MC ARTEST.....NEEDS A REST....HE WASN'T BLESSED...NOW SEE THE MESS

                        
                             {DISCUSS THE INDIANA PACERS HERE }

You can’t make this stuff up at times. 

Ron Artest, who has been mysteriously benched this week, has come clean on why. Artest said Wednesday that he asked Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle for time off since he had a busy schedule that included……..promoting his rap album. Yep, that’s right. And not just a few games…but ONE MONTH. He needed a month off to “heal his aching body and recover from a particularly busy schedule.”

Carlisle said that the situation compromised the integrity of the team….and sat him for a few games with pay. That, is funny to me…since that is like suspending a high schooler for skipping school. In fact, Artest, thinking he really didn’t ask anything too outlandish, doesn’t mind the punishment….since he gets the rest he wanted in the first place.

                              

Artest, who is just 24, is supposed to drop his rap album on November 23….and has been making a lot of promo appearances. “After the album comes out, I’m going to make sure all of my time is focused on winning a championship.”

Not bad….since games played now, like that 34-point home loss to the Clippers, count as well. I mean, what if the Pacers end the season a game or two behind the Pistons for the Central division title?? Well, all that would mean is the Pacers would be a 4th seed in the East….and would play the best team in the East in the second round, if they advance.

This is a very interesting and quite frankly a controversial move by everyone involved. Artest has had a history of attitude problems and team-related issues. Not to mention, for a guy that was Defensive Player of the Year last season….and an All-Star….he was still rumored to be “available” in trade talks. Also, this puts out the question “where’s Ron’s head at?” Is this new music career more important than his hoops career??? Now, I’m not downing this sort of thing…..but it isn’t good to have your extra-curricular activities infringing on your multi-million dollar job. Just like if Rick Fox left the Laker game in the 3rd quarter so he could be on the set of OZ. Or like Tracy McGrady wanting time off from posing for pictures and doing “promos” for his shoe. Heck, Kobe Bryant showed up for court hearings and still got back to the game and played.

And this comes at the same time Paul Pierce gets elbowed in the face....loses three of his chiclets.....goes thru SEVEN HOURS of dental surgery....and still played against the Blazers tonight. 

This also will go into Carlisle’s file. The Pacers have had injury problems kill the beginning to their season. The decision to bench Artest could thin the team out too much and hurt in the long run [it forced Jermaine O‘Neal into action while injured]. This also could bring some division on the team….something that Carlisle was trying to avoid by handling this situation. I mean, most of us could see Carlisle just saying, “Ron, are you crazy??? No. Now get your gear on and get out to shoot-a-rounds”.

                     

And all of this lends another question….why is Artest releasing a rap album?? I mean, Allen Iverson’s rap career lasted a week after pulling his “40 Bars” song from the shelves. Kobe Bryant’s rap album is in the $1 bin. Shaq’s catalogue of music is quite comical! This joins with NBAers like Ced Ceballos, Chris Webber, Walter McCarty and Walt Williams who really think they can spit on the mike. Maybe Artest can get on Rasheed Wallace’s radio show? What about Deion Sanders’ “Must Be The Money”?? Peter Jacobson Mark Lye and the late Payne Stewart had a band called “Jake And The Flounders”. NFL players merged with rap artist for an NFL RAPS CD and with country artists for an NFL COUNTRY CD. And you can forget the Chicago Bears’ “Super Bowl Shuffle”…..at least the proceeds from that went to charity.

There are exceptions. Wayman Tisdale is a very, very successful jazz musician. Oscar de la Hoya was up for a Grammy. Bernie Williams has a nice sound. Jack McDowell has made quite a career in music. But, those guys did their thing on the side….or gave up their sporting job altogether.

                                    

So, do one of the other, Ron. Or you can hang out with Eddie Murphy and “Party All The Time”…..ya heard??

Sportz NCAA Hoops Preview

                     

1-ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

Well, let’s see how this turns out. With two new members, the ACC isn’t the cozy “we play everyone twice” conference it used to be. Wake Forest and UNC meet only once this year….January 15. There are four teams that have a shot at winning the national championship….and a few more that could sneak into the Final Four. The cream of the crop is Wake Forest, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Duke. Wake is ranked #1 in many preseason publications. They have their 5 starters returning that averaged double-digits last year. They own preseason player of the year Chris Paul who shares the backcourt with Justin Gray, their leading scorer. Right with them are North Carolina, who returns everyone from last year. They add the top high school player that didn’t go pro, Marvin Williams. Marvin Williams will bring size to the Heels, who can move Jawad Williams to small forward and Rashad McCants to the off-guard. This will be the third year this team has been together, second with Coach Williams…so excuses are running out. Many people sleep on national runner-up Georgia Tech, who only significant loss was guard Marvin Lewis. This team has talent everywhere….as 5 different guys led the Jackets in scoring in their 6 NCAA tourny games last year. Duke is down a little, but not much. They don’t have depth and unlike the past 15 years, they have no point guard. Duhon graduated and Shaun Livingston went to the NBA instead ofDurham. Luol Deng bolted…so formerly prized recruits Randolph, Melchionni and Dockery MUST perform. Still, it’s hard to bet against them in the tournament. Remember, Maryland won the ACC tournament last year. The team is young….4 juniors and a sophomore start. But the battlegrounds of the ACC really helped their games and will make them a very tough team. NC State lost two starters…but still have Julius Hodge who is 2-time ACC player of the year. This could be Pete Gillen’s last chance to turn around Virginia, who has been known to falter in ACC play and on the road. Florida State would be a contender in other conferences…but not here. The loss of Tim Pickett hurts as well. The bottom of the barrel finds Clemson, as usual, and ACC newcomers Virginia Tech and Miami….who will find that the tables are turned away from the gridiron.

2-BIG EAST CONFERENCE

This is the year of finality of the Big East…and the effects will be quite swift. Due to the defections of Miami and Virginia Tech, the Big East is down to 12 teams….but will swell to 16 next year [adding 5, losing Boston College]. This threatens schools like Georgetown and St. John’s….former Big East powers that are breaking in new coaches and my become irrelevant once Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, DePaul and South Florida arrive on the scene next year. Syracuse is the team to beat. All 5 starters return, including Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara. They are a tough team to guard…and play well defensively. Possible suitors to the Cuse crown will be Pittsburgh with the inside-out duo of Taft and Krauser. Connecticut is defending national champions….but lost Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon and Taliek Brown. They have talent to replace them….albeit unproven. Notre Dame has a loaded team with Chris Thomas, Torin Francis and Chris Quinn back. Mike Brey could make quite a run with this team. Villanova, Seton Hall and Providence tend to make some noise every year….especially the Friars with Ryan Gomes coming back. This is Boston College’s final Big East season…and may have some tricks up their sleeve from coach Al Skinner. The bottom feeders are G’town and St. John’s….along with Rutgers and West Virginia. Rutgers made noise last year…winning 20 games and getting to the NIT Final. Winning at the RAC is a tough thing…and the Knights could break a few hearts of opposing teams.

3-BIG XII CONFERENCE

This conference has seen major ups and major downs the past few years. The ups were great: in 2002 and 2003, the Big XII sent two teams each season to the Final Four, last year they sent Oklahoma State. The downs were almost as great: the murder scandal at Baylor, the investigations into Missouri’s program, Larry Eustachy’s partying at Iowa State, Roy Williams leaving Kansas, and anything Bobby Knight does. While the Baylor and Missouri issues are still ongoing…so is the on the court success. Kansas is the preseason #1...and has loads of talent with Final Four experience. Keith Langford, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien and JR Giddens provide tough matchups everywhere. Oklahoma State went to the Final Four last year…and was 31-4. They lose Tony Allen…but still have John Lucas, Joey Graham and Ivan McFarlin. Like the Jayhawks, Okie State is a veteran team. Texas’ fall from TJ Ford leaving wasn’t that great. But they lose Boddicker, Ivey and Mouton….all huge parts of the Horns winning ways. They’ll need their big recruits to step up if they want to compete with the big boys. Oklahoma was a freshmen laden team last year….so they all should be much improved this season. Iowa State was an solid team….that beat Kansas, Texas and Xavier last year. They lost two starters that is breaking in 5 newcomers. Missouri and Texas Tech will be in the hunt…as they hold very strong home court advantages. Missouri still has a cloud over them…but still had a great recruiting class. Tech lost Mr. Everything Andre Emmitt and Knight’s teams struggles when they don’t have that one guy that can make things happen. The bad teams are bad. Kansas State, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Colorado and Baylor won’t provide much competition for the Big XII elite.

4-SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

Well, this seems to be a one-horse races…with a bunch of horses fighting to “place”. Kentucky is the cream of the crop. They did lose 4 guys who made huge impacts on the team last year [Barbour, Daniels, Fitch and Hawkins]….but had one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Leading that charge is centerRandolph Morris…who might be playing his only college season. Joining him is freshman Joe Crawford and transfer Patrick Sparks. All will start and will need to realize their potential fast to keep Kentucky SEC champs…especially with such a tough non-conference schedule. Mississippi State is strong…especially with their big man, Lawrence Roberts. He is surrounded by three other seniors and an awesome sophomore guard, Gary Ervin. After the Wildcats and Bulldogs, there is a dropoff. Florida has loads of offensive talent…but at times won’t playany defense. David Lee will need to shine to make the Gators into a top 15 team. Alabama made a surprise trip to the Elite 8 last year. They lost their poing guard [and replaced him with Alabama’s Mr Basketball]….but no one else. After that, there isa list of “well…we have the talent to do this” teams. South Carolina will press and trap their way into the tournament. Tennessee has senior leadership in McFadgon and Crump and needs to make the next level of the SEC. LSU has talent…but that talent seems to have agendas. Vandy lost Matt Freije…which is huge. But, they return everyone else. Arkansas has a strong recruiting class to go along with 4 returning starters [imagine if Al Jefferson went to Fayetteville]. Georgia is one of those teams that can beat Kentucky one night…then lose to Western Kentucky the next. Auburn lost three guys to transfers after Cliff Ellis was canned. Ole Miss will have problems scoring.

5-CONFERENCE USA

This is the final season of the C-USA as we know it. A conference made up of basketball schools who had nowhere to go….football dreams have pushed the conference all over the place. TCU to the Mountain West. Charlotte and St. Louis to the Atlantic 10. Louisville, South Florida, Marquette, DePaul and Cincinnati will be in the Big East. So, a conference made up of schools from big cities [Chicago, Memphis, Cincinnati, Charlotte, St. Louis, Louisville, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Houston, Tampa] will now be a team of small towns and lower delta schools. Marshall, Central Florida, SMU, Rice, Tulsa and UTEP will replace those departing. None are traditionally solid hoops programs [Tulsa and UTEP are good…but they are not Cincy, Louiville or Marquette]. So, here is the last go-round. Louisville is the team to beat. They are athletic and deep…and have that one guy [Francisco Garcia] that could be like a Dwyane Wade and take his team to the Final Four. Memphis, who stands to be the new C-USA power, is poised to begin that before the defections. Antonio Burks is gone…but the team has athleticism all over the court. The team really lacks an inside game, however. Cincinnati will be their normal tough team selves…but the team also will be their normal offensively struggling team. If they don’t have high flyers, big dunkers or quick point guards…they can’t score. They will win a lot of 64-60 games. This is a season where the Bearcats must look in the mirror…because although they win a lot of conference games…they tend to fail in the tournament because of these shortcomings. That doesn’t bode well for their Big East experience. Charlotte, on the other hand, could be a dark horse to win the conference. They bring back Iti and Withers…giving them one heck of a frontcourt. Plavich is this year’s patented 49er that will pull the trigger from anywhere. Marquette’s Travis Deiner always gives the Eagles a chance to win any game. His brother, Drake Diener does the same thing for DePaul. UAB shocked everyone by beating Kentucky in the NCAA last year. They lost three starters….but keep that up tempo style that can wreck havoc on anyone. TCU can beat anyone…but lost it’s point guard. The “biggest guy” in the conference…290-lb Jasper Johnson resides in Southern Miss and could teams comical fits inside. But, their defense is horrible. St. Louis will rely on its clogging defense for wins. Tulane, East Carolina and Houston are all waiting for the New C-USA to emerge so they may have a chance. South Florida will be the red-headed stepchild in the Big East move….with their 7-20 record from last year.

6-PACIFIC TEN CONFERENCE

The Pac 10 isn’t a conference with greatness…nor is it a conference of nobodies. There is no elite team…nor is there a stinker. The 10th team can beat the 1st team any day. Only three teams went to the tournament last year…and Stanford, it was thought, ran thru the conference because it sucked. It may not get much better. Stanford’s Mike Montgomery went up the street to coach the Golden State Warriors…and Josh Childress went to the Atlanta Hawks. The league also lost Luke Jackson, Andre Iguodala and Trevor Ariza….not to mention USC recruit Robert Swift to the NBA. Arizona seems to be the top team…but they has some teamwork issues. Frye, Shakur and Stoudamire are still there…so they are just plain more talented then the rest of the league. But, that doesn’t always equate to wins. Stanford will be in a ‘renovating’ year with the losses of Montgomery and Childress. Washington could make a run for the roses. Everyone is bank….and the team did win 14 of their final 18 last year…including popping Stanford’s undefeated season. Oregon is athletic and has size…not to mention the Pit...which is worth a few wins. UCLA has talent, but seems to get in their own way. USC is the same way….with big victories and humiliating losses. Oregon State’s Davis Lucas is one of those players who can win games just because teams can’t deal with him. Cal, Washington State and Arizona State are looking at possible NIT seasons.

7-BIG TEN CONFERENCE

The Big Ten, like the Pac-10, is having a down period. It happens. This old conference received only three bids into the tournament last year. The league doesn’t have the premiere players either. Only Devin Harris and Kris Humphries were attractive Big Ten exports in the draft. That also could mean that there are some talents still around in the Midwest. We’ll see. The top talents reside in Illinois…where their starters all return from a Sweet 16 team. This is one of the most balanced teams in the league, led by a dynamite backcourt of Deron Williams and Dee Brown. Tom Izzo will have Michigan State in the hunt. This could be the year Paul Davis emerges into a force. They still have holes at point guard and power forward…which really hurt them last year. But you know the team will be well coached. After the Spartans, it is a crap shoot. Wisconsin is always tough defensively…which will keep them in games. But, the aforementioned Harris is gone…and Bo Ryan relies on a tough minded and skilled lead guard. Michigan won the NIT last year and seems poised to make a run at the Big Dance this year. They are great on the boards and can swat some shots….but at timeslook timid on offense. Indiana will be breaking in two freshmen starters….tough to do in Bloomington. So expect Bracey Wright’s shoulders to be weighed down. Steve Alford may start to get some heat in Iowa…where they’ve only had one winning Big Ten record in his five years there. Purdue will be in a state of change…as Gene Keady is set to retire and Matt Painter is learning on the job to take over. The players could give their all and try to send Keady out a winner…or feel the local pressures and wilt. Minnesota lost Humphries and welcomes, get this, 11 new comers - 7 freshmen and 4 transfers. Thad Motta takes over a mess in Ohio State. And Northwestern will try to build on an 8-8 conference record last year. Penn State blows.

8-ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

This is a conference that could be capable of breaking out….but seems to shoot itself in the foot. Every time something on the court goes well….something off the court hurts it. Massachusetts gets to the Final Four!!! Well, it has since been stricken from the books due to “benefits” to Marcus Camby. St Joseph’s had a magical season last year…the year after St. Bonnaventure’s players walked out on the school. In the wake of all of the conference expansions…the A-10 landed St. Louis and Charlotte. Two solid schools that bring both new geographic grounds as well as good programs. But, LaSalle gets embroiled in a sexual assault mess that has accusations of cover-ups by the coaching staff. There are really great programs here. St. Joseph’s, Temple, Rhode Island, Xavier, George Washington, Dayton and Richmond all crack the tournament from time to time. Even Massachusetts gets in on the fun. But, St. Bonnie, Fordham, Duquesne and LaSalle bring the conference down…but bring in New York, Philly and Pittsburgh markets into the mix. The league would be so much better if they could cut away that bottom excess. Just like many years, A-10 teams will have to prove they are good. St. Joe’s loses Jameer Nelson and Delonte West. Temple loses David Hawkins. Xavier lost Lionel Chalmers and Romain Sato. Dayton lost Keith Waleskowski and Ramod Marshall. Richmond lost Mike Skrocki. All were HUGE contributors to their teams. The conference tends to throw someone out the to scare everyone. Remember, the A-10 had two teams [Xavier and St. Joseph’s] in the Elite 8 last year. This year’s best bet is George Washington. There is tremendous talent here…and most of it was there last year. St. Joe’s, Temple and Xavier may make a tourny run.

9-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

Don’t look now…but the MWC is a tough conference. No, it isn’t the ACC…but it is a league that is tough from #1 to #8. Utah will be strong with Andrew Bogut back on board even after Rick Majerus’ retirement. The Utes have size, as usual, that puts them over the top in the MWC. UNLV has tons of talent, too….including Blassingame, Beck and Blankson. Blankson averaged over 17 pts and 10 rbs last year. The Thomas & Mack Center tends to steal them a few wins as well. Air Force game UNC a scare in the tournament last year. They lose coach Joe Scott….but Tim Keller and Nick Welch are still there. New Mexico played well down the stretch last year and boasts the MWC’s best player in Danny Granger. They could have the Pit rocking again. Colorado State has talent at every spot, but center Matt Nelson is injury prone…and anything prolonged really hurts the Rams. BYU will need to find someone to fill Rafael Araujo’s big shoes. San Diego State can play spoiler on many nights…especially home ones. Wyoming has talent at point and center…but little surrounding them.

10-WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The WAC will be another league that will feel the effects of the realignment. UTEP, Tulsa, SMU and Rice will bolt to the Conference USA….and New Mexico State and Utah State will fill their places. Not quite the fair tradeoff…since UTEP and Tulsa are two of the conference’s powers [though Tulsa won‘t be this year]. This could be a conference that may slip further and further into the “mid-major” column very quickly. UTEP is the WAC team that looks like it could do the most damage. Filiberto Rivera is one of the best guards in the west…and the team has high expectations. Their only tough non-conference game is against in-state rival Texas Tech. Rice boasts two awesome players…Michael Harris and Jason McKreith. Beyond that, however, they have offensive question marks. Nevada will fall a bit after losing All-Everything Kirk Snyder. Snyder is playing for the Utah Jazz now….and the Wolf Pack will have trouble replacing him. They also need to replace Todd Okeson and Garry Hill-Thomas. Boise State, Hawaii and Louisiana Tech could make some noise in the WAC. Each team can score and have guys they can count on. SMU underachieved mightily last season and is looking to rebound. Tulsa is rebuilding and playing a very young team. Fresno State is dealing with NCAA sanctions….and house only three guys who played last year. San Jose State was a horrible 6-23 last year.

THE SILVER AND SCARLET LETTER

Now, Maurice Clarett is talking. He’s stating that he “took the fall” for the Ohio State football program including head coach Jim Tressel during the NCAA‘s investigation into the program last year. Clarett played just one season for Ohio State, which won the National Championship, and has since had a big falling out with the school. This whole mess has had scandals, lawsuits and investigations around.

                  

Since the NFL draft bru-ha, Clarett has pretty much kept quite all summer…apparently conditioning himself and working on his draft status. He feels “blackballed” from the school and his name completely dragged thru the mud for a program that doesn’t want him. His break of silence is an attempt to “clear his name” so he looks a little better to NFL owners and general managers. He has been projected as a 4th or 5th round draft pick.

Here are his allegations of what happened during his freshman year of 2002-2003:

*Jim Tressel and his coaching staff….as well as boosters….provided him loaner cars

*Dick Tressel, the head coach’s brother, arranged lucrative landscaping jobs that Clarett didn’t even need to show up for.

*The coaching staff hooked him up with boosters who’d “slip him” some money….in the thousands. The better he played, the more cash he’d receive.

*The staff “aligned” Clarett with an academic advisor whose job was just to keep him eligible.

*The academic advisor enrolled Clarett in independent study and into classes with teachers that would pass him even if he didn’t come to class.

                            { DISCUSS THE BUCKEYES HERE!!!! }

Clarett has said that he knowingly covered up Tressel and the program during the NCAA investigation. He also said he most likely would have been ineligible for the 2002 Ohio State National Championship season if not for the “advisors”.

This aren’t outlandish allegations. Another Ohio State flunkie, linebacker Marco Cooper [who only played the season prior to Clarett’s arrival] says he also had those “landscaping jobs”. He also said that a booster furnished his apartment and he able to borrow cars at a Columbus dealership in exchange for his signature on some Buckeye items. Cooper was suspended from the team after being arrested twice for drug possession.

Current Maryland Terrapin running back…and former Buckeye….Sammy Maldonado says he was put in classes that didn‘t gain him any credits toward graduation. When he transferred to Maryland, only 17 of his 40 credits could actually betransferred to the school. We heard about Andy Katzenmoyer’s advanced college curriculum with included “the history of TV” and “Golf”.

                                              

Of course, OSU is denying this. Coach Tressel, the school president, the AD and members of the coaching staff declined to comment on the actual allegations. The academic advisor and tutor declined to comment. However the AD did say that Clarett “vowed to me that he would do something to try to get us”. He mentions the character of Maurice Clarett. “If you’ve checked into the background and history of who you’re dealing with.“ The NCAA won‘t comment.

Clarett has been a thorn in the Buckeye’s sides for a while. In the weeks leading up to the title game against the Miami Hurricanes, Clarett blasted OSU officials for not letting him fly back to Youngstown, OH to attend a friend’s funeral. The school stated that he didn’t file the proper paperwork for emergencyfinancial aid for the flight. Clarett says they are lying.

A teaching assistant claimed that Clarett received “preferential treatment” and walked out in the middle of a mid-term exam…but passed it when the professor gave him a private oral exam. Clarett was investigated on making a claim that $10,000 worth of stereo equipment, Cds, cash and clothes were stolen out of a Monte Carlo he borrowed. His attorney later stated that Clarett exaggerated the value of the items…and that many of the items belonged to the dealer. He was later charged with making a false claim to police. The team suspended him.

He was on a magazine cover saying how he may want to leave college for the NFL draft after his freshman season….then is shown in a picture tossing his Buckeye jersey aside. He brushed off a meeting with Marcus Allen that was set up for him by his high school coach. He sued the NFL so he could be eligible for the 2004 draft. He was for a minute….then wasn’t. He exhausted all avenues of legal action…and still ended up outside the NFL draft. These rulings affected USC’s Mike Williams, who is also in limbo. He has a history of saying things that turn out not to be true.

                                         

During the NCAA’s investigation, the asked Clarett about these allegations. At the time, he wasn’t forthright with his answers…which is in violation of NCAA rules. So, Ohio State suspended him. The NCAA has cleared the school of the allegations that Clarett is now bringing up. The school has moved on…but this has put a black buck-eye on the university and Jim Tressel.

TheNational Championship against the Caner game was the last time Clarett has played a football game….that was July 3, 2003. He has been working out and hopes to be invited to various college “all-star games” to show off his talents. This could be where the sad story of Maurice Clarett finally makes an upward swing. The NFL may offer him a chance to turn over a new leaf. Or he could follow guys like Lawrence Phillips into a quick NFL career that ends even worse than the college days began.

All I know is that Ohio State can’t wait for him to get away.

                                  

CANNED FISH

Dave Wannstedt….get your shorts on….grab a towel and a beer…and just chill on the beach.

                                       

If you haven’t heard yet, Wannstedt, the second longest Dolphin coach in team history, was “resigned” from his head coaching position of the Miami Dolphins tonight. The Dolphins are 1-8 and are in the midst of their worst season in franchise history…and their first losing season since 1988. Back in 1988, the Dolphins were the only news in town. Now, Miami holds the defending World Series champion as the Marlins and a Shaquille O’Neal in a Heat uniform. Interest in the Dolphins may be on a short leash…as evident by the many fans dressed as seats at the game against Arizona. Of all the years to pretty much have your job under the microscope.

                 

Last season, the Dolphins missed the playoffs with a 10-6 mark. Quite a nice record to be sitting at home in January. And, unlike in past seasons….the Phins actually won 5 of their last 7 games. It just wasn’t enough. So, Wannstedt was stripped of his personnel duties and told to concentrate on coaching. Well….thank God those personnel decisions were well taken care of, huh?? First, Dan Marino was brought in to be…..well…..Dan Marino. After owner Wayne Huizenga adamantly denied this to be a “figure head role” for Marino…..though one else thought that way. Three weeks later, Marino stepped aside.

Oh yeah….those personnel decisions. Well, they dumped Brian Griese since he didn’t look to be the future of the franchise. Now he is winning games upstate in Tampa. A.J. Feely was. They took a stab at a guy that had barely played in the NFL….and wanted him as the future [since it worked up the coast in Carolina with Delhomme]. They gave Feely every opportunity to “win” the starting job in the preseason. But, instead, the job stayed with Mr. Reliable-yet-unspectacular, Jay Fiedler. After a poor first half showing against the Titans….Fiedler was pulled for Feely. Lateron…Feely was pulled for Fiedler. Neither player has done anything to warrant a backup QB role…let alone starter status.

At least he has Ricky Williams. Whoops. Williams “retired” [read: quit] the Dolphins just days before camp so he can find himself. Basically, all this working really bogarted his time smoking up the hippie lettuce. And, not surprising…his teammates aren’t really calling him up to wish him well or to talk him into coming back. Why would they be mad?? Williams was only THEIR ENTIRE OFFENSE!!! Not only was him quitting bad enough…but the timing left the Dolphins in a bind. They didn’t actively pursue anyone in the draft or via free agency. Eddie George was a free agent just days before Ricky quit. Bon Voyage, Pothead!!

And the guys that are still there aren’t helping matters either. Tight end Randy McMichael was charged when he hit his pregnant wife in a domestic dispute. Junior Seau made some offensive remarks. David Boston, their prized free agent, blew out his tire and is out for the season. They then traded holdout DE Adewale Ogunleye to the Bears for Marty Booker. Every running back they throw out there gets knicked up.

Their offensive line was patched up and been together for about a week now. Their running backs are horrible….and injured. No one respects their passing game….even though they have some good receivers. Because of that….the run “attack” has suffered. Just a mere 90 yards rushing in two games thus far. With that, a defense vs. offense rift has developed. Sam Madison has already ripped into Feely.

We get FOUR prime time chances to view this mess. They have two Monday night games [they lost the first one badly]…and two Sunday night games, including a loss to the Bengals. Not to mention that a hurricane moved up their season opener to be the only NFL game played that day….and moved a Sunday game against the Steelers to that night.

Not to mention that they could be playing in the toughest division in football. The defending champion Patriots are there.....the 6-2 Jets…and the underachieving Bills….all are much better than the Dolphins.

Of course, all this blame will land on the shoulder of coach Dave Wannstedt. Not all of this is his doing. I mean, he couldn’t help Ricky Williams quitting…or Boston’s injury…or Hurricanes causing scheduling conflicts. He has, however, underachieved. He had a team with 7 Pro Bowlers,sacks leader in Jason Taylor and the leading rusher [Ricky] in 2002.…yet missed the playoffs. They haven’t won a playoff game in 4 years. He really finalized the move of moving Dan Marino into retirement [even Jimmy Johnson couldn’t do that] and replaced him with a no-name like Fiedler.

Now he’s gone….and the Phins are going to clean house. New coach, new GM, new players?? Well, the defense has played pretty well. They’ve only been blown out once….against the Jets on Monday night. They’ll look for Steve Spurrier or Nick Saban to be the new coach. Heck, now-a-days, you cannot even rule out Don Shula for the job. Either way…this franchise is going to completely start anew.

As will Wannstedt….who probably feels better than anyone right now.

Cliche....Or Not To Cliche

There is nothing more annoying…and prevalent…in sports than a good ol’ fashioned cliché. Just watch any post game news conference and they pop up all over the place. So…I thought I’d “take one for the team” and offer up some I my …..uh….favorites.

“Gave it 110%!!”. That is one of the dumbest phrases out there. Not only is it impossible to give 110%…but why is it just the extra 10%??? Why not “we gave 500% today?? I mean, that means you gave more than everyone else. And if you give it 110 % today….then are you just loafing all of the other times??? And, once you gave 110%…is that not, now, your 100%??? Where are you Albert Einstein??

“You just can’t say enough about him.” Um….apparently you can, or you wouldn’t have had to reach back for that old stand-by. Or, you just don’t feel like saying anything about him….so you’re trying to duck out of the topic.

“Everyone is on the same page.” What page?? What book?? How about…everyone is doing their job in sync??? That’s much better.

“We are backed in a corner” or “backs against the wall“. This, I guess, refers to when an animal is backed up….it has to defend itself no matter what. Cute….but what does this have to do with sports? I mean, this is usually stated during playoff time….so it tends to mean a team is on the brink of elimination. Of course, you are really not backed into any corner….since each game stands on it’s own. If you win enough of those games…you can win the series.

“Great team chemistry” or “they are the true definition of TEAM“. I really hate this one. First off…there are many instances where teams with poor chemistry wins championships. I mean, look at the Lakers’ three-peat. Or those Oakland A’s teams. Also, there are many teams that have great chemistry that amount to absolutely nothing. And the “true definition of team” garbage just means that there is no elite star on the team….so a bunch of nobodies won.

“They know how to win.” This has been said about the Lakers, Yankees, Red Wings and others. Unless you are a lowly NCAA football team….then you know how to win. The Dolphins are 1-7...and they know how to win. They’ve won one. What it means is that you’ve been successful in the past….which really has no bearing on the present or future. I mean, the Yankees certainly “know how to win”…but it hasn’t helped them over the “winning-ignorant” Diamondbacks, Angels, Marlins and Red Sox, has it?? Of course, everyone knows how to lose.

“We need to generate some offense”. No duh. That’s the whole concept of sport…..scoring more.

“Shock the world!!!” No offense…but nothing shocks the world in sports. If the Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots….yeah, it would shock us football fans. But I doubt some farmer in Albania will look at his newspaper and scream “THE DOLPHINS DID IT!!! OH MY GOD!!!”

“We’ve got nothing to lose”. Phooey. Everyone has something to lose. How about….uh….the game???

“One game at a time.” This is dumb on so many levels. First, of course you are taking it one game at a time. You can only win the one game you are playing. But…in reality…you don’t take it one game at a time. I mean, managers watch pitch counts….coaches rest their running backs….etc. Like I’ve always said….players should worry about the GAME being played. The manager should worry about the SEASON the team is in. The general manager and front office should worry about the FUTURE of the franchise. Fans always care about the PAST.

Anything said by a coach/player when he goes into the locker room before…or out of the locker room after halftime. There has been a recent trend of swearing on live TV. Much of that comes because it is some weasel’s job to run on the field and hunt down a player for a quick comment right after he gets done playing. And why do we care what these people have to say?? It is the same thing. The team winning says “we just gotta keep doing what we are doing” while the trailing team says “we’ll go in and make some adjustments.” Thank God we get these inside tips!!

“Came to play”. Don’t you just love it when an athlete says “we just came to play today.” What is that?? I mean, there are some out there [Sammy Sosa] that come to the stadium, but really didn’t come to play. But, if you showed up in uniform…then I guess you came to play.

“Upside”. Don’t you love an athlete that has ‘upside’??? What that tends to mean is that this player isn’t really good right now….but he COULD be down the road. Upside is the red-headed stepchild of “potential”.

“World Champions”. You know, really, only the NBA champs are technically crowned “world champs”. The NFL champs are the “Super Bowl champs”. The MLB title holders are the “World Series champs”. The NHL winners are the “Stanley Cup champs”. But, aside from Canada….how are they really “world champs”??? I mean, in Little League…you win your local tournament, state regional, state finals, national regional then national finals to get your NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP trophy. But, winners in the pro sports are just “league champions”…and nothing else. Maybe, just maybe, the NFL can slide on this one….since the only other football leagues are the CFL and NFL-Europe.

“First, I’d like to thank God…for without him none of this is possible.” While, that may be a true statement to make for a religious minded fellow….it has no relevance in sport. I always find it amazing that God always roots for the team that ends up winning. You get variations of this with “we had God on our side.” God may have given you that ability…but God didn’t block for you so you could throw that 35 yard TD pass. And God loves everyone…so why would God make people fumble or miss shots??

“Can’t Beat Steelers!!!!” Well, that isn’t a cliché…but an annoying thing about sports. Not that statement…but look at it. CBS…Can’t Beat Steelers. Ha.. Don’t you love it when fans cleverly use the letters of the network’s name and make it into an acronym about their team??? And the networks eat it up and stick them on telecasts…pretty much ensuring that we’ll always have this retardation around forever.

Dumping Gatorade or Tearing Down Goalposts or Running On To The Field/Court. This MUST stop. The Gatorade dump in football is so cliché now that it is darn near as routine as the timeout. Coach gets a big win…or just A win. So some player always distracts the coach while two others sneak up to give him his electrolyte shower. Brilliant. Oh, and college fans…stop running onto the field after a big win….or any win.

 

 

 

 

The Final Days Of The NHL

                                            

The NHL may be finally seeing where they fit in within the American sporting landscape. Not well.

The NHL All Star Game in Atlanta was officially cancelled….meaning that the deadline to even have a season is closely approaching. No one seems to care. The NHL owners insist they are better off with no season than one under the current contract. The players are finding jobs on European hockey clubs. The fans, well we just don’t care.

We have the NBA starting up….a great October of baseball….a bunch of undefeated teams in NCAA football….and a pretty interesting NFL season continuing. Soon, college hoops will be on the landscape.  With my sports plate kind of full...I really didn't have time for hockey anyways.

I like hockey…well, I like the NHL. But I don’t love it. I truly believe that the Stanley Cup playoffs are one of the most exciting things in sports.  I also believe that the NHL regular season is one of the most boring things in sports.  Does it matter??  Top seeds, unlike in other sports, routinely lose in the NHL playoffs....so what is the point of gaining the home-ice advantage??   Who wants to watch a game that ends in a tie??  Who can follow records that look like locker combinations [36-32-14-9]??  Who needs NHL highlights of someone who's name I cannot pronounce [or the announcers] crunching out my NBA or NCAA hoops highlights??  How many times does Detroit play Colorado in a season....since that is the only game shown on network TV??  Do I really need to see Barry Melrose's moosed hair butchering up the English language ["a-boot", "O-ffense", "Cal-GARY", "bean"]??  I mean, could I pick out Martin St. Louis....the leading scorer last year...our of a lineup??  Actually, I think I could only pick out Brett Hull out of any NHL lineup....and where is he playing this year??

Oh, nowhere.

One thing that bothers me is the prospect of using replacement players. Yeah, it is a touchy subject. I remember the replacement games during the 1987 NFL season…..and the replacement guys in the 1995 MLB spring training sites. Yeah, it sucks paying full price to watch people you’ve never heard of or people you wondered where they’ve been. But, this is the NHL. Would you even know who was a scab and who wasn’t in a NHL game????? So, let ‘em come in.

Yeah, that will irk the players who whine about these scabs taking their jobs. In the meanwhile,these NHL guys are going to Europe and stealing jobs from players over there….just to drop it all in case the NHL season does get underway.

Aside from my joke on not caring who is in these hockey uniforms…I think it is a mistake for the NHL to bring in replacements. I mean, it is not a strike…it is an owner imposed lockout. If they players refused to play up to their contracts…that is one thing. But it is the owners who are refusing to let the players play….so how can you justify them opening up the gates for cheaper players just because they feel like it??

The NHL has tons of problems…and both sides are correct. The NHL owners foolishly put themselves in this position by carelessly throwing money around gained from expansion fees….hoping that the NHL will lift itself up and get a huge television deal. They haven’t. While the Stanley Cup playoffs are quite interesting….the regular season is useless.  No network is going to shell out huge money to show a sport that no one cares to watch.  I mean, the Arena Football league and SpongeBob Squarepants get better ratings during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. 

They also thinned themselves out due to expansion. The league went from 21 teams to 30 teams in just over a decade. Teams left Winnipeg, Hartford, Quebec and Minneapolis, and set up shop in Dallas, Raleigh, Denver and Phoenix. It is one thing that teams in the Sun Belt of Raleigh, Atlanta and Nashville are struggling…..but it is quite another when teams in Pittsburgh and Buffalo are filing for bankruptcy. Heck, of the “Original Six” franchises….only Detroit is really having tremendous on the ice success. The NY Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs can’t sniff the Cup finals…with the Rangers and Hawks greatly struggling.

The players must realize that the money just isn’t there. It is ridiculous to think that it costs just as much to go to an NHL game as it does to go to a NBA or NFL game. Heck, it is more expensive than a baseball game. So, unless you are a die-hard hockey fan or the team is the “en vogue” thing in your city…why would you go??? Of the four major sports…the values of NHL franchise rated 17 of the 21 worst in all of sports. Only the now-defunct Montreal Expos, almost-contracted Minnesota Twins, financially troubled Florida Marlins and MLB-lowlife Tampa Bay Devil Rays even break up this bad NHL trend. Heck, the Edmonton Oilers are only worth $36M. The lowest baseball team [Expos] will get 4 times that when it is sold to someone in the DC area. The lowest NBA team [Bucks] are worth $174M. The lowest NFL team [Cardinals] are worth over $550M.

In fact, the NHL franchise valued the most is the Detroit Red Wings [$266M]. That rates them just above the Detroit Tigers [Mike Illich owns both teams] in the sports hierarchy. Heck, it is better to own the Washington Wizards or Indiana Pacers than the Detroit Red Wings. One would think that about 10 teams could break out of the NHL and form their own league….leaving the bottom feeders behind. Teams like Detroit, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Dallas, Colorado, Boston,. Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles and Montreal could do well on their own. Heck, LA and Montreal have problems…but LA is a big market and Montreal brings history.

It is a business thing….and it must be fixed. Leagues like the AHL and ECHL are counting on hockey-deprived fans will move over to their leagues…where the players play hard and the tickets are much, much cheaper. Both leagues are in major markets….but also have many teams in very small areas as well.

Maybe those will be the only leagues left.

The Wisdom Of Latrell "Spending" Sprewell.

                                              

Give it about two months….and some athlete will just show everyone the exact distance between their world and actual reality. A few months ago, it was Barry Bonds complaining about all the walking he has to do getting paid only $17M a year to play baseball. He asked if we “wanted to do it”. Classic.

Now, it is resident NBA idiot, Latrell Sprewell of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Last season, he signed a two-year deal….which pays him $14.6 M this season. That is quite a salary, considering he really isn’t an NBA star anymore….more like a few tiers below.

Yet, Spree wants a contract extension. Well, that’s really not that outlandish. He wants one that pays him more than he’s getting paid now. Well, that’s pretty undoable in today’s NBA economics where Kevin Garnett is by far the best Wolves player and gets a bulk of the cap money. Then, after pondering about not getting one….he said “why should I help them win a title. They’re not doing anything for me!”

Whoa!

Not doing anything for you??!?!? Uh….they are paying you $14.6M this year. What you are making this year, Spree….230 families can live off [if every family brought in $60K]. He also said “I’ve got kids to feed.” Oh, now c’mon. If you are struggling to feed your kids….maybe you have to bite the bullet and sell one of those Bentleys you have in your 14 car garage. Or maybe he just runs out of money after gassing up the Hummer to go to the Piggly Wiggly.  Perhaps a night job cleaning the arena after games could help make ends meet. 

I guess Sprewell was insulted by Minnesota’s offer of a 3-year deal worth $27M. Geez….only $9M a year??? Man, how can you live off of that??  Geez, look at him!!  He can't even afford to get his hair cut anymore. 

Hey. I’m not one of those guys that complain about athlete’s salaries. If people pay the money for the tickets…and the networks pay that money for the TV rights….and their “union” has a deal worked out….then they can get what they want despite the importance of their work. If this was the NFL, where there are no guaranteed contracts, I’d have a little more understanding of getting what you can while you can. But in the NBA where you cannot rework deals….and they get paid more than fairly…an NBA star whining about a nearly $15M salary is quite boorish.

Especially from Latrell Sprewell. This is the same guy that will forever be known for choking his COACH during a 1997 practice. And, no…not just in the heat of the moment….he left the practice facility, cam back, and choked him again. Imagine if you or I left work, came back and choked our supervisor. Yeah, then I’d be struggling to feed my kids. After the incident which originally garnered an 82-game suspension….Spree thought the punishment was too harsh. “I wasn’t choking him THAT hard,“ he said. “I mean, he could still breathe.“ He sued the Warriors and NBA for his $6.4M in lost salary. This came a few years after Latrell got into a fight in practice with Jerome Kersey. He left, only to come back with a 2 x 4.…..then threatened he’d come back with a gun. So the Warriors and NBA suspend him for the rest of the year….and he’s banished from Oakland.

On to New York…where he did help that team get to the 1999 NBA Finals. Give him a few years…and another dumb incident came about. He reported to the 2002 training camp with a broken hand….one that the Knicks had no knowledge of and one he gave no explanation for. The team fined him $250K and barred him from their facilities. The NY Post reported that Spree broke his hand in a fight…after someone blew chunks on the carpet of his yacht, “Milwaukee‘s Best“. The Post said he took a swing, missed and hit a wall. Spree filed a $40M lawsuit against the paper.

So, he’s just trying to stay afloat in America. The Metro CareRing in Denver, where Spree and his Wolves lost a game Thursday night, offers free meals for people struggling to pay their bills [especially with winter coming up soon and heating bills skyrocketing]. Of course, Spree is on the defensive. “Hey, they didn’t offer $27M….it was only $21M!!!!” Well, now that is different. “That is low for what I do.” Yeah, really low for playing basketball.

Maybe some teachers and social workers can scrape some money together to donate to your kids’ needs.

WELCOME BACK TO CHARLOTTE, NBA!!!

                                       

The Charlotte Bobcats entered the NBA with a loss to the Washington Wizards. This marked the NBA’s return to Charlotte after a 2-year absence. [Discuss the Bobcats HERE]

The Bobcats didn’t play too badly. They game was nip and tuck for three and a half quarters, until a 9-0 run by the Wizards gave the Bobcats a deficit they just couldn’t overcome….eventually losing 103-96. Charlotte shot better than Washington….got to the line more….got more rebounds…and had more assists. They also had 19 turnovers…many in the 4th quarter that decided the game. This young team made some mental mistakes [foul on Dixon’s layup], unforced errors [Ely’s turnover] and un-clutch performances [Slay missing two key FT] down the stretch that aided the Wiz‘s last game run.

The Wizards were led by former UNC Tar Heel, Charlotte native and Providence High School alum Antawn Jamison. If you’re gonna get run….might as well have a Charlottean do it.

The ‘Cats roster isn’t made up of scorers. It is basically the equivalent of the “American Idol” tryouts that they have before the real contestants get selected for the real show. These Bobcats, aside from Emeka Okafor, Steve Smith and maybe Gerald Wallace….are auditioning for the big time gig when Charlotte believes it can compete in a few years. Then, the Bobcats will have 3 pretty high draft picks and a full cap that they can sign some big time names in there. Also, Miami [who is in the Cats division] should be Shaq-less and in today’s NBA, who knows how everyone else will be.

So, the guys on this team are playing to possibly have jobs as role players on those Bobcat teams….or possibly jobs elsewhere. Basically, they are weeding out the William Hungs.

Emeka Okafor will be there…the first ever draft pick for the franchise. He scored 19 points and nabbed 10 boards in his first NBA game. He will be the foundation of this franchise. A forward who can defend, board, block shots and fill it up at times….he could be to the Bobcats what Alonzo Mourning was for the Charlotte Hornets…..their solid base. In the years to come, they will surround him with shooters, playmakers and role guys. Maybesome will be a couple of these guys.

Melvin Ely is the team’s best offensive big man. Primo Brezec had a nice game at center. Gerald Wallace is the highlight guy. Jason Kapono is a streak shooter. Jason Hart could be their point guard of the future. Eddie House seems to be a nice sparkplug off the bench. Brevin Knight and Steve Smith are just along for the ride in their veteran careers.

But, it is just nice to have hoops back in Charlotte….even though it is still a work in progress. The Cats played in 16-year old Charlotte Coliseum for this season….a building built with the Hornets in mind. The color of teal fills an arena that now houses a team that wears orange. All of those 1988 amenities that are stuck in the stadium are no longer state of the art. The sound system….the traffic to the stadium….just the entire feel to the arena. Sort of like when the Carolina Panthers played at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium in their first year. Next season, the team will play in the brand spanking new Charlotte Arena that will be downtown [the Coliseum is on the far west side of the city]. Until then….the team will make do.

As for the franchise…it should be one of the interesting teams in pro sports. Unlike the “upper class” feel that Hornets games had….the Bobcats seem to have more of a party atmosphere and a much different feel. From the new Bobcat roar instead of the Hornet buzz….from Hugo to Rufus…this team is different. The place was sold out….and by sold out I mean the entire 23,000+ seats in the arena were filled [not the 18,000 seats “sold” after Shinn covered up some of the top tier seats in the arena. The owner is a billionaire that founded BET network [in Washington DC], Robert Johnson. He is the first African American majority owner in pro sports. He had done very well to mend fences with an NBA population that really had a harsh breakup with the George Shinn, owner of the Hornets. He’s started a sports programming network - C SET - that will serve as the flagship station for the games.

One of his investors is Nelly, who brings a younger hip-hop generational feel to the franchise. The team’s urban feel is demonstrated by the college-meets-Rucker Park feel to the whole game. I really hope that the team takes these things with them to the new arena…as it will really make Charlotte an interesting place in NBA circles…asidefrom being one of the top strip-club cities.

So, the team will a success, though it may take time to feel like it. It is sort of like the first date after a bitter divorce. You’re happy to be back in the saddle…but are still a little weary of getting close to something new with the something old is still out there.

WEEK NINE...AND BEYOND!!

P.S.  Due to personal illness that requires my hospitalization beginning Thursday, I quicky thru together this Blog so I could be mentioned in the PIGSKIN BLOGGERS.  Hopefully, I will get back soon.  Thank you.

With the NFL season entering it’s mid-point this week….I thought I’d preview what could be the impact games of the second half of the season….other than the obvious divisional match-ups like Patriots-Jets or Eagles-Giants.

WEEK 10
Ravens at Jets. This is a big game that could decide the wildcard picture. The Jets are in a good position to win the East….but they still haven’t had a huge win against a really good team yet. Baltimore may really need this game.

WEEK 11
Patriots at Chiefs. Great game of a tough defense and a streaking offense. Not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but the Pats have just lost…and they haven’t been really ripping apart opponents. They have major injury problems and a nasty Jets problem on their tails [see above]. The Chiefs are rigorously trying to turn this season around….and a win on this Monday night could really set them up nicely to make a run at the Broncos and Chargers.

WEEK 12
Colts at Lions. On Thanksgiving Day, all eyes will be on Peyton Manning and Joey Harrington. The Colts are currently sitting at 4-3 and have the Vikings and Texans [and Bears] before this game. So this could be a must game…especially with Byron Leftwich now out in Jacksonville with a torn tendon. The Lions are right there in the wildcard hunt in the NFC. They need to win a game like this to keep Dallas, Seattle/St. Louis, New Orleans and Green Bay off their tails. Playoff teams find ways to win these games.

WEEK 13
Texans at Jets. See Week 10.

WEEK 14
Seahawks at Vikings. Big, big game. These two teams can put up some offense…yet when both teams fall, they fall hard. Both teams could be division leaders when this game arrives…so the home field advantage and all important first round bye are up for grabs [assuming that the Eagles nab the other one].

WEEK 15
Steelers at Giants. Pittsburgh are the vogue team right now. They beat the undefeated Pats are will be going against the undefeated Eagles this week. So, in Week 15...this game could catapult the Steelers into a possible first round bye or at least the division title. As for the G-men, this is a home game sandwiched in between three roadies.

WEEK 16
Eagles at Rams. The final Monday night game of the season. This is the kind of game that the Eagles may target as a key win to give them momentum into the playoffs. St Louis needs this game to finish off the NFC West.

WEEK 17
Falcons at Seahawks. Both teams are trying to win division titles….as well as keeping their big time players healthy for the postseason. Heck, these two teams could turn around and play each other the very next week in Atlanta.

Colts at Broncos. In theory, these two teams should be leading their divisions. Of course, Houston, Jacksonville, San Diego and Kansas City have other ideas. This game could decide where the AFC Championship game is to be held.

Chiefs at Chargers. I know, no division battles. But this is the last week of the season. Right now, these two could be looking at filling in the final AFC playoff spot.

By the way, here are my picks for Week 9.

JETS use Martin to run OVER THE BILLS, 19-7
PANTHERS use a nice mix of running and short passes to slide PAST THE RAIDERS, 20-13
BENGALS get a key defensive TD to OUTLAST THE COWBOYS, 24-16
LIONS keep up the offensive tempo and SMACK DOWN THE REDSKINS, 23-10
DOLPHINS comeback from a bad Monday showing and D up as they CAN THE CARDINALS, 16-7
STEELERS use Big Ben and that running game to END THE EAGLES STREAK, 30-23
CHIEFS keep the faith in Priest as they RUN PAST THE BUCS, 31-21
GIANTS just keep ramming the ball DOWN the BEARS throats, 23-14
CHARGERS are looking like the Dan Fouts era as they ROPE THE SAINTS, 27-21
SEAHAWKS SQUEAK BY the NINERS by letting Alexander do all the work, 19-10
BRONCOS bounce back from two losses and PIMP SLAP THE TEXANS, 28-14
PATRIOTS do to the RAMS as the Sox did to the Cards, BEAT EM!!! 28-24
RAVENS welcome Garica’s mistakes as they BLITZ THE BROWNS, 24-7
COLTS outsling the Moss-less Vikings, 71-61

Bush VS Kerry.....The Fight Night Is Here!!

TX   v          MA

 

Happy Election Day!  So, I keep my political feelings to another forum….let’s keep this to sports. 

 

In the hotly contested Presidential race, it is John Kerry vs. George W. Bush.  Massachusetts vs. Texas.  Hmm.  Just for fun’s sake….which sporting state is better???  Kerry’s Massachusetts or Bush’s Texas??

 

In baseball, the case is dead.  The Boston Red Sox mesmerized the baseball world by smashing thru the playoffs and the World Series title….their first since 1918.  In that included the greatest comeback in sports history where Boston came back from down 0-3 to the Yankees.  The Texas Rangers didn’t make the playoffs and the Houston Astros were just one win away from facing off against the Sox in the Series.  Well, Washington DC is now getting a team from the defunct Montreal Expos.  See, we are importing overseas jobs here!

 

In football, well, Kerry wins again.  The New England Patriots are defending Super Bowl Champions [with Edwards’ Carolina home as the runners up]….giving the Pats two rings in three years.  While some could argue that the Dallas Cowboys are the most successful franchise in the Super Bowl era….they aren’t that good right now.  And the Houston Texans are just in their 3rd season….though having a pretty good one.  The Washington Redskins, my team, might as well be in Montreal as a trade for the new ball team. 

 

In hoops…it is a little different.  Texas houses three darn good basketball teams.  The San Antonio Spurs have two titles since 1999…and are a favorite to win it this year.  The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are also legit teams…though maybe not title winners.  But, you are talking about players like Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili [see, immigration].  Also, Michael Finley, Tracy McGrady and Tim Duncan are no slouches either.  In Boston, there is just the one NBA team….albeit the Celtics.  While the Celtics history is undeniable, their recent woes are their worst stretch in franchise history.  No title since 1986 [four Texas titles since then].  Len Bias and Reggie Lewis died before their times.  Rick Pitino didn’t work out.  Larry Bird tried tobuy a team in Charlotte…..and now is in upper management in Indiana.  Now, Danny Ainge is running the team in a controversial way.  The Washington Wizards suck.

 

In hockey…well, who cares since they aren’t playing.  Well, that’s unfair.  The Bruins haven’t won in a while…while the Dallas Stars, though young in years, have a couple of Stanley Cups since moving from Minnesota.  The Washington Capitals….suck. 

 

In the collegiate arena…it is a tad unfair.  While Umass and Boston College have had their moments….they can’t mess with Texas.  You have UT, A&M, Tech, Baylor, UTEP, Rice and TCU.  Of course, Texas can’t beat Oklahoma in football…UTEP hired a guy that was fired for chillin’ with strippers….Bobby Knight is Bobby Knight…and Baylor has a murder cover-up scandal going on.  The Mass schools just have conference allegiances.   

 

So who is the winner??  Well, it is a close call.  But, since Boston is currently holding on to the World Series trophy and the Vince Lombardi trophy...I guess you gotta give it to the Bay State.  Yeah, Texas has an array of better teams...they have many of them which kind of makes it unfair.  By the way, why are Bostonians hell bent on being miserable about sports teams??  You have the defending Super Bowl and World Series champions.  No one has won more NBA titles than the Celtics.  And Boston College is going into the ACC next year.  Yeah…tough luck, huh??

 

By the way, you know who I’ll pick for John Edwards’ North Carolina and Dick Chaney’s Wyoming.  Go Tar Heels!!!!

 

Anyway…this was just in fun.  Please go and vote.

 

I'M SPORTZ ASSASSIN....AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE

CONGRATS TO THE CHOWD NATION!!!

Red Sox Nation rejoice!!

First thing….I do not believe in “The Curse”. I’ve stated my case on that fact before [Why Care About The Red Sox?].  But, going this long without a title….then winning one…is quite a magical thing. And no matter if it is your first title in 86 years or your second in three years [Patriots fans]….a title is special no matter what.

It wasn’t just the fact that the Sox won the World Series….it is how they did in. In effect, they swept their three playoff opponents. They completely annihilated the Anaheim Angels [I should know, I drew the Halos in our playoff pool]. Then, they did the impossible…..coming back from down 0-3 to win the ALCS against the hated New York Yankees. For the finale, they made the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals into a 4-day preparation to the clinching Game 4...in which Chowd Nation got to finally let loose.

In that run, Terry Francona….yeah the guy that kept the Phillies in a funk….beat fellow managers Mike Scocia, Joe Torre and Tony LaRussa. All three of those guys own World Series rings. The Angels made a big off season splash with the signing of Bartolo Colon and Vlad Gurerrero. The Yanks traded for A-Rod and signed Gary Sheffield. The Cards dealt for Rolen last year and Larry Walker this year. But, it was Boston who got Curt Schilling [who miraculously won Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the World Series] and Folke [who closed out all for Series games] that turned out to be the biggest moves.

Not just that. But they waived Manny Ramirez. All 29 other teams had their chance to nab him….and none did. So he stayed a Red Sock, won the World Series MVP and possibly the regular season MVP award. They also dealt Nomar Garciaparra for Orlando Cabrera which helped shore up their defense and provided some offense as well. They also relied on pitchers Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, who are in their final years of their contracts. You had The Passion Of The Damon in center field. This was a self proclaimed team of “idiots”.

Maybe that attitude worked. The amazing thing about idiots is they have no idea what’s going on around them. And that was a good thing for the BoSox. I mean, the team butchered up the field with errors all season [and postseason] long. They made the easy play hard…then a hard play easy. Going into the year, this was to be the season the Red Sox passed the Yankees….then the Yankees pulled away with the division again. Then, the team made that AMAZING comeback against the Yankees in the ALCS. Then that World Series dominance. All that with the hopes and dreams and “curses” hovering above them.

I’m not a Red Sox fan. In fact, baseball fans who don’t like the Red Sox were on the fence of rooting for them or not. I found myself rooting for them to win….just to see if Y2K would crash the computers, hell freezes over or to see pigs flying around. But then, it would have been funny to see them lose again. No offense, Chowds….but Charlie Brown still has never kicked the football

I will say this…after watching this post season, I GREATLY ADMIRE the Chowd Nation. These fans believed in their team even when it didn’t look good for them. They’ve supported their team when Aaron Boone’s knock sailed over the fence and when Folke tossed that ball to 1st base. I was amazed to see how many of them were in St. Louis cheering the team on.

You guys have much to be proud of. Celebrate this team. Bad history aside, this team was truly a memorable team. Adding back the history, they spit in its face.

Again, congrats!

Ron Zook Is Out At Florida

So Florida apparently has done what most figured it would do:  fire head football coach Ron Zook. 

 

Zook was on a pretty short leash since the day he came on the scene in Gainsville.  Following local legends aren’t very easy…especially when that local legend still has a lot of coaching left to do.   He is 20-13 in his two-plus seasons with Florida.   He lost more games in the Swamp than Spurrier did in his 12 seasons. 

 

Losing to 1-5 Mississippi State, who has a home loss to I-AA Maine on their resume doesn’t help, either. 

 

The Gators three losses [Miss State, Tennessee and LSU] have occurred in the final minutes.  They are 5-6 under Zook in games decided by 7 or less. 

 

Now, why fire him now??  He will keep coaching the Gators for the rest of the season….and possibly their bowl game.  So, he’s a lame duck coach who the players may end up not even respect much after this week.  Of course, they could rally around him and go out with a bang.   It will be interesting to see which will occur…since they are playing in the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” against arch-rival Georgia on Saturday [which Florida has won 13 of the last 14 years].   Not to mention South Carolina and Florida State still left on the docket. 

 

But, his firing now is basically to end the speculation that would otherwise being a frenzy for the remaining season.  I mean, even during the summer, people were already speculating that Zook could be gone since Steve Spurrier walked away from his $5M a year job as head man of the Washington Redskins.   And just as North Carolina hoops fans quickly turned on Matt Doherty…you could see the Gator Nation turning of Zook.  That’s part of it.  To this day, there are Kentucky Wildcat hoops fans that still don’t like Tubby Smith because he isn’t Rick Pitino….even though both have won National titles with the school. 

 

While the Mississippi State loss might have been the last straw, it was his football team getting into a fight with a UF fraternity that might have sealed his fate.  After being asked to squash the beef at the fraternity, Zook starting yelling at the students and lost his temper.  Since that incident, his university “friends” have all but left. 

 

Sure, the timing of the firing may get people whispering about Steve Spurrier returning.  But, Spurrier would be left with fighting against his own legacy PLUS rebuilding someone else’s mess.  He may as well just go to Texas [if Mack Brown is in trouble] and helm a legitimate title contender from the get-go…..or go to North Carolina where he will be given everything to try to resurrect a program that is suddenly in one of the “in-conferences”. 

 

No, look at Utah’s Urban Meyer.  Florida’s president came from Utah…and is quite fond of what Meyer has been able to do in Salt Lake City in such a sort time.  Also, it is no secret Meyer is aspiring for the big time of NCAA pigskin.   You could even see a guy like Butch Davis [if the Browns can him] taking that job. 

BIGGEST COMEBACK IN SPORTS HISTORY!!

Now, I’m not a Red Sox fan….and definitely not a Yankee fan.

But that was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

In the three major non-NFL leagues [MLB, NHL, NBA] the team that has won the first 3 games of a best-of-seven series has won 231 of 233 series. The two times that the team down 0-3 and won were in the NHL…..one in the Stanley Cup Finals. No NBA team. No MLB team. In MLB history, all 25 times a team was up 3-0, they won the series. In fact, 20 of the 25 teams up 3-0 went on to the sweep. And the mother of all stats….no MLB team down 0-3 has even FORCED a Game 7. The Sox did that with their win Tuesday night. So, the probability says that it is pretty much impossibly to come back to win a playoff series down 0-3.

Until tonight.

The Boston Red Sox, defying all odds, came back from down 3-games-to-0 to beat the hated New York Yankees….in Yankee Stadium….to take the American League pennant. Wow.

That fact alone is breathtaking. But, add to that the fact that the Sox were ONE INNING AWAY from being swept. In Game 4, Boston was down in the bottom of the ninth. Mariano Rivera, Mr. Automatic, was on the hill for New York.

Another astonishing thing is the way the series went. The Boston Red Sox are the sports example of “choke” [my feeling for the Sacto Kings aside]. Bill Buckner choked away a 1986 World Series. Bucky Dent [who threw the first pitch] and Aaron Boone both came from nowhere to break the Red Sox hearts. I don’t believe in any curse, but Boston does have a sore history with their baseball team. Yet, it was this team that did the thing that only those two NHL teams did….win a series after being down 0-3. Heck, up to this point, the biggest baseball comeback may have been the 1986 Red Sox [and remember the series after that] when the Angels had Boston on the ropes. Still. Of all the franchises….it was the Red Sox.

Derek Lowe pitched in Game 4...then came back on two days rest to throw a one-hitter in 6 innings against the Yanks in Game 7. Curt Schilling pitched Game 6 after pitching horribly in Game 1 with a torn tendon in his ankle…and was reported to be out for the remainder of the series. He pitched with sutures that held his ankle together….and bled thru his socks making him a true “red sock”….and pitched beautifully. One of the gutsiest performances of all time.

Then the Yankees. The most successful pro sports franchise in the American League….MLB….and America. The team that has won 4 of the last 8 World Series…and 6 of the last 8 American League pennants. This team has all the experience in the world. The team with guys with extreme poise. Yet, it was the New York Yankees that couldn’t finish a series after winning the first 3 games. Yes, the Yankees choked.

If everyone in the United States [all 290 million of us] gave $0.70 to the Yankees….it would pay their 2004 salary. It was the Yankees that traded for “baseball’s best player”, Alex Rodriguez, and his $25M per year contract. A-Rod went hitless in Game 7 [he never got the ball out of the infield] and made the “chop” in Game 6 that everyone has bashed him for. They blew saves in Games 4 and 5. The Yankees scored 19 runs in Game 3...but only 13 runs in the 3 games since then. That led to the second season in a row that the Yankees were eliminated in their own Stadium.

We know the Yankees and their 4 titles since 1996. And their 6 pennants since 1996. And they won the last 7 AL East titles….and Boston finished second every one of those years. But, remember this. The Red Sox won the series. And they should have won the last series….if Grady Little could have stood up to Pedro.

So, on to the World Series where Boston could face the Astros or Cardinals…who have their own Game 7 fiesta on Thursday. Since the Sox won their last title in 1918...they’ve been to 4 World Series, losing all 5 of course. Two of them….to the St. Louis Cardinals.

NFL Darts

Since my beloved Washington Redskins are currently enjoying their bye week, I thought I’d just post some thoughts about what’s going on around the league.

JERRY RICE TO SEATTLE. It was weird to see Rice leave San Francisco. But, in Oakland, he was still in the Bay Area with a glamour franchise. Now, he’ll be up in Seattle….where he won’t be able to wear his customary #80 jersey, since it has been retired in honor of Steve Largent. This is one of those sad deals in sports when it is obvious that a great athlete’s career is coming to a close. Not to say that Rice still can’t play or can’t offer anything to the Seahawks, but that his great career won’t end as gracefully as it could have.

DAUNTE CULPEPPER GOING OFF. Yeah, he’s on pace for 58 touchdown passes this year. Unreal!! Sure, that’s one of those exaggerated stats….but the season is over 25% over for the Vikings. Minnesota has scored 150 points already, only the Colts and Chargers [who’ve played one more game] have scored more. But, the defense has given up 125 points…meaning Minnesota is winning by an average of 5 points per game. Two running backs are hurt and a third is on suspension. THAT’S why Culpepper is having to put up those numbers….and may continue to do so.

THE WINLESS MIAMI DOLPHINS. Ya know, there are good teams with bad records. There are bad teams with good records. Then there are just horrible teams with horrible records. This Dolphin team isn’t “horrible”. They have one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. I mean, despite the record, they really haven’t been picked apart…losing each game by an average of 8 points. But, that offense is freakin’ bad. How bad? Well, bad enough that not even that defense can save them. Miami averages 9 points a game. NINE. The Colts average 32 points, best in the NFL. The next closest “bad offense” is the Redskins who average 14 points per game. So, can they win a game? Sure. In today’s NFL, anyone can beat anyone else. On November 7, they host the Cardinals. Three weeks later, they are in San Francisco. The week after, they host Buffalo. Winnable games. But, they also play at Seattle, Jets, Denver and Baltimore and host the Rams, Patriots and Browns. A 1-15 season is not out of the question.

GOOD TEAMS GONE BAD. Man, there are a lot of teams that had promise that are completely faltering. The Chiefs [1-4] just can’t catch a break. The Titans [2-4] have already lost to the Jags, Colts and Texans…all AFC South rivals….at home in Nashville. The Bengals [1-4] are back to being the Bungles. Carolina [1-4] and Tampa Bay [1-5] are the last two NFC Champions. Green Bay’s [2-4] defense is horrible and is 0-3 at home. Chicago [1-4] has won their lone game there against them. The Joe Gibbs’ era in Washington [2-4] has gotten off to an offensively rocky start. Who amongst these teams can bounce back and be a playoff contender?? Well, the Packers have always done well in the 2nd half of the season….and play in a division with teams that have issues. I’d pick them.

BAD TEAMS GONE GOOD. Yep, Atlanta [5-1] has turned it around. Jacksonville [4-2] are the kings of winning close games. Pittsburgh [5-1] started a rookie QB in Week 3 and haven’t lost since. The Giants [4-1] have seen a rebirth of Kurt Warner and a focused Tiki Barber along with a opportunistic defense. Who can keep this up?? Atlanta can!! They play a last place schedule, and the combined record of their division rivals is 4-13.

WHO’S THE MVP? Right now, I’d pick Culpepper because he’s putting up the numbers and his team has a stellar record. But, Donovan McNabb has led his team to a dominating start.

WHO’S THE TOP ROOKIE?? Easy. Big Ben Rothlesberger.

WHO’S THE BEST NFC TEAM?? The Philadelphia Eagles. My preseason pick has done nothing to dissuade me from keeping them as my favorite. The defense has played great, the offense is stellar, and they’ve won all 5 games by double digits.

WHO’S THE BEST AFC TEAM?? Indianapolis Colts. I know, the Patriots are still undefeated and they did beat the Colts….but the Colts should have easily beaten them. Since that game, the Colts have rolled. New England still hasn’t lost…but they haven’t looked as good as the Colts. But, Indy’s defense needs to get a little better.

ANY SURPRISES ON THE HORIZON?? Look for Green Bay to really keep an eye of Drew Brees this season. They’ll go after him after the season to be Favre’s replacement….If JP Losman gets back healthy, look for him to take Drew Bledsoe’s job in Buffalo…..If the Bengals are thinking about saving their season, they may look at replacing Carson Palmer with John Kitna to see if he can kickstart the team…..Look for a Rich Gannon retirement press conference before the Super Bowl

NBA/LAKER JOURNAL LAUNCHED

The NBA season is drawing near....so to celebrate, I've launched my new SPORTZ' Laker Land journal that will feature not only Laker News...but the entire NBA.

Most of the people who know me on here, know that my main expertise is the NBA.  I love football.  I like baseball a lot.  I keep the NHL in an arm's distance.  NCAA hoops and football are loves too.  But the NBA, as a whole, is a league I understand and get into completely.  I get into the stats, player info and entire essence of the game.  So, hopefully you people that follow my Sportz Assassin Journal and my SPORTZ ASSASSIN ON REDSKINS journals will come aboard and check out my new expansion. 

So far, I've put my team-by-team previews for each division.  I'll have more on there shortly.

Thanks.
-Sportz