Sports Central | Articles and Columns

« June 2008 | Main | August 2008 »

July 31, 2008

ACC Has a Lot to Prove in 2008

Every year, there seems to a conference that becomes the pundits' whipping boy. The fact remains that if they don't play in a conference situated in the southeastern part of the country, they have taken a turn at the critics' whipping post.

Some of the past philosophies include that the Pac-10 couldn't stop opponents from scoring (see Oregon '01, or USC '05), the Big 10 cannot keep up in speed or intensity with the SEC (see the last two BCS championship games, but never mind Michigan beating Florida in the last Capital One Bowl), the Big East is devoid of a "power program," and the Big 12 is full of underachievers.

All conferences begin the season with the mentality that they have something to prove. Inter-conference matchups, as tantalizing as they may seem, often end up in laughers or snoozers because of the obvious superiority of a team from one conference to a team in another. All conferences aside, the one with the most to prove this season is the one that resides along the Atlantic Ocean.

Will football ever make to the next level in the ACC? Make no mistake, basketball is king on the Atlantic Coast, but clearly the move to bring the Big East trio of Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College to the conference over the last three years was a power move to bolster the football pedigree. Sure, having Boston College hockey or Hurricanes baseball is a boost, but I doubt ACC commissioner John Swofford had that in mind to in bringing the three programs over.

Why does the ACC have so much to prove? In the grand scheme of the picture in college football, they haven't mattered in the last eight years. Here's a look why.

BCS Performances Have Left Much to Be Desired

Florida State, which was a BCS mainstay through 2006, played in the first two BCS title games, winning the title in the 2000 Sugar Bowl with a 46-29 win over Virginia Tech. January 4, 2000: that is the first, last, and only time that an ACC team has won BCS bowl game (1-9). Quite an embarrassing for a conference that considers itself among the elite, sometimes getting crushed and outclassed like Maryland in the '02 Orange Bowl by Florida, who was an at-large, and Wake Forest in the 2007 Orange Bowl against Louisville. Add to that the fact that the ACC has never had a second team represented in the BCS as an at-large in a season, and we have an undiversified portfolio. No team since the Seminoles against Oklahoma in the 2001 Orange Bowl has even played in a BCS championship game.

Regular Season Inter-Conferences Power Matchups = Disaster

Last season was a doozy. Remember Virginia Tech's ballyhooed trip to the bayou to face LSU? That game may have set a record for most people asleep by halftime. Florida State's win at Colorado didn't impress many, and even though Maryland pulled off what was a big win at then-No. 10 Rutgers, it was cancelled out by getting destroyed on a Thursday night by West Virginia again, this time in College Park. Virginia held a 14-point lead against Texas Tech in the 2008 Gator Bowl with less than six minutes, only to fall to the Red Raiders 31-28. We can also harken back to Miami getting handled at Louisville two years ago as a friendly reminder. Fear not, maybe Boston College can beat Notre Dame soon, like that's never happened. Wait...

Lack of a Truly Dominant Team

True, the ACC has become better top to bottom since 2001. Florida State ran an impressive streak of nine straight outright or shared conference championships and their dominance during the 1990s and early part of this millennium bought recognition to a powerhouse as an ACC school. Since their decline, three different schools have won the ACC title, while three less than impressive Seminole squads have won the ACC championship, only to fall in their BCS bowl game.

Miami, which had high hopes of winning multiple championships, has failed to win the ACC since joining in 2004. Virginia Tech has won the conference twice, failing in both BCS bids. There hasn't exactly been a team from ACC that has truly made heads turn since King Bobby and 'Noles were a mainstay in the Top 5 at the end of the season polls in the '90s. Some can say the SEC is same way, except they have better quality top to bottom and send the majority of their schools to quality bowls. What motivation is there to go to Charlotte or maybe to San Francisco and be on the same sideline as your opponent? Way to go!

Looking Ahead to 2008

This year with Clemson favored to win the conference, one thing seems for certain. No guarantees should be made on who will win it all. The last four years, the team picked in the preseason media polls failed to live up to expectations. Clemson hasn't exactly been the model of a strong finisher, faltering down the stretch the last couple of seasons after promising starts. Some may point to a more competitive ACC than ever before. That's all good and well, but some may agree that it's better to have a conference with a majority at the elite level than the entirety in mediocrity. You can make the case, however, that a conference is only as strong as its weakest link.

"Duke? Football, you mean?"

The People rest, your Honor.

Hopefully, for commissioner John Swofford's sake, the level of play and dominance can be established from Chestnut Hill to Coral Gables. Besides, for those of us on the East Coast with no "Game Plan" package, ACC football is all we have until primetime. Please, make it a little easier to watch!

Posted by Brian Cox at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)

Top Three Worst Plays in Pro Poker

One way that poker is becoming similar to actual sports, besides its coverage on ESPN and FOX Sports, is the way the poker media, punditry, and fans are elevating certain players and plays to fame, or infamy.

FOX Sports Net's "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" (which used to the worst damn sports show, period, when Tom Arnold was a part of it) has lately been showing themed shows of clips such as "The Top 50 Greatest Plays," "The Top 50 Most Outrageous Moments in Sports," etc., and we are getting to the point where we have enough media around poker tournaments that FOX, who naturally has a spinoff called "The Best Damn Poker Show Period," could have top 50 shows based on poker moments alone.

Just a thought, but does anyone have rights to the British version of the main show? Can I trademark "The Best Damn Sport Show, Full Stop?"

Anyway, below are dissections of what are likely the three most talked-about hands in poker today and, perhaps unsurprisingly, all are notorious by ridiculously bad play on someone's part.

1. BRANDON CANTU TAKES A CHANCE

Cantu is only 27-years-old, but he's already making a legendary name for himself in the poker world for both good and bad. He's one of just a handful of people who have both a World Poker Tour title and a World Series of Poker bracelet, but he's also getting a reputation of something of a douchebag.

For starters, when he won his WPT title, he stiffed the dealers, whom it is customary to tip. He claimed he thought a gratuity for tournament staff was withheld from the prize pool, which is usually the case, but he hasn't looked to make this right now knowing that it wasn't.

Second, and more subtly, he comes off as sort of a immature Corey Feldman-esque character, such as at the 2006 WSOP $1,500 event. If you watch some of those clips, note how he berates people for calling him down light. That'll be important momentarily. Also note the execrable way he sort of passively-aggressively berates the other players; an "oh no, I'm not yelling at you dude, I'm just surprised, that's all" kind of plausible deniability.

Cantu made a deep run in this year's' WSOP main event. With less than 25 players remaining Cantu had an average stack — more chips than Dean Hamrick, at least, but not so much more that he could call an all-in from Hamrick an lose without being crippled. Here's the PokerNews.com write-up:

"Kelly Kim opened for 275,000, Brandon Cantu re-raised to 950,000, and Dean Hamrick moved all in. The crowd let out an "Ooooooooooh!" and got on their feet as the action came back to Kim. Kim let his hand go and it was Cantu's turn to tank. Cantu thought for well over five minutes (emphasis mine) before saying "I call."

Cantu: {10-Spades} {5-Clubs}

Hamrick: {A-Hearts} {A-Clubs}

There was mass disbelief and gasps from the crowd as Cantu rolled over his hand.

The flop was {8-Spades} {7-Clubs} {5-Hearts} and Cantu flopped a pair of fives. The turn was the {8-Diamonds}, a bad card for Cantu as Hamrick made aces up. Cantu paced in back of the table looking resigned to his fate as his entourage called for a five. The river, though, was the {10-Diamonds} and Cantu made two pair, it was no matter — Hamrick's aces and eights were best and he raked in the massive pot.

Cantu was down to $2.4 million after the hand, while Hamrick was up to $5.5 million. Cantu was now the tournament's shortest stack.

Make no mistake, poker newcomers — an important concept in tournament poker are the implied odds from knocking someone out, and if you are getting massive odds to do that, it makes sense to call with any two cards. Let's say you have 100 chips and you're opponent has 1. He puts his lone chip in the table, going all in. You have 72 offsuit. Do you call?

Yes, you should, because although you will likely lose, the small chance of you winning the hand means you knocked a guy out of the tournament, which either moves you up in the money or gets you closer to doing that. If you lose, you now have 99 chips and he has 2.

There's also simple pot odds. If it costs you 100 to enter a pot that's at 900, then you only need to win that pot more than once in 10 times to make the play profitable.

Cantu did not have pot odds and he did not have implied odds to make that call. He had nothing near it, even with his raise. It was a "what the hell, I don't care" move. In the other two notorious poker hands I'm about to dissect, the dunce of the hand was going for a crafty play that had little chance of being correct, but boy would it have looked brilliant if it did.

In Cantu's case, there was no chance of that even happening. If he sucked out and won the hand, he'd be held in even greater contempt for the play than he already is. Short of a family emergency, there's just no reason not to fold that hand.

2. JENNIFER TILLY: I THOUGHT YOU HAD POCKET KINGS

This one occurred on NBC's "Poker After Dark." If you think the amount of celebrities who are into poker means it's an easy game that anyone can master, watch this video, where Jennifer Tilly plays a hand so hilariously terribly that you can see the pros trying to contain their laughter.

If you can't watch the video, it goes down this way: Jennifer Tilly gets dealt JJ and enters a pot with Patrik Antonius, who held 10 8 of hearts. Flop comes 10 J 7 rainbow; Tilly now has top trips and Antonius has middle pair and an inside straight draw. He checks, Tilly bets about 2/3rds of the pot, and Antonius calls.

Turn is a King. Antonius checks, Tilly quickly checks behind.

River is another King, giving Tilly a full house. Antonius checks, and Tilly instantly checks behind and turns over her hand.

Antonius is incredulous. "Full house?! I can't beat that!" and mucks his hand as the table chuckles.

Tilly laughs, too, and offers a defense: "I thought you had pocket kings, I was like..." Then, it seems like she realizes the table is kind of laughing at her and her smile disappears. She reiterates: "I thought you had me pre-flop."

Some players like Daniel Negreanu are excellent at looking at the way a hand unfolded and correctly deducing what their opponent has. Tilly goes one step further, putting Antonius on the last two kings in the deck, essentially calling not just his cards, but the suits.

What's particularly dumb about this declaration is that Antonius did not play his hands like he had kings. He didn't reraise Tilly pre-flop. He didn't re-raise her on the flop with a hypothetical overpair, and checked the turn (hypothetical trips) and river (hypothetical quads).

So she essentially was wagering that Antonius, one of the world's best players, was playing the Trappy McTrapperson rank amateur role, where one just refused to make any bets or raises with a huge hand and hopes their opponent senses weakness and gets froggy. It's not a very profitable play at the high levels of poker, and there's a momentous school of thought that says you should never trap at all.

Still, she at least won the pot, and there were a handful of hands (KK, K10, KJ, K7) that had her beat. That's more that can be said for our final case.

3: JOE HACHEM: YOU GOT 8-5, kid?

The scene was Day 1 of the World Poker Tour season-ending Championship. Again, PokerNews.com:

"The most talked about hand of the day involved an all-in confrontation between Jordan Morgan and Joe Hachem. Morgan (with pocket aces) raised to 700 and was called by three players including Hachem (with 5-3 offsuit) on the button. The flop came A-7-4 and everyone checked. The turn brought a 6, filling Hachem's straight, and Morgan bet out 2,000. It was folded to Hachem who raised to 7,000 and Morgan quickly reraised to 12,000. Hachem put in yet another re-raise to 22,000 and Morgan moved all in for an additional 27,000. Hachem's stack was sitting at roughly 27,000 as well, and he agonized over his decision for quite some time before asking, "You got 8-5, kid?" Eventually, he folded his 5-3 face up, much to the surprise of the table and the crowd that had formed behind him. Morgan tabled his pocket aces and many of the professionals who witnessed it were claiming that Hachem may have made one of the worst folds they had seen in quite some time."

Hachem is a a former WSOP Main Event Champion, and one of the more respected ones of the Internet era at that.

To sum up the hand, after putting a ton of money in the pot, Hachem folded the second best possible hand. Only that 8-5 he called out had him beat.

For Morgan to have that hand, it means he raised from early position with it. Yes, plenty of pros are tricky enough to do that, but it only works if you do it infrequently enough so that your weak holding is disguised and respected by the other players.

That's why even top pros possible range of starting hands are actually fairly predictable: they usually raise strong hands pre-flop and fold weak ones. ESPN would have you believe otherwise, but they really don't get cute much.

Hachem wagered this was one of those times, and that Morgan lucked out and got the nuts.

I'll say this for Hachem: if he was right, just like if Tilly was right, he would have looked like a genius. And that's precisely the kind of glory Hachem was going for. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have folded face up. But he was, and he was wrong, and Morgan showed him and the world that he was wrong, and Hachem deservedly gets the dunce cap for the misbegotten glory shot.

Posted by Kevin Beane at 11:13 AM | Comments (2)

July 30, 2008

Money Down the Toilet: MLB's Worst Contracts

Catcher - Jorge Posada (NYY)

This was a close call with the O's Ramon Hernandez (due $8 million in 2009 and earning a scandalous $7.5 million this year) running Posada really close. What settled the debate was the sheer length of Posada's contract — he's in the first year of a four-year deal worth $52.4 million. Add in that he's currently under the knife, his season is over, has full no-trade protection, and it seems unlikely he'll ever be even an average catcher again and you have one of the worst contracts in baseball.

A lesson learnt for Brian Cashman — there's no room in baseball for sentiment. Posada should have been cut loose last year, despite the fans and local press calling for the Yankees to offer him the four years he wanted.

First Base - Todd Helton (COL)

Here's a good bumper sticker: Todd Helton — killing the Rockies since 2003. Nine years, $141 million and change — for a singles hitter. Helton is a good disciplined hitter and a thorough professional, but he's owed the best part of $60 million including his 2012 buyout and has full no-trade protection. No amount of clubhouse presence is worth that.

Second Base - Julio Lugo (BOS)

Okay, he doesn't actually play 2B for the Sawx, but as there's a lot of competition for worst shortstop contract he's moving over. He's probably a less-bad second bagger than he is shortstop, anyhow.

Lugo was supposed to be the answer at SS after the revolving door years in Fenway. Instead, he's an untradeable albatross and has been beaten out by the Alex Cora/Jed Lowrie tandem. For the $17 million he's earned by the season's end, Lugo has returned a season of .294 OBP hitting and been demoted to the bottom of the lineup, when he's actually healthy or not riding pine. Still owed $18 million plus an unlikely $9 million vesting option.

Third Base - Eric Chavez (OAK)

It's too easy to pick on A-Rod here with his ludicrous deal that pays him $25 million a year or so until he's old enough to need his food mashed and can't remember his own name. The fact is A-Rod puts up numbers and bums on seats.

A much worse contract is that of Eric Chavez of the (normally) fiscally-prudent A's. Chavez was a decent player a few years ago, but he's played 113 games since the start of the 2007 season and returned 17 home runs and 60 RBIs. He can't stay off the DL and is still owed $26 million following this year. If he ever shows he can a) stay healthy and b) hit above .500 SLG, he might be moveable, but it's a long shot.

Shortstop - Derek Jeter (NYY)

Wow, there's some serious competition here. Exhibit A is Jack Wilson of Pittsburgh, he of the career .375 SLG percentage and still owed almost $15 million through 2009. Exhibit B is 32-year-old Michael Young of Texas, who's owed $80 million through 2013 despite a serious decline in his numbers since 2005. The winner, however, is legendary Yankee captain and all-round sporting icon Derek Jeter, New York demi-god.

Jeter is owed $61 million for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 seasons. His OBP, SLG, and OPS have seriously declined since 2005 to such an extent that all three are at their lowest point since he first made the team full-time in 1996. His defense is dreadful. He hits into rally-killing double plays for fun. The clamor for another contract that sees him end his career in a Yankee uniform will start next year, as it did for Posada and Mariano Rivera last year. Brain Cashman should ignore it.

Outfield - Juan Pierre (LAD), Aaron Rowand (LAA), Vernon Wells (TOR), Gary Matthews, Jr. (LAA)

The Dodgers seem to have cornered the market in bad contracts (Pierre, Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt) but Juan Pierre's is easily the worst. It runs until 2011, pays him $28.5 million for the next three years on top of the $15.5 million he's already earned. All this for a guy who's not worth a starting spot, can't throw, has no power (career .371 SLG), gets caught stealing more times than one-legged kleptomaniac, and gets on base at the same rate as Kelly Shoppach, Cleveland's mighty backup catcher.

Finding a bat to replace Barry Bonds isn't easy. Brian Sabean, not one of the games' brighter GMs, decided to turn to a man who'd never drove in 100 runs, had two seasons of 25-plus homers on his resume (both in hitter-friendly parks in Chicago and Philadelphia) and was an big injury risk.

To compound the error, Sabean, in a moment presumably clouded by alcohol, offered Aaron Rowand a five-year deal worth $60 million. He's a good defensive outfielder and an average hitter. $12 million a year is a lot to pay for that.

Vernon Wells can hit. He plays decent defense. He's a good guy. He also earns a heck of a lot of money — $126 million to be exact over the next seven years. Consider these numbers: 2011 $23 million: 2012, 2013, and 2014 — $21 million per year for a guy who will be 33-, 34-, and 35-years-old, respectively. He's not even 30 yet and can't stay healthy. This is the ultimate in albatross contracts for a franchise that simply can't afford them.

There are so many bad outfield contracts I added a fourth guy, which is appropriate as Gary Matthews, Jr. has the look of a bench player already, even though he's not even two years into a five-year, $50 million dollar deal.

Matthews, Jr. earned his deal on the strength of a few highlight-reel defensive plays in Texas, where he was an average (at best) hitter in a hitter-friendly ballpark. He's never hit 20 homers in a season, or drove in 100 runs. His career best SLG percentage is .495. He doesn't steal bases and has only hit over .300 once. His career OPS is .745. The only thing above average about this guy is his contract.

Designated Hitter - Travis Hafner (CLE)

He can't field. He can't stay healthy, despite hardly ever playing a position and only has to run the bases around 40% of the time. He can rake and owns a fantastic career OPS of .932, even with one down year on his resume.

Hafner is the ultimate conundrum. You don't want to lose him because he's so good, but you know he's fragile and you've heard the rumors of a "supplementary lifestyle." I can empathize with Mark Schapiro on the four-year, $57 million deal he gave Hafner. But it's not going to work out on the basis of his disastrous 2008. He's languishing on the 60-day DL and a lot of experts and scouts suspect this could be a regular gig. It's a shame because the guy's a talent.

Starting Pitching - Barry Zito (SF), Jeremy Bonderman (DET), Dontrelle Willis (DET), Carlos Silva (MIN)

There can be no other place to begin other than back in beautiful San Francisco, home of great architecture, a beautiful waterfront, a spectacular bridge, and Brian Sabean, our heroic drunken GM, prone to costly errors of judgment on a scale unimaginable even by Steve Phillips.

Barry Zito (SF) was a great pitcher in Oakland in 2002. He had a good year in 2003. Then he had three mediocre years and became a free agent. Sensible GMs, even though they craved lefty starting pitching, steered well clear of Barry and his agent Scott Boras, as they were asking for at least a six-year deal. Sober GMs know that long-term deals for pitching rarely work out well.

Fearless Brian knew that this was weak-kneed defeatism. He threw caution to the wind, knowing Barry Bonds' deal wasn't going to be renewed, so he had cash to (literally) burn, and blew away the (limited) opposition with a mind-boggling seven-year, $126 million contract that even Boras couldn't believe.

In one foul swoop, Denny Neagle, Mike Hampton, and Carl Pavano were consigned to the history books. This was the worst, most spectacularly stupid contract in baseball history.

Barry Zito LHP is the proud owner of a 5.80 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. Brian Sabean is said to be considering trading Matt Cain for Juan Pierre when he checks out of the Betty Ford clinic.

Then there's Jeremy Bonderman (DET). RHP has always been what horseracing folk call a "talking horse." He's always on the verge of a great season. He's a 220-inning strikeout machine waiting to happen. He's a Cy Young winner one day, the stopper to-be at the head of the rotation, the soon-to-be intimidator that posts a sub-3.00 ERA.

The only problem is he's been in the league for six seasons and has never posted a sub-4.00 ERA for a full season. His career WHIP is a below average 1.39. Hitters aren't really intimidated by him — his career BAA is .268. He takes one step forward then follows it with two steps back. He has talent, but can't harness it, so much so that rumors of some of the front office being in favor of moving him in 2007 surfaced. He's owed $25 million over the next two years and has been paid $8.5 million for a wasted 2008.

Next is Dontrelle Willis (FL). Three years for $29 million dollars from 2008-2010 looked good if you ignore Dontrelle's disastrous 2007 in Florida. GM Dave Dombrowski chose to ignore a 200 IP, 5.17 ERA season in which Willis appeared to completely lose the little control of the strike zone he possessed.

Dombrowski is regretting that mistake to the tune of $22 million over the next two years. Willis is at Class A Lakeland and went a miserable 4.1 innings on Saturday. He has talent, but his mechanics are extremely suspect, his control has never been anything other than mediocre, and his peripherals have declined every year since 2005 (K/BB down, BB/9 up, H/9 up).

Finally, there's Carlos Silva (SEA). Bill Bavasi was finally fired in June as Mariners GM following a series of Sabean-esque blunders that left the season in the toilet by May. Not content with offering Miguel Batista a ridiculous deal (see below), he waved $48 million under Carlos Silva's nose for four years of less than average pitching.

Silva has one supposed good point — he doesn't walk many batters. That's primarily because batters find it so easy to hit him they don't need to wait for a walk to get on base. His career BAA is .301. He once walked a meager 9 batters in 188 IP and has made a career out of that stat. His current ERA is 5.62 and he's managed 4 wins. In the next three years, Silva will earn $35 million while the Seattle faithful boo lustily.

Relief Pitching - Miguel Batista (SEA)

Not much to write home about here except failed reliever, failed starter turned failed reliever again Miguel Batista in Seattle. He's due $18 million for 2008 and 2009, but can't hold a rotation spot on a very poor team. He can't get anyone out from the 'pen and got kicked out the rotation in June when sporting an ERA over 6.00. An outing in July against Cleveland summed up his season — 2 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 8 ER, and 1 HR.

Posted by Mike Round at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)

NFL Rookies 101: DeSean Jackson

Also see: NFL Rookies 101: Jerod Mayo

DeSean Jackson was born in December of 1986 in Long Beach, California. After a high school career that ended with him being generally regarded as one of the top receiving prospects in the nation, Jackson capped off his pre-college days by winning the high school graduate All-American Bowl's MVP award. Many people thought he would go to the juggernaut that is USC, but Jackson surprised everyone when he declared he would be playing his college ball at the University of California instead.

Jackson, who is 5'10" and 175 pounds, is known for his speed. He is a quick, agile receiver whose game breaking threat made him one of the most exciting athletes to watch in college football. Despite a rookie season where he lived up to expectations, followed by a sophomore campaign in which he played even better, Jackson's junior season was marred by consistent injuries that could be said to have hindered his play all year.

Regardless, DeSean's career at Cal was one to be envied. He finished with 162 receptions for 2,423 yards and 22 touchdowns. Suffice to say, he was a prime target of many pro football teams before the draft.

The 2008 NFL Draft was an enigma. Despite having perhaps one of the most loaded receiving classes of this decade, not a single WR was taken until the second round. Once in the second round, however, it was a feeding frenzy, with 10 receivers being taken before the start of the third. Out of everyone except perhaps Limas Sweed, Jackson landed himself in a very good position with the team who drafted him.

Although the Eagles still don't have a prototypical number one receiver, they do have a game-changing speedster for both their offensive and kick returning units in Jackson. Once he matures into his role and learns the ropes, Jackson and running back Brian Westbrook together on the same field should succeed in giving defensive coordinators nightmares.

Position wise, Jackson should play the 2008 season as either the third or fourth wide receiver on the depth chart, depending on how fast he acclimates to everything thrown at him. It's common knowledge that the wide receiving position is second only to the quarterback in regards to difficulty of the rookie season.

With everyone running faster, hitting harder and cornerbacks now actually able to play defense, it's a tough first year and one that not many rookies excel at.

The important thing is that Jackson is in an offense that can take the attention away from him and utilize his unique talents in situations built for him to succeed. Not to mention, he is the odds-on favorite to return both kicks and punts and that will be a great opportunity for him to get used to how much faster the pro game is from the college one. It also should get him used to being hit and being hit hard. Very hard.

Although Jackson is small, he makes up for it by being both shifty and hard to tackle. Whatever the reason is of why he didn't bulk up during college is, the pro game tends to succeed where college could not. Even if he didn't put on any weight, DeSean would still have the tools to succeed, despite being at a disadvantage due to his size.

Should he bulk up a bit, however, he could take his game to another level due to all the extra things he could do with a bigger frame. It's all common sense, yes, but it's definitely something to keep your eye on.

Actually, just do yourself a favor and keep your eye on this kid's career as a whole. He's going to be good.

Posted by Josh Galligan at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)

July 29, 2008

USA Olympic Basketball: Doomed?

Sixteen years ago, I was a part of history.

I was too young to remember the 1988 Olympics, which was the year the USA basketball team earned a bronze medal, the first non-gold since 1972.

I do, however, vividly remember the Barcelona Olympics. I watched every press conference, every available practice, and every game. I relished every moment of it. At just 12-years-old, I had a firm grip on what I was witnessing — history.

To this day, I believe "The Dream Team" was the best group of athletes ever assembled. Throw out Christian Laettner, the only collegiate athlete, and every member of the first professional Olympic team will enter the Hall of Fame. There was no weak link. There was no area of concern.

And when the team took to the court, it showed.

The Americans beat the competition by an average margin of 43.8 points. USA never used a timeout. It was the most amazing display of basketball I had every seen. The "Dream Team" worked cohesively from the first tip to the "Nike players" draping flags over the Reebok logo.

Since then, the skill level of the National Basketball Association declined and the world got better. But USA refused to change. Too stubborn to realize highlights were ruining the game. When Vince Carter jumped over 7'2" Frederic Weis, it was a sign of our demise.

We barely got through 2000 with the gold and it has been uphill ever since.

Now we have a team self-dubbed "The Redeem Team."

But what is so different about this team than 2004 or 2006? Kobe Bryant?

How many players can shoot the mid-range jumper? How many can consistently drain the three-point shot?

What will prevent the competition from packing it in the zone and forcing the USA to bomb away from the outside, nullifying America's biggest asset — the drive?

For as much that has been publicized regarding the selection process and the commitment by these American members, they fail to realize what enabled the first professional Olympic participants: eliminating weaknesses.

The USA Selection Committee was supposed to do that. They were supposed to stay away from selecting an all-star team, but rather assemble a team. They failed.

The "Redeem Team" consists of three point guards (Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Deron Williams), three shooting guards (Dwyane Wade, Bryant, Michael Redd), three small forwards (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince) and three post players (Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard).

It seems for a team that was not supposed to look like an all-star team it sure does smell like an all-star team.

After 2006, the shortcomings were significant. The USA shot 37 percent from beyond the arc and 58 percent from inside. Everyone was quick to blame it on the Americans' lack of familiarity with each other, and the opposition's chemistry. The problem is not so much the chemistry as it is our style of play.

In USA's 2006 loss to Greece, Theodoros Papaloukas said, "I think this is the NBA, one against five," Papaloukas said. "It's different rules in the worlds. It's hard for one team, if they have so many big players, in one month to adapt to their new roles. All these players are big stars, but you have to do small different things. I think that was the difference: In our team, everybody knew what they had to do exactly."

That was the difference with the "Dream Team," as well. Every member of that team knew how to play basketball the right way. Watch the highlights, everyone made the extra pass and played exceptional team ball. The players of yesteryear were better basketball players.

This team has one pure shooter, Michael Redd and one true center, Dwight Howard (if healthy). How is this a team? Who, besides Redd, will nail the dagger? According to reports, Bryant will be the Americans' lockdown defender, but when the team is in a rut, what will stop him from doing what he did in the NBA Finals and completely taking everyone else out of the game by trying to take the game over, regardless of the consequences? Who is the dirt guy? The player who will do all the dirty stuff, dive for balls, tangle it up, stick his nose in everything. I don't necessarily agree this is the best way to field an Olympic team, but if you're going to select a "team" and not an all-star team, shouldn't these things be on the agenda? Instead, we have a quasi-all-star team. Kobe Bryant and Tayshaun Prince, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd.

If this team wants to be successful, they have to abandon everything that works in the NBA and find the fundamentals they learned when they first picked up a basketball. Throw out the slash and jam, find the open man. Throw out the one-on-five, take advantage of the three-on-one. If you're given an open jumper, don't pass it up for a dunk attempt and a possible charge, shoot the J.

I doubt they will be able to change their game and it's for this reason we should set ourselves up for disappointment.

I love basketball, I love America, but it troubles me that we can't put together a team able to win on the international level. I don't care if the Greeks have been playing together for five years and are the Greek all-stars, this is America, this is our game. How is it possible with all of the barn door basketball hoops, concrete jungle blacktops, and gym cathedrals we not have the players to walk away with a title? Yes, the international game is better, but this is still America's game. America still provides the newest inventive forms of offense and defense, so why does it all crumble in world play?

This team can do it, I just don't think they will. And until we can find a way to put together a team, or change the way America learns the game, we will continue to be the squad coming up just short and the country that may start looking at that 1992 team as if it truly was a dream.

Posted by Wailele Sallas at 11:37 AM | Comments (6)

NFL '08 Predictions: AFC North

Also see: NFL '08 Predictions: NFC North | NFC West | NFC East | NFC South

When I was growing up, the AFC Central was by far my favorite division. All four teams were so topsy-turvy and ridiculous, I just loved it. I remember in particular 1989 when the Cincinnati Bengals, defending AFC champions, went 5-1 in the division and did not make the playoffs, but the Pittsburgh Steelers went 1-5 in the division and made it. Where else could that happen but in the AFC Central?

Well, the Houston Oilers are gone and the AFC North is comprised of the same teams with the Baltimore Ravens added in there (or the Cleveland Browns added in, however you wish to look at it). Needless to say, expect another topsy-turvy year in 2008.

Cleveland Browns

I understand that perhaps this is showcasing a bit of overconfidence in the Browns, but they looked great last season and very rarely did they beat themselves. The Browns have made it clear thus far that Derek Anderson is their quarterback. And Brady Quinn as a backup is probably one of the top backups in the league at this point in time. I'm slightly surprised there were no moves made in the offseason to get either Quinn or Anderson. Both would be a pretty solid improvement at starter for the Bears, Ravens, and Falcons and a great future plan for the Lions, Buccaneers, and Eagles.

The Browns have a difficult schedule. And I have a feeling the final game against Pittsburgh is going to be a memorable game where both teams have something on the line. Once again, we'll see who prevails, the Dog Pound or the Steel Curtain.

Prediction: 12-4

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have the most difficult schedule in all of football in 2008. They see New England and Dallas back to back in Weeks 13 and 14, right when a team really needs to get hot and make sure everything is in place for the playoffs. Big Ben Roethlisberger has proven himself as a guy who can just plain win. Willie Parker is a huge talent, while his health seems to remain a concern at this point. Rashard Mendenhall was a great pick for the Steelers, as well. He'll nicely complement Parker in the backfield.

The Steelers gained some new breath under Mike Tomlin and I think it is pretty clear that Tomlin is among the next generation of great head coaches in the NFL. I fully expect Tomlin to become as great as Bill Parcells, Bill Walsh, or Joe Gibbs. And he will be the second African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl.

Prediction: 11-5

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are an anomaly. They are an enigma, a mystery wrapped inside a riddle. The fact that they have no clue who their quarterback will be this season and that they made little effort to figure that out for certain in the offseason is quite scary to me. Head coach John Harbaugh describes this first week as "fun." Yikes, how does that guy sleep at night? My blood pressure would be through the roof if I was in his shoes. The Ravens' once-stellar defense is aging and slowing with each passing year. They're no longer the contenders in the division, they're the spoilers.

Prediction: 7-9

Cincinnati Bengals

I was hard on the Bengals, but their continued lack of growth and immaturity has got to hit rock-bottom sometime. Rudi Johnson was a disappointment last season with only one 100-yard game (that in the ridiculous 51-45 loss to the Browns in Week 2) and he was plagued by injury. His lack of production helped send the Bengals to a dismal 7-9 instead of into the playoffs. Kenny Watson picked up a lot of the slack, but it remains to be seen if he's a feature NFL back.

The biggest problem for the Bengals is defense. The entire team in 2007 recorded a worthless 22 sacks, a league low. And their leader in tackles for the past two seasons, Landon Johnson, is now a member of the Carolina Panthers. The Bengals are going to need some miracles on defense to keep the score down, or Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh better be ready to score 40+ points a game. But that won't be possible if those three don't get along better in the future.

Prediction: 4-12

Posted by Andrew Jones at 11:18 AM | Comments (1)

July 28, 2008

Manny Being ... Traded?

Any minute now, the defending world champions and current AL juggernaut Boston Red Sox could very quickly see their hopes for a repeat championship go up in flames. That's because their most robust and reliable hitter, a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and World Series MVP in 2004, wants out once again.

In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Ramirez said, "If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I would not object. If they could get a trade, I'd approve it. If they can't trade me, then they will have to inform me by the end of the season that they won't use the options and we'll go separate ways ... I don't have any preferences. I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball." Ramirez also told the Associated Press, "I'm tired of them, they're tired of me."

First off, you have to love that line about Iraq. Certainly that belongs in that ever-lengthening Manny-Being-Manny pantheon of infamous incidents. Way to show respect for your fellow man.

Now, moving on, when Terrell Owens runs his mouth, causes distractions, and acts zany en route to an organization throwing up their arms in both disgust and surrender and finally looking to trade or release him, few are surprised.

That's partially because Terrell Owens, for all his talent, has yet to lead a team through the playoffs to the Super Bowl or win one. For all the trouble Owens has caused his respective teams, a few titles would have been worth every aggravating quote, touchdown celebration, and media circus Owens could possibly throw at them.

Manny Ramirez, perhaps the closest thing to Owens' baseball equivalent, is different simply because he has two rings. And yet every year or two, we arrive at this same story. That crazy, dreadlocked, man-child with the killer swing wants to leave town again, and the Red Sox front office may well be tempted to pull the trigger and rid themselves of this problem once and for all.

If you remember, this almost happened prior to the 2004 season. Manny Ramirez was also unhappy then and so the Red Sox put him on waivers for any team to claim. No one wanted to take on his massive contract and his antics in the name of extra base hits and walk-off home runs. Manny promptly came back and ended Boston's suffocating 86-year curse.

After the end of the '05 season, Manny demanded a trade, threatening to not show up for spring training if he wasn't. The Mets and Orioles were reportedly interested, but once again, nothing happened, and Manny changed his mind. Two years worth of more monster numbers later, the Red Sox win again with Manny being as indispensable as ever.

And still here we are, for a third time. Manny wants out and the Sox are tempted to pull the trigger, despite the heat of a tense pennant race and an even tenser rivalry with the suddenly red-hot Yankees. Currently, the Red Sox are in the wild card spot and only one game out of first place in the AL East. Almost always it's the teams in last place that are looking to deal the Manny Ramirezes of the world at the trading deadline.

While the possibility exists for a mind-blowing midseason trade that may be quite difficult to pull off considering how much other teams may have to part with in order for Boston to get equal value, Ramirez also has a one-year option on his contract for 2009 which the team can choose whether or not to pickup. This may be a more sensible option than the knee-jerk reaction of a trade, yet it still remains much less sensible than most of the things on Manny's personal career blooper reel.

From my personal standpoint, at least the practical Yankee fan in me would love to see Manny go; he could stop tormenting the pinstripes and take his act somewhere far away, perhaps in the National League and let the Yankees climb back up the top of the standings once again.

Yet the sensible baseball fan in me cries out that no organization should be foolish enough to let go of a hitter this great, this much a part of their identity while the team is in the midst of a multi-title run and still competing for more, no matter how many first basemen or traveling secretaries he runs over in the process.

And finally, after watching the Red Sox win two of the last four titles while the Yankees have lost each of their last four playoff series, these Yankees have some amends to make, and some scores to settle with Boston. Avenging those past defeats wouldn't be the same without overcoming the threat of Manny, ever dangerous, in the cleanup spot, with the game, or perhaps the 2008 ALCS, on the line.

If a deal gets done, we may very well see a shift in the balance of power in the AL East. However, since we have all seen this movie before, I'm willing to venture a guess that the Manny-Being-Manny show in Boston still isn't going anywhere for a while.

Posted by Bill Hazell at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)

Does Anyone Care About Favre Anymore?

Brett Favre has accomplished a lot of things: over 61,000 career-passing yards, 442 regular season touchdowns, 5,377 completed passes, one Super Bowl ring...

...and the ability to make me despise one of the best quarterbacks of my generation.

For a gunslinger, Favre does a lot of wavering back and forth. For the past couple of years, it was between retirement and leading the Packers for another season. As of late, the Gulfport, Mississippi native has thrown into the mix that he wants to keep playing, regardless of the team he'd be commanding down the field.

He's been throwing hissy-fit interviews and venting frustrations on national television and the sports world has eaten it up. FOX News sought after an exclusive interview with Favre and aired an overhyped, nothing-new, two-part "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" on July 14th and 15th.

The NFL Network has even given way to the BFL Network (Brett Favre Love Network). They're hosting a "32 reasons in 32 days why he should come back" followed by "32 reasons in 32 days why he shouldn't."

My only question is: do we truly care this much about Favre? Is the media reporting on Favre this much because we really care to listen, or does the media only think we care because it's all over every other news outlet?

Because of the exorbitant amount of love being given to Favre from national outlets, Favre Madness is trickling down into the local and regional newspapers and Internet sites as dozens of headlines are popping up every day chronicling this ridiculous saga. I read headlines such as "Jets receive permission to talk with Favre, ESPN says" and "Bucs have permission to talk with Favre, too" and all I can think is that this stuff is backpage material, people. An NFL teams gaining permission to talk to a player is of fourth or fifth-page importance.

For any team wishing to take on Favre's three-year, $39 million contract, I dare you to watch that three-hour breakdown I like to call the 2008 NFC Championship Game? Favre looked old and cold. A favorite sportswriter of mine always said: "If you're not getting younger, you're getting older."

Teams like the Cardinals, Vikings, and Steelers — teams that Favre could fit in — have no use for a quarterback who is past his prime and carries a small salary of what you could be paying six or seven players.

Favre is a smart man; he knows what he is doing in wanting to come back and make the rest of his money. And that's all it is. It's about the money. There's nothing wrong with that, but stop playing the "I'm frustrated with Packers management" card, Brett. You weren't getting Randy Moss last year. You weren't even close. He was going to the Patriots and even took a pay cut to do it.

I have to believe No. 4 cannot be effective anymore, though some will say he is more competitive than ever now.

Cut him, clear this out of Aaron Rodgers' head, and move on, Green Bay.

Posted by Ryan Day at 11:59 AM | Comments (2)

July 25, 2008

Why James Posey Proves That I've Gone Soft

Maybe I'm just getting soft in my old age.

Back in the day, I vilified players when they left the local teams for greener pastures.

When Ty Law skipped town, he ended up becoming the butt-end of hundreds of "a man's got to feed his family" jokes.

When Johnny "Judas" Damon skipped town for the hated Yankees and a few million extra dollars, he went from the Red Sox' baseball Jesus to the greediest, scumbag to ever wear a Red Sox uniform.

And he throws like a girl.

Even class acts like Curtis Martin didn't escape my wrath. Here you had a player who loved playing for Parcells, hated Pete Carroll as much as I did, and reportedly didn't have many friends in New England.

Add that to the fact that he was low-balled by the Patriots during contract negotiations and he had every reason to leave — I just didn't care. I'm a New England Patriots fan, so he became the lowest form of life as soon as he was announced as a New York Jet.

Which brings me to the present.

James Posey was one of my favorite Boston Celtics. He wasn't the best player on the team. He wasn't the best defender on the team. He wasn't the best three-point shooter on the team.

Frankly, there was nothing spectacular about James Posey. Except that he made plays. He was the definition of clutch. The player who remained invisible until the exact moment that you needed something big to happen.

He was the Robert Horry of the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.

The Celtics offered him a fair contract. The Celtics believed, and rightfully so, that a player of his caliber deserved a two-year contract at the mid-level exemption.

Posey believed that he was worth four years.

The Celtics tried to meet him in the middle and offered three, but Posey didn't budge. He made no bones about the fact that he wanted to stay in Boston, but on his own terms. The Celtics made no bones about the fact that they wanted him back, but on their own terms.

In the end, the Hornets were willing to give him the four years he was looking for. He took the money, he took the extra year, and he left Boston to go play with CP3.

I should be angry. If this were the '90s, I would have crucified him. I'd have lumped him in with every other player that did me and the rest of New England wrong.

But for reasons I can't explain, I'm not angry.

James Posey will go down as a key part of the Celtics' 17th championship. He'll always be loved in Boston. He'll come back next season and get a rousing standing ovation. And I'll be right there with the rest of the Celtics' faithful cheering wildly.

It's taken me thirty years to realize this, but sometimes a player can leave a team and there are no bad guys.

Would I have liked to see James Posey on the 2008-09 Celtics? Absolutely. But I'm happy for him that he was able to get the contract he wanted.

I'm happy for the Celtics that they didn't overpay for a crucial but not irreplaceable part of their championship team.

I'm happy that the last memory I'll have of James Posey in a Celtics' uniform is him draining three-pointers against the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

I'm happy that he'll get to play with a great player like CP3. I'm even happy for the city of New Orleans, who just got themselves one heck of a clutch basketball player.

Instead of getting mad at the Celtics for not getting a contract done, or at Posey for jumping to the highest bidder, I'm just grateful that I got to root for him in a Celtics' uniform last year.

Instead of calling him names, I just want to thank him for helping bring banner number 17 to the fake Boston Garden.

Like I said, maybe I'm getting soft in my old age.

SeanMC is a senior writer for Bleacher Report and writes a column for Sports Central every other Thursday. You can read more articles by SeanMC on his blog.

Posted by Sean Crowe at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)

U.S. Open Series, Who Cares?

A few years ago, in what seemed like a brilliant stroke of genius, Arlan Kantarian and the USTA invested in several U.S. summer tournaments leading up to the U.S. Open and created the "U.S. Open Series." Hailed as something to bring attention and excitement to the summer U.S. tennis tour culminating with the U.S. Open, it was meant to build anticipation of great tennis in New York and to attract the biggest names to play in these smaller tournaments.

It seemed to work for a couple of years. The big prize for participating in the series was that the winner of the U.S. Open could potentially double their prize money. In the series' existence, only twice has that happened. Kim Clijsters walked away in 2005 with a $2.2M dollar check and Roger Federer captured a record $2.4M payout last year. Truthfully, even though it was a big monetary win, all the headlines read were that they won a record payout. Not why the payout was so large.

It's 2008. As far as I can tell, just about nobody even knows that the U.S. Open series is ongoing. Yes, ESPN has been providing some tennis coverage. There are commercials here and there. But the television coverage isn't the best. The WTA events will not even be broadcast from the beginning of August until the Pilot Pen.

If you look at the draws for these tournaments in the series, most of the top-10 players are not in the draws or the draws are extremely sparse of top players. With the Olympics just a few days away, many of the top players are taking a rest and gearing for Beijing. I saw just yesterday that Serena Williams is hurt, but will take some time and will be playing for gold in China. Last I looked, the Olympics doesn't get you U.S. Open Series points, so that means that for the most part, the top players, the ones most likely to do well at the Open, will not be gaining series points.

Basically, at least in 2008, the U.S. Open series is irrelevant. Just look at the leaders at this point:

For the men (in order): Giles Simon, Dmitry Tursunov, James Blake, Sam Querrey, Paul Capdeville, Tommy Haas, Yen-Hsun Lu, and Bobby Reynolds.

For the women: Aleksandra Wozniak, Marion Bartoli, Ai Sugiyama, Serena Williams, Anna Chakvetadze, Patty Schnyder, and Samantha Stosur.

While Serena probably has the best shot of winning the U.S. Open of all the series leaders, with her injury and the fact she won't be earning points while at the Olympics she won't win the series. You'd be hard-pressed to tell anyone that Giles Simon or Aleksandra Wozniak will be holding trophies in September, so even if they win the U.S. Open series, who cares?

Tennis as a professional sport just saw a great Wimbledon final. You can't really blame problems with the television coverage, as NBC really did keep going back to the Rafael Nadal/Roger Federer final and the weather breaks were long and hard to predict. I missed the third set completely just driving a few miles away to join a mate to see the rest possibly in HD. I had a deadline to meet for another project, so I almost missed the final games of the final set because it looked like there would be a postponement till Monday.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the only tennis tournaments that truly matter to the sports watching public at large are the big four. The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. If there continue to be great rivalries and great matches like we saw this year at the All England Club, people and reporters will flock in record numbers to the U.S. Open at the end of August. Let's hope that Roger Federer picks himself up after a tough grass court loss, let's hope Raphael Nadal is healthy after killing himself to win Olympic gold, let's hope Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and the Williams sisters survive China and all come into the Open firing on all cylinders.

I'm turning my tennis TV off now. I'll turn it back on around the 25th of August. You can e-mail me the names of the U.S. Open series winners.

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 11:09 AM | Comments (1)

July 23, 2008

A New Open Era

The British Open had everything that one could ever hope for in a major championship, including an ending in which the best player was crowned champion golfer of the year. Padraig Harrington became the second consecutive man to go back-to-back in the Open Championship. Tiger Woods last completed the task two years ago by winning first at St. Andrew's in 2005 and then again at Royal Aberdeen (Hoylake) in 2006.

Harrington's two wins are completely juxtaposed. His first win was in a playoff over Sergio Garcia that he may very well have backed into by fate. His most recent triumph was completed in most impressive fashion by four over Ian Poulter in incredibly difficult conditions.

Winning two British Opens puts Harrington into some incredibly select company. He became the 26th man to win multiple Opens and the 15th in the modern era to complete the feat. Interestingly enough, he ties Greg Norman (and others) as having two Open victories by beating the Great White Shark on his honeymoon attempt to moonlight as a professional golfer.

Paddy is the only man of Irish descent to win multiple Open Championships, placing him into the pantheon of Ireland. The victory for him is incredibly meaningful for that reason alone. There still may be additional reasons why this victory is meaningful to the Irishman's career, too.

Tiger Woods will be out for the remainder of this season and may very well not come back until the Masters next year. Given that, the expectation is that the field will be wide open for the next two majors. But Padraig Harrington's victory may wind up giving him the edge going into the remainder of the Tigerless majors.

The PGA Championship this year will be held at Oakland Hills outside of Detroit. The last time that Padraig Harrington was there, he and the European Ryder Cup team completed the greatest rout in the series' history. Harrington was a critical part of that victory, going 4-1-0 in five matches and helping lead the European charge. Given his favorable and limited history at Oakland Hills — a place that has not held a major in 12 years (1996 U.S. Open) — Harrington can only be considered a favorite for that title.

Harrington will again be a favorite in a Tigerless Masters. He has performed very well, and consistently, in his starts at Augusta National. Having played in the event every year since 2000, Paddy has three top-10 finishes and two top-fives — one being a fifth-place finish this year.

Perhaps the searching for a challenger for Tiger Woods has been in all the wrong places. Immediately after Woods' second surgery of the year ended his season, Kenny Perry went on a winning tear. He won two of three events in which he played after the U.S. Open. But, at almost 48-years-old, it would be incredibly unlikely that Perry would continue to go on the Ryder Cup inspired streak he has seen this summer.

Shortly thereafter, eyes turned to Anthony Kim as the future of the sport. Earlier in the season, he had a victory at Quail Hollow in the Wachovia Championship — an event Woods has won on a course he loves. Kim then later went on to win the AT&T National, the event hosted by Tiger Woods. The Woods connection to both of those events compelled the media and some players to declare Kim as the kid who could take on Tiger. The theory was that Kim had the naivety and lack of experience on Tour to be able to brush off the pressure applied by Woods to his opponents and defeat him on strong talent.

With Kim's top-10 finish at the Open Championship, that theory may still prove to be true one day. In the interim, though, Padraig Harrington appears to be well positioned to capitalize on his Open triumph and add to a growing major championship trophy case.

Posted by Ryan Ballengee at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)

July 22, 2008

Who's Really the SEC's Worst?

SEC Media Days start this Wednesday, and there will be media swarming like ants at a picnic, grabbing any precious seconds they can from a who's who list of coaches this year.

Along with the general football questions, though, so many questions, based in the purest mode of attack, have been thrown this past year and will resume again up on the second floor of Birmingham's Wynfrey Hotel.

Last year, Nick Saban was the hero/villain of the show. Sure, Saban got some heat from the fact that he said in public that he wasn't taking the Alabama job, and then promptly took it. Of course, this year, he'll be the local hero and crown prince of the ball. This is Birmingham, after all.

They'll poke at Steve Spurrier for more famous lines and pressure him about winning a SEC crown at South Carolina. They'll throw the heat on Les Miles to repeat at LSU, and at Phil Fulmer to see if Tennessee can break their latest BCS drought, and they'll key on Mark Richt, given the preseason hype for his Georgia Bulldogs. And if you want the safest bet, bet on Richt being one of the most well-liked coaches from the media standpoint.

However, this might all pale to the drama that new Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, as well as former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, who now leads the Ole Miss Rebels.

Chances are, Petrino will take tons of heat. After all, he was ESPN's whipping boy all last winter, to the point where one had to ask if Arthur Blank was the newest owner of the network. Meanwhile, Nutt, who has been given the red carpet treatment in Oxford, will receive a couple of hardballs, but nothing too serious.

I say, with all due respect, it should be the exact opposite.

That's right, I'm defending Petrino. Let's face it, he got into a situation in Atlanta that turned out to be much, much different than what was told to him, so he took a huge pay cut to go back to college football, where he could better direct operations and foster much better relationships with players.

Let's face it ... was anyone really sympathizing with the Atlanta players who blasted Petrino when he moved to Fayetteville?

I wasn't.

These are the same people that consider Michael Vick a great guy. Is anyone really considering the sources here (cough, ESPN, cough)?

Petrino hated Atlanta. His family hated Atlanta. Now he has a chance to coach at a BCS-level school, knowing that conference titles in the SEC will have a much better chance for a shot at the national crown than a title would in the Big East. Don't believe me? Think about this: how many upsets in college football had to happen for West Virginia to get a shot at the title game (only to lose to Pittsburgh)?

As for Houston Nutt, we have a totally different situation.

Here's a coach that told his fan base over and over they would pass the ball. They rarely did, so much so that one season, incomplete passes drew standing ovations.

Here's a coach that told the Arkansas media that playcalling "was overrated," yet tells the Ole Miss media that calling plays is one of the best parts of the game.

Here's a coach who was so intimidated by the intelligence of his new offensive coordinator, fresh from the high school ranks, that, instead of turning him loose and reaping the rewards, turns him away and chases him to Tulsa, who had one of the top-ranked offenses in the nation last year.

Here's a coach that got the national media to attack Arkansas fans for filing requests to check his cell phone records, but never answered some of the questions that came out of those records. Most notably, why were top recruits in the state not being contacted? As for the alleged affair, give Nutt the benefit of the doubt, but ask instead why was he texting someone ... anyone ... minutes before kickoff of a bowl game?

To continue would be to open a huge can of worms, but the point is obviously made.

Bobby Petrino got burned for getting out of a sticky situation, created by the same man who started Home Depot, the head sponsor of ESPN's College GameDay. Houston Nutt runs to Ole Miss, and somehow manages to get people to look the other way on the many bridges he burned.

Mark my words, you won't want to miss the Arkansas/Ole Miss game this year. But I hope the media pulls Petrino out of the fire, and throws a little of it towards more deserving candidates.

Posted by Jean Neuberger at 11:49 AM | Comments (68)

NFL '08 Predictions: NFC South

Also see: NFL '08 Predictions: NFC North | NFC West | NFC East

The NFC South in 2007 was a pretty worthless division with one playoff contender (Tampa Bay) and zero playoff wins. In 2006, many people thought New Orleans was the team to beat. Before that, it appeared as though Carolina and Atlanta had something going, then Mike Vick went to jail and Jake Delhomme got hurt and the world was left wondering who could possibly win in this division. Needless to say, the NFC South was the most difficult to predict.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are probably my most outlandish prediction (well, we'll see). But it would seem somebody has to rise to the top of the division. Drew Brees has been a bit unpredictable at times, but at this point I trust his health to hold up more than Jake Delhomme's. Reggie Bush can come into his own in 2008. He can keep heading down the path of a premier back, possibly flirting with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. The question for the Saints is defense, especially their front four. If they can hold the scores down, they can win games. The acquisitions of Jon Vilma and Sedrick Ellis should help.

Prediction: 10-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When this whole Brett Favre debacle was starting, I thought that Tampa Bay would be a very worthwhile place for Favre to head. He has a pre-existing relationship with Jon Gruden, a few people apparently have felt the same way, but the fact remains that Jeff Garcia is not a bad quarterback. Tampa Bay's biggest void is at running back. Earnest Graham was great last season when allowed to play, but he only recorded three 100-yard games. That number needs to be at six or more if Graham is going to be a premier back. All in all, the Bucs just don't seem to be under control as a winning club. And with Garcia getting older, his health is deteriorating. Garcia can't be the long-term answer and the Bucs don't currently have a quarterback who is.

Prediction: 9-7

Carolina Panthers

How glad Steve Smith must be to have Jake Delhomme back. Just a few short seasons ago, Steve Smith was the most feared wide receiver in the game, but coming into 2008, I'm not sure he'd crack the top 20. The Tommy John surgery isn't completely foreign to football, but there are only a handful of guys who've had the surgery, Delhomme being the most famous, so the ability to come back from the surgery seems a bit unpredictable. If baseball is any indicator, it won't be easy, and it will take quite a long time for Delhomme to be back to his old self, probably not in time for the Panthers to be successful in 2008. Sorry, Steve Smith.

Prediction: 7-9

Atlanta Falcons

This team is in a tailspin. I'm not sure they'll recover by the end of the decade from the drama surrounding Michael Vick. Many people are probably putting lots of hope in Matt Ryan, but let's be honest, the guy isn't that good. The crop of quarterbacks in the 2008 draft was the worst it has been in decades. Matt Ryan will struggle, be frustrated, and not develop to his full potential in Atlanta. The Falcons are in for another dismal season.

Prediction: 3-13

Posted by Andrew Jones at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2008

The Anti-Favre NFL '08 Preseason Preview

BRETT FAVRE!!!

There, I got it out of the way early. I'm obligated by federal law to mention him in any sort of NFL preview. I'm tired of Brett Favre, you're tired of Brett Favre, everyone is tired of Brett Favre.

Unfortunately, for people who love sports, there is no way to escape his "Aw, shucks" demeanor and grizzled half-beard. That's because, like just about every other male on this planet, you get your sporting news, highlights, and updates from ESPN.

From the barrage of bottom line "updates" to the obligatory reaction from every ESPN NFL analyst throwing their two cents on the fact that His Greatness uses text messaging (does he use T9 or full keypad, the world must know), you simply cannot get away from it. ESPN refuses to allow it. Hell, even the second segment of the ESPY awards was dedicated to Brett Favre and his win in the category of "Best Record-Breaking Performance". ESPN was so tickled to give him this award that they didn't even bother to list the other nominees (if there were any) before having another tired, old personality, Chris Berman, present him the award.

Well, I'm not going to stand for it anymore. There is too much going on around the league to let Brett Favre steal the entire show. Here is a list of four (wait, that's his number), make that five things to look for in the NFL this summer without mentioning Brett Favre.

1. Getcha' popcorn ready! The Cowboys are coming to a TV near you. HBO is taking the best behind-the-scenes sports show of all time, "Hard Knocks," down to Oxnard, CA to follow America's Team for five weeks this preseason. After a brief layoff, "Hard Knocks" returned with a vengeance last season while chronicling the Kansas City Chiefs preseason camp.

To be honest, I only remember two things about the 2007 Kansas City Chiefs version of "Hard Knocks" — Brodie Croyle's smoking hot wife and Gunther Cunningham's extremely foul mouth. Other than that, the only thing I remember is that I couldn't wait for the new episode to air every week. Not exactly the best review ever for a show, but take my word and watch this show. You will not be disappointed.

With personalities like T.O., "Pacman" (sorry, but no one is going to call you Adam, so just deal with it) Jones, Tony Romo, and Jerry Jones competing for top billing on the marquee, the 2008 Cowboys could be the first team ever to have their season derailed by a reality show and I couldn't be more excited to watch it unfold.

2. "Inside the NFL" is moving to Showtime. True, this is more noteworthy for the regular season than the preseason since it won't be airing until September 10th, but it's still worth mentioning. And since I already pimped an HBO show, I guess it's only fair to spread some love to over to Showtime.

Why is this move so noteworthy, you ask? Because when I was a kid, I loved "Inside the NFL." But the past few seasons got so unwatchable that I finally gave up on the show about halfway through last season.

They stopped showing highlights from every game (bad idea) and tried some sort of feel good gimmick by shadowing some random person during the games that they did show highlights for (worse idea). Then they put the nail in the coffin by switching over to four hosts (never a good idea) and added to the clustered feel by having Peter King waiting in the wings every episode.

(If you actually watched "Inside the NFL" last year, you know that when I say "waiting in wings" that I'm not using a figure of speech, King was literally standing in the shadows off the set sometimes when they'd cut to him. It really made for some bizarre television.)

They had too many not funny people trying to be funny and it just turned into one big ball-busting segment after another with these four guys who pretended to be best friends, but in reality, had no chemistry.

Well, a fresh start could be just what this show needs, and I'm willing to give it a second chance. They got rid of perennial goofballs Chris Carter and Dan Marino and replaced them with Phil Simms (upgrade), replaced Bob Costas with James Brown (huge upgrade), and kept Chris Collinsworth around. Do the math, that's only three hosts. Add the fact that all three of these hosts are more "football guys" than "TV personalities" and the in-depth football version of "Inside the NFL" from yesteryear may be returning.

Then again, J.B. could have spent all summer writing jokes about Phil Simms and all bets are off. Needless to say, I'm giving this show a few weeks to try to recapture the Len Dawson/Nick Buoniconti/Chris Collinsworth magic.

3. August is Jim Sorgi appreciation month in Indy. The NFL's newest iron man, Peyton Manning, is expected to miss most, if not all, of training camp after having knee surgery, leaving long-time backup Jim Sorgi in charge frantically signaling to the first-team offense all summer instead of the second team.

Sorgi has attempted 127 passes in his four seasons as Eli's brother's backup and has thrown 6 touchdown passes and only 1 interception in his career. No wonder Tony Dungy has so much quiet strength; he has a Hall of Famer in waiting holding a clipboard. I don't want to start any trouble here, but I smell a quarterback controversy brewing in Colts camp this year.

4. Actor, dancer, and defensive end Jason Taylor is now a Washington Redskin. The draft picks the Dolphins received will surely help them as they try to rebuild under Bill Parcells, and Jason Taylor can spend the remainder of his contract trying to convince Redskins owner Daniel Synder to finance a film venture for him once his playing days are over.

From a football standpoint, I have no idea what this means. Forgive me, but I have the NFL Sunday Ticket, which means that I have the option to watch any football game I want every week. So, not regrettably, I haven't watched a single Miami Dolphins game since Paul Tagliabue was still announcing first round draft picks.

However, since Taylor won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year just two short seasons ago, I'll just assume that he is an upgrade at defensive end for the 'Skins and take my hat off to their front office for pulling the trigger on such an under-the-radar commodity.

5. It's holdout season. With camp set to start this week for every team, the biggest story in just about every NFL market is which players will and which players won't report to camp. Already, there have been grumblings this offseason about guys like Chad Johnson, Brian Urlacher, Brian Westbrook, Lito Sheppard, Jermey Shockey and many others not reporting to camp in hopes of getting new contracts or being traded. That doesn't include all of the unsigned first round draft picks.

My biggest question is who informs the team that these players will be holding out? Does the agent make the phone call in advance in the hopes of starting a dialogue, or is it an Andy Dufrense-type moment where someone is calling roll and the player doesn't answer?

I remember first round draft pick Dwayne Bowe and star running back Larry Johnson held out last year for the Chiefs, but "Hard Knocks" never touched on how the team was informed. Or maybe they did and I was too busy googling pictures of Mrs. Croyle. Either way, hopefully some Cowboys holdout so I can see who gets to be the bearer of bad news and tell Jerry Jones to his current face that he is going to have to open the checkbook up even more.

Amazing. I found five things worth mentioning about the NFL and I didn't even have to resort to weighing in on what's-his-name up there in Wisconsin.

In the spirit of using as many "Shawshank Redemption" analogies as they'll allow me to make in one column, consider this article your beer on the rooftop moment. It is the few moments of freedom you have from the Brett Favre saga before you turn on ESPN and see John Clayton on a split screen and you realize that you're trapped.

Posted by Scott Shepherd at 11:37 AM | Comments (6)

Hamilton, Rangers Turn a Non-Fan Around

Josh Hamilton's 28 homers in the first round of the Home Run Derby last Monday night and the ever-growing national adoration for the outfielder was a perfect microcosm as to why my interest in the game has grown immensely from a year ago.

Simply put, Hamilton and, to a lesser extent, the Texas Rangers, this season have re-energized an extreme baseball cynic into, at least, a casual fan.

I was once a huge baseball fan, back in my childhood until I was about 13. But after that, the game just wasn't interesting enough to me anymore to so much as even watch a majority of a game. Maybe it's because of the steroids thing or maybe the game just didn't move along enough for someone from this ADD generation. It could also be that I have lived all that time in Dallas, where our baseball team is consistently either awful or underachieving.

After all, the Rangers have a total of one playoff win (that would be one game, not one series) and have never been in a World Series or LCS of any kind.

In the eight years I've been here, there has been hope for the Rangers, specifically in 2004 when a young infield of Mark Teixiera, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young. and Hank Blalock led the AL West in September and finished only three games behind the Angels.

Then, two trades happened and put the Rangers on a downward spiral for a couple years.

A former number one overall pick named Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young were traded to the Padres for Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka. Before that, Alfonso Soriano was traded to the Nationals for Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge. In total, that's three all-stars for four guys who are not playing for the team anymore.

But yet, through the 2005-06 seasons, the pitching trio of John Danks, Edinson Volquez, and Thomas Diamond were hailed as the future of the Rangers' historically bad pitching. "DVD" was broken up when Danks was traded to the White Sox for Brandon McCarthy, who has been injured more than healthy in his time in Arlington.

Ranger fans will obviously never know if "DVD" would have become a show worth seeing. But the second of the prospects to be dealt made the Rangers a pleasure to watch again.

I barely remember seeing the news of Volquez being traded for Hamilton anywhere. And really, I didn't care in the least bit. This was going to be a season where I didn't buy into what the Rangers were selling.

Looking back on it, Hamilton's meteoric rise as a Ranger, although not covered in depth by the national guys until about May, started in spring training when he batted a just plain stupid .556 in March. But, in April, the Rangers looked to be headed toward another season of below-.500 baseball and general indifference from their fans.

After that 7-16 start, the Rangers have gone 44-32 behind their four all-stars in Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, and Milton Bradley. Make no mistake, though, Hamilton is why this is such a likable club.

If I can go back to being a cynic for a second, it's slightly concerning that the best-felt of feel-good stories can really only be those like Hamilton's archetypal "God-given talent thrown away by drugs, cleans up and recaptures God-given talent" storyline.

As one popular sports blog jocularly put it this past week, "We shouldn't be teaching our kids not to take drugs, we should be teaching our kids to take drugs, quit them, and then be adored."

However, the way Hamilton goes about his life and his career now transcends whatever reservations the American sports fan, or the American in general has about adoring a guy coming back from drug addiction. Something seems genuine about Hamilton, and the best I can explain of it is that everyday he walks out onto the field just grateful for the opportunity to play a game and get a second chance after falling so hard just a few years ago.

The Rangers won't win the AL West this season. The Angels will likely stay too far out in front to be caught, and Texas' starting pitching will probably be neither as consistent nor healthy enough to make a run at any type of playoff spot.

But yet, that reality probably won't be too bad for Rangers fans, as like in 2004, there's hope for the team once again.

Posted by Ross Lancaster at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2008

NFL Rookies 101: Jerod Mayo

If one has learned anything about the NFL draft, it's that reality doesn't discriminate based on which round players were drafted in (see: Marques Colston, Earnest Byner, and Tom Brady) or what time they had in the 40-yard dash. Yet everyone continues to ignore nearly every possible thing there is to know about a rookie except his NFL Combine stats. In the interests of common sense and to get a more realistic picture of this year's draft class as a whole, Rookies 101 will analyze and get to know this year's rookie class a little bit more.

You likely first heard of Jerod Mayo when the New England Patriots selected him 10th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. The pick surprised many, probably because most people were taking Mel Kiper's projections as if they were published fact. Regardless, it is now becoming very clear why the Patriots selected him, not that we should have been questioning the team's drafting and scouting skills in the first place!

Mayo was known in college for being a student of the game. He was one of those rare college football players who understood that learning the intricacies of his position was just as important as how many times he went to the gym. He "got" that hard work and proper preparation were keys to success.

A defensive co-captain, Jerod helped lead a Volunteer defense that ended the season with the 34th best defense in the nation. His 2007 season was not only his finest, but also one of the best that Tennessee has seen out of one of its linebackers in quite some time. He recorded 140 total tackles, 79 of which were solo and 8 of which were for a loss.

Jerod was largely considered the second best linebacker in the draft, behind only USC linebacker Keith Rivers and many expected the Patriots to take Rivers with their first selection. Going into the draft, Mayo's stock had slowly risen, but no one expected him to go as high as the 10th overall pick or that the Patriots would trade down from the seventh overall pick in order to obtain him. Although the general consensus was that it was a solid selection, many thought the Patriots could have drafted him much later in the first round. The move showed just how much New England respected the talents and work ethic of the young prospect.

With an aging linebacker corps and a defense that doesn't have too much speed, Jerod gives the Patriots both youth and quickness at the linebacker position. When last year's first round selection of speedster safety Brandon Meriweather is taken into account, it's clear that the team has recognized their lack of speed on defense and is planning for the future accordingly.

Although Bill Belichick's defensive system is sure to be a daunting one for a rookie to learn, reports out of the Patriots camp suggest that Mayo is adjusting to life in the NFL just fine. He also has no problem with putting in the extra work necessary in order to succeed. Mayo likely caught Belichick's attention in a good way when the coach discovered he was an avid watcher of game tape, something Belichick himself is perhaps known best for and something he requires of anyone that is on his team.

If Junior Seau decides to return this year and further delay his retirement, Mayo will still likely see a substantial amount of game time if his indoctrination process continues to go well. Seau, who is less than a year removed from age 40, will likely spell at linebacker to provide a breather wherever necessary.

Critics have pointed towards the Patriots linebacker's poor play late in the season last year as one of the Achilles heel's of a defense on the decline. They say that one young and talented linebacker won't remedy what is still a very old group. What they fail to take into account is the wisdom the Patriots linebackers can offer the young rookie and the lessons they will be able to teach him that the coaching staff and even other veteran players could not. The group knows what it takes to win and they‘ve been doing it since before Jerod was in high school.

The important thing for the team, though, is that the torch is being passed on. It's being passed on slowly mind you, but it's being passed on nonetheless. Also, who knows what kind of positive effects Mayo will have in turn upon his on-field mentors? More energy? More fun?

If Mayo can continue his hard work and roll with the physical and mental punches thrown week after week at a rookie starter, he should have no problem making a significant impact on the Patriots defense. After all, regardless of your feelings towards his intelligence gathering techniques, can't we all agree that we might want to take notice when Bill Belichick puts so much stake into a defensive player?

If not, then you at least have to admit the kid has a good football name. Time to go make a sandwich!

Posted by Josh Galligan at 11:27 AM | Comments (2)

July 17, 2008

The Many Sins of Joe Buck

If you write a column for a small corner of the web as I do, and you are occasionally critical of other columnists and media members, you're often accused of being motivated by jealousy, or sour grapes.

It's not true. High-profile sports writers and announcers inhabit a large part of my avocation, and it's only natural I would have opinions on them and their shortcomings. If I wrote a single column excoriating the Knicks, no one would say to me, "Well, stop watching them, then. Why are you obsessed with the Knicks?" But they will say just that if I write a parallel piece on a pundit rather than an athlete or team.

So these raves occupy my less of my psyche, and much less of any tell-it-like-they-see-it columnist's psyche, then you might think.

I don't lose sleep over Bill Simmons, Rick Reilly, Peter King, and Greg Easterbrook. I read their columns, say, "Ha! What a maroon," dissect and mock them in my column, and then forget about it until the Defenders of the Force chime in in the comments. I read those, perhaps respond, and once again get on with my life. I may think certain guys are overpaid and overexposed for their talent level, but that fact doesn't make me angry, and they themselves don't make me angry.

Until now. Someone has crossed a line, has breached a sacred trust, and now I am angry. Now I hear his name and start muttering to myself. Now I am every bit the hater that the haters imagine me to be.

When I was a little kid, my heroes were not the players, but the announcers. No particular announcer, I was just in love with the idea that some lucky guy got to narrate the game for the whole world. I would turn the sound down and "call" the games myself, a practice I continued for many more years than I care to admit.

I didn't have an affluent or even a middle-class childhood. My sister and I were raised by a single mother who dropped out of college to care for us. Food sttamps and welfare were sometimes part of the equation. Then my mom married my stepdad, who provided for us until he died, but the financial situation therein was only marginally improved; my stepdad was a laborer.

The reason for my little biographical non-sequitur will be clearer momentarily. By now, you've probably heard about the Joe Buck controversy. I've made negative note of Buck in this space before (in fact, I truthfully implied that he was my least favorite announcer in my last Sports Announcers column), but my main problem with him his that he's too uninteresting and unremarkable to hold the lofty positions he does — lead man on FOX for both football and baseball.

Now the reason he sounds so bored at the games he calls is clear: it's because he is bored.

You can hear the clip on Awful Announcing, the proprietor of which sums it up nicely...

"I'm borderline furious ... I'm just at a loss for words. FOX's national voice for baseball openly admitted to not enjoying the game he covers, cramming for weekend matchups, thinking that the games are too long and that the game just isn't the same. Unbelievable. You're getting paid millions of dollars for watching a game three hours ... You have the coolest damn job in the world in sports fans' eyes, and while you're supposed to be serving as the voice of the fans, you act like you're above the game.

"...for the voice of the World Series to bash sports this way is just wrong and shows how much the game suffers when you continue to put them on air. It's your g'damn job to know what you're talking about ... Joe Buck is the worst of the worst in my book and if he doesn't want to call baseball anymore, there are a million of people that would jump at the chance. Hurry up and give him a talk show, FOX, so I can completely tune him out."

I'll go AA one better and say FOX would do better not to give him a talk show, but perhaps something like the weekends-only Jazz pre-game reporter on FOX Sports Utah. There, he might find rediscover some enthusiasm and passion for sports by working with young scrappy reporters, journalists, and production assistants that would kill to have the job Buck ought to be fired from.

I say "rediscover," but I honestly doubt Buck ever had much passion in sports to begin with, as he was, as the old saw goes, born on third base and thinks he hit a triple.

An alumni of the very prestigious St. Louis Country Day school, he of course is the progeny of the legendary baseball announcer Jack Buck. There is no doubt in my mind Joe would not be where he is today if his Dad isn't who he was. Partly because he isn't good enough. Mostly because I don't think he'd been interested if he didn't grow up in it. It must've just seem like the easiest vocation to follow in the Buck household, especially since FOX has wanted to give him the keys to the kingdom for a long time now (in 1994, at 25, he became the youngest person ever to call a football game on national television, and it was on FOX).

As bad as all that is. It gets worse. Buck apologized some time later. I would like to tell you that he apologized for being an ungrateful douchebag who doesn't deserve to be the voice of baseball and the NFC, and he is tendering his resignation immediately, but no, he's just apologizing for not telling his joke well enough.

He was kidding, you see, "It was a total joke. If it didn’t come across as that, you fault the joke teller."

Aw, shucks, Joe. You just didn't tell it right.

I like how he says "total." Like the entire interview was just one great big put-on. The audio is right there for you to hear. The bit about preferring the "Bachelorette" might have been a joke. The rest of it was obviously, painfully serious. So we can add "liar" to the list next to all of the other wonderful words that can be used to describe young Buck.

So yes, I despise Joe Buck. Don't know if I would have the guts, but I imagine how satisfying it would be to tell him off if I bumped into him on the street. He is scum. He should be fired. I hate him. Have at me.

Posted by Kevin Beane at 11:22 AM | Comments (2)

The Tao of Clipperland

Usually, this is a pretty dead time of the year for me, basketball-wise, at least. With my mind focused on the pennant races, golf's majors, and tennis' Grand Slams, the NBA offseason sort of shuffles into the background. Do my ears perk up when a trade or a free agent signing actually happens? Sure. I speculate and dramatize just like other sports dorks (of course, I mean that as a term of endearment).

However, what's been transpiring over the last two weeks in the business of swapping logos is ridiculous by all accounts. And most of the controversy has been centered around one unlikely team: the L.A. Clippers. That's right. Not the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Suns, Spurs, Mavericks, or Pistons. I said the Clippers.

The also-rans of Southern California. The unluck-able losers of, well, my lifetime. The team the produced one flash of brilliance every decade or so. The team of that perennial candidate for worst sports owner, Donald Sterling. Those Clippers.

Throughout this process, it seems that almost every move going through the I-5 corridor has been orchestrated as if the Clippers want to get to some kind of nirvana. However, no team can reach the land of milk and Larry O'Brien trophies without an exhausting struggle (ask those second worst-to-first Celtics of this year and last). This exercise usually takes years to complete. The Clippers, though, seem to have expedited the process into a quick seminar, complete with complementary breakfast bar for those participants on the go.

Baron Davis = Birth

Only a handful of hours after the free agency period began, the Clippers made a huge splash by swiping up Golden State's former point guard Baron Davis. The L.A. native was looking to get from under the specter of head coach Don Nelson and did it thanks to a little (wink-wink) help from his neighbors down the highway.

This trade, by many, signified an opportunity for the Clippers to get back to the playoff form they displayed two years ago (which someone might still have to partially explain to me). This would be the dynamic point guard they would need after Sam Cassell declined and was shipped out east. Teamed with Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, and others, they were seen as a pretty nice threat to the upper echelon of the West...

Elton Brand = Death

...But, oh, how things can change. Brand, who with Corey Maggette, decided to opt out of the their contracts to make room for the Clips to sign a superstar player, looked as guilty as everyone else in co-conspiring to get Davis to L.A. Golden State knew it, and wouldn't stand for it. So, just as anyone with a grudge would do, they didn't get mad. They tried to get even.

The Warriors announced that they would push an offer Brand's way, and that the contract could be up to $20 million more than the Clippers would be able to offer their power forward. It seemed that the cards were laid out for a showdown. So, why is this death for the Clippers?

Due to the fact that in the 10th hour (not quite late enough for the 11th), Philadelphia decided to join the party and max out all of their efforts to get Brand. The money turned out to be the least overall of the three teams, but the 76ers made their "max effort" play first, with Brand taking the bait.

Now, the 20-10 machine is out East, which means the Warriors job was ultimately done, right? Think again.

Corey Maggette = Karma

Golden State wasn't done tormenting their fellow doormats. While the Clippers were reorganizing after the loss of Brand, the Warriors got in line to talk with the other "conspirator" in the whole mess. The rumor was that L.A. was going to let Maggette go anyway and keep a core team like the one mentioned earlier.

But the Oakland-based franchise was trying to bounce back themselves after losing Davis and swingman Mickael Pietrus (who signed with Orlando). This seemed like the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Maggette led the Clippers in scoring last season and still has the athleticism to run in Nelson's high-octane offense.

For the Warriors, this must have felt like a bit of redemption for past offenses. For the Clippers, just another punch to the gut to go with the low blow they received only a round beforehand.

Marcus Camby and Andre Iguodala = Reincarnation?

By this point, an organization such as the Clippers would likely fold up their tent and try to heal from the inside, only substantiating their lackluster history in these situations. But 2008 is a different story, and Donald Sterling is showing his fortitude, battle scars and all.

The Clippers have already made moves by trading a possible second-round pick in 2010 to Denver for center Marcus Camby. His defensive and rebounding presence could help take some pressure off of Kaman, while partially replacing Brand.

Now comes word that L.A. might make an offer to 76ers small forward Andre Iguodala. The new A.I. can be a penetrating force that could pair up with Davis' jump shooting and driving abilities to make a potent 1-2 combo from the perimeter. Some may say the Clips are blowing smoke and appearing to take tit for tat. Personally, this move could be the start of a possible reinvention not only as a team, but as a culture.

However, this is the Clippers we're talking about. They have had one flash of brilliance this decade. Now they want back into the mix? Does anyone know if reincarnation ever takes the express lane?

Posted by Jonathan Lowe at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)

July 16, 2008

Why Golf Needs an All-Star Game

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game was last night at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. It was the host site to commemorate and celebrate the final season of baseball being played at the Cathedral of Baseball. The all-star festivities are much more than the game, though.

If you were watching the Home Run Derby, you saw that the sideshows and exhibitions can be just as important as the All-Star Game itself. Additionally, there is Fanfest — a chance for fans to meet players, get autographs, and experience the many facets of the game.

While watching Josh Hamilton belt 28 home runs in a single round, I could not help but think back to golf. Golf does not really have something like an all-star game. If you go to a tournament on any circuit, you basically get to watch the players play (quietly), stripe ball after ball (quietly), and maybe get an autograph or two. That is the standard experience.

Baseball has a similar experience for the other 162 games per season. Their All-Star Game and Weekend stands out as something to break from the norm. It serves largely as a commercial for the sport — even if home field advantage in the World Series is determined in the game. Golf needs an experience for fans that largely serves as a commercial for the sport and provides fans with a new level of intimacy with the game. Golf needs an all-star game.

Some would argue that golf already has all-star games and that they would are the major championships. To some extent, this is true. The best players in the world generally gather together four times per year in four unique tests to validate who the best golfers are for a season. Still, those championships have such history and reverence that it would be almost impossible for a professional golfer to actually enjoy the experience. Major championships are not meant to be fun for the player. They are meant to be trying, stressful, and downright annoying. The reason professionals subject themselves to these types of examinations is for the hope of becoming a part of history through victory.

What I mean, though, is an event that rotates location every year that gives attending fans the chance to celebrate the game and get closer to the PLAYERS. (That's not for emphasis.) I would bet that the people in Milwaukee would kill to be the host of the PGA Tour All-Star Challenge instead of having to endure being an opposite field event for the Open Championship. Or maybe we could host this thing in Atlanta somewhere other than TPC Sugarloaf. There are so many throwaway events every year on the PGA Tour that one could stand to be singled out for improvement.

If I were to make a suggestion for the date of the hypothetical all-star tournament, it would be as the first event of the season. The winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship is not very much fun anymore. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson routinely skip the event because of the travel time and having to play at Kapalua is not much of a treat for them. (Par 73, seriously?) Still, though, you are likely to have a collection of all-star type talent in a field of event winners. There would be the mix of the great in Woods and Mickelson, the developing superstar in Anthony Kim, and the reluctant resurgent in Kenny Perry. The field would not be the problem.

The spirit behind that event is the problem and it is something that can be fixed. Golf tournaments are a lot of work — media interviews, sponsor obligations, actually playing golf — that can annoy players despite the payoff. The idea behind an all-star game is such that the event in question is fun for the fans (as it always is) and for the players (as it isn't always). How, though, do you achieve that?

First, take the pressure off. Make the event a non-sanctioned PGA Tour event that is presented by the Tour and the players. There's no FedEx Cup business. No one has to pee in a cup for drug testing. The more simplistic, the better it is for players.

Next, change the format. Stroke play golf for 72 holes is the standard PGA Tour format. Why not mess with it some? How about a combination of formats to get one ultimate champion? Follow me on this.

The event begins with 16 two-man teams. Each of the top 16 on the prior year's money list is a team captain. The team captains then get to pick their partner in order of their money list finish. Therefore, Tiger Woods would be able to pick from guys 17 through 32 in the event, and down the line. The teams play nine-hole matches against one another. Tiger's team would play the lowest ranked team in a four ball format, and down the line. The nine-hole format would lend itself to upsets, something good for the game — believe it or not.

The eight winning teams would then square off in 18 holes, best ball matches. This would be where the fireworks really begin. Birdies and eagles galore would be the highlight of four matches. With the fewer number of matches, television could provide a more intimate view of players, their approach to the game, and the like. Also, the crowds in person would have easy access to eight great players. These matches would determine the final two teams for the event.

The big twist would then be that each team is split up and the final two teams become the final four. The final four would then become a single foursome that plays the entire 18-hole course under the Modified Stableford format. Again, this would encourage players to be aggressive in how they play. Additionally, there would be long drive and closest to the pin contests on each nine with points on the line for each. Finally, there would be points awarded for fewest putts and longest putt to emphasize the short game aspect of the game.

In the end, the tournament would produce a champion that was able to exhibit all aspects of the game in just 45 holes. It is a lighter load for the players. There is more intimacy for the fans and the television audience. The format would work well.

Then, of course, there has to be the golf celebration. It is very rare that golf celebrates itself in a gala fashion with professional players playing a crucial part. Yes, at the majors there are tents for equipment and free lessons for fans. It would be great, though, to include Q&A sessions with players, trick shot exhibitions by players, and autograph sessions with everyone in the field. The fans could come out and get to see the lighter, more human side of professionals. The professionals could also have fun in meeting and experiencing the fans without the pressures and labors of pro golf obligations.

Ticket prices would be accessible, corporate presence would be low-key, and the whole week would be about fun. Fans could bring cameras to take pictures. The selection of host courses would be a big deal and something that people anticipate — just like majors (though to a lesser degree). Everything would be done with the fan in mind, which is an experience that is rare in golf.

The point, again, of all of this would be to make the game more accessible. In the end, I think it would benefit the sport much more than events that draw weak crowds and little attention. Our sport has four classics every year. Perhaps it is time to invent a new one.

Posted by Ryan Ballengee at 11:15 AM | Comments (1)

Murcer: A Little Reverence, A Lot More Love

In the beginning, he was bedeviled and amused by comparisons to Mickey Mantle.

He was tilled from the same Oklahoma turf, more or less, though his was a considerable leg higher than Mantle's. He was signed by the same scout, Tom Greenwade; he started at shortstop, too, before moving to the outfield after proving a little less than transcendent in the infield.

Abetted as Mantle couldn't be by two years' draft-compelled military service that bulked him just enough, even as a Vietnam-era radio operator, he hit with power breathtaking enough. He could also haul it and cover it in the vast center field expanse, while averaging 25+ bombs a year in his first Yankee tour and leading the majors in on-base percentage at least once.

In the end, Bobby Murcer was what Bill Madden chaptered him for Pride of October: What it Meant to be Young and a Yankee — a pretty fair country ballplayer. More than pretty fair, actually. But in the real end, he knocked Mantle's own courageous end over the center field fence.

He faced cancer flush on and didn't let it chase him all the way out of town. He continued swapping stories the way kids probably swapped his baseball cards when he was the heart of a Yankee franchise in squeamish transition. Oh, he didn't have to confess even half the regrets Mantle compelled himself to confess — come to think of it, regret wasn't exactly one of the most frequent words in his vocabulary.

But maybe Mantle envied Bobby Murcer his unhaunted stability and serenity.

An awful lot of people must have. The quiet grief that rose from the news of Murcer's death Saturday was tempered by quiet smiles and laughter over a man who never quit looking on the bright side no matter how grave the disaster at hand. "He always had that bright smile and that positive spin on everything," said Jason Giambi. "He was the type of guy who never had a bad day."

Well, maybe Murcer had only one bad day, other than the day he'd learn he was in for the fight of his life against brain cancer. The 1973 day he was traded rather bluntly to the San Francisco Giants — in a swap for the Giants' own thought-to-be-a-franchise-player, Bobby Bonds — wasn't exactly high on Murcer's list of things he absolutely had to do on this island earth.

Sometimes he turned disaster into conquest. Give him the news that that tumor they excised from his head was malignant and he just plain waved the news, gently but firmly, back in everyone's face, including the tumor's. Until he was plain exhausted from the unwinnable battle, Murcer refused to shrink, staying on the air whenever he could get there, forcing himself to stick it out at book signings no matter how drained he was.

The conquest they'll never forget was the one he made shortly after his return to the Yankees, after an unhappy exile in San Francisco and Chicago (swapped to the Cubs for Bill Madlock, when the Messersmith ruling came down and the Giants knew an unhappy Murcer wasn't likely to re-sign with them) that followed his seasons of shining on bad teams but never quite living up to the New Mick nonsense.

"It doesn't bother me being compared to Mickey," Murcer loved to crack. "What bothers me is how Mickey felt having me compared to him."

Once a five-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner, he'd finish his playing career as a useful Yankee spare part, after the Cubs sent him there for a minor leaguer in an obvious salary dump. Sometimes he proved better than merely useful, as much for his personality as his play. He was a singular source of earthbound warmth in a clubhouse that usually seemed just degrees from going nuclear.

But his first season home was a season to try even the most automatonic Yankee's stomach. Reunited with such friends as Thurman Munson, Murcer took it the worst when Munson, his best friend on the team, went down in that Cessna jet crash.

We only learned later that Murcer spurned an invitation to fly with Munson on the Yankee off day. He gave Munson the kind of reason Munson himself would have appreciated, family obligations. He didn't have the heart to tell his friend what really kept him off the flight was his concern that Munson couldn't really handle that spanking new Cessna he'd just bought.

Murcer ended up flying to Canton post haste with his wife at the moment he got the news from George Steinbrenner. They'll never quit talking about Murcer's eulogy to Munson. It only began in the chapel.

He lived, he led, he loved. Whatever he was to each of us ... he should be remembered as a man who valued and followed the basic principles of life. He lived ... he led ... and he loved. He lived blessed with his beautiful wife, Diana, his daughters, Tracy and Kelly, and his son, Michael. He led ... this team of Yankees to three divisional titles and two world championships. He loved ... the game, his fans, his friends, and most of all his family.

He is lost but not gone. He will be missed but not forgotten. As Lou Gehrig led the Yankees as the captain of the Thirties, our Thurman Munson captained the Yankees of the '70s. Someone, someday, shall earn that right to lead the team again, for that is how Thurm — Tugboat, as I called him — would want it. No greater honor could be bestowed on one man than to be the successor to this man, Thurman Munson, who wore the pinstripes with number 15. Number 15 on the field, number 15 for the records, number 15 for the halls of Cooperstown. But in living, loving, and legend, history will record Thurman as number one.

Murcer's eloquence overruled even what he did to slam an exclamation point onto its finish, when the Yankees took on the Baltimore Orioles August 6, 1979, the evening they arrived home from Munson's funeral and burial. Murcer had to beg his way into the lineup that night; manager Billy Martin planned to rest him, knowing only too well what roiled Murcer.

"Billy," Murcer pleaded, "I have to play. I don't know if I'm tired or not. I just know I have to play."

For six and a half innings, however, the game looked as though the Orioles were going to bury the Yankees as they'd just buried their captain, and Murcer looked like one of the walking dead with his swishout, fly out, and line out thus far.

But in the bottom of the seventh, Bucky Dent wrung a walk out of Dennis Martinez and Willie Randolph doubled Dent to third. Up came Murcer. He hit a three-run bomb to pull the Yankees back to within a run — his first launch in The 'Stripes since his 1973 departure; the standing O as Murcer crossed the plate arms high endured over two full minutes — and there the score stayed until the bottom of the ninth.

Again, Murcer had Dent (another walk) and Randolph (safe on reliever Tippy Martinez's errant throw while trying to bunt Dent over) on base ahead of him. He pulled a clean two-run single to right for the game, 5-4. He sent the bat to Diana Munson.

When Murcer was finally through (he'd been only a part-time DH for the only World Series in which he ever appeared, hitless three times up in 1981), he was succeeded on the roster by ... well, let's just say said successor completes the answer to the trivia question about Murcer being the only Yankee to have been able to claim Mickey Mantle and Don Mattingly as teammates.

But let's also say that Murcer went on to become a Yankee executive for a short while and, for a far longer and friendlier while, a familiar and loved Yankee broadcaster, turning tales and amplifying games like a comfortable country neighbor who couldn't let even the big city knock him inside out.

"Bobby always went out of his way to be nice and be positive," said Derek Jeter, who holds the team position Munson once held — and who hit his 200th career bomb Saturday night, en route a 9-4 Yankee win over Toronto, while Alex Rodriguez passed Mantle on the all-time bomb list. "He was probably one of the most positive people you'll ever meet. Ever since I first came up, everyone looked forward to seeing him. He handled himself with class. You never heard anybody say a bad word about him."

Well, maybe you did. If you consider those making note that Murcer wasn't as revered as Ruth/Gehrig, as Joe DiMaggio, as Mantle. But Ruth had his gluttonies; DiMaggio and Mantle, their demons; Gehrig, his quiet tragedy. And if you think Murcer wasn't exactly revered, you haven't had a conversation with Andy Pettitte lately.

"What a spirit he had. He was just a great man. He was always upbeat," Pettitte said. "Just the attitude he took, knowing [the brain cancer] he had was serious, was an inspiration to everyone. People like that, you want to surround yourself with. He was a blessing to be around."

So it's a little reverence and a lot more love. It beats the alternative even if you weren't a pretty fair country ballplayer.

Posted by Jeff Kallman at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)

July 15, 2008

NFL '08 Predictions: NFC East

Also see: NFL '08 Predictions: NFC North | NFC West

In 2007, the NFC East was the strongest division in the NFC, second only in the NFL to the AFC South. The East represented 50% of the NFC's playoff teams and the eventual Super Bowl champion in the New York Giants. While you may fully expect the NFC East to be the most powerful division in the NFC once again, you won't see each team at or above .500 in 2008.

DALLAS COWBOYS

The Cowboys (well, any team with Terrell Owens) seem to be a team with some off the field problems year in and year out. Interestingly enough, Owens is far less in the spotlight than his new teammate Adam "Don't Call Me Pacman" Jones. Add in whoever Tony Romo has in his romantic sights this season (I'm betting on Keira Knightley), and Owens' inevitable hi-jinx, and the Cowboys are going to have a hard time focusing on football as it seems they always do.

Despite all of this, Romo has played great as a starter and the Cowboys and, for the most part, Owens has been tamed down in Big D. But with all teams, losing makes athletes unhappy, and all too often, unhappy with each other. Opening the season at a tough Cleveland team, Week 3 at Lambeau, Week 9 at the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, Week 14 at Pittsburgh, and Week 15 against the Giants at home will all be tough challenges. But Tony Romo's improvisational skills look similar to Brett Favre and while Romo won't start 200+ games, he may be nearly as exciting to watch as the legend himself.

Prediction: 13-3

NEW YORK GIANTS

I know, how ridiculous that the defending Super Bowl Champs won't even win their division, but they didn't last season, and they won't in 2008. Eli Manning proved many things to the football world in the playoffs last season, and this prediction counts on Eli to be a dominant quarterback. The reservations about the Giants (much like the Cowboys) involve off-the-field problems. Jeremy Shockey will never shut his mouth, and now Plaxico Burress thinks he needs to challenge Shockey for biggest baby. Add to the idiocy of those two that perhaps the game's most positive and hardest-working player is now retired (Michael Strahan) and it turns Eli from potential dominant quarterback to babysitter.

Much like the Cowboys, a lot of problems will be solved if the Giants can win early and often. And with a similar schedule to the Cowboys, that may be possible. The only differences are the Cowboys get the Packers and Buccaneers, while the Giants get the Vikings and the Panthers.

The winner of the NFC East will be determined by who can best diffuse the ticking time-bombs throughout the season.

Prediction: 11-5

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Admittedly, the Redskins can do better than 7-9. In 2007, after the death of star safety Sean Taylor, the team rallied off four must-win games to make a lot of teams very nervous entering the playoffs. And at that time, they looked amazing.

There's been some hype about Jason Campbell becoming a premier starting quarterback in 2008. The Redskins' new head coach Jim Zorn looks to install a West Coast offense that will suit Campbell very well, but let's think realistically about change in the NFL. It seldom happens overnight and the success of the Redskins in 2007 had to do with passion and Todd Collins, not Jason Campbell.

So will Jason Campbell succeed under Jim Zorn? Yes, but not yet.

Prediction: 7-9

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

This is the year to sell your stock in the Eagles. They've been hanging by a thread for three seasons on whether or not Donovan McNabb will stay healthy and it's gotten to the point where it's more likely he'll be injured than healthy. It's honestly at the point where I begin to feel sorry for the team MVP Brian Westbrook and hope that he can find a trade out of Philly and into a team that is of Super Bowl caliber as they Eagles were just four seasons ago.

I would look for this year to be explosive for the Eagles, as in this will be Andy Reid's last season, as in this will be McNabb's last season, as in Westbrook (and others) will be begging for a trade. The Eagles are about to hit rock bottom.

Predication: 5-11

Posted by Andrew Jones at 11:41 AM | Comments (7)

July 14, 2008

Favre Leaving a Bad Taste

It appears the first drafts of the Brett Favre/Green Bay split are making their way to NFL Divorce Court (at least if Favre has his way). And like a real life divorce, this one figures to be ugly, messy, and leave plenty of hurt feelings, especially in fandom.

How strange is it that a man that so many fawned over just six months ago is suddenly our bane for daring to continue on? Why is it that the personal career decision of a 38-year-old most of us will never meet matters so much?

It's because our sports are the ultimate outlet for our human needs. They provide an unapologetic field of battle for overt competition. They enclose emotions we'd need weeks to encounter in our daily lives within tidy frameworks. After four quarters, there's almost always a winner and a loser, celebration and dejection, and a hero and a villain. Our sports aren't subject to the shades of gray that impair our need for judgment in the real world.

And that's why so many find a passion to care about what Favre does next. After all, why is it our business whether an able candidate gets employment in his field? And for as much as Favre has done in the NFL, shouldn't we be thrilled at the prospect of 16 more Sundays and Mondays to see him perform?

But that's not public opinion right now. I would guess I was in the overwhelming majority when I cringed a millisecond after reading the headlines last week suggesting Favre's return. I'm sure many Packer and Favre fans cringed along with me.

It's not that our football-loving nation doesn't want to see him again; we just don't know how what we'll see will affect our memories. There are certain things you can't unsee; for those of us who feed on the NFL by the broadcast second, a washed up No. 4 sailing balls over receivers' heads just might get the nod over Lawrence Taylor turning Joe Theisman's femur into a Jacobs' Ladder.

And yet it's not as if we should expect that kind of regression from Favre this year. After all, he quarterbacked Green Bay to the brink of the Super Bowl just six months ago. Sure, the physical skills leave town quickly for athletes at the end of their careers, but Favre didn't show those signs last year.

I think what drives most of us to want to see Favre stay retired is fear. For the Packer front office, the fear is that one man will permanently overshadow one of the league's proudest teams. For Packer fans, the fear is that the job of Green Bay quarterback will become a black hole for prospects; getting Aaron Rodgers a shot right now might be the chance anyone has stepping into No. 4's shoes anytime soon. But what about the rest of us? What are we so afraid of?

NFL fans are a subset of humanity in general (except in Oakland's Black Hole, of course). We don't like cliffhanger season finales, leftover steak, or six-inch putts. We like our protagonists to bleed, repent, achieve, and accept their mortality in the end. If Brett Favre returns now, after we had such a clean break last year, it'll be like seeing an extra slice of meatloaf appear on our plates when we thought we had cleaned it. When Favre threw sloppy interception after sloppy interception over the past few years, we stomached those extra mouthfuls. But as 2007 rolled on and the Pack mounted one last charge, we were happy participants in what we thought was the last bite. We savored, swallowed, and got ready for dessert. And now he wants to give us more meatloaf?

Without a doubt, the messiest days of this saga are still to come. By my calendar, we have nearly two full months before anyone takes a meaningful snap in an NFL game. And unless anyone is dumb enough to start melees in strip clubs or organize dog-fighting again, you better believe Favre-mania will dominate that headlines and broadcasts for these two months. Who's ready for seconds?

Posted by Corrie Trouw at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)

Diamonds in the Rough

The Cubs and Rays in first, the Cardinals in playoff position, while the Yankees out of it, and a young talented NL West completely submerged below .500. Oh, and to be totally honest, the Marlins being right in the NL East race might be the biggest surprise of all of them. And the best pitcher in baseball wasn't even on drafted to any fantasy rosters in even the deepest leagues at the beginning of the year.

This season, as much as any in recent memory, has been chuck full of nifty little surprises that have many of us questioning whether or not we know anything about baseball. And not just for the first month — we're past the halfway point. But teams don't just turn out far better than expectations by sheer luck. Players make the difference, and here are a list of players that have caught analysts and opponents alike off-guard while their fans do cartwheels.

Advanced honorable mention: Josh Hamilton and Edinson Volquez were traded for each other this offseason. The most productive hitter in the AL right now, Hamilton, was a highly regarded prospect and was predicted to be good. Just not this good, not this soon, nor after the obstacles he overcame. Volquez has been the best pitcher in the NL and has been a rare bright spot for the struggling Reds, who forgot how to score runs. But both were ultra-prospects and their emergence, while stunning in scale and arrival time, are not the type of surprise being discussed here.

For similar reasons, Evan Longoria (super-prospect leading the shocking Rays since his call-up), Ian Kinsler (another highly-touted prospect that is as responsible for the Rangers offensive output as Hamilton), Jason Giambi (the second best hitter in the AL right now whose renaissance is carrying a struggling Yankee offense), and Chipper Jones' health will also be notable omissions.

So who are these no-names shaping first-half pennant races?

Justin Duchscherer, Oakland A's

The amazing thing isn't just that he's leading the big leagues in ERA and WHIP. It's that he's leading in ERA by over half a run (with a skimpy 1.78) and WHIP by .12 (at an equally minimalist 0.86). And after injuries severely limited the virtually unknown Duchscherer last year, he has been ultra-efficient this year. At 13.8 pitches per inning, only Greg Maddux has cut through innings faster among qualified pitchers. Oakland may have just dealt away a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, but as has always been the case with the Billy Beane Machine, another one has just stepped up into his place. (Remember when the Big Three was dismantled? Where are those guys compared with the current A's staff?)

Team Outlook: The West is weak, with Seattle nowhere near the contender some thought it could be, and the Rangers still can't get a lineup of statues out without giving up runs. Anaheim is up five games, but with the Angels' offense struggling (the A's have actually scored more runs), the gap is not insurmountable. And the pitching isn't going away; the A's have allowed fewer runs than any team in the majors. So it wasn't all Rich Harden. So this team is by no means finished. Until the Angels deal for another bat; then there could be trouble.

Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers

Milton: not just the active ingredient in meltdowns anymore. The fiery (to put it euphemistically) Bradley is hitting .314 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs. His near-Bondsian .440 OBP and his 1.033 OPS would each top the majors if it weren't for Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols, and Lance Berkman. It could be so much worse in Texas without Bradley and Hamilton crushing baseballs.

Team Outlook: Not good. Apparently, pitching still matters. But when you are overachieving the way the veteran Bradley is (career .277 hitter who's never cracked 20 homers), you get to bend the rules.

Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians

Lee gets the pitcher honorary mention for player from a bad team that has stepped up big. When he was traded, C.C. Sabathia was not the Chief of the Tribe's rotation. Lee's 11-2 record, 2.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP speak for themselves. It hasn't hurt that his home run rate this year is less than a third of his career pace, and his K-rate is one strikeout per nine innings better than any year since 2004. Last year? He was 5-8 with a 6.29, and although injuries limited him, the jump has been far beyond anything his six previous seasons indicated was possible.

Ryan Ludwick and Kyle Loshe, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals came into this season with perhaps the lowest expectations this decade. In a lineup of young, unproven, and uninspiring hitters, Albert Pujols seemed destined for about 200 intentional walks this year. Enter Ludwick, who has led a group of hitters in making that unintimidating lineup formidable. Skip Shoemaker and Rick Ankiel have come through as effective young hitters. Troy Glaus (though no longer a 35 HR threat) is driving in runs like it's his job, presumably because it is. Heck, even Aaron Miles and Yadier Molina is hitting over .300.

But Ludwick has been a monster. Not many hitters are in the top-20 in OPS (.930), HR (18) and RBI (59). In fact there are three. Giambi, Hamilton, and Chase Utley. And sure, life is a whole lot easier when you hit in front of Pujols and pitchers would rather set it on a tee than let you walk to first. But with Pujols logging enough walks to complete a 5K charity walk, someone else has to hit the ball. And Ludwick has done that far better than any No. 2 hitter for the Cardinals in years.

Meanwhile, Kyle Loshe really has discovered himself. Dave Duncan has squeezed good years and clutch performances out of the likes of Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis, and Jeff Weaver. Lohse is currently 10-2 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Not bad for a guy who has never won 15 games or posted an ERA below 4.23. A drop-off could (some would say should) be coming, but being lights out four 11 straight starts — 8-0, ERA well south of three — doesn't tend to happen by accident. And with Carpenter and Wainwright on the shelf, the Cards might be an afterthought without even a few of those wins.

Team Outlook: In it to the end, but certainly not a frontrunner for even the wild card. Not after the Brewers and Cubs grabbed all-star pitchers via trades. But this team is nothing if not resilient. It survived all year without ace Chris Carpenter (not to mention stretches without Adam Wainwright and Pujols). Getting everyone healthy in August (except Mark Mulder, naturally) would create a team to be dealt with. Still, they are a legit outside shot to make the playoffs.

Joe Saunders, Anaheim Angels

Speaking of guys stepping up on a team with injuries, Saunders has made Angel fans forget that Kelvim Escobar probably won't pitch this year, and John Lackey had a May launch date. As mentioned, Seattle was a chic pick to take the West, mostly by default. But the 27-year-old Saunders, who last year started a career high 18 games, has gone 12-5 with a 3.07 ERA. And in three of his losses, he had quality starts backed by no run support from the offensively challenged Halos.

Team Outlook: With Lackey back and rolling and Vladimir Guerrero starting to finally find his stroke, the Angels shouldn't be slipping in the second half after limping through the first. Plus, Anaheim is more likely to add than subtract, while Oakland already shipped Harden to Chi-town.

John Danks and Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox

Speaking of division leaders getting boosts from arms, John Danks has been lights out for the South-Siders, to the tune of a 2.52 ERA. The 23-year-old took fewer people by surprise, but he has adjusted from last season's rookie campaign quickly, and has been a key factor in Chicago maintaining its monopoly on both leagues' Central Division.

And on offense, the best hitter on Chicago's other division leader has been a prospect that Arizona let get away after he hit .214 last year in 81 games. This year he has 21 homers and 66 RBIs, both good for top-11 in the bigs. His OBP (.373) and OPS (.892) are nothing to laugh at either. And while his highly-touted prospect status would have negated him, the fact that Arizona willingly traded him bumped down expectations for this season. Maybe the D-Backs should have dealt Chris Young instead.

Team Outlook: Comfortable ... for the moment. Don't look back, there might be Tigers on the prowl. (Does anyone really think the Twins can keep up? I'd love to see it, but it's just hard to imagine.)

Tampa Bay Rays/ Florida Marlins

Perhaps the most notable omission from this list was not a player, but a pair of teams. But unlike the players mentioned, none of their players have drastically exceeded expectations. Sure, Hanley Ramirez is one of the best players in baseball. But anyone in a fantasy league knew that if he slipped to the fifth pick in the draft, the guys that drafted third and fourth were assumed to be mentally challenged and disregarded as legit competitors in the league. An improved Dan Uggla has been nearly as lethal offensively as Ramirez, and Jorge Canto and Mike Jacobs have been great run producers. Kudos to Ricky Nolasco and Scott Olsen for pinning the rotation together. But no one has been unexpectedly elite; it has been a team effort. And that might even make their rise more impressive.

The same goes with the Rays. Longoria has been great since the call-up. B.J. Upton has been another standout, reaching base at a .385 clip and stealing 27 bases to add to the team's other base bandit, Carl Crawford (actually having what is for him, a fairly average season). Carlos Pena's numbers are down from last year. But as a team, the Rays are producing runs, and the pitching has been solid as a rock, fourth in the AL in ERA. Andy Sonnanstine has the starting staff's worst ERA, a respectable 4.58 and the only one above four. And even he has been hot of late and has a 10-4 record backing him. James Shields, Matt Garza, and Scott Kazmir all have ERA's 3.54 and below and WHIPs no higher than 1.20. That is solid top to bottom.

So where does it all go, especially for the Florida teams? Those two in-state storylines are easily the most compelling in baseball. And at least in the Rays' case, there is no reason to believe the fairy tale story can't have a happy ending. As has been pointed out on this site, the bullpen and defense are also strengths down in St. Pete. And with the Yankees facing rotation issues and underperforming hitters, there could be an opening for the Rays to shock everyone by shining well into the fall.

What it may come down to is a 2007 Rockies complex where the young squad is too inexperienced to understand the pressure they should be struggling under in September. And if that happens, either the Red Sox or the Yankees — probably the Yankees — will be sitting at home in October, wondering what the hell happened this year.

Posted by Kyle Jahner at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

July 11, 2008

Sports Q&A: A-Rodica?

Jeff from Ridgemont, CA writes, "Cynthia Rodriguez, wife of New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, has filed for divorce, citing marital misconduct, including extramarital affairs, one of which may include a relationship with Madonna. Should I even care about this?"

Should you care about this? Of course you should. Just the potential of a New York Yankee in the courtroom is tabloid gold. You think Roger Clemens is a bumbling idiot, wait until you see A-Rod try to talk his way out of this one. There's tabloid gold in them there hills, I tell you. And the bookies can have a field day with the situation as well. What's the over/under for A-Rod? Why, "Madonna," of course. And just wait until Mrs. Rodriguez stuns the courtroom when she announces that she's got gauze with Madonna's DNA on it. And imagine the gasps when A-Rod's counsel, during cross-examination, counters with, "Who doesn't?"

Neither A-Rod nor Madonna are admitting to any type of romantic relationship right now, although several reputable publications, in between Britney Spears updates, have reported that Rodriguez made several late night visits to Madonna's lavish New York City apartment, which features a bedroom complete with an "on-deck circle" and a Madonna S&M favorite, the "batting cage." I'm inclined to believe a sexual relationship exists. Madonna has a history with professional athletes, including Jose Canseco and Dennis Rodman. You could probably add many more pro athletes to that list. In fact, Madonna has been known to boast on occasion that she's been with so many baseball players, you could say she's "touched them all." And judging by her previous proclivity for group sex, I'd say it's safe to say she's "gone down swinging" quite often.

A-Rod's no saint, either. This isn't his first foray into marital discord. He has a lengthy history with strippers, and once these ladies take the stand in court, you can be sure they'll testify that fastballs aren't the only thing A-Rod likes "down and in." Heck, if you took all of the strippers A-Rod's been involved with, they'd likely cover the entire length of the left field foul pole at Yankee Stadium. A-Rod's a major league superstar; he's practically at second base the minute he walks into the strip club. He easily moves to third when management comps him in the VIP room. Then, he scores easily on a "single to center." As such a celebrity, A-Rod's activities with strippers are well-documented, and should this become a factor in a divorce settlement, then Mrs. Rodriguez has the advantage.

And what of Mrs. Rodriguez's transgressions? Allegedly, she's been enjoying the company of rocker Lenny Kravitz in Kravitz's home in Paris. Is it considered good parenting to file for divorce, jet to the Paris home of Kravitz, and leave your three-year-old and two-month-old back in Miami? Hopefully, there's a nanny involved in all of this. If so, I bet she's hot, and A-Rod's probably executed the "hit and run" with her on several occasions.

True to form, Kravitz has denied an improper relationship, insisting that the public just "Let Love Rule." He was adamant in his assertion that Cynthia Rodriguez is there to escape the media firestorm in New York. Said Kravitz, "I believe her exact words were, 'I want to get away; I want to fly away. Yeeeaaaahh.'" I'm sure Kravitz's next words were, "Are you gonna go my way?"

Not buying it, Lenny. You're more of a player than A-Rod. And haven't you yourself had a previous relationship with Madonna, also a relationship that you denied? I know the tabloids and saucy periodicals pounce on 'love triangles;' my gosh, they'll go berzerk over a 'love rectangle.' Lenny Kravitz, Cynthia Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez, Madonna. Does scandal get any better than this? Maybe, if you substituted the Dallas Stars' Mike Modano for Madonna. Of course, it wouldn't be so incriminating for Modano to say he's seen more "five holes" than anyone, would it?

While it's more likely the case will be settled out of court, who could resist seeing Madonna on the stand defending her sexual activities to a ravenous prosecution. Talk about a "Material Grill." If Madonna needed material for a new album, she could certainly write plenty of songs based on this situation. Heck, she could title the album A-Rodica. If David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox condemned the actions of the parties involved, Madonna could sing "Papi Don't Preach." And, placing herself in the shoes of Cynthia Rodriguez, Madonna could croon in a song directed at A-Rod's infidelities, "Who's That Girl?" Or his explanations, "Vague." If a certain Yankee pitcher felt emotionally anguished should A-Rod and Madonna's love go bad, Madonna's "Don't Cry For Me, Mike Mussina" is sure to be a No. 1 hit. Singing of Cynthia Rodriguez's total distaste for her soon-to-be ex-husband, "Like Aversion" would put Madonna on top of the charts again. And her upbeat love song to a slumping-at-the-plate A-Rod would be called "(You Just Keep on Pushing Our Love Over the) Mendoza Line."

When all is said and done, lives will be forever altered, marriages will be shattered, fortunes will be lost, and countless people will be hurt. But that's the price the famous pay to keep us entertained. If A-Rod wants to step out on his wife, that's his prerogative. Credit him with a fielder's choice, and let him make as many visits to the "mound" as he chooses. If Mrs. Rodriguez wants out of the marriage, she's entitled to call a "balk." As far as Madonna and Kravitz are concerned, well, they're just "relievers."

Get Your Questions Answered!

Do you have a question or comment? Then send your question or comment along with your name and hometown to [email protected]. You may get the answer you're looking for in the next column on Friday, August 1st.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:03 AM | Comments (0)

July 10, 2008

My Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Rays

It is one week before the All-Star Game and the leader in the American League East is 20 games over .500, three games ahead of the second place team in the division, and has won 11 of the last 14 games. And surprise, this team is not the Red Sox, or the Yankees for that matter. That's right, the leader of the AL East is not a powerhouse with a huge payroll from the Northeast, but a young, upstart team from the Sunshine State.

The Tampa Bay Rays are the best team in baseball and it is no fluke. Not only is the team first in the best division in baseball, but have also proved that they can sustain their lead over an extended period of time. In less than a year, the Rays have gone from being the worst team in baseball to one of the most competitive, with an excellent chance of making the playoffs.

But for the Rays, going from worst to first is no coincidence. Instead, it has been a collaboration of planning, patience, and building from within. With great talent scouting, good draft picks, and shrewd trades, Andrew Friedman, the GM for the Rays, has built a team that can win, now and in the future.

One of the cornerstones of the Rays success this season has been their pitching. Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Andy Sonnanstine have been lights-out and have anchored the rotation. This, along with the acquisition of Matt Garza, who is having the best season of his career, and the emergence of Edwin Jackson as a formidable fifth starter, has given the Rays one of the better rotations in the major leagues. The Rays boast a team ERA of 3.59, a 1.25 WHIP, and average just under seven strikeouts per nine innings.

The bullpen has also been quite effective for the Rays and is led by Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival. These two key offseason additions have not only added a veteran presence in the bullpen, but have also given the Rays stability and consistency in the late innings. Percival has converted 19 of 21 save opportunities and Wheeler has 20 holds in 40 innings pitched. In addition, the Rays have David Price, last year's number one overall pick, waiting in the wings. While Price has been untouchable at every level he has played, barring an injury, don't expect him up in the big leagues before September. But do keep him in mind, as he could be an important piece in the Rays' run for the playoffs.

If defense wins championships, then the Rays have little to fear. The Rays are one of the top defending teams in the majors, having the best fielding percentage, .976, and fewest errors, 47, in the American League. Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett seem to catch everything that comes their way. While in the outfield, the speedsters Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton make even the most difficult catches seem routine. The Rays' stingy defense will be a major asset down the stretch and especially during the playoffs.

Finally, the Rays have a talented core of young players that only seem to be getting better. With great draft picks and trades, Tampa Bay has built a winning team. While many prognosticators predict that the Rays' inexperience will be their downfall, this has yet to be the case. In fact, Tampa Bay has thrived under pressure, evident in their success against winning teams. This year the Rays have swept the Angels, Cubs, Marlins, and Red Sox twice. And they have done all this while continuing to lead the best division in baseball. Not too shabby for a team predicted to lose over 90 games in most preseason polls.

One of the beauties of the baseball season is its length, allowing the best teams to rise to the top. And with over 70 games left, the Rays will have to play exceptional baseball to keep their lead in the Eastern division, as two very talented teams will be nipping at their heels. Whether or not the Rays make the playoffs, they have established that they have the talent and the drive necessary to win. While this never guarantees championships, it's a good place to start.

Posted by Chris Gonzales at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)

Random Musings: The Backwards Sports World

I've fallen off the sports planet over the last week due to Guitar Hero III. I made the mistake of allowing my wife to borrow the game from my sister-in-law's kids.

Big mistake.

I'm averaging nine hours of work, two hours of commuting, 10 hours of Guitar Hero, and three hours of sleep this week.

That stupid game is so ridiculously addictive ... and the thing is, I'm not even sure I like it. I just have an uncontrollable urge to master it.

Not that falling off the sports planet is a bad thing this year. Everything's gone crazy. Completely insane.

Consider this — the Tampa Bay (not)Devil Rays just played against the New York Yankees and a large portion of Red Sox Nation was actually rooting for the Yankees to win.

At the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers made a trade to acquire a player to help them down the stretch — the best pitcher on the market, no less.

The Philadelphia teams (at least their basketball and football teams) actually made decent-to-great offseason signings of high-priced free agents.

The Cubs are the favorites to win the World Series.

Up is down. Left is right. Monkeys are sleeping with elephants. NBA referees and I actually respect each other.

Did I mention that the Celtics won an NBA championship?

So, I have this writers block thing. I've been trying to come up with something to write since Saturday and I've got absolutely nothing. Nadda. Zip.

I was going to write about how bad the Red Sox bullpen is, but then I saw the Twins bullpen and I lost the urge to complain.

I was going to write about how the Clippers were finally ready to compete in the Western Conference, then Elton Brand skipped town and ran to Philly. Can't say I blame him. He's been playing for the Lakers' ugly step-sister for the better part of the new millennium.

If anyone deserved to screw their former franchise over, it was him.

Thought for a few minutes about Corey Maggette in a Celtics uniform, but that didn't last. Now I'm worried that James Posey is going to sign with New Orleans. Though I've had more than a few people remind me that he's James Posey, not Larry Bird.

While I will not argue the fact that I'm overvaluing Posey, there's something to be said about not screwing up championship chemistry. So if it were me, I'd overpay to keep him.

Then again, Danny Ainge isn't me. If he were, he would have fired himself years ago and the Celtics never would have won a championship. So I guess we're all lucky he isn't me.

I have a Brett Favre column in me, but I'm pretty sure what needs to be said has already been said. I was killed on Sports Central for claiming that the Packers didn't want Favre to come back next season. Now it's the prevailing theory among those in the know.

Not that I'm claiming to have some great source, but it was pretty obvious what was going on in Green Bay. People just didn't want to see it — the Favre lovers, the Favre fans, and the Favre apologists especially. The Packers need to start building for the future. They can't let the Favre retirement decision hang over them every offseason.

Especially when their QB of the future can walk away after the 2009 season.

Green Bay fans should all get on board or shut up, right, Aaron?

I'm extremely entertained at how Barry Bonds' people keep floating rumors about teams being interested, which is quickly followed by the GM or owner of said team denying the interest to anyone who will listen.

I still think a team like Tampa Bay should throw some cash at him to play DH for the rest of the season. He's still good for a high OPS, a ton of walks, and a bunch of power.

So he's a cheater ... in case you haven't been paying attention, there are a ton of cheaters in baseball. Barry Bonds just happens to be the best cheater in the bunch. Doesn't mean I wouldn't cheer for him if he were hitting big home runs down the stretch for the Red Sox.

Even though the Red Sox are not interested. Haven't even discussed it. They're upset I even mentioned them and Bonds in the same sentence. Curt Schilling is so mad, he's going to write about it on his blog.

The odds were good that one of Shawn Kemp's 35 illegitimate children were going to be decent basketball players. Apparently, Shawn Kemp, Jr. is ready to carry on his father's legacy.

He's 17, a high school basketball star, they say he's going to grow to be seven feet tall, he's being recruited by major colleges, and for all we know, he already has two or three illegitimate children of his own.

Lock up your daughters...

Anyway, writer's block. No ideas. So you'll have to live with whatever it was you just read.

I may have mailed this one in like I was the New York Mets in late September, but hey ... at least I don't have to come up with anything else to write about until next Thursday!

SeanMC is a senior writer for Bleacher Report and writes a column for Sports Central every other Thursday. You can read more articles by SeanMC on his blog.

Posted by Sean Crowe at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)

July 8, 2008

Five Reasons We Can't Wait For Football

The dog days of summer take a huge toll on the casual sports fan. True, there is baseball, the end of the NBA Finals, and in the case of this year, the Olympics in Beijing. But for the hardcore, diehard football fan, it traditionally has become a time of anxious-filled moments, waiting the first day of training camp. For the avid college football fan, it's been tired nights on ESPN Classic and scanning message boards for any semblance of news to satisfy your thirst. So this is for all of those who sit in-between Signing Day and the beginning of summer workouts who wish to have more college football.

5. The prospect of alternative sports during the summer doesn't excite you.

No disrespect to any other sports where they have to make a living during the "dog days," but let's face it. Bass fishing, motocross, and gymnastics don't do it for the majority of folks who live for Saturdays in the fall. Seriously, how many times have you sat on the couch on a Saturday, scanning the channels and couldn't quite get into the Tennis Masters Series final in Toronto? Better yet, how have you dealt with watching softball between the U.S. team and a team of some co-eds? For some of us, it almost forces us to the unthinkable and actually spend time with our spouses doing things that could possibly be excused in the fall. Sometimes, there are no replacements.

4. Your entertainment system is itching for a boost from the action on campus.

Again, no reason disrespect any other sports (especially baseball and golf, which look great), but what else can get your adrenaline pumping like college football in HD? To see every detail from the Buckeye on the grey helmet, to the spec of dirt on the white Nittany Lion helmet, or the crease in the sweater of the hot cheerleader from USC, college football satisfies every need that you have in high-definition. Plus, if you have the sweet surround sound, what is better than a Saturday night in Blacksburg, Columbus, Austin, Athens, Gainesville, Death Valley (both of them), or Happy Valley, at full volume? Almost feels like you're there.

3. Tailgating/cooking out.

Enough said. For the hardcore tailgater, the summer gives them a chance to hone their skills on grills for the upcoming season. Something about those Saturday afternoons and the smell of burgers, hot dogs, bratwursts, steaks, chicken, and pork all offset by the aroma of the brew of your choice does something to boost the morale of fans on game day. Plus, it makes for good eating and old-fashioned fun. Hours before kickoff, grillers and tailgaters extraordinaire take pride in the successful planning and execution of a tailgate party.

For those that can't make it to the stadium on game day, firing up the grill and stove at home will do just fine. A healthy amount of friends and family all with the compliments of gameday fare in front of the tube on Saturday for the games — have you ever see this during basketball season?

2. It's "must-see TV" in its rarest form.

For hardcore football fans, to miss any game of interest feels like a cardinal sin. If you miss an NFL game, to catch the highlights is relatively easy to swallow. But missing a great deal of college football action is akin to treachery. I've faced on many occasions growing up (and being a staunch follower of college football since age 10) where I was forced to do things which made me miss the entire day of games. And every time that I have, I've always missed an infamous "Upset Saturday," something absurd like three teams in the Top 10 losing and six in the Top 25 overall.

Every college football fan can attest to this. The one time you agree with your significant other to do something away from the TV, or you take the kids out, or you mow the lawn, or go to your in-laws who hate sports, you come home in the evening and you're sickened to your stomach to see the highlights from the day's action and you missed a monumental Saturday. Part of Murphy's Law, I presume. The drama of college football has a way of working out like that sometimes.

One day that comes to mind with me: November 20, 1993. No. 1 Notre Dame lost at home to Boston College 41-39 on a 41-yard David Gordon field goal as time expired, only a week after winning the "Game of the Century" against eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward and Florida State. Also, No. 5 and unbeaten Ohio State was shut-out by Michigan 28-0, when they only needed a tie to clinch the Big Ten title. Where was I, you ask?: In the library finishing a fifth-grade paper on history of American football.

1. This year is "next year."

For the elite programs in the country and their fan bases who don't get to raise the crystal football at the end of the season, it's always simple: "there's always next year." The concept of "Next Year" is what keeps the fanatics hoping. It feeds the thirst of those who love the game. From the absolute end of the holiday season, through Signing Day until the first day when players move into dorms and trudge onto the practice fields, "next year" is what keeps the players, coaches, alumni, and fans in high spirits. The possibility and the probability of it all is what drives it. It's what programs like Florida, USC, Georgia, and Ohio State have said since January 8, 2008.

In about six weeks, this year will be "next year." No more waiting. Soon, the suffering will be over.

Posted by Brian Cox at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

July 7, 2008

NFL '08 Predictions: NFC West

Also see: NFL '08 Predictions: NFC North

The NFC West is filled with teams that are rebuilding and dealing with nagging injuries. It seems the only reason the Seahawks have been able to stay atop the division for so long is because they've suffered the least from injury. It is looking like little will change for the NFC West in 2008.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Seahawks seem to have been the biggest underachievers in the past two seasons. After going 13-3 in 2005 and losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL, the Seahawks looked poised to be the NFC team to compete with the AFC strongholds of Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, and San Diego. But this has become unlikely. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are proving themselves as the top teams in the NFC and the Seahawks have become an afterthought, so often playing down to their competition.

The Seahawks' biggest problem has been dropped passes. Bobby Engram has helped that a bit, but the problem hasn't disappeared. Shaun Alexander dropped off of the map and Maurice Morris perhaps saved the Seahawks from even more embarrassment in 2007 by leading them with solid rushing performances. The acquisition of Julius Jones is unfortunately not a backup plan for Morris, as Jones will most likely be the starter. Perhaps Jones and the Seahawks will be a good fit. He seems to be the biggest underachiever of any starting position player in the entire the NFL.

Despite all these things, nobody else in the West seems quite poised to take over the division (though the Cardinals have a legitimate shot). The Seahawks can easily go 5-1 in the division and be well on their way to 10 wins.

Prediction: 10-6

ARIZONA CARDINALS

The Cardinals look to be a team on the rise. All sources point to Matt Leinart having the starting spot locked up, but in the NFL, it seems very few things are a lock. If Leinart can manage some maturity and his two stud receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, can stay healthy, the Cardinals could be extremely dangerous in 2008.

The team was surprisingly close to stealing a playoff spot in 2007 and with another year under head coach Ken Whisenhunt, don't be surprised if the Cardinals sneak into the playoffs in 2008 and even give the Seahawks a run for their money.

Prediction: 9-7

ST. LOUIS RAMS

The Rams have a great talent at running back with Stephen Jackson. He could very easily sport six or more games of 200+ total yards in the Rams' offense. Torry Holt is no longer the threat he once was. He's still got great hands and a great build, but nagging knee injuries will keep him from showing off the outside speed needed in the Rams offensive system. The Rams need to find a number two receiver that is a real speed-burner. The acquisition of Trent Green will be helpful for when Marc Bulger inevitably goes down with another injury.

Prediction: 5-11

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Hiring Mike Martz may be just what the 49ers need to get back to playing West Coast football, but let's be honest, Alex Smith has not proved himself whatsoever and with a shoulder that will be ever-questionable, it's hard to believe he'll start all 16 games of 2008. Frank Gore is the 49ers' most talented player, but without an offensive line, it may be difficult for him to get back to his numbers of 2006 where he had nearly 2,200 total yards. The 49ers are a project and perhaps things will turn around more quickly than I'm anticipating, but with a new offensive system to learn and few veteran players with any successful experience, don't expect 2008 to be much different than 2007 for the 49ers.

Prediction: 4-12

Posted by Andrew Jones at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

July 3, 2008

Top 5 Greatest Sports Video Games

First, please take this list with more than a few grains of salt, because I have always been a casual gamer, not a serious one. I haven't played them all by a long-shot, and I have even missed some of the big franchises. My only exposure to Madden was in college on the SNES. I forget the edition, but it was likely '95 or '96 ... and we discovered a glitch that allowed you to recover 100% of your onside kicks.

This rendered the game unplayable for my dormmates and I. We discussed implementing a rule that you must kick away, but that didn't really seem fair to the team that just scored a touchdown to get within five with 30 seconds left.

One honorable mention that didn't make the list was Blades of Steel for NES. The package clearly states that some of the rules differed from standard NHL rules. True. If you locked up with an opposing player, chances are the narrator would announce, "Fight!" and the game would enter sort of a boxing mode. If you won the fight, you earned a man advantage for some time.

Also just missing the cut is FIFA '97 for Playstation. This was the first game I had where the announcer would actually call out the names of players with the ball. After I discovered that one of the teams has a player named Dede, which the announcer pronounced as "dead," I would play that team and get Dede as many goals as possible so I could hear the announcer say at the end, "and here's the man of the match, dead."

5. Super Challenge Baseball for Atari 2600

It was made by Mattel of all companies, and it's surprising how intricate and elegant a game they managed to create on such a limited platform and controller (compare that to Atari's own "Football" title, which if I were making a "worst" list, would be No. 1). Of course, the flip side to that was it was harder to learn and master than other Atari sports games, and I clearly remember the learning curve including having my catcher run out to centerfield to fetch a ball off the wall, because I couldn't figure out how to switch to another position.

4. EA Sports Tiger Woods franchise for multiple platforms

I love this series (I have played primarily on GameCube), but the game also represents why I am neither a good nor noble gamer. If you don't adjust the difficulty, the game can get absurdly easy, with scores in the low-to-mid-50s commonplace.

But I never cared. I liked to dominate, even if I was doing it on the bunny slopes. The last version I played ('05 I think) sort of forced you to affirm that you still wanted to go with the baby-easy settings after a few tournaments, rather than making it the default.

So I went with a harder setting, one that took away a key putting green graphic, and I found I was mostly two-putting. My scores hovered around even par. It was like being an actual golf pro, rather than a supernatural figure who can count on running away with every tournament by 30 strokes.

Eff that.

Also, if my editor permits it, I'd like to point out that this is the greatest, most relaxing game ever to play high. (So he's been told, of course. — Ed)

3. Mike Tyson's Super Punch-Out for NES

Everyone loves this game so I don't think I need to go into why it was so great. But I do have a couple of questions:

Did anyone else find the Sandman more difficult to defeat than Tyson? It took me forever to beat him, but it took only a few bouts to beat Tyson. The Sandman's timing was so strange, asynchronous, and hard to pin down.

I also find it odd that the game forced you to knock out certain boxers to advance — they would not award you a decision no matter how much you dominated the fight — and yet Tyson was not one of them. I never KO'd Tyson, but I could get a decision without too much difficulty.

Don Flamenco (first fight only) was easier to beat than Glass Joe and everyone else who came before him by a wide margin once you figured out the trick. Discuss.

2. NFL Blitz 2000 for N64

While I played the rest of the games on this list alone primarily, this was the must-play game for my buddies and I for over a year. The drinking, the revelry, the game. Draw whatever subsequent conclusions you may imagine about us that you will.

If you are not familiar with the game, it was even less realistic than Blades of Steel, and after awhile we didn't even think about twice body-slamming the player we had just tackled before the play selection screen came up, we just did it. Thanks to a glitch (or maybe it was intentional, I don't know) in the announcing, the game gave us a term we still use today: disasterbacle.

NFL Blitz 2000 also gave me my greatest video game victory ever. Indulge me. I'll make it short.

I was trailing 23-22, trying furiously to get into field goal range (the game would only allow you to attempt a field goal if the line of scrimmage was midfield or closer, but even those 67-yarders were makable) and alas, my drive stalled with :08 left at my own 46. My friend Arik took over and immediately sent his field goal unit on.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Running up the score."

He missed the field goal, giving me the ball back at my 46 again at :04. I hit my wideout on a slant pattern (yes!) and leapt out of bounds, on Arik's 49, with :01 left.

"S**t," said Arik.

My figgie attempt bounced off the left upright and ricocheted through, and I won 25-23. Pandemonium ensued. Ain't we got fun?

1. Tecmo Super Bowl for NES

I don't think this game will ever die. It was still the game of choice in my dorm, five years after its release. There's still many Internet leagues. I remember thinking that I was hot applesauce after rushing Barry Sanders for 523 yards in a game (I also got Merton Hanks 6 interceptions in a game). Yet because I rarely or never played as the Raiders, I didn't know until college the legend that is Bo Jackson in this game. I watched one of my dormmates play as the Raiders, get himself sacked at his own 1 every time he got the ball, and running a 99-yard touchdown on the ensuing play each time.

As the offense, you picked a play, and as defense, you also picked an offensive play, trying to guess which one your opponent selected. If you guessed right, your defense would swarm and sack the quarterback (or nail the running back if it was a running play) for a big loss.

Only Bo Jackson could get out of a defense-guessed-right jam.

We would schedule tournaments, and it seems I always got the last pick of the team-selection draft, meaning I would constantly have to face the Raiders with some inferior team and get smoked. It was never close, always a disasterbacle.

It turns out, it's not even that hard to maneuver him (and others) to make him untackleable. In real life, Jackson says fans want to talk about his amazing video game character more than his actual real-life feats. I can't say I blame those fans.

Posted by Kevin Beane at 11:56 AM | Comments (1)

July 2, 2008

NYC, Yankees Redefine Crookery

Just prior to the beginning of this 2008 Major League Baseball season, this writer wrote an article titled MLB Goes To Harlem Seeking Welfare, primarily examining the deceit and misappropriation of funds, regarding the new Yankee Stadium project.

It referenced the public entitlements that MLB will be receiving from the City of New York in the form of public financing and incentives, including a direct cash payment to MLB to the tune of $5 million in order to lure the tenancy of its new baseball broadcast network offices into a new high-rise building in the historic neighborhood of Harlem.

Since that time, in March 2008, the New York City Council has approved and ratified the complete rezoning of the entirety of Harlem in order to level up to 76 neighborhood businesses and residences, to completely and forever change the skyline of this once hallowed neighborhood.

The rezoning will provide for the construction of buildings over 20 stories high and is a boon for big businesses looking to cash in on lower real estate costs, especially in light of the present mortgage crisis and with property values in flux.

That prior report also discussed the parameters and arrangements of the initial public financing of both new stadiums for the NY Yankees and the NY Mets, set to be ready for Opening Day 2009 and both beneficiaries of such funding.

But upon further inspection, in addition to now realized and disclosed cost-overruns by the NY Yankees just recently, these rather complex and in some cases unorthodox arrangements extended the Yankees by the City of NY date back to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's administration in the mid-'90s.

And as recently as mid-June 2008, the Yankees are looking for even more handouts from NYC and New York State taxpayers between $350-400 million in funds, bringing the total and final cost of the new Yankee Stadium to nearly $2 billion, up from the its current total of $1.3 billion. And of the $2 billion, the majority would be funded either directly or indirectly by public subsidies.

But the machinations of the funding as well construction costs are now just part of the story and now includes both ongoing federal and state investigations on a multitude of issues where there is no shortage of actors in this drama.

One would think that the NY Yankees new stadium would not necessitate so many state and federal agencies and investigations, including nefarious characters involved in this script, no better suited for Broadway.

However, the new Yankee Stadium construction now includes the issues of graft within City Hall, including the former Giuliani administration, the hiring of state and federal lobbyists of both the U.S. Congress and the Internal Revenue Service, a state probe of construction fraud and violations, a Manhattan District Attorney's office racketeering investigation, an FBI probe, the Seminole Indian Tribe — with its own federal problems — and the lack of oversight by the NYC Economic Development Corporation, the NYC Buildings Department, the NYC Parks Department, as well as the NY Yankees.

In order to simplify, this part of the series discusses the involvement of the New York State legislature, as well as the IRS. The next article will delve into the more involved details concerning NYC and the NY Yankees organization and how both of their interactions and deals have led to all of their various conflict-of-interest scenarios.

What got the ire of the NY State legislature was perhaps best described by NY State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions. "These decisions are being made in secret, in these Soviet-style meetings and it is outrageous." Brodsky was referring to a meeting between the NY Yankees and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration and its Economic Development Corporation office.

It was revealed that NYC is seeking relief from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to receive a special waiver from a law that the IRS amended in 2006 concerning the amount of tax-exempt bonds that may be allotted for the public financing of sports stadium facilities.

The Yankees' argument is that the amendment should be waived retroactive to 2004, when the original agreement with NYC was finalized. However, over $940 million in tax-exempt bonds have already have been floated for Yankee stadium alone.

With the NY State legislature's shortfalls in its present annual budget, Brodsky, among other legislators, feel that the $60-70 million in lost NYC, as a direct result of issuing more tax-exempt bonds, could be better spent on its infrastructure in desperate need of repairs.

Similarly, the United States Congress has gotten involved, as both NYC as well as the NY Yankees have hired lobbyists to get face time with various members of Congress serving on various finance committees who may have influence over the IRS and input in its special consideration of the NY Yankees.

But certain members of Congress believe such would set a terrible precedent for sports stadium construction all over the nation and that there was good reason for reeling in the financial structuring of such ventures, especially at a time when states are considerably strapped for cash.

Among the amenities that the NY Yankees claim they need the additional financing for is a larger video scoreboard. It is curious as to why in June 2008 that the NY Yankees all of a sudden had a need to enlarge the scoreboard decided upon a few years ago in its finalized plans. Could it be that over the winter the Kansas City Royals installed a new scoreboard at Kauffman Stadium which is now the largest of its kind in North America?

If there were not so many serious issues involved in this whole matter, it certainly would be comical. But this is past the point of amusement. It is but greed, abuse of power, and thievery in the dead of night all on the backs of New York residents and that which has potential national ramifications for all of professional sports.

As we will see in the next report, you cannot make this stuff up!

Posted by Diane M. Grassi at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)

July 1, 2008

NBA Free Agency Frenzy

Free agency in the NBA started today with the Sixers, Grizzlies, and Warriors having the most money to spend. There is not a whole lot to be excited about with this year's group. Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas, and Corey Maggette are about the only real difference-makers available on the unrestricted list.

I think Davis and Maggette are as good as gone. Davis is probably still upset over being benched for the entire second half in a late season game against the Suns. Besides, the Warriors really see restricted free agent Monta Ellis as the future anyway and they would rather match any offer he gets in lieu of placating Davis and giving him the money that he wants. Davis is supposedly lobbying for a sign-and-trade that would send him to the Knicks, though I don't know what the Knicks could offer aside from potential picks and Marbury's contract, which expires after the upcoming season.

Maggette has supposedly butted heads with coach Mike Dunleavy since day one and I doubt he has any interest in staying with the Clippers. It is being rumored that Orlando is his top choice as of right now, but the Magic would have to agree to do a sign-and-trade in order to fit him under the cap and I don't really see who they would be willing to part with at this point to get him.

Brand supposedly is intent on staying in L.A., but the Sixers are supposedly going to make a competitive offer to see if they can lure him to Philly.

Arenas supposedly wants a max deal and it was being reported on SportsCenter last night that the Wiz are willing to give him $100 milliom over six years. Arenas is a bit of a dicey proposition. When healthy, he is as good of a scorer as there is in the league, but unfortunately, he was only healthy enough to appear in 13 games last year. Do you take the risk of signing him to a big deal, hoping his knee gets back to where he can give you 38 to 40 minutes a night, or do you try to sign him to shorter contract?

One name of interest to keep an eye on from the unrestricted list is Gerald Green. He is only 22 and looked poised to have a breakout year after averaging 10 points in 22 minutes a game coming off the bench for the Celtics in the '06-'07 season. He got buried on the bench in Minnesota and never got the chance to show what he could do out there. I think he could be a 15-20 ppg scorer on the right team next year and he could end up being a steal of a signing for someone since he is going to command relatively low salary.

The restricted list has a few more intriguing names with the likes of Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Jose Calderon, Luol Deng, Monta Ellis, and Ben Gordon on the list.

Igoudala may be the best of the bunch here and according to ESPN's Chad Ford, he is coveted by the Grizz, though I have to think that has changed a bit after last week's draft. They look to have O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay playing the two and three respectively next year, so signing Iguodala to a deal worth in the neighborhood of $10 million a year makes no sense given the big need to find someone to play under the rim. I suspect the interest in him has waned a bit given his overwhelmingly mediocre performance against Detroit in the playoffs.

The Sixers are supposedly going to make a run at Smith if they cannot lure Brand away from the Clippers.

Since Okafor is the only legit post player they have, the Bobcats will surely match any offer that comes Okafor's way unless they are truly intent on blowing this all up and trying to land the top pick in next summer's draft.

Given that the Raptors just agreed to move T. J. Ford to Indy, they will surely match any offer made to Calderon.

And given that Monte Ellis has only gotten better every year he has been in the league, is only 22, and Baron Davis has one foot out the door, the Warriors will certainly match any offer Ellis gets.

The Bulls, meanwhile, will likely make every effort to hang onto Deng just because he plays the three and plays defense. My guess on Gordon is that they will move him with a sign-and-trade deal. With Larry Hughes and Kirk Hinrich already under contract and the addition of Derrick Rose to the mix, they don't really have a strong need for Gordon and I see them packaging him with one of their young forwards like Joakim Noah or Tyrus Thomas in an effort to secure a more established post player/rebounder.

Posted by Eric Engberg at 2:15 PM | Comments (0)

Wimbledon: Grass or Green Clay?

Maybe it's just me, the way I think. Or maybe it's not. I have been sitting here watching Wimbledon now for a week and I am in shear disbelief. My Wimbledon was ruined after the second round.

No, my tournament wasn't ruined because I lost both Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova in the first week, and then Jelena Jankovic to start week two. I'll admit it is a huge loss, as both Ana and Maria succumbed to opponents much less talented and experienced as themselves and the loss of the top three seeds this early is just way too much to handle. I may never recover fully from watching their exits from the tourney.

No, my tournament wasn't ruined by the loss of both Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic also in the first week, although it is peculiar that on grass, the surface that favors the powerful and those with complete games, both of these players fell early and easily.

No, my tournament wasn't ruined by the charge of Marat Safin to the second week, albeit that rarely happens and it gives the Marat Safin Mafia too much joy. Nor is the fact that Feliciano Lopez happens to be in the round of 16 what is making me unhappy.

What has ruined it all for me, and what has brought me to this point is the audacity of the powers of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) to insist that they have not changed the playing conditions here to favor the clay-court players. As recently as Sunday, the AELTC on Wimbledon.org had a story about how the conditions of the courts haven't really changed. They offer no specific evidence, but they said, "It would not be Wimbledon if, every year, people did not complain that the courts are getting slower, and more like clay. But there is no evidence to suggest these claims are accurate."

In dissecting the story first, I see that most of the discussion is focused on the fact that the courts and balls haven't changed in the past 13 years. That is interesting in itself. It hides the fact that there have been changes from the heyday of the sport, the late 1970s and early 1980s. Until the mid-1990s, clay-courters, with the exception of Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander, rarely made it into the second week. Many clay-court specialists even skipped the grass court season because of the playing characteristics of grass and especially Wimbledon. To quote ATP Tour veteran Jonas Bjorkman, "There was a time when clay-court specialists wouldn't even make the trip," he said after losing to Rafael Nadal at Queens Club just prior to the start of The Championships, Wimbledon.

Balls changed from white to yellow in 1986 at the AELTC, then in 2000 Slazenger introduced an "ultra-high visibility yellow ball" for use at the tournament. The tournament acknowledges that the balls are delivered in vats prepared two weeks in advance of the tournament, but continues to claim that the balls are the same as when they were provided in pressurized cans. As an engineer, I'm very skeptical. Tim Henman, the last great Brit to grace the lawns of AELTC with a serve and volley style, himself noted several times in the past couple of years that the balls lost their liveliness quicker and had less life in them after just a few games.

Wimbledon officials admit that the lawns are groomed differently, although they try to down play the effect. "In 2001, experts advised the Wimbledon groundsmen to change the court surfaces to 100 percent perennial ryegrass, which is stronger and more hard-wearing than the previous mix..." Previously, the courts were a mixture of mix of 70% rye and 30% creeping red fescue. The rye grass chosen for the courts is more durable and withstands the two weeks of abuse better, but it grows more upright, catching the ball more firmly and helping it slow down. With the change in grass, the court maintenance changed, as well.

First, the grass is cut slightly higher. This allows more of the ball-catching effect. Second, the grass requires less water, so the soil surface top layer is harder and more compact, allowing a much higher bounce. The soil mix is rarely talked about, but you can slow the court down even more by varying the amounts of sand and clay in the mixture. Grass courts are rolled with rollers that typically weight between 500 and 1,000 pounds. I'm guessing that they might be rolling the courts at higher weights to compact the soil even more. Probably true, as the moisture requirement of the soil to maintain the fescue-rye mix of the 1970s and 1980s would not allow a very heavy roller.

Head groundskeeper Eddie Seaward says it best, "Soil does compact a little over the fortnight, so the courts will become slightly harder over the course of the tournament. Soil compaction makes the ball bounce higher so it appears that the players have more time. And it gives a truer bounce, so the ball does not skid through, which also creates the perception that things are slower." He's right about the bounce, but I'm not sure he is being completely honest that the courts only appear to be slower.

I have spoken to many players and coaches who are at Wimbledon, and there seems to be a consensus that the courts are playing more like clay and I think the results this year say it all. Feliciano Lopez into the round of 16. Andreas Seppi of Italy making a match of it with Marat Safin, four very close sets before Safin pulled it out. Andy Roddick falling to Janko Tipsarevic. Simone Belelli, also of Italy, dispatching Fernando Gonzalez, a skilled grass court player who on his own nearly destroyed the U.S. in a Davis Cup match on the grass. Rafa Nadal crushing players like he does on clay. On the women's side, even more evident. Not one of the women who defeated the top three seeds is known for their power, serve, or volley. Yet they managed to win by slugging from the baseline. Sounds like clay court tennis to me.

Roger Federer, look out. They are stacking the cards against you. Conditions here clearly favor Nadal. Better brush up on your clay court game. You may not be as invincible here now.

The luster of Wimbledon for me this fortnight is gone, but for now, Wimbledon is still my nirvana. So I'll finish my tournament the way I always do. Don't bother calling or writing me on Saturday or Sunday morning, as I'll be sharing the women's and men's finals with my girl, Suzanne Paquette, a bucket of strawberries and cream, and a perfectly chilled bottle of Moet.

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 11:05 AM | Comments (8)