Hola mis amigos! The summer is coming to an end. The kidlets are dragging themselves back from summer vacation (or, more accurately, mom and dad are pushing them!) vacations are done and soon the leaves will be a-falling. Of course, all these factors mean but one thing here at the Sports Blog.
Football.
Is.
Back.
Can you smell it? No...that is not Gulf Coast oil, your roommates funky socks or Paris Hilton's...excuse for getting arrested. Its pigskin baby and not a moment too soon. We have had preseason NFL football all month and now the kids on campus strap on the headgear and get after it. It is with these young men where we focus today's musings.
When we last saw our friend College Football, Tonyajune's Crimson Tide were holding the trophy with a win over my beloved Longhorns (three words...no Colt McCoy) :)and Bama had secured their first title since 92 and their second since the passing of the legend, Bear Bryant. Can the Tide go back to back? Will Nick Saban win his third title..and thereby further add to the venom hurled at him from Mid-Michigan? Alabama is a trendy pick by a lot of folks to do just that. I am not so sure. They have to replace 7 starters on defense and while St. Nick of Tuscaloosa is known for his defense, they will be awful young and the SEC is no place for on the job training. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will also miss the opener but its against San Jose State so no big deal then. Ironically, it will be another breed of Trojan who will feel anger with Saban on that day.
I think Bama will meet Florida in the SEC title game and the Gators will take the crown. Florida does have a new quarterback in redshirt junior John Brantley. Brantley takes over where St. Timothy left off. He has limited experience but so did Tebow and look what he did...and Brantley has a better arm. The Gators have a talented stable of running backs and while only returning 6 starters on offense, Urban Meyer will have his team poised for another run. The defense loses 6 starters, much like Bama, so they may have to outscore some teams to win.
The AP top 10 is as follows:
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Boise State
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. TCU
7. Oklahoma
8. Nebraska
9. Iowa
10. Virginia Tech
The Coaches poll is similar at the top with Bama and OSU, they then have Florida and Texas 3 and 4, then Boise at 5, Va Tech up at 6, then TCU, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa.
I can agree pretty much with the top 10, I think Texas is ranked a little high though. I think they are better suited for 7 or 8 and I am not convinced that TCU is a top 10 team. What we have to remember is that this poll is largely based on last year's results. Personally, I think pre-season polls are garbage. If I were in charge...ooh, sent a shiver down your spine, didn't it?....I would not have a poll until the first Monday in October. Then again, I would have a playoff, better uniforms, and less strict rules for celebrating. I would also outlaw artificial turf..but I digress.
Speaking of pre-season polls, upstart Boise State has its highest pre-season ranking in school history. The once-quirky underdog with the Smurf Turf (which by the way, I love!) is now ranked up with the big boys. BCS recognition is something that the Broncos have been clamoring (and to be honest, at times whining) to achieve for a few years now. To be fair they have been to two BCS games and one them both, including that classic Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. That hasn't been enough though, two undefeated seasons in the last four years has had the boys in blue desiring a national title shot.
OK Boise, you have your high ranking you need to be considered for that title shot. All you have to do is beat the Hokies on Labor Day night and you should be set. Your schedule is cake, as it usually is and, to be honest, is what has held you back. Your move to the Mountain West will help but unless you can horn in on the next wave of conference expansion, you will be more often on the outside looking in. I think you can beat Va Tech and run the table but the other teams around you have tougher schedules and that will be your downfall again.
Back to the predictions...along with Florida winning the SEC, I have Oklahoma winning the Big 12, Wisconsin winning the Big 10, Pitt in the Big East, Miami winning the ACC and Oregon quacking its way to a Pac 10 title.
Whew....conference bingo, gotta love it!
The only one I am shaky on is Oregon. Even without disgraced QB Jeremiah Masoli, the Ducks have the tools to win but if anyone can reach up and bite them, its Andrew Luck and Stanford. I almost typed in Oliver Luck, Andrew's daddy and former Oiler QB. :) However, Oregon gets the Cardinal in Eugene so I like their chances. Stanford should do well this year, especially with USC being rendered useless thanks to a Kardashian sister's former boyfriend. They could, however, be looking for a new coach next year especially if Rich Rodriguez has another bad season in Ann Arbor. The Maize and Blue faithful are already calling for Jim Harbaugh and you can be assured that with every Wolverine loss, the clamor will get louder.
My BCS Bowl predictions for the 2010 season:
Orange: Miami-Pitt
Sugar: Bama-Boise
Rose: Oregon-Wisconsin
Fiesta: Texas-Ohio State
BCS Championship: Florida-Oklahoma (Brother Billy is already cringing at the thought.)
One other tidbit I wanted to bring up. Paul Lukas, a writer for ESPN.com, does a great job talking about logos, uniforms and the changes thereof for all the major pro sports as well as college football and basketball. This week was his annual College preview..hmm, a familiar theme...and he highlights the good, the bad (although I like the Boise and Miami helmets) and the ugly in this year's uniform trends.
Really Michigan State? After all that whining and bitching about a very minor logo change, you allow this? Oy.
Like Mr. Lukas, I am a uniform, colors and logo geek. I was the one who came up with the Uniform Curse theory which states that when you win a championship and you change your uniforms for the next season, you are doomed not to repeat...it happened with Duke and the Chicago Bulls in the 90's and the St. Louis Rams in 2000. I also have another theory...lack of success on the field leads to the uniforms changing every few years. You don't have success, you bring in new coaching staffs, new coaching staffs want to put "their stamp" on the program and the first to go is usually the old regimes uni's. Also when you don't have a good on-field product you have to come up with new things to keep your fan base interested..again, cue the new togs. I did some research to bear me out.
These are the top 10 winning programs in the history of D-1 college football:
1. Michigan
2. Texas
3. Notre Dame
4. Nebraska
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Penn State
8. Oklahoma
9. Tennessee
10. USC
Aside from the odd tweak now and then and the occasional "alternate" uniform, these programs have not significantly changed their looks since leather helmets.
The last 10 BCS Champions? Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State, USC, Texas, Bama, LSU (twice) and Florida (twice). LSU and Florida also have changed their look in decades, Florida went from orange to blue helmets but that was it. Logo is the same as are the colors, number font, etc. Oh and don't get me started on number fonts. Its football...block numbers, period. You are lucky I will allow names on the back. :)
Coincidence? I think not.
One more note before I go...as of this writing the Big 10 announced its new divisional football lineup that will take place in 2011 when Herbie Husker and the rest of the Children of the Corn join up. Not sure of the divisional names yet but here is how they will break:
Division 1:
Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska
Division 2:
Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue
Each team will play the others in their division and each will have a permanent "crossover" game with the other. This way, Ohio State-Michigan gets played every year..this is good. Otherwise the alignment is pretty stupid. You either have an East/West alignment with Wisconsin in the East or a North/South alignment with Wisconsin in the South. Apparently Geography is not a pre-requisite for graduating from a Big 10 school...then again, they will have 12 teams and will still call themselves the Big 10. Guess Math isn't required either.
See you next week when we tackle (see what I did there?) pro football.
Peace.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Futbol, Football and oh yeah, some guy in Cleveland.
We have a winner!!
64 games, 5 weeks and wayyy too many vuvuzelas but Copa Mundial 2010 is en los libros and Espana is El Winner. Personally I was rooting for the Dutch. Erica's family is Dutch and we were pulling for the Oranje. Congrats to La Furia Rojo. I would imagine the party in Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, etc. is probably still going on. For The Netherlands, the third time in the final was not the charm. Holland did all they could for 116 minutes but their lack of composure (9 yellow cards, 1 red) reduced them to 10 men and eventually cost them the World Championship. Although in Amsterdam, there are enough things to do to make you forget the loss. For what its worth, Europe now leads South America 10-9. There also has not been a repeat champ since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. That was also the last time a continent won back to back.
Ok...I just used Dutch, English and Spanish in the same paragraph...I am indeed an international man of mystery. Yeah, baby!!
I have to hand it to the Soccer world. I again enjoyed the World Cup. I guess for me it is, as mentioned before, like the Olympics. Not a fan in off years and I do not follow the MLS, EPL, Serie A or La Liga but when the National Team is involved every 4 years...I like it. Rio in 2014 should be interesting seeing as how Brazil got knocked out early this time around. Agradecimentos, Selecao for messing up my winner prediction. (Ooh...I just added Portuguese) Yeah I think Kaka and his side will be amped up for that one. The U.S. is in the running for the 2018 and 2022 WC, that would be cool and we all know that Jerry Jones will be all over those committee members to have Jerryworld as one of the sites. With a new Giants Stadium, Ford Field, Lucas Oil Staduim, Qwest Field as well as Jerryworld....FIFA would be stupid to pass us up. In 1994, we had the most attended and most watched tournament in history. We can do it again.
Ok, with the world's biggest tournament done, its time to concentrate on our football. The Browns start their camp first on the 23rd with the Cowboys starting on the 24th and everyone else joining in after that. I have but two words for this...
Thank God.
You can't get enough football and I am soooo ready. Got the fantasy football mag...will be setting up the leagues soon....its a sign of the seasons. Fall is near and the pigskin's a-comin. I think the NFC will be up for grabs this year with the Vikes, Cowboys, Pack and the defending champ Saints. The AFC should be just as wild. Peyton and the Colts will be there, as well Brady and the Pats. San Diego will make some noise and the Jets and Ravens might have the top two defenses. I will be making predictions closer to the season.
I think just two fantasy leagues for me this year. Down from three last year and five the year before. Yeah, you're right...what the hell was I thinking?
Totally off the subject...this week I will be recording my entry to the Mad Dog Russo Sports Host contest. If I win, I can get up to eight shows on Sirius Satellite Radio. Please keep positive thoughts for me. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
LeBron.
Being the Self Proclaimed Sports God of the Southwest...and now the Midwest, I have been asked by tons of people what I think about the whole LeBron sideshow. Well, first thing I can say is I was totally wrong about where he was going. :) I picked Chicago..oops. Miami pulled off what some thought was impossible. They basically erased their roster to pull of the Free Agent hat trick of keeping D-Wade, adding Chris Bosh and securing the services of LeBron. Hey...it's the best 3-on-3 team on the planet and in the history of basketball. Not even Chili Bowl, Kris Winston or the mighty THP could take them. Well, maybe THP...after all, I have 5 fouls and there are no easy buckets. The question is can they secure enough role players to supplement Miami Thrice. Mike Miller signed today and Udonis Haslem re-signed today. They also still have Mario Chalmers and drafted three players in the second round this season, including DeSean Butler whom I think, when he fully recovers from his devestating knee injury suffered in the NCAA's, can be a good NBA player. So if they have the Tres Grande, with Miller, Chalmers and the Tres Ninos (hey, why can't the rookies get a nickname too?) that is nine players. They are allowed 15 on the roster (you can suit out 12) so that leaves 6 spots. Ok, if the sports radio thing doesn't work out...I, too, this fall will take my talents to South Beach. (In the NBA, I get 6 fouls..woot!)
The celebration in Miami-Dade county was almost as big as the one in Spain. As happy as they were in South F-L-A, they were as sad and angry in C-L-E. Not just angry....freaking pissed off!! Burning jerseys, throwing rocks at LeBron posters and general mayhem. A lot of people outside of Cleveland didn't understand the anger and were even dissing those fans for acting that way. I totally get their reaction. I get it because I almost had it 10 years ago.
The summer of 2000 proved to be a pivotal one in San Antonio. The Spurs were one season removed from an NBA title and were poised to challenge the Lakers for another one when Tim Duncan hurt a knee and was unable to play for most of the first round. A round which saw the exit of the Spurs to Phoenix. Bigger than that was Duncan's impending Free Agency. The rumors were flying like the cicadas that buzz like Nature's little vuvuzelas during the summertime. Much like this year, there was talk of a trio of stars. Orlando was trying to get Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and Duncan..or some combination thereof. Peter Vescey on a daily basis was telling us that his sources confirmed that TD was staying...then he was going...then he was staying. I'm not kidding....every day he changed his mind. Tool. These rumors precipitated the Great Message Board War of 2000 on SpursCentral (now ClubSpurs) The funniest rumor I heard that summer was on that site where someone said that they had a friend who knew someone at the HEB pharmacy (for my peeps in Lansing...think Meijer) and that Amy Duncan had switched her prescriptions to an Orlando pharmacy. Another media tool, Peter Brown, "just knew" that Duncan was not coming back. As did many callers on national radio shows. As we all now know, Duncan chose SA (maybe you dumbasses really didn't know?) and three titles later...the rest is history. But what if.....Duncan chose Mickey Mouse over Henry the Puffy Taco? I can tell you what would have happened...a reaction much like we saw in Cleveland...maybe worse. Cleveland still has the Indians and the Browns...San Antonio just has the Spurs. The good people of SA would have gone ape-shit...and you all know it. They have to rebuild around a soon to be retired David Robinson and 4 titles shrinks to 1. Spurs fans have to hear the tired asterisk talk still...but imagine if they only had 1 title?
I feel for the fans of Cleveland. Their sports history reads like a bad dime store novel. No championships of any kind since 1964 and countless examples of being this close then RRRIIPPPPPP...out comes their hearts. So, no, I don't blame those fans at all for how they reacted. I don't necessarily agree with what they did but I can't say for sure that I would not have reacted similarly. It's not right because in the grand scheme of things, its just a sport but we love our sports. We invest in them emotionally and the pain we feel is real.
Then there is Dan Gilbert. On one hand, I also get him. Again, if I was in his position..maybe I do something similar. It would, however, still have been the wrong way to handle it. I thought it was funny....inappropriate....but funny. I like the way he rallied the support of the fans. I just hope he didn't get some of the less stable ones to be encouraged to commit real violence. Yell, scream, stomp your feet...let it out. You deserve it Cavs fans, but don't be destructive by words or actions. It was reported today that the Commish fined Gilbert 100K....I imagine he feels it was money well spent.
Oh and for what its worth....Reverend Jesse....with all due respect...shut it. I admire what you do for people who need help but, and this will come as a shock, its not always racial. Just because a rich white guy loses his temper does not mean he is reaching for a white hood. That "runaway slave" comment was wayyy out of line. The loyalty issue, I agree, doesn't fit here...but just because Gilbert accused James of being disloyal to Cleveland is not even close to even inferring that he is calling LeBron a slave. Slavery is a horrible stain on our history and while we should never forget it in order to grow from it, we cannot grow with comments like that. Implying racism where there is none is almost as bad as racism itself.
Which brings me to the man who would be King. (again LBJ...Kings have titles...you don't) I am all about loyalty. I am loyal to those close to me almost to a fault. While I feel for the Cavs fans who got hosed, I'm sorry.....LBJ did nothing wrong. Loyalty on the professional sports level, with few exceptions, is dead. Gone are the days where your superstars and favorite players stayed with one team. Tim Duncan is almost the last future hall of famer currently playing to fit that description. Bird did it. Magic did it. Robinson did it. Kobe and D-Wade are doing it but that is about it. Shaq didn't. Neither did Barkley or Olajuwon. Hell, Jordan didn't do it. He started to, then he got that wild hair up his ass and came back and went to the Wizards. (Still don't know who spiked his Gatorade on that one) It's a business. Does it suck that its a business? Yes. However, because it became a business, we are enjoying the NBA as we know it now. I can't fault LeBron for wanting to go somewhere where he feels he can win a title. That is, after all, what athletes should strive for...and yes, technically he is taking less money to go there in order to win. Yeah..poor LeBron...he is only going to make $110 million instead of $140 million. Boo f-ing hoo. Also...this "decision"? What the hell were you thinking son? You just went from arguably the most liked NBA player to one of the most disliked in 60 minutes..and not just in Cleveland where you have been placed at the same table as Satan and Art Modell. Really Lebron? A one hour commercial to promote yourself? I have no problem with you leaving Cleveland but doing your hometown like that? Damn...that is homeroom during summer.....No Class. When I saw that...I momentarily thought about breaking one of my cardinal rules and wishing for a blown knee..but I know what Karma is so I thought better of it.
One last thing....I don't want to hear how LeBron and Bosh are "sacrificing" for a title. Ok, so each left $30mil on the table...they are still getting $110mil!!!! 110 is less than 140 but its still $110 MILLION tell me again what great sacrifice they are making? A sacrifice is when a parent gives up their personal time or rewards so junior can make soccer practice or when mom and dad have to pay a bill next month in order to pay rent this month. James and Bosh want to impress me? Donate a year's salary to the charity of their choice. LBJ has a $90mil contract with Nike...you telling me he couldn't donate that and live off "just" his $110 mil? Child, please.
Enough of that pretension though....football is around the corner. Time to get in the right mode and bring on the new season. The countdown begins now. Are you ready for some football? Because I sure as hell am. :)
Peace.
64 games, 5 weeks and wayyy too many vuvuzelas but Copa Mundial 2010 is en los libros and Espana is El Winner. Personally I was rooting for the Dutch. Erica's family is Dutch and we were pulling for the Oranje. Congrats to La Furia Rojo. I would imagine the party in Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, etc. is probably still going on. For The Netherlands, the third time in the final was not the charm. Holland did all they could for 116 minutes but their lack of composure (9 yellow cards, 1 red) reduced them to 10 men and eventually cost them the World Championship. Although in Amsterdam, there are enough things to do to make you forget the loss. For what its worth, Europe now leads South America 10-9. There also has not been a repeat champ since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. That was also the last time a continent won back to back.
Ok...I just used Dutch, English and Spanish in the same paragraph...I am indeed an international man of mystery. Yeah, baby!!
I have to hand it to the Soccer world. I again enjoyed the World Cup. I guess for me it is, as mentioned before, like the Olympics. Not a fan in off years and I do not follow the MLS, EPL, Serie A or La Liga but when the National Team is involved every 4 years...I like it. Rio in 2014 should be interesting seeing as how Brazil got knocked out early this time around. Agradecimentos, Selecao for messing up my winner prediction. (Ooh...I just added Portuguese) Yeah I think Kaka and his side will be amped up for that one. The U.S. is in the running for the 2018 and 2022 WC, that would be cool and we all know that Jerry Jones will be all over those committee members to have Jerryworld as one of the sites. With a new Giants Stadium, Ford Field, Lucas Oil Staduim, Qwest Field as well as Jerryworld....FIFA would be stupid to pass us up. In 1994, we had the most attended and most watched tournament in history. We can do it again.
Ok, with the world's biggest tournament done, its time to concentrate on our football. The Browns start their camp first on the 23rd with the Cowboys starting on the 24th and everyone else joining in after that. I have but two words for this...
Thank God.
You can't get enough football and I am soooo ready. Got the fantasy football mag...will be setting up the leagues soon....its a sign of the seasons. Fall is near and the pigskin's a-comin. I think the NFC will be up for grabs this year with the Vikes, Cowboys, Pack and the defending champ Saints. The AFC should be just as wild. Peyton and the Colts will be there, as well Brady and the Pats. San Diego will make some noise and the Jets and Ravens might have the top two defenses. I will be making predictions closer to the season.
I think just two fantasy leagues for me this year. Down from three last year and five the year before. Yeah, you're right...what the hell was I thinking?
Totally off the subject...this week I will be recording my entry to the Mad Dog Russo Sports Host contest. If I win, I can get up to eight shows on Sirius Satellite Radio. Please keep positive thoughts for me. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
LeBron.
Being the Self Proclaimed Sports God of the Southwest...and now the Midwest, I have been asked by tons of people what I think about the whole LeBron sideshow. Well, first thing I can say is I was totally wrong about where he was going. :) I picked Chicago..oops. Miami pulled off what some thought was impossible. They basically erased their roster to pull of the Free Agent hat trick of keeping D-Wade, adding Chris Bosh and securing the services of LeBron. Hey...it's the best 3-on-3 team on the planet and in the history of basketball. Not even Chili Bowl, Kris Winston or the mighty THP could take them. Well, maybe THP...after all, I have 5 fouls and there are no easy buckets. The question is can they secure enough role players to supplement Miami Thrice. Mike Miller signed today and Udonis Haslem re-signed today. They also still have Mario Chalmers and drafted three players in the second round this season, including DeSean Butler whom I think, when he fully recovers from his devestating knee injury suffered in the NCAA's, can be a good NBA player. So if they have the Tres Grande, with Miller, Chalmers and the Tres Ninos (hey, why can't the rookies get a nickname too?) that is nine players. They are allowed 15 on the roster (you can suit out 12) so that leaves 6 spots. Ok, if the sports radio thing doesn't work out...I, too, this fall will take my talents to South Beach. (In the NBA, I get 6 fouls..woot!)
The celebration in Miami-Dade county was almost as big as the one in Spain. As happy as they were in South F-L-A, they were as sad and angry in C-L-E. Not just angry....freaking pissed off!! Burning jerseys, throwing rocks at LeBron posters and general mayhem. A lot of people outside of Cleveland didn't understand the anger and were even dissing those fans for acting that way. I totally get their reaction. I get it because I almost had it 10 years ago.
The summer of 2000 proved to be a pivotal one in San Antonio. The Spurs were one season removed from an NBA title and were poised to challenge the Lakers for another one when Tim Duncan hurt a knee and was unable to play for most of the first round. A round which saw the exit of the Spurs to Phoenix. Bigger than that was Duncan's impending Free Agency. The rumors were flying like the cicadas that buzz like Nature's little vuvuzelas during the summertime. Much like this year, there was talk of a trio of stars. Orlando was trying to get Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and Duncan..or some combination thereof. Peter Vescey on a daily basis was telling us that his sources confirmed that TD was staying...then he was going...then he was staying. I'm not kidding....every day he changed his mind. Tool. These rumors precipitated the Great Message Board War of 2000 on SpursCentral (now ClubSpurs) The funniest rumor I heard that summer was on that site where someone said that they had a friend who knew someone at the HEB pharmacy (for my peeps in Lansing...think Meijer) and that Amy Duncan had switched her prescriptions to an Orlando pharmacy. Another media tool, Peter Brown, "just knew" that Duncan was not coming back. As did many callers on national radio shows. As we all now know, Duncan chose SA (maybe you dumbasses really didn't know?) and three titles later...the rest is history. But what if.....Duncan chose Mickey Mouse over Henry the Puffy Taco? I can tell you what would have happened...a reaction much like we saw in Cleveland...maybe worse. Cleveland still has the Indians and the Browns...San Antonio just has the Spurs. The good people of SA would have gone ape-shit...and you all know it. They have to rebuild around a soon to be retired David Robinson and 4 titles shrinks to 1. Spurs fans have to hear the tired asterisk talk still...but imagine if they only had 1 title?
I feel for the fans of Cleveland. Their sports history reads like a bad dime store novel. No championships of any kind since 1964 and countless examples of being this close then RRRIIPPPPPP...out comes their hearts. So, no, I don't blame those fans at all for how they reacted. I don't necessarily agree with what they did but I can't say for sure that I would not have reacted similarly. It's not right because in the grand scheme of things, its just a sport but we love our sports. We invest in them emotionally and the pain we feel is real.
Then there is Dan Gilbert. On one hand, I also get him. Again, if I was in his position..maybe I do something similar. It would, however, still have been the wrong way to handle it. I thought it was funny....inappropriate....but funny. I like the way he rallied the support of the fans. I just hope he didn't get some of the less stable ones to be encouraged to commit real violence. Yell, scream, stomp your feet...let it out. You deserve it Cavs fans, but don't be destructive by words or actions. It was reported today that the Commish fined Gilbert 100K....I imagine he feels it was money well spent.
Oh and for what its worth....Reverend Jesse....with all due respect...shut it. I admire what you do for people who need help but, and this will come as a shock, its not always racial. Just because a rich white guy loses his temper does not mean he is reaching for a white hood. That "runaway slave" comment was wayyy out of line. The loyalty issue, I agree, doesn't fit here...but just because Gilbert accused James of being disloyal to Cleveland is not even close to even inferring that he is calling LeBron a slave. Slavery is a horrible stain on our history and while we should never forget it in order to grow from it, we cannot grow with comments like that. Implying racism where there is none is almost as bad as racism itself.
Which brings me to the man who would be King. (again LBJ...Kings have titles...you don't) I am all about loyalty. I am loyal to those close to me almost to a fault. While I feel for the Cavs fans who got hosed, I'm sorry.....LBJ did nothing wrong. Loyalty on the professional sports level, with few exceptions, is dead. Gone are the days where your superstars and favorite players stayed with one team. Tim Duncan is almost the last future hall of famer currently playing to fit that description. Bird did it. Magic did it. Robinson did it. Kobe and D-Wade are doing it but that is about it. Shaq didn't. Neither did Barkley or Olajuwon. Hell, Jordan didn't do it. He started to, then he got that wild hair up his ass and came back and went to the Wizards. (Still don't know who spiked his Gatorade on that one) It's a business. Does it suck that its a business? Yes. However, because it became a business, we are enjoying the NBA as we know it now. I can't fault LeBron for wanting to go somewhere where he feels he can win a title. That is, after all, what athletes should strive for...and yes, technically he is taking less money to go there in order to win. Yeah..poor LeBron...he is only going to make $110 million instead of $140 million. Boo f-ing hoo. Also...this "decision"? What the hell were you thinking son? You just went from arguably the most liked NBA player to one of the most disliked in 60 minutes..and not just in Cleveland where you have been placed at the same table as Satan and Art Modell. Really Lebron? A one hour commercial to promote yourself? I have no problem with you leaving Cleveland but doing your hometown like that? Damn...that is homeroom during summer.....No Class. When I saw that...I momentarily thought about breaking one of my cardinal rules and wishing for a blown knee..but I know what Karma is so I thought better of it.
One last thing....I don't want to hear how LeBron and Bosh are "sacrificing" for a title. Ok, so each left $30mil on the table...they are still getting $110mil!!!! 110 is less than 140 but its still $110 MILLION tell me again what great sacrifice they are making? A sacrifice is when a parent gives up their personal time or rewards so junior can make soccer practice or when mom and dad have to pay a bill next month in order to pay rent this month. James and Bosh want to impress me? Donate a year's salary to the charity of their choice. LBJ has a $90mil contract with Nike...you telling me he couldn't donate that and live off "just" his $110 mil? Child, please.
Enough of that pretension though....football is around the corner. Time to get in the right mode and bring on the new season. The countdown begins now. Are you ready for some football? Because I sure as hell am. :)
Peace.
Friday, July 2, 2010
I'm Baaaaaack? Didja miss me?
Wow.
April 24..really? Well neighbor..it's been too long.
What has happened since we last met here at Mike's Cyber Sports Cafe and Bait Shop? My Spurs knocked out the Mavs, then got swept by the Suns. Nice win Phoenix, enjoy your championship..oh, wait. :) The Lakers took out the Celtics in a classic seven game series, Steven Strasburg gave DC baseball fans a glimmer of hope and we all learned what a vuvuzela is.
Yes campers...Copa Mundial is well under way and I must admit, I have enjoyed it. I view the World Cup like I do the Olympics. I get into it but only when it is on and then I wait 4 years. I had three predictions for WC 2010:
1. The USA would advance from their group
2. Brazil would get its 6th cup
3. Players would be flopping more than that load of shrimp on Forrest's boat after he and Lt. Dan rode out the hurricane.
To quote a fellow Texan: "Two out of three ain't bad"
The US team not only advanced from group play, they won their group for the first time since 1930. They tied Mother England 1-1 then settled for a 2-2 tie against Slovenia (after a goal was stolen from Maurice Edu and made Koman Coulibaly a name ranked up there with Santa Anna) and finally a stoppage time 1-0 win over Algeria. Landon Donovan cemented his place in U.S. Soccer history with his follow of a Clint Dempsey miss. Then in the round of 16, they lost again to Ghana. This was the country that eliminated the US in 2006 and pulled it off again. Yeah and those "oh I've been shot" dives toward the end of the game to kill time...real classy.
OK, now I admit, my soccer experience is limited. I played YMCA soccer for 2 years when I was 9 and 10. My first question about the World Cup was "Who's mom brings the oranges?" I started watching in 1994 and liked it. I am always a USA first guy in sports so if the US is playing, I cheer the home team. I remember July 4, 1994...the US made the round of 16 and faced off against mighty Brazil. What an opportunity. The rebirth of soccer, a World Cup on American soil and facing the best team on the planet on our biggest day. Could it happen? Another Miracle on Grass? 84,000 screaming Americans...screaming for..soccer? Sadly...it was not meant to be. The Selecao prevailed 1-0 thanks to a tough shot by Bebeto and some crappy officiating (yes Priscilla....your boys got bailed out by the refs) which seems to be the norm for FIFA. Since '94 though, I have watched and enjoyed.
However, there are some things I would change. First off...ties. Soccer is loved wildly and madly by every country in the world....except ours. Well, us and Canada but do they really count? :) One reason why is that in American sports...there is a winner and a loser. There used to be ties in football but now on every level except the NFL (which...I do NOT get) ties have gone the way of the Wishbone. They play overtime after the group stage, not including stoppage time, so why not before that? These are the best futbol players in the world and as such arguably the best athletes in the world...run your asses around some more, then go to your shootout. (Which by the way, those are cool....I watched the Uruguay-Ghana one today...wow...oh yea and F-U Ghana.)
Secondly...the refereeing is horrid. Again..highest level of the sport and the refs are really bad. It's a big-ass field...add at least one more guy out there.
Finally..the aforementioned flopping. FIFA claims to have cracked down on this. Yeah, and if they think that, they are on crack. Flopping is straight up cowardice. I don't like it when my boy Manu does it but he is nowhere near as bad as these guys. If you are so weak in your game that you have to resort to bullshit tactics like that....then take up needlepoint and get your asses off the pitch.
Hey Brazil......His name is Edison Arantes do Nascimento..he wore 10....no one else should. and unless you are him....use both your names. Your mama will be happy. Kaka? Really? Tiago Splitter, the Brazilian hoops star may be coming to the US to play for this Spurs this season...I double dog DARE him to tell Popovich "call me just Tiago" How do you say "run around until I get tired" in Portugese?
Here now are my top 5 things I have liked about the 2010 World Cup:
5. The historically themed matchups you can get. England-US..how many 1776 references did we get? Also Germany against...well pretty much anyone else in Europe...two world wars give people long memories.
4. South Africa's welcome back to the world community. Good for you, Springboks. So far, its been a great show.
3. Makana FA....look it up..its a great story.
2. The US Team getting us excited..if only for a moment.
1. The passion and emotion that this event brings out. Appropriate for the Beautiful Game.
And my top 5 things that I have not liked about the 2010 World Cup:
5. Ties...see above
4. Flopping...see above
3. Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA and all-around choade. He has let the officiating go to crap and then he wanted to censor which replays were showed in the staduim as to not show up his refs? Dude...you should change the spelling of your last name to "Bladder" because you are pissing me off.
2. France. You guys won the Cup in 98 and you frickin imploded this year. You brought back all the "we surrender" jokes. Actually, it was kinda funny...maybe this should go on the other list.
1. Vuvuzelas. Yeah, I know it's "your thing" South Africa but seriously. Its about as bad as that insipid buzzing the Hornets do in their building...and look where they are. Besides...blowing your vuvu (oooh...sounds dirty!) can be harmful.
Changing the subject...NBA Free Agent Madness is upon us. Who will go where? It all starts with King James. BTW LeBron....I looked it up and in order to be called a King, you have to have a title. :D It's kind of a rule. Personally if LeBron leaves, I think he ends up in Chicago. Cleveland can pay him the most money but he really has an affection for all things Jordan so if he can win trophies in the House that Michael built, it would be the ultimate for him. Personally, if I were him, I would stay in Cleveland. They are close to being the team they need to be to get him his ring. The money is there and plus, its home. To be able to win a title in your hometown (or close enough..he is actually from Akron) is something not even MJ did.
One argument I hear for him to leave is that he will not be able to earn the "Global Icon" status that he craves. That is a load of crap. LeBron is in the unique position where he doesn't have to go to the endorsements, they come to him. You think Nike or Gatorade or whomever is going to tell him.."Sorry LBJ, we would love to pay you a buttload of cash to pimp our product but you don't live in NYC or LA" yea...right. I guarantee you that Phil Knight and whomever runs Gatorade knows exactly which way to point the G5 and visit C-Town.
One dark horse team in my opinion, is the Clippers. He knows that the only guy who can challenge him for NBA supremacy is Kobe. To battle him 4 times a year in Staples and be the sole reason people give a rat's ass about Clipper-ball? Oooh. If that were the case and if I were Donald Sterling, I would do what he should have done a few years ago..move to Anaheim. No splitting of the profits with the Lake Show and a castle that the King can have all to himself.
One possible destination is the Knicks...(in God's name kid, why?) and another player that has been rumored for the Big Apple and other places is Tony Parker. He is a free agent in 2011 and recently told the French sports newspaper L'equipe “It would be ... maybe a good challenge for me to go elsewhere. If I leave, I can make another career — eight, nine years in a different club.” Hey, I love TP but someone once said "anyone is expendable if it makes the team better" If he is not committed long term to the Spurs, then Pop needs to move him. He would be a very valuable trade asset and SA could probably get quite a bit for him. If George Hill continues to impress next season...look for Parker to be dealt prior to the trade deadline in February.
Today marks the one year anniversary of my appearance on "The Morning Drive" on the Ticket 760 in San Antonio as their guest co-host. Thank you all again for your support in helping me achieve that. This past year has not been what I had hoped but there is a new contest with Sirius Satellite Radio and Chris "mad dog" Russo which I will be throwing my hat into. Details to follow.
Good to see you again...I promise to be back sooner than later. Have a great holiday weekend. Kick back, relax, enjoy the fireworks and give your vuvu a rest.
Peace.
April 24..really? Well neighbor..it's been too long.
What has happened since we last met here at Mike's Cyber Sports Cafe and Bait Shop? My Spurs knocked out the Mavs, then got swept by the Suns. Nice win Phoenix, enjoy your championship..oh, wait. :) The Lakers took out the Celtics in a classic seven game series, Steven Strasburg gave DC baseball fans a glimmer of hope and we all learned what a vuvuzela is.
Yes campers...Copa Mundial is well under way and I must admit, I have enjoyed it. I view the World Cup like I do the Olympics. I get into it but only when it is on and then I wait 4 years. I had three predictions for WC 2010:
1. The USA would advance from their group
2. Brazil would get its 6th cup
3. Players would be flopping more than that load of shrimp on Forrest's boat after he and Lt. Dan rode out the hurricane.
To quote a fellow Texan: "Two out of three ain't bad"
The US team not only advanced from group play, they won their group for the first time since 1930. They tied Mother England 1-1 then settled for a 2-2 tie against Slovenia (after a goal was stolen from Maurice Edu and made Koman Coulibaly a name ranked up there with Santa Anna) and finally a stoppage time 1-0 win over Algeria. Landon Donovan cemented his place in U.S. Soccer history with his follow of a Clint Dempsey miss. Then in the round of 16, they lost again to Ghana. This was the country that eliminated the US in 2006 and pulled it off again. Yeah and those "oh I've been shot" dives toward the end of the game to kill time...real classy.
OK, now I admit, my soccer experience is limited. I played YMCA soccer for 2 years when I was 9 and 10. My first question about the World Cup was "Who's mom brings the oranges?" I started watching in 1994 and liked it. I am always a USA first guy in sports so if the US is playing, I cheer the home team. I remember July 4, 1994...the US made the round of 16 and faced off against mighty Brazil. What an opportunity. The rebirth of soccer, a World Cup on American soil and facing the best team on the planet on our biggest day. Could it happen? Another Miracle on Grass? 84,000 screaming Americans...screaming for..soccer? Sadly...it was not meant to be. The Selecao prevailed 1-0 thanks to a tough shot by Bebeto and some crappy officiating (yes Priscilla....your boys got bailed out by the refs) which seems to be the norm for FIFA. Since '94 though, I have watched and enjoyed.
However, there are some things I would change. First off...ties. Soccer is loved wildly and madly by every country in the world....except ours. Well, us and Canada but do they really count? :) One reason why is that in American sports...there is a winner and a loser. There used to be ties in football but now on every level except the NFL (which...I do NOT get) ties have gone the way of the Wishbone. They play overtime after the group stage, not including stoppage time, so why not before that? These are the best futbol players in the world and as such arguably the best athletes in the world...run your asses around some more, then go to your shootout. (Which by the way, those are cool....I watched the Uruguay-Ghana one today...wow...oh yea and F-U Ghana.)
Secondly...the refereeing is horrid. Again..highest level of the sport and the refs are really bad. It's a big-ass field...add at least one more guy out there.
Finally..the aforementioned flopping. FIFA claims to have cracked down on this. Yeah, and if they think that, they are on crack. Flopping is straight up cowardice. I don't like it when my boy Manu does it but he is nowhere near as bad as these guys. If you are so weak in your game that you have to resort to bullshit tactics like that....then take up needlepoint and get your asses off the pitch.
Hey Brazil......His name is Edison Arantes do Nascimento..he wore 10....no one else should. and unless you are him....use both your names. Your mama will be happy. Kaka? Really? Tiago Splitter, the Brazilian hoops star may be coming to the US to play for this Spurs this season...I double dog DARE him to tell Popovich "call me just Tiago" How do you say "run around until I get tired" in Portugese?
Here now are my top 5 things I have liked about the 2010 World Cup:
5. The historically themed matchups you can get. England-US..how many 1776 references did we get? Also Germany against...well pretty much anyone else in Europe...two world wars give people long memories.
4. South Africa's welcome back to the world community. Good for you, Springboks. So far, its been a great show.
3. Makana FA....look it up..its a great story.
2. The US Team getting us excited..if only for a moment.
1. The passion and emotion that this event brings out. Appropriate for the Beautiful Game.
And my top 5 things that I have not liked about the 2010 World Cup:
5. Ties...see above
4. Flopping...see above
3. Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA and all-around choade. He has let the officiating go to crap and then he wanted to censor which replays were showed in the staduim as to not show up his refs? Dude...you should change the spelling of your last name to "Bladder" because you are pissing me off.
2. France. You guys won the Cup in 98 and you frickin imploded this year. You brought back all the "we surrender" jokes. Actually, it was kinda funny...maybe this should go on the other list.
1. Vuvuzelas. Yeah, I know it's "your thing" South Africa but seriously. Its about as bad as that insipid buzzing the Hornets do in their building...and look where they are. Besides...blowing your vuvu (oooh...sounds dirty!) can be harmful.
Changing the subject...NBA Free Agent Madness is upon us. Who will go where? It all starts with King James. BTW LeBron....I looked it up and in order to be called a King, you have to have a title. :D It's kind of a rule. Personally if LeBron leaves, I think he ends up in Chicago. Cleveland can pay him the most money but he really has an affection for all things Jordan so if he can win trophies in the House that Michael built, it would be the ultimate for him. Personally, if I were him, I would stay in Cleveland. They are close to being the team they need to be to get him his ring. The money is there and plus, its home. To be able to win a title in your hometown (or close enough..he is actually from Akron) is something not even MJ did.
One argument I hear for him to leave is that he will not be able to earn the "Global Icon" status that he craves. That is a load of crap. LeBron is in the unique position where he doesn't have to go to the endorsements, they come to him. You think Nike or Gatorade or whomever is going to tell him.."Sorry LBJ, we would love to pay you a buttload of cash to pimp our product but you don't live in NYC or LA" yea...right. I guarantee you that Phil Knight and whomever runs Gatorade knows exactly which way to point the G5 and visit C-Town.
One dark horse team in my opinion, is the Clippers. He knows that the only guy who can challenge him for NBA supremacy is Kobe. To battle him 4 times a year in Staples and be the sole reason people give a rat's ass about Clipper-ball? Oooh. If that were the case and if I were Donald Sterling, I would do what he should have done a few years ago..move to Anaheim. No splitting of the profits with the Lake Show and a castle that the King can have all to himself.
One possible destination is the Knicks...(in God's name kid, why?) and another player that has been rumored for the Big Apple and other places is Tony Parker. He is a free agent in 2011 and recently told the French sports newspaper L'equipe “It would be ... maybe a good challenge for me to go elsewhere. If I leave, I can make another career — eight, nine years in a different club.” Hey, I love TP but someone once said "anyone is expendable if it makes the team better" If he is not committed long term to the Spurs, then Pop needs to move him. He would be a very valuable trade asset and SA could probably get quite a bit for him. If George Hill continues to impress next season...look for Parker to be dealt prior to the trade deadline in February.
Today marks the one year anniversary of my appearance on "The Morning Drive" on the Ticket 760 in San Antonio as their guest co-host. Thank you all again for your support in helping me achieve that. This past year has not been what I had hoped but there is a new contest with Sirius Satellite Radio and Chris "mad dog" Russo which I will be throwing my hat into. Details to follow.
Good to see you again...I promise to be back sooner than later. Have a great holiday weekend. Kick back, relax, enjoy the fireworks and give your vuvu a rest.
Peace.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sportsmanship, we hardly knew ye.
Back in the day.
I admit, it's probably my most used catchphrase. It's one of those sayings that define a person. I am pretty much the historian withing my circle of friends. "Hey Mike, who was that guy that..." or when I am at a class reunion (sometimes not even my own, Miss Roberts.) and I am the one people ask..."who was that?" Yep, that is me. So when a catchphrase defines one....one tends to use it...so, here 'tis.
Back in the day....remember when sportsmanship existed and was the rule and not the exception?
Growing up when I did, it was commonplace to play sports especially that of the sandlot variety. A few of us dabbled in organized sport but the majority of our highlights were made on the front yards, asphalt courts and playground fields of our neighborhoods. Names like Silver Creek, Stone Ridge and Misty Oaks were as hallowed to us as Hemisfair Arena, the Astrodome and Texas Stadium. It was pretty much football or basketball. We tended to lean toward hoops in the hotter months and when it got cooler, it was time for the pigskin. It was always fun and every so often, there were epic games. The kind of games that you talked about for days afterward and tried to recreate but couldn't. There were touchdowns, fumbles, three-pointers and blocked shots. Sometimes you won, sometimes you lost and usually once a game, you argued. One thing was always there though. A lack of punkage. Punkage is a Salmans-esque term for just what it says, being a punk. You didn't trash talk for the most part except in jest (no one's mom was mentioned...mainly because you knew everyone's mom and they would smack you just as fast as your own) you played hard but not dirty and if you lost, you took it like a man, said "good game" shook hands and that is it. You then went somewhere with your buddies and laughed about what happened..usually long into the night and over some, er..uh..root beer. On the court, you played 100% and knocked each other around, when it was done, it was done. No whining, no crying and no bitching. It was done this way because that is the way the pros did it. Which brings us to our story today...sportsmanship, with few pockets of exception, is gone.
Putting on my Ducky Mallard hat, my cyber autopsy has isolated the components which I believe has led to the demise of sportsmanship.
Cause 1: I saw you on da ESPN
I love me some ESPN. I am one of its original viewers. I have watched Sportscenter pretty much since 10 years old and still love watching the nightly highlights. The problem is, so does everyone else. We are a monkey see, monkey do species. As kids, we emulated our heroes. We wanted to be the Iceman, Roger Staubach or Nolan Ryan. We watched what the pros did and did what they did because we wanted to be like them. Starting in the late 80's, players figured out that this ESPN thing was here to stay and it was a good way to catch themselves on TV. This curiosity evolved into a fascination by pro and college athletes and further evolved into a philosophy that it was more important to get one's self into that night's highlight package than getting one's team into the win column. Also, if we saw a pro or college athlete pull a 4-star nutty or throw a cheap shot, hey, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. To this day in 40 and over leagues all over Michigan, you see guys pop someone in the mouth then act like they did nothing wrong a'la Bill Laimbeer.
Cause 2: Mama's little meal ticket
The difference between us and a lot of kids now is that our parents would catch us if we acted a fool and corrected it immediately and harshly. These days, too many parents are worried about damaging Johnny's fragile psyche or getting labeled a child abuser if they pop him on the butt. You also have the parents who's kid has talent or worse, has none but they think he does, and they are looking to make sure nothing gets in the way of him signing the big contract that lets them retire early. When the kids shows that he does have real talent, greedy parents will do anything to ensure that nothing gets in the way of the dollar signs in their eyes. Often times this involves telling junior how great he or she is and then telling the coach the same thing. It also leads parents or coaches to encourage selfish behavior in order to get the kid noticed. Occasionally young Johnny throws an elbow or after a score, gets in another kid's face letting them know how good he is. Mom and Dad or Coach say its OK because the kid is "just expressing himself". I yelled at a ref in youth soccer once because of a bad call (I know, me yelling?) ref gave me a yellow card and I said "bite me". My coach kinda said "don't do it again" but my mom? Oh damn. I got yelled at all the way home. I was more scared of her than of my coach. I got quite the lecture about how my behavior reflected on myself, my team and her and that I was not to do anything to embarrass any of those people especially her. She didn't pop me but I wish she had, it would have been less painful than the blistering talking-to I got.
Cause 3: Fan is short for Fanatic
Fans of teams come in varying degrees. You have the casual fan who roots for his team and can probably name the starters but not much else. There is the homer who loves his team more than anyone in the real world and will proclaim the greatness that is his team to anyone who will listen..even if said team is a cellar-dweller. The smallest group is the educated fan who is loyal but not blind to his teams lack of success. He knows the players and the game and is pretty much a stat-geek. (Or, basically me. :) ) Fans too, have changed with the times. As fans have done since the Ancient Greeks ran around all naked and dusty and as mentioned earlier, fans will emulate their sports heroes. There has always been hero worship of athletes but it also used to be easier. You rooted for one team and those players almost always played out their entire careers there. In this modern era of player and, hell even franchise movement, its harder to maintain one's loyalty. Harder, but not impossible. A wise man of the sea once said "the biggest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers". I personally believe that it's reserved for bandwagon and fairweather fans. Too many people have forgotten that a true fan NEVER deserts there team regardless of what happens. It's easy to root for a winner, it takes guts to stand there and proclaim your allegiance to a team that sucks out loud. It used to be that even the pros played for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. Remember those big wind gusts in the 90's? Those were caused by the Orlando fan stashing their Magic jerseys when they all of a sudden were "diehard" Laker fans when Shaq headed west. Then there was the one around 1993 when MJ hung them up and all those black and red 23 jerseys were tossed in the back of the closets..for two years then they were brought back out when Jordan figured out he couldn't hit the curve ball. But really, those fans always supported the Bulls. Happened in South Texas about 1999 when the Spurs won their first title. "Go Spurs Go! Oh, and who is that 21 guy again?" Sadly enough, it happened to my Cowboys as well. In the infamous 1-15 year, I was pretty much alone (save for a few)...five years later I suddenly had lots of company.
Cause 4: Respect and Responsibility...no one wants to give one or take the other.
Something else that has gone away in today's sports world is taking responsibility. You ever see an NBA player who actually thinks a foul was committed? The sad thing is that the superstars, the ones who need the least help by calls going their way, are the worst offenders. Even the stoic Tim Duncan whines about calls..and he whines alot. Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade...all-stars and all-star bitchers. One play I will never forget was in the 2003 Western Conference Semis. Kobe had gone up for a shot and Bruce Bowen stripped him of the ball and while the other 9 guys on the court ran down to the other end, Kobe stood there and complained to the ref. Oh by the way Kobe-ster, they just scored on your team. Recently, after game 3 of this year's Spurs-Mavs series, Eric Dampier's post-game comments weren't about the fact that his team just lost a game to fall behind in the series but about the raw deal his team was getting. Wahhh. Maybe if you nutted up a little in the 4th quarter E, Manu Ginobili wouldn't have raced by you constantly as if you were standing still. Oh wait, you were..or as you call it, playing defense. Coaches are just as bad. Phil Jackson has been playing the ref card for years in an attempt to mess with opponents heads. Oh what power you have O wise zen master. Yeah, I would like to that Zen crap with a team that didn't include Jordan, Shaq or Kobe.
The aforementioned fan emulation also extends to officiating. No one's team ever loses, the refs took the game away. Check out your local teams fan message board and you will see this. It's like clockwork. Here's how it works...the losing teams fanbase will pull the ref card, then the winning teams fanbase will call them out for doing so. Then, when the previous losing team becomes the winning team, the roles reverse. The greatest example of this was in 2006. The Spurs and Mavs played an epic series which Dallas won in 7 games. There were Spurs fans who blamed the refs for all four losses and those fans were called out for doing so by Mavs fan. Two weeks later, those same Mavs fans who had been putting down the Spurs fans for blaming the refs did the exact same thing about the refs in the Finals against Miami.
Let me give you some advice. Can officials affect a game? Yes. They can disrupt the flow if they call the game too tight or they can get into a players head by calling some early fouls on him. However, do they decide the game? No. Refs don't cause you to miss shots, clank your free throws or throw the ball into the first row. If your team loses by 4 and they missed 10 free throws..do the math. Your player hits the popcorn vendor instead of the open man? Guess what? 22 turnovers and 12 assists? You lose. But you didn't lose because the zebras stole it from you. You lost because you got beat and it seems as if no one is willing to admit that. Hey, it happens. Your team will not win every game. Some nights, the other guys are just better. You play hard, you shake their hands and you work harder to get ready for the next game. We as fans have invested so much emotionally in our teams that we can't bear the thought of losing. Losing is for everyday, normal life..not for the world where our heroes reside. We can't lose!! And yes, its usually "we" or "us" even though none of us actually did anything. That is how pathetic some of us have become. The we'ers and us'ers are so wrapped up in the successes and failures of men and women we don't know and could never compete with that they can't always recognize reality when they see it. Well, they can't or won't.
The question of respect is raised all too often in the sports world. It seems athletes and fans, especially the younger ones, have developed a mindset where somehow respect equals fear. You always hear players blather on about "getting my respect" or "they have to respect me" or "we don't get no respect" You earn respect junior, its not handed to you with your first paycheck. You have a bunch of wannabe, hood-rat gangstas running around crying about "I gots ta get mine". Really? How about the family of 4 who had to take out a second mortgage to watch you "get yours"? Andrea Kremer, then of ESPN, did an interview in the late 90's with some players about the state of the NFL. One of those players was future Hall of Famer and mental midget Shannon Sharpe. When asked about respecting your opponents...Sharpe's answer was "Why?" Perfect example of what is wrong with sports. I'm not saying you have to go out to dinner with an opponent or exchange Christmas cards but you scream about not getting respect and then you are not willing to give it? Double standard much? Sports use to live by the saying of "Respect all, fear none" now its "Respect none and make sure you get on Sportscenter".
OK, I know this might come off a little as a cranky old man rant and I am not saying all athletes or fans are bad. However, we have too many who have lost the desire or just flat out refuse to embrace sportsmanship. Sports are in no way the pure form of distraction they once were and they don't have to be. We can evolve and change with the times while still keeping basic principles intact. The biggest problem I have is the lack of respect for the game. Without the game, no player would have the accolades or riches they have. Without the game, the fans wouldn't have something to cheer for and rally behind. There is nothing wrong with painting your face and screaming yourself hoarse yelling for your favorite team, just sprinkle in a little perspective and reality now and then. It won't hurt and will make the experience more enjoyable. Remember, the kids are watching.
I admit, it's probably my most used catchphrase. It's one of those sayings that define a person. I am pretty much the historian withing my circle of friends. "Hey Mike, who was that guy that..." or when I am at a class reunion (sometimes not even my own, Miss Roberts.) and I am the one people ask..."who was that?" Yep, that is me. So when a catchphrase defines one....one tends to use it...so, here 'tis.
Back in the day....remember when sportsmanship existed and was the rule and not the exception?
Growing up when I did, it was commonplace to play sports especially that of the sandlot variety. A few of us dabbled in organized sport but the majority of our highlights were made on the front yards, asphalt courts and playground fields of our neighborhoods. Names like Silver Creek, Stone Ridge and Misty Oaks were as hallowed to us as Hemisfair Arena, the Astrodome and Texas Stadium. It was pretty much football or basketball. We tended to lean toward hoops in the hotter months and when it got cooler, it was time for the pigskin. It was always fun and every so often, there were epic games. The kind of games that you talked about for days afterward and tried to recreate but couldn't. There were touchdowns, fumbles, three-pointers and blocked shots. Sometimes you won, sometimes you lost and usually once a game, you argued. One thing was always there though. A lack of punkage. Punkage is a Salmans-esque term for just what it says, being a punk. You didn't trash talk for the most part except in jest (no one's mom was mentioned...mainly because you knew everyone's mom and they would smack you just as fast as your own) you played hard but not dirty and if you lost, you took it like a man, said "good game" shook hands and that is it. You then went somewhere with your buddies and laughed about what happened..usually long into the night and over some, er..uh..root beer. On the court, you played 100% and knocked each other around, when it was done, it was done. No whining, no crying and no bitching. It was done this way because that is the way the pros did it. Which brings us to our story today...sportsmanship, with few pockets of exception, is gone.
Putting on my Ducky Mallard hat, my cyber autopsy has isolated the components which I believe has led to the demise of sportsmanship.
Cause 1: I saw you on da ESPN
I love me some ESPN. I am one of its original viewers. I have watched Sportscenter pretty much since 10 years old and still love watching the nightly highlights. The problem is, so does everyone else. We are a monkey see, monkey do species. As kids, we emulated our heroes. We wanted to be the Iceman, Roger Staubach or Nolan Ryan. We watched what the pros did and did what they did because we wanted to be like them. Starting in the late 80's, players figured out that this ESPN thing was here to stay and it was a good way to catch themselves on TV. This curiosity evolved into a fascination by pro and college athletes and further evolved into a philosophy that it was more important to get one's self into that night's highlight package than getting one's team into the win column. Also, if we saw a pro or college athlete pull a 4-star nutty or throw a cheap shot, hey, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. To this day in 40 and over leagues all over Michigan, you see guys pop someone in the mouth then act like they did nothing wrong a'la Bill Laimbeer.
Cause 2: Mama's little meal ticket
The difference between us and a lot of kids now is that our parents would catch us if we acted a fool and corrected it immediately and harshly. These days, too many parents are worried about damaging Johnny's fragile psyche or getting labeled a child abuser if they pop him on the butt. You also have the parents who's kid has talent or worse, has none but they think he does, and they are looking to make sure nothing gets in the way of him signing the big contract that lets them retire early. When the kids shows that he does have real talent, greedy parents will do anything to ensure that nothing gets in the way of the dollar signs in their eyes. Often times this involves telling junior how great he or she is and then telling the coach the same thing. It also leads parents or coaches to encourage selfish behavior in order to get the kid noticed. Occasionally young Johnny throws an elbow or after a score, gets in another kid's face letting them know how good he is. Mom and Dad or Coach say its OK because the kid is "just expressing himself". I yelled at a ref in youth soccer once because of a bad call (I know, me yelling?) ref gave me a yellow card and I said "bite me". My coach kinda said "don't do it again" but my mom? Oh damn. I got yelled at all the way home. I was more scared of her than of my coach. I got quite the lecture about how my behavior reflected on myself, my team and her and that I was not to do anything to embarrass any of those people especially her. She didn't pop me but I wish she had, it would have been less painful than the blistering talking-to I got.
Cause 3: Fan is short for Fanatic
Fans of teams come in varying degrees. You have the casual fan who roots for his team and can probably name the starters but not much else. There is the homer who loves his team more than anyone in the real world and will proclaim the greatness that is his team to anyone who will listen..even if said team is a cellar-dweller. The smallest group is the educated fan who is loyal but not blind to his teams lack of success. He knows the players and the game and is pretty much a stat-geek. (Or, basically me. :) ) Fans too, have changed with the times. As fans have done since the Ancient Greeks ran around all naked and dusty and as mentioned earlier, fans will emulate their sports heroes. There has always been hero worship of athletes but it also used to be easier. You rooted for one team and those players almost always played out their entire careers there. In this modern era of player and, hell even franchise movement, its harder to maintain one's loyalty. Harder, but not impossible. A wise man of the sea once said "the biggest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers". I personally believe that it's reserved for bandwagon and fairweather fans. Too many people have forgotten that a true fan NEVER deserts there team regardless of what happens. It's easy to root for a winner, it takes guts to stand there and proclaim your allegiance to a team that sucks out loud. It used to be that even the pros played for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. Remember those big wind gusts in the 90's? Those were caused by the Orlando fan stashing their Magic jerseys when they all of a sudden were "diehard" Laker fans when Shaq headed west. Then there was the one around 1993 when MJ hung them up and all those black and red 23 jerseys were tossed in the back of the closets..for two years then they were brought back out when Jordan figured out he couldn't hit the curve ball. But really, those fans always supported the Bulls. Happened in South Texas about 1999 when the Spurs won their first title. "Go Spurs Go! Oh, and who is that 21 guy again?" Sadly enough, it happened to my Cowboys as well. In the infamous 1-15 year, I was pretty much alone (save for a few)...five years later I suddenly had lots of company.
Cause 4: Respect and Responsibility...no one wants to give one or take the other.
Something else that has gone away in today's sports world is taking responsibility. You ever see an NBA player who actually thinks a foul was committed? The sad thing is that the superstars, the ones who need the least help by calls going their way, are the worst offenders. Even the stoic Tim Duncan whines about calls..and he whines alot. Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade...all-stars and all-star bitchers. One play I will never forget was in the 2003 Western Conference Semis. Kobe had gone up for a shot and Bruce Bowen stripped him of the ball and while the other 9 guys on the court ran down to the other end, Kobe stood there and complained to the ref. Oh by the way Kobe-ster, they just scored on your team. Recently, after game 3 of this year's Spurs-Mavs series, Eric Dampier's post-game comments weren't about the fact that his team just lost a game to fall behind in the series but about the raw deal his team was getting. Wahhh. Maybe if you nutted up a little in the 4th quarter E, Manu Ginobili wouldn't have raced by you constantly as if you were standing still. Oh wait, you were..or as you call it, playing defense. Coaches are just as bad. Phil Jackson has been playing the ref card for years in an attempt to mess with opponents heads. Oh what power you have O wise zen master. Yeah, I would like to that Zen crap with a team that didn't include Jordan, Shaq or Kobe.
The aforementioned fan emulation also extends to officiating. No one's team ever loses, the refs took the game away. Check out your local teams fan message board and you will see this. It's like clockwork. Here's how it works...the losing teams fanbase will pull the ref card, then the winning teams fanbase will call them out for doing so. Then, when the previous losing team becomes the winning team, the roles reverse. The greatest example of this was in 2006. The Spurs and Mavs played an epic series which Dallas won in 7 games. There were Spurs fans who blamed the refs for all four losses and those fans were called out for doing so by Mavs fan. Two weeks later, those same Mavs fans who had been putting down the Spurs fans for blaming the refs did the exact same thing about the refs in the Finals against Miami.
Let me give you some advice. Can officials affect a game? Yes. They can disrupt the flow if they call the game too tight or they can get into a players head by calling some early fouls on him. However, do they decide the game? No. Refs don't cause you to miss shots, clank your free throws or throw the ball into the first row. If your team loses by 4 and they missed 10 free throws..do the math. Your player hits the popcorn vendor instead of the open man? Guess what? 22 turnovers and 12 assists? You lose. But you didn't lose because the zebras stole it from you. You lost because you got beat and it seems as if no one is willing to admit that. Hey, it happens. Your team will not win every game. Some nights, the other guys are just better. You play hard, you shake their hands and you work harder to get ready for the next game. We as fans have invested so much emotionally in our teams that we can't bear the thought of losing. Losing is for everyday, normal life..not for the world where our heroes reside. We can't lose!! And yes, its usually "we" or "us" even though none of us actually did anything. That is how pathetic some of us have become. The we'ers and us'ers are so wrapped up in the successes and failures of men and women we don't know and could never compete with that they can't always recognize reality when they see it. Well, they can't or won't.
The question of respect is raised all too often in the sports world. It seems athletes and fans, especially the younger ones, have developed a mindset where somehow respect equals fear. You always hear players blather on about "getting my respect" or "they have to respect me" or "we don't get no respect" You earn respect junior, its not handed to you with your first paycheck. You have a bunch of wannabe, hood-rat gangstas running around crying about "I gots ta get mine". Really? How about the family of 4 who had to take out a second mortgage to watch you "get yours"? Andrea Kremer, then of ESPN, did an interview in the late 90's with some players about the state of the NFL. One of those players was future Hall of Famer and mental midget Shannon Sharpe. When asked about respecting your opponents...Sharpe's answer was "Why?" Perfect example of what is wrong with sports. I'm not saying you have to go out to dinner with an opponent or exchange Christmas cards but you scream about not getting respect and then you are not willing to give it? Double standard much? Sports use to live by the saying of "Respect all, fear none" now its "Respect none and make sure you get on Sportscenter".
OK, I know this might come off a little as a cranky old man rant and I am not saying all athletes or fans are bad. However, we have too many who have lost the desire or just flat out refuse to embrace sportsmanship. Sports are in no way the pure form of distraction they once were and they don't have to be. We can evolve and change with the times while still keeping basic principles intact. The biggest problem I have is the lack of respect for the game. Without the game, no player would have the accolades or riches they have. Without the game, the fans wouldn't have something to cheer for and rally behind. There is nothing wrong with painting your face and screaming yourself hoarse yelling for your favorite team, just sprinkle in a little perspective and reality now and then. It won't hurt and will make the experience more enjoyable. Remember, the kids are watching.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Nanny Nanny Boo Boo........wait, that didn't count?
The NCAA, that bastion of bureaucratic buffoonery, is considering passing a rule for to take effect for the 2011 college football season. The new rule would penalize a player if he, for example, makes a taunting gesture to an opponent on the way to scoring a touchdown, the flag would nullify the score and penalize the offending team from the spot of the foul. Normally, I would be very quick to call out the NCAA for being finding yet another way to legislate fun out of the game while at the same time lining their pockets and having all the stability of a pig on stilts. This time however, I think they got it right....well kinda.
Look, its no secret that I am a purist. If I were in charge, all teams would have jerseys with block numbers and letters and no names on the back . Remind me to tell you all my "Uniform theory of success" one of these days. However, I am not so rigid or tradition bound to discount all forms of celebration. In fact, the current "excessive celebration" rule that is currently in place is, well, excessive. For example, in 2008 the University of Washington had just scored to get within 1 point of tying BYU. Husky QB Jake Locker (BTW, that is the team mascot, not a description of Jake..don't want Jake's mama calling me :) ) ran the ball in and in an example of youthful exuberance, tossed the ball in the air and hugged a teammate.
FLAG!!!!
According to the current rule for excessive celebration:
"After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately
must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.
This prohibits:
(a) Kicking, throwing, spinning or carrying (including off of the
field) the ball any distance that requires an official to retrieve it.
(b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception: A forward pass to
conserve time (Rule 7-3-2-d)].
(c) Throwing the ball high into the air.
(d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game"
U-W was flagged and moved 15 yards back on the PAT...BYU blocked it...game over. Now, lets be fair. It was still a chip shot that should have been converted and props to the Cougars for blocking it. Besides, if the game comes down to something like that, then there was something else wrong. Like how the Huskies missed two field goals and lost three fumbles.
I can hear you now..."hey Mr. purist...it's a rule" and as my nephew Ben will attest to, I like to follow to rules and usually to the letter. (especially in Taboo) Yes, it is a rule and should be followed unless it is changed, and this rule should be. College Football is supposed to be about spirit. You have kids out there busting their asses in the name of their school. Kids that 90% of which will not even sniff football on Sundays. Why not let them cut loose? I have absolutely no problem with end zone celebrations. Scoring a touchdown in football is not always easy, especially at the college and pro levels. It's a big deal and should be celebrated as such. The only thing I have issue with is when a player who just scored goes to another player and taunts him. That has no place in the game and in that situation, the rule is good. The rule, however, needs to be less rigid. Amend it to allow celebrations with your teammates or by yourself. If you turn and face another player and begin douche-baggery...then throw the flag. It's that behavior that is still legal on your way to score that the proposed rule is aiming to stop. I'm ok with that but its too vague and leaves way too much to interpretation. The new rule would flag things like highstepping and pointing at an opponent while you are headed to the end zone. That is a taunt and should be flagged...highstepping is not. Highstepping, for those new to the Sports Blog, is when a player is headed to the endzone and is in the clear and starts running with a high leg kick, a'la the Rockettes. It's done when the player is pretty much by himself and is aimed at no one. That is not taunting...when you are headed to the endzone and you point to the opponent you just burned, that is. It's light, but still taunting by definition.
One popular fan response, usually those who are younger and think its more important to look good than win, is to say "well, if you don't like it, don't let the other team score"
Crap.
There is never, ever an excuse for unsportsmanlike behavior. You go to the end zone, celebrate your teammates and then line back up and play. That is how the game is played. You want to showboat...join the WWE. You show me one moron who says "don't let them score" and I will show you the same moron who will strain an ovary whining when it happens to their team. You don't dance on logos....Terrell...and you don't plant flags....Sparty. Sadly, things like that are what is wrong with sports...but that is another blog for another day.
When did taunting become so popular? Man, back in the day on the Misty Oaks courts, you ran your mouth, you got an elbow in it....and it was usually my elbow. We took it on the road too. One time in the Stone Ridge neighborhood, we were playing and there was this one kid who told his teammates "don't worry about him, he can't play anyway" and he was referring to yours truly. Was he right? Well, yeah...I was not terribly good at the game...I was the guy who made space for the others and cherry picked the occasional lay up..but don't embarrass me. I knew the ball was coming to him and he was coming at me. I looked to Salmans, Spohn and McCracken and smiled. That smile that each of them knew was trouble. Kid got the ball and came at me...as I was helping him up, he said that was weak (I am paraphrasing) so he tried again...second verse, same as the first. The third time was apparently the charm because his teammates let him know that maybe he should choose his words a little more carefully. I am pretty sure that wise-ass is still picking gravel out of his teeth. Trash talk, the most popular form of taunting, is now an art form. You see your favorite stars do it so the kids think its cool. People tell me, its a psychological thing. Hey, if your game is so weak that you need to talk instead of play, then maybe you should not play with the big boys. Gone are the days where players, save a precious few, let their game speak for itself. Trash talk isn't cool, its a tool of the cowardly.
So how would I fix this issue? What I would do is combine the two rules into one, no taunting rule. You want to highstep? Fine. You want to jump around in the end zone with your buddies? Go for it. You want to Riverdance with a Song Girl skirt on? Knock yourself out but if you do so much as turn toward an opponent....BAM! Flag...15 yards, then try your conversion. If you miss or get it blocked...well then, work on your special teams in time for homecoming. Same thing with the pros. Ochocinco wants to dance? Let him. I think Uncle Chad is funny as hell. Joe Horn's cell phone bit? Great! I liked the T.O sharpie...just stay off the Star, big boy....don't make me call George Teague.
Look, its no secret that I am a purist. If I were in charge, all teams would have jerseys with block numbers and letters and no names on the back . Remind me to tell you all my "Uniform theory of success" one of these days. However, I am not so rigid or tradition bound to discount all forms of celebration. In fact, the current "excessive celebration" rule that is currently in place is, well, excessive. For example, in 2008 the University of Washington had just scored to get within 1 point of tying BYU. Husky QB Jake Locker (BTW, that is the team mascot, not a description of Jake..don't want Jake's mama calling me :) ) ran the ball in and in an example of youthful exuberance, tossed the ball in the air and hugged a teammate.
FLAG!!!!
According to the current rule for excessive celebration:
"After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately
must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.
This prohibits:
(a) Kicking, throwing, spinning or carrying (including off of the
field) the ball any distance that requires an official to retrieve it.
(b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception: A forward pass to
conserve time (Rule 7-3-2-d)].
(c) Throwing the ball high into the air.
(d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game"
U-W was flagged and moved 15 yards back on the PAT...BYU blocked it...game over. Now, lets be fair. It was still a chip shot that should have been converted and props to the Cougars for blocking it. Besides, if the game comes down to something like that, then there was something else wrong. Like how the Huskies missed two field goals and lost three fumbles.
I can hear you now..."hey Mr. purist...it's a rule" and as my nephew Ben will attest to, I like to follow to rules and usually to the letter. (especially in Taboo) Yes, it is a rule and should be followed unless it is changed, and this rule should be. College Football is supposed to be about spirit. You have kids out there busting their asses in the name of their school. Kids that 90% of which will not even sniff football on Sundays. Why not let them cut loose? I have absolutely no problem with end zone celebrations. Scoring a touchdown in football is not always easy, especially at the college and pro levels. It's a big deal and should be celebrated as such. The only thing I have issue with is when a player who just scored goes to another player and taunts him. That has no place in the game and in that situation, the rule is good. The rule, however, needs to be less rigid. Amend it to allow celebrations with your teammates or by yourself. If you turn and face another player and begin douche-baggery...then throw the flag. It's that behavior that is still legal on your way to score that the proposed rule is aiming to stop. I'm ok with that but its too vague and leaves way too much to interpretation. The new rule would flag things like highstepping and pointing at an opponent while you are headed to the end zone. That is a taunt and should be flagged...highstepping is not. Highstepping, for those new to the Sports Blog, is when a player is headed to the endzone and is in the clear and starts running with a high leg kick, a'la the Rockettes. It's done when the player is pretty much by himself and is aimed at no one. That is not taunting...when you are headed to the endzone and you point to the opponent you just burned, that is. It's light, but still taunting by definition.
One popular fan response, usually those who are younger and think its more important to look good than win, is to say "well, if you don't like it, don't let the other team score"
Crap.
There is never, ever an excuse for unsportsmanlike behavior. You go to the end zone, celebrate your teammates and then line back up and play. That is how the game is played. You want to showboat...join the WWE. You show me one moron who says "don't let them score" and I will show you the same moron who will strain an ovary whining when it happens to their team. You don't dance on logos....Terrell...and you don't plant flags....Sparty. Sadly, things like that are what is wrong with sports...but that is another blog for another day.
When did taunting become so popular? Man, back in the day on the Misty Oaks courts, you ran your mouth, you got an elbow in it....and it was usually my elbow. We took it on the road too. One time in the Stone Ridge neighborhood, we were playing and there was this one kid who told his teammates "don't worry about him, he can't play anyway" and he was referring to yours truly. Was he right? Well, yeah...I was not terribly good at the game...I was the guy who made space for the others and cherry picked the occasional lay up..but don't embarrass me. I knew the ball was coming to him and he was coming at me. I looked to Salmans, Spohn and McCracken and smiled. That smile that each of them knew was trouble. Kid got the ball and came at me...as I was helping him up, he said that was weak (I am paraphrasing) so he tried again...second verse, same as the first. The third time was apparently the charm because his teammates let him know that maybe he should choose his words a little more carefully. I am pretty sure that wise-ass is still picking gravel out of his teeth. Trash talk, the most popular form of taunting, is now an art form. You see your favorite stars do it so the kids think its cool. People tell me, its a psychological thing. Hey, if your game is so weak that you need to talk instead of play, then maybe you should not play with the big boys. Gone are the days where players, save a precious few, let their game speak for itself. Trash talk isn't cool, its a tool of the cowardly.
So how would I fix this issue? What I would do is combine the two rules into one, no taunting rule. You want to highstep? Fine. You want to jump around in the end zone with your buddies? Go for it. You want to Riverdance with a Song Girl skirt on? Knock yourself out but if you do so much as turn toward an opponent....BAM! Flag...15 yards, then try your conversion. If you miss or get it blocked...well then, work on your special teams in time for homecoming. Same thing with the pros. Ochocinco wants to dance? Let him. I think Uncle Chad is funny as hell. Joe Horn's cell phone bit? Great! I liked the T.O sharpie...just stay off the Star, big boy....don't make me call George Teague.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Million Dollar Arm and a Five Cent Head.
When you are a popular sports figure and you are out with your boys, the hot blonde comes up to you. Is it you she is looking at or is it dollar signs? It's something that pro athletes have had to deal with forever. I am pretty sure that even Acanthus of Sparta was trying to relax after a race when some Hellenic hottie zeroed in on him with the intent of figuring out his Grecian formula. Then again, Acanthus was the first athlete to run naked in the Olympics so maybe she thought he was a pole vaulter.
In modern sport, names like Kobe Bryant, Anthony Mason and Mark Chumura are just as well known for their off the field activities as those on the field. This of course, brings us to the latest and, now, two-time member of this group, Ben Roethlisberger.
On March 5, police in Milledgeville, Georgia announced that Big Ben was under investigation for an accusation of sexual assault. A 20 year old local college student told police that the Steelers QB followed her in the bathroom and assaulted her while members of Roethlisberger's entourage stood outside the door making sure they were not disturbed. On April 12, 2010, it was announced that Roethlisberger would not be charged. The local D.A said that there was not enough DNA evidence to warrant charges being filed. The accuser also wrote to the D.A. saying that she no longer wanted to pursue criminal charges because the level of media attention
would make a criminal trial too "intrusive" of a personal experience but that she was not taking back her accusation.
This was not the first time. Seems that Big Ben is collecting police matters along with Super Bowl rings.
You may remember that in June of 2008, Ben was in Lake Tahoe where Andrea McNulty accused Roethlisberger of assaulting her in his hotel room while he was in town for his celebrity golf tournament. No criminal charges were filed in that case either although a civil suit in July of 2009 was brought against Roethlisberger and the casino where he was staying. Then one month later, a co-worker of McNulty gave an affidavit testifying that McNulty was bragging about the incident, claimed it was consentual and even talked about "hoping for a little Roethlisberger".
Two incidents...all too similar. Once can be an anomaly, twice is a pattern and if he is not careful, three times and he will be out.
It also begs the question...who is to blame? The groupie, who sees a young, rich, handsome ATM or the athlete who knows better but either thinks it can't or won't happen to him. As Master Obi-Wan once said...."Who's the more foolish: The fool, or the fool who follows him?"
A lot of people tend to blame the accuser, especially those who proudly wear the team colors of he who stands accused. This is knee-jerk reaction to thing that have happened in the past and make no mistake about it, those things happen. More than once has someone famous, athlete or otherwise, have been approached by someone who claims to be legit but in reality, has ulterior motives. It has happened on more than one occasion and probably will as long as there are movie stars and pro athletes. It has become so big of a problem, that most of your major pro sports leagues, including the NBA and NFL, have included "groupie-avoidance" in their rookie seminars. While I am not so naive as to think that there are not people out there with bad intentions set on getting a quick payday, I tend to lay most of my blame on the athletes themselves.
I know, I know, Where is it written that just because someone is famous, he can't have fun like normal people? Isn't that also one of the big complaints from Mr. and Mrs. America? "They are people just like us and should be treated as such!" Well, yes they should and when it comes to abiding by the law, absolutely. However, athletes, especially the higher profile ones, unfortunately just can't walk into Wal-Mart or get their McFlurry on. Why not? If you look for the enemy, you will find that it is, indeed, us. We love our famous people. We live vicariously through them, want to be like them, and want to enjoy the spoils that they enjoy. We want every detail of their lives and don't want them to have a problem with it.
There in lies the rub. They know this. They get training, and seminars and advice from veterans from day 1 and yet some players still tempt fate. They know that there are guys out there who will try to bait them into a fight or girls out there who will try to bait them into bed. They fall for it and the next thing they know, they are on the phone with the law firm of Getmyass, Outtathis, and Now. You have players who can afford limos and chauffeurs, but get tagged for DUI.
However, I don't completely blame the stars in question. From a very early age, they are fawned over, waited on, and covered for. In high school a grade is changed, in college a class is fudged or in some cases, legal indiscretions are ignored and a pattern is born. Does this excuse behavior? No but it explains why these people seem to disconnect their brain before they act. They have it ingrained into their thought process that talented people don't get in trouble.
Ben Roethlisberger is lucky. The Pittsburgh Steelers have prided themselves on being the gold (or in this case black and gold) standard in class and deportment. The Rooney family takes character very seriously and rumor has it that they are furious over this. Big Ben's teammate and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes was just shipped to the Jets for just a 5th round draft pick. Holmes was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violation of the NFL's drug policy and has had other run-ins with the law for such activities as assault, drug possession and disorderly conduct. Personally, I think if Ben wasn't a quarterback and Pittsburgh didn't have a buttload of money invested in him, he might have already been gone. However with these two incidents, along with his infamous motorcycle accident in the Summer of 2006 (wear a helmet, dumbass!) his margin of error in the Steel City is pretty much gone. If he screws up again, don't be surprised to see the Steelers send him packing.
You're 28 years old. You have the honor and privilege to play at the highest level of the sport you love. You have more money than you will ever need. Use your head. Realize what you can do safely and what will invite trouble. You can pick apart defenses on the run and fire the ball 50 yards downfield for a score. You can carry a team and city on your shoulders and lead them to the promised land. Surely you can understand that hanging out in a bar getting college girls drunk will not end well.
It's third down, Ben...if you are forced to punt, you might not get back on the Heinz Field turf.
In modern sport, names like Kobe Bryant, Anthony Mason and Mark Chumura are just as well known for their off the field activities as those on the field. This of course, brings us to the latest and, now, two-time member of this group, Ben Roethlisberger.
On March 5, police in Milledgeville, Georgia announced that Big Ben was under investigation for an accusation of sexual assault. A 20 year old local college student told police that the Steelers QB followed her in the bathroom and assaulted her while members of Roethlisberger's entourage stood outside the door making sure they were not disturbed. On April 12, 2010, it was announced that Roethlisberger would not be charged. The local D.A said that there was not enough DNA evidence to warrant charges being filed. The accuser also wrote to the D.A. saying that she no longer wanted to pursue criminal charges because the level of media attention
would make a criminal trial too "intrusive" of a personal experience but that she was not taking back her accusation.
This was not the first time. Seems that Big Ben is collecting police matters along with Super Bowl rings.
You may remember that in June of 2008, Ben was in Lake Tahoe where Andrea McNulty accused Roethlisberger of assaulting her in his hotel room while he was in town for his celebrity golf tournament. No criminal charges were filed in that case either although a civil suit in July of 2009 was brought against Roethlisberger and the casino where he was staying. Then one month later, a co-worker of McNulty gave an affidavit testifying that McNulty was bragging about the incident, claimed it was consentual and even talked about "hoping for a little Roethlisberger".
Two incidents...all too similar. Once can be an anomaly, twice is a pattern and if he is not careful, three times and he will be out.
It also begs the question...who is to blame? The groupie, who sees a young, rich, handsome ATM or the athlete who knows better but either thinks it can't or won't happen to him. As Master Obi-Wan once said...."Who's the more foolish: The fool, or the fool who follows him?"
A lot of people tend to blame the accuser, especially those who proudly wear the team colors of he who stands accused. This is knee-jerk reaction to thing that have happened in the past and make no mistake about it, those things happen. More than once has someone famous, athlete or otherwise, have been approached by someone who claims to be legit but in reality, has ulterior motives. It has happened on more than one occasion and probably will as long as there are movie stars and pro athletes. It has become so big of a problem, that most of your major pro sports leagues, including the NBA and NFL, have included "groupie-avoidance" in their rookie seminars. While I am not so naive as to think that there are not people out there with bad intentions set on getting a quick payday, I tend to lay most of my blame on the athletes themselves.
I know, I know, Where is it written that just because someone is famous, he can't have fun like normal people? Isn't that also one of the big complaints from Mr. and Mrs. America? "They are people just like us and should be treated as such!" Well, yes they should and when it comes to abiding by the law, absolutely. However, athletes, especially the higher profile ones, unfortunately just can't walk into Wal-Mart or get their McFlurry on. Why not? If you look for the enemy, you will find that it is, indeed, us. We love our famous people. We live vicariously through them, want to be like them, and want to enjoy the spoils that they enjoy. We want every detail of their lives and don't want them to have a problem with it.
There in lies the rub. They know this. They get training, and seminars and advice from veterans from day 1 and yet some players still tempt fate. They know that there are guys out there who will try to bait them into a fight or girls out there who will try to bait them into bed. They fall for it and the next thing they know, they are on the phone with the law firm of Getmyass, Outtathis, and Now. You have players who can afford limos and chauffeurs, but get tagged for DUI.
However, I don't completely blame the stars in question. From a very early age, they are fawned over, waited on, and covered for. In high school a grade is changed, in college a class is fudged or in some cases, legal indiscretions are ignored and a pattern is born. Does this excuse behavior? No but it explains why these people seem to disconnect their brain before they act. They have it ingrained into their thought process that talented people don't get in trouble.
Ben Roethlisberger is lucky. The Pittsburgh Steelers have prided themselves on being the gold (or in this case black and gold) standard in class and deportment. The Rooney family takes character very seriously and rumor has it that they are furious over this. Big Ben's teammate and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes was just shipped to the Jets for just a 5th round draft pick. Holmes was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violation of the NFL's drug policy and has had other run-ins with the law for such activities as assault, drug possession and disorderly conduct. Personally, I think if Ben wasn't a quarterback and Pittsburgh didn't have a buttload of money invested in him, he might have already been gone. However with these two incidents, along with his infamous motorcycle accident in the Summer of 2006 (wear a helmet, dumbass!) his margin of error in the Steel City is pretty much gone. If he screws up again, don't be surprised to see the Steelers send him packing.
You're 28 years old. You have the honor and privilege to play at the highest level of the sport you love. You have more money than you will ever need. Use your head. Realize what you can do safely and what will invite trouble. You can pick apart defenses on the run and fire the ball 50 yards downfield for a score. You can carry a team and city on your shoulders and lead them to the promised land. Surely you can understand that hanging out in a bar getting college girls drunk will not end well.
It's third down, Ben...if you are forced to punt, you might not get back on the Heinz Field turf.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The no-longer Fighting Sioux, Grand Kicker and listen to your Mama!
The wisdom of mama.
Bobby Bouchet had it, Forrest Gump had it, hell even Norman Bates had it...ok, bad example.
Maybe though, Patrick Patterson should have it.
As mentioned here on Wednesday. Patrick and four of his Kentucky Wildcat teammates announced that they have decided to leave Lexington and enter the 2010 NBA Draft. An announcement that caught Patrick's mom a little off guard. Tywanna Patterson said she had discussed early entry with Patrick but no decision had been made. Then the announcement on Wednesday came and mama was not pleased:
"We were confused people by then," she said. "I have a problem with it going out and not being official. It is his decision. He has not declared for the draft and once he does he can't back out because he declared for the draft last year. But I am very upset with all this because the statement Patrick gave to DeWayne, he didn't know it was being released tonight" DeWayne refers to DeWayne Peevy (great name) who was the UK spokesperson who released the statement. Tywanna was not done. She then turned her focus to Wildcat coach John Calipari:
"Me personally, I think it is Cal's way to get recruits to commit and wants to make sure they know John (Wall), DeMarcus (Cousins), Daniel (Orton) and Eric (Bledsoe) are gone along with Patrick, Pat didn't know they were sending that statement out tonight."
Nice. Piece of advice folks...keep mama informed. People who don't are the Debil, Bobby Bouchet!!
After a 4 year legal battle and continuous skirmished that go back decades, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux will be retiring their nickname and logo. The North Dakota Board of Higher Education had voted to retire the nickname in May of 2009 but a motion was filed with the North Dakota state Supreme Court to delay any action. The Board elected to suspend the nickname in October of 2009 with full retirement to be complete by August 2010. The one condition that could save it was the approval of the nickname and logo by the Sioux tribes of North Dakota, the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake. Spirit Lake gave consent, Standing Rock did not. The Spirit Lake tribe filed the aforementioned motion with the Supreme Court which was turned down.
Personally, I am a little torn on the whole "you can't use Native American names as logos" thing. On one hand, I understand a group of people not wanting to be insulted, lampooned and stereotyped. The Indians Chief Wahoo logo is cartoonish and a little silly, and I get that having a guy in a costume and war paint looking like Wahoo McDaniels and threatening to scalp the opposition can be unsettling. However, I don't see how just using the name of a tribe is harming. I would think having that name as something the school can unite behind is a good thing. Also, just being called "Warriors" doesn't mean you are demeaning Native Americans. In fact, automatically assuming it could only be in reference to Native American in prejudicial in itself. Florida State and Central Michigan have found ways to work with their native tribes in a way that is beneficial for both. Too bad UND couldn't, and by the way...the logo that has been deemed "hostile and offensive" by the NCAA was designed by Bennett Brien, a UND grad and decendant of the Ojibwa tribe.
The University of North Dakota is probably best known for their outstanding hockey team. The Fighting Sioux (while I can still call them that) has a total 14 Conference Championships, 24 NCAA tournament apperances, 18 trips to the Frozen Four and 7 Frozen Four NCAA championships which is tied for 2nd most all time. They play their home games at Ralph Engelstad Arena. This arena seats just under 12K and is probably the finest college hockey building in the country. Hell, it is one of the nicest hockey arenas in the US or Canada period! (Even The Great One said so) Ralph Englestad was a UND alum and contributed $100 million of the $104M cost and knowing that the logo was a center of contreversey, placed it within the building 2200 times! Ouch. Good luck with that. Somewhere, Ralph is laughing his nazi-loving ass off!!
To wrap up...the NFL Draft is less than two weeks away (woot!) but one player not worried about being drafted is Todd Carter. Carter played at D2 powerhouse Grand Valley State here in Michigan. For you Notre Dame fans, new coach Brian Kelly started his career by winning titles there. Carter was signed this week by the Carolina Panthers. Between workouts for the Panthers and the Chiefs and others, Carter had been working at a smoothie shop. Someone else will have to get their bananaberry orange whippy thingy because Todd's going to Carolina and not just in his mind.
Bobby Bouchet had it, Forrest Gump had it, hell even Norman Bates had it...ok, bad example.
Maybe though, Patrick Patterson should have it.
As mentioned here on Wednesday. Patrick and four of his Kentucky Wildcat teammates announced that they have decided to leave Lexington and enter the 2010 NBA Draft. An announcement that caught Patrick's mom a little off guard. Tywanna Patterson said she had discussed early entry with Patrick but no decision had been made. Then the announcement on Wednesday came and mama was not pleased:
"We were confused people by then," she said. "I have a problem with it going out and not being official. It is his decision. He has not declared for the draft and once he does he can't back out because he declared for the draft last year. But I am very upset with all this because the statement Patrick gave to DeWayne, he didn't know it was being released tonight" DeWayne refers to DeWayne Peevy (great name) who was the UK spokesperson who released the statement. Tywanna was not done. She then turned her focus to Wildcat coach John Calipari:
"Me personally, I think it is Cal's way to get recruits to commit and wants to make sure they know John (Wall), DeMarcus (Cousins), Daniel (Orton) and Eric (Bledsoe) are gone along with Patrick, Pat didn't know they were sending that statement out tonight."
Nice. Piece of advice folks...keep mama informed. People who don't are the Debil, Bobby Bouchet!!
After a 4 year legal battle and continuous skirmished that go back decades, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux will be retiring their nickname and logo. The North Dakota Board of Higher Education had voted to retire the nickname in May of 2009 but a motion was filed with the North Dakota state Supreme Court to delay any action. The Board elected to suspend the nickname in October of 2009 with full retirement to be complete by August 2010. The one condition that could save it was the approval of the nickname and logo by the Sioux tribes of North Dakota, the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake. Spirit Lake gave consent, Standing Rock did not. The Spirit Lake tribe filed the aforementioned motion with the Supreme Court which was turned down.
Personally, I am a little torn on the whole "you can't use Native American names as logos" thing. On one hand, I understand a group of people not wanting to be insulted, lampooned and stereotyped. The Indians Chief Wahoo logo is cartoonish and a little silly, and I get that having a guy in a costume and war paint looking like Wahoo McDaniels and threatening to scalp the opposition can be unsettling. However, I don't see how just using the name of a tribe is harming. I would think having that name as something the school can unite behind is a good thing. Also, just being called "Warriors" doesn't mean you are demeaning Native Americans. In fact, automatically assuming it could only be in reference to Native American in prejudicial in itself. Florida State and Central Michigan have found ways to work with their native tribes in a way that is beneficial for both. Too bad UND couldn't, and by the way...the logo that has been deemed "hostile and offensive" by the NCAA was designed by Bennett Brien, a UND grad and decendant of the Ojibwa tribe.
The University of North Dakota is probably best known for their outstanding hockey team. The Fighting Sioux (while I can still call them that) has a total 14 Conference Championships, 24 NCAA tournament apperances, 18 trips to the Frozen Four and 7 Frozen Four NCAA championships which is tied for 2nd most all time. They play their home games at Ralph Engelstad Arena. This arena seats just under 12K and is probably the finest college hockey building in the country. Hell, it is one of the nicest hockey arenas in the US or Canada period! (Even The Great One said so) Ralph Englestad was a UND alum and contributed $100 million of the $104M cost and knowing that the logo was a center of contreversey, placed it within the building 2200 times! Ouch. Good luck with that. Somewhere, Ralph is laughing his nazi-loving ass off!!
To wrap up...the NFL Draft is less than two weeks away (woot!) but one player not worried about being drafted is Todd Carter. Carter played at D2 powerhouse Grand Valley State here in Michigan. For you Notre Dame fans, new coach Brian Kelly started his career by winning titles there. Carter was signed this week by the Carolina Panthers. Between workouts for the Panthers and the Chiefs and others, Carter had been working at a smoothie shop. Someone else will have to get their bananaberry orange whippy thingy because Todd's going to Carolina and not just in his mind.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A muggy night in Delta Township.
It was a rainy night in mid-michigan. Then the rain stopped and it was damned muggy!! Ok not too muggy...Michigan muggy, not in-your-face, knock-you-on-your-ass Texas muggy...but muggy none the less. The muggy-ness means Spring is here and
that means baseball season. Looking forward to hitting a Lugnuts game this season. Minor league baseball is the best value there is in sports. The ticket prices are pretty good, concessions aren't horribly priced, and there is always some
crazy-ass promotion going on. Plus they have something that personally, I love and I think is underrated...fireworks. Maybe its just the big kid in me (yeah...like none of you knew that!) but I really love fireworks. Sitting back on a summer
night, the smell of grass in the air and looking up and watching the show overhead. It brings to mind a lyric from Boston.."like the shadows linger at the close of day"...nice. Coming soon will be a MLB preview from good friend Melissa Martinez who
is a fellow blogger and you can see her work at http://strangerthings.mlblogs.com
The onset of Spring also signals one of my all time favorite things, the NFL Draft. This year's NFL Draft has been changed up a bit. The NFL has decided to stretch out its annual Selection Meeting over 3 nights with round 1 being Thursday night,
rounds 2-3 Friday night and rounds 4-7 Saturday. I am guessing the move is to get some of the draft into primetime...not sure yet if I like it or not. Something about having a whole weekend of drafty goodness is appealing...this is a wait and see thing. But its 15 days away...woot! Or to quote Blog Queen, Carrie Damon...squee! I will be publishing a first round Mock Draft shortly before the NFL's 75th version of theirs.
Reading the USA Today earlier this week, I came across a story about the Iranian girls soccer team that was sent home from the Youth Olympic Games because they refused to remove their hijab scarves. The hijab is a traditional head covering worn
by Muslim women. Ok...now I have made my share of comments about Iran and their little Napoleon wannabe president...(I still say we can fix the whole US-Iran rift by challenging Ahmadinejad to a little 1-on-1 with Obama. Say what you will about our President, but the dude can hoop. Even Republicans would cheer for him if he was taking Mahmoud off the dribble.)..growing up during the Iran Hostage crisis will do that...but I have to side with the kids on this one. Agree with Islam or not, denying kids a chance to play at the highest level of their sport is criminal. Apparently its a safety issue...no, sounds more like a "Muslims freak me out" issue. There are style of hijab that are flowing and, I guess, get wrapped up with an opponent but there are also styles that are worn close to the body have don't flow and would cause no problem. To punish 11 year old girls like that is wrong on many levels. It takes away the fun and simple pleasure of sport. Its also things like that which can cause mistrust and distaste of the West. Mistrust that can lead to hate and as we all learned from Master Yoda..hate leads to suffering. It also gives petty tyrants reason to say "I told you they hate us". Leave it to FIFA (which I am pretty sure is French for "corrupt" to do something like this. Shouldn't the guys at FIFA be bribing someone or something?
Billy Payne, 2004 Olympic Games chief and current chairman of Augusta National decided to scold Tiger for his recent pecadilloes in his yearly "State of Augusta" or "Watering of the Magnolias" or whatever he does before the Masters every year. Ol' Billy Boy was quoted as saying ""It's not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here. It is the fact he disappointed all of us and more imporantly our kids and grandkids." Payne continued...""Our hero did not live up to the
expectations as a role model that we sought for our children." Really. Ok Billy (said in my best Sidney Deane voice) this from the guy who's the Chairman of a club that, while being Holy Ground for American golf, still doesn't allow women to join
and just 20 years ago finally admitted a black member. I can see the conversation now "Grandpa...how come there are no girls here?" "Don't be silly, darlin'..there's girls everywhere...see? There's one now, bringin Grandpa his pimento cheese sammitch." Hero, huh. Let me tell you something Billy, Heroes don't leave their wife and kids at home to go bang porn stars. By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that when he heard that Tiger was going to "return to Buddhism, the Dalai
Lama was quoted as saying "oy vey".
It was announced today that tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with a noninvasive form of breast cancer. Her prognosis is considered excellent and should be able to beat this. Here is to a speedy and full recovery to one of Tennis'
all time greats, male or female. Cancer better have a good backhand otherwise Martina will destroy you. My money is on her.
Let me wrap up with some odds and ends...
Watching my Spurs play Phoenix....there is no fan base who is more anticipating Tim Duncan's retirement then the denziens in the Valley of the Sun. Its halftime and Fleanix is currently leading 61-52...SA is currently 7-18 from the free throw line.
Hmm....11 missed FT's and a 9 point deficit....do the math, kids. This is why you practice the fundamentals, campers. It is usually the difference between winning and losing...oh and yes, Steve Nash does look like Kelly Leak.
Don Nelson just passed Lenny Wilkins on the all time NBA Coaching Wins list tonight. Nellie scored win # 1,333 with his Warriors win over the T-Wolves. His record is 1,333-1,061 in 31 years of coaching. Break out the fish ties and throw
a party...Mark Cuban will probably pass.
5 University of Kentucky players have announced that they will all enter the NBA draft. In the worst kept secret outside of Ricky Martin's sexuality, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are one and done in Lexington. Joining these two are fellow Wildcat
freshmen Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton as well as junior forward Patrick Patterson. Looks like Cal will have to fudge some more test scores...allegedly..and rebuild. Word has is that Ashley Judd is inconsolable. Its ok baby...Mikey's here for you.
Peace.
that means baseball season. Looking forward to hitting a Lugnuts game this season. Minor league baseball is the best value there is in sports. The ticket prices are pretty good, concessions aren't horribly priced, and there is always some
crazy-ass promotion going on. Plus they have something that personally, I love and I think is underrated...fireworks. Maybe its just the big kid in me (yeah...like none of you knew that!) but I really love fireworks. Sitting back on a summer
night, the smell of grass in the air and looking up and watching the show overhead. It brings to mind a lyric from Boston.."like the shadows linger at the close of day"...nice. Coming soon will be a MLB preview from good friend Melissa Martinez who
is a fellow blogger and you can see her work at http://strangerthings.mlblogs.com
The onset of Spring also signals one of my all time favorite things, the NFL Draft. This year's NFL Draft has been changed up a bit. The NFL has decided to stretch out its annual Selection Meeting over 3 nights with round 1 being Thursday night,
rounds 2-3 Friday night and rounds 4-7 Saturday. I am guessing the move is to get some of the draft into primetime...not sure yet if I like it or not. Something about having a whole weekend of drafty goodness is appealing...this is a wait and see thing. But its 15 days away...woot! Or to quote Blog Queen, Carrie Damon...squee! I will be publishing a first round Mock Draft shortly before the NFL's 75th version of theirs.
Reading the USA Today earlier this week, I came across a story about the Iranian girls soccer team that was sent home from the Youth Olympic Games because they refused to remove their hijab scarves. The hijab is a traditional head covering worn
by Muslim women. Ok...now I have made my share of comments about Iran and their little Napoleon wannabe president...(I still say we can fix the whole US-Iran rift by challenging Ahmadinejad to a little 1-on-1 with Obama. Say what you will about our President, but the dude can hoop. Even Republicans would cheer for him if he was taking Mahmoud off the dribble.)..growing up during the Iran Hostage crisis will do that...but I have to side with the kids on this one. Agree with Islam or not, denying kids a chance to play at the highest level of their sport is criminal. Apparently its a safety issue...no, sounds more like a "Muslims freak me out" issue. There are style of hijab that are flowing and, I guess, get wrapped up with an opponent but there are also styles that are worn close to the body have don't flow and would cause no problem. To punish 11 year old girls like that is wrong on many levels. It takes away the fun and simple pleasure of sport. Its also things like that which can cause mistrust and distaste of the West. Mistrust that can lead to hate and as we all learned from Master Yoda..hate leads to suffering. It also gives petty tyrants reason to say "I told you they hate us". Leave it to FIFA (which I am pretty sure is French for "corrupt" to do something like this. Shouldn't the guys at FIFA be bribing someone or something?
Billy Payne, 2004 Olympic Games chief and current chairman of Augusta National decided to scold Tiger for his recent pecadilloes in his yearly "State of Augusta" or "Watering of the Magnolias" or whatever he does before the Masters every year. Ol' Billy Boy was quoted as saying ""It's not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here. It is the fact he disappointed all of us and more imporantly our kids and grandkids." Payne continued...""Our hero did not live up to the
expectations as a role model that we sought for our children." Really. Ok Billy (said in my best Sidney Deane voice) this from the guy who's the Chairman of a club that, while being Holy Ground for American golf, still doesn't allow women to join
and just 20 years ago finally admitted a black member. I can see the conversation now "Grandpa...how come there are no girls here?" "Don't be silly, darlin'..there's girls everywhere...see? There's one now, bringin Grandpa his pimento cheese sammitch." Hero, huh. Let me tell you something Billy, Heroes don't leave their wife and kids at home to go bang porn stars. By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that when he heard that Tiger was going to "return to Buddhism, the Dalai
Lama was quoted as saying "oy vey".
It was announced today that tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with a noninvasive form of breast cancer. Her prognosis is considered excellent and should be able to beat this. Here is to a speedy and full recovery to one of Tennis'
all time greats, male or female. Cancer better have a good backhand otherwise Martina will destroy you. My money is on her.
Let me wrap up with some odds and ends...
Watching my Spurs play Phoenix....there is no fan base who is more anticipating Tim Duncan's retirement then the denziens in the Valley of the Sun. Its halftime and Fleanix is currently leading 61-52...SA is currently 7-18 from the free throw line.
Hmm....11 missed FT's and a 9 point deficit....do the math, kids. This is why you practice the fundamentals, campers. It is usually the difference between winning and losing...oh and yes, Steve Nash does look like Kelly Leak.
Don Nelson just passed Lenny Wilkins on the all time NBA Coaching Wins list tonight. Nellie scored win # 1,333 with his Warriors win over the T-Wolves. His record is 1,333-1,061 in 31 years of coaching. Break out the fish ties and throw
a party...Mark Cuban will probably pass.
5 University of Kentucky players have announced that they will all enter the NBA draft. In the worst kept secret outside of Ricky Martin's sexuality, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are one and done in Lexington. Joining these two are fellow Wildcat
freshmen Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton as well as junior forward Patrick Patterson. Looks like Cal will have to fudge some more test scores...allegedly..and rebuild. Word has is that Ashley Judd is inconsolable. Its ok baby...Mikey's here for you.
Peace.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Farewell to the Madness.
The last blog of March Madness...and what a long, strange trip its been. As we speak is currently tied at 36 with 17:25 to go in the game. If this ends up being the last tournament in the 64-team era...it will certainly rank as one of the best. Several great stories....Michigan State grinding its way to Indy despite injuries, Duke returning to glory quietly while this seasons louder, younger seeds fell by the wayside...one of those being Kansas who was the one team most of us agreed on would do well. Kentucky realizing that Karma is also spelled with a K or in this case...a C as in Calipari...and of course the Hoosiers-esque story of the Butler doing it.
Admit it....you were pissed as your brackets fell apart like Tiger Woods' credibility (what...too soon?) a part of you was loving all the drama that gave birth to the phrase “March Madness” I knew it was going to be crazy when on day 1, my boy Billy Newton lost a Final Four team. Then again brother...what were you thinking picking Notre Dame? Yeah, I thought I was being clever when I picked Villanova to come out of their region. I was vindicated though, by those Baylor Bears. What a great story there also.
Just a few seasons ago, 2003, Baylor's program was on the brink of extinction. Allegations of drug use and recruiting violations combined with the murder of a player by a teammate and a coach trying to cover it all up brought out two words that, in Texas, have two meanings. The lesser known one refers to the 1988-89 SMU football team that was effectively shut down for two years and have really just recently recovered. The possibility was brought up in reference to Baylor which, given the history of their old SWC buddies, seemed shocking. Baylor was the good school. They were the school that the nice, smart kids go to that are just there for the good of the game and don't see a future at the next level. In football, they are still pretty much a doormat though they are making strides. Their women's team has been good, when the 6'9 freshman center isn't slugging her foes, however, the mens basketball team has made a name for themselves. Actually three names, Epke, Tweety and LaceDarius. Not exactly the ones you used to hear echoing around Waco...then again, the city is known for a kid named LaDanian so who knows.
10:46 to go....49-47 Duke.
Speaking of the Blue Devils....never a big fan. I respect their success and their coach but Coach K got a little sensitive this week when he went Cameron Crazy and whined about a picture in the Indianapolis Star that had a picture of him that looked like it was the object of a 7th graders graffiti attempt. They gave him a curly Rollie Fingers/Snidely Whiplash mustache, a little goatee, horns, glasses and a target on his forehead.
Really coach? Come on K....you play in the ACC where they offer courses on insulting your foes. Your beloved student section has done things like throw panties at players, told a referee “you suck dick” and thrown pizza boxes on the court. All of which are funny but don't get all pissy over someone doodling on one of your head shots when you have a bunch of lunatics at home.
6:50 to go.....56-51 Duke.
Major props to Bob Huggins. I have always liked Hug. He is a cross of Johnny Cash and Bobby Knight. To him its like “here's my team...I like them......you don't? Like you matter.” I love that! That was the way I was with my guys at Pike. We were good. We didn't try to be mean to anyone but if you attacked one of us, you attacked all of us and may God have mercy on you for doing so. I give props to Hug for that touching scene with his fallen player DeSean Butler. Butler had gone up for a shot and came down awkwardly. He was called for a charge (bad call but then again, they were playing Duke) and he blew out his knee. The poor kid was in tears because he felt he let his team and coach down. He cared more about them and that is what its all about. Huggins leaned down, told him he loved him and that he was going to be ok. Nicely done coach.
OK...Clark Kellogg is a tool. When you grab a guys arm and pull him down..that's not going for the ball. To paraphrase Sam Wyche..the kid from Butler's gonna live, but its still a flagrant (unless you're playing Duke) 58-55 Duke 3:16 left.
One last story...the story of Nolan Smith of Duke....yes Duke....even though I can't stand them, Smith's story is a nice one. His dad was NBA player Derek Smith who played in the NBA from 82-91 with 5 teams but was probably best known as a member of the 1980 Louisville team that won the NCAA title. After his playing days, he was an assistant coach with the Washington Bullets (that's Wizards to you kids, they used to be the Bullets) until his untimely death in 1996 of a heart attack while on a cruise with his family. It would be very special if the son could do what his father did 30 years later. If Duke has to win, then for Nolan Smith, I am happy.
Uh oh....49 seconds....60-59 Duke.
I wanted to give a big THANKS to Jonathan Huth for the “Mike Paceleo for Sports Radio” facebook page. Also a big THANKS to all the love and support I have received on that page. It means a great deal to me. Its nice to know that maybe I have made a positive effect on people. Thank you all. I'm chasing the dream and taking you all with me.
61-59 Duke...ball game. Glass slipper nowhere to be found.
Admit it....you were pissed as your brackets fell apart like Tiger Woods' credibility (what...too soon?) a part of you was loving all the drama that gave birth to the phrase “March Madness” I knew it was going to be crazy when on day 1, my boy Billy Newton lost a Final Four team. Then again brother...what were you thinking picking Notre Dame? Yeah, I thought I was being clever when I picked Villanova to come out of their region. I was vindicated though, by those Baylor Bears. What a great story there also.
Just a few seasons ago, 2003, Baylor's program was on the brink of extinction. Allegations of drug use and recruiting violations combined with the murder of a player by a teammate and a coach trying to cover it all up brought out two words that, in Texas, have two meanings. The lesser known one refers to the 1988-89 SMU football team that was effectively shut down for two years and have really just recently recovered. The possibility was brought up in reference to Baylor which, given the history of their old SWC buddies, seemed shocking. Baylor was the good school. They were the school that the nice, smart kids go to that are just there for the good of the game and don't see a future at the next level. In football, they are still pretty much a doormat though they are making strides. Their women's team has been good, when the 6'9 freshman center isn't slugging her foes, however, the mens basketball team has made a name for themselves. Actually three names, Epke, Tweety and LaceDarius. Not exactly the ones you used to hear echoing around Waco...then again, the city is known for a kid named LaDanian so who knows.
10:46 to go....49-47 Duke.
Speaking of the Blue Devils....never a big fan. I respect their success and their coach but Coach K got a little sensitive this week when he went Cameron Crazy and whined about a picture in the Indianapolis Star that had a picture of him that looked like it was the object of a 7th graders graffiti attempt. They gave him a curly Rollie Fingers/Snidely Whiplash mustache, a little goatee, horns, glasses and a target on his forehead.
Really coach? Come on K....you play in the ACC where they offer courses on insulting your foes. Your beloved student section has done things like throw panties at players, told a referee “you suck dick” and thrown pizza boxes on the court. All of which are funny but don't get all pissy over someone doodling on one of your head shots when you have a bunch of lunatics at home.
6:50 to go.....56-51 Duke.
Major props to Bob Huggins. I have always liked Hug. He is a cross of Johnny Cash and Bobby Knight. To him its like “here's my team...I like them......you don't? Like you matter.” I love that! That was the way I was with my guys at Pike. We were good. We didn't try to be mean to anyone but if you attacked one of us, you attacked all of us and may God have mercy on you for doing so. I give props to Hug for that touching scene with his fallen player DeSean Butler. Butler had gone up for a shot and came down awkwardly. He was called for a charge (bad call but then again, they were playing Duke) and he blew out his knee. The poor kid was in tears because he felt he let his team and coach down. He cared more about them and that is what its all about. Huggins leaned down, told him he loved him and that he was going to be ok. Nicely done coach.
OK...Clark Kellogg is a tool. When you grab a guys arm and pull him down..that's not going for the ball. To paraphrase Sam Wyche..the kid from Butler's gonna live, but its still a flagrant (unless you're playing Duke) 58-55 Duke 3:16 left.
One last story...the story of Nolan Smith of Duke....yes Duke....even though I can't stand them, Smith's story is a nice one. His dad was NBA player Derek Smith who played in the NBA from 82-91 with 5 teams but was probably best known as a member of the 1980 Louisville team that won the NCAA title. After his playing days, he was an assistant coach with the Washington Bullets (that's Wizards to you kids, they used to be the Bullets) until his untimely death in 1996 of a heart attack while on a cruise with his family. It would be very special if the son could do what his father did 30 years later. If Duke has to win, then for Nolan Smith, I am happy.
Uh oh....49 seconds....60-59 Duke.
I wanted to give a big THANKS to Jonathan Huth for the “Mike Paceleo for Sports Radio” facebook page. Also a big THANKS to all the love and support I have received on that page. It means a great deal to me. Its nice to know that maybe I have made a positive effect on people. Thank you all. I'm chasing the dream and taking you all with me.
61-59 Duke...ball game. Glass slipper nowhere to be found.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Finally.
I finally did it. I have returned to the blogging world. If you are reading this then either I told you about it or you stumbled onto it and you were really, really bored. Hopefully, I can get you to stay. This blog is an idea my wife had to keep me writing. She feels I have a gift and wants me to keep it fresh. That and this way I will keep my hands on the keyboard and off of her butt. :) My wife is my biggest fan and like most celebrities do, I sometimes take her for granted. I don't mean to but I am not always the sharpest knife in the drawer and can trip over pretty much anything. I dedicate this to her. I want to succeed because she deserves a partner who is an enhancement and not a burden.
The purpose of this blog is two-fold. First, a daily (hopefully) account of my take on the sports world. Second, my attempt to break into the world of sports. I would like to work on air in sports radio. I have done some and think I am pretty good at it. Ok, "some" is a bit strong. I read the sports news on KSYM (the radio station at SAC) back in the day and I have done 2 webcast roundtables. I did win a contest to be "Peter for a day" on the Ticket 760 in San Antonio. I won the opportunity to be a cohost on their morning show. It was a blast and I was good.
I had tons of support for that contest and I owe my friends another big thank you for their help. I was hoping to make that a springboard to bigger and better things but alas, nothing. Residing in Michigan, one knows that our economy blows goats and when I approached the program director of The Game 730 (our sports station) I was told that "we don't have the budget for it but I will listen and let you know" well, I didn't hear back for a while so I emailed again to follow up. When I did, the email addy bounced and have not been able to get the new one. I also didn't try as hard as maybe I should have, so some of the blame falls on my shoulders.
Here is my plan...I will be contacting Tim Nestor somehow...either email, snail mail, phone, carrier pigeon whatever. I might even do a sit in on his front door at his station. :) I will keep you posted here.
For today's sports take...March Madness culminates in tomorrow night's championship game. I really hope Butler wins. They are a great story and I can't stand Duke. Smug bastards. (Hey...never said this was a family show!) There is talk about expanding the current 65 team tournament up to 96. That would really...REALLY...suck! Adding that focaccta "play in game" (the NCAA calls it the Opening Round....I call it crap) was bad enough but 96 teams? The NCAA tournament is one of the special things in sports so why mess with it? Its as bad as having 36 bowl games. You will water down the field and that madness of having David slay Goliath will decrease because of the addition of first round sacrificial lambs who got hot at the right time and won their conference tourney despite having a 17-15 record. Hell, why stop at 96? Let all 344 D-I schools in and give everyone a participation trophy like the 6 year olds get in youth soccer? You know, those leagues where we are so worried about little Johnny's feelings that we don't keep score? (another rant for another time) I am all for progress and while I like tradition, I don't think we need to keep things solely because of it but sometimes its ok to leave things as they are because they work.
Ok, off the soap box for now...hope you enjoyed it and hope to see you again.
Peace.
The purpose of this blog is two-fold. First, a daily (hopefully) account of my take on the sports world. Second, my attempt to break into the world of sports. I would like to work on air in sports radio. I have done some and think I am pretty good at it. Ok, "some" is a bit strong. I read the sports news on KSYM (the radio station at SAC) back in the day and I have done 2 webcast roundtables. I did win a contest to be "Peter for a day" on the Ticket 760 in San Antonio. I won the opportunity to be a cohost on their morning show. It was a blast and I was good.
I had tons of support for that contest and I owe my friends another big thank you for their help. I was hoping to make that a springboard to bigger and better things but alas, nothing. Residing in Michigan, one knows that our economy blows goats and when I approached the program director of The Game 730 (our sports station) I was told that "we don't have the budget for it but I will listen and let you know" well, I didn't hear back for a while so I emailed again to follow up. When I did, the email addy bounced and have not been able to get the new one. I also didn't try as hard as maybe I should have, so some of the blame falls on my shoulders.
Here is my plan...I will be contacting Tim Nestor somehow...either email, snail mail, phone, carrier pigeon whatever. I might even do a sit in on his front door at his station. :) I will keep you posted here.
For today's sports take...March Madness culminates in tomorrow night's championship game. I really hope Butler wins. They are a great story and I can't stand Duke. Smug bastards. (Hey...never said this was a family show!) There is talk about expanding the current 65 team tournament up to 96. That would really...REALLY...suck! Adding that focaccta "play in game" (the NCAA calls it the Opening Round....I call it crap) was bad enough but 96 teams? The NCAA tournament is one of the special things in sports so why mess with it? Its as bad as having 36 bowl games. You will water down the field and that madness of having David slay Goliath will decrease because of the addition of first round sacrificial lambs who got hot at the right time and won their conference tourney despite having a 17-15 record. Hell, why stop at 96? Let all 344 D-I schools in and give everyone a participation trophy like the 6 year olds get in youth soccer? You know, those leagues where we are so worried about little Johnny's feelings that we don't keep score? (another rant for another time) I am all for progress and while I like tradition, I don't think we need to keep things solely because of it but sometimes its ok to leave things as they are because they work.
Ok, off the soap box for now...hope you enjoyed it and hope to see you again.
Peace.
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