers, then they should have no trouble proving that on the course.

If Wie can't make the Olympic men's team, then there's always the chance on the mixed doubles squad. Woods and Wie would be the Dream Team of golf. Sure, Annika Sorenstam would represent Sweden, but who would be her partner, Jesper Parnevik or Per-Ulrik Johansson? Either way, the Woods-Wie juggernaut would crush them.

But back to the heart of your question, Jack. Will we see Wie in men's competition at the 2012 Olympics? Would a male golfer have the guts to step aside and advance women issues and give up his spot on the team in deference to Wie? The answer to both questions: I don't know. How's that for a response in a Q&A column? Anyway, that's not to say we won't see those things happen. What we can do is support the cause. Contact Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, or do it in Salt Lake City fashion and bribe someone, and tell them, "Get me some Wie!” You'll be glad you did.

Get Your Questions Answered!

Do you have a question or comment? Is your methamphetamine lab missing a touch of style? Want to ride Space Mountain? Having trouble understanding Three Stooges comedy? Then send your question/floor plans/intelligence quotient to [email protected]. You may get the answer you're looking for in the next column on Friday, July 22nd.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Chiefly Ignored: Kansas City on the Outs?

Last season, one AFC West team came out of nowhere to shock the league with a surprising ratio of wins to losses, leaving pundits fumbling over their preseason predictions. The same club led the West — and the NFL — in total offense, with the league's best offensive weapon on crutches for half the year. Amid a series of crippling injuries, the team still managed to produce two 1,000-yard receivers and three runners with at least 500 yards and 8 touchdowns.

So why did the Kansas City Chiefs miss the playoffs? Why did the team pegged to grab 12 wins put up a mediocre 7-9 while the upstart San Diego Chargers steamrolled the division?

Good question.

The easy answer is the Chiefs' defense ranked 31st in the league, better than only the anemic Saints, coughing up an embarrassing 435 points in 16 games. The Kansas City defense was so bad it only held opponents under 20 points in two games all season. The secondary was the NFL's worst, getting torched for 267.7 yards per game, while giving back only 13 interceptions.

Yet, the front seven actually ranked 12th league-wide stopping the run in a division that included Denver and San Diego (though that number was helped by Oakland's pitiful ground game). The team registered 41 sacks against opposing quarterbacks, including 9 from standout rookie Jared Allen of Idaho State, while linebacker Shawn Barber, arguably the Chiefs' best playmaker (112 tackles and 5 sacks in 2003), missed the second half of the season.

For Kansas City's league-best offense, things weren't much better. Priest Holmes, on pace to set career records in rushing yards and touchdowns (1,724/28), also went down in Week 8. Runners Derrick Blaylock and Larry Johnson filled in admirably, both rushing for over 500 yards and 8 touchdowns, but still the team went 4-4 to finish the year.

While San Diego's Antonio Gates drew headlines at tight end, Tony Gonzalez quietly proved he was still the NFL's best at the position. Gonzalez caught a record 102 passes for 1,258 yards and 7 touchdowns, logging six 100-yard games along the way (Gates only had two). The Chiefs' other 1,000-yard receiver, journeyman Eddie Kennison, also had a breakout year and hauled in at least 50 receptions and 850 yards for the third year in a row. Kennison's numbers over the past three seasons are actually much better than those of division-mate Jerry Porter of Oakland, who continues to draw reviews as an underrated receiver in league circles.

Meanwhile, Trent Green continued to prove he's one of the best in the business. Green set career marks in three categories, throwing for 4,591 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing over two-thirds of his attempts. Green also proved he's still one of the NFL's most durable quarterbacks, starting his 64th consecutive game in four years, a period during which he has accumulated over 16,000 passing yards.

With the Chiefs' poor performance in '04-'05 still largely a mystery, it's no wonder Vegas odds makers have them pegged higher than their three division rivals. The latest odds to win the next Super Bowl have Kansas City at 14/1, better than all but five NFL clubs.

Certainly, Kansas City's prospects for the coming year are on the rise. With Denver and Oakland sliding down the division ladder despite high hopes and San Diego hard-pressed to repeat last year's success with this year's tougher schedule, the Chiefs can afford a run minus past expectations.

Priest Holmes in the picture for a full season would help — but perhaps more important is that Gunther Cunningham's defense shows up to play week in and week out — even a little. If the defense can manage to help the offense win even half of the close contests the team missed on last season, Trent Green and Co. are staring 10-6 in the eye.

Still, prospects for a quick return to 2003's glory may be even stronger. This offseason, the team has added some talent on defense, including half of Miami's secondary from a year ago, corner Patrick Surtain, and safety Sammy Knight. At linebacker, the Chiefs have brought in Kendrell Bell, who continues to battle injuries, and Texas rookie Derrick Johnson, one of the draft's best defensive playmakers. The knock on Johnson, that he's a run-around style 'backer who tries to dodge big lineman at the first level, is actually a plus in the AFC West, where he can monitor the line and seek the cutback against teams like Denver and San Diego.

Kansas City will face tough competition opening the '05-'06 season, hosting the Jets in Week 1 before playing Oakland, Denver, and Philadelphia in the next three games. However, if K.C. can head into its Week 5 bye with at least two wins, watch out. The team should have little problem trouncing teams like the Redskins, Dolphins, Texans, and Giants, who will struggle to match the Chiefs' offensive output in weeks to come.

The team will face New England, Denver, San Diego, and Cincinnati at Arrowhead in the closing weeks, but expect Vermeil to have his players ready to pull out some close finishes.

Only in Your Fantasies...

With runners like Willis McGahee and Shaun Alexander shooting up draft boards thanks to those nerds at ESPN, take advantage of players like Priest Holmes slipping. If you play in a keeper league, there's a good chance you haven't had a shot at Holmes in years past, but some dumb owner stricken with the injury bug may be prepared to let one of fantasy football's most productive players go. Holmes shouldn't be the first pick in your draft, but if he slips past four or five in the first round, consider yourself blessed.

If Holmes does fall into your lap, keep an eye on backup Larry Johnson, who performed well last year, as a late-round insurance policy. Derrick Blaylock is the better player, and the Jets got one of the offseason's best steals signing him to sub for Curtis Martin, but Johnson will get snatched up quicker than you can “Zygmunt Wilf” if Holmes goes down.

Posted by Jason Kendall at 11:30 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

July 7, 2005

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 17

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson — After a brief hiatus from the top of the points, Johnson's sixth-place finish, 32 places ahead of previous points leader Biffle, shot him back to the front. Nearly a 100-point turnaround has Johnson 73 ahead of Biffle, and 136 in front of the surging Tony Stewart.

"If I was, in fact, laughing at Biffle's qualifying spin at Sonoma, which I wasn't," explains Johnson, "then I am laughing now. Haha! I hope you enjoyed your 15 minutes of fame, Biffle, because it's over. If not for those Dollar Store transmissions me and the Hendrick boys ran in Sonoma, you never would have been on top at all. So, you're welcome!"

Johnson chased eventual Daytona winner Stewart practically all day, but never could match the No. 20 car's perfection, and faded from second to sixth in the closing laps after falling out of the draft. After qualifying third, Johnson tucked in behind Stewart's rear bumper, and seemed to be the only car that could remotely challenge the No. 20.

In his three starts at Chicagoland, Johnson has finished no lower than fourth, and was runner-up to Stewart last year. Sunday at the USG Sheetrock 400 may be a repeat of Daytona, with Johnson and Stewart dueling for the win. Whatever the outcome, Johnson will still be points leader at the end of the day.

2. Greg Biffle — The biggest fireworks of July 2nd, as far as impact on the points race was concerned, occurred on lap 73 when Biffle was clipped as Michael Waltrip rebounded off the wall after losing his right rear tire and spinning. The No. 16 National Guard car suffered extensive right side damage, and Biffle finished 36th, 31 laps off the lead. Biffle's brief reign as points leader ended as Johnson finished sixth and reclaimed the lead.

"It was good to be king for a day, or a week, as it was," says Biffle. "But what's really strange is the fact that I was taken out by the NAPA Auto Parts No. 15 car. That's not strange in itself, but it became odd when Michael Waltrip tried to sell me some car parts just moments after the crash."

Strange indeed, Greg. That's a case of a car sponsorship paying immediate dividends. That would be like blowing an engine and then having Tony Stewart try to sell you some of his new barbecue sauce, Smoke.

Before the Pepsi 400, Biffle had four results of 25th or worse. On three of those occasions, Biffle responded in the following race with a win. While he may not win the race, the pattern is clear that Biffle responds positively to adversity. In his previous two Nextel Cup races at Chicagoland, Biffle has two 20th-place finishes. Expect him to outdo that by at least 10 places.

3. Tony Stewart — Tony! Tony! Tony?

Stewart's second consecutive win went down in dominating fashion, with Stewart taking the pole and leading a race-record 151 of 160 laps, capturing his first victory at Daytona. Stewart will try to complete the trifecta this Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, where he is the defending race winner. To celebrate his Pepsi 400 win, Stewart chose to forego the tired, passé victory burnout, and instead climbed the catchfence in a stunning display of originality.

"Pardon me, Helio Castronueves here. I think anyone who calls themselves an auto racing fan knows that the catchfence climb is an Helio original. Stewart knows that, as well, and will be hearing from my lawyers. He has infringed on my patent, violated my copyright, and broken the laws of physics. How did that fence maintain its integrity with such force being exerted on it?"

Stewart will try to become the first driver to win three consecutive races since Jimmie Johnson did it last year. The USG Sheetrock 400 stacks up well for the No. 20 Home Depot Monte Carlo — last year, Stewart led 160 of 267 laps on his way to his first victory of 2004.

4. Rusty Wallace — Wallace certainly enjoyed his Fourth of July weekend, scoring his second consecutive fourth-place finish and advancing to fourth in the Nextel Cup standings, 205 behind Johnson. In addition, younger brother Mike, in the No. 4 Lucas Oil car, joined Rusty in the top 10, finishing eighth after starting dead last.

"Four seemed to be the lucky number for us this weekend," says Rusty. "Two's a crowd, three's a party, and four's a Wallace family reunion. Which, incidentally, is the last time two Wallace's finished in the top 10 — at the Wallace Family Reunion Go Kart Showdown."

Wallace is currently working on a streak of six straight finishes of 11th of better. He's also qualified 20th or better in 13 straight races. Wallace can keep both streaks alive Sunday by duplicating his results at Chicagoland last year, where he finished 11th after qualifying 20th.

5. Elliott Sadler — Despite being the recipient of two "lucky dog" free passes to the lead lap at Daytona, Sadler experienced quite an unlucky day en route to a 21st-place finish. Sadler's misfortune cost him a spot in the points leaderboard — he now stands fourth, 200 behind current leader Johnson.

The bad luck struck first on lap 36, when the No. 38 car was scheduled for its first pit. However, a nine-car accident necessitated a caution, and while waiting for pit road to open, Sadler ran out of gas. After a push to the pits by a wrecker, Sadler re-entered a lap down.

"Not only is that unlucky," says Sadler, "that's embarrassing. That's like picking up your prom date in a limousine pulled by a tow truck, then having your date dump you for the tow truck driver. That happened to me, you know."

Later in the race, Sadler pitted under green and again fell a lap down. He joined the lead lap again on lap 141 as the "lucky dog," but again was affected by a lap 147 accident, which forced him to pit.

Sadler's best finish on the 1.5 mile tri-oval at Chicagoland is a ninth in 2003. Until last week, Sadler had held the number three spot in the points since Charlotte. To regain that position, he needs a top-10, and he needs Tony Stewart's hot streak to end.

6. Jamie McMurray — McMurray overcame a qualifying effort of 33rd to finish second, his second runner-up of the year. As has often been the case this year, McMurray was the lone bright spot for Chip Ganassi Racing, as teammates Sterling Marlin and Casey Mears finished, 22nd and 43rd, respectively.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to declare my independence from Ganassi Racing," says McMurray. "I feel I deserve a ride in a car with a big name sponsor, preferably beer. I feel with my youth and blonde highlights, I can sell more beer than motor oil."

Well, Jamie, it's been reported that you just signed a deal to drive the No. 6 car starting in 2007. Better than beer — Viagra!

McMurray's previous second place came at Texas, on a speedway very similar to that of Chicagoland. He has an eighth and a 13th in his only two Nextel starts there, which is consistent, and consistency is what McMurray has lived by this year. McMurray has 11 top-15s and has only two results worse than 25th.

7. Ryan Newman — Newman quietly posted his 12th top-15 of the year, finishing 14th after qualifying a disappointing 27th. The No. 12 Alltel Dodge was headed for a sure top-10 finish until a pit road collision on lap 141 forced four extra pit stops for repairs. Amazingly, Newman passed 12 cars in the final nine laps to finalize a well-earned outcome.

"Heck, maybe we should wreck in pit lane more often," says Newman. "My car ran better there at the end than it did earlier. Not only is duct tape very adhesive, it's also aerodynamic, and it makes a great lint remover."

Toss out a 34th at Chicagoland last year, and Newman has been strong on the 1.5-mile tri-oval. He won the race in 2003, and started on the pole in 2002 on his way to a fifth-place finish. Newman has six poles in 18 races (including the Nextel Open), which is a pole every three races. His last pole was, what do you know, three races ago in Michigan. Newman will start from the pole, and should do battle with Stewart and Johnson for the win.

8. Mark Martin — Martin was an innocent bystander on a lap 36 crash that started when Scott Riggs rear-ended the pitting car of Jamie McMurray. The result was an amalgamation of skid marks, damaged race cars, and dashed hopes for a decent finish in the Pepsi 400. Martin was only able to complete 88 laps, and finished 39th. Teammate Kurt Busch also fell victim in the accident, and finished 37th, and fellow Roush drivers Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards finished 36th and 33rd, respectively, due to later accidents.

"What a way to go out," laments Martin. "Zero for 40 at Daytona for my career. I think I could have fared better swinging a pool cue trying to hit a Nolan Ryan 100-mph fastball. Good riddance, Daytona."

It was a costly accident for Martin, resulting in a three-spot drop in the points standings. However, Martin fortified his standing as one of the most resilient drivers in history by returning from a mandatory visit to the infield care center to continue racing in his damaged car.

Martin has a best of sixth in four career Chicagoland starts, and will need a similar finish to recapture lost momentum (three of four previous starts before Daytona resulted in top tens). Chicagoland bodes well for the Roush contingent, as Martin and teammates have been consistently strong on intermediate-length tracks.

9. Dale Jarrett — Jarrett joined fellow old-schooler and 40-something Rusty Wallace in the top five at Daytona, finishing fifth and leading one of the nine laps that Tony Stewart didn't. Jarrett is now tied with Kurt Busch for ninth in the points, 348 behind Johnson, as the No. 88 UPS Ford heads to Chicagoland looking for a third consecutive top five.

"As the driver of the UPS car," says Jarrett, "I've noticed a problem in deliveries to Chicagoland Speedway. It's not even in Chicago! The same goes for Charlotte Motor Speedway — not in Charlotte! Atlanta Motor Speedway — not in Atlanta! Are these tracks trying to hide from people?!"

Good point, Dale. On that same note, what about wrestlers who hail from "Parts Unknown?" I bet they never get their mail.

D.J. has a good chance to swing his third straight top-five. In four starts at the track in Joliet, Illinois, Jarrett has two top-fives and an 11th.

10. Jeff Gordon — Gordon vaulted back into Chase contention with a seventh at Daytona, breaking a streak of two straight finishes in the 30s and scoring his first top-10 since Pocono. After advancing one place in the points, Gordon now stands 396 behind Johnson, just inside the 400-point Chase-qualifying window.

"Slump over, baby!" exclaims Gordon.

Not so fast, J. Go. Sure, you finished seventh, but you never challenged for the win at all. Previously, you had won the last three restrictor plate races, including two at Daytona. With those qualifications on your resume, doesn't a seventh at the Pepsi 400 seem a little disappointing?

"Well, I guess you're right," laments Gordon. "I've heard of motivational speakers before, but never a de-motivational speaker. You could make Forrest Gump a pessimist."

Hey, the truth hurts. But don't worry. Your history at Chicagoland bodes well for a second consecutive top 10, which is a good thing, as long as you say goodbye to the DNFs and finishes in the 30s. In four starts there, you've got two fourths and a second, plus a pole and another front-row start. So cheer up, Jeff.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 5:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Unconditional Surrender

The last time an agreement was this one-sided, it was 1945, and Douglas MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito were putting pens to paper on board the battleship Missouri.

If a report on the July 5 issue of the Globe and Mail newspaper is correct, the NHL Players' Association will officially sign its unconditional surrender, known in legal terminology as the collective bargaining agreement, before mid-July.

"The terms of surrender for NHL players will be onerous," wrote Eric Duhatschek in a front-page story in the Globe and Mail, which bills itself as "Canada's National Newspaper." Just about the only crumbs the NHLPA will be a lower age limit for unrestricted free agency.

But with the players forced to accept a salary cap, which Duhatschek reported to be around $38 million (in U.S. dollars) — almost $5 million less than a last-ditch offer rejected by players back in February, when the NHLPA vowed that any salary cap would be a non-starter — free agency isn't going to be anywhere near as lucrative as it was before the pending deal.

The Duhatschek article wasn't the first indication that the players' association was taking a beating at the bargaining table.

About a week earlier, Philadelphia's Jeremy Roenick, who was playing at Mario Lemieux's celebrity golf tournament near Pittsburgh, told reporters an agreement was imminent and that the owners were going to get just about everything they asked for.

Unlike the NFL and the NBA, where teams have a salary floor that is almost as high as the salary cap, the NHL agreement would allow teams to spend as little as $22 million, about 58 percent of the maximum.

When the NHLPA's unconditional surrender is official, player salaries will instantly be rolled back by 24 percent, according to the Globe and Mail article, which is just about the same amount the players offered last February as an alternative to a $43 million salary cap.

Now, the players will get not only the contract deflation they were willing to accept, but the salary cap they weren't.

The one-sided agreement might create the perception that the negotiations were unfair, especially in the view of players who might reject the pact, according to Duhatschek, "simply because little in the new agreement will appeal to rank-and-file players other than the fact that they can go back to work after a disastrous lost season."

But this deal, if the Globe and Mail report is accurate, at least reflects the state of hockey's mass popularity.

Not all that long ago, hockey was regarded as one of the "Big Four" professional team sports. Now, its only national contract is with the same network — NBC — and under the same terms — no rights fees — as the Arena Football League.

There is no hockey on ESPN, which deprives the NHL of a potential nightly showcase.

The notion that professional hockey is among the top four of anything anywhere south of International Falls, MN, is absurd, even if you don't count NASCAR or bowling as team sports or NCAA basketball and football as professional sports.

And if you do count stock-car racing as a team sport — ever see a driver win without a decent pit crew? — hockey is already teetering on the edge of the top five.

And that was before the NHL lost a season to the lockout, which devalued the league's expected revenues by an estimated 20 percent, according to figures cited in the Globe and Mail story.

With its labor problems behind it, the league can at last focus on the problems with its product — primarily its somnambulant style of play. When the NHL could legitimately claim to be one of the Big Four sports, it had star power in the form of Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, and Mark Messier, just to name a handful.

Star power comes from offense. And, with scoring on a decade-long free-fall, even the NHL's biggest stars are virtually unknown outside of their teams' home towns.

During the lockout, the NHL enacted rules to juice up the offense in the hopes of boosting scoring and enabling its players to establish some star power.

Those moves have come mostly in the form of tinkering with the goal crease and regulating the size of goalie pads. They're not likely to have much of an effect, but at least it's something.

The biggest thing the league could have done — expanding the rink size — remains out of reach, probably for the next half-century, because the latest generation of hockey arenas, most of which are less than 15-years-old, were built to the rink specifications of the past.

With ice surfaces built to international specifications, the NHL might have been able to adopt the up-and-down style of play that entranced fans during the last two Olympic Games hockey tournaments.

Even with the new CBA, the NHL's on-ice problems will still be there. But once the players' association's unconditional surrender is out of the way, the league will be able to focus on the product.

Posted by Eric Poole at 2:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Slant Pattern Touches the Wire

Dateline Oakland, CA

So Tim Brown's retiring.

I'm surprised this isn't bigger news. He spent last year with the Bucs, and will now sign a one-day contract with Oakland so he can retire a Raider.

These one-day contracts that allow you to retire with the team that made you are becoming more and more common, and I find it sort of strange. Last year, Oakland decided Brown couldn't play anymore, and Brown essentially replied, "Fine! Screw you! I can still play! I'm going to go to a team that believes in me! I ... oh, it turns out I can't play after all. Take me back so I can retire with you, O team that told me to hit the road!"

Even if I were totally delusional about my ability to still play at a high level at age 59, I'd reward the team that enabled my delusion to the bitter end. In other words, if I was Rickey Henderson, that's right ... enshrine me in Cooperstown as a San Diego Surf Dawg.

Dateline New Orleans, LA

Tuesday, July 5th was pay day for the Saints. Literally. To the tune of $12 million dollars, which they receive annually. Not because they dumped salary through a trade. Not because they won some sort of lawsuit. The State of Louisiana pays the Saints to stay put. So many of us complain about taxpayers funding stadiums ... how about your tax dollars going directly to pay the salaries of the players, from the big fan in New Orleans to the pensioner's widow in Shreveport? It's a populist pundit's dream. I can hear the indignation all the way from up the Atlantic coast.

Dateline Boulder, CO

If you had any sympathy or inclination towards siding the University of Colorado in their case against the women who were allegedly raped at a football recruit party, consider that Colorado had to be ordered by U.S. District Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer to turn over their documents related to the case. In making the decision, Shaffer said he was "struck by defense counsel's lack of candor." I'm having a hard time imagining this as being anything other than Colorado has something to hide.

Dateline Dearborn, MI

You might've heard of Dana Quigley, golf's ironman. Unlike any other golfer on a major tour, he plays in every event, every week. On his days off, he's on the golf course with his family. When his nephew, Brett Quigley, mentioned possibly skipping the Sony Open in January, Dana chided him into playing. Thus, it's not enough that he has to live and die on the golf course, everyone around him does, too. Quigley mentioned there's a 50/50 chance he will take his first Tour event off that he's been eligible for since 1997 — 287 events. I find his record and his attitude dubious, to say the least.

Dateline Las Vegas, NV

We wrap up the Slant Pattern this week with a sad note, another boxer dies in a bout, the fifth in Nevada alone since 1994. Martin Sanchez was knocked out in the ninth round by Rustam Nugaev, but he seemed okay until he started walking funny. Then brain surgery couldn't save him a short time later.

Can one person tell me with a straight face that headgear shouldn't be worn in the pro ranks as a matter of mandate, that a few deaths should stand in the way of tradition?

Posted by Kevin Beane at 1:15 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 6, 2005

2005 NFL Preview: Atlanta Falcons

Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com

Last Year

The Atlanta Falcons have had their own war of the worlds the past couple of seasons with and without Michael Vick. After their lives were shaken violently by a long-lasting Vick injury in 2003, they were thrilled to get their protagonist back in a fulltime role last season. He consistently displayed his irreplaceable value and eventually led the franchise to its second NFC Championship game ever.

The Falcons' running backs were also a large reason for the team's success as they ran like aliens were chasing them and carried the scoring load throughout the season. A lack of offensive balance eventually led to the Falcons' demise, but that is one area that they will look to address as they head into 2005 with high standards.

What We Learned From Last Year

As Jim Mora, Jr. took over as the full-time Falcons' head coach, his enthusiasm generated a buzz around the NFC South squad. His original focus was to teach Michael Vick a variation of the West Coast offense and keep him in the pocket as a passing quarterback.

That plan failed miserably as Vick was rarely comfortable in the pocket and was even less effective as a passer.

The statistics were downright frightening:

Passing offense: ranked 30th
Passing touchdowns: ranked 28th
Vick's completion percentage (of QBs who started at least nine games): ranked 27th
Vick's quarterback rating: ranked 20th
Vick's passing yards per game: ranked 30th

Mora tried to stick to the script as long as he could, but it became evident that keeping Vick in the pocket was more dangerous than letting him run free.

Even the addition of Alex Gibbs to the coaching staff, along with his offensive line expertise, didn't translate for the Falcons in their pass protection.

Vick was trashed in the pocket and had the highest per-game sack average. The only quarterback to be dropped more than him was David Carr, but he played one more game.

But even when he did have time to throw, Vick had very few options to look at. Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler emerged as a favorite target as he was on the receiving end of nearly a third of all of Vick's completions. The rest of the receiving corps was completely useless. The overpaid Peerless Price underachieved in his first season as a Falcon, but was even more of a disappointment in year two. He had zero 100-yard receiving games and finished with three touchdowns and less than 600 yards on the season. 2004 first-round selection Michael Jenkins was never a factor — he had seven receptions as a rookie — as his development was unhurried.

While Mora's magic touch wasn't evident in the passing game, his fingerprints were all over the league's first-ranked running game. Warrick Dunn, T.J. Duckett, and Michael Vick all averaged at least four yards a carry and combined for 20 rushing touchdowns. Dunn received most of the handoffs — and recognition — but Duckett quietly put together another strong season. He averaged 4.9 yards a carry and only had one less touchdown than Dunn (8).

The Falcons' offensive play last season is reminiscent of the 2004-05 Phoenix Suns. When they could run wild in the regular season, they seemed unstoppable, but when they were forced to slow their game down and execute against quality NFC opponents, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, they just couldn't do it.

Defensively, the Falcons were in the middle of the pack. They were pretty much just okay at everything they did. They played smart, rarely gave up long distance plays, and kept the game close.

The one area where they did excel was generating sacks, but even though they led the league in that category, they still never struck fear in any opponents. The addition of Rod Coleman was quite possibly the greatest reason for that as he forced opponents to pay a ton of attention to him on the defensive line. That freed up Patrick Kerney to set a new career-high for sacks with 13.

Aside from Coleman, the defense was fairly weak up the middle and could have been much worse had safety Bryan Scott not emerged as a quality strong safety.

One key note to observe about the Falcons was their time of possession. Although they ran the ball 58% of the time, and were obviously successful doing so, their defense was still on the field more than the offense (offensive TOP 29:10, defensive TOP 30:50). Other quality rushing teams such as Pittsburgh (defensive TOP 26:01) and Denver (defensive TOP 27:23) were able to give their defense some more rest.

This Year

The Dirty South has become a seasoned hotbed for the rap game, but the talent in Atlanta isn't only limited to kicking lyrics.

The Falcons have kept their core of football talent together and have added a couple of other goodies to the roster.

Their offseason 1-2 step of adding wide receiver Roddy White (draft) and linebacker Ed Hartwell (free agent) addresses two immediate needs: offensive swagger and defensive toughness.

While the expectations on White will not be lofty in the beginning, he should give a shot in the arm to a horrific receiving corps. Matter of fact, he already has. His voice alone has added a hint of cockiness and a sense of confidence to a fairly quiet offense. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution listed some of his memorable quotes from his time in college at Alabama-Birmingham:

"I don't know why y'all even showed up today. It's going to be real ugly."

"I will never be guarded by you no matter how hard you try."

"My little brother could be out here doing his thing and scoring a couple touchdowns against you."

He hasn't just been talking — he's been walking the walk and coaches are impressed with his ability to suck in any pass in his vicinity.

The staff has also liked the way Michael Jenkins has moved in his second season and the one-time incumbent, Peerless Price, will have his hands full in training camp simply vying for a starting job.

The passing game wants some sugar, gimme some, but it still remains unproven. The offensive line is a weakness and until Vick can exhibit an accurate passing arm, this offense is still a one-trick pony.

After the Philadelphia Eagles laid out a perfect blueprint to stymie Vick and the air attack in the Championship Game, the Falcons should expect to see more of the same type of defense from their 2005 opponents. The key is to limit the running game by clogging the box with eight or nine defenders, make sure the defensive linemen keep containment, and force every gain to come through the air.

What are they going to do if the passing game hasn't progressed any since last year? I'll tell you what, they will fail a lot more.

On defense, the pop-tart squad that was soft in the middle should get a boost from Ed Hartwell. The combination of Chris Draft and Jamie Duncan was not adequate, but Hartwell can be a tackling machine when he gets crunked up. He's averaged 75 tackles over the last three years playing next to Ray Lewis and his presence should allow Keith Brooking to pass rush more often.

The secondary and defensive line remain strong with only one conceivable breach: strong safety. Bryan Scott filled that void last season, but he is being moved to free safety while Keion Carpenter and Ronnie Heard will compete for the other safety job.

The rest of the defensive backfield is robust. DeAngelo Hall and Jason Webster only started 10 games last year and with Kevin Mathis as the nickel down corner, the Falcons have one of the better secondaries.

The defensive line is stout and keep an eye on rookie Jonathan Babineaux, who will compete for reserve minutes and is very quick for a tackle.

The Falcons will try not to slip up or get got, but there will be many teams gunning for their number one contender spot. They are no longer a sleeper team and they will not walk to any easy victories this time around.

Over/Under: 9.5

Like it or not, the Falcons will not win 10 games this season. Considering they were one of only four teams with a winning record in the NFC, their path to success stands to be much more arduous. Last year, they only had two games against winning teams, but this year's schedule has them pitted against four in the first five weeks. Outside of their division, they play: PHI, @SEA, @BUF, MIN, NE, NYJ, @MIA, GB, @DET, and @CHI.

Fantasy Sleepers

Roddy White and Michael Jenkins may look attractive — as fantasy options — but it's better to stay away until they prove something. Take a shot with T.J. Duckett, who totaled 509 rushing yards in 13 games last season. His yards per carry average has increased in each of his three seasons and although he shares carries with Warrick Dunn, his smaller co-worker has only played all 16 games in a season once (which was last year).

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 5:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Kenny Rogers' Anger Management Session

Kenny Rogers, the best person to talk to you right now might be Harry Truman.

But since "Give 'em Hell" Harry is no longer on this side of the grass, you'll have to settle for a lecture from me, starting with this blatant rip-off:

"If you can't stand the glare, son, stay out of the spotlight."

If that sounds condescending, Kenny, I'm sorry, but you need to hear this.

Put another way, you should find a line of work in which he won't have to worry about facing the media. Depending on the outcome of an expected appeal, you're likely to have the better part of a month to contemplate the folly of your run-in last week with two television cameramen and check the want ads.

There are, admittedly, precious few employment opportunities in the seven-figure annual salary range for a 40-year-old man with an anger problem and an extremely limited resume all of which calls for more presidential advice, this time from Ronald Reagan, who once waved newspaper "Help Wanted" ads at reporters asking about the plight of laid-off steelworkers.

That's not to say that some aren't trying to excuse what you did — including, inexplicably enough, some folks in the media. Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News reported in a column the Rangers floated the rumor that the broken finger you sustained in a tirade a couple of weeks ago was an attempt on your part to avoid pitching against the Santa Ana Freeway Angels as one of a number of mitigating circumstances in a scenario that puts a lot of blame on the Rangers.

Fraley's effort at least sheds some light on a previously enigmatic quote from Rangers' general manager John Hart, who told the Associated Press that you said, "My integrity and toughness is being called into question."

But it still doesn't get you off the hook, Kenny. Lots of athletes are having difficult contract negotiations, which leads to rancor between the negotiating teams, but hardly any of the players take it out on the media.

ESPN's Jeremy Schapp, in an episode of "Outside the Lines" immediately after the incident, asked rhetorically, "How much privacy are athletes entitled to?"

Even posing the question in context of the incident, unfairly places blame on the photographers, so let's cut through the euphemisms here. This isn't about a man who has "issues," as Rangers' owner Tom Hicks told the Associated Press.

This is possible misdemeanor assault and destruction of private property, under investigation by the local authorities. And the other two men involved — which includes one whom you sent to the hospital — are your victims.

If you're lucky, you will have to write some large checks to make this go away. If you're unlucky, you could spend 30 or 60 days looking at the inside half of some iron bars.

Either way, I foresee anger management classes in your future.

This isn't like the incident last month when a paparazzo was accused of chasing down and ramming Lindsay Lohan's Mercedes. The victims were two men doing their job in a public place.

Like all other U.S. citizens, professional athletes, and their families, have a right to some degree of privacy in their homes and living their daily lives. But if Schapp's question refers to the amount of privacy athletes should be given on the field and in the locker room, Kenny, the answer is simple:

Zero.

Dealing with the media isn't an intrusion on your job, Ken. It's part of your job. If you pick up nothing else here, understand that.

Here's another rhetorical question. Why do you get paid an obscene salary for throwing a ball past a man with a stick to a third man who, by all appearances, is squatting about 60 feet away to take a dump.

You don't have to answer that — that's what "rhetorical question" means. I know what you're going to tell me anyway. You're going say you get paid what you do because you are one of the best in the world at throwing a ball past a man with a stick past another man to a third man getting ready to fertilize the grass near the backstop.

And you're wrong.

You don't get paid what you do because you are good at throwing a ball past a man with a stick, etc. You get paid what you do because people care about how good you are at throwing a ball past a man with a stick.

If people weren't interested in how well you did your job, there wouldn't be any reporters sniffing around. But there also would be no seven-figure annual salary, adoration from cheering fans, fancy cars, and big houses.

Like a lot of athletes, Kenny, you apparently are happy with fame's perks, but not with its scrutiny.

Those two cameramen might have been in your workplace last week, but you know what? It's their workplace, too.

The fact that they are representing a public that helps pay your salary every time someone buys beer, cars, computers, and financial counseling services — not to mention tickets — gives the media as much right to be there as you have.

If you can't treat the cameramen, photographers, and reporters in a courteous manner, it's your obligation to steer clear of them, not vice-versa.

Or get out of the spotlight.

Posted by Eric Poole at 5:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Why Hockey Needs a Hero

It goes without saying that it is a bad time to be a hockey fan. Nevertheless, in an effort to be more dramatic, I will say it: it's a bad time to be a hockey fan. Between the slowing of the CBA talks, Jeremy Roenick's tirade, drunken zamboni drivers and hockey goons acting like goons, lately, it's been depressing to follow the fastest game on earth. There has to be a good story somewhere, and if there's not, it's the NHL's job to create one.

It's no real surprise that the labor talks continue to drag on. Last summer, I thought that there was no way there could be a lockout because I assumed that no one was that stupid to let it come to that. Wrong. Then I thought there was no way it could last past the All-Star Break, because that would kill the game. Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman may be stupid, I argued, but they weren't completely incompetent. And I was wrong again.

Surely, though, I reasoned, they could not ruin the Stanley Cup playoffs, that would be career suicide for them, they would never work in hockey again. If only we could have been so lucky. Instead, we still have Goodenow and Bettman in charge and we still have hockey in shambles. The fact that two "leaders" can be so overwhelmingly inept is mildly amusing to some, but the irreversible damage they are doing to hockey strips the situation of all amusement and only leaves me with contempt.

To add insult to injury, the NBA hype-machine had been spreading word that the two sides were too far apart from a deal and that they were headed for a nasty lockout. Misery loves company, so I was ready for the NBA to take some of the heat off of the NHL lockout. But at the last second, a deal is done and everyone is happy, making all involved with the NHL look like a group of imbeciles. That's pretty much the case, but the truth still hurts when it's flaunted in your face like that.

Outside of the ringleaders of idiocy, we have Jeremy Roenick telling fans to kiss his Bettman. Don't get me wrong, parts of his words were taken completely out of context, and Dan Patrick looked weary from the huge ego trip he went on during the interview with Jeremy, but it still wasn't the best PR move. I love to see that the people involved in this process are at least somewhat frustrated and pissed at this point, but the last thing hockey needed was any negative statement toward the fans. There are plenty of things to curse in the process, himself included, but when it comes to the fans, he should be offering to drive them to games just to make sure people go (if we ever have games again).

If it wasn't bad enough to throw the whole Roenick thing on top of the continuing CBA talks, we now have former NHL goon Bob Probert in the news getting charged with assault and intent to resist arrest. Who could've seen the former goon getting arrested for becoming violent and destroying property? I would have guessed that a player who made a living off of fighting (and a side gig of boozing) would become a normal and productive citizen after his retirement. Okay, so this was inevitable, but it could not have come at a worse time.

So the talks are going poorly, Roenick is cursing the fans, and a former player is wreaking havoc in Windsor. Surely, it can't get any worse, right? Wrong, yet again. Of course, now, nothing surprises me about the sad state of hockey. It looks like "The Battle of the Hockey Enforcers," the ridiculous hockey fight tournament including former NHLers and other hockey players, might actually take place later this summer.

Perfect, at a time when there is a lot of talk about whether or not fisticuffs should stay in the game at all, we have a tournament making a complete mockery of hockey. I'm a supporter of fighting in hockey — I think there is a place for it. That being said, I won't be surprised to see it gone from the game, thanks to pointless displays like this professional wrestling on ice.

So with all this garbage in the hockey world, where are the good stories? Does the NHL not employ a public relations staff? Were they the first to go once jobs started being eliminated? For every story I have to read about Bob Probert going Bob Probert on someone's property, I should see two stories about Jarome Iginla pulling some kid from a well (even if someone from the NHL puts the kid in the well to begin with). Every time someone gets a DUI on a zamboni (another tragedy in the hockey world), there should be a fleet of zambonis driving around town delivering food to the homeless. Anytime Jeremy Roenick talks, it should be to inform the public of when he's coming to their town to conduct free roller hockey clinics (the entire cost of this should be funded by Roenick).

We need to get hockey's smartest minds working on a cure for cancer (since they weren't allowed in on the CBA talks), and we need hockey's biggest bodies working 'round the clock with Habitat For Humanity. Would it be too much to ask to have Sidney Crosby start working as a volunteer firefighter? Can't we have some sort of funny promotion where hockey goons have a blood drive instead of some embarrassing wrestling on ice show?

Hockey desperately needs any good press they can get. Obviously, the league PR staff must be handpicked by Bettman himself, so it's up to the fans to save the game. My advice: find the nearest well you can, throw a kid in, and call Jarome Iginla.

The Sports Gospel According to Mark is sponsored by BetOnSports.com. BetOnSports.com gives you the greatest sports action to bet on. Wager on football, cricket, boxing, Rugby, horse racing, and more. Mark Chalifoux is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Tuesday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Mark at [email protected].

Posted by Mark Chalifoux at 4:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 5, 2005

2005 College Football Preview: Heisman 10

The Heisman Trophy may be the most prestigious award in all of sports. It is given to the top college football player in the country, and it is an honor that will last a lifetime. There are many guys this year that have a shot at winning it, but there are a few that should be considered favorites. Here are my top 10 candidates to take the hardware home.

10. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota

What he has to do to win: Win the national rushing crown. Maroney has a shot at for over 2,000 yards, and he'll need to in order to win the Heisman. He has a team that will feature him in their offense, and he needs to take full advantage of this.

What his team has to do for him to win: Finish the season at the top of the Big 10. The Golden Gophers have a pretty solid team this season. Unfortunately, their schedule is among the toughest in the conference. They have difficult tests at Michigan and Iowa, and they will definitely need to defeat those teams in order to win the division.

Conclusion: Maroney will gain at least 1,500 yards this season. I just don't see his team getting into the spotlight, and he will be another great player on an average team.

9. RB Gerald Riggs, Jr., Tennessee

What he has to do to win: Play big in the national spotlight. Gerald Riggs, Jr., has a familiar name (his dad was a star in the NFL), but he's still relatively unknown outside of the SEC. In 2005, he is going to have many chances to change that. The key for Riggs to put himself in Heisman contention is to have huge games against Florida and LSU. If he can do this, stay healthy, and win the conference rushing crown, he moves up much higher on the list.

What his team has to do for him to win: Win their conference. Playing on a strong team is almost a prerequisite for winning the Heisman, and Tennessee is one of the best in the country. In my SEC preview, I picked them to win the conference, and this will help Riggs' chances tremendously. Tennessee has to follow through on my prediction and win against Florida and LSU. If the Vols can go undefeated and get to Pasadena, Mr. Riggs might just have to take a detour to New York, because he will be in the top three.

Conclusion: Tennessee will feature a balanced attack this year, and that may actually hurt Riggs' shot at the Heisman. I just don't see him being able to have the impact necessary to have a chance.

8. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M

What he has to do to win: Put up solid numbers consistently. Reggie McNeal is the sleeper in this year's Heisman trophy race. He is an electrifying player, and he plays in a high-profile conference. If he can put up some huge numbers against Texas and Oklahoma, and win one of those games, he's got a slugger shot at the trophy.

What his team has to for him to win: Win at least nine games, and upset Texas or Oklahoma. The Aggies should be bowl-bound this season, and they are the beneficiaries of a light early-season schedule. A&M could be 8-0 going into the home stretch of the season. The schedule then stiffens considerably with games at Texas Tech and Oklahoma and the rivalry match against Texas. If the Aggies can beat either Oklahoma or Texas, McNeal's chances increase significantly.

Conclusion: McNeal has the talent and the personality needed to win the Heisman. The question will be whether his team can get him the attention necessary in order for everyone to see that talent. I have my doubts.

7. QB Drew Tate, Iowa

What he has to do to win: Continue making big plays. Tate, the Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year for 2004, has a flair for the dramatic. His last-second touchdown pass against LSU in the Capitol One Bowl will go down as one of the greatest plays of all-time. Heisman voters love players who can make big plays, and Tate is certainly one of them.

What his team has to do for him to win: Win the Big 10 conference. In my Big 10 preview, I have the Hawkeyes winning the conference, with OSU, Purdue, and Michigan in the mix. I still stand by my prediction, and Iowa's strong passing attack will assist Tate's chances of going to New York.

Conclusion: Drew Tate has just as much momentum going into this year as any contender. I just don't know if he will be able to put up the numbers necessary to win the trophy.

6. QB Chris Leak, Florida

What he has to do to win: Master Urban Meyer's offensive schemes. Chris Leak has vaulted into the Heisman race because of Urban Meyer. The key will be how well Leak adapts to the offensive sets that Meyer will introduce in his inaugural season with the Gators. If Leak does as well as Alex Smith did last year, watch out!

What his team has to do for him to win: Get to a BCS bowl. The Gators have a shot at winning the SEC conference this season, but they have to get past Tennessee. If Florida can defeat the Volunteers and win the SEC East, they will most likely face LSU or Auburn in the championship game. A victory there guarantees a BCS bowl, a nice payout, and a good shot for Leak to win the Heisman.

Conclusion: The question that has to be asked is how well will Leak acclimate to Urban Meyer's system in Florida. I don't think he will do enough to win this year — however, if he stays in school, he's the favorite in 2006.

5) WR/PR/KR/DB Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State

What he has to do to win: Make jaw-dropping plays on special teams, especially against Michigan. Ted Ginn is one of those special athletes that can just about do it all. He can single-handedly take over a game, and that's what Heisman voters love to see. If he plays consistent all year and can make the play that wins the game on the grandest stage of all (the rivalry game against Michigan), he's probably going to win the trophy.

What his team has to do for him to win: Perform to expectations and make the Michigan game matter even more than normal. Ginn has so much attention surrounding him this season that the Buckeyes don't have to win the national championship for him to get the Heisman. If Ohio State can win the Big 10 and get a berth in a BCS bowl, Ginn will have the spotlight he needs to showcase his talent. Also, a highly-anticipated game against the Wolverines won't hurt.

Conclusion: Ginn has the talent and drive to win the Heisman. The thing that hinders his chances will be how many touches he will get on offense. Will Jim Tressel give him enough opportunities, and will Troy Smith be able to get him the ball. We will see.

4. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

What he has to do to win: Prove that he can thrive without Jason White. Peterson has proven that he is among the best backs in the country. His combination of speed and power is awesome, and he has the ability necessary to win the Heisman. This year he has to create his own legacy. He has to show everyone that even without Jason White, he can still dominate and rack up the yards.

What his team has to do for him to win: Win the Big 12 conference. Oklahoma's resurgence under Bob Stoops has been phenomenal. They have come out of obscurity in the '90s, to reclaim their position as a national power. This season, they will have to continue their dominance by winning their conference. Texas will be a formidable foe, and games against UCLA and Texas Tech may be potential upsets.

Conclusion: Adrian Peterson's success hinges on how well he will play on a weakened Sooner team. I think he will play very well, but just not good enough to win the trophy.

3. QB Matt Leinart, Southern Cal

What he has to do to win: Have a season that obliterates all of the other candidates. Matt Leinart will no doubt have an excellent 2005 as long as he stays healthy. He has the potential to put up huge numbers in the upcoming season, and if he does he has a shot of becoming the second two-time winner of the Heisman.

What his team has to do for him to win: Win the national championship. This goal may sound daunting to many teams, but it is almost expected at USC. The Trojans are everyone's pick to win the title again in 2005. Their offensive firepower is the best I've seen, and they have the experience to boot. As long as the Trojans don't trip up at ASU or Notre Dame, they will win it all.

Conclusion: Leinart already is on Heisman watch as he won last season. His dilemma is that only Archie Griffin has ever repeated as the Heisman Trophy winner. Leinart must have a storybook season that compels voters to give him the nod once again over other deserving candidates. I think Leinart will do extremely well in 2005, but he won't even out-shadow one of his teammates let alone win the trophy.

2. QB Vince Young, Texas

What he has to do to win: Get the Longhorns back to Pasadena. Vince Young had one of the most memorable performances in the Rose Bowl last season. He destroyed a very formidable Michigan defense, and had one of the best individual efforts I've ever seen. This year, Young must continue his stellar play, and get Texas in the national title hunt.

What his team has to do for him to win: Let Vince Young lead them to Pasadena. The rest of Mack Brown's team must complement Vince Young's ability and play consistently. They are the favorites to win the Big 12, and will be targeted on every other team's schedule. The Horns' have early season tests against Ohio State and Oklahoma that can vault Vince Young into the early lead for the Heisman if they can win.

Conclusion: 2005 provides Vince Young for all of the necessary ingredients for him to win the trophy. He has an excellent shot, and if the Longhorns win it all, he's my pick.

1. RB Reggie Bush, Southern Cal

What he has to do to win: Show off his versatility. Bush has the talent and the opportunity needed to win the Heisman. He will get the ball plenty of times, and will find the end zone often. The way in which Bush will score will be what will sway voters his way. If he can score on the ground and through the air, as well as on special teams, he's got the trophy.

What his team has to do for him to win: Win the national championship. "Anything less would be uncivilized!" USC fans will consider 2005 a major disappointment if they do not win it all.

Conclusion: Bush is a multi-dimensional talent who is my pick to win the Heisman. He has a good head on his shoulders, as well, and his team will have the spotlight from beginning to end this season. This race is Reggie's to lose.

***

Reader Mailbag

At the beginning of this month, and every month thereafter through the end of the season, I will comment on the best e-mails I've received regarding my articles.

It looks like I've riled up the folks in Ann Arbor. I even have the president of MichiganFanSite.com on my case. The first one is from Brian:

Wow. I can't decide which is more ridiculous: UM with 3 losses or Iowa with 1.

Brian, you will be forced to decide this season, because Michigan will lose to Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Iowa. The next e-mail is from Chris:

Are you kidding me? Michigan picked 4th in the Big Ten? Michigan has finished no worse than tie for 2nd in the last 8 years. 2004 Tie for 1st place 2003 1st place 2002 2nd place 2001 2nd place 2000 1st place 1999 Tie 2nd place 1998 Tie 1st place 1997 1st place

This year Michigan is going to have a renewed sense of vigor on D and this is going to be a Breaston Break Out Year. Before Big Ten play Henne will be on the Heisman watch list, mark my words. 12-0 this year for Big Blue!

Chris, I do think Michigan will have a good season, but just not enough to win the conference. As far as them going 12-0, please read the next e-mail from K.J.

If Michigan goes 12-0 this year, I'll drive a riding lawnmower from NE to MI in a speedo. Michigan will definitely lose to IOWA in Iowa City.

I think we are all hoping Michigan loses now! K.J., I'm sure you will be fully clothed throughout this season. The next e-mail is from Adam regarding some of my picks for 2005.

Ted Ginn Jr. is not "bar none" the best athlete in the country. That title is up for dispute. Reggie Bush and Marcus Vick are just as good if not better and this season will prove it. And those are a just a few I could mention. The fact that you have Michigan number four in the big ten is a joke. The Buckeyes are the only team that should be ranked ahead of the Wolverines. Iowa has a good team on paper, but stats and preseason awards don't always transfer on to the field. I'm not even going to address Purdue. They don't even know what offense they are going to run this season. Who do they have on defense?

Adam, while I agree with you that Vick and Bush are great athletes, Ginn is still the best. He is probably the fastest player in the country, and to still be agile with that speed is just ridiculous. As far as your comments on Purdue, please read this next e-mail from Otis.

Purdue may well be the 3rd best team in the Big Ten and win it all going undefeated. They should be favored in every game they play this year. Their Big Ten title and BCS bowl birth likely will be decided in the Iowa game. Iowa recently capitalized on not having to play OSU and now Purdue gets the benefit of avoiding Michigan also.

Otis, you make some excellent points on Purdue's chances in 2005. One thing you failed to mention is that Purdue also returns 11 guys on defense this season. That's big, as well. The Boilermakers do have an excellent chance of running the table this year. I don't know if they will, just because of the difficulty for any team to win all of their games. The final e-mail of the day is from Mr. Merz regarding the Hawkeyes.

As a diehard Hawk fan let me tell ya, I HOPE YOU'RE A GENIUS!!!!!! Thanks for the love and for being outside the box enough to not do what every other lame, big name sports columnist does, go with Michigan and Ohio State every dang year. espn and all those places are lame. The only concern on this team is dl and frankly I love this because it means we'll blitz more, which has been something we haven't done the last few years. It'll be nice also to have teams think they can actually try running on us again, that will waste downs rather than watching 40 passes a game on our defense teams might actually try and run a bit, which is just what our linebackers love to hear. Great synopsis of the top of the Big Ten.

Mr. Merz, thanks for the love, and there are plenty of people that would agree with you. Your comments on the Hawkeyes are right on, and if they can avoid injuries like the one to Lee Gray, they have an excellent shot of winning the conference. Thanks for reading, everyone, and stay tuned for my next preview that will cover the Big 12.

Posted by Avery Smith at 2:25 PM | Comments (22) | TrackBack

Hip-Hop and Hoops: Interview With Streetlife

Streetlife, former associate of the groundbreaking hip-hop conglomerate, the Wu-Tang Clan, recently released his solo album, Street Education on X-Ray Records. He has appeared on platinum albums such as The W, BlackOut!, and Tical 2000 and worked with esteemed artists such as Method Man, Redman, the RZA, and Ghostface. He took a few minutes out of his promoting schedule to talk basketball, hip-hop, and his take on the NBA Finals with Sports Central.

Do you think basketball has gotten as big worldwide because of a hip-hop influence on the sport?

Streetlife: "I'd say hip-hop and basketball is geared to the younger people and it's a voice, sports and hip-hop, so it's a way for younger people to exercise their voices."

What do you think of basketball players who want to be rappers or vice-versa?

Streetlife: Basketball people are people, too. Just because their first love or profession is basketball, doesn't mean they never loved music.

Were you yourself involved in a lot of athletics growing up?

Streetlife: My first love was basketball, it was from about 7-years-old. I had a scholarship and everything to go to college, to play Division I, but I got hit by a car and I couldn't walk for like a year and a half and I messed my knee up, so I couldn't play to the same level that I was used to playing.

So who was your favorite team growing up?

Streetlife: The Houston Rockets. They had the Twin Towers — Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson — [and] Kenny Smith. [Then players like] Sam Cassell, Robert Horry. But really Ralph Sampson, when he came out of college and went there, I became a diehard fan.

Who are your favorite players in the game right now?

Streetlife: Right now, my favorite player is Kevin Garnett. And then I would go down to ... right now as we speak, [Manu] Ginobili is my best guard. I love his intensity, I love his drive. I like his whole approach to the game. And I like Steve Nash, too, I like where he came from, he reminds me of John Stockton.

Be honest, the NBA finals, were they boring?

Streetlife: I wouldn't say it was boring, there were good games, but as far as the Spurs and Detroit ... I guess for me, it wasn't really my interest because basically anybody that got a ring on Detroit got it last year except [Antonio] McDyess and everybody on the Spurs basically got a ring except for [Nazr] Mohammed and [Brent] Barry. I like to see people that never got the ring and fight hard to get it, so basically, except for those individual people, it was boring because everybody already seen a ring already. I alwats root for the underdog.

What are you doing to promote your album?

Right now, we doing a lot of streetwork, posters, cards, doing shows just to get people aware that it's put. Plus, I tour with Meth [Method Man] all over, promoting at the shows. We're setting up dates now, for a tour sometime in late July-August

Where did you get the name for the album, Street Education?

Streetlife: Well, I just basically wanted to educate you about me. You gotta know about me first, on who I am and where I'm coming from.

Are you content with the state of hip-hop right now? Is there anything you'd like to see change in the game?

Streetlife: I'd like to see a little more consciousness come back and a little more discipline. Music is like education — it's relaxin', too, but it's also a form of education and the young people are the future. And I feel that the music right now is not givin them any education.

Any last words?

Streetlife: Keep logging in, this is my first official interview, so this is where you need to be on, they're not goin' just for the big-name people, they goin' for the people that are workin’ hard to get to the top. That's basically what I'm all about, keep on just doin' what you doin', whatever you believe in. You may not get the reward that you expected, but you'll get something.

Posted by Seth Berkman at 2:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

"The Process," and Kenny Rogers

Barely a week after he sent a television camera to would-be destruction with force enough to send a cameraman to a hospital for treatment, Kenny Rogers was picked for the American League all-star team. Does it mean that assault and battery are now accorded an honorarium?

Two days before the pick, Rogers was suspended for 20 games and fined precisely the amount his contract calls for paying him if he should have been picked to the all-star roster. His having asked the Major League Baseball Players' Association to appeal the penalties allows him to participate in the July 12 game.

And Terry Francona, who manages this year's American League all-stars for having managed the Boston Red Sox to last year's World Series, and who is among the most thoughtful of men ordinarily, exhibited anything but such a virtue in his comment regarding the Rogers selection.

"He was voted in by the players," said Francona upon learning of the pick. "He appealed his suspension and the league will not hear it until after the All-Star Game. I abided by the process.''

Perhaps "the league" will find a spot of iron in its spine and demand the hearing prior to the All-Star Game, on the grounds that there is something inherently grotesque in a player behaving as did Rogers receiving what amounts to a kind of reward for his malfeasance.

Rogers had waged his own boycott of the working press up until his explosion upon the cameraman whose sole crime was to be capturing pre-game footage of the Texas Rangers hitting the field for their workouts and warmups. With one flap of fustian, Rogers graduated boycott to bullyism for little enough apparent reason.

The Rogers boycott began during the offseason, when a report appeared that he had threatened retirement unless he received a contract extension post haste. Such threats are as familiar to sports observers and participants alike as are the possibilities that some such reports may be grounded in little further than rumor. If the reporter or organ which emitted that report had been wrong, particularly if they had asked Rogers himself and heard his demurral and confirmed his demurral to be sincere, they were at least as irresponsible as was Rogers justified in his outrage.

But merely to boycott the working press is one thing. To assault a worker among that press who had invaded nothing that could be construed Rogers's personal space — unless one holds to the view that the ballpark field is private territory beyond such minutiae as no fans running afield and the like — is something else entirely.

By most reputable accounts, Rogers had behaved entirely out of character in his bullyism moment. But lesser beings than major league pitchers have behaved out of character but once and to similar grotesque extent, and they have paid far more exacting a penalty than Rogers stands poised to pay. They have lost jobs, if not careers, for their isolated out-of-character moments. Rogers at this writing will lose 20 games, soon enough, and — considering his incumbent contract's all-star bonus — not one penny in spite of the MLB fine imposed upon him.

That the Players' Association had audacity enough to accept Rogers's request for appeal shocked in its own right. That Terry Francona could possibly believe what he said is something else entirely. Adhering to "the process" is one thing, but should abiding by "the process" incur our unquestioned praise when "the process" deploys to damage?

By "the process" did Congress deign to pass and President Bush deign to sign a package of legislation — it is known, disingenuously, as campaign finance reform — that abrogated a stern prohibition upon it by the Constitution's leadoff amendment: "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging freedom of speech, or of the press." The federal government "the process" includes an executive bound by the Supreme Law of the Land to an oath that implies rejecting such abrogation; and, a judiciary whose mission includes thwarting the mischief when the legislative and executive elements of "the process" abrogate the Constitution, never mind that the Supreme Court failed its mission regarding that instance.

Baseball government, representing something more stirring to the soul, should have something in its "process" by which acts or decisions standing athwart its very essence will be thwarted in turn. Where a President and a Supreme Court failed miserably enough regarding the abrogation of political speech, baseball government has a splendid opportunity to succeed with incontrovertible strength.

Rogers at this writing has not said whether he would participate in the All-Star doings. Baseball government should find some place in its "process" to advise him, no questions asked, and Players Association invited to butt the hell out. And, that the only decision he should make is where to spend a pleasant three days worth of All-Star Break otherwise, pondering how an all-star worthy season of pitching to date can be nullified by how not to express outrage toward the working press.

Posted by Jeff Kallman at 1:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 4, 2005

I Hate Mondays: No Right to Be Wrong

Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com

Toronto Raptors General Manager Rob Babcock doesn't look like the type of person who would enjoy novel British pop singers like Joss Stone, but his recent actions sound like some of her lyrics have gone straight to his head.

One of the crooner's hit songs encouragingly starts: "I have the right to be wrong; my mistakes will make me strong."

Unfortunately, after leaving 2004 NBA draft virtually bankrupt, combined with an immediate urgency for a faltering franchise trying to regain its ground, his right is more of an expensive luxury that is not in the budget.

He doesn't seem to care, though, and he doesn't seem to care if he's wrong, either.

When heading into a draft of any sport, there should be four major considerations: drafting to a position of need, drafting the best player at a position, drafting the best player available at any position, and getting good value at your selection.

If pinpointing all four of these categories is hitting the bullseye, then Babcock hit bull excrement with the seventh selection in the first round.

Not a Position of Need

Forget Charlie Villanueva's potential, forget his faults, and forget all of his pros and cons for a second. Consider the positions that the Toronto Raptors needed to fill. Chris Bosh is the franchise at power forward and point guard is solidified with Rafer Alston (aside from attitude problems).

The team desperately wants to get rid of Jalen Rose, so that leaves small forward, center, and possibly shooting guard. Notice that power forward was not among the needs. So how does drafting a power forward make any sense? If he's versatile and can play the three, then why is a small forward being selected nine picks later? No matter how good he gets, he cannot become a starter and no, the Raptors are not any closer to the model of the Phoenix Suns.

Not the Best Player at His Position

Okay, fine, you got me drunk, drugged me, and kept incessantly reiterating that this team is in dire need of a power forward. Then why not draft the best power forward available? By my account, there were no power forwards selected within the first six selections which means the Raptors had every single eligible PF to choose from.

Somehow, they were one of the few teams to have Charlie-V rated as the absolute top power forward, but then again, they did rate Rafael Araujo very highly, as well. I guess 13.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg with a reputation of a soft streak is more valuable than the 17.5 ppg and 10.7 rpg that North Carolina MVP Sean May offered against stiffer competition.

Poor Value

You know, I don't think Rob Babcock is familiar with this concept. Especially after last year, when the Raptors selected Araujo at number eight and he was slated to go in the late teens/early 20s by most pundits.

Normally, this selection wouldn't have been such poor value because he was expected to be drafted maybe five to ten spots later but quality players were slipping in this draft which means Villanueva, a player who was already likely to be in the 10-15 range could have dropped to the Raptors at 16. Consider that Fran Vasquez, Ike Diogu, Yaroslav Korolev and even Rashad McCants went much higher than expected so the Raptors did not get good value with their first selection.

Not the Best Player Available

If you are stuck between a rock and a hard place and if you can't get the exact player you want, then you draft the best player available. Well, in that case, Babcock misfired on that one, as well. In his defense, though, one could argue that he got the player he wanted, but judging on pure potential and track record, more people speak highly of Antoine Wright, Gerald Green, and Danny Granger. Sure, they dropped lower than expected, but I explained why above.

The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics, the teams who selected Granger and Green, are touted as having the biggest steals of the draft while no one has murmured the words "franchise player" and "Charlie Villanueva" in the same sentence. Yes, it is all subjective, but considering the Raptors raised eyebrows a year ago when selecting Araujo ahead of Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, and J.R. Smith, I'll trust the critics until Babcock proves me wrong.

Well, the Raptors did get rid of their whiny, unmotivated, poor attitude player when they traded Vince Carter, so it makes sense to fill that need with someone who NBA scouts say has a history of these sorts of things.

This draft is catastrophic and quite possibly just the beginning of worse things to come.

Chris Bosh might start to think like Vince Carter after what is becoming a long history of horrendous roster decisions during his era. Rafael Araujo last year, signing a point guard who can't get along with his coach, and now drafting a power forward. Here he is, slowly developing into a quality piece of the puzzle, hoping to get a perimeter sharpshooter or a stout center to play alongside when the team decides to draft a player at the same position as him. Now they are going to ask him to move over and play center at times — because they definitely won't ask a rookie to do that — where he struggled mightily last year.

I'm sure he'll feel great about that, especially since this team could have been an instant playoff contender with a Wright and Granger draft.

The Raptors used to have one of the best fan bases in the NBA, but that left with Vince Carter. Regardless of how you want to knock him, he filled the seats until his last days in Toronto and the Raptors' attendance was not the same after he left. Villanueva and Joey Graham won't sell tickets on their own and if these players don't pan out, the team could be in for a long drought in the stands.

Bosh is only signed until the end of 2007 and since the Raptors have surrounded him with little help and instead drafted a power forward to replace him, he may decide to leave.

If he does, the franchise may depart not too far behind him.

Rob Babcock and his decisions mix like Mondays and me.

"Not all who wander are lost." — John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Don't miss next week's installment of "I Hate Mondays," sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great sportsbook for horse racing and casino action!

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 3, 2005

2005 NFL Preview: Arizona Cardinals

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Last Year

Like Jessica Simpson's newest music video, the Arizona Cardinals were a hot topic heading into the 2004 season because of the arrival of Dennis Green. The freshly-hired head coach claimed that his team's boots were made for walking and that they were going to walk all over opponents to a 10-6 record. That's not exactly what happened as the Cards were once again the girl who didn't mean any harm in the NFC West, finishing with a 6-10 record. With Green on board and a young talent-laced core of athletes with him, the Cardinals are poised for a winning season in 2005.

What We Learned From Last Year

If you only used wins and losses as a barometer to measure Dennis Green's impact in his first season as the Cardinals' head coach, then you were probably not impressed.

In 2003, Arizona won four games. In 2004, Arizona won six.

But his impact seeped much further than just the final outcome as his young team learned how to become competitive.

In 2003, the Cardinals' average margin of defeat was an embarrassing 20 points per game, which included stompings at the hands of Seattle (38-0), Chicago (28-3), and San Francisco (50-14).

In Green's first season in the desert, he managed to cut that appalling margin in half (10 ppg) while experiencing only two 20+ point losses.

The Red Birds also scored 3.7 more points per game, allowed 8.1 less points per game, their total defense improved 15 rankings, their turnover ratio was +1 (compared -13 in 2003), and they even boasted a winning record at home.

While Green did an excellent job on the field, teach his team to consistently exert effort, he also excelled off the field in his first draft.

His first four selections, WR Larry Fitzgerald, DT Darnell Dockett, LB Karlos Dansby, and C Alex Stepanovich all developed into crucial starters. Each rookie started 16 games except for Dansby, who started 15.

The defensive additions of Dansby and Dockett through the draft and Bertrand Berry through free agency, were critical to the team's success as they backboned the defense. The three players combined for 23 of the 38 sacks that this defense produced.

While the defense finished with an overall ranking of 12th, the offense was not as constructive.

They struggled to find any sort of rhythm offensively, especially after Green decided to play musical chairs at quarterback.

Josh McCown led the team to a respectable 4-3 record as a starter in the first seven weeks, but was immediately benched afterwards. Although the team still finished 6-7 in games that he started, it was obvious that Green saw very little future potential in him.

The running game also labored with a 3.5 yards per carry average, as the tandem of Emmitt Smith and Troy Hambrick was often ineffective. aThat placed a burden square on the shoulders of the youthful receiving corps.

Nonetheless, Bryant Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin responded, as well, and were all impressive at different times. This group is the base of the Cardinals' optimism as they head into 2005.

This Year

Minnie Driver, Shannen Doherty, and Kelly Rippa are all sexy 34-year-olds who would look good in an Arizona Cardinals jersey, but to an organization that now cares about winning, it will be a different 34-year-old who will look more attractive in the fashionable red and white jersey.

With so much instability and inadequacy at the quarterback position since the departure of Jake Plummer, the Cardinals' signing of Kurt Warner figures to provide steadiness.

Although Kurt Warner is not the same quarterback who led St. Louis to Super Bowls in 2000 and 2002, he will still be a veteran leader for a young team. He also presented better numbers than Josh McCown in completion percentage, TD/INT ratio, and yards per game behind a much worse offensive line in New York last season.

Warner played in only 10 games last season, starting nine, and was sacked 39 times. The Cardinals' offensive line only permitted a total of 39 sacks throughout the whole 2004 season.

The Cardinals do not necessarily need a league MVP to run their offense, but they are in desperate search of a quarterback who can make accurate throws and connect with the talented wide receivers. Considering Kurt Warner ranked 11th in completion percentage last season, he should be a vast upgrade over Josh McCown.

The running game will also be revamped as Emmitt Smith is out of the picture and Troy Hambrick is quickly fading. Marcel Shipp and rookie J.J. Arrington remain and should give the Cardinals everything that they need.

Shipp missed all of last season with a fractured leg, but has displayed keen skills to run between tackles in the past. Arrington, this year's second-round pick, is a home run threat with explosive speed and should gather the starter's role heading into the season. New offensive coordinator Keith Rowen has preached the ground game, so expect both of these backs to be emphasized.

If the running backs are functional, expect Warner to get acquainted with one of the premiere receiving corps in the league. Rowen plans on using much more motion this time around, which should create more matchup difficulties. With Bryant Johnson, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cards have three very different receivers who cover all the bases. Johnson is the deep threat, Boldin blends speed and power, and Fitzgerald has excellent hands.

This offense has been in a coma the past few seasons with no effective ball carriers and no competent quarterbacks. The trio of receivers had to work with Josh McCown, Shaun King, and John Navarre last year, so an accurate Kurt Warner parlayed with a half decent running game should amplify the output.

All of this, of course, banks on the play of the offensive line. Alex Stepanovich, Leonard Davis, and Oliver Ross anchor 60% of the line, but the other two spots, left and right guard, remain to be had. Elton Brown, the Cardinals' fourth-round selection, will likely step into one of those vacancies. He slipped in the draft and Green once again found good value.

Green has been a wizard drafting for the Cardinals as he nabbed four starters in the first four rounds last year and quite possibly added another three or four in this year's draft.

Arrington and Brown will play primary roles for the offense and first-round selection Antrel Rolle is a definite starter. The Miami Hurricane standout is a stud and could easily become the diamond in the secondary for Arizona. He will be joined by David Macklin, an underrated, scrappy cornerback, strong safety Robert Griffith, who played under Green in Minnesota, and Ifeanyi Ohalete, a decent free safety. Adrian Wilson will also be lurking in the background, likely in nickel packages, but should have a factoring role among the defensive backs given his excellent season last year.

A secondary’s best friend is always a confident defensive line and the Cardinals definitely have some studs on that end. Berry and Dockett will have some company as Chike Okeafor comes over from Seattle to start at the left defensive end position. Okeafor was the leading sacker for the Seahawks last year and his influence will likely diminish the number of double-teams Berry will see.

Arizona has had an excellent offseason, pinpointing team deficiencies and addressing them — something the Toronto Raptors are not familiar with. Kurt Warner will ameliorate the air game and the duo of Arrington and Shipp can revitalize a dormant rush attack. The 12th-ranked defense from a year a go subbed out a stagnant Duane Starks for Antrel Rolle, and added experience with Robert Griffith and Chike Okeafor.

What does all this mean? While Seattle and St. Louis have declined from their giant status and San Francisco is rebuilding, Arizona has grown up and should be your NFC West champion this year.

All I'm saying is don't be surprised.

Over/Under: 7.5

Arizona has only had one winning season in the past 20 years, but the past does not equal the future. Green aimed for 10-6 last year, but that result seems more feasible this year. The Cards' homefield advantage is underestimated as very few teams can deal with the sweltering heat at Cardinals Stadium.

Five wins in the division is attainable considering they defeated Seattle and St. Louis at home last year, and lost by a combined 10 points when they were the visitor, so they will only need another three wins from the following to go over: @NYG, CAR, TEN, @DAL, @DET, JAX, WAS, @HOU, PHI, and @IND.

Fantasy Sleepers

From head-to-toe, this team is loaded with fantasy gems such as the defense, J.J. Arrington, and my personal favorite, Kurt Warner. The fact that every team looking for a quarterback inquired about his services this offseason shows that he still has it in him to produce and given the weapons that he has at his disposal, he should be a fantasy stud.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

Posted by Dave Golokhov at 12:26 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 2, 2005

Refunds at Sporting Events?

I have this reoccurring dream where I'm at Shea Stadium watching the Mets blow another game. (Not this year's Mets team, mind you — one of those really painful ones from the early 1990s with Howard Johnson in centerfield and Dave Magadan resembling a human traffic cone at third base.) After the game, I get up from my seat and begin the long walk down the stadium's concrete ramps until I get to the lower level.

I stroll past other sullen Mets fans, their faces masks of disappointment and frustration because their team just put the "pathetic" in "apathetic." I keep walking until I arrive at a window labeled "Fan Relations." Sitting there are two employees wearing Mets polo shirts. One offers me a magnetic schedule and an application for season tickets.

I decline. That's not why I'm standing there.

"I know this is a little awkward, but I was seriously unsatisfied with my experience today."

"I'm sorry to hear that," replies one of the PR drones, which for some reason always looks like Alan Colmes in my dream. "Was there a problem with any of the services here at Shea Stadium? You didn't use the third urinal in the men's room near section 212, did you?"

"No ... can't say that I did," I say. "The services your stadium provided me were fine. It's the product on the field that stunk. I'm extraordinarily unsatisfied ... and I want my money back for this ticket."

Alan glares at the ducat in my hand. "I'm sorry, sir, but that's just something we can do for you."

"Why not?"

"It's just not our policy. You buy that ticket assuming some risk, like the possibility of a loss."

"But it wasn't just a loss. You promised a Major League Baseball game. What I got was a glorified middle reliever giving up seven runs in three innings, and a defeat that left me hoping they'd implement the mercy rule by the sixth inning. I paid for a Major League Baseball game. I didn't get what I paid for."

"Yeah," he replies, "but you're a Mets fan. Dissatisfaction is practically an amino acid in your genetic code. If we knew we had to refund every ticket for an unsatisfied Mets fan ... hell, we might as well just make the tickets free then, shouldn't we?"

At that point, I take the magnet, bid him a good day, and move on to that other dream where I'm mowing Angelina Jolie's lawn and one thing leads to another.

Back in the real world, I've been to a few sporting events where fans have chanted, "refund!" It's the ultimate expression of fan indignation — booing vocalizes frustration, but "refund" is complete and utter dissatisfaction.

But if you were face-to-face with someone who could, in theory, offer such compensation, how would you react? If you didn't walk out of the stadium or arena before the end of the game, can you honestly say you didn't enjoy yourself, at least a little bit? Could you have fun, and then ask for your money back?

The world is made up of two types of people:

Group 1: People who can't overcome their own guilt and humility to ask for a refund if they're only partially dissatisfied with something.

Group 2: Shameless, morally corrupt bastards who laugh at the Group 1 people as they count their refund money, whether they were satisfied or not.

I saw plenty of Group 2 when I was in high school, working at the local Burger King. We had customers who'd come in, order a sandwich, consume said sandwich within one bite of its existence, and then bring the last bite and the wrapper back up to the counter. They'd then claim there was some ghastly mistake made in its construction, lack a lack of cheese, or an over-grilling. (Impossible, by the way, thanks to the King's patented flame-broiler.) Of course, the sandwich was perfectly fine for the first 10 bites; but now, this guy is bitching and moaning until he either gets his money back or gets a new burger. And he usually ended up getting one of them.

Of course, fast food restaurants with pimply faced managers are places where refunds are assumed. Sporting events are on the other end of the spectrum. But let's say you had a chance to get a refund on a sports ticket: could you still go for one if you stayed until the final buzzer? The fact that you remained until the end could be interpreted, in the loosest terms, as an endorsement of your being entertained. A refund for a sporting event would be like a refund for a movie: stay until the credits, and your chances for a refund are bleak.

Unless that movie is "Cinderella Man." And you're watching it in an AMC Theater.

AMC instituted a policy last week through which any moviegoer that pays to see the Russell Crowe/Ron Howard boxing film can get a full refund if he or she does not enjoy the movie.

"It's just an innovative way of drawing attention to the film. This is not something you do every day, and that speaks to the movie," AMC spokesman Pam Blase told the Chicago Sun-Times.

(Of course, it also speaks to the fact that theaters get a pretty large cut of ticket revenues for any film. But we digress...)

It's a fun little marketing tactic, and one that AMC used previously to draw customers to "Mystic Pizza" back in 1988. At the very least, it comes across as a ballsy endorsement of the quality of the film. Something tells me they're not doing this for "Herbie: Fully Loaded."

(And darn it, if I had a radio show, the stunt of the year would have been to get a few hundred people, sellout a showing of "Cinderella Man," and then everybody gets a refund.)

Did it work? Modestly, thus far. The film's per-screen average increased from last week to its first week after the refund blitz. But the bottom line remains that the general public just wasn't stoked to see Seabiscuit-meets-Rocky. Maybe the film would have done better if Max Baer had been blown up by an alien tripod during his match with Jim Braddock.

AMC reported that only a handful of moviegoers requested refunds after the first weekend, which means it gambled correctly: the movie is a good one, and no one's going to scam AMC if they liked the movie. It appears the majority of movie fans are in Group 1, not Group 2.

"I think people would probably have an extremely guilty conscious if they did that after seeing a movie about being moral and doing the right thing," Blase told the Sun-Times.

I haven't seen "Cinderella Man," but this refund thing has me intrigued. Is there room for nuance? Could I go expecting to see an Oscar-quality film, and then ask for a refund if it's just "good?" Could I get my money back if I enjoyed the film, but didn't think Paul Giamatti got enough face time? Is there a refund for me if I walk up to the counter after the flick and say, "Uh, I was under the impression Russell Crowe would throw a telephone at a bellhop at some point in the movie, and he never did. Eight bucks, please..."

Of course there is.

But I wouldn't ask.

"Stupid, no-good, lousy morals..."

We Get Love Mail

As usual ... love, hate or indifference mail: [email protected].

Great feedback from some of you on the "100 Greatest Sports Movie Quotes" column, including this little nugget from Joe McDonald of NYSportsDay.com:

You forgot a real good one:

"I can't think of a better reason not to be a Yankee."
For Love of the Game

Indeed. And this, from Don Kubit:

Great job & a fun read.

Since one of the offshoots of any & all Top (whatever #) Lists is to generate feedback, here are my offerings which you, perhaps, overlooked:

"Son ... Rubbin' is racin'."
Days of Thunder (Robert Duvall)

"God, I love baseball."
The Natural (Robert Redford)

"Baseball was life and I was good at it. Then one day...Pow! right in the head."
The Sandlot (James Earl Jones)

P.S. It doesn't legally qualify because it's not in a "sports movie," but, methinks, another great (sports-related) movie line:

"Golf courses are Nature on a leash."
Sunshine State (John Sayles)

Man ... that "Sandlot" quote is better than the one I picked. By far.

Finally, here's a take from Chris Del Plato on my column about Sidney Crosby, and whether the NHL needs the rookie phenom in New York:

Just read your Jesters Quart - Sidney Crosby, Broadway Bound?

Good stuff.

Here's my take - and it's not biased because I'm also a Devils fan (OK, well, maybe a little) - The absolute BEST place for Crosby to end up is in NJ. That's right, a DEVIL.

Here's my reasoning - we've heard for an NHL eternity that the Devils and their 'trapping style' are part of the reason the sport is in the dire straits that it is (not to mention the lockout). If he really is 'The Next', then the best good he could possibly do is to go to the team who is known for its 'non-offensive tendencies' (even though they led the league in scoring in 2000). Teamed with the likes of Gomez, Elias and Nieds, the skates would be flying and the red light flashing. The NHL has the most to gain by burying the Devils supposed 'bad trap kharma'.

Consider it done.... ;-)

Thanks, Chris. And as a fellow fan of the NJD, you'll get no quarrel from me...

Greg Wyshynski is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].

Posted by Greg Wyshynski at 11:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Who Can Challenge For Next Year's Crown?

Everyone can take a breath now that the NBA finals have come to a close. That is, everyone that had money riding on the series can do that. The tight matchup I thought would come through before the contests began finished much better than it started. But overall, the first four games, with a twenty-one point average margin of victory, couldn't make this battle one of the NBA's best.

And, of course, since the San Antonio Spurs have been handed the Larry O'Brien trophy, the focus shifts to the next exit on the highway. Experts and analysts are ready to deliver a champion for the 2005-2006 season. Namely, it's either the Spurs, or their opponents, the Detroit Pistons.

The reasons for betting on these two teams as favorites are multiple, yet similar. They both play defense above and beyond the rest of the league. Each squad can adapt to their opponent's style of play. Don't forget about the recent playoff pedigree of these organizations. Basically, the teams play as ... well, teams.

So, with both squad returning their core players for next season, it's all sunshine and rainbows when considering which two towns should prep for another finals run.

However, allow me to play the Grinch at this wonderful Whoville gathering and be the "nasty, wasty skunk" with a flavor for variety in my champions. Challengers to the Spurs and Pistons are lurking in the weeds, looking for their place in the last series of the playoffs.

Of course, there are extenuating circumstances that must fall in place. The draft, free agent market, and injury bug need to favor growth instead of harm. But, in light of those gloom and doom situations, the last two champions can't just reserve a seat at the head of the table, whether in the quality-starved East or the ocean-depth West.

The High-Flyers

The Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns were, surprisingly, the best teams in their respective conferences. However, when the playoffs began, there were more than a few people thinking that neither team was assured of making a run to the championship.

If Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were at full tilt in the East Finals, they might have been challenging the Spurs for the title. The role players and reserves raised their game throughout the postseason, but D. Wade's limited effectiveness in Games 6 (DNP) and 7 (7-20 from the field) prevented South Beach from enjoying their first NBA finals. Look for wishes of health from the Heat, along with another body or two on the bench.

The Suns rose brightly over the regular season, thanks largely to the addition of MVP Steve Nash. A well-oiled machine, Phoenix scored a league-high 110.4 points per game at a frantic pace. Then again, they played less defense than an Arena League football team. Trouble also reared its head when the starters got into foul trouble, exposing a severely undermanned bench.

The plan to improve seems simple in nature. Get deeper, get tougher, and get a hand in someone's face. They seem to be headed in that direction with their interest in Knicks bruiser Kurt Thomas. It's probably not the end-all piece, but it's a start.

The Grizzled Veterans

Over the last few years, there have been a few clubs that have been a constant in the playoffs. Two of them, contrary to past history, are the Nets and Mavericks. But even with a string of continued success, these two teams can't bust through that last wall to find the trophy on the other side.

For New Jersey, the end stared at them like a speeding train picking up steam. Then, an unlikely bolt of energy entered the scene in the form of Vince Carter (27.5 ppg). The much-maligned guard teamed with Jason Kidd (14.4 ppg, 8.3 apg, 7.4 rpg) to concoct the most dazzling backcourt in the Association.

Add in Richard Jefferson (22.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), and the word potent is a perfect description for the Nets' perimeter. Unfortunately, the post could use a little beef. That issue will probably be addressed in the offseason by Rod Thorne and the Jay-Z brain trust.

From late 2000 through early 2004, Dallas was the NBA's best imitation of a whirling dervish. With scorers throwing in baskets from all angles, the Mavs slugged out their victories rather than going the distance. If one set of offensive talent didn't work, Mark Cuban would tinker with the formula. Different players, same powerful scoring, same result.

Then, this season, one of those cartoon light bulbs must have lit up inside the Dallas boardroom. The Mavericks figured out that more defensive pressure would give them a better chance to win. The addition of tougher position players (Jason Terry and Erick Dampier), plus recent hard-nosed draft picks (Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels, and Devin Harris), give this team an added pop they didn't have in other recent runs.

Now, with Avery Johnson steering the ship, we'll see if they can play some gritty, physical basket-baw.

The Up-and-Comers

In the professional ranks, experience matters, but youth can be so much more fun to watch. Two cases of this in the Association show their worth when you discuss the Chicago "Baby" Bulls and the Denver Nuggets.

Coming from out of nowhere this season, the Bulls are taking their band of high school and collegiate all-stars and rising up the charts. Imagine a lineup with Sixth Man of the Year Ben Gordon, Kirk Heinrich, former Dukies Chris Duhon and Luol Deng, as well as inside presence Tyson Chandler.

While the 22-year-old Chandler has the most experience as a pro among those names, don't think this is a rebuilding project. All the young guys knew how to win at the previous level, and they've brought that attitude to a franchise that didn't have a winning record since the Jordan era came to a close in 1998. The biggest hole for this team is in the middle, where Eddy Curry's health is a large problem. If he can heal, then play, this team is dangerous.

Denver started last year with high hopes and low results, resulting in the firing of head coach Jeff Bzdelik. Then, along came George Karl and his magic fixer elixir. Who knew the Nuggets could ever be described as "white-hot," but they were once Karl took over, ending the season with a 32-8 record.

With a full year of Karl's coaching ahead, Denver could be a player in the postseason. They have a solid backcourt, a physically strong set of post players, and a gem or two hidden on the bench. My advice for the league's top dogs, pack an extra oxygen mask next June for the trophy, just in case.

In the year's length of time it will take for the '06 finals to form, there will be many chances for these teams to show their worth or fall flat on their faces. Chemistry, health, talent, and luck are all needed to become a champion in the Association. The Pistons and Spurs have it, with everybody else trying to catch up.

Posted by Jonathan Lowe at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 1, 2005

Rogers Shows Profound Camera Shyness

Kenny Rogers is not the first and will not be the last public man to demonstrate his profound desire that the press not grace his presence by performing acts guaranteed to leave his desire unconsummated.

Clearly enough, the Texas Rangers lack training in the fine art of not attracting attention to themselves. We have Rogers to thank for that Wednesday afternoon revelation, shoving one FOX Sports Net Southwest lensman and then shoving the camera of a KDFW-TV lensman violently enough to send the man to the hospital for treatment.

That was one day after he barked at two other cameramen to back off, warned another reporter never to speak to him again, and reportedly smashed something in the clubhouse that featured glass, on a night that would have been his game start but for lingering lead (glove) hand soreness from a spontaneous bout with a possibly profane water cooler almost a fortnight earlier.

The miracle in the Wednesday revelation may have been Rogers spotting yet ignoring two more cameramen even as he walked toward them, though perhaps Rangers catcher Rod Barajas should be credited with an assist for escorting Rogers away, albeit not before the pitcher threatened to break every f’ing one of them.

According to Rangers general manager John Hart, Rogers told him after the incident was over, "I didn't handle this right. I'm frustrated. My integrity and toughness is being called into question."

The grammatical error was the least of problems for a man who brought his own integrity and toughness into question by a fortnight of acts that climaxed in his withdrawing from a game start against a team that showed itself only too willing to exploit the impaired a week earlier.

Rogers's fortnight of fustian began June 17th, when umpired called his final Washington Nationals batter a check swinger on a full count pitch, provoking him to spike the ball a la the NFL's end zone meatheads when manager Buck Showalter came to lift him. Presumably, the dugout water cooler dared address him with an uncalled for belch when he sought a sip to cool off, provoking him to try beating it into scrap with his non-pitching (right) hand.

Through toughness enough did Rogers answer the bell for his next scheduled start, glove hand still in discomfort from disciplining the mouthy cooler, only to learn the hard way that toughness carries a different connotation for a team of Los Angeles Angels who brutalized him for 6 runs and 10 hits in that three and a third.

"Kenny has had a short fuse dealing with the media," Rangers owner Tom Hicks was quoted as telling the Dallas Morning News after his candid camera clobbering Wednesday afternoon. "I've heard stories about what may or may not have happened. He has issues. It's directed at the media, and I don't know why."

Perhaps by now, will someone have briefed Mr. Hicks that, last offseason, Rogers was reported threatening retirement without a contract extension. If it was merely speculative if not false, it might explain much of Rogers's animosity without a single note's condoning his manner of wringing it out with water coolers or cameras.

"It's not something we'll take lightly," Showalter was quoted as saying of Rogers's style of Wednesday camera shyness. "When I have all the facts, I'll deal with them." And then, speaking like a man for whom facts do not what he wishes, he suggested, "One person was frustrated — frustrated at not being able to win."

Some might be frustrated at not being able to explain how Showalter missed that, from an April outing against Tampa Bay until one bad date with the Angels, Kenny Rogers was a man unable to lose.

It seems hard enough to explain in this hour that Rogers by his own act resembles another kind of loser. The kind who learns the hard way, assuming his bosses deign for once to behave like leaders rather than enablers, that beating up rude inanimate objects and shoving cameramen into a hospital treatment room might be one way to lose a shot at a contract extension that an all-star-caliber season had otherwise justified.

All of which provokes one to sympathy of a sort for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Oliver Perez. If you are inclined to create the First-Annual Kevin Brown Awards For Extinguished Foolishness — named in dishonor of the forty-something Yankee pitcher who decided the cure for a spell of injury-enhanced ineffectiveness was beating up a clubhouse wall — Perez has earned a nomination to the 20 Mule Team Mulehead Medal, for kicking his way onto the 15-day disabled list by trying to punt the clubhouse laundry cart through the posts, after a harsh outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a game the Pirates went on to win, anyway.

Rogers before Wednesday was at least a nominee for the Arrowhead Cooler Clobber Citation. Rogers, in Wednesday's aftermath, should add a nomination to the Panavision Punk Pugilist Prize, Senior Citizen Division, with a poison oak leaf cluster for proving such an upstanding role model to those who follow him in the practice of the pitcher's art.

Posted by Jeff Kallman at 1:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 16

The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Greg Biffle — Biffle's weekend in Sonoma would have to be called a huge success — not only did he capture the points lead, he did so by nearly matching his career best finish there, and he did it all after starting 41st on the grid. Biffle's 14th was almost as good as his 13th last year, and could have been even better if not for a late race caution.

"You know," says Biffle, "if NASCAR was the Tour De France, they would be fitting me with a skin-tight yellow jersey, and I would be making sweet music with Sheryl Crow. But, as it is, I'm not Lance Armstrong, and I'm nowhere near as marketable as the six-time Tour champ. Lance could sell a bicycle to a legless man ... me, I can barely sell a sub to a starving man."

Should Biffle win the Nextel Cup championship, he would be the third consecutive Roush driver to do so, following in the winning footsteps of Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch. It seems that to drive for Roush and win a championship, only one requirement is necessary: a complete lack of charisma. Maybe that's why Mark Martin has never won a championship — he's got personality.

Biffle must now face the pressure of racing as points leader, not that there should be pressure. Leading the points when the Chase begins only gets you a five-point edge on second place — leading the points right now means even less. Shouldn't the points leader to start the Chase be rewarded with more of an edge than five points?

In his five career Nextel Cup races at Daytona, Biffle has been successful (12th last year in the Daytona 500, starting on the pole, and a win in 2003's Pepsi 400). The No. 16 National Guard Ford, like all of the Roush cars, has the horsepower to battle for the win against Stewart and what is sure to be a hungry Hendrick Motorsports contingent.

2. Jimmie Johnson — What promised to be a fruitful weekend for Hendrick Motorsports turned disastrous in the mechanical blink of an eye as first points leader Johnson, then teammates Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch experienced transmission problems. After Gordon and Johnson consolidated the front row on Saturday, it seemed a Hendrick resurgence was bound to counter the recent Roush Racing dominance. But on lap 15, Johnson lost fourth gear, and his points lead soon followed into the land of the lost.

"The guys in the garage tell me it's called a 'transmission linkage,'" says Johnson. "I'm not sure what it does, but, without it, I was up the proverbial creek without a paddle, or in the outhouse without toilet paper, if you will."

Johnson's 49-point lead is no more, replaced by a 22-point deficit to Greg Biffle, and represents Johnson's first jaunt out of the lead spot in the points since Daytona. But don't worry, J.J. If your self-esteem needs a boost, just saunter in to a Walmart in NASCAR country and make note of the people with fewer teeth than eyes. You'll feel better in no time.

One thing is for sure: Johnson and crew will have a new transmission manufacturer for the Pepsi 400. In seven career starts on the 2.5-mile tri-oval at Daytona, Johnson has finished no lower than 18th, with four top-fives. Johnson is probably most anxious to get back into victory lane. At this point last year, JJ had three victories. His last win this year was in Las Vegas in March.

"For me," says Johnson, "it's time to step up, or get slapped."

Barring faulty car parts, expect Johnson to qualify on row two and challenge for his first Pepsi 400 win.

3. Tony Stewart — After leading the most laps three times previously this year, Stewart finally cashed in with his first win of the year, and first since last year at Watlins Glen. Stewart passed Jeff Gordon on lap 34, and then led 39 of the remaining 66 laps to win comfortably. Stewart's win was only the third this year by a driver not employed by Roush or Hendrick.

Stewart was not immune to the transmission issues that affected so many other drivers. On lap 80, he lost fourth gear, completing the race by driving with one hand and holding his shifter in place with the other.

"For that, I deserve a hand," Stewart says, taking a bow. "And to all you Tony-bashers, you get the finger. Wait a minute, the evil Tony on my left shoulder is overpowering good Tony on my right, and made me say that. I apologize. It will take me some practice for the kinder, gentler Tony to say goodbye to evil Tony. In the meantime, please don't call me Damien."

Stewart's win may be an omen of good things to come with Daytona up next on the slate. Stewart has three consecutive top seven finishes there, and has led the most laps in the last two Daytona 500s. Expect Stewart and Jeff Gordon to stage a battle for the win there.

4. Elliott Sadler — Richard Childress Racing was the only team to place two cars in the top 10, as Sadler, in sixth, followed teammate Dale Jarrett across the finish line. Sadler solidified his hold on the three spot in the points, and now stands only 177 behind new leader Greg Biffle. Last week, Sadler trailed then points leader Johnson by 250.

"Our stated goal entering Sonoma was a top-10 finish," says Sadler. "We achieved that, and then some. We also picked up the "USG Improving the Finish Award" for finishing 36 spots better than we qualified. That trophy means a lot to me. It'll go in the trophy case right beside the one I got for 'Best Country Accent' in the Emporia County Fair back in '94."

In February at Daytona, Sadler nearly cracked the top 10, with an 11th-place finish. Again, Sadler's intentions will be avoiding trouble on the track, finishing the race, and scoring a top-10 or better. Sadler, as well as teammate Jarrett, has shown an uncanny ability to complete races. Of all the laps ran this year, Sadler has completed all but 12.

5. Mark Martin — Martin's 15th-place finish maintained his fifth place standing in the points, but was still a disappointing result. After starting third and running primarily in the top 10, Martin was caught speeding on pit road and had to serve a drive-through penalty, which left him in 30th-place after time served. From there, Martin knew his fortunes would ride on fuel mileage. After gas and tires on lap 70, a top-10 finish was in the cards should the remaining laps transpire under green.

"I should have known better than to expect good luck," says Martin. "That pit lane speeding penalty took the wind out of my sails, a condition easily treated with a dose of Viagra. Like basically all NASCAR races, the difference in winning or losing in getting a lucky break in the pit sequence."

Martin held on to fifth-place in the points, 228 off of Biffle's total of 2,250. He has two straight sixth-place finishes at Daytona, and a world of experience. With a few breaks, he could pull out the win. With no breaks, he could still manage a top-10.

6. Rusty Wallace — Wallace's fourth-place finish, his third top-five of the year, improved his points position two notches, and he now stands sixth, 237 points below Greg Biffle. The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge overcame an early fuel vent probe problem on its first pit service, and Wallace rejoined the race with less fuel in the tank than expected. This forced Wallace into an extra pit stop, six laps later, relegating him to the 33rd position when he re-entered. After gassing up on lap 65, Wallace expertly conserved fuel and made it to the finish without another stop. He even led 12 laps before succumbing to the advances of Stewart, Ricky Rudd, and Kurt Busch.

"Hey, look at my t-shirt," says Wallace. "It says 'Got gas?' Whatever you do, don't pull my finger."

Wallace is currently working on a five race streak of no finish lower than 11th. His 10th at Daytona was his best result there since his runner-up finish at the 2002 Pepsi 400. Daytona boils down to sheer horsepower, not fuel mileage. The No. 2 car won't likely be a threat to win, but a top ten is certainly in sight.

7. Kurt Busch — Busch was the only Roush Racing entrant to record a top-10, the first time only one Rousher made the top 10 since Richmond on May 14th, and only the fourth time it's happened all year. Busch crossed the line at Sonoma in third; Matt Kenseth was the next Roush driver in line, finishing 11th.

"Yes, I wish one of my teammates could have joined me in the top 10," says Busch. "Multiple Roush racers in the top 10 usually is an occurrence as frequent as an Osborne making a stint in rehab. Just as sure a Ozzy's speech is unintelligible, you can bet Roush will put at least two in the top 10."

Busch began the year at Daytona with a second place finish, then reeled off two straight thirds to take a brief, one-week stay atop the point standings. After that three race display of consistency, Busch began an erratic series of inconsistent performances, highlighted by a win at Phoenix, and lowlighted by a last at Charlotte. When he's good, he's great. When he's bad, he's berating officials and taking punches from Jimmy Spencer, while finishing last.

Busch is always fast at Daytona, and has a top-five at the track in each of the last three years. If he keeps a cool head and stays out of the inevitable "Big One," Busch is likely to be up front like he was in February.

8. Ryan Newman — For the second consecutive week, Newman finished a race better than he qualified, scoring a ninth after starting 11th. Newman held on to the number seven slot in the points, but was passed by fellow Penske driver and best friend Rusty Wallace.

"Thanks for ruining my day," adds Newman. "That's the only place Rusty will pass me, on a scoreboard. He'll never do it on the track, not on my watch. You know, there's all this talk about my team and I not sharing testing information with Rusty and crew. That's not true. I do share. Just last week, I tested on the same track with Rusty. Afterwards, I shared some info with him. I told him I was faster."

Newman has obviously not found a comfortable feel for the track at Daytona. His best finish there is a seventh in 2002, but he has five results of 20th or worse. What's more of an indication of Newman's struggles there is his lack of qualifying dominance. He did start ninth at Daytona in February, but previously started outside the top 20 on four occasions. If you're known as the "Rocket Man," you have to be faster than that on one of NASCAR's fastest tracks.

9. Carl Edwards — "Hot Carl" Edwards, coming off a win at Pocono and a fifth in Michigan, cooled considerably in Sonoma, with a 38th-place finish, two laps down. On lap 69, the No. 99 Office Depot Ford was caught behind a skirmish involving the No. 4 car of P.J. Jones and the No. 45 of Kyle Petty, suffering extensive right side damage.

"That was our downfall right there," says Edwards. "No offense to Petty and P.J. Jones, they were just racing. But what's the original drummer for Led Zeppelin doing racing on a road course? He's qualified to pound the skins, but not to rub sheet metal."

Uh, Carl, you're thinking of John Paul Jones. No worries, though. You're just a little dazed and confused. I know the wreck was a heartbreaker, but you've just got to ramble on to Daytona and regroup.

In Daytona in February, Edwards finished a highly-respectable 12th. With Roush power, and the confidence of being one of People magazine's 2005 Hottest Bachelors, Edwards can expect another top-15 finish.

10. Jeff Gordon — With five of his last points races ending with 30th or worse finishes, Gordon's efforts have been as misguided as Tom Cruise's comments on the psychiatric profession. The No. 24 car has experienced all types of bad luck in his skid, including a transmission failure in Sonoma that ruined his chances after leading the first 32 laps.

"I'm trying everything to break this spell of bad luck," says Gordon. "I'm wearing seven rabbits feet, 11 shamrocks, and I'm about sick of Lucky Charms cereal. You know, maybe opening that umbrella indoors and walking under a ladder while that black cat crossed my path has something to do with it."

Sonoma was Gordon's first chance to break the slump. Daytona is his second. He won the Pepsi 400 from the pole last year, and won there in February. Gordon has slipped to 14th in the points, 414 off the pace and currently out of the Chase. Gordon desperately needs at least a top-10 to get back on track. There's no question he'll qualify for the Chase. What he needs now is momentum.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 1:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Give Henman a Hand, Not a Backhand

I'm sitting drinking a Guinness at a local Wimbledon pub, just got done watching Tim Henman lose another heartbreaker, 8-6 in the fifth set to Russian via California Dimitri Tursunov in the second round at Wimbledon.

Despite a valiant effort, the hearts of England were again saddened and there was even some booing supposedly heard after the match. Actually, someone to my left here just uttered the most disparaging of remarks. Time for another big swig of the pint in front of me.

Poor Tim Henman. I mean that. You have to feel for the guy. Since he first showed signs of promise, he was anointed the savior of British tennis and the citizenry of the monarchy began declaring that he would one day win Wimbledon and take over the throne still held by the legendary Fred Perry. Inevitably, these same citizens would recount stories of how Virgina Wade, late in her career, found a way to win the Big W on its centennial, with the Queen in attendance. Ginny was a special player, and had special talent. It's no wonder that Tim Henman never had a chance.

With all the weight of the UK on his shoulders, Timmy has marched to SW19 every year, and played inspired tennis. Starting with a second round loss to the King of Wimbledon, Pete Sampras, in 1996, Henman has finished past the quarterfinals only once, in 2000. He has been in the semifinals four times (1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002.) The names of those who beat him are the likes of Michael Stich, Sampras, Goran Ivanisovic, and Alberto Martin. All of those are players of the highest quality and three are former champions here.

No one could argue that Tim's tennis skills have ever been quite at that level. In fact, he has played beyond his ability here at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. With more pressure on him then that used to form the Hope Diamond, Tim has stepped up to the plate every year. The poor guy doesn't deserve what the girls at the table behind me are saying about him.

Truth is, while the Brits all want so badly to see him win, the LTA and the powers at Wimbledon have done everything in their power to stop him. Now, I don't think that the LTA and All England seeding committee actually thought Goran Ivanisovic was going to win his historic championship, but wouldn't you know it, in one of the best years and opportunities for Tim, they put Goran into the draw with a wildcard. If they had followed tradition, they would have reserved that wildcard for some low-ranked, never-gonna-win LTA player. Most likely, Tim faces a much easier opponent in his semi, and probably goes on to win. The All England management has only themselves to blame for that one.

I read an article recently about all the changes in the tournament over the past decade. Every single change goes against Tim ever winning the title. First, the grass has been changed from a mixture of rye and red fescue grass to all rye. Then they cut the grass a little shorter. (I'm not an expert, but I'm told by a local greens keeper that the change of grass mixture and shorter cut would probably slow the ball down quite a bit.)

Then, in another ironic twist, Slazenger, the tennis company that sponsors Tim and provides him all his racquets, also provides for the balls at Wimbledon and delivers them two weeks before the tournament begins. The balls, by contract, are packaged in bins, out of their pressurized cans. These balls will lose their liveliness quickly, again slowing the pace of matches more. Now this year, again his sponsor Slazenger introduced a new "optic yellow" ball that makes the ball about a billion times easier to see and track on grass. Advantage: baseliner.

You would figure, if you wanted a player to win, if the UK is so hungry for a homegrown champion, you might do things to assist their game, not detract from it.

Well, now that Tim is gone in the first week, the pressure has shifted to the"New Henman," Andrew Murray of Scotland. Good luck, Andrew, get ready to carry the fate of a tennis nation on your shoulders alone. Oh, and just remember that you are supposed to win Wimbledon someday soon, maybe next year ... hell, they already have renamed "Henman Hill" to "Murray Mountain."

That's it for now. Everyone, please enjoy a safe, happy, and healthy Independence Day holiday.

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 1:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack