All on the Field sports blog

It's all or nothing for Sexson in the Bronx

2008-07-17T18:20:00.001-07:00

Even as Richie Sexson stumbled through a second consecutive abysmal season, I was part of a minority of baseball fans who believed he still has some good baseball left in him.

The numbers (.218 BA, 76 strikeouts, and just 30 RBIs) are terrible and the swings have been ugly, but Sexson is not yet 34, and he's just two years removed from a 34 HR, 107 RBI season.

Which is exactly why the Yankees took a chance on him. That, and he's fared well against lefties this year.

Sexson's problems, though, seem to have little to do with his physical abilities and a whole lot to do with his psyche. As the great Yogi Berra once said, "Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical."

I was convinced that a change of scenery would do Sexson a lot of good. Arizona, for example, made a lot of sense as a destination. He played well there in limited action in 2004, and a chance to return to National League pitching would likely be beneficial.

But New York?! If Sexson thought Seattle was bad, wait until he goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts! It's a low risk move for New York, which has more than enough money to throw around. If Sexson doesn't work out, they cut him and they're done with him. But if Sexson flounders again in the Bronx, he will significantly hurt his stock as a free agent this offseason.

Here's predicting Sexson isn't on the Yankees' postseason roster.

David Eckstein on the art of winning fans and influencing people

2008-07-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

I was at the Mariners-Blue Jays game last night, and besides the fact that Roy Halladay is a dominating pitcher and Canadian fans are obnoxious, I made an interesting observation.

David Eckstein is not just a scrappy baseball player, but he's also a genuinely good guy.

An hour or so before the game, Eckstein signed dozens autograph and posed for every picture with fans along the third base line. Two or three times he had turned back toward the field to begin his stretching routine, only to be drawn back by another youngster who wanted his glove signed by a real live Major Leaguer.

No one else from either team was out interacting with fans at that point, and with a game looming you can't exactly blame them. But there was Eckstein, the Ex-Factor in all his shortness, making people's days.

That's how heroes are born.

Tiger's absence: good or bad for the sport?

2008-06-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Nice piece by Rick Morrissey in the Chicago Tribune, outlining all the reasons why Tiger missing the rest of the season is bad news for the PGA.

Namely, less people in the galleries, fewer people tuning into each tournament -- even the majors -- and as a result, less money for everyone connected with the sport. That is, except for the rest of the golfers on the PGA, who stand to benefit greatly. Think of all the extra prize money available with Tiger home on the La-Z-Boy!

But, as Morrissey points out, each of the tournament winners will have a figurative asterisk by their name, and the sports world will wonder how things had been different if Woods had played. Tiger, we can all agree, has become the standard.

Morrissey's arguments are all good and true, but I wonder if Tiger's absence might not be a good thing indirectly. We have all waited (thus far, in vain) for a worthy nemesis to emerge in the world of golf. Tiger, though, has kept the petal to the metal and no other golfer has been able to string together much of a challenge.

Now that's he's gone, though, perhaps a young, underachieving golfer can find his game, his personality, and his confidence. Sergio Garcia, for example, is long past due for such a renaissance. Phil Mickelson might find the fire in his belly after all. What about Zach Johnson?

It could be that in Woods' absence golf will become once again a sport of parity, and when he returns it will seem as if nothing has changed. We can only hope that's not the case, but if so, the brief interruption to Tiger's reign of dominance will seem like a blip on the radar.

Bavasi, Randolph take the fall...did they deserve it?

2008-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Two underachieving teams finally decided it was time to do something. One placed the blame with the general manager, the other with the manager.

Mariners GM Bill Bavasi and Mets manager Willie Randolph, scapegoats for their respective franchises, have been fired.

Bavasi was fired Monday after four-plus unsuccessful seasons. Seattle had one winning record and never made it to the playoffs under his leadership. His head-scratching moves included trading promising reliever Rafael Soriano for bust of the decade starter Horacio Ramirez. Bavasi also cut a struggling Brad Wilkerson just months after signing the right fielder to a $3 million contract.

But Bavasi will forever be linked to the deals that brought in Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, two contracts that have saddled the Mariners' payroll but never brought the returns Bavasi expected.

At 24-46, Seattle is the worst of the worst despite its $117 million payroll.

The Mets, meanwhile, have underachieved just as mightily. Their $138 payroll and the addition of Johan Santana had many believing this was a team that was World Series-bound. But 69 games into the season, New York finds itself under .500 and trailing two teams in the NL East.

After mulling the decision apparently all night, the Mets gave Randolph the pink slip in the middle of the night. Pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto were also let go.

This all leads me to something I've been pondering the last couple of weeks. When a team underperforms, who really is to blame? Is firing the manager -- who simply fills in the lineup card and tries to set the tone in the clubhouse -- an appropriate response? Does the general manager, who makes personnel decisions, deserve the blame when things don't pan out?

What about the players? Except for Sidney Ponson, you don't see too many guys told to take a hike. But in reality, the players are the ones not coming up with the clutch hit or failing to produce a quality start.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts in the comments or in the poll to the right.

House foundational to Celtics' comeback

2008-06-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

There were many keys to the Celtics' come-from-behind victory Thursday night, but there's one that sticks out like the shine on Sam Cassell's forehead.

When Boston needed a spark from its bench, Eddie House was the man for the job.

The Celtics' backup guard scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in 24 minutes -- modest numbers, to be sure. But he brought something to the table that has been absent with Cassell in the same role. With the energetic House on the floor, the Celtics had a +20 point differential, the largest for any player on either team.

House had only a DNP to show for each of the first two games in Boston; Cassell was mediocre in limited action (though it seemed like he shot every time he touched the ball), but the Celtics didn't need much from him. But Rivers gave House a decent look in Game 3 and further integrated him into the game plan in Game 4.

If you're wondering what took Rivers so long, you're not alone.

Cassell has had a great career that includes two NBA titles, but the man is pushing 39 and clearly on his way out of the league. House is a 30-year old role player and hasn't won a championship, but you can tell he's starting to taste it. He's hungrier.

More than likely, this series has at least two games left. When the backup minutes are there, House should get them.

Donaghy alleges NBA Playoffs conspiracy

2008-06-11T06:25:00.001-07:00

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is a scumbag, and his actions were worse than anything Pete Rose ever did.

But that doesn't make Donaghy a liar by default.

The former referee's attorney filed an allegation in New York's U.S. District Court Tuesday, saying referees played an active role in fixing the outcome of critical playoff games.

"Tim knew referees A and F to be 'company men,'" the attorney letter read, "always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series."

The series in question is 2002 Western Conference Finals, in which Los Angeles won Games 6 and 7 to beat the Kings. In the critical Game 6, the Lakers shot 27 free throws to the Kings' nine in the fourth quarter alone.

"Referees A and F heavily favored [the Lakers]. Personal fouls [resulting in obviously injured players] were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees. Conversely, the referees called made-up fouls on [Sacramento] in order to give additional free throw opportunities for [the Lakers].

As fans of the game, we'd prefer to dismiss Donaghy's statement as a last-ditch effort to bring others down with him. But even in this NBA Finals, six years later, the tenor of Donaghy's words seems to ring true.

In Game 2, the home team Celtics shot 38 free throws to the Lakers' 10. In Game 3 in Los Angeles, the shoe was on the other foot, with the Lakers taking 34 trips to the line to Boston's 22. Attribute it to a difference in aggression levels, if you like, but the standard for a foul seemed to have drastically changed on the cross-country flight.

Home court advantage is always talked about as such a crucial component to success in the playoffs, and the fan mood undoubtedly has some influence on the outcomes of games. But Donaghy's accusations make me wonder if home court means you also get a little help from the officiating as needed.

Anything for a seven-game series, right?

Griffey's 600th less watched, but more praiseworthy than Bonds' 756

2008-06-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

If Ken Griffey, Jr. hit career home run #600 but only 16,003 people were there to see it, does that mean it doesn't matter?

More than 22,000 sports fans passed on the chance to witness history at Dolphin Stadium Monday night, when Griffey joined an exclusive club. Only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa are members.

The story made the front page of ESPN.com and Yahoo! Sports (both sites featured a "Sweet 600" headline -- who's the mole?!), but where has all the buildup been? Where was the buzz?

For one, I think we're all experiencing a little milestone fatigue. We were all force fed Bonds' pursuit of 756, a chase that left most fans with a sour taste in their mouths. And fans were well aware of Manny Ramirez reaching the 500 milestone just over a week ago.

Maybe the bigger factor in our collective disinterest, though, is cynicism. The Mitchell Report (now that was an event that earned some buildup) taught us to disbelieve what we see on SportsCenter, and that many -- perhaps most -- of the greatest sluggers of our generation are also cheaters.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that Griffey is clean and always has been. You will never convince me that Griffey's 600 is the same as Sosa's 600. I would even go so far as to say that his 600 is more significant than Bonds' 756. Before Bonds, only Aaron, Ruth, and Mays -- three of the greatest of all time -- had hit 600. You can make the argument that he belongs in that company even without the benefit of steroids, but we can never know for sure.

Griffey, though (again, assuming he's clean), can rightfully stake his claim to presence in that elite company with tonight's home run. Home run #600 is not a record, not by anyone's counting. But it's a major milestone, achieved fair and square, by a good guy and one of baseball's all-time greats.

AP PHOTO

No Shake for You! Celebration costs Uruguayan handshake at French Open

2008-06-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

Doubles tennis doesn't usually make headlines, which is a shame, because it's just as much a part of the sport as singles (and more fun to watch, in my opinion).

But semi-famous American doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan made the news at the French Open when they refused to shake their opponents' hands following a three-set loss in the quarterfinals.

Trailing 5-1 in the third set tiebreaker, the Bryans were miffed when opponent Pablo Cuevas celebrated by leaping over the net. In case you're wondering, the more orthodox and civilized way is to walk around the net post, taking a swig of your Evian water while you're at it.

The Bryans took umbrage: "He was really disrespectful," Mike said. "He jumped the net right in our face. It's classless." The brothers punished Cuevas the only way they knew how, by refusing to shake his hand after the match, and I'm guessing no hugs were exchanged, either. Cuevas seemed to be OK with that.

"Maybe I celebrated a little too much. But it's worth it," he said. "It's not every day you beat the No. 1 team."

Not very classy behavior by either doubles team, if you ask me. Hopping the net is juvenile and should be reserved for a Saturday morning practice session, but the Bryans could have easily risen above the fray by giving their excited opponent a pass.

It can't get much lower for the Rockies

2008-06-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

We've heard all about how weird of a baseball season it's been so far, and who am I to argue?

Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League but still can't convince anyone there to see it for themselves, the Yankees are struggling just to stay out of the cellar, and the Cubs have the best record in the Majors. (They're the Cubs, though, so disaster is bound to strike eventually.)

But what I haven't heard many people talking about is the Colorado Rockies, the team that swept through the NL playoffs last year and seemed poised to at least duke it out with the Diamondbacks for tops in the West this year. Fifty-seven games into the season, though -- this year's more than 1/3 over, folks -- Colorado looks like the worst team in baseball.

Perhaps the lowest of lows came Friday afternoon when the Rockies surged to a 9-1 lead over the Cubs after five innings. Even at Wrigley, an eight run lead should be safe. Chicago rallied for three in the sixth and six in the seventh, and just like that, Colorado snatched defeat from the jaws of victory: the second in a four game sweep at Wrigley, and the fifth of seven straight.

Why the sudden turnaround, less than a year after the Rockies seemed to be building a dynasty? Three reasons, as I can see it (though there may be more).

First and foremost, it seems that last year was an aberration, not this. Before reeling off 14 of 15 to steal the Wild Card last season, the Rockies were 76-72. Respectable, but not outstanding. They got hot at just the right time, and their streak extended through the NLDS and NLCS. But let's not forget that Colorado finished last in the West in 2005 and 2006.

Second, the Rockies' pitching has been atrocious. The team ERA is 5.05, worst in the Majors. Jeff Francis, who was supposed to be the team ace, is 1-5 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Aaron Cook (7-3, 3.36) is the only starter who's been decent, but even he had a rough day Friday, coughing up seven runs in the Cubs' comeback.

Lastly, they've been without Troy Tulowitzki essentially the whole season. Tulo was off to a crummy start when he tore his quadriceps at the end of April. Without his leadership and energy on the field and in the clubhouse, this club is going to struggle. Injuries to Matt Holliday, Clint Barmes, and Brad Hawpe haven't helped, either.

Colorado proved last season that it has some streak in it, and with the crazy things I've seen so far this year, I'm not going to count them out. But at 12 games back and with four teams to pass, it's a long road to the top.

On Vacation!

2008-05-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone. I'm leaving this morning for vacation, so no blog posts for me until the first week of June. I suppose events in the sports world will just have to unfold without my being here to analyze them.

The wrong kind of chin music

2008-05-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest critiques of the anti-metal bat movement sweeping the country is that it's primarily based upon anecdotal evidence. The hard data, people say, will show you that metal bats are no more dangerous than wood bats.

Try telling that to the family of a Lacey, Washington high school sophomore whose jaw was shattered by a rocket off an Easton Stealth Composite. The kid will spend the next 2-4 months with his jaws wired shut, could lose two teeth, and will know for the rest of his life that he was spared from death by millimeters.

I wrote a story for today's Olympian on the nearly tragic event and a sidebar on the player's parents asking for a change in the rules. Check them out, if you like.

In preparing to write the story, I recalled a blog entry I wrote months ago on this very subject. In it I said,

"If you take the metal bats away from baseball, kids and young adults will still sustain serious injuries and even death due to batted balls, simply because the nature of such events is so unforeseen. It's about being in the exactly wrong place at exactly the wrong time."

There is truth to the notion, but it's hard not to be persuaded when you're sitting in front of a kid whose jaws are wired shut and parents filled with fear and anger.

Is home court a self-fulfilling prophecy?

2008-05-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

If you ask me, these NBA playoffs have become a little too predictable. Like top-tier tennis players slugging it out, holding serve until the set reaches a tiebreaker, the remaining teams seem invincible on their home courts.

When the series swaps cities, though, Dr. Jekyll stays home and Mr. Hyde doesn't seem to travel well.

Throughout the regular season, NBA teams playing at home were
769-491 (.611 winning percentage), but keep in mind that includes Miami and Seattle, which were woeful wherever they played. In the Conference Semifinals the home team is 11-1 (.917), with the only defeat coming to the Magic at the hands of the Pistons.

I understand that at home the fans are booing instead of cheering, and players can shoot free throws without the distraction of waving balloons or cowbells. And it makes sense that sleeping in your own bed and preparing in your own locker room and playing on your own home floor give somewhat of an advantage.

But I'm starting to wonder if the expectation of winning at home -- and by extension, losing on the road -- is as great a factor as any. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Home teams are supposed to win, so they play more focused, intelligent and physical basketball. Away teams are supposed to lose, so they loosen up the screws a bit, maybe try something different, and the net result is sloppy and/or lethargic play.

My theory is a little bit "out there," so I'd be interested in any other explanations for what we've seen in the last couple of weeks. In the meantime, excuse me while I watch the Hornets win Game 5.

Time for Houston to end the Bourn Experiment

2008-05-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a riddle for the Houston Astros to chew on: how valuable is an incredible base runner that rarely reaches base?

When the Astros acquired Michael Bourn as part of the deal that sent Brad Lidge to Philadelphia, it seemed like a great fit. Bourn was born and raised in Houston, played at the University of Houston, and was originally drafted (but not signed) by the Astros.

Most of all, Houston envisioned a spark plug at the top of the order, a speedy center fielder who could get on and steal bases.

So far Bourn has fulfilled only the less important of the two expectations: he leads the Majors in stolen bases with 17, but that's only because he steals just about every time he reaches base. In 34 games, Bourn is hitting .198 with an OBP of .269.

Make no mistake about it, Bourn's base stealing abilities are outstanding: he hasn't been caught once. But an 0-4 every third night -- and a 1-4 or 1-5 on the other two -- just doesn't get the job done. Among regular Major League leadoff hitters, Bourn ranks near the bottom with just 16 runs scored. Rafael Furcal has 34, and even a slow-starting Ichiro has 26. Teammate Lance Berkman has a Major League-leading 40.

Houston is playing some great baseball at this stage of the season, so it's easy enough to overlook Bourn's struggles. But at some point, a "slow start" or an "early-season slump" are no longer fair descriptors for plain ineptitude.

If the Astros plan to make a run at the NL Central, they need to end the Bourn Experiment sooner rather than later. Let Hunter Pence play center and bat leadoff, and use Bourn in the role best suited for his talents: pinch runner.

Michael Bourn (Wikipedia)
Michael Bourn Statistics (Baseball Reference)

If you're looking for innings, Livan Hernandez is still your man

2008-05-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

Say what you want about Livan Hernandez -- he's pudgy, he's got average stuff, and there's no way he's only 33 years old -- but the man is an innings eater.

Hernandez has been traded or cast away by four teams now, but when the dust settles, there he is, pitching late into games every fifth day. He was at it again Wednesday night, tossing a complete game victory over the White Sox to improve to 5-1 for the Twins, who now look brilliant for signing him for peanuts ($5 million with up to $2 million in incentives) in the offseason.

The strange thing about Hernandez is that he's really never been a dominating pitcher. Decent stuff, but never great; just ask the players who've taken him deep 279 times since 1996. His 4.24 career ERA is pedestrian, as is his 1.42 WHIP, but he always takes the ball and rarely relinquishes it before the seventh inning.

Since 1998, Hernandez leads the majors in innings pitched with 2,324. Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens are distant competitors. Granted, Innings Pitched is a simple stat that doesn't tell the whole story, as evidenced by his 126 losses -- or almost 12 per year -- over that time period.

But ask a manager with a tired bullpen how he feels about five earned runs in eight innings from his starter, and I bet he'll say he'd take it. That's Hernandez, though to be fair, he's often better than that. Even with a .500 record most seasons, Hernandez is an asset to any pitching rotation.

That Hernandez does it not only night after night, but also year after year -- seemingly without time off for injuries -- is all the more remarkable. Since 1998, Hernandez lowest start total is 30 games. Are you listening, Josh Beckett?

It seems that Hernandez's average stuff and seemingly cavalier attitude have turned off some of the teams he's played for. San Francisco, for instance, seemed convinced that Hernandez was over the hill after he bombed in the 2002 World Series, and they shipped him to Montreal for Jim Brower in 2003.

Think they'd like to have that one back? The later Nationals traded Hernandez, though, and Arizona let him walk after last season. Hernandez has responded to his sendoffs in the only way he knows: he just keeps pitching.

Livan Hernandez Statistics (Baseball Reference)

Yankees, Sox fans exemplify worst in sports rivalries

2008-05-06T06:32:00.000-07:00

Sports rivalries are all fun and games until someone decides to "take this outside."

A Yankees fan who found herself among throngs of Red Sox fans at a New Hampshire bar has been charged with the reckless second-degree murder of one of her hecklers. When an argument over whose team was the best made its way outside, Ivonne Hernandez got into her car, pointed it toward a crowd of Red Sox fans, and gunned it.

Matthew Beaudoin, 29, was struck by her vehicle and later died of massive head trauma.

It all started innocently enough, when Hernandez walked into enemy territory and announced her loyalties. Probably a bad idea, but if you've got the stomach for it, you could have a lot of fun with the bantering. But with alcohol also involved, the bantering eventually became heated.

What Ms. Hernandez did was wrong in every way, and she will deserve whatever sentence she receives. But each Red Sox fan that poked and prodded her along the way, and especially those that followed her outside, share in the blame for what happens. And cold as it may sound, that includes Mr. Beaudoin.

Roger Clemens is sorry, but for what?

2008-05-05T05:59:00.000-07:00

For all his high-ranking Republican friends, Roger Clemens took a page right out of Bill Clinton's book Sunday.

Clemens issued a heartfelt "no apology" apology to his family and the public via a statement to the Houston Chronicle. He was sincere, remorseful, and managed to avoid admitting -- and even went so far as denying -- the accusations levied against him about a supposed decade-long affair with country singer Mindy McCready.

"I know that many people want to know what I have to say about the recent articles in the media," Clemens said. "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry. I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right."

So Roger, what specifically are those mistakes? What flaws do you have that you'd be willing to unveil to the public? Nice try, but he's not going down that easy.

"I realize that many people want me to simply confess and apologize for the conduct that I have been accused of, but I cannot confess to, nor apologize for, things I did not do. I have apologized to my family for my mistakes. And having offered this apology to the public, I would ask that you let me and my family deal with these matters in private."

The delusions of innocence continue unhindered, I suppose. Clemens has clearly told these stories so many times that he now believes them, and he continues to invite us to join him in his fantasy land.

Inside the mind of Barry Zito, baseball's most overpaid long reliever

2008-04-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Baseball's highest paid starter can add a new title to his resume: highest paid long reliever.

A slumping Barry Zito, 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, was demoted from the San Francisco rotation Monday. The move, which the Giants hope to be short-term, is intended to give Zito the space he needs to pull his head out of wherever he's managed to lodge it.

Without any specific injuries to point to, we can only assume that the source of Zito's problems is his mind. And since we can only guess as to what might actually be going on in there, let's take a look at Zito's wisdom after his starts this season.

4/27 (3 IP, 8 ER, 7 H, 3 BB vs. Cincinnati): “I definitely want the ball. I’m not backing down from that,” Zito said. “But they know what’s best for the ballclub. It feels (bad) going out here and losing for these guys.”
4/23 (3.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB vs. Arizona): “I take all the blame here,” Zito said. “Our guys came out, did what they had to do against a good pitcher and I was unable to hold them down.”

4/16 (6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 5 BB vs. Arizona): “I know I have good stuff in me and it will serve us eventually,” he said. “Stick with my approach, keep going out there with my head up. You can’t get down. Baseball is fun, even though it doesn’t seem fun sometimes.”

4/6 (5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 2 BB vs. Milwaukee): “The results aren’t what I want, but I made a lot better pitches consistently and got ahead consistently,” Zito said. “Got to work on keeping that ball true instead of having it come back.”

3/31 (5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 1 BB vs. Los Angeles): “I wanted to come out here and start off the season on a good note, but that first inning got out of hand. If I could take a couple of pitches back, it’s a one-run game.”

Thanks for the pearls, Barry. Now how about some outs?

Tyler Hansbrough must really want a national championship

2008-04-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Tyler Hansbrough has announced he'll be staying for his senior year at North Carolina.

The AP national player of the year, who averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, has decided to stick around and pick up his degree. That, and take one more shot at the national championship.

The siren song of the NBA draft has already lured the likes of OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley, and DJ Augustin. Hansbrough's teammates Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will also declare for the draft but do not plan to hire agents, so a return to North Carolina is still possible.

The sky is the limit for Mayo and Beasley, who fared well in their season-long auditions for the NBA. But Hansbrough, tremendous heart and toughness notwithstanding, is still 6'9" post man that will never dominate at the next level.

That's why this decision makes sense. Why jump prematurely into a journeyman career? Hansbrough will put up more solid numbers next season, maybe get that coveted championship if Lawson and Ellington change their minds, and still be a mid-first round draft pick in 2009. And if an NBA career really doesn't pan out, Hansbrough will have a college degree in his back pocket.

Kudos to Hansbrough for putting the money on hold while he pursues things that matter more.

Shaun Alexander cut by Seahawks as the "Madden Curse" continues

2008-04-23T06:43:00.001-07:00

It really shouldn't surprise us anymore when something bad happens to a former Madden cover man.

We all know the sad endings of Garrison Hearst and Michael Vick, and Daunte Culpepper hasn't exactly panned out as expected, either. Several others have had injuries in the season after they lent their image to the world's hottest sports video game franchise.

But this really shouldn't surprise anyone: the Seahawks have severed ties with Shaun Alexander. Two seasons removed from his MVP year -- 28 touchdowns 1,880 yards and a trip to the Super Bowl -- and a $60 million dollar contract, Alexander is a man without a team.

Seahawks release former MVP Alexander (ESPN.com)
Madden Curse (Wikipedia)

Steinbrenner to world: Joba Chamberlain belongs in the rotation!

2008-04-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

If there was ever any doubt, let's put it to rest now: Hank Steinbrenner is a chip off the old block.

Steinbrenner made headlines again yesterday, announcing that it was time for Joba Chamberlain to enter the starting rotation.

"I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now," Steinbrenner told the New York Times. "There is no question about it, you don't have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a set-up guy. You just don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that."

There are two problems with the statement. First, Steinbrenner is wrong. The Yankees have an assigned Chamberlain an innings limit, and if they plugged him into the rotation now, they would have to shut him down come September. No one, except maybe the Red Sox, wants that.

But even if he was right -- blind squirrels have been known to stumble upon the odd acorn -- Steinbrenner isn't in charge of personnel decisions. His job is to help supply the cash, steer the team in a general direction, and keep his nose out of Brian Cashman's and Joe Girardi's business.

Cashman, for his part, held his ground and diffused the potentially tense situation.

"Joba's staying in the bullpen right now," Cashman told Newsday. "That's where we're at. [Putting him in the rotation is] not something that's going to happen here early on, and [Hank] knows that. We've talked about it. I don't know what set him off."

Well said, Cashman. You can tell the man has dealt with Steinbrenners before. Girardi, though, has to be scratching his head right about now. What was so bad about the Orioles' job again?

Hank wants Joba to start (Newsday)
Chamberlain will start, later than sooner (NY Times)

MLB Power Rankings - 4/20

2008-04-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

I'm participating on a power rankings panel over at Odds and Sods, but I figured I would cross-post my rankings in their entirety here. In case you're wondering, #6-25 didn't disappear. I just don't have that kind of time.

TOP 5

1. BOSTON – Perhaps the burial and subsequent unearthing of the Red Sox t-shirt in the new Yankee Stadium is having some sort of positive effect. More likely, though, the big Red Sox Machine is clicking on all cylinders and Boston looks like the team to beat.

2. ARIZONA – Remember when the Diamondbacks won the West despite scoring fewer runs than their opponents last season? Thus far, Arizona leads the Majors in runs scored by 14, and its team ERA of 2.80 is tops as well. The Brandon Webb-Dan Haren combo has been as expected, and the return of a healthy Randy Johnson makes Arizona a very dangerous team.

3. CHICAGO (NL) – The Cubs are the best team in the Central, hands-down. Derrek Lee is en fuego (.356, 7 HR), and Kosuke Fukudome (.317, 13 runs, 3 SB) has been a great addition to the lineup.

4. NEW YORK (NL) – The loss of Pedro Martinez was a blow, but the Mets didn’t exactly have his services available last season and shouldn’t have needed him to reach the postseason. Santana hasn’t been breathtaking, but he hasn’t been disappointing either. And when this offense starts to heat up, watch out.

5. CHICAGO (AL) – With Cleveland and Detroit off to abysmal starts, the White Sox have quietly assumed control of the AL Central. A rotation without Jon Garland is thinner, but third baseman Joe Crede (.305, 5 HR, 18 RBI) has been a huge part of a surprisingly productive offense.

BOTTOM 5

26. DETROIT - The Tigers may rank near the top of the game in talent and experience, but so far those intangibles haven't translated into victories. We'll see if Curtis Granderson's return is the boost they need.

27. SAN FRANCISCO – It should tell you something that the Giants’ 8-11 start is considered a pleasant surprise by this longtime fan. Every day ahead of the Dodgers in the standings is a good day.

28. PITTSBURGH – Despite terrific starts from no-namers Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit, the Pirates are battling it out with the Astros for last place in baseball’s worst division. Something tells me this race will go down to the wire.

29. HOUSTON – The Astros have the offense to compete, but the pitching staff is suspect at best. And with longtime ace Roy Oswalt on pace for a 6-plus ERA and 25 losses, things could go down the tubes fast.

30. WASHINGTON – The walk-off home run to usher in the new stadium seems like a very long time ago. A nine-game losing streak is part of a current stretch in witch the Nationals have lost 14 of 16.

Tejada's unscheduled "double birthday" adds insult to GM Wade's injury

2008-04-18T06:40:00.000-07:00

Miguel Tejada is 33, not 31. We all know that now, thanks to his basically coerced confession.

ESPN and a team of lawyers got their hands on a copy of Tejada's birth certificate from the Dominican Republic and showed it to Tejada.

His confession, unsurprisingly, came shortly thereafter:

"I was a poor kid," Tejada said. "I wanted to sign a professional contract, and that was the only way to do it. I didn't want or mean to do anything wrong. At the time, I was two years older than they thought."

Must have been a relief to get that off of his chest. But whatever weight Tejada feels lifted is sitting squarely on the shoulders of Astros general manager Ed Wade. Wade pulled the trigger on a deal sending five players to Baltimore for Tejada, only to learn the next day that Tejada's name was among those listed in the Mitchell Report.

Oops. Talk about fortuitous timing. Think Wade could have gotten a better deal by waiting an extra day or two?

And now this, which in fairness to Wade, was probably unavoidable from a team standpoint. It's too bad people don't have some sort of objective indicator -- you know, like rings on trees -- that prove how old they are. Instead, it was taken as a given that Tejada was 31.

Wade gave his best poker face in addressing the issue:

“It was brought to our attention that the date we carry for Tejada, the year of birth, is incorrect,” Wade said. “We told Miguel we were going to go ahead and make the appropriate changes and all the information was put forward. But the fact of the matter is he’s playing like he was 25.”

True enough. Miggy is hitting .328 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI in the young season. But he's making $13 million this season and has a player option for another $13 million next season.

In his heart of hearts, you have to wonder if Wade is starting to hope that Tejada walks so that he can forget this deal ever happened.

How Tiger can use his "recovery" time

2008-04-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods "broke the news" on his Web site Tuesday that he'd had arthroscopic knee surgery, but there was something a little suspicious about the announcement and its timing. Woods did not seem to be favoring either leg at the Masters, and it wasn't his left knee that missed all of those birdie and par putts.

I'm not suggesting that Tiger didn't actually have the surgery, but just think about how convenient of an alibi it becomes for a disappointing finish. And think of all the things Woods could accomplish in a month-long hiatus in the middle of golf season:

Teach his daughter, Sam, to golf. She's almost 10 months old now, so she probably will be walking soon. Time to get her fitted for her own set of clubs, Dad. And while we're on the subject, if Sam becomes a great golfer 15 or 20 years down the road, will she be Tigress?

Work with Buick to create a branded car model. Gatorade already released a special, Tiger-branded line of drinks, including "Red Drive," "Cold Fusion," and "Quiet Storm." Buick should follow Gatorade's lead and release the Buick Roar, or something like that.

Go on vacation with his wife, Elin, somewhere far, far away from a golf course. Maybe Fiji. Then again, the paparazzi knows no bounds, and when they see him jogging along the beach, they'll know that the jig is up.

Start writing a book. If you're not a fan of golf, you may not know that Tiger has already written one book, an instructional piece artfully entitled How I play golf. It sold more than a million copies, but can you imagine how a memoir about his life so far would sell? The man is a legend in his own time. And the best part about writing books as a celebrity is that you don't even have to write it; in Terrell Owens' case, you may not have to read it, either!

Find a secluded putting green and start preparing for the U.S. Open. Putting is the weakest component of Tiger's game, and it more than likely cost him the Masters. I can just picture him now, working feverishly at a remote putting green somewhere, like a mad scientist searching for the magic elixir in his lab. The perfect stroke has to be in here somewhere!

We interrupt the conclusion of this baseball game to bring you NASCAR!

2008-04-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

If you don't know how the Yankees-Red Sox game ended Saturday, you probably don't have access to cable television, internet, a newspaper, a library, friends, etc. But if all you have going for you is an antenna that beams FOX into your living room, Saturday evening was a disturbing time.

With two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth, Boston leading 4-3, FOX interrupted this copyrighted telecast of Major League Baseball to show the Subway Fresh Fit 500. The network's agreement with NASCAR superseded any obligations it had to a tight finish between rivals, so it was off to the racetrack it went.

In fairness to FOX, even with Red Sox-Yankees game being delayed more than two hours, they were this close to being able to seamlessly double up. And in a further display of fairness, it should be revealed that the conclusion of the game was available on the cable channel FX.

But fairness aside, what is this world coming to? We're talking about the Red Sox and Yankees! NASCAR fans can afford to miss a lap or two, especially when they've got 498 more coming. But if you peal away at lap 499, some people out there in our nation (who don't have maps) are going to come unglued.

This had me pretty upset until I read that a FOX spokesperson had offered a heartfelt apology on behalf of the network: "For any frustration on fans' behalf, we apologize." Forgiven!

Look who's 0-7, last place in AL Central

2008-04-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Tigers, a team that many thought would contend for the World Series, are 0-for-2008.

In seven tries, including three each against Kansas City and Chicago, Detroit is winless. They are the only team in the Major League without at least one notch in the win column, and only the Giants and Mets don't have at least three wins in the young season.

Of course, as everyone has been quick to point out, there is plenty of baseball left to play. One hundred fifty-five games, to be exact. But at some point down this slippery-slope toward mediocrity, Detroit's players, its owners and its fans should become very, very concerned.

Not since 2003 have the Tigers started out this badly, and that year Detroit lost 119 games. Granted, this is a completely different team, and 119 wins is just as likely than 119 losses. But momentum is a funny thing, and it doesn't appear to be on Detroit's radar yet. In the meantime, the Tigers keep digging themselves into an ever-deepening hole.

Curtis Granderson is set to come back in the next week or so, and his bat and speed may be just the catalyst Detroit needs. If so, it wouldn't be a moment too soon.

Making the case for a third place game in the NCAA Tournament

2008-04-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

In a perfect world, I would have just finished watching a tightly-contested battle between the nation's #1 and #3 teams, North Carolina and UCLA. Two of the best big men in the country, Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love, would fight it out to the end, but my hunch is that the Tar Heels would have prevailed.

Does the fact that it would have been for third place really matter?

Forgive me if I'm feeling a bit of a letdown after Saturday's action, in which the teams I had predicted would meet in the championship fell at the hands of Memphis and Kansas. The Tigers and Jayhawks will make for an interesting game Monday night, and I look forward to watching it.

But don't you think the country deserves to watch a matchup between two of the most storied programs in college basketball, featuring two of the greatest college players in the past decade?

Here are five reasons to resurrect the third place game:

1. Everyone makes more money. The game would draw excellent television ratings -- in a year like this one, Sunday night ratings could exceed the ratings for a Monday night championship -- which means more advertisements, and in turn more money for the CBS network. Another game means more tickets to sell, too (see below).

2. It keeps the fans in town at least another day. Let's face it, if you're a Tar Heels fan, are you going to stick around and fork over the extra money to see Memphis and Kansas? But if you've got the chance to see Hansbrough leave on a high note, you'll make it happen. Host cities would love the third place game for the extra revenue.

3. One more team goes home happy. Love and Hansbrough will make millions in the NBA, but I'm sure either one would give their right arm to get a mulligan on yesterday's game. A third place game allows both teams that lost in the Final Four a shot at redemption, even though only one will actually get it.

4. There is a precedent. From 1946 to 1981, the NCAA held a consolation game for the losers of the Final Four. Don't ask me why they stopped, but don't say there aren't any grounds for having a third place game, either.

5. It keeps the momentum going. Two great games on Saturday, an off day Sunday, and the championship Monday. It just feels kind of weird to have the day off in between, wouldn't you say? It feels almost the same way as when the football world comes to a halt for the week leading up to the Super Bowl. A third place game allows the title contenders to have a day of rest, yet keeps the momentum going for the fans following the tournament to its conclusion.

So NCAA executives, if you're reading this, make the third place game happen!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Disabled List welcomes Mike Hampton back

2008-04-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

It might be time for Mike Hampton to sit back, relax, and stop trying to earn his $15,000,000 salary. Or if that's important to him, perhaps Atlanta pitching coach Roger McDowell could use an assistant.

Because if the last five years are any evidence, the marriage between Hampton and pitching is on the rocks, and it's starting to show signs of irreconcilable differences. Before attempting to take the mound for the first time in nearly three years, Hampton was once again sidelined by injury Thursday.

This time it was Hampton's left pectoral, tweaked when Hampton warmed up for a start against the Pirates. When the pain didn't subside, he handed the ball to McDowell and called it quits. On the brighter side, Braves' manager Bobby Cox called Hampton's 23 warmup pitches "excellent."

Since 2003, the left-handed pitcher has had aches and pains in more places than the captain of the balloon volleyball team at the local convalescent center. In that five year time period, Hampton has had a strained calf muscle, Tommy John surgery, a torn oblique muscle, and a strained hamstring. Or, as Jeff Schultz at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, "Mike Hampton isn’t an injured pitcher anymore. He’s a wrenched ankle away from being the poor schlep on the Operation game."

Hampton has been placed on the 15-day DL, and Braves' trainiers said the injury was minor. They may be right, and Hampton may rebound with a great comeback season. But my hunch is this may spiral into the end of a long and injury-riddled career.

Hampton's $121 million contract -- the 23rd largest in all of sports, according to Wikipedia -- is up after this season, and it's hard to imagine teams venturing anywhere near him. Because whatever it is he has, they sure as heck don't want to catch.

Lute Olson returns, throws Kevin O'Neill under bus

2008-04-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Now that Lute Olson has resumed his head coaching duties at Arizona, feel free to put Kevin O'Neill at the top of any "Who's Not" list in sports.

Not only has the 73-year-old Olson returned from his leave of absence to coach the team, but he's also stripped O'Neill of the "handpicked predecessor" label. At a press conference Tuesday, Olson said that O'Neill would not be on the coaching staff next season, the last of his contract.

Following Olson's departure in December to attend to personal issues -- Arizona assistant O'Neill assumed interim coaching duties. He led the Wildcats to a 19-15 season and their 24th consecutive NCAA tournament berth, but apparently that wasn't enough for the looming Olson. O'Neill's coaching style didn't fit the bill, apparently.

"I apologize for what they had to go through this year in terms of the change," Olson said. "They came here to play a wide-open game, and they didn't. That's no one's fault, because that's not coach O'Neill's belief on the offensive end. It was his team once I left. But I said we're going to play Arizona basketball and we're going to have fun doing it."

Olson also reminded anyone who cared to know that he's the one who built the program, and it won't just continue winning by itself, you know. Another dagger to O'Neill.

"You know what, maybe the fans needed to realize that this program doesn't just operate -- we don't go into the gas station and fill the kids up with fuel and turn the key on," Olson said.

And lastly, to anyone who thinks his age is a problem, one more up yours.

"Well, they're all gone and I'm still here," he said.

So much for riding off into the sunset.

Olson says O'Neill won't remain on Arizona staff (AP, via ESPN.com)

MLB Previews: NL East

2008-03-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

When Jimmy Rollins called the Phillies the favorites to win the NL East last season, the average fan would have thought he was just running his mouth. The Braves had owned the division from its inception in 1995, and the Mets were coming off a 97-win season. But last year was a different story: New York caved and Philadelphia surged, and Rollins' words proved correct. This year, Carlos Beltran beat him to the punch and called the Phillies the favorites, attempting to take a little pressure off of New York. I, for one, am not buying it.

New York, like the Yankees, has become a big-spending franchise; the Mets payroll this season is $116.1 million, third in baseball behind the Yankees and the Red Sox. Thirteen million of that is invested in Johan Santana, acquired from Minnesota in what might go down as the steal of the century. Behind Santana, the Mets stack up Pedro Martinez, John Maine, and Oliver Perez, a very solid 2-4 in the rotation. Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Carlos Delgado make for a formidable top of the order. With the sour taste of last year's implosion still fresh in their mouths, these Mets should come out strong, and I think 100 wins is not out of reach.

Because of the way they carry themselves -- if they're confident or arrogant, they sure are quiet about it -- Atlanta has been much overlooked in most predictions about the NL East race. At least, that is until Jayson Stark picked the Braves to win the World Series. Yikes! I like Atlanta, too, but Stark seems to be getting ahead of himself. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are both in their 40s, and Mike Hampton has missed two entire seasons with injuries. If those three can manage to stay in one piece for the duration of the season, the Braves will be in good shape. But at this point, that's a big "if." Mark Teixeira was a huge addition to the middle of that lineup last season, and I predict he'll be an even greater force as he continues to adjust to the league. Atlanta is a very solid franchise: they are a professionally-run organization, have a world-class manager, and a great blend of youth and experience. This team will contend for the division, and the Wild Card is a good possibility.

It feels strange forecasting Philadelphia, the team that won the division last season, for a third-place finish. But that's how I see it. The Phils have a great corps of talent, but last year somehow felt too perfect. Jimmy Rollins is a great baseball player, but I think he overachieved last season; a .280, 20 HR, 75 RBI, 35 SB season seems more realistic to expect for this year. Good, but not great. And if Rollins isn't great, there will be a trickle-down effect through the rest of the lineup. Cole Hamels anchors what looks like a very average pitching staff, which also includes Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Kyle Kendrick (who wasn't traded to Japan after all!). I always feel a little skeptical about any team that has Brad Lidge as a closer, too; he seems like a nice enough guy, but he has not been the same after that horrible 2005 NLCS and World Series. The Phillies will be in the mix, but I see them finishing several back of the pack.

If you were to chart the successes of the Florida Marlins over their brief history, the result would resemble something like a roller coaster. Or a wave, for those more mathematically inclined. The Marlins have twice developed world champion teams, only to quickly disassemble them when it became clear that keeping them together would be costly. Florida's most recent championship in 2003 may seem like a long way away, but I would guess that we will see the valley of the roller coaster in the next season or two; if the ownership is willing to open the checkbook, sustained success may be here before long. Hanley Ramirez is one of the top five players in the game, and Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham, and Andrew Miller should be very fun to watch.

A few days ago, Ken Rosenthal was talking on the radio about how Washington failed to bring in a premier player to attract fans to their new stadium. On the one hand, he's right; I don't know that anyone other than Lastings Milledge would consider Lastings Milledge a big name player. On the other hand, the Nationals do seems to be assembling a young and fairly promising roster -- Milledge, Ryan Zimmerman and Elijah Dukes could be productive for a long, long time. And fans are going to come out to the new stadium regardless of the product out on the field, at least this year. But it's up to the management to leverage the increased revenue into some greater depth on their roster and in their farm system.

Predicted Standings

Team~~~~~~~~~~~~~~GB

New York____________--

Atlanta______________3

Philadelphia__________ 5

Florida_____________ 14

Washington__________18

MLB Previews: NL Central

2008-03-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

The NL Central: the only six-team division in baseball, and it seems like every year the league about has to beg a team to win it. Chicago backed into the title in 2007 despite posting a record of 85-77, worst among division winners in baseball. The Cubs lost five of their last seven, but managed to edge the Brewers for the right to lose in the first round to Arizona. All in all, the division has the same kind of feel this season; anything can happen once you get to the playoffs, but the most likely scenario for the NL Central winner is a first round exit.

Despite a much tamer offseason than last year, Chicago figures to be right in the thick of things again this season. The addition of Kosuke Fukudome from Japan should bolster the Cubs' outfield, as long as he pans out as advertised -- one analysis calls him a cross between Ichiro and Hideki Matsui. But the biggest move was the one Chicago didn't, or perhaps more fittingly, couldn't make: the move to acquire Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts. The Cubs think they have holes at second base (sorry Mark DeRosa) and in the leadoff slot, and they seem convinced Roberts is the guy to fill both. Regardless, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez make for a very solid offense. The pitching, on the other hand, could be shaky and may ultimately limit the Cubs' chances in the postseason.

Milwaukee has the best shot at edging the Cubs for the division title. Their bullpen, if it's healthy, has the potential of being one of the best in baseball. Guillermo Mota, Salomon Torres, Derrick Turnbow, and Eric Gagne all have experience as closers, and at their best, the group could be unstoppable. Whether the starting rotation can get the ball to them with a lead is a different question. Ben Sheets tends to be fragile, but when he's healthy he's solid. After Sheets, you've got four #4-5 starters in Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra. Like most other teams, the Brewers' offense will be a matter of "ifs." Prince Fielder should have another huge year, but will returning to the infield help Bill Hall return to 2006 form? Will moving to the outfield hurt Ryan Braun's chances of repeating his offensive outburst as a rookie? And can J.J. Hardy avoid a midseason collapse and generate steady production all season? If the "ifs" are all answered in Milwaukee's favor, the Brew Crew will give the Cubs a run for their money.

When Dusty Baker took the job in Cincinnati, he walked into an interesting project. The Reds are a franchise that last made the playoffs 13 seasons ago, and while the team has some talent, this will not be the year that snaps the streak of futility. Having said that, the future looks fairly bright. Aaron Harang has the makings of a legitimate ace, and rookie Homer Bailey projects to be a star in the near future. Edinson Volquez, acquired from Texas in the trade for Josh Hamilton, projects to make the rotation this year as well. Offensively, second baseman Brandon Phillips was a nice surprise last season, and he, like the others mentioned above, could become the face of the franchise in the near future. Adam Dunn will be a free agent next season, and Ken Griffey, Jr. would become one if Cincinnati passes on its $16.5 million club buyout; if the Reds aren't in contention at the All-Star break, look for both to be traded for prospects.

I'm not quite sure what Houston was thinking when they traded five players for Miguel Tejada this offseason, a deal that coincidentally was struck the day before the release of the Mitchell Report. At 31, Tejada is by no means over the hill, but it's hard to know what to expect from a guy with the baggage uncovered in the Mitchell Report. He plays every game almost every year, (his "iron man" streak ended because of a wrist injury last season), but his power numbers have been down in each of the last three years. If Tejada can return to form, though, he'll be part of a great lineup that includes Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman, and Carlos Lee. The Astros' pitching, however, is less exciting. After the always-solid Roy Oswalt, there's Woody Williams, Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe, and Chris Sampson. How's that for an intimidating rotation?

St. Louis was desperately in need of pitching this season, and what it got was Kyle Lohse. The Cardinals' rotation, which will be without Chris Carpenter until at least July, could be one of the worst in the Majors. When Adam Wainright is your Opening Day starter, you know you've got some problems. There are major question marks on offense, as well. Albert Pujols has a torn ligament in his right elbow and may eventually need Tommy John surgery, but he plans to play through the pain this year. Rick Ankiel was great for a few weeks last year but withered after news about his past HGH use came out, and newly acquired Troy Glaus is a former juicer and fragile to boot. So if Pujols goes down, that leaves Chris Duncan as your team slugger. It could be a long season for Cardinals fans, but they should take comfort in the fact that they don't root for the Pirates or Reds.

If you were creating a division for the worst teams in baseball, Pittsburgh might be your first selection. Their rotation is thin, their lineup is thin, and aside from Jason Bay, the best adjective you can bestow upon anyone on the roster is "decent." Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell have potential to become decent starters, and if Zach Duke can return to his form of 2005 and 2006, the Pirates rotation could be OK. But for the most part, this is a franchise that doesn't seem to know where it's going and it's getting there fast. For those of you scoring at home, Pittsburgh has a team payroll of $38.6 million, fifth lowest in the Major Leagues.

PREDICTED STANDINGS

Team~~~~~~~~~~GB

Chicago_________--

Milwaukee_______ 2

Cincinnati________6

Houston________ 10

St. Louis________ 12

Pittsburgh_______18

MLB Previews: NL West

2008-03-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

With real-life, start keeping stats action opening a week from Monday, I figure it's about time to start my Major League Baseball season previews. I'll post one division at a time, and if it's a good day I may squeeze in two divisions. Between a busy week at work and a move from an apartment into a house, that may be all that happens here this week.

Starting with the NL West, which the Diamondbacks won by 1/2 game last year. Had to double-check that one, as the Rockies insane run that propelled them into the World Series made them seem like the best in the west.

The Diamondbacks made the most improvements over the off-season, the biggest of which was the trade that brought in Dan Haren from Oakland. Brandon Webb, Haren, and Randy Johnson -- if he's anything like healthy -- make up a top of the rotation that would rival any in baseball. Doug Davis and Micah Owings aren't a bad 4-5, either. Their lineup is young, and with Eric Byrnes as the best thing it's got going, Arizona could struggle offensively at times. Even so, pitching and defense win championships and I think that the Diamondbacks rotation sets them apart from the rest of the West.

The Rockies' appearance in last year's World Series came as a surprise to just about everyone, probably themselves included. Colorado had a very young and inexperienced roster heading into the playoffs, but only one of those labels still applies. The Rockies got hot at just the right time, and as the Cardinals proved the season before, an average season can be quickly forgotten with a surge of late-season momentum. I expect Colorado to struggle this season, especially once they realize winning 22 of 23 (or whatever it was) is a once-in-a-career phenomenon. Also, it's tough to predict whether everyone on the roster had a career season in 2007, or if guys like Matt Holliday and Troy Tulowitzki are just getting started.

For 160 games, San Diego was the best team in the NL West. But one out away from clinching the division, Trevor Hoffman coughed it up and the Padres failed to make the postseason. You have to think it's been a very long off-season. Somewhat typically, though, San Diego had a quiet off-season. GM Kevin Towers traded for aging centerfielder Jim Edmonds, signed LHP Randy Wolf, and bought the rights to pay Mark Prior's salary while he recovers from his latest injury. It's been a long time since the Padres wowed anyone with the big names on their roster, but they always seem to be in the hunt.

Things haven't gone well for the Dodgers this spring, and it wouldn't break my heart to see their struggles continue well beyond Opening Day. Jeff Kent has been bothered by a nagging hamstring and Nomar Garciaparra will likely start the season out with an injured wrist. Third baseman Andy LaRoche will miss the start of the season with a torn ligament in his thumb. Injuries aside, the Dodgers are a team loaded with young talent, not unlike the Rockies. Russell Martin had a breakout season last year; this season the distinction may belong to Andre Ethier. Even so, the nagging injuries and the apparent lack of chemistry that has troubled the team over the last few seasons will keep Los Angeles out of contention.

For the most part, the Giants' roster is a bad combination of has-beens (Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, Omar Vizquel) and never will bes (Fred Lewis, Jack Taschner, Rajai Davis). In short, if it wasn't for Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, San Francisco would be indistinguishable from a AAA team. If that sounds harsh, understand that it pains me to say it more than it would anger naive Giants fans to read it; I've been a die-hard San Francisco fan since 1989. Having said that, let's focus on the good. I expect 10-15 wins each from Lincecum and Cain -- not bad for a team that may not crack 70 victories for the entire season -- and ERAs in the 3.75 range. If Zito can manage to return to Cy Young form, which seems highly unlikely given his ghastly 10.31 spring ERA, the Giants could actually be decent. More than likely, though, they'll be shipping off their older players for a player to be named later or a resin bag and a tub of sunflower seeds.

PREDICTED STANDINGS

Team GB

Arizona --

Colorado 3

San Diego 8

Los Angeles 13

San Francisco 18

NCAA Tournament Predictions

2008-03-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the NCAA Tournament, I see filling out a bracket as more of an art than a science. I have only have enough time to watch bits and pieces of games throughout the season, and I couldn't tell you a thing about teams like Purdue and Butler.

But for what it's worth, I've got North Carolina beating UCLA in the finals, 74-62. If you care, you can click the image above to view the complete bracket.

Who do you like?

Why collusion isn't needed to keep Barry Bonds unemployed

2008-03-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Major League Baseball Players' Association wants to know if the owners are colluding to keep Barry Bonds out of work, or at least that's how ESPN is reporting it.

If you read between the lines, this is somewhat of a non-story. The players' association does a similar review every year, it's just that this year Bonds happens to be involved. What's silly to me, though, is that the decision to avoid Bonds seems easy enough to make without having to violate anti-trust rules to reach it.

There are plenty of obvious reasons:

The man is 43 years old, and he'll be 44 soon after the All-Star break. Bonds has put up decent numbers in the last years, but he's definitely tailed off since 2004. And once you get past 40, there's always the threat your body will go on strike mid-season.

Certain substances seemed to have "cleared" his system. How can this be said delicately? If indeed he's been getting some "help," it will be tougher than ever to continue this season.

He'll cost a fortune to sign. Even if he takes a pay cut from the $16 million he earned last season, as he would almost certainly have to, it's hard to imagine Bonds settling for the $5-7 million a team might -- might -- be willing to pay him.

Bonds doesn't have the greatest reputation as a teammate. What team wants to sign a potential, dare we say likely, clubhouse cancer? The stories that have come out about Bonds' behavior in the Giants' clubhouse over the years, and even this spring, make it seem unlikely that a team would want to add an attitude like that to the mix.

Oh yeah, and there's that whole indictment thing. Always nice to know when you sign a player that he's got a decent shot to finish the season on your roster, not playing softball on the prison's rec yard. Bonds' trial will probably drag on for years, and he may never do jail time, but for now the legal cloud follows him wherever he goes.

Chuck Hayes' free throws are not for the faint of heart

2008-03-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Houston won a big one over Los Angeles Sunday to take sole possession of first in the Western Conference and extend its winning streak to 22 games.

More importantly, though, the nation got the opportunity to watch Chuck Hayes shoot a free throw. That he made it, his sixth in 14 attempts this season, was an afterthought.

Hayes' free throw shooting form is one of a kind, unique in the way that you tell your kids to cover your eyes so they don't learn any bad habits. The lead-up to the shot is innocent enough: a quick spin to get the feel for the ball in his hands, a couple dribbles, and a look to the hoop.

But the shot itself is preceded by a kind of pump fake. The ball goes up, the form looks good... but then the ball remains in Hayes' hands for about a second too long. Everyone in the arena -- including Hayes, apparently -- is fooled.

If there was ever such a thing as bait for lane violations, a Chuck Hayes free throw is it.

If you're looking for more laughs at Hayes' expense, there are plenty more videos where this one came from. (YouTube)

Ichiro finally has a batting average

2008-03-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

You can breathe easy now, Mariners fans.

Ichiro managed to get that elusive first hit of spring, ending an 0-for-21 drought. In typical Ichiro fashion, the ice breaker was a slow grounder to second base that he narrowly beat out at first.

Ichiro is now batting a skimpy .040 for the spring, but at least it's not .000. Then again, when you're a perennial All-Star and international icon, you aren't exactly concerned about being demoted to AAA Tacoma.

And you know what? He's not.

"I'm not sure what my next challenge is," Ichiro said. "Today, my feeling is kind of sad. It's sad to say goodbye [to the hitless streak]. Part of me wishes it would have gone on a little longer."

Ichiro has never exactly been a media darling, but it's nice to see that he at least has a sense of humor about things. Perhaps new teammate Erik Bedard should take note.

Mike Cameron seeks MLB's permission to cheat

2008-03-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Mike Cameron may have finally found a loophole in the rules against performance enhancing drug use, albeit a little late.

A note from the doctor.

Cameron, who failed a test for banned stimulants in the offseason, will be serving a 25-game suspension to start the season because it was his second failed test. But when he returns, Cameron may have a leg up on the rest of the league.

That's because Cameron has an appointment with a neurologist to see if he will recommend -- prescribe, if you will -- amphetamines as a treatment for the supposed cobwebs in his head. Cameron is hoping the doctor and the league will remember with sympathy his nasty collision with Carlos Beltran in 2005 (see below for a link to the video clip).

If Major League Baseball OK'd stimulant use by Cameron for medical purposes, they'd be starting down a slippery slope. Remember all those guys who had so-called prescriptions for HGH? I think the league knows better than to give Cameron the green light, but you can't fault the man for trying.

Video clip of the nasty outfield collision between Cameron and Beltran (MLB.com)

Birthday time! Celebrating one year as a blogger

2008-03-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in every blogger's life where it's appropriate to reflect on where you've come from, and map out where you hope to be going. And what better of a time than All on the Field's first birthday, a milestone many Weblogs never achieve?

Looking Back
It's been a year since my initial post about how ridiculous it was that the NBA was fining Kobe Bryant for his violent, flailing follow-throughs. It wasn't the best post I've written, but it was a decent start. Two hundred fifty (250) posts later, this baby is still chugging. A few highlights along the way:

My fourth post was a little number about my favorite sports cliches, including "we left it all on the field." Hence the title of the blog.
The most viewed post was one about Dan Marino's cell phone going off on set a CBS, an entry that attracted something like 6,000 views in one day thanks to a link from Will at Deadspin.
And the most commented-on post -- as well as the one generating the most hits from Google search results -- is the debate on whether cheerleading is a sport. To reiterate to all of those passionate cheerleaders who have argued about how hard cheerleading is, that doesn't make it a sport.
The Separated at Birth series has also generated a lot of feedback, most of it more positive than comments on the cheerleading post.
One of the most enjoyable entries was the interview I conducted with Jim Bouton, author of the classic Ball Four. Bouton was nice enough to accommodate a hacking blogger for a 10-15 minute interview over the telephone, and there was a lot of insight in what he said. Email interviews with former Yankee Scott Brosius and Steroid Nation author Gary Gaffney were fun, too.

Looking forward

Just about everyone wants to be better at what they do, whether it be work or play. Since I earn a few bucks blogging, I consider it a mix of the two, though it leans heavily toward the play. That being said here are a few hopes and dreams I have for this blog in the coming year:

More interviews. I've gotten a lot of good feedback on the three that I've done, and while they require a lot more legwork than banging out 250 words about what a sourpuss Kobe Bryant is, there is a much higher degree of originality with an interview.
Greater interaction with commenters and other bloggers. Truth be told, I've been a bit disappointed at times at the lack of commenting on this blog. It may have something to do with the fact that I post just once a day, 4-5 times a week. But I'd still like to think that we can get some good conversations going here, and I would hope to be an active participant.
Further developing my blogging "style." There are all sorts of different types of bloggers out there. You've got the ones who take shots at the media, those who post short little blurbs many times a day apparently in hopes of attracting Google searchers, and those who tackle the hottest topics that everyone is talking about. I like to think of All on the Field as a niche blogger, kind of similar to Lion in Oil. But I don't want to be limited to that either, and it's important to be my own blogger.
And, of course, more great content.

If you have any suggestions for ways to improve All on the Field, I'd welcome them. To those of you who visit regularly or periodically, thanks for reading. And to first time or infrequent visitors, you're welcome back here anytime.

Separated at Birth: Travis Hafner & Javier Bardem

2008-03-11T06:12:00.001-07:00

If Travis Hafner (left) had hair and/or smiled, my suspicion is he'd look even more like Javier Bardem, Academy Award-winning star of No Country for Old Men, which I have yet to see.

Hafner struggled for the Indians last year, despite career highs of 152 games and 545 ABs. He hit .266 with 24 HR and 100 RBI, which was disappointing, considering I trade for him in my fantasy league early on.

Which brings us to the million dollar question: would you draft, or have you already drafted, Hafner for the 2008 fantasy season?

Romeo's big name makes up for Lil' game

2008-03-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

Romeo Miller, the rapper who goes by Lil' Romeo, figures to be a bench warmer at USC next season, but that hasn't stopped the university from offering him a full-ride scholarship.

To be fair, "offer" might be the wrong word.

According to Trojans' coach Tim Floyd, Lil' Romeo was part of a package deal with blue chip prospect Demar DeRozan, a 6'6" forward out of Compton scoring 29.2 points per game on an astronomical shooting percentage. Scout.com has DeRozan rated as the #5 prospect in the country.

Miller, by contrast, averaged 8.6 points in just eight games before sitting out the rest of the season with a knee injury. Miller and his father, Percy -- rapper Master P -- became acquainted with DeRozan through a club team several years ago, and have taken him like an extra member of the family.

So when Percy called Floyd last spring, inquiring if Floyd would like to have Romeo and DeRozan play at USC, it was clear that Percy was talking about a 2-for-1 special. And with a player of DeRozan's caliber ready to commit to his program, Floyd was more than willing to sacrifice an extra scholarship.

Besides, Floyd reasoned, Romeo's star power just might bring extra fans to the arena.

The Millers don't see Romeo's scholarship as a compromise to lure DeRozan or a marketing ploy. They say Romeo had scholarship offers from LSU and Arizona State, and that Cal and Florida State had expressed interest as well. Not really true, say staff members at each school.

If basketball doesn't work out for Romeo, he's fortunate enough to have a backup plan; the rap star will study film, and who knows, maybe he'll have time to crank out a new album in the offseason. "Basketball is just one-half of what I'll be doing," Romeo said.

For more, check out A Hot Prospect? at the Wall Street Journal.

The Michael Vick of the PGA Tour

2008-03-06T21:31:00.000-08:00

Tripp Isenhour doesn't exactly strike fear and trepidation in the hearts of his fellow PGA Tour members, but birds everywhere are going into hiding when he reaches for his 7-iron.

Isenhour is being charged with birdslaughter after nailing a red-shouldered hawk with a golf stroke, allegedly on purpose.

Isenhour, who finished the 2007 ranked 105th on the tour, was filming a TV show called "Shoot like a Pro" in mid-December, when the bird had the nerve to squawk. It ruined the take, so naturally, he fired off a shot at the bird to scare it off.

But the bird, which had been about 300 yards away, ventured perilously closer to the wild-eyed Isenhour. Which is when, according to some on the scene, Isenhour muttered something like "I'll get him now." Isenhour didn't get him on the first shot -- he's no Tiger Woods, you know -- but his persistence paid off, and moments later the bird fell to the ground, and it was pronounced dead at the scene.

Someone at the scene gave the bird a proper burial at the course, probably a few feet from the second cut of rough. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission later dug it up, launched an investigation, and got Isenhour charged with cruelty to animals.

Isenhour has, of course, launched an apology, saying that he is an "animal lover," has adopted three ugly cats from the local shelter, and all the rest. But if the bird lovers have their way, Isenhour could do up to 14 months in jail.

If only the bird had kept its stupid beak shut.

Show me the money: Pre-arbitration players unhappy with contract "negotiations"

2008-03-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

When the Phillies raised Ryan Howard's salary to $900,000 last spring, they may have set a challenging precedent for other Major League teams.

As a player with less than three years of Major League experience, Howard could have been paid as little as the league minimum without much recourse for objection. But after a season in which he hit .313 with 58 HR and 149 RBI, the Phillies wanted to reward him with a long-term deal; the sides couldn't agree, but Philadelphia gave Howard a significant raise anyway.

In the first several weeks of spring training, several talented young players have announced their expectation of a big payday, or voiced disapproval when teams have renewed their contracts at or near the league minimum.

Phils pitcher Cole Hamels called his $100,000 raise to $500,000 for this season a "low blow;" Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis, who was renewed at $455,000, groused that "I don't have much of a choice;" and when asked about his $670,000 contract renewal, Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder said "I'm not happy about it at all."

And then there is Boston closer Jonathan Papelpon, who is campaigning with the media to get a bigger raise than the expected $550,00 contract renewal: "I feel like with me being at the top of my position, I feel like that standard needs to be set, and I’m the one who set that standard."

Most people don't work in jobs where complaining about our salaries will do any good, nor do most employees ever have the option to ask for a certain amount of money and have an arbiter rule if it is reasonable. But almost everyone is familiar with the concept of "paying your dues," and in that one sense we can relate to these talented, but admittedly underpaid, youngsters.

Any player is worth what the market will (or in this case, would) pay; a team with the chance to sign Hamels tomorrow would probably shell out five years and $60 million, if not more. But the rules in place are designed to protect the rights of the owners and place a high premium on the minor league system.

Can you imagine what would happen if players could become free agents after a single season?

Players like Hamels, Markakis, Fielder and Papelbon will get their dues -- eventually. And they should take comfort in the fact that most likely, they will one day sign a multi-year contract in the twilight of their careers. They will under-perform but be overpaid, probably by tens of millions of dollars.

See? It all evens out in the end.

The beginning of the end for Roger Federer?

2008-03-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

For most tennis players, two losses in a row is a hiccup, not a slump. But for Roger Federer, a second losing "streak" in four months might represent a chink in the armor.

Federer won his 12th Grand Slam at the U.S. Open last fall, but he's looked rather mortal since. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open, and fell in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships Monday.

True, the loss to Andy Murray was Federer's first venture onto a court since the loss to Djokovic at the end of January, and he should be forgiven for a bit of rustiness. And Murray is no slouch, especially for a first round opponent.

But I often think about the pressure associated with being the world's top player, especially for such a long period of time -- currently at 213 weeks and counting -- and wonder if Federer ever gets tired of it. It takes a different kind of mental fortitude to stave off all comers than to be gunning for the top.

At 26, Federer is by no means over the hill, and I believe that he has a lot of high-level tennis left in him if he wants it. But if he doesn't want to remain atop the hill -- if Federer decides he's had enough -- there are plenty of others who are waiting hungrily to snare his spot. Djokovic. Murray. Rafael Nadal. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

With 12 Grand Slam titles, Federer needs three to surpass Pete Sampras for the all-time mark, and I wouldn't bet against him getting them at Wimbledon this year and next, and probably another hard court title or two between the U.S. and Australian Open in the next few years.

I don't think Monday's loss was the beginning of the end of Federer's reign of dominance -- I think the loss to Djokovic was. Federer may indeed be the greatest of all time, but I'm starting to wonder if his time's almost up.

About that scholarship offer... We were kinda kidding

2008-03-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

A high school recruit is suing the University of Hawaii and defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold, who he says promised him a scholarship but later rescinded it.

The recruit claims that after an unofficial visit, Reinebold called and offered him a scholarship. But there was a catch.

"Right before he offered it," the recruit recalled, "He said 'If we offer you a scholarship, we want you to be 100 percent committed to us, and we'll be 100 percent committed to you.' ... I told him I was 100 percent committed, and I committed right there."

That commitment, the recruit claims, kept him from pursuing other opportunities to play football, which included a written offer from the might Division I-AA Portland State. And when head coach June Jones left for Southern Methodist, the recruit got a call saying that the scholarship he'd counted on wouldn't be available after all. (Shoulda gotten it in writing...)

So now he's suing, but the kid insists that it has nothing to do with money.

"I'm not trying to get any money. I'm just trying to get my scholarship that I was promised 10 months ago," he said.

Let's say he wins the lawsuit, and the judge awards him a full ride scholarship to play for the Warriors. How do his teammates react to him? Will the coaches treat him well? Extra wind sprints for the wannabe is probably more like it.

College football recruiting is a high stakes game, and sometimes innocent kids get trapped in sticky situations. But other times -- remember the kid who staged a press conference to sign with a school that never offered him a scholarship? -- the kid and his parents get so excited about the prospect of big-time college football that they forget to think.

The picture is not completely random. Search for "Hawaii football scholarship" on Google Images and you'll see what I mean. For more on this story, check out the nice piece by Sports Illustrated writer And Staples.

UW's Locker to play summer baseball

2008-03-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

After a 4-9 freshman season in which he was alternately brilliant and bewildered, the general consensus was that Jake Locker needed a stronger supporting corps and an off-season of hard work.

Locker got the former, as the Huskies brought in a recruiting class ranked 24th in the nation. But if Locker plans to study the playbook and hone his accuracy on timing route passes, he'll have to do it in between baseball games.

Locker, who was named the state's most valuable baseball player as a senior in high school, will play outfield and designated hitter this summer for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League.

UW coach Ty Willingham, who himself played baseball and football at Michigan State, supported Locker's decision to spend the summer on the diamond, saying, "I don’t believe that playing baseball this summer will have a negative impact on his development as a football player."

Everyone involved in the situation agrees that when a scheduling conflict arises between the two sports, football will take first priority.

Still, Huskies fans have to be scratching their heads at this news. Locker is a phenomenal athlete who probably would have been drafted as a baseball player had he elected to go that route. But he chose football, calling the sport his first love.

So does a summer of baseball constitute some kind of an affair? Not exactly; Locker isn't a paid professional, so he has a right to do what he'd like with his free time. But given Washington's struggles last year and Locker's low completion percentage (47%), you would think the fun and games could wait for at least another year.

When Oregon coach Mike Bellotti learned last spring that quarterback Dennis Dixon would be playing summer ball in the Atlanta Braves organization, he quipped, "I think he'd be better served, in my situation, reading defenses rather than reading curveballs."

Until an injury ended his season prematurely, Dixon's dual-sport experiment turned out surprisingly well; the quarterback turned in the best season of his career and had the Ducks on track for a BCS bowl.

Washington can only hope that a stint on the diamond has the same effect on Locker.

Separated at Birth: Sean "P Diddy" Combs & Larry Hughes?

2008-02-27T22:09:00.001-08:00

I meant to post this when Hughes (left) was traded to the Bulls last week, but I'm just getting around to it now. Thanks to Gary for the tip.

Greg Oden backs Obama; surprised Hillary does not concede immediately

2008-02-26T21:54:00.001-08:00

Greg Oden isn't doing much in the way of basketball these days, but he sure is blogging up a storm, and Tuesday he wrote that Barack Obama will be getting his vote come November.

"We are all citizens of this great country and I know I'm putting in my one vote. I know it's just one small vote, but it's big to me. If the person I vote for wins it's gonna be because of my one little vote, at least that's what I'm gonna think. I think everyone should think that way."

So long, Hillary. Now that Oden is on the campaign trail for Obama, you're toast! Think of all the money, the influence, and time -- oh, the glorious hours and days of free time -- Gregory has at his disposal. Now that Oden is a man with a purpose, all that's left for Obama is to choose a Vice President.

Perhaps he should start his search in Portland?

LeBron, Jay-Z, and the Brooklyn Nets

2008-02-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

It seems preposterous to think about -- much less talk or write about -- LeBron James leaving Cleveland, the franchise that drafted him and the NBA city closest to his native Akron.

But just as every parent knows their children will grow up someday, James' looming free agency becomes an increasingly tangible reality for the Cavaliers. True, Cleveland has the rights to King James for the next three seasons, after which James' contract allows him to opt out in the summer of 2010.

The harsh present reality for the Cavaliers, however, is that James may already be developing aspirations grander than Cleveland could ever contain. Part of that reality is attributable to the star power that James has amassed in a relatively short period of time: rarely, if ever, has a basketball star dominated the game so early in his career, and never has there been so much hype surrounding a player from such a young age.

A second component of James' aspirations, though, may have been passed on to him, planted like a seed in his mind, by none other than the rapper Jay-Z. As Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo! Sports wrote in an excellent column today:

At an All-Star weekend banquet that he hosted with James, "Jay-Z talked of a tomorrow when these two monuments to music and basketball will transform the rules of engagement for the iconic performer, one witness said. He talked of making history."

Wojnarowski points out that Jay-Z, who has a minority ownership in the New Jersey Nets, has been acquainted with LeBron since James was in high school. The rapper has become a mentor of sorts to LeBron, who has made it known that he wants to transcend the game of basketball.

The Nets are moving to Brooklyn, and they are already pinching their pennies in anticipation of James' availability. If James is looking to make an even bigger name for himself -- we're talking the stuff of Michael Jordan, here -- could there be a better place to do it than New York City?

LeBron knows this. Jay-Z and the Nets know this. Cleveland probably knows this, but denial has to be a pretty attractive option right now.

Should Olympics have political undercurrent?

2008-02-24T21:10:00.000-08:00

Every other year, people from all over the world drop what they are doing, gather around a television, and watch the Olympics. Could there be a better platform for making a political statement?

Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee, thinks so. To the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Games should be a two-week display of goodwill between the nations of the world. And Ueberroth, who as a representative of the United States reports to the IOC, refuses to diverge from that thinking.

"We don't just go there, we get invited there. We accept the invitation, and then there's a set of rules that are IOC rules. We accept those rules. We expect and are sure that our athletes are going to respect their own country, respect their flag, respect the flag of every other country and operate as we all will, under the IOC rules of the Olympic Games."

If those aren't carefully chosen words, I don't know what are. It seems to me, though, that Ueberroth is forgetting that Olympic history is rife with political statements.

In 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the Star Spangled Banner to show their solidarity with the Black Power movement. The USOC initially supported Smith and Carlos, but later agreed to ban them from the team when the IOC tightened the clamps.

In 1980, the United States and 61 other countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics altogether in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later, many of the nations on the other side of the fence boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics, which Ueberroth was instrumental in organizing.

I'm not one to protest just for the sake of protesting, but as we can see, there is precedent for speaking out by way of an Olympic platform. And as we all know, there are many issues arising from China that activists, American or otherwise, might like to speak out against.

Communism, human rights, freedom of religion, and pollution are some of the headliners. There's also the fact that China buys much of its oil from Sudan, which has been less than effective in ending the situation in Darfur.

There are many injustices in the world, and the United States is responsible for some of them. But our country is and always has been a nation with strong values and principles, one of which is freedom of speech. And in my view, that freedom shouldn't be limited to the borders of the United States, nor the confines of debate between elected politicians.

Separated at Birth: Drew Gooden & Jerramy Stevens

2008-02-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

In honor of the NBA trading deadline, we present a special edition of Separated at Birth (a second one may be to follow, but it may be tomorrow before I get around to it). Drew Gooden, left, smiles as he remembers the better days as a Cleveland Cavalier. Now he'll be miserable in Chicago. I couldn't find a smiling picture of Jerramy Stevens, who would bear a much closer resemblance to Gooden if only he'd show some teeth.

Oh well, what you see is what you get. And it's certainly a better shot than this one.

The quote A-Rod would love to have back

2008-02-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

When microphones and tape recorders are constantly shoved in your face and under your chin, it's tough to avoid occasionally sticking your foot in your mouth.

If anyone would know about media scrutiny, it's Alex Rodriguez. So Rodriguez should know that when you're asked a difficult question, you dodge it: not overtly, but by using a lot of words and subtly changing the subject or the tone of the conversation.

And A-Rod should certainly know that you never volunteer anything that could incriminate you.

When asked the obligatory questions about steroids in baseball and the alleged use by Roger Clemens, though, Rodriguez managed to violate just about every one of the keys to an effective interview.

“Last year, I got tested 9 to 10 times,” he said. “We have a very, very strict policy, and I think the game is making tremendous strides.”

You what? As the New York Times story points out, 9-10 tests could be an indicator of positive tests; most players are only tested twice and additional tests are typically reserved for those who failed initial tests.

Fortunately, Rodriguez has a media relations director looking out for him, as he later explained that his initial statement was a matter of hyperbole. It was really 7-10 tests, he said.

Hmmmm. Looks like that foot is still pretty much lodged in there.

Feature story on NFL Draft Analyst Rob Rang

2008-02-20T17:13:00.001-08:00

By most appearances, Rob Rang is a pretty average customer. He goes to school, teaches yearbook and freshman English, and goes home.

But the seemingly ordinary Rang has a second career as an NFL Draft Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, and he's known as one of the best in the industry.

If you're interested, check out the feature piece I wrote on Rang that came out in today's Olympian.

Takin' it to the street: Suns and Nuggets to play outdoors

2008-02-19T18:05:00.001-08:00

Carmelo Anthony could become the first NBA player to have a bird scat on his head during a game, Shaq could be the first to lose a pass in the sunlight, and Steve Nash could complain about a wind gust knocking down his three ball.

Lots of things could go wrong with the outdoor exhibition between the Suns and the Nuggets, scheduled for October 11 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.

But lots of things could go right, too. And if worse comes to worst, the powers that be can just put the kabosh on any similar events in the future.

Considering the NHL's smashing success in staging the outdoor Winter Classic, though, I don't think the NBA has anything to worry about. The New Year's Day event drew record crowds despite snow conditions, and seemed to create the kind of stir the league has desperately needed.

The sheer novelty of an outdoor game and all of the interesting possibilities stemming from that -- see the first paragraph -- is what excites me.

But there's one thing about the pre-season event that has me scratching my head. It seems that by playing an outdoor game, the NBA is trying to appeal to the street ball crowd: you know, the ones that play inside the chain-link fence, swish their shots through metal nets, and say things like "we got next."

By hosting the game at the luxurious Indian Wells (check out the link if you've never seen a tennis match there), any notion of "street" is pretty much thrown out the window. But if that's not what they're going for, then I'm good with it.

EFBM: Everyone's fault but mine

2008-02-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

I'll start by saying sorry to anyone who's visited this site in the last week and found nothing but old news. I was busy, then on a short vacation. Everyone has a right to some time off, I think, but I should have posted a note or something.

Anyway, let's move on.

I was reading the remarks from Hank Steinbrenner about baseball being "singled out," and it got me thinking: pretty much everything about this whole steroid mess is someone else's fault.

Roger Clemens is furious that his trainer would betray him like this, and all of the corroborating testimony that Brian McNamee has conjured up is equally outrageous. Rafael Palmeiro squawked that he tested positive for steroids because he was given tainted supplements. And Barry Bonds...well, he's pretty much just angry with the world at large.

Anyone that hasn't taken a deny, deny, deny approach is admitting one-time use for recovery purposes only, and the net result is this feeling that everyone is trying to sweep a major issue under the carpet. When the music stops with you, you say your piece -- but be sure to keep it short and vague; it's best for your career -- and hope everyone can move on.

It's time for everyone, from the Commissioner to the owners to the general managers to the players, to taken ownership for what has taken place in the last decade and a half. They've cashed their increasingly bloated paychecks, and I think it's more than fair to expect an explanation to the fans.

Everyone at every level would like this steroid problem to go away. But as they say, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, and too many people flat-out refuse to do that.

Andy Pettite took a decent first step yesterday, and we can only hope that others will follow his example.

Sprewell's got mouths to feed AND bills to pay

2008-02-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

When Latrell Sprewell turned down a $21 million dollar contract extension with the explanation that "I've got my family to feed," he was actually understating his case.

As it turns out, he also had big payments on his $1.5 million yacht and a mortgage on a house near Milwaukee. (I'm guessing it was an ARM?)

Sprewell hasn't played since turning down Minnesota's extension offer in 2004, but now that he's been forced to sell the boat and his home may be foreclosed upon soon, he's probably wishing he'd taken it.

At 37 and likely out of shape, you have to think Sprewell's playing days are over. That extra 21 mil probably wouldn't have locked up financial security -- if he couldn't manage the $14.6 million per year he was making in 2004, $7 million would be sand through his fingers -- but at least it would have prolonged the apparently inevitable disaster he finds himself in now.

Editors note: How I managed to finish this post without a reference to Sprewell "choking," I'll never know.

Boston undefeated vs. West, but...

2008-02-11T06:01:00.000-08:00

By this point in the season, we've all determined that the Boston Celtics are mortal.

As it turns out, though, that mortality may apply only against Eastern Conference opponents. In beating San Antonio yesterday, Boston improved to 16-0 against the Western Conference.

This can be taken one of two ways, of course. It could be grounds to crown the Celtics, who lead the East by three games over the Pistons, the de facto midseason favorites to win the NBA Championships.

But more accurately, the staggering statistic demonstrates the disparity between the two conferences and suggests that the Eastern Conference playoffs are going to be a dogfight.

Last month alone, Boston lost five times to Eastern Conference opponents, including twice to Washington and once each to Charlotte, Orlando and Toronto. The Celtics are 39-9, good for the best record in both the East and the NBA as a whole, but no longer a mark that threatens Chicago's 73-win standard.

Two of the Big Three have missed time with injuries, Ray Allen with a ginger ankle and Kevin Garnett with a strained abdominal muscle that has now sidelined him seven straight games. And while age has been part of the problem for Boston, it certainly isn't everything; in four of the five January losses, the Celtics' roster was at full strength.

Even with the recent setbacks, it would be hard to bet against Boston making the playoffs as a #1 seed. But Detroit, Orlando, and Cleveland lurk. And now that the Lakers and Suns have bolstered their rosters, the NBA Finals may be no cakewalk, either.

Getty Images

Did Roger and Mrs. Clemens get the 2 for 1 special?

2008-02-08T17:24:00.000-08:00

This whole Brian McNamee vs. Roger Clemens mudslinging fight is getting more entertaining every day.

To add insult to the Rocket's injured public image, McNamee is now testifying that he put the needle to Mrs. Clemens, too. According to the New York Daily News, this latest morsel came out in McNamee's deposition on Capitol Hill Thursday.

In 2003, Debbie Clemens was set to pose in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. Apparently, though, she didn't quite like what she saw in the mirror as she prepared for the photo shoot. So, McNamee testified, he injected her with Human Growth Hormone. (Or was it B-12 and Lidocaine?)

"McNamee discussed his wife's use before the committee," according to the source. "She was trying to get in shape for the SI cover. He told them the story that Debbie took growth."

This whole soap opera is just too much fun, and I guarantee that the ending won't be disappointing, because someone is lying like a rug. If it's the Rocket, and he's spent all this time and energy denying on 60 Minutes and under oath in front of Congress, his reputation will be completely and irrepairably damaged.

We all knew this, but who could have predicted his wife would get dragged into it as well?

Separated at Birth: Kevin Love & Justin Timberlake

2008-02-07T05:30:00.000-08:00

Since leaving 'N Sync, Timberlake (right) has sold more than 8 million albums, dated Jessica Biel, and played a crucial role in a Super Bowl malfunction.

Love, meanwhile, is just getting started. The UCLA freshman is averaging 17.8 point and 11.2 rebounds for the Bruins, and he's projected to be a first-round draft pick if he chooses to leave college. He's not rich yet, but he will be soon.

Jim Mora Jr. is a prophet! (Sort of)

2008-02-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

Jim Mora Jr. likes Seattle a lot. Now that he's being named as Mike Holmgren's successor, it looks like he'll get to stay awhile.

Perhaps you recall the flak in 2006 when Mora, then head-coach of the Atlanta Falcons, went on air to say that he would take a job at the University of Washington (his alma mater) in a heartbeat.

But if [Ty Willingham] decides at some point that he's ready to move on and they want me, I will be there. I don't care if we're in the middle of a playoff run, I'm packing my stuff and coming back to Seattle.

Yikes! He quickly retracted, of course, and said he was kidding. But at the completion of a disappointing 7-9 season ("disappointing" is so relative, isn't it?), the Falcons fired Mora. And they weren't kidding.

Fulfilling his own prophetic words, Mora indeed packed his stuff and came home to Seattle, as an assistant for the Seahawks. He managed to keep his mouth shut for a season -- but for that matter, what Seattle fan can complain about his undying allegiances to Washington? -- and now Mora finds himself in the right place at the right time.

It's not the UW, but a five year deal to coach the Seahawks (starting in '09) isn't a bad consolation prize.

Where will Eli Manning go from here?

2008-02-04T05:52:00.000-08:00

Start the presses at the Wheaties factory, we've got ourselves a new hero!

Since the Super Bowl MVP couldn't be shared jointly across an entire defensive line, Eli Manning was as deserving as any individual to receive it. He completed 19 of his 35 passes for 2 TDs and 1 INT that wasn't his fault.

But it was the 12-play, 83-yard game winning drive that sealed Manning's place in history. And his Houdini-like escape from the clutches of (what seemed like) the entire New England defensive line, his rollout and desperate toss into the center of the field, which was somehow snagged by wide receiver David Tyree...was just plain surreal.

But the heroic performance, which no one will soon forget, got me wondering: where will Eli Manning go from here? (Besides Disney World, of course.)

For starters, endorsement offers will come flooding in from every direction. Older brother Peyton is already an advertising icon, while up until now Eli has barely dipped his toe in the water. They say that Peyton is the more gregarious of the two, but Eli won't have a choice anymore; unless he goes into hiding, everyone will want to borrow his face and pay him handsomely for it.

But on the football field, has Manning suddenly become an elite quarterback?

While yardage isn't the only measuring stick for the position, it's worth mentioning that Eli hasn't thrown for 300 yards since Oct. 15 against Atlanta and hasn't exceeded 275 since Nov. 18. And though his touchdown to interception ratio was 6 to 1 in the post season, how many of us have forgotten that it was just 23 to 20 in the regular season?

You could see the younger Manning mature throughout the course of the post season, making better decisions and remaining calm under pressure. He was rarely awe-inspiring, but he was never awful, as he was so often in the regular season.

But Manning was also just one member of an entire team that got hot at the right time. Ahmad Bradshaw came from no where (190 regular season yards) to form a fiersome ground attack with Brandon Jacobs. Amani Toomer was steady throughout the post season, and the Giants got a big lift from both Tyree and rookie Steve Smith.

Life after the Super Bowl will never be the same for Eli Manning. He will be recognized everywhere he goes, endorsement money will bulge in his pockets, and his confidence should be at an all-time high. But come next season, when he's completed 13 passes is 30 tries with three INTs along the way, life won't be that different, either.

He's Eli Manning the Super Bowl champion, now, but he's still Eli Manning. And if he thought he felt pressure from the New York media before winning the Super Bowl, he hasn't seen anything yet.

What football game? The week in Super Bowl parties

2008-02-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

Somehow, the actual football game has become an afterthought.

With tickets to Sunday's Super Bowl reportedly in the $3,000 to $5,000 range -- and that's just for a seat in the nosebleeds, where you may need binoculars or a telescope to see whether that was Tom Brady or Eli Manning that just threw a touchdown -- many fans are flocking to Arizona just for the pregame festivities.

And we're not talking about tailgate parties here, where brats and beers are the menu. Tonight alone there's Vice the Party, featuring Snoop Dog, Kid Rock, and LL Cool J; ESPN the Magazine Next Big Weekend 2008, featuring Ludacris; and the Friday Night Lights party, hosted by Larry Johnson and Warren Sapp, among others.

(There's also the Commissioner's Ball, but who would want to go to that unless they didn't have somewhere better, cooler to be?)

If you're in the area, keep in mind that these parties are see-and-be-seen events; just because you show up doesn't mean you're on the list to get in. But just in case they mistake you for some B-lister they kind of liked in that one movie, be sure you wear a tie.

Where's the Party? Wall Street Journal graphic showing the Scottsdale/Phoenix hotspots.

If it wasn't for Spygate, would the Patriots be here?

2008-01-30T08:51:00.000-08:00

It's a simple hypothetical question, and we'll never know for sure.

Four and a half months ago, New England trounced the New York Jets in the season opener. But the bigger storyline was that the Patriots had cameras trained on the New York sidelines, and they got caught doing it.
That storyline evolved into Spygate, and resulted in a $500,000 fine levied on Bill Belichick, a $250,000 fine on the New England franchise, and the loss of a 2008 draft pick.

But for everything the Patriots lost, they gained one thing: a major chip on their shoulders. There were no personnel changes, of course, but there was a shift in mentality. A good team was suddenly great. Each game suddenly became an opportunity to prove to the world that spy cameras or no, New England was the best team in the league.

The effect was utter humiliation for nearly every opponent on the Patriots' schedule. New England, as we all know, won the next 15 games of the regular season in record-setting fashion, setting single-season marks for points scored, touchdown throws, and touchdown receptions.

So here's the question of the day: if Spygate had never happened, would the Patriots be in the Super Bowl? And your bonus question: if it wasn't for Spygate, would New England have gone undefeated?

Separated at Birth: Chris Webber & Forest Whitaker

2008-01-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

In honor of Chris Webber's impending return to the Golden State Warriors and Coach Don Nelson, here is a special edition of our Separated at Birth feature.

Webber's return probably won't be much benefit to the Warriors or a resurgence in his fading career, but if I'm wrong, this could be a great storyline.

So great, in fact, that it could become a movie script. If it does, Forest Whitaker (right) is the only one who should audition for the main part.

Thanks to Matthew for the tip.

Does Erik Bedard a playoff team make?

2008-01-28T05:42:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Mariners won 88 games last season, finishing six games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Southern California which is on the West Coast of the United States of America.

It was a nice improvement on their 78-84 season of 2006, but the streak of playoff futility -- stretching back to the 116-win season of 2001 -- continued.

All that to say that general manager Bill Bavasi keeping his job would seem contingent on the Mariners at least making an appearance in the playoffs this season. And to get Seattle to the playoffs, Bavasi needs to bring in a top-of-the-rotation starter, whose name isn't Johan.

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Mariners are very close to acquiring Erik Bedard from Baltimore in exchange for outfielder Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill, and two to three minor league prospects.

It would be a gutsy deal, trading away Jones. Jones was a sandwich pick in 2003, and he's been knocking at the door of the Bigs for the last couple of seasons. He hit 25 home runs and drove in 84 last year at AAA Tacoma, and he was the only real candidate for the every day vacancy in right field.

Sherrill would be a big loss, too. He's been a solid lefty out of the pen for the last four years, with very solid seasons in '06 and '07. The other prospects -- Chris Tillman, Tony Butler, and Kameron Mickolio -- are relatively unknown commodities, at least at the Major League level.

But the carrot at the end of the stick is juicy, if not downright tantalizing. Bedard is young (he'll turn 29 in spring training), inexpensive (he'll be paid $6 million or $8 million depending on an arbitration ruling), and very, very good. He was 13-5 last year on a horrible Orioles team, with a 3.16 ERA and 221 strikeouts, a rate of 1.21K/9.

If Seattle can seal the deal, its rotation will be as follows:

Bedard

Felix Hernandez - 14-7, 3.92 ERA

Jarrod Washburn - 10-15, 4.32

Miguel Batista - 16-11, 4.29

Carlos Silva - 13-14, 4.19 for Minnesota

If everyone pitches well, it's a very good rotation. Personally, I think if Bedard is acquired, the Silva signing becomes a redundancy. Brandon Morrow, the M's 2006 first-round pick, is ready to join the rotation, but if Bedard shows up, there's nowhere to put him, except back in the bullpen.

It's easy to get excited about this Bedard trade, but Mariners fans need to keep a couple of things in mind. First, there's that gaping hole in right field to address. Jose Guillen, who hit 23 home runs and drove in 99 last season, is gone. And if Bedard is on board, Jones is not. So that leaves utility man Willie Bloomquist and minor league slugger Wladimir Balentien -- or possibly a free agent acquisition -- to fight for the spot.

Second, the Angels haven't gone anywhere. They signed Torii Hunter and traded for Jon Garland, and some rumors have them making another deal with the White Sox for first baseman Paul Konerko. Even if that doesn't work out, Los Angeles is still an excellent baseball team, and in my books the favorite to win the division.

A move for Bedard, even with the loss of Jones, makes Seattle a better team instantly. They will push the Angels for the West division title and be in the running for the Wild Card, right from the get-go. But I'm not convinced this deal pushes them over the top.

Wherefore art thou, Chuck Knoblauch?

2008-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

How many Feds does it take to find Edward Charles Knoblauch?

Until recently, that was just a bad joke a Minnesotans told to pass the time while ice fishing. But now, federal marshals attempting to serve Knoblauch with a subpoena are making the question a matter of practicality.

This all started with the dispute over whether Roger Clemens used steroids and/or Human Growth Hormone. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee decided to get to the bottom of it, and to do so, they figured they would talk to Chuck, who -- along with former teammates Clemens and Andy Pettite --was named in the Mitchell Report.

When Knoblauch failed to respond to the committee's "invitation" to testify, they decided to slap him with a subpoena.

Trouble is, they can't seem to find him.

Here's my question. If the New York Times could find Knoblauch less than two weeks ago at his Houston home (when interviewed, he said he hadn't heard anything from any Congressional committees) why haven't the Feds been able to track him down?

I just don't see Knoblauch as the type of guy to take his family into hiding under an assumed name at the Super 8. But I could be wrong. At any rate, if you bump into him at the indoor pool or over a cup of coffee at the Continental breakfast, tell him the Feds are looking for him.

Larry Brown on how NOT to find a new coaching job

2008-01-23T06:15:00.000-08:00

Larry Brown says he wants to coach again, but he's not acting like it.

Brown gave an overly candid interview for the February issue of Philadelphia Magazine, criticizing the franchise for the way they treated him and even accusing the Knicks of planting "spies throughout the arena" during his brief tenure at the Garden.

(Larry, Larry, Larry. Didn't you know that the man behind those binoculars was just Isiah, scoping out the cheerleaders?)

In 11 coaching stops at the pro and college levels, Brown has a track record of both success and short stays. Brown's teams have won two championships and been runner-up four other times, and he is widely known for being a coach that can extract the maximum out of his teams. And perhaps that ability -- more specifically, how much he demands from his players -- is why he quickly overstays his welcome.

In New York, during the 2005-06 season, Brown once again rubbed people the wrong way. He publicly criticized Stephon Marbury (can you blame him, really?) and granted interviews to team beat writers along the side of the road (gotta have a PR team member handy, Ron; you know that). Except this time, even Brown couldn't work his magic, so the Knicks fired him after just one season.

We all know that the Knicks are a franchise in the state of free fall, and whomever you choose to blame for that, it shouldn't be Brown. His failure in New York was only a symptom of the problem.

But if he wants another coaching job -- and he says he does -- Brown needs to keep his mouth shut about his miserable experience with the Knicks. As it is, franchises are leery of leaving Brown alone with their players, and a healthy dose of former-employer bashing won't help his case any.

Brown says Knicks treated him poorly (AP, via espn.com)
Larry Brown (Wikipedia)

The fire still burns in Dungy's belly

2008-01-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Tony Dungy is such a quiet, classy guy, you almost assume he's not competitive.

Almost.

After weeks of speculation that Dungy would retire following this season, the Colts announced that the winningest coach in their history would return for one more season.

You could hardly blame Dungy if he did hang up the clipboard. He is a family man first and foremost, and being an NFL coach has to be one of the toughest gigs to juggle with going on a date with your wife or watching your son's high school football games.

And of course, Dungy has already won a Super Bowl, the Holy Grail for football players and coaches alike. After enduring years of fans and critics wondering if he could "get the job done," Dungy and Indianapolis did just that against the Bears last February.

But now, after a one and done in this year's playoffs, Dungy is back. Why?

Dungy is indeed a quiet, classy presence on the football field, but that doesn't preclude him from wanting to win, and wanting it badly. I would venture to say that Dungy is every bit as competitive as Bill Belichick, he just expresses it a different way.

Belichick glowers, snarls at the media, and infuriates opponents by running up the score; Dungy purses his lips and gears up for another season of going about his business.

I don't know if the Colts will fare any better next season, but I suspect if their key players can remain healthy, they will. But this I do know: like Brett Favre, after throwing the game-changing interception on Sunday, Tony Dungy is too competitive and loves this game too much to walk away just yet.

Memo to Dan Marino: No cell phones on set, please!

2008-01-20T19:42:00.000-08:00

It was yet another day of disappointment for the growing legion of fans rooting against the Patriots, as New England remained undefeated by beating the Chargers in Foxborough.

It was a day of redemption for Giants' kicker Lawrence Tynes, who after shanking a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, connected in overtime to give New York the upset victory at Lambeau.

But it was a day of head-scratching for fans watching the CBS Halftime show during the first game, when Dan Marino's cell phone rang not once, not twice, but three times.

It got me wondering...

Who was calling Marino on a Sunday afternoon, anyway? It's not like this NFL analyst gig is a new thing. Perhaps it was one of the kids, asking if he could take the BMW for a spin, but you'd think Mom could answer that one without having to bug Dad in the middle of his TV show.
If Dan the Man doesn't answer on your first try, could it be a sign that he's busy? Surely if he doesn't pick up the second time, he's either ignoring you or in the middle of something, so trying a third time is just going to bug him. In this case, on national television.
Why did Marino have the cell phone with him in the first place? I'm guessing there are courtesy phones all over the place on the set, so if he needed to make a call or receive one, there would be ample opportunity on a break.
Has he heard of silent mode?

A national columnist recounts an unpleasant encounter with Marino (Joe Posnanski)
Video of Marino losing his cool on the set a few years back (Fugly)

Hoping for Hoola Hoops in Heaven

2008-01-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

You didn't know Richard Knerr, but his legacy is all around you.

When you go to the park and see a group of granola 20-somethings playing Ultimate Frisbee, he is there.

When you walk down the street and see this little girl swiveling her hips inside a Hoola Hoop, Knerr is a part of it.

And on a hot summer day, when you race down the yard and do a belly flop on that long, plastic Slip 'N Slide, Richard Knerr is smiling somewhere.

Knerr, the co-founder of Wham-O, the company that gave life to each of these beloved American pastimes, is dead at the age of 82. For the benefit of kids all over the world who've never gotten to try them, you have to think that these toys will be available for use in Heaven.

Hopefully Knerr will be there to enjoy them, too.

Greeks and Chileans go at it at Australian Open

2008-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Australian Open needs a new working tagline, and I'm suggesting "It's all fun and games until someone gets pepper sprayed."

For the second straight year at the tennis tournament Down Under, police have had to eject unruly fans. Last year it was Serbian and Croatian fans going at it with sticks and flag poles.

This year was a seemingly more tame event, with a few Greeks and Chileans mixing things up. Three fans were pepper sprayed and five were ejected. The video, if you care to watch (which you should, if only for the Australian accents), is here.

I understand the bad blood between Serbs and Croats; it's not so long ago that the two countries were at war. I kind of see those two countries like the Bloods the the Crips, or the Sharks and the Jets on the international scene.

But the Greeks and the Chileans? Either that Australian sun is shining too hot (it's summer down there), or the beer is flowing like wine at the Open. From the looks of things, maybe both.

AFP Photo from Melbourne Herald-Sun

Bynum-less Lakers reduced to one dimension

2008-01-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

With Andrew Bynum sidelined by a knee injury, the Lakers returned to old form Monday night in Seattle.

They won in overtime, but how they did it had to send Phil Jackson looking for the nearest equipment closet in which to meditate. Just like last year, it was all Kobe, all the time.

Bryant scored 48 points on 44 shots, and getting his teammates involved was hardly a consideration. Use Kobe's two assists or the rest of the box score -- the next highest-scoring Laker was Ronny Turiaf with 14 points -- as evidence that without Bynum, Los Angeles is a one-man show.

Bynum had emerged as a strong inside presence, perhaps more valuable for his rebounding (11th in the NBA at 10.2 per game) than for his scoring (13.1). But that was improving, too; over the past five games prior to the one in which he was injured, Bynum averaged 18.8 points.

All that to say that Kobe and the Lakers are back to square one. For the moment, they are tied for first in the Western Conference, and it would be absurd to pick them not to make the playoffs. But eight weeks is a long time, and there's no guarantee that Bynum will return at full strength even then.

So, once again, it's Kobe's team and everyone knows it. Can he shoulder the load for the next two-plus months, or will he crumple under the weight of carrying the team and start to look for a way out again? If the latter, he'd better start campaigning hard; the trade deadline (February 22) is just over a month away!

AP PHOTO

Let's play two: NBA schedules Heat/Hawks redux

2008-01-14T06:04:00.000-08:00

In the NBA, this is about as close as you can get to a double header.

Upholding an appeal by the Miami Heat, the NBA has scheduled Miami and Atlanta to play a "do-over" of the final 51.9 seconds of their December 19 game.

The Hawks led 114-111, when Shaq fouled out with less than a minute remaining in overtime. Except for one thing: it was O'Neal's fifth foul, and in the NBA you get six. Oops!

So while Atlanta went on to win the game, it will be as if the game never happened -- for now. The Heat protested the outcome of the game, and for the first time since 1982, the league upheld their protest. Even though he can't shoot free throws well, the big man tends to have a big outcome on the outcome of basketball games.

The game will be replayed to its conclusion March 8 from the point when O'Neal was unduly ejected, and then, after some sort of short break, the two teams will go at it again. As we said, a double header!

My only question is this: what about the folks who thought they watched a real game the first time around? Are they admitted to watch the Choose Your Own Adventure ending, then shuttled out unceremoniously before the start of the feature presentation? Or do they have to sit at home and watch on TV, pointing out to their friends, Hey I was at this game?

Separated at Birth: Wally Szczerbiak & Ben Stiller

2008-01-08T20:09:00.001-08:00

Opening Eyes to the Blind Side

2008-01-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

If you haven't read the book, you've probably never heard of him.

Michael Oher is an offensive lineman for Mississippi, one of the most underachieving programs in college football. The Rebels have posted three straight losing seasons in the SEC, including an abysmal 3-9 this year.

But Oher -- a 6'5", 325 lb. left tackle -- still has NFL scouts excited, and he's projected to be taken anywhere from the mid-first round to early-second in the 2008 draft.

The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis, tells the story of how Oher arrived at Ole Miss. Without a real family or any significant football background, Oher mysteriously materialized at Briarcrest Christian School, an affluent, nearly all-white high school in suburban Memphis. He was truly a fish out of water.

But Oher was recognized as a young man in need by Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy, who, after a series of events, more or less adopted the young behemoth. After a highlight video of Oher's junior football season reached Tom Lemming, the person responsible for choosing the high school All-American team, Oher's life would never be the same.

Between studying to get his grades up and fending off would-be suitors from just about every Division I football program in the nation, Oher had an extremely busy -- and rather unusual -- senior year at Briarcrest. But in the end he selected Ole Miss, which is his adopted parents' alma mater.

If you haven't read it yet, pick up the book. It's an excellent read, and Lewis does a great job of stepping back and pointing out the bigger picture. The left offensive tackle has evolved from a position that no one recognizes as special, to a spot at which NFL executives are willing to draft high and pay well.

Most fans remain unable to recognize the value of an offensive lineman, which often supersedes that of a good running back or a decent quarterback. But because of the book, perhaps we can start to wrap our minds around the concept of a star offensive lineman. One day, an offensive tackle will be famous, and not just for signing a big contract.

It could be Michael Oher.

Choosing sides: Do you believe Roger Clemens or Brian McNamee?

2008-01-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

For anyone who missed Roger Clemens' interview on 60 Minutes last night, here's a one-word summary: robotic.

Clemens, unsurprisingly, took the deny, deny, deny approach, explaining multiple times in his Texas accent that "it never happened."

He was also critical of those who've assumed the worst about him, arguing that his 20-plus years of Major League service should give him the benefit of the doubt.

"It's hogwash for people to even assume this," Clemens said. "Twenty-four, 25 years, Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch."

While he's right that citizens are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law, things tend to operate a little differently in the court of public opinion. Especially when it comes to steroid usage.

One of two people here is lying: either Brian McNamee is fabricating this whole thing and Clemens is just trying to clear his name, or McNamee is telling the truth and Clemens is attempting to orchestrate a massive cover-up.

The one factor in Clemens' favor is there may never be physical evidence to substantiate McNamee's claims. Just because you said you did something, doesn't necessarily mean you did. If you can't provide tangible proof, this may become a word versus word situation.

But let's take a closer look at McNamee. Here is a guy who has worked with Clemens for 10 years, befriended him, staked his entire reputation as a physical trainer on the Rocket's success. What does McNamee stand to gain by lying about injecting Clemens with steroids? And after denying involvement in steroids after the Grimsley report was leaked, why would McNamee change course when testifying to Senator Mitchell?

If he was telling the truth the first time, wouldn't he stick with his story?

Furthermore, if Andy Pettite -- who is among Clemens' closest friends and trained with McNamee alongside Clemens -- admits to having used Human Growth Hormone, what does that say for Clemens? I don't know about you, but I find it hard to believe when Clemens says he "had no idea about" what Pettite was doing.

I could go on, but what's the point? All of this and much, much more will come out in Clemens' newly-filed defamation suit against McNamee, and when the two men testify before Congress on January 16.

A Reilly-shaped hole at the back of SI

2007-12-31T06:09:00.000-08:00

Even after Rick Reilly's departure, my ritual is the same: when I get my weekly copy of Sports Illustrated in the mail, I flip straight to the back page.

But instead of Reilly, smiling at me with that cheesy smile as if he had just told a joke or was about to, I find these Wall Street Journal-esque caricatures of guys like S.L. Price, Jack McCallum, and Chris Ballard. And instead of the Life of Reilly, it's the Point After.

These men are all great writers in their own right, no doubt about it, but they are not Reilly. They know it, their editors know it, and we, the readers know it. They do not anchor the magazine the way Reilly did, like the last runner on a relay team: lying in wait for the home stretch, ready to grab the baton and carry the team to victory.

Now having said all this, I believe Reilly has lost a step or two in the last few years. His laugh out loud pieces and his tear-jerker columns had become fewer and farther between. I might even say that at $2 million per, Reilly is a bigger loss to SI than he is a gain to ESPN.

But that's neither here nor there.

The point is that there is a vacuum near the end of each new issue of Sports Illustrated, and someone needs to fill it permanently. Selena Roberts (formerly of the New York Times) and Dan Patrick are probably the leading candidates, but it's tough to know if either can fill Reilly's shoes.

Well, it's better than finding out posthumously

2007-12-28T06:28:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to Evonne Goolagong, a tennis player from the 1970s.

You don't hear much about her these days, but boy, she went on a tear in 1976, winning six tournaments, including the Australian Open.

But she never quite summited the top of the WTA rankings -- until now.

Some stathead for the WTA plugged all the numbers into a computer (rumor has it they relied heavily on the abacus until the early 1990s), and determined that Goolagong rightfully deserved the #1 ranking for a two-week period.

Two weeks. Thirty years ago. And they sent her a trophy for it. I'm glad credit has been given where credit was due, but I'm plagued by a burning question on the subject.

Who was the geek digging around in 30-year-old stats that found this?

Meaninglessness brought to the masses

2007-12-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you're dying to watch the New England Patriots make history Saturday night -- but can't afford NFL Network -- you're in luck.

But now that the NFL has made an allowance for CBS and NBC to simulcast the game, it begs the question: how many of us care?

Patriots fans have plenty of reason to watch, but not in the same way we all gathered around the talking box when Big Mac went for 62. History will unfold before our eyes, to be sure, but it all seems like such a foregone conclusion.

In addition to the perfect 16-0 season, New England has a couple of opportunities to make its mark on the record book.

With two TD passes, Tom Brady will pass Peyton Manning for the single-season TD record (currently at 49).
With two TD catches, Randy Moss would eclipse Jerry Rice for the all-time mark (currently 22, set in a strike-shortened season of 12 games).

And with a mere touchdown, the Patriots will pass the '98 Vikings as the most prolific scoring team in history (the current points record is 556).

But are these records you need to see broken? Could you have picked the NFL's highest scoring team on a multiple choice test? Even the perfect season doesn't seem as big a deal, since we all figured out about Week 9 that the Patriots couldn't be beaten.

Furthermore, the game is of no consequence to the Giants, who have already clinched a Wild Card berth and stand to gain nothing by winning. So basically, it will be a regular season game for the Patriots and a preseason game for New York. Riveting!

I'm as much a fan of history as anyone else, and normally the opportunity to watch a record-setting sports event would make my hair stand on end. Saturday will be different, though. I'll probably flip on the game and watch a quarter or two, but if my wife asks me to accompany her to the grocery store, I won't object.

Vote Now (in poll to the right): Will you watch the Patriots go for 16-0?

If you're going to a bowl game, Watch your back

2007-12-26T06:03:00.000-08:00

Chalk it up to filler on a slow news day, if you like, but I find this AP piece about terrorism at sporting events more than a little unnerving.

The story points out that while professional sports have stepped up their security measures, NCAA events have security barely superior to than a junior league soccer game at the park. Numbers aren't necessarily the problem, however.

Because most college and universities outsource its security and ushering duties, the types of personnel available in the event of an emergency aren't always top drawer. Picture the saggy-cheeked grandpa or the pimply-faced teenager. Are those the guys you want watching your back while you watch the game?

I've often thought when I walked into a stadium (college or professional) that this could be a prime target for terrorist action. At least 30,000 -- sometimes up to 100,000 -- people in one confined space. How hard would it be for one individual with weapons or explosives to make it past security and carry out a suicide mission? How vulnerable would fans be with no easy exits and no plans for evacuation?

It's sad we've come to need this, but Southern Miss has developed a center for Spectator Sports Security Management, which is charged with the task of training security professionals across the country for just this type of scenario.

I just hope it isn't too late.

Security experts worry about safety at college stadiums (AP, via Yahoo! sports)

Bizarre behavior from the Flying Tomato

2007-12-24T05:24:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of winter sports, you may remember Shaun White as a gold medal winner.

If you're a pop culture junkie, you may recall White as the Flying Tomato in this issue of Rolling Stone.

But if you're a Summit County (Colorado) sheriff, you probably know White as the punk who set off the fire alarm and looks suspicious in the theft of a 2000 Audi.

A security camera caught someone who looked very much like White setting off the alarm in the game room at Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, and a little sleuthing showed White's boot prints tracking away from the scene of the crime.

White was questioned in the theft of the Audi, which took place the same day, but later ruled out as a suspect for reasons unclear. Just guessing here, but perhaps it had to do with the fact that White probably has more than enough endorsement money to buy his own 2000 Audi.

White is still only 21, and besides his second-degree criminal tampering citation will probably be dismissed or otherwise forgotten. But you have to wonder, after White's bizarre and disappointing behavior, who will all the young, pasty white, freckled red-headed snowboarders look up to now?

White cited with criminal tampering (AP, via si.com)
"Flying Tomato" cited in Breckenridge (Denver Post)

Zo Long: Mourning the end of a great career

2007-12-20T05:53:00.000-08:00

In all likelihood, Alonzo Mourning's 16-season NBA career is over.

Mourning came down wrong while trying to block a shot on transition defense Wednesday night, and you could tell by his writhing and pounding on the floor that it probably wasn't just a twisted ankle. The bottom line was a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

And as someone who's dislocated a knee before, I can tell you that's about the worst kind of pain to have. Typical recovery period is three months, but for a 37-year old to recover and get back in playing shape within the confines of this season seems highly unlikely.

So with that, I want to thank Alonzo Mourning for a great career, one in which there were many highlights:

Mourning would have been the #1 pick out of Georgetown, if it wasn't for some big ogre named Shaquille. With 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, he would have been Rookie of the Year, too -- except Shaq was better.
Zo was the top dog on a fierce '94-95 Charlotte team, one that won 50 games and finished second in the Atlantic Conference Central Division. But then he ran into the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan in the first round of the playoffs.
Mourning amassed over 2,800 blocks, good for a career average of 2.8 per game. In his best seasons, Zo would get 3.5 a game, and in '98-98, he almost got four.
Zo was never an MVP, but he was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Despite six seasons in which he averaged 20 points or more, you could always tell that defense was most important. Especially when he bellered or scowled at an opponent after blocking a shot.
Mourning got the Holy Grail of basketball when the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship in 2006. Zo was a role player, to be sure, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in just over 20 minutes a game. But you know what? Role players get rings, too, and with Shaq missing over 40 games that season, the Heat probably couldn't have done it without him.
Perhaps the most impressive feat at all was accomplished off the basketball court, when Mourning battled kidney disease and came back from a transplant surgery. No way would he allow himself to become the sad story of an NBA star whose career ended far too early. After missing the '02-03 season for the surgery and recovery period, Zo returned a different player. Less stamina, less strength, perhaps, but more hustle. Less flash, more heart. And while he would never again be a star, he got the NBA championship that is the envy of every player who's never won one.

If Zo can beat kidney disease, he may be man enough to speed through a recovery and help the Heat in the playoffs. I suspect not, but if so I will gladly suspend my eulogy at that time. But if this is it -- and Mourning has stated that this will be his last season -- we owe him thanks for a phenomenal career.

Atlanta 117, Miami 111 (AP, via Yahoo! sports)
Alonzo Mourning player profile (Yahoo! sports)
Alonzo Mourning (Wikipedia)

Separated at Birth: Mike Mussina and Mark Prior

2007-12-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

ESPN.com is reporting in its Rumor Central section that the Yankees and Mets are among 11 teams eyeing Mark Prior (left). Which got me thinking: is New York big enough for two people who look like this? Mike Mussina (right) was unavailable for comment.

Is Dodgers' Kuroda the next Kei Igawa?

2007-12-18T05:58:00.000-08:00

You may recall that amidst all the hype about Daisuke Matsuzaka last off season, the Yankees paid for what they thought was a consolation prize in the Dice-K sweepstakes.

Kei Igawa.

Between the posting fee and a five-year contract, Igawa turned out to be a $46 million dollar bust. When the dust had settled, Igawa 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

Why the late-breaking news, though? As is the case with most Japanese imports, we don't know much about the Dodgers' new signee, Hirokee Kuroda; without having seen him play, we can only go on stats. And if stats is what we're going on, the Dodgers may have signed another Kei Igawa.

The similarities are startling, and if you had to choose one based on their Japanese league stats alone, it would have to be Igawa. In six plus seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, Igawa was 89-60 (.589 winning percentage) with a 3.15 ERA. He consistently struck out 170-200 batters per season, and in 2003, he won the Central League MVP award and the Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent to the Cy Young.

In 11 seasons with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, facing the same hitters in the same league, Kuroda was 103-89 (.536 winning percentage) with a 3.69 ERA. Kuroda averaged between 130 and 160 strikeouts per season.

It's worth pointing out, however, that the two pitchers pitch with different styles. Igawa is a lefty who uses more finesse than power, and it may have been his inability to locate the offspeed stuff that led to his demise here in the states. Kuroda, by contrast, is a right-handed power pitcher whose fastball reportedly peaks at 96 mph, and who also features a slider and a forkball. Also, his nickname in Japan is "Mr. Complete Game."

Igawa is 28, and since the Yankees have him under contract anyway, they may as well continue to work with him. And who knows, maybe he'll regain his Sawamura Award form and become a bargain. Kuroda, though, is 32, so it's more likely that what the Dodgers see this season is what they'll get for the length of the three-year, $35.2 million deal.

Japanese pitcher Kuroda, Dodgers agree to 3-year deal (ESPN)
Kei Igawa (Japanesebaseball.com ~ Wikipedia)
Hiroki Kuroda (Japanesebaseball.com ~ Wikipedia)

Romo plus girls equals trouble for 'Boys

2007-12-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

With new girlfriend Jessica Simpson watching from a private suite, Tony Romo played terribly Sunday in the Cowboys' 10-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Romo was 13-36 with 214 yards and 3 INTs for a career-low 22.2 quarterback rating. (Ouch! That might hurt worse than his bruised thumb!) But more importantly, Romo was unable to piece together a much-needed scoring drive, despite several chances in the fourth quarter.

This blog will never turn into a gossip column, but Sunday's game had to feel like deja vu for Dallas fans: the last time Romo played this badly was also against the Eagles, and there was also a special someone rooting for him up in the box.

In December 2006 it was American Idol winner Carrie Underwood rooting for Romo, but the result was almost identical. Romo struggled (45.5 passer rating), the 'Boys lost, and the relationship -- well, it was never the same.

At 12-2, Dallas is still sitting pretty for home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and Romo's thumb should be healed in time for the games that count, which don't start until January.

And as for Romo's personal life, we're not here to speculate. But we suggest that owner Jerry Jones enact a permanent ban on dating the cheerleaders, if he hasn't already. They show up at every game, you know.

Romo lands another pop princess (AP, via si.com... photo also AP)

Joy to the World: Kobe Bryant is Happy!

2007-12-14T05:59:00.000-08:00

In the wake of the release of the Mitchell Report -- and our shock and devastation that Roger Clemens was listed in it -- there is good news to be found in the sports world.

Kobe Bryant is happy.

"I'm happy to be here," Bryant said. "My guys and I -- we have such a tight bond. Business and basketball sometimes can cloud things, but when you get here in your element and you're around your teammates and just having a good time with them and thinking about them and not about the business of the game, that's when it becomes fun."

Translation: it's fun to win.

The Lakers are 13-8, good enough for second in the Pacific Division, and Bryant is finally getting the help he needs. Three other players (Odom, Fisher, and Bynum) are averaging in double figures, and two more (Radmanovic and Farmar) could get there with a single high-scoring game.

After all of the griping and whining and trade demands and complaining about teammates, Kobe is like a toddler who has finally gotten his way.

Kobe has a right to the pursuit of happiness, just like the rest of us. It's just that he thinks his right to happiness supersedes that of anyone around him. Seriously, when did he start giving a rip about his teammates, much less develop "such a tight bond" with any of them?

Enjoy this happiness while it lasts, Lakers fans, because if things start to sour, Bryant's true colors will shine again. And remember: when Kobe ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

Kobe glad he wasn't traded; "happy" with Lakers (espn.com)

5 Players who won't be on the Mitchell Report

2007-12-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm waiting with bated breath for the release of the Mitchell Report. It's sort of like hot gossip from People Magazine, except for sports fans.

So while we wait, I figure we can play a little game: to anyone stopping by to read this, list five players who won't be included as steroid users on the Mitchell Report.

I'll go first; other than these guys, all bets are off for me.

David Eckstein - The owner of 30 home runs in seven Major League seasons, the X Factor is free of suspicion in my books. I mean, just look at the guy.

Scott Podesdnik - He's 6'0", 170 lbs soaking wet. He did go from 9 to 12 to 0 home runs from 2003-2005, but I just don't see this guy as a user. And if he was, Podsednik better hope his name isn't on the report, because that's going to make finding a job all that much tougher.

Jamie Moyer - If Paul Byrd found a need to use the Human Growth Hormone, I suppose even an old codger like Moyer can't be totally free from suspicion. But Moyer's been around long enough to know the harmful effects of steroids, and he's also got enough tricks up his sleeve to get by on wiles rather than a blazing fastball.

Sean Casey - At 6'4", 215 lbs, you'd think Casey would be a power hitter. The reality is, however, that he's a singles hitter. But if you added steroids to that frame, he'd have more than 130 career dingers on accident.
Barry Bonds - Pause... Not!

OK, there are my picks for who won't make the Mitchell Report. Now it's your turn!

The legend of Davy Crockett lives on

2007-12-11T17:09:00.001-08:00

Move over, Davey Crockett, there's a new king of the Wild Frontier.

Crockett's great-great-great...etc., etc., grandson, who is five years old, killed himself a bear with a youth rifle.

We remember Davy Crockett from the old Disney show about his adventures in Tennessee and at the Alamo, and most of us went through a coon skin cap-wearing phases at one time or another.

But the best part about Davy Crockett is that he's got his own theme song, the Ballad of Davy Crockett.

It went a little something like this (emphasis added):

Born on a mountain top in Tennessee,
Greenest state in the land of the free.
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree,
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three.
Davy, Davy Crockett
King of the Wild Frontier

But back to the point. Crockett's descendant, a tike named Tre Merritt, shot and killed a 445 lb. black bear in Arkansas Sunday. His grandpa (not Davy) was with him, but the kid pulled the trigger, all by himself.

Just like Grandpa Crockett. Incredible.

5-year-old descendant of Davy Crockett kills bear (KATV/Little Rock, via ESPN)
The Ballad of Davy Crockett (Wikipedia)

See it Sharpton's way or lose the Olympics

2007-12-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

Being disagreeable is what the Reverend Al Sharpton seems to do best. This time, though, you have to think he's fighting a losing battle.

In a war with Chicago mayor Richard Daley over police department reforms, Sharpton has threatened to withhold his support for the city's 2016 Olympic bid.

"The Olympics can be a point of leverage for people in this city that have not been able to get direct action by the city fathers," Sharpton said.

Hold on a second, Al. You're going to stop the Olympics from coming to Chicago if you don't get your way on this issue? That's like threatening to sever your allegiances to the Cubs: you're more than welcome to voice your own opinion, but good luck finding a following in Chicago.

If stirring controversy is what Sharpton does best, unintentional comic relief is a close second.

Sharpton urges police reforms (AP, via si.com)

Phil Simms on how to throw a football; Grab a pencil, Eli

2007-12-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

Fourteen years into retirement, Phil Simms has mastered the art of throwing a football, and he's willing to help you learn it, too.

Make sure not to grip the ball too hard, he says, and try to use the combination of your arm and torso as a whip, rather than pushing the ball with only your arm.

Interesting stuff, and if you're brushing up for the big family game over the holidays, the information is available to you for a small fee by purchasing Simms' cleverly titled book, Phil Simms on Passing.

Or, if you've got the makings of a superstar, Simms might be willing to tutor you for free. Simms, who lives in New Jersey, has worked with several up-and-coming college quarterbacks in recent years.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the quarterback who could use the most help right about now only looks like a college quarterback. Eli Manning, whose Giants managed to eke out another win Sunday afternoon, has been barely better than atrocious most of this season.

Simms was no Dan Marino or Joe Montana, but he was a Giant and he won a Super Bowl. If Simms were willing, New York might be wise to snag him as a quarterback coach for the struggling Manning.

Or at least bring him in for a free consultation.

How to throw like a pro (Wall Street Journal)

Bad Week for Blogging

2007-12-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

I've been sick and busy for most of this week (a bad combination, let me tell you), and I'm heading out of town today, so what you see is what you get for the rest of this week.

I think the Tigers made a bold move in trading for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, but it makes me wonder, what becomes of poor Brandon Inge?

The Dodgers were smart to sign Andruw Jones to a two-year deal, which is a long shot from the six or seven Jones' agent Scott Boras insisted he would get at the start of this offseason. Even so, $18 million for a guy coming off a .222 season? Maybe Boras hasn't lost all his magic just yet.

And the Celtics remain on fire at 15-2, on pace for 72.35 wins. If the Big Three can stay healthy and the supporting cast continues to support, an NBA record 73 wins is definitely in reach.

And with that, folks, I'm out. See you Monday.

Count 'em on one hand: Dorrell firing leaves 5 black head coaches in NCAA D-I football

2007-12-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

UCLA fired Karl Dorrell Monday in a move that many saw coming.

The Bruins compiled a 35-27 record and reached a bowl in every season under Dorrell's leadership, but above average simply isn't good enough in the Pac-10.

What's troubling about this news is the fact that there are now only five black coaches remaining in NCAA Division I football: Turner Gill (Buffalo), Tyrone Willingham (Washington), Randy Shannon (Miami), Ron Prince (Kansas State), and Sylvester Croom (Mississippi State).

Out of 119 jobs, five represents barely four percent. When stacked up against the demographic of players participating in NCAA football -- about 50%, according to a recent SI article -- that's a paltry number.

Let me be clear what I'm not suggesting: I would never say that a black coach should be given more leniency simply because he's a black coach. Dorrell didn't meet the expectations established for the program, and he lost his job. It's harsh, but that's part of the business. If Willingham's Huskies don't put together a better season in 2008, he may be looking for a job as well.

What I am suggesting is that more black coaches deserve a fighting shot at the jobs that are available. While the NFL has mandated a policy requiring teams to interview at least one minority candidate when a vacancy arises -- the so-called "Rooney Rule" -- NCAA football has no such stipulation.

As if there was ever a legitimate question, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith proved in last year's Super Bowl that skin color is irrelevant when it comes to success in coaching football. The NFL has finally come to understand this, and it's time for the NCAA to take the cue.

For more on minority coaches in football...
Dorrell fired after mostly mediocre run (AP, via Yahoo! sports)
Just looking for a chance (Sports Illustrated)
The big game in sports management and higher education (Black Coaches and Administrators)
The Rooney Rule (Wikipedia)

The computers have spoken: Making sense of the BCS

2007-12-03T06:08:00.000-08:00

In a bizarre way, what the BCS computers spewed out Sunday made sense.

It's not that anyone really saw it coming, but you get the feeling if you had tried a little harder, you might have. It's LSU vs. Ohio State on January 7, 2008, for the BCS Championship.

In the preseason polls and Weeks 1-4, LSU was ranked #2 in the nation. After USC's sloppy win over Washington, LSU leapfrogged the Trojans and spent Weeks 5 and 6 at the top. The loss to Kentucky sent the Tigers down a few notches, but LSU returned to #2 in Week 10.

People will say that Ohio State backed into the BCS Championship, and in a season like this, who is anyone else to argue? But in Weeks 7-10, the top spot was theirs alone. That's right, in Week 10, Ohio State were #1 and #2 in the polls.

Should have seen it coming, right?

The college football rankings have resembled a seismograph this season -- 11 top-two losses (including four in the past two weeks) and a Top 25 that barely resembles the preseason poll. LSU and Ohio State have been a part of that, living on the receiving end of three of those top-two losses.

But nevertheless, they have been hovering all season, playing good football and scratching toward the top, even after losses set them back. Should LSU have lost to Arkansas at home? Absolutely not. Did Illinois have any business knocking off Ohio State? Probably not, but that's why they call it an upset.

David has slain Goliath all season, and Goliath no longer looks unbeatable. But in a crazy season like this one, it seems fitting that the two Goliaths -- the two biggest and most consistent presences all season -- should square off for the championship.

UK to corner market for obscure Olympic sports

2007-12-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

If you win an Olympic medal but no one's ever heard of your sport, does it still count?

Better believe it. The United Kingdom certainly does, so much so that it has crafted its entire strategy for the 2012 Olympics around the principle.

While major sports (except soccer) have never been Britain's strong point, it appears that reality is. UK Sport, Britain's equivalent to the US Olympic Committee, has announced that it is aiming for fourth place in the national medal count at the 2012 Olympics in London.

The United States, China, and Russia are beyond the UK's reach, and they know it. But if all goes according to plan, everyone else might be beaten.

The plan is to train capable athletes in sports where competition is limited -- like team handball and flatwater canoeing -- even if the athletes themselves have never played or heard of the sport before now.

From a strategical standpoint, it makes sense. A gold in sprint kayaking counts for just as much as a gold in men's basketball, so why not focus your efforts on the sports in which medals are attainable? And from the athletes' perspective, it's the opportunity of a lifetime: free room and board, the chance to be an Olympic athlete, and a decent shot at winning a gold medal.

"It's just walking out those doors at the opening ceremony, shaking like a leaf with all my mates," said Tom Marshall, who has been recruited for flatwater canoeing. "I'm already getting that spine-tingling feeling."

Britain schemes to come in fourth in 2012 Olympics (Wall Street Journal)

Tom Osborne Hires Self at Nebraska; Will he drop "interim" tag?

2007-11-30T06:02:00.000-08:00

For the moment at least, it's the return of a golden era in Nebraska football.

Following Bill Callahan's dismissal, the state's favorite Cornhusker made a bold move. Tom Osborne named himself interim coach, ostensibly to kick-start the recruiting process for whoever he'll name as Callahan's successor.

So far, Tom Osborne has interviewed Turner Gill (Buffalo head coach), Bo Pelini (LSU defensive coordinator), and Jim Grobe (Wake Forest head coach). Pelini -- who served as Nebraska's interim coach after Frank Solich's firing in 2003 and led the Huskers to an Alamo Bowl victory -- would seem to be the front runner among the names publicly mentioned.

But Nebraska fans have to be asking themselves, What if? In 25 seasons in Lincoln, Osborne won 255 games and captured three national titles. When the Cornhuskers weren't in the hunt for a national title, they were at least a force to be reckoned with.

After a season in which the Huskers became a laughingstock, a remedy for struggling offenses, Nebraska fans have to be craving a blast from the past.

Osborne has been strangely mum on the possibility of giving himself the nod for the full-time position. If he wasn't at least entertaining the idea, wouldn't he be a little more vocal about it? As in, "I know what you all are thinking, but it isn't going to happen because the wife said so"?

Speaking of Mrs. Osborne, if Tom is considering a comeback, can you imagine the conversations they must be having right about now?

For more on Tom Osborne and Nebraska football...
Osborne names self interim coach (AP, via Yahoo! sports)
Is Tom Osborne the next Nebraska coach? (Kevin Donahue at Fanblogs.com)

Interview with Steroid Nation author Gary Gaffney, Part II

2007-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

The second of two parts to this interview with Gary Gaffney, MD, of the University of Iowa. You can find the first part below or by clicking here. In this part of the interview, Gaffney talks about how baseball should react to the Mitchell Report when it is released, and how baseball and sports in general can combat the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Gaffney is an expert on performance enhancing drugs, and writes a great blog at Steroid Nation.

How do you predict the public will react to the Mitchell report, especially if the names listed in it come as surprise? Is there a possibility, given everything that's led up to this point -- specifically, the names that have already been leaked through various reports -- that the Mitchell Report will be met by the public with a collective shoulder shrug?

As someone suggested, 'Anabolic Steroid' should be named Time's Man of the Year. There is little chance of the Mitchell report being met by public indifference. If anything, the Mitchell report will be met with at least 8 hours of hysteria, until a new Britney Spears crisis comes along. Probably the most hysterical reaction will be from the network news anchors who know little about the situation, but a lot about marketing.

Baseball is a hallowed game, a reverence that was demonstrated a bit north of where I write this -- on the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. With a certain segment of the baseball fans, this will precipitate a PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) reaction. Other fans will cite racism, favoritism, an on-going cheating culture, and some will blame Dick Cheney and Halliburton.

I suspect the Mitchell report will generate the usual misunderstandings and distortions that occur in all of these episodes, including those misunderstandings in the indictment of Barry Bonds.

If the MLB wishes to maintain an image as a fair and regulated sport -- a sport that protects the ethical integrity of the games and the health of the players -- it will correct the PED problem. If the MLB doesn't clean up the PED issues, then baseball becomes a popular entertainment-sport. I have no arguments either way, as long as baseball is overt about which philosophy it chooses: ethical sports league, or revenue-seeking entertainment venue. And as long as everyone is honest about the consequences of the choice.

The fact of the matter is that PED use enhances performance. Thus, all performance records in the 'steroid era' need to be re-examined in light of possible contamination. That isn't a new revelation; performances change in sports based on better equipment, better training, and different physical plants. The problem with the enhancement of performance via PEDs is multi-fold as I see it:

The drug enhancement is covert. If the strike zone changes, or the parks shrink in distances down the foul lines, the changes can be quantified. The use of PEDs is unregulated, and covert, exactly not what is to be expected for civilized ethical sports.

The record-setting athlete is afforded great accolades in the country and the world. It seems unsavory that athletes given such inflated status scrounge steroids from AIDS patients, Mexican sources, The Russian mafia, organized drug conspiracies like BALCO, and mail order pharmacies.

If all records and gold medals are tainted with doping, then who is really winning the championships? The athletes or their covert underground pharmacists? If left unchecked, the use of doping to enhance performance will lead to a drug arms race (which has already happened) to see who can benefit most from drug use. Athletes will need multiple AASs, HGH, Thyroid hormone, insulin, anti-estrogens, IGF-1, modafanil, and EPO. Obviously these drugs will lead to significant morbidity and mortality.

Did I mention the use of PEDs is cheating?

The use of PEDs in baseball gets a lot of attention, but it seems to me that we don't hear as much about it in football, and not a whisper of it in basketball, hockey, and most other sports. Is baseball the only sport heavily tainted by this type of cheating, or do you believe that the use of PEDs is prevalent across the board in sports?

The use of PEDs in rampant in some sports, especially sports where power, explosiveness, and aggressiveness are important to success. It appears to me that the sport's culture affects the use of PEDs. PEDs seem to rampant in baseball, track, power-lifting, and cycling, and used quite a bit in football. Those are sports that demand power and explosiveness.

PEDs do not appear to be as rampant in basketball, either because anabolic drug use may not offer an advantage in competition, or the basketball culture has not excepted PED use. Hockey may not have yet developed a culture of PED use because the Canadian socialized health system has long wait lines (I joke).

Explain, if you would, the different types of testing sports use to catch the users of PEDs. Are they sufficient to solve the problem? If not, what measures do the various commissioners need to take to eradicate PEDs in their respective sports?

Anti-doping measures take any number of approaches. The laboratory approach appears to be the most direct, but is not without problems. The methods:

Lab testing for drugs. Many of the illegal PEDs can be ascertained in urine. Some are slam-dunks to detect like amphetamine; other PEDs require very sophisticated lab equipment and experience like EPO. One can see the problems involved in lab tests, as in the Floyd Landis case where the veracity and the integrity of the lab was in question. The lab has to be perfect in the handling of specimens, documentation of procedures, and security of results. This is an exercise in forensic quality control.
Some drugs are extremely difficult to test in urine, like HGH. It is a drug that vanishes in a short period of time. HGH may require a blood test, or a bioprofile.
Some drugs like testosterone disturb the T:E (testosterone to epitestosterone) ratio above 4:1. It seems to be possible to beat the T:E ratio, as apparently Marion Jones did, and members of BALCO also did.
Legal investigations. Although it might be almost impossible to actually prove the athlete injected a particular drug, the paper trail of using an Internet pharmacy, or taking delivery on drugs from a PED dealer might be acceptable to some leagues. Track took away Tim Montgomery's world record because of his association with BALCO. Montgomery never tested positive.

The various sports leagues can take steps to combat PED use:

Develop WADA-like secure testing protocols, both in-season and out-season
Hold the coach/manager, GM, trainer, owner all partially responsible for breach of PED regulations (if the team owners suffered a consequence to their pocketbook when their players use PEDs you can bet the PED use would fall)
Make use of 'moral clauses' in contracts to discipline players who associate with known PED users, dealers, doctors, and distributors
Develop state-of-the-art bioprofiles to keep the athletes honest

On Steroids, HGH, and Amphetamines: An Interview with Gary Gaffney of Steroid Nation

2007-11-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

In a day and age when it's easy to posture as an expert on a wide range of topics, it's nice to know that there are people out there who really know what they're talking about.

When it comes to steroids, Gary Gaffney, MD, is your man. Gaffney, a professor at the University of Iowa and the author of Steroid Nation (a blog I recommend you add to your favorites and check on a frequent basis) answered my questions about the effect of steroids and what they mean to the world of sports.

Due to length, I'll break this interview into two parts, with the second installment coming tonight or tomorrow morning.

By way of introduction, tell me about how you became interested in steroids. How do you incorporate this "hobby" with your job as a professor?

As a lifelong sports fan and subscriber to Sports Illustrated, I couldn't help but note the stories leaking out of that fine publication. Later, when I attended college, I began to train with weights. Although it was difficult to exercise regularly in medical school, I became more serious about weight training in residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. I made connections there with other physicians and amateur athletes who maintained the same interest in PEDs and athletic performance. For instance, my friend and I called up Robert Kerr for his take on HGH; Kerr was the California physician who claimed he doped a massive number of Olympic champions.

One of my specialty areas is psychopharmacology. There is incredible similarity between the study of drugs used for behavior problems and drugs used for performance enhancement.
I integrate an interest in PEDs professionally, so it is more than a hobby. I am analyzing data on high school steroid use. I recently published a review of gene doping in sports. I have ongoing discussions about research projects looking at aspects of PED use.

The blog is a way of keeping a database on steroids and PEDs, getting some information out there, and of exercising my constitutional right to be a wise guy.

Briefly, can you explain the differences between amphetamines, human growth hormone, and anabolic steroids? How does each help an athlete improve his performance on the field?

This substances you mentioned are but some of the performance enhancing drugs used by athletes. The differences between these drugs would be encyclopedic; however I can discuss the short version.

Amphetamines, also known as 'stimulants' (although I prefer 'analeptics') structurally affect the neurotransmitter 'monoamine' family of receptors. I prescribe these every day for the treatment of ADHD. Not only do these drugs increase attention and concentration, but they can -- at certain dosages -- combat fatigue and enhance motor coordination. Side effects include anorexia, insomnia, and -- at high doses -- psychosis.

Amphetamines are an FDA Schedule 2 substance, which means I need a federal DEA license to prescribe the drugs; they are fastidiously controlled by the government because of the high abuse potential. Amphetamines are detected in urine for several days after their use.

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland which is intimately involved with growth and metabolism. Once in incredibly short supply because the substance came from cadavers in Scandinavia, HGH is now abundant because the hormone can be produced in mass quantities by biotechnology.

HGH is involved in the growth of children, the regulation of protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and in the regeneration and repair of tissues. Studies indicate HGH may also increase muscle mass, improve tissue healing, and carry out several other metabolic actions. The data on HGH increasing strength and power is somewhat ambiguous; there is evidence HGH -- as a drug -- needs to be augmented with anabolic steroids, thyroid hormone, and insulin.

HGH appeared, at one time, to be an ideal anabolic drug: high gain, no pain. However, over the years HGH has found to cause sinister side effects. HGH can cause havoc with blood glucose and insulin regulation. HGH causes internal organ (kidney for instance ) growth. In a particularly dangerous side effect, HGH can cause enlargement of the heart; it is suspected that many former users of HGH now suffer from cardiac problems.

Although patients with HGH tumors demonstrate acromegaly -- growth of skull, jaw, hands and feet -- I can find little evidence HGH as a PED causes this side effect (ie, Barry Bonds' head did not grow from HGH). There is evidence HGH increases cancer cell multiplication in the lab.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are the 800 pound gorilla of PEDs. These bioactive steroid compounds that are synthesized in the body from a cholesterol base form the foundation of maleness in species. Testosterone, as the basic male anabolic hormone, promotes muscle growth, bone growth, and regulates metabolism. Testosterone also produces androgenic (or masculine) physiological effects: deepening of the voice, male hair patterns, acne, and development of reproduction organs, and aggressiveness.

All of the anabolic steroids produce those physiological effects to some degree. Androgenic steroids enhance muscle size, muscle strength, power, and explosiveness, as well as increase behavioral aggressiveness. Other adaptive physiological effects that enhance athletic performance may be more controversial, such as improved recovery from injury, reduced fatigue, or increased red blood cell numbers, but the key effects remain the enhancement of muscle strength and power and increase of aggressiveness.

The side effects of the anabolic-androgenic steroids follow from their physiological role, and from the fact that no drug produces pure effects. In males, the side effects include acne, baldness, testicular shrinkage, muscle and tendon stiffness, and some damage to internal organs. The estrogen effect of these drugs causes gynecomastia (development of breast tissue). There appears to be significant problems with the heart and liver in steroid abusers. And lastly, behavioral aggressiveness is a much debated, but real effect of the drugs.

In women, these drugs wreak havoc. The AAS masculinize women producing large muscles, deep voices, body hair, and large genitals. There is recent evidence the drugs are associated with birth defects. There is a reason these drugs are DEA scheduled and controlled substances.

Can you get a pretty good sense just from looking who may or may not be on each, or is that a game you stay away from?

Now would be a good time to discuss 'stacking'. Stacking occurs when athletes use different drugs in sequence to maximize their effects. For instance, an athlete might use testosterone, nandrolone, HGH, insulin and thyroid hormone for several weeks, later tapering the steroids to avoid detection, then adding an anti-estrogen or a masking agent. As you can image, stacking not only produces synergistic anabolic effects, but also potentates sinister deleterious side effects.

Since athletes who use anabolic steroids are drug cheats, utilizing an entire illicit underground pharmacy for the drugs, they tend to use other drugs too -- like narcotics, benzodiazepines, diuretics, and alcohol. If you look at the evidence of recent high profile cases, you will see someone like Chris Benoit was found to have anabolic steroids, narcotics, benzodiazepines, and alcohol in his system. It is extremely likely this mixture of potent drugs produces very dangerous behavioral and physiological side effects.

The 'sight test' is often used, but probably often wrong when looking at juicers. It may be that a rigorous routine of weight training, exercise, and diet can produce remarkable results in gifted athletes. However, rapid gain of muscles, rapid loss of fat, acne, edema (puffiness of the skin), and out-of-character aggressiveness produce questions about athletes. Certain athletes who appear to defy gravity as they age, also raise eyebrows.

Part Two now available above or by clicking here

Buh Bye, BCS; Hello Democracy

2007-11-26T05:54:00.000-08:00

Now that the tryptophan has worn off, it's everyone's favorite time of year again: the time where we all moan and gripe and lobby and complain about how our favorite college football team deserves a shot at the BCS title and our rival doesn't.

With four one-loss teams, an undefeated team, and several pretty dang good two-loss teams clogging up the rankings, just about anyone could make their case. It makes for fun conversation, but logistically it's a problem.

That's why All on the Field has devised an exclusive solution, one that keeps the bowl format in place and spares the big wigs from getting their underwear tied up in a bunch over a pesky playoff system.

Ladies and gentlemen, we propose to you a fan voting system!

Yes, hanging chads darned, it's the perfect solution.

The point of the bowl games, most of us know, is to make money (and here some of you thought it was to determine rankings... ha!). See, the more people that watch, the more people who will use FedEx to ship their stuff and buy Tostitos to snack on during the game, or so the prevailing logic goes.

But if we somehow were forced to watch a Kansas-Hawaii BCS championship -- won't happen now, I know -- eh, I'll pass on the game, I have to drop something off at the UPS store.

Instead, we vote for who we want to see (Florida vs. West Virginia, anyone?), and the BCS gives it to us. Millions of us watch, the sponsors see a spike in sales, and everyone's a winner. Except for Kansas, that is.

Postscript: Of course, this proposal should be taken with a bag (not just a grain, mind you) of salt. If the bowl championship was determined on the basis of fan voting alone, can you imagine the problems? We'd have a Notre Dame - Ohio State final every year!

10 Things I'm Thankful for About Sports

2007-11-21T05:52:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect about a few of the things I'm thankful for. At the top of the list, of course, are my faith, my wife, and my family, but somewhere a little further down is a set that deserves a category of its own.

Sports.

I got to thinking this morning about what a big role sports plays in my life, and contrary to what some might say, watching, reading about, and writing on sports is anything but a waste of time. I could write for pages about my favorite things about sports, but for purposes of brevity I'll limit it to 10 things I'm thankful for about sports.

I'm thankful for Saturday afternoons when I can settle in and watch a college football game (or three). Sundays are cool, too, but the end of the weekend and the onset of another work week loom. Plus, compared to the NFL I find the college scene refreshing: the live mascots, the bands taking up 10% of the stadium, and a generally less corporate feel.
I'm glad that upsets happen on a regular basis. No one in their right mind would have predicted Appalachian St. beating Michigan, but it happened, and that was all anyone could talk about for the next three weeks. It feels good when the little guy pulls it out, even when you know they couldn't do it again in 10 tries, or when it may be their only win of the season.
I'm grateful that free speech has led to the advent of sports talk radio. (And these days, I'm glad that radio has thus far survived the progression of the internet and satellite television eras.) I like that fans all across America can not only hear what happened in the game last night, but they can hear hours and hours of analysis. And those with some guts and a lot of patience can usually pick up a telephone and weigh in as an instant pundit. How cool is that?
I appreciate the dynasties in professional sports, like the Spurs and Patriots -- and now, maybe, the Red Sox. I like that there's a team with a bulls eye on its chest, a team you can predict with relative certainty will be there at the final showdown. I like watching teams try and slay the giant on a weekly basis, and as much as I root for the underdog, it's pretty cool when the team favored to win at the beginning of the season is still standing at the end.
I'm thankful for rumors in the sports media. I generally try to avoid gossip and People magazine doesn't do much for me, but when I hear that Miguel Cabrera may be headed to the Giants for Noah Lowry, Jonathan Sanchez and cash (not a real rumor, so don't spread it), it gets my heart fluttering. There were days when I would go ahead and make the trade on a sports video game, but I've since learned the wisdom of waiting until the rumor comes to fruition -- it usually doesn't -- and abstaining from video games -- I usually do.
I'm grateful for rivalries in sports, because it makes regular season games anything but regular. Even though the players generally don't have much personal animosity toward one another -- trades and free agency increase the likelihood that you'll be sitting next to Joe rival sometime in the next few years -- but for an hour or two, fans are able suspend that and see gladiators clashing on the field or court.
I continue to love the print newspaper sports section, even though everyone says it's going the way of the dinosaur. I'll freely admit that I spend more time online reading blogs like The Big Lead and Deadspin, but it's a great feeling to be sitting in an airport or a lunch table at work with today's sports section in front of you.
I actually like controversy in sports, because it gives us something else to talk about. Sometimes the games are enough, but other times it's fun to read about Kobe's latest trade demand, the espionage tactics of Bill Belichick, or for what purposes Paul Byrd ordered $25,000 worth of HGH.
Much as I enjoy controversy, I'm a bigger fan of the good guys in sports, like Tony Dungy and Dikembe Mutombo. So many athletes and coaches are wrapped up in themselves, and with salaries in the tens of millions and 24/7 media exposure, it's easy to see why. But when somebody breaks the mold and does things a little differently -- when they manage to consistently act in the interests of others instead of their own -- I admire that.
I'm thankful for the lessons sports teach us about life. Not to sound overly philosophical here, but I'm amazed at how often sports are a metaphor for real life, and the lessons we learn by watching our favorite teams can be extracted and applied long after we flip off the tube. Lessons like succeeding in humility and failing with dignity, the consequences of cheating, and the reality that the nicest guys don't always win aren't easy to learn, but sports can make the process a little more palatable. And I'm thankful for that.

Thanks for putting things in perspective, Nick

2007-11-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

Pearl Harbor. September 11, 2001. A loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

Alabama coach Nick Saban is reaching deep into his bag of tricks, asking his team to rebound from a "catastrophic event", the likes of which this country had only seen twice, apparently.

Following a loss to a middling team in the Sun Belt, a lower-middling conference -- the Crimson Tide's third consecutive loss and fifth of the season -- Saban had to pull out all the stops to rally the troops.

"Changes in history usually occur after some kind of catastrophic event," Saban explained at yesterday's news conference.

In this case, that change in history would be a win over rival Auburn Saturday. To close out its season with dignity, Alabama needs to be swift, precise, and explosive. Like the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Hmmmm, that didn't come out right. How about "Win one for the Gipper", instead?

Mr. Boras, You're Fired!

2007-11-19T05:55:00.000-08:00

In a move that must be making owners across baseball pump their collective fists, Kenny Rogers has fired agent Scott Boras.

To the Detroit Tigers, this simply means that Rogers will be sticking around for another season. Rogers let it be known that he wanted to stay, Boras informed the club that he and his client would be entertaining offers elsewhere, and Rogers finally decided it was time to show Boras who is boss around here.

For the second time in this relatively new off-season, Scott Boras overstepped his bounds.

And for the second time, a client has stood his ground. We all remember Boras's announcement during Game 4 of the World Series that Alex Rodriguez was opting out, and we remember how baseball's owners treated Rodriguez like a Bentley for sale on a street corner: admirable, but not affordable or practical.

So Rodriguez, following the advice of his heart -- yes, we think he has one -- his wife, and Warren Buffett, crawled back to the Yankees and started contract negotiations.

Without Boras.

Now make no mistake, Scott Boras will not go broke, nor will he be wanting for business anytime soon. He's still the shrewdest negotiator in the game, and lest we forget, Boras will still be earning commission on deals such as the gold mine he and client Barry Zito struck in San Francisco for years to come.

But perhaps the tide is turning. Maybe players are realizing Boras doesn't always have their best interests in mind. Sure, he will help them make a buck -- lots of them -- but what's an extra five million in exchange for betraying your fans, teammates, and worst of all, your heart?

For some players, at least, it's not enough.

For more on Scott Boras...

The Extortionist (New Yorker ... a few weeks old, but a great read)

Boras out, Rogers in (AP, via Yahoo! Sports)
Buffett advises Rodriguez (Bloomberg)

Bonds' Indictment a Long Time Coming

2007-11-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

Ultimately, it may not be his use of steroids that does Barry Bonds in.

At this point, lying about his knowledge of what he injected or ingested into his body may be enough to put Bonds behind bars. At a minimum, you have to figure the indictment that came down Thursday will be enough to keep Bonds out of baseball.

After years of being the one in pursuit -- of Mark McGwire's single-season home run record, of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, and of the World Series ring he never won -- Bonds' past seems to have finally caught up with him.

To those that say Bonds is being singled out, there probably is some truth to the notion. Bonds is the most selfish, arrogant, and surly player to wear a baseball uniform since Ty Cobb. But don't forget that Bonds lied under oath to a federal grand jury, and that's a crime.

Like any celebrity with more money than brains, Bonds will probably hire a team of lawyers shrewd enough to get him off with little to no jail time.

But for every (non-juicing) pitcher who surrendered a home run -- or six -- to Bonds, for every teammate who was forced to tiptoe around the issues and the Issue himself, to all the fans who felt all along as if this was an act they were tired of seeing, the indictment has to feel like a victory.