Heading into its game at Washington, Cal still had the chance to end up in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, a prize usually reserved for the second place team in the Pac-10.
But Cal lost to Washington and ended up in San Diego for a different bowl: The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. Worse yet, the Bears could not finish their season with a win, falling to Utah 37-27 in a game that was only close for a few plays in the first and fourth quarters.
"It was really a snowball effect," said running back Shane Vereen, who started in place of the injured Jahvid Best. "We were on track in the beginning and then we just lost our execution."
Utah used every trick in its book, including the Wildcat formation, halfback passes, flea-flickers, double reverses and copious amounts of bubble screens. Most of the plays worked, as Utah racked up 389 yards of total offense and controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes. The Utes' true freshman quarterback, Jordan Wynn, overcame an early interception and finished with 338 passing yards and three touchdowns.
"We think a lot of Jordan Wynn," said Utah coach Kyle Wittingham. "He's unflappable. Ice water in his veins."
But Cal's defense played well enough to win Wednesday night, even if the box score doesn't show it. The offense looked slick and in sync in the first quarter as Cal took a 7-0 lead, but the Bears followed that up by going nearly the entire second quarter without a first down. The only other score for the Bears in the first half came on an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Eddie Young, just seconds after their first touchdown. Soon Cal's 14-0 early lead had evaporated as Utah's offense heated up.
"There was so much time left, especially with how explosive our offense can be," Wynn said. "It was early in the game and we knew we had to get back into it, and we did."
Heading into halftime, Utah led 24-14 and had all the momentum it could possibly need.
Cal's woes continued in the third quarter, when the team did not get another first down until almost 12 minutes had elapsed. The Bears finally broke through with a touchdown at the end of the quarter, but only after Utah had successfully rattled off 27 unanswered points.
Despite all of their problems, the Bears only trailed by six heading into the fourth quarter. After another Utah field goal, Cal faced a nine-point deficit with less than 11 minutes until the final gun. The comeback attempt was all but dashed when Stevenson Sylvester returned a Kevin Riley interception for a touchdown with 5:27 remaining.
The season ends with Cal losing back-to-back games after compiling an 8-3 record following upsets of Stanford and Arizona. After the game, the players were predictably upset.
"By far man, this is the worst feeling I've had since I've been here," said senior fullback Brian Holley, who played his last game as a Golden Bear.
"This is going to sting for a while," said coach Jeff Tedford.
Senior tackle Mike Tepper also played his last game for Cal, but was significantly less despondent than his teammates. Still, he called the team's final 8-5 record "not good enough," and challenged Cal's fan base to raise their expectations.
"You need to push the football team to be the best that's possible," Tepper said. "To those people who don't believe that 8-5 is a bad season, that's incorrect."
Best, who was a Heisman hopeful early in the season, has likely played his last game for the Bears, but his very productive backup, Vereen, will be back. So too will Riley, who has now been under Tedford's tutelage for four years. Tepper believes there is enough talent to win a national championship next year, even though Bears fans will live with a Pac-10 championship and a Rose Bowl berth.
For now, the 51st season without a Rose Bowl appearance has ended, and Cal fans will have to wait for the 52nd to try again.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Utah Utes lead California Golden Bears 27-21 heading into the 4th quarter. LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL
End of 3rd quarter Utah 27 Cal 21
Cal failed to convert a huge third-and-2 on its own 13. Riley had fullback Brian Holley wide open on the play for a sure first down, but wildly overthrew him. Punter Bryan Anger did what he does best, kicking the snot out of the ball, and Utah was unable to get a good return thanks to solid special teams tackling by Cal.
The Utah drive began with excellent field position, and the Utes had gotten down to the 25-yard line when they faced fourth-and-1. Trying to deliver a knockout blow, Wittingham went for it, but Cal's defense did not yield the precious yard.
Back on the offensive, Riley nearly threw a pick on the very next play. Second down resulted in an embarrassing drop for tight end Anthony Miller, and on third down Riley fumbled the ball away on a sack. Utah recovered the ball at the 14.
Cal's defense minimized the damage by only allowing a field goal. Whatever Cal's coaching staff told the defense at halftime, it's working. The offense? Not so much.
But on Cal's next drive, the Bears finally get a first down (their first since the opening quarter) on a long run by Shane Vereen, and apparently it's contagious - Riley completes a long pass to Miller on the next play for another first down. Riley finds his touch on this drive, and leads the Bears to the one-yard line. Vereen takes care of the rest, rushing for an easy touchdown. The Bear fans, which greatly outnumber the Utah fans at Qualcomm Stadium, come to life with the score. We've got a ball game again.
Bear defense, you're up. Utah has the ball at their own 45 as the quarter winds to a close.
Cal failed to convert a huge third-and-2 on its own 13. Riley had fullback Brian Holley wide open on the play for a sure first down, but wildly overthrew him. Punter Bryan Anger did what he does best, kicking the snot out of the ball, and Utah was unable to get a good return thanks to solid special teams tackling by Cal.
The Utah drive began with excellent field position, and the Utes had gotten down to the 25-yard line when they faced fourth-and-1. Trying to deliver a knockout blow, Wittingham went for it, but Cal's defense did not yield the precious yard.
Back on the offensive, Riley nearly threw a pick on the very next play. Second down resulted in an embarrassing drop for tight end Anthony Miller, and on third down Riley fumbled the ball away on a sack. Utah recovered the ball at the 14.
Cal's defense minimized the damage by only allowing a field goal. Whatever Cal's coaching staff told the defense at halftime, it's working. The offense? Not so much.
But on Cal's next drive, the Bears finally get a first down (their first since the opening quarter) on a long run by Shane Vereen, and apparently it's contagious - Riley completes a long pass to Miller on the next play for another first down. Riley finds his touch on this drive, and leads the Bears to the one-yard line. Vereen takes care of the rest, rushing for an easy touchdown. The Bear fans, which greatly outnumber the Utah fans at Qualcomm Stadium, come to life with the score. We've got a ball game again.
Bear defense, you're up. Utah has the ball at their own 45 as the quarter winds to a close.
LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL: California Golden Bears vs. Utah Utes
9:54 3rd quarter Utah 24 Cal 14
They often say the numbers tell the story - that is definitely the case tonight.
First Half
First Downs: Utah 14 Cal 6
Total Offense: Utah 257 yards Cal 122 yards
Punts: Utah 0 Cal 2
Time of Possession: Utah 18:45 Cal 11:15
Start of the third quarter and the story is still the same: three-and-out for Cal.
On Utah's next drive, Syd'Quan Thompson looked nothing like the shutdown corner he is supposed to be on a 42-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass, in which Thompson fell down while covering the intended receiver. Fortunately for the Bears, the play was called back due to an illegal formation penalty. Cal's defense held at their own 43, but Aaron Ross made an ill-advised fair catch at the five-yard line on the ensuing punt.
Cal takes the field at the five-yard line. Another three-and-out would give Utah excellent field position. This could be make-or-break time for the Bears.
They often say the numbers tell the story - that is definitely the case tonight.
First Half
First Downs: Utah 14 Cal 6
Total Offense: Utah 257 yards Cal 122 yards
Punts: Utah 0 Cal 2
Time of Possession: Utah 18:45 Cal 11:15
Start of the third quarter and the story is still the same: three-and-out for Cal.
On Utah's next drive, Syd'Quan Thompson looked nothing like the shutdown corner he is supposed to be on a 42-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass, in which Thompson fell down while covering the intended receiver. Fortunately for the Bears, the play was called back due to an illegal formation penalty. Cal's defense held at their own 43, but Aaron Ross made an ill-advised fair catch at the five-yard line on the ensuing punt.
Cal takes the field at the five-yard line. Another three-and-out would give Utah excellent field position. This could be make-or-break time for the Bears.
LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL: California Golden Bears vs. Utah Utes
Halftime Utah 24 Cal 14
Cal was forced into a second consecutive three-and-out, although a penalty should have been called on third-down. Riley rocketed a well-thrown pass to receiver Verran Tucker, but it was dropped. Tucker was blasted by Utah defensive back Robert Johnson on the play, and replays showed that Johnson clearly hit Tucker with helmet-to-helmet contact. The referees did not call a personal foul penalty, which would have given the Bears a first down.
Utah again drove down the field with ease, and Wynn threw his third touchdown pass of the night on a 21-yard strike to a wide open Jereme Brooks.
On Cal's subsequent drive, Riley threw the ball to Tucker again on a similar route to his previous drop, with the same result. Tight End Anthony Miller made up for it with an incredible catch on the next play for a first down. Riley moved the Bears to their 47, but the half ended when he was sacked on a second down play with 13 seconds remaining.
Cal won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, which is looking like a very good decision right now. The defense hasn't put up much of a fight since the first couple of drives, and the Utes are moving the ball up and down the field at will.
The Cal offense must come out on its first drive of the third quarter and make some sort of progress. If Utah gets the ball back with a short field again, this game may be over before the fourth quarter.
First half numbers to come. Bear fans may want to avert their eyes.
Cal was forced into a second consecutive three-and-out, although a penalty should have been called on third-down. Riley rocketed a well-thrown pass to receiver Verran Tucker, but it was dropped. Tucker was blasted by Utah defensive back Robert Johnson on the play, and replays showed that Johnson clearly hit Tucker with helmet-to-helmet contact. The referees did not call a personal foul penalty, which would have given the Bears a first down.
Utah again drove down the field with ease, and Wynn threw his third touchdown pass of the night on a 21-yard strike to a wide open Jereme Brooks.
On Cal's subsequent drive, Riley threw the ball to Tucker again on a similar route to his previous drop, with the same result. Tight End Anthony Miller made up for it with an incredible catch on the next play for a first down. Riley moved the Bears to their 47, but the half ended when he was sacked on a second down play with 13 seconds remaining.
Cal won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, which is looking like a very good decision right now. The defense hasn't put up much of a fight since the first couple of drives, and the Utes are moving the ball up and down the field at will.
The Cal offense must come out on its first drive of the third quarter and make some sort of progress. If Utah gets the ball back with a short field again, this game may be over before the fourth quarter.
First half numbers to come. Bear fans may want to avert their eyes.
LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL: California Golden Bears vs. Utah Utes
4:58 2nd quarter Utah 17 Cal 14
You can’t coach it, but every head coach talks about it; you don’t know when you’ll get it, and it’s hard to get back once you’ve lost it: momentum.
Utah clearly stole the early momentum back from Cal, and forced the Bears to go three-and-out after its successful field goal drive. The Utes partially blocked a punt from Bryan Anger, and, despite a friendly roll for Cal, got the ball at their own 44.
The Bear defense struggled on the subsequent drive, allowing Utah to drive down the field and score a touchdown to take the lead. Quarterback Jordan Wynn rifled a 15-yard pass to Kendrick Moeai (his second of the night) on third-and-10 for the score.
Cal desperately needs to get at least a couple of first downs on the next drive, because the defense cannot stop Utah right now.
Utah to kickoff.
You can’t coach it, but every head coach talks about it; you don’t know when you’ll get it, and it’s hard to get back once you’ve lost it: momentum.
Utah clearly stole the early momentum back from Cal, and forced the Bears to go three-and-out after its successful field goal drive. The Utes partially blocked a punt from Bryan Anger, and, despite a friendly roll for Cal, got the ball at their own 44.
The Bear defense struggled on the subsequent drive, allowing Utah to drive down the field and score a touchdown to take the lead. Quarterback Jordan Wynn rifled a 15-yard pass to Kendrick Moeai (his second of the night) on third-and-10 for the score.
Cal desperately needs to get at least a couple of first downs on the next drive, because the defense cannot stop Utah right now.
Utah to kickoff.
LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL: California Golden Bears vs. Utah Utes
9:31 2nd quarter Cal 14 Utah 10
Cal quarterback Kevin Riley surprised the Utah defense at the end of the 1st quarter with a quarterback draw on third-and-long, and picked up eight yards for a first down.
The Bear offense stalled and had to punt the ball back to Utah. The Utes went to the no huddle offense, which had Cal on its heels. Utah managed to make it down to the Cal 11-yard-line, but the Bear defense did not allow another yard. Utes settle for a 28-yard field goal.
Utah to kickoff.
Cal quarterback Kevin Riley surprised the Utah defense at the end of the 1st quarter with a quarterback draw on third-and-long, and picked up eight yards for a first down.
The Bear offense stalled and had to punt the ball back to Utah. The Utes went to the no huddle offense, which had Cal on its heels. Utah managed to make it down to the Cal 11-yard-line, but the Bear defense did not allow another yard. Utes settle for a 28-yard field goal.
Utah to kickoff.
LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL: California Golden Bears vs. Utah Utes
1:30 1st Quarter Cal 14 Utah 7
First tough decision of the game for Utah coach Kyle Wittingham: a fourth-and-1 at the 10-yard line. Electing to go for it, Wittingham had the offense rush to the line and they successfully converted. Wynn made the Bears pay for allowing the Utes to convert, throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kendrick Moeai in the back corner of the endzone. The score keeps the game close after Cal's interception return for a touchdown.
Cal starting its next drive at the 35-yard line. 1st and 10.
First tough decision of the game for Utah coach Kyle Wittingham: a fourth-and-1 at the 10-yard line. Electing to go for it, Wittingham had the offense rush to the line and they successfully converted. Wynn made the Bears pay for allowing the Utes to convert, throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kendrick Moeai in the back corner of the endzone. The score keeps the game close after Cal's interception return for a touchdown.
Cal starting its next drive at the 35-yard line. 1st and 10.
LIVE UPDATES FROM POINSETTIA BOWL: California Golden Bears vs. Utah Utes
3:00+ First Quarter Bears 14 Utah 0
The game began ominously for Cal when Utah ripped off a 45-yard catch and run on it's third play from scrimmage, but the defense recovered nicely. The Bears did not allow the Utes to gain the precious extra few yards that would have set-up a long field goal, and Utah elected to punt.
On Cal's second drive, it took less than two minutes and only five plays for running back Shane Vereen to show why he's the best backup in the country. He took a hand-off 36-yards to the house, in which it was clear he was gone after he cleared the line of scrimmage. The only player with a chance to save the touchdown, defensive back Brandon Burton, slipped as he turned to pursue Vereen.
Once Utah got the ball back, freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn threw an interception into the waiting arms of Cal linebacker Eddie Young, who returned the pick for a 31-yard touchdown. It is the first touchdown of his career.
Utah in the red zone, 2nd and 12.
The game began ominously for Cal when Utah ripped off a 45-yard catch and run on it's third play from scrimmage, but the defense recovered nicely. The Bears did not allow the Utes to gain the precious extra few yards that would have set-up a long field goal, and Utah elected to punt.
On Cal's second drive, it took less than two minutes and only five plays for running back Shane Vereen to show why he's the best backup in the country. He took a hand-off 36-yards to the house, in which it was clear he was gone after he cleared the line of scrimmage. The only player with a chance to save the touchdown, defensive back Brandon Burton, slipped as he turned to pursue Vereen.
Once Utah got the ball back, freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn threw an interception into the waiting arms of Cal linebacker Eddie Young, who returned the pick for a 31-yard touchdown. It is the first touchdown of his career.
Utah in the red zone, 2nd and 12.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What happened to our little Tiger cub?
Remember when America was in love with Tiger Woods? Remember how we fawned over those videos of him playing golf at age two on national television? Remember how we marveled when he smoked the field at the Master’s and won by 12 strokes? Remember how amazed we were by the fact that he was the first athlete to make a billion dollars?
What a difference a month makes.
Turns out that Mr. Roboto (you may call him Tiger Woods) has a bit of a wild side. El Tigre has enough mistresses to make even Hugh Hefner blush. I would write the latest number here, but there’s a good chance it would change before I even hit the “publish” button.
What a difference a month makes.
Turns out that Mr. Roboto (you may call him Tiger Woods) has a bit of a wild side. El Tigre has enough mistresses to make even Hugh Hefner blush. I would write the latest number here, but there’s a good chance it would change before I even hit the “publish” button.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Ichiro and Hunter win Gold Gloves...again
In the last nine years, the economy has gone from mighty juggernaut to slightly healthier than a veal calf. We thought the World was coming to an end (Y2K) and we watched Jay-Z and Brett Favre retire and come back. Some of us even watched two American League players become arguably the greatest fielders at their respective positions in more than a generation.
Torii Hunter and Ichiro Suzuki are consistently flawless fielders. Anyone who cannot achieve joy watching Hunter track down a rocket in the gap or isn't floored by Ichiro's m16a2 of a right arm doesn't deserve love.
The two have roamed outfields in relative obscurity for their careers. Yes, Ichiro is a rock star in Japan and parts of America. Hunter plays in Los Angeles for a perennial playoff contender. So what?
The Los Angles Angels of Anaheim of California of the United States of Earth of the Milky Way will always be a second class citizen to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
And Seattle? Please. They will eventually play the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, and both teams will find a way to lose.
Obviously, both teams play on the West Coast. That really doesn't help these players. And even though Hunter played for the Minnesota Twins for a decade, they really aren't talked about. Doesn't matter that they are regularly one of the most exiting teams in baseball.
These players, somehow, aren't well-known. And that is just sad.
How do I back this up? Not empirically, that's for damn sure.
It's proven in who gets the advertising, and who gets the national recognition.
For one day each year, the All-Star game, casual fans a quick refresher on what these two are doing every day for their respective teams.
And then, they go back to toiling in virtual anonymity.
Should we feel sorry for them? Absolutely not.
Both are paid handsomely and get amazing health care to play a child's game. Both are widely respected among their peers. Ichiro is a lock for the Hall of Fame, Hunter is getting there.
But that doesn't change how sad it is that more people aren't understanding and appreciating what these two do. If either of them played for the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees, they would be on the covers of video games. Their jerseys would be worn around the country by posers and 'roided-up frat boys.
But maybe it's good it's like that. It keeps fans like us what makes us better than casual fans.
So congratulations to Ichiro and Hunter. I look forward to telling future generations about watching you two play the game with style, respect and hustle. (A preemptive "screw you" to all those who say since Ichiro rarely dives he isn't gritty or doesn't hustle.)
Thank you both for your energy and enthusiasm.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Grandma-ma is gone-ma-ma
Running back Larry Johnson must have decided it would be funny to use a gay slur on his Twitter account, because he did exactly that the other day and it got him fired. Two weeks ago, Johnson used a derogotary term for gay men in a Twitter post, but finding out which one is like trying to discover a government secret – Google “what did Larry Johnson say” if you want to waste some precious moments of your life. Allegedly, Johnson used a common slur that begins with the letter F and won’t be repeated here because journalism is still sort of my day job.
Johnson was also critical of Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, and was suspended for his conduct. But apparently, Johnson had completely worn out his welcome because the Chiefs outright released him today.
It’s been clear for a long time that Johnson is an arrogant jerk – although Priest Holmes put up insane numbers as the Chiefs’ leading tailback, Kansas City drafted Johnson in 2003 and almost immediately the young punk began to voice his desire to usurp Holmes. When Holmes got hurt in 2005, Johnson took over and never gave the job back.
Since then, Johnson has been arrested three times, each time after allegedly assaulting a woman in some fashion. He has always been a prickly character, but his production has fallen off in a huge way. After finishing first in the league in rushing in 2005 and second in 2006, he hasn’t gotten more than 900 rushing yards in a season since. Because of his size (six-foot-one and 230 lbs) and athletic ability, some contending team will undoubtedly pick Johnson up. But if he hasn’t learned a lesson about how to behave like a civilized person, he’s going to be joining the unemployment line again very soon.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
One last time
Try to savor this season. It's likely the last in Sacramento.
Moreover, they aren't going to be a winning team. The Kings won't sniff 40 victories.
But there are some reasons to still have the game on in the background while you clean your house.
There are some future All-Stars on this team; just not this season.
Omri Casspi is going to turn heads. He dazzled in the opener and he wasn't just exploiting the ho-hum Oklahoma City Thunder defense.
Tyreke Evans will experience growing pains but will be more effective than most rookies.
Kevin Martin is playing like he wants to be traded. Let's ride it and see what he brings us. Virtually anything is better than his brittle frame and pathetic defense.
Jason Thompson's minutes limited due to foul trouble. It looks like that will be an issue again this year.
Don't get me wrong, I am excited Thompson is a King. He's capable of matching up with the better power forwards of the league and making them earn their double-double. He's been gifted with athletic footwork and soft hands. He is a piece to build with.
Spencer Hawes is a decent power forward as well. What's that? Center?
Oh...I see. I guess your average NBA center is supposed chuck up more than 100 three-point attempts in a season. For perspective, Hakeem Olajuwon attempted 124 in his career. Hawes passed that career mark last season. For the record: Three-point related categories will be the only time Hawes beats Olajuwon's career numbers in any category.
He probably should toss of prayers, you probably don't want him to clumsily labor his way into the painted area.
Long story short, Hawes will average nine boards a game this season. At best. And anything less than or equal to 9.4 boards will be rounded down.
In spite of this, the Kings will provide us with some fun wins scattered across a field of disappointment.
They will break our heart yet again. They are going to leave and nothing can be done.
So savor this year.
If you will please excuse me, I need to use the bathroom and take a Maloof.
Monday, October 26, 2009
A day for revenge and redemption: Benson, A-Rod and Brooking get theirs
Derek Jeter can finally call A-Rod his equal in October. Photo by Flickr user chris.ptacek
Sunday is supposed to be the day for rest, but it was a day of two very big other R-words for some athletes and coaches: revenge and redemption. From New York City to Oak-Town, there were chips on shoulders all over the country. A rundown of who was looking to even the score Sunday.
Cedric Benson vs. the Chicago Bears: If you paid any attention to football at all Sunday, you heard this one about a billion times. Running back Benson was the No. 4 overall pick for the Bears in 2005, and to call his time there tumultuous would be an understatement. Coach Lovie Smith never seemed willing to make him the featured back, and after some alcohol-related arrests Benson was released in 2008.
Benson never was convicted of any wrongdoing, but his career was seriously derailed. He signed a one-year contract with Cincinnati in 2008 for $520,000, and no one expected very much from him. But Benson played well, and got a two-year, $7 million contract from the Bengals last offseason.
So far in 2009, Benson leads the league in rushing and no doubt wanted to run roughshod over the Bears on Sunday – and apparently, the Bengals were happy to comply. They handed the rock to Benson 37 times and he did not disappoint, racking up 189 yards and a touchdown against the team that spurned him.
Benson is only 26 and hasn’t had too many carries over his career (789), so the Bengals appear to be in for some very productive seasons from No. 32. Especially if they play the Bears every year.
Alex Rodriguez vs. himself: Is there a more troubled superstar in sports than A-Rod? He has been criticized for being obsessed with his image, had a very public divorce from his wife Cynthia, admitted to using steroids and was widely ridiculed when Madonna reportedly said he had the “heart of a poet.”
But the worst knock against A-Rod was his tendency to disappear in October. Rodriguez’s postseason career numbers were downright pathetic, and the man who plays on his left, Derek Jeter, casts a mighty big shadow. Jeter has been called "Mr. November" for his clutch postseason performances, while Rodriguez was once dropped to eighth in the batting order in a playoff game.
But A-Rod was a new man this postseason, and his bat was the most feared in the dangerous Yankee lineup. Rodriguez batted .400 in the ALCS, and was walked three times Sunday night in a pivotal Game 6. Twice this series A-Rod was walked intentionally in the ninth inning after he tied Game 2 with a long ball against erratic Angels closer Brian Fuentes.
Thanks to A-Rod’s bat and the pitching of C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettite, the Yanks are going back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2003. Watching his jubilation after the last out was recorded Sunday night, is there any doubt that no one in New York wanted the pennant as badly as he did? Rodriguez will still have to perform well in the World Series in order for the Yankee faithful to fully embrace him, but I don’t think anyone in the Bronx will be booing him again anytime soon.
Keith Brooking vs. the Atlanta Falcons: Sunday’s matchup between the 3-2 Cowboys and 4-1 Falcons was intriguing for many reasons. The Falcons looked unstoppable in their 45-10 dismantling of the 49ers two weeks ago, while the Cowboys looked anything but in a narrow 26-20 overtime victory in Kansas City.
But the rise of receiver Miles Austin (421 receiving yards, four touchdowns in the last two games) has propelled Tony Romo back into the pantheon of top quarterbacks, and Dallas was very impressive in a 37-21 victory over Atlanta. The Cowboy defense hassled and harassed quarterback Matt Ryan all day, and the Atlanta offense just never got going.
The game was of particular importance to Cowboy linebacker Keith Brooking. A native Georgian who went to college at Georgia Tech, Brooking spent 11 excellent years in Atlanta, where he was voted to the Pro Bowl five times and was an All-Pro selection twice. But the Falcons cut him loose in the offseason, and Brooking signed a three-year contract with the Cowboys. Unlike so many other athletes who give politically correct answers to reporters, Brooking did not mince words about facing the team he gave most of his career to.
"Obviously, it was a big game for me personally. I’d be lying if I told you it wasn’t,” Brooking told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We took it to them. We bloodied their noses, and then we stepped on them and kicked them to the ground. So that’s a good feeling.”
Brooking’s emotion was obvious on the sideline – the veteran linebacker hooped and hollered throughout the game, and had a huge grin on his face the entire fourth quarter when the game was already in hand.
This may not be his last chance to enact vengeance either – the Cowboys appear poised to make a run at the playoffs, so a rematch with the Falcons in January is a definite possibility. A message to Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey: If you see these guys again, I’d run all my plays away from Brooking.
And briefly, two others looking for revenge and redemption: Niner quarterback and NFL Draft bust Alex Smith played the second half of San Francisco’s game in Houston after Shaun Hill got the hook, and made the game close at the end. Overall, Smith had a pretty good game (118.6 quarterback rating) and played his way to a start next Sunday against Indianapolis. Will we finally see the emergence of the former No. 1 overall pick? Niner fans have heard this story before, and they know Smith has a way of teasing you with his brilliance, only to fall apart soon after. He won’t have many more chances to prove himself, so it’s put up or shut up time for Smith.
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan led his team to a 38-0 pounding of the Raiders, but the game had special significance to his family and his assistants. The Raiders previously fired Jets line coach Bill Callahan (Raider head coach from 2002-03) and Rex’s twin brother Rob (defensive coordinator from 2004-08), and Ryan admitted in his postgame comments that it was a significant win for both him and Callahan. Al Davis’ list of enemies just keeps getting longer and longer…
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Frank McCourt cans wife
Frank McCourt is making me put aside my hatred for all things related to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a minute by firing his wife.
Awesome.
After getting bounced from the National League Championship Series by the Philadelphia Phillies, Frank McCourt canned his wife of 20 years. The couple is separated and is about to go through a very messy and public divorce.
Jamie McCourt was the chief executive officer for the Dodgers for the last seven months. She has also served as vice chairman and president.
If you look at basic divorce proceedings in California, you realize Jamie McCourt is basically entitled to half the team.
Let the mayhem begin. This is gonna get interesting. Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn.
This can only make for a dysfunctional working environment for everyone involved. It will probably spill into the clubhouse, and Manny Ramirez will become a diva without significant value a' la Terrell Owens next season. At least that is the dream.
Now I'm not someone who enjoys other's misfortunes. I savor them. And this is a feast.
Richard Seymour proves the Raiders’ team facility has become an asylum
Where the crazy people go play. Photo from Flickr user scotrail.Al Davis has been crazy for years, and the overhead-projector-aided rambling press conference about Lane Kiffin only solidified that the owner is lucid enough to still be nuts. Then JaMarcus Russell proved he’s delusional by saying he was fine with his awful passing performance this year.
Well there must be something in the water, because now Richard Seymour has lost his damn mind, too.
The defensive end was on a Cincinnati radio show Wednesday (who the hell knows why he’s on a show in Cincinnati when the Raiders play New York this week), and he boldly proclaimed that the Raiders will make the playoffs. Not in 2015, or even next year – he expects to playing in January this season.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Manny doesn't seem to understand what a “clean-up” hitter really is
In the top of the ninth inning of Game 4 between the Phillies and Dodgers Monday, Jonathon Broxton was heaving 101 mph fastballs at hitters, trying desperately to keep Los Angeles alive in the postseason. Somehow, someway, shortstop Jimmy Rollins managed to turn on a 99 mph heater, doubling in the game-tying and game-winning runs in one quick, Dodger-killing, monumentally clutch moment. This you probably already know. But do you know where Manny Ramirez was?
Taking a shower.
No, really. Taking a shower.
Taking a shower.
No, really. Taking a shower.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Round-up: Sabean and Bochy get extended, the no-name Broncos keep winning, and A-Fraud channels Mr. October
One of the few decision Brian Sabean actually got right: drafting Tim Lincecum. Photo by user rocor on Flickr.Rewarding dumb luck and failure
The San Francisco Giants managing partner Bill Neukom, in his goofy-ass-bow-tie-wearing wisdom, gave general manager Brain Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy two-year extensions today with options for third years. Bochy has been there for three years, and whether or not he’s been successful is up for interpretation - after all, in what sport is the head coach/manager more useless than in baseball?
But Sabean, who is the longest-tenured general manager in baseball with 13 years on the job, should have been handed his walking papers. The Giants haven’t made the playoffs in six seasons, and have been to the postseason only four times during Sabean’s tenure.
A lot of fans might cite the team’s resurgent 2009 campaign as proof of Sabean’s value, but what has he really done? He has horrendously overpaid for free agents the last few years (Barry Zito: seven years, $126 million; Aaron Rowand: five years, $60 million; Edgar Renteria: two years, $18.5 million), who have vastly underperformed, and hasn’t won a damn thing since Barry Bonds left.
The only two players he has drafted who have star power are Tim Lincecum, a can’t-miss type pick at tenth overall in 2006; and the Kung-Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval, who spent nearly five years languishing in the minors and shocked everyone with a great season this year. Matt Cain has also developed into a solid starting pitcher, but what irreplaceable position players has Sabean drafted or developed?
2009 was likely more of an aberration than a sign of things to come, especially since Sabes said recently that the team doesn't plan to add a bat in the offseason. That should really improve the team's RBI total (29th in the majors) or batting average (25th).
Decisions like this one are what will keep the Giants forever trailing the cross-bay Oakland A’s in world championships. In case you forgot, Giants fans, the A’s have the lead in that category 4-0.
Who are these guys?
The fact that the Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots on Sunday in overtime is amazing, but what’s most impressive is the way they did it. After looking like they’d be another foil for Tom Brady’s passing attack, the Broncos held the Pats scoreless after halftime and rattled off 13 unanswered points in a 20-17 win.
But these Broncos aren’t your daddy’s John Elway-Terrell Davis-Rod Smith Broncs. This squad is led by the much-maligned Kyle Orton, disgruntled receiver Brandon Marshall and rookie running back Knowshon Moreno (on a side note, isn’t Knowshon a freaking awesome name?). Without any serious superstars on either side of the ball, the Broncos are finding ways to win close games virtually every week. After starting the season against a middling group of opponents (9-11 combined record), the Broncos solidified themselves as legitimate contenders by beating the formerly 3-1 Patriots.
The defense is the primary reason, as Denver has surrendered only 8.6 points per game (first in the NFL) and is second overall in total defense. Combine that with the careful play of Orton, who has turned the ball over only once in five games, and you have a recipe for success. As much as it kills me inside to say it, Denver will be definitely be playing football in January.
Well lookie who found their bats
Vladimir Guerrero decided to become clutch for the first time in his career, delivering the two-run death blow against the Boston Red Sox in the top of the ninth Sunday to lead the Angels to a 7-6 victory. Guerrero’s postseason at-bats had been pathetic at best before this year (.240 career average), but he came up huge in Fenway Park to complete the sweep.
Another former choker who suddenly learned how to swing in big spots is a rejuvenated Alex Rodriguez. The Yankee third baseman not only had an RBI single in the sixth inning to tie Game 2 against the Twins, he then went on to hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extras. A-Rod repeated the heroics with a tying home run in the top of the seventh in Game 3. Overall he batted .455 with 6 RBI in the Yankees’ three-game sweep of Minnesota.
The Angels and Yankees will begin a best-of-seven series Friday night, and the Yanks have to be the clear favorites. If A-Rod continues to perform the way he did against Minnesota, there is no way the Angels can overcome New York’s powerful offense. Then again, the Angels have certainly had the Yankees’ number over the past few seasons: they are 33-21 against the Bronx Bombers since 2005. Maybe having Kate Hudson watching from the stands will continue to power A-Rod's resurgance.
Monday, September 28, 2009
A very rough afternoon for Russell and the Raiders
It’s official Raider Nation: JaMarcus Russell is not only going to be a bust – he’s lost his damn mind.
We’re three years into the Russell experiment, and so far the results are not just bad – they’re damn right Ryan Leaf-ian. To be fair, we can hardly count the first season of Russell’s NFL career since he wasn’t signed until almost October and missed training camp and preseason. But Russell has had nothing but time to learn since then, and instead of getting better, he’s getting much, much worse. But don't tell him that - the quarterback has repeatedly said he's feeling fine about his play so far. At least someone in Oakland is...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Giants fans, this is a season to be proud of
Well, it was fun while it lasted. The San Francisco Giants dropped two of three in Los Angeles with a 6-2 defeat in the series finale on Sunday. The Giants' loss, coupled with Colorado's win, puts the Giants four and a half games back in the Wild Card race.Tim Lincecum didn't see the fifth inning as he struggled with his command and even issued a four-pitch walk to pitcher Randy Wolf in his ineffective outing.
The San Francisco offense is too sporadic, too impatient and too prone to making unproductive outs. There is a gaping hole at the shortstop position and Aaron Rowand has the quietest 15 home runs and 62 r.b.i.'s in baseball.
There are serious issues that need to be addressed. The Giants have no answer at first base. Randy Winn, who before this season was a lock for a solid average and clutch hits, is coming off the books. Their starting rotation will have to cope with the likely departures of Randy Johnson and Brad Penny after this season.
But this is no time to hang your head if you are a Giants fan. This team was predicted to finish near the bottom by most of the experts and armchair analysts across the country. A season above .500 is a huge step forward for a team that hasn't played meaningful games in September since 2004.
Yes. It is disappointing. There was a period of time in August when this team looked like it caught lightning in a bottle and was going to be a force. But the offense is too weak and impatient.
Pablo Sandoval will come back in 2010 and contend for the MVP, provided he stays healthy. Nate Schierholtz will benefit from playing every day and will establish himself as one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball. He will also hit .290 and drive in 85 runs.
Matt Cain and Lincecum will push each other like they did in 2009 and carry this team towards a division title in 2010.
This team will make a splash with a free agent signing, but I am more looking forward to the trade I think should be made. Pair Brian Wilson and John Bowker for a bat. Sergio Romo is ready to close and Bowker has "AL" written all over him. And don't pick up Ryan Garko's option.
There is a lot to be grateful for. I know this day is disappointing, but it will be OK. It's not like one of our top prospects is detained in connection with murder or anything, right?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A's fans - do you know the way to San Jose?
Earlier this month, consulting firm Conventions Sports & Leisure International released an economic impact report for a possible new A’s stadium in San Jose. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved the report – but what the hell does that mean?
It means we’re one step closer to seeing the San JosA’s, but there’s still a long way to go.
The approval of the economic impact report seemed like a no-brainer: the report found that almost 1,000 jobs would be created by a new ballpark, and it would generate $130 million in benefits (such as tax revenue). The report would make you believe that the city of San Jose would be foolish not to allow the A’s to set up operations there, and apparently the council agrees.
Unlike the A’s previous attempt to build a stadium in Fremont, so far it has been smooth sailing for the San Jose proposal. Mayor Chuck Reed even appeared at a news conference before the meeting, voicing his support of the project.
The biggest hurdle that remains is the territorial rights issue with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have always considered San Jose to be part of their territory, and MLB would need to approve of the A’s infringing on it. Why the Giants would be opposed to the A’s going from a city that is 10 miles away (Oakland) to one that is 40 miles away (San Jose) is beyond me.
One of the most curious things about the proposed new stadium is its capacity. The proposal calls for a stadium with about 32,000 seats, which would be by far the lowest capacity in the majors (the Florida Marlins’ new stadium, which opens in 2012, is the second-lowest at 37,000). The impact report puts average major league attendance at 31,700 per game, which would make the A’s new stadium a guaranteed sellout every night if that number holds. Combine that with increased revenue for Billy Beane to work his magic with, and I think A’s tickets will actually be hard to come by in 2014 (imagine that!).
Another interesting fact that came out of the report was the average ticket price data for all 30 major league teams. The A’s rank eighth in average per-game ticket price at $29.20, which is $7 higher than the cross-bay Giants, who play in a fancy new stadium. I would assume that this average is probably inflated by the removal of about 10,000 cheap seats (A’s fans might refer to it as the third deck) for baseball games.
So now we wait on Bud Selig and MLB to issue a ruling on the territorial rights. And guess what? Good ole’ Bud hasn’t set a date for when MLB will issue that ruling. I wonder if the Yankees would have gotten a date…
It means we’re one step closer to seeing the San JosA’s, but there’s still a long way to go.
The approval of the economic impact report seemed like a no-brainer: the report found that almost 1,000 jobs would be created by a new ballpark, and it would generate $130 million in benefits (such as tax revenue). The report would make you believe that the city of San Jose would be foolish not to allow the A’s to set up operations there, and apparently the council agrees.
Unlike the A’s previous attempt to build a stadium in Fremont, so far it has been smooth sailing for the San Jose proposal. Mayor Chuck Reed even appeared at a news conference before the meeting, voicing his support of the project.
The biggest hurdle that remains is the territorial rights issue with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have always considered San Jose to be part of their territory, and MLB would need to approve of the A’s infringing on it. Why the Giants would be opposed to the A’s going from a city that is 10 miles away (Oakland) to one that is 40 miles away (San Jose) is beyond me.
One of the most curious things about the proposed new stadium is its capacity. The proposal calls for a stadium with about 32,000 seats, which would be by far the lowest capacity in the majors (the Florida Marlins’ new stadium, which opens in 2012, is the second-lowest at 37,000). The impact report puts average major league attendance at 31,700 per game, which would make the A’s new stadium a guaranteed sellout every night if that number holds. Combine that with increased revenue for Billy Beane to work his magic with, and I think A’s tickets will actually be hard to come by in 2014 (imagine that!).
Another interesting fact that came out of the report was the average ticket price data for all 30 major league teams. The A’s rank eighth in average per-game ticket price at $29.20, which is $7 higher than the cross-bay Giants, who play in a fancy new stadium. I would assume that this average is probably inflated by the removal of about 10,000 cheap seats (A’s fans might refer to it as the third deck) for baseball games.
So now we wait on Bud Selig and MLB to issue a ruling on the territorial rights. And guess what? Good ole’ Bud hasn’t set a date for when MLB will issue that ruling. I wonder if the Yankees would have gotten a date…
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Are you ready for some football? 2009 NFL Preview
The Autumn wind is upon us – football season is finally here! It’s time for 17 weeks of hard-hitting football, and we’re going to celebrate the kick-off at Unsportsmanlike Conduct by offering a look into our predictions for the NFL season.
AFC WEST: Oakland Raiders (8-8)
AFC NORTH: Pittsburgh Steelers (14-2)
AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis Colts (14-2)
AFC EAST: New England Patriots (12-4)
WILD CARDS: Houston Texans (10-6), Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
Analysis: You read that right – I am calling my shot, Oakland wins the West this year and has a (gasp) home playoff game. Now before you get all out of control, realize two things: First, that the Raiders will finish 8-8, which isn’t that spectacular of a record; and second, that the division is absolutely atrocious. Remember that 8-8 did, in fact, win this division last year. The Broncos are in for a very bad season, and the Chiefs won’t be much better this year. San Diego could still win this division, but even if they do it won’t be at better than 9-7. The Chargers have to deal with an aging LaDainian Tomlinson, and Norv Turner will always cost a team at least a game or two every year. Oakland’s three-headed running back monster of Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas is going to take a lot of pressure off of JaMarcus Russell, and Richard Seymour is in a contract year - at age 30 he needs the last big score to set up the rest of his career. Expect Seymour to play with a fire in his belly, and immensely improve both the run and pass defense. If the Raiders do play better defense and effectively hand the ball off about 30 times a game, 8-8 is very much within reach. They are going to get stomped on in the first round of the playoffs though, anyway.
As for the others, Pittsburgh has a soft schedule, and the Steelers are a good team that hasn’t gotten any worse – they will have the No. 1 seed in the postseason. The Colts won’t lose much without Marvin Harrison since Anthony Gonzalez has stepped up. As for New England, the Patriots are going to find their defense is not what it used to be now that most of the leaders have left, but they have enough firepower to overwhelm most teams. When New England runs into teams that can pressure Tom Brady, it’ll be in serious trouble. The Ravens also have a favorable schedule, which allows them to use a steady offense and still-great defense on the way to 12 wins. The pieces are all in place for Houston, and now is the time for the Texans to make their first postseason trip in franchise history.
NFC WEST: Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
NFC NORTH: Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
NFC SOUTH: New Orleans Saints (11-5)
NFC EAST: Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
WILD CARDS: Chicago Bears (11-5), Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
The NFC East gets a huge boost this season because it gets to play all of the AFC West teams, which is almost like guaranteeing three wins a piece. Philly has the defense to stop good offenses, and Donovan McNabb finally has an offense that is stacked with young, explosive weapons. The Eagles were already a conference championship favorite before Michael Vick, but his addition could add a dimension that makes their offense virtually unstoppable. The Vikings are also a team poised for a huge year, because all Brett Favre has to do is complete a few deep passes a game to keep defenses from stacking the line. If Adrian Peterson continues to dominate, Favre is going to be especially deadly with play-action passes to speedsters like Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin. The Saints haven’t been able to put it together the last couple of seasons, but Tampa Bay is going to struggle and Carolina and Atlanta can’t help but regress a little, so I look for New Orleans to capitalize and win the division. The Cardinals will actually finish with a better record than they did last year, thanks to a favorable schedule and a boost of confidence from their Super Bowl run last season. But if Kurt Warner gets hurt or regresses to his fumble-prone ways, the West is a division that could be stolen by either the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bears with Jay Cutler will be successful, but they can’t overcome Minnesota in the division. The Cowboys, like the Eagles, benefit mightily from playing the AFC West, and finally make it back to postseason play. Look for Washington to make noise in this division as well. Jason Campbell has improved steadily every year, and the addition of Albert Haynesworth will be huge. There have been few defensive players that have such an impact as he does – he really is a game changer. I will be shocked if two teams from the NFC East aren’t playing postseason football.
PLAYOFFS
AFC
Wild Card
Baltimore over Oakland
New England over Houston
Divisional
Indianapolis over New England
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Conference
Pittsburgh over Indianapolis
NFC
Wild Card
Dallas over Arizona
New Orleans over Chicago
Divisional
Minnesota over Dallas
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Conference
Philadelphia over Minnesota
SUPER BOWL XLIV
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia
AFC WEST: Oakland Raiders (8-8)
AFC NORTH: Pittsburgh Steelers (14-2)
AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis Colts (14-2)
AFC EAST: New England Patriots (12-4)
WILD CARDS: Houston Texans (10-6), Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
Analysis: You read that right – I am calling my shot, Oakland wins the West this year and has a (gasp) home playoff game. Now before you get all out of control, realize two things: First, that the Raiders will finish 8-8, which isn’t that spectacular of a record; and second, that the division is absolutely atrocious. Remember that 8-8 did, in fact, win this division last year. The Broncos are in for a very bad season, and the Chiefs won’t be much better this year. San Diego could still win this division, but even if they do it won’t be at better than 9-7. The Chargers have to deal with an aging LaDainian Tomlinson, and Norv Turner will always cost a team at least a game or two every year. Oakland’s three-headed running back monster of Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas is going to take a lot of pressure off of JaMarcus Russell, and Richard Seymour is in a contract year - at age 30 he needs the last big score to set up the rest of his career. Expect Seymour to play with a fire in his belly, and immensely improve both the run and pass defense. If the Raiders do play better defense and effectively hand the ball off about 30 times a game, 8-8 is very much within reach. They are going to get stomped on in the first round of the playoffs though, anyway.
As for the others, Pittsburgh has a soft schedule, and the Steelers are a good team that hasn’t gotten any worse – they will have the No. 1 seed in the postseason. The Colts won’t lose much without Marvin Harrison since Anthony Gonzalez has stepped up. As for New England, the Patriots are going to find their defense is not what it used to be now that most of the leaders have left, but they have enough firepower to overwhelm most teams. When New England runs into teams that can pressure Tom Brady, it’ll be in serious trouble. The Ravens also have a favorable schedule, which allows them to use a steady offense and still-great defense on the way to 12 wins. The pieces are all in place for Houston, and now is the time for the Texans to make their first postseason trip in franchise history.
NFC WEST: Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
NFC NORTH: Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
NFC SOUTH: New Orleans Saints (11-5)
NFC EAST: Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
WILD CARDS: Chicago Bears (11-5), Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
The NFC East gets a huge boost this season because it gets to play all of the AFC West teams, which is almost like guaranteeing three wins a piece. Philly has the defense to stop good offenses, and Donovan McNabb finally has an offense that is stacked with young, explosive weapons. The Eagles were already a conference championship favorite before Michael Vick, but his addition could add a dimension that makes their offense virtually unstoppable. The Vikings are also a team poised for a huge year, because all Brett Favre has to do is complete a few deep passes a game to keep defenses from stacking the line. If Adrian Peterson continues to dominate, Favre is going to be especially deadly with play-action passes to speedsters like Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin. The Saints haven’t been able to put it together the last couple of seasons, but Tampa Bay is going to struggle and Carolina and Atlanta can’t help but regress a little, so I look for New Orleans to capitalize and win the division. The Cardinals will actually finish with a better record than they did last year, thanks to a favorable schedule and a boost of confidence from their Super Bowl run last season. But if Kurt Warner gets hurt or regresses to his fumble-prone ways, the West is a division that could be stolen by either the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bears with Jay Cutler will be successful, but they can’t overcome Minnesota in the division. The Cowboys, like the Eagles, benefit mightily from playing the AFC West, and finally make it back to postseason play. Look for Washington to make noise in this division as well. Jason Campbell has improved steadily every year, and the addition of Albert Haynesworth will be huge. There have been few defensive players that have such an impact as he does – he really is a game changer. I will be shocked if two teams from the NFC East aren’t playing postseason football.
PLAYOFFS
AFC
Wild Card
Baltimore over Oakland
New England over Houston
Divisional
Indianapolis over New England
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Conference
Pittsburgh over Indianapolis
NFC
Wild Card
Dallas over Arizona
New Orleans over Chicago
Divisional
Minnesota over Dallas
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Conference
Philadelphia over Minnesota
SUPER BOWL XLIV
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Are the Silver and Black on Crack?
By Fernando Gallo
In the words of Vince Lombardi: What the hell is going on here?
The Raiders have traded for defensive end Richard Seymour, giving up a first-round pick in 2011 in the process. That the Raiders made a move from completely out of left field is not really a story these days. But this trade? Oy vey...
For the Patriots, I completely understand why they made this deal. Seymour is in the last year of his contract and they don’t like to pay anybody. He’s got three rings already, so he’ll likely want to set up the rest of his life with one last fat contract. The Pats certainly weren’t going to give him that, so they trade him for a possible top-ten pick. Makes sense.
As for the Al Davis All-stars - what are you guys thinking? This move makes sense for a team that really is one piece away from Super Bowl contention, but not for the bumbling Raiders. Seymour is a former Pro Bowler, and certainly talented, but is his addition going to shore up a run defense that got gashed by three of four opponents this preseason? Doubtful.
This solidifies the fact that Davis is simply too stubborn to succeed in today’s NFL. He refuses to flat-out rebuild, and this latest reach might be one of the most painful. Based on the fact that Oakland hasn’t won more than six games since 2002, the pick they just gave up is likely to be a good one. And if Seymour leaves for free agency after this year, this is one of the dumbest trades in NFL history.
On a slightly different note, is there some sort of secret, under-the-table deal between Davis and Patriots owner Robert Kraft? These two teams just can’t seem to get enough of each other. The Raiders hired former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan from the Patriots in 2004, gave away Randy Moss to them in 2007 in a deal that still gives me nightmares, and sent disgruntled defensive lineman Derrick Burgess there earlier this year. Oakland seems to be doing New England a lot of favors - how about a little reciprocation one of these days?
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Recession Claims Another Job - Anyone Need a Super Bowl Hero?
By Jordan Guinn
Wide receiver David Tyree, who became famous in Super Bowl for his miraculous catch during the winning drive of Super Bowl 42, has been cut from the New York Giants.
Wide receiver David Tyree, who became famous in Super Bowl for his miraculous catch during the winning drive of Super Bowl 42, has been cut from the New York Giants.
The sixth round pick out of Syracuse in 2003, he missed last season because of knee trouble. Health was an issue this year as well. Plus, reports say he was having a hard time holding onto the ball.
Tyree, if healthy, should bounce back with another team. By no means should his career be over. No one is saying Tyree will have a plaque in the football hall of fame, but he deserves a shot as a second or third option somewhere.
He will always be fondly remembered by me and fellow New England-area sports haters. His ball-pressed-to-helmet catch helped wipe the cocky grin off the Patriots' faces.
Seeing Bill Belichick scurry off the field with time on the clock and leave his team to deal with the shame and embarrassment on their own is one of the greatest sports moments of all time.
But professional sports is a business, and feelings and nostalgia have no place in it. It doesn't matter that Eli Manning and Tyree paired to created a phenomenal memory and historic sports moment; he was dragging down the squad's chances for 2009.
The lesson is simple: Business is down; the recession claimed another job. Teams can't afford to keep a memory.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Present ain’t Pretty, but the Future is Bright in Oakland
By Fernando Gallo
To the casual fan, the Oakland Athletics are pathetic: They trail the AL West-leading Angels by nearly 20 games, and their offense ranks near the bottom of the league in home runs (27th), batting average (24th), slugging (28th), and even Billy Beane’s beloved on-base percentage (22nd). For many A’s fans, this has been a season to forget, and we all know that the Eastern Seaboard Propaganda Network (also known as ESPN) never has a problem ignoring West Coast teams.
But the truth of the matter is that Beane has done it again - he has worked some magic and amassed a wealth of young talent. The writing was on the wall after the A’s last postseason run to the ALCS in 2006. Even though they finally got over the first-round hump that had dogged Beane’s celebrated tenure as general manager, that team was not built for the long hall: Barry Zito was in the last year of his deal, and his numbers were already on a downswing that would continue in San Francisco (ha ha); Esteban Loaiza’s career was winding down (it ended in 2008); despite his MVP-caliber season, at 38, Frank Thomas didn’t have many homers left in him; and Eric Chavez and Rich Harden were showing signs of the injury-plagued years that were to come. All of these pieces were key to Oakland’s rise, and their shelf life was dwindling fast.
So Beane did what Beane does best: He sold high and got some great young prospects in return. Despite the fact that he was becoming a dominant pitcher, Danny Haren was dealt for a cavalcade of minor leaguers. Many other veterans soon followed, and Oakland would rightfully earn the moniker of the Triple A’s as the prospects rolled in.
Now fast forward to 2009: The last three seasons have helped to develop some fantastic arms, including starting pitchers Brett Anderson (21-years-old), Trevor Cahill (21), Gio Gonzalez (23), and closer Andrew Bailey (25). Among those pitchers, both Anderson and Gonzalez appear to have ace-quality talent: After struggling mightily with control issues, Gonzalez has surrendered less than three runs in five of his last eight starts and is averaging better than 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Anderson appears to be hitting the proverbial wall, struggling in his last few starts, but he has had some brilliant outings this season, including a 2-hit shutout in his first career start at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. Cahill has also strung a few good starts together, and the flame-throwing Bailey was the A’s lone All-star representative in July - he currently has 21 saves in 25 chances.
Overall, the A’s have four rookie pitchers and 12 players on the everyday roster with three years of big league experience or less. Catcher Kurt Suzuki has proven himself to be a very dependable hitter (.271 career average and .405 career slugging percentage), as well as a strong leader among the pitching staff. And outfielder Rajai Davis has been a classic Beane diamond in the rough: After being cut by the rival San Francisco Giants two years ago, Davis has claimed the starting spot in centerfield with a .298 average and 30 stolen bases.
One of the most interesting developments for the A’s has been the evolution of their enigmatic general manager. Loved by stat geeks and hated by old-schoolers, Beane has been told that his vaunted “Moneyball” methods have failed in the long haul, but that is definitely not the case. Howard Bryant of ESPN wrote an article that was surprisingly even-keel by ESPN standards (but way too long), and he explains what many A’s fans have known for a long time: It’s not that Beane’s methods didn’t work - it’s that they worked too well. The Red Sox figured out that Beane’s ideas were worth copying, and their payroll dwarfs Oakland’s. The result? Two championships in four years.
“Moneyball” was never about on-base percentage; it was about exploiting the inefficiencies in the market. Home runs and .300 batting averages will always be expensive, but Beane tried to find the things that helped win games and were much cheaper than the conventional stats. In 2002, it was on-base percentage. Now that everyone has caught up to the on-base revolution, Beane has been forced to find new inefficiencies and change his methods.
So what is undervalued right now? Speed and defense. Beane was a fervent hater of the stolen base, as reflected by his team’s stats: The A’s haven‘t finished better than 14th in the majors in stolen bases since 2002, and have finished dead last in that category three times in that span. Beane felt that the risk of losing a base runner outweighed the benefit of a possible stolen base, so he never acquired speedsters and the A’s never ran. But this year, the A’s are fifth overall in steals, and Davis has been allowed to run hog wild on the base paths.
Defense has always been a hard quality to measure statistically, so Beane ignored it for the most part. He opted to try to hide bad defenders in the corner outfield spots or at first base, but lately defense has made a comeback. The re-signing of Mark Ellis proves that point: Beane doesn’t find .267 career hitters that appealing, but he gave Ellis a two-year deal in 2008 because of his great defense at second base.
So what does this all mean? It means fear not, A’s fans - your team is still in good hands. The young pitchers have gained valuable on the job training this season, and the team has switched to a six-man rotation for the rest of the year to allow the kids to rest. Beane still has to prove that he can develop a power hitter (he hasn’t had much success in doing so since Eric Chavez), but there are many viable candidates for that role in the minor leagues. All of the trades have always been part of a long-term plan, with the one-year veteran deals just there to ensure the team stays competitive. The A’s will soon be just a veteran or two away from the postseason (like they were in 2006), and a long playoff run is on the horizon. In the meantime… there’s always football!
To the casual fan, the Oakland Athletics are pathetic: They trail the AL West-leading Angels by nearly 20 games, and their offense ranks near the bottom of the league in home runs (27th), batting average (24th), slugging (28th), and even Billy Beane’s beloved on-base percentage (22nd). For many A’s fans, this has been a season to forget, and we all know that the Eastern Seaboard Propaganda Network (also known as ESPN) never has a problem ignoring West Coast teams.
But the truth of the matter is that Beane has done it again - he has worked some magic and amassed a wealth of young talent. The writing was on the wall after the A’s last postseason run to the ALCS in 2006. Even though they finally got over the first-round hump that had dogged Beane’s celebrated tenure as general manager, that team was not built for the long hall: Barry Zito was in the last year of his deal, and his numbers were already on a downswing that would continue in San Francisco (ha ha); Esteban Loaiza’s career was winding down (it ended in 2008); despite his MVP-caliber season, at 38, Frank Thomas didn’t have many homers left in him; and Eric Chavez and Rich Harden were showing signs of the injury-plagued years that were to come. All of these pieces were key to Oakland’s rise, and their shelf life was dwindling fast.
So Beane did what Beane does best: He sold high and got some great young prospects in return. Despite the fact that he was becoming a dominant pitcher, Danny Haren was dealt for a cavalcade of minor leaguers. Many other veterans soon followed, and Oakland would rightfully earn the moniker of the Triple A’s as the prospects rolled in.
Now fast forward to 2009: The last three seasons have helped to develop some fantastic arms, including starting pitchers Brett Anderson (21-years-old), Trevor Cahill (21), Gio Gonzalez (23), and closer Andrew Bailey (25). Among those pitchers, both Anderson and Gonzalez appear to have ace-quality talent: After struggling mightily with control issues, Gonzalez has surrendered less than three runs in five of his last eight starts and is averaging better than 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Anderson appears to be hitting the proverbial wall, struggling in his last few starts, but he has had some brilliant outings this season, including a 2-hit shutout in his first career start at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. Cahill has also strung a few good starts together, and the flame-throwing Bailey was the A’s lone All-star representative in July - he currently has 21 saves in 25 chances.
Overall, the A’s have four rookie pitchers and 12 players on the everyday roster with three years of big league experience or less. Catcher Kurt Suzuki has proven himself to be a very dependable hitter (.271 career average and .405 career slugging percentage), as well as a strong leader among the pitching staff. And outfielder Rajai Davis has been a classic Beane diamond in the rough: After being cut by the rival San Francisco Giants two years ago, Davis has claimed the starting spot in centerfield with a .298 average and 30 stolen bases.
One of the most interesting developments for the A’s has been the evolution of their enigmatic general manager. Loved by stat geeks and hated by old-schoolers, Beane has been told that his vaunted “Moneyball” methods have failed in the long haul, but that is definitely not the case. Howard Bryant of ESPN wrote an article that was surprisingly even-keel by ESPN standards (but way too long), and he explains what many A’s fans have known for a long time: It’s not that Beane’s methods didn’t work - it’s that they worked too well. The Red Sox figured out that Beane’s ideas were worth copying, and their payroll dwarfs Oakland’s. The result? Two championships in four years.
“Moneyball” was never about on-base percentage; it was about exploiting the inefficiencies in the market. Home runs and .300 batting averages will always be expensive, but Beane tried to find the things that helped win games and were much cheaper than the conventional stats. In 2002, it was on-base percentage. Now that everyone has caught up to the on-base revolution, Beane has been forced to find new inefficiencies and change his methods.
So what is undervalued right now? Speed and defense. Beane was a fervent hater of the stolen base, as reflected by his team’s stats: The A’s haven‘t finished better than 14th in the majors in stolen bases since 2002, and have finished dead last in that category three times in that span. Beane felt that the risk of losing a base runner outweighed the benefit of a possible stolen base, so he never acquired speedsters and the A’s never ran. But this year, the A’s are fifth overall in steals, and Davis has been allowed to run hog wild on the base paths.
Defense has always been a hard quality to measure statistically, so Beane ignored it for the most part. He opted to try to hide bad defenders in the corner outfield spots or at first base, but lately defense has made a comeback. The re-signing of Mark Ellis proves that point: Beane doesn’t find .267 career hitters that appealing, but he gave Ellis a two-year deal in 2008 because of his great defense at second base.
So what does this all mean? It means fear not, A’s fans - your team is still in good hands. The young pitchers have gained valuable on the job training this season, and the team has switched to a six-man rotation for the rest of the year to allow the kids to rest. Beane still has to prove that he can develop a power hitter (he hasn’t had much success in doing so since Eric Chavez), but there are many viable candidates for that role in the minor leagues. All of the trades have always been part of a long-term plan, with the one-year veteran deals just there to ensure the team stays competitive. The A’s will soon be just a veteran or two away from the postseason (like they were in 2006), and a long playoff run is on the horizon. In the meantime… there’s always football!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Ichiro: I'm too sexy for home runs
By Fernando Gallo
Everyone’s favorite slap-hitter, Ichiro Suzuki, was featured in a New York Times article on Saturday, and although I tend to stay away from that elitist snob-fest, this story was too good to pass up. It discusses Ichiro’s many talents, but also has a priceless quote from the king of the first 90 feet.
For all of his accomplishments, Ichiro is still just a glorified lead-off man. He has speed, defense and the ability to hit for average, but he doesn’t walk nearly enough (even though his batting average is third-best in the majors, his on-base percentage is 27th) and he’s only reached double-digit home runs twice over his nine-year career. There are always rumors that Ichiro has great power in batting practice, but simply chooses not to utilize it in order to get more hits. But what Mariners fan wouldn’t trade in a 30-point drop in Ichiro’s average in order to get some more home runs? Since 2002, the Mariners haven’t ranked higher than 18th in the majors in team home runs - coincidentally, guess when the last time they made the playoffs was?
You may find some chicks that dig you, Ichiro, but October clearly digs the long ball. By the way, what do you care about chicks, anyway - you're married! Who do you think you are, Andrei Kirilenko?
Everyone’s favorite slap-hitter, Ichiro Suzuki, was featured in a New York Times article on Saturday, and although I tend to stay away from that elitist snob-fest, this story was too good to pass up. It discusses Ichiro’s many talents, but also has a priceless quote from the king of the first 90 feet.
“Chicks who dig home runs aren’t the ones who appeal to me,” he said. “I think there’s sexiness in infield hits because they require technique. I’d rather impress the chicks with my technique than with my brute strength. Then, every now and then, just to show I can do that, too, I might flirt a little by hitting one out.”As a fan of true baseball, and not just ‘roid-induced home run derby-style games, I can respect the value of singles and infield hits. But calling infield hits sexy? Wishful thinking there, Ichiro. For proof, look no further than a man Ichiro is so often compared to, Pete Rose. “Charlie Hustle” was many things: A great hitter, gritty competitor, gambling manager - but certainly not sexy. But hey, maybe I’m wrong: You be the judge on that one.
For all of his accomplishments, Ichiro is still just a glorified lead-off man. He has speed, defense and the ability to hit for average, but he doesn’t walk nearly enough (even though his batting average is third-best in the majors, his on-base percentage is 27th) and he’s only reached double-digit home runs twice over his nine-year career. There are always rumors that Ichiro has great power in batting practice, but simply chooses not to utilize it in order to get more hits. But what Mariners fan wouldn’t trade in a 30-point drop in Ichiro’s average in order to get some more home runs? Since 2002, the Mariners haven’t ranked higher than 18th in the majors in team home runs - coincidentally, guess when the last time they made the playoffs was?
You may find some chicks that dig you, Ichiro, but October clearly digs the long ball. By the way, what do you care about chicks, anyway - you're married! Who do you think you are, Andrei Kirilenko?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
A Giant exaggeration for a Rocky road trip
By Fernando Gallo
Troy Tulowitzki doing his best Ryan
Spilborghs impression. Photo from Flickr.
So the Giants suffered a devastating loss at the hands of those upstart Colorado Rockies last night, meaning they lost three of four in Denver over the weekend – but to hear Giants fans and the Bay Area media tell it, you’d think the Gigantes had just been eliminated from playoff contention. The moans and groans have been plentiful on the Giants’ mammoth flagship radio station, KNBR 680 AM, and Giants radio announcer David Fleming set the tone last night when he called the loss the worst defeat for San Francisco since 2002. That year, for those of you baseball fans who spend a lot of time living under a rock,
Troy Tulowitzki doing his best Ryan
Spilborghs impression. Photo from Flickr.
So the Giants suffered a devastating loss at the hands of those upstart Colorado Rockies last night, meaning they lost three of four in Denver over the weekend – but to hear Giants fans and the Bay Area media tell it, you’d think the Gigantes had just been eliminated from playoff contention. The moans and groans have been plentiful on the Giants’ mammoth flagship radio station, KNBR 680 AM, and Giants radio announcer David Fleming set the tone last night when he called the loss the worst defeat for San Francisco since 2002. That year, for those of you baseball fans who spend a lot of time living under a rock,
Monday, August 24, 2009
Zito's biggest challenge yet
Barry Zito doing what he does best: looking ridiculous. Find information about this photo from Flickr here: Barry Zito must go deep for the San Francisco Giants on Monday in the final game of a four-game set against the Colorado Rockies. By far, this is Zito's biggest start as a member of the orange and black. While all the starts at this point of the season are big, Zito has never faced this sort of pressure in his two and a half seasons with the Giants.
He has always been considered a second-half pitcher, but the Giants have always been well out of contention by late August since he signed his insanely ridiculous seven-year, $126 million contract.
A win tonight would bring the Giants within two games of Colorado, while a loss would put the team four games back in the wild card race. A loss tonight certainly wouldn't spell the end of the season for the Giants, but it would provide them with a winning record on their current 11-game road trip and a series split with a team they are trailing in a tight race.
Few have been more critical of Zito than myself. I have blasted him on Facebook, previous columns and in person at AT&T Park. I understand that he has the worst run support in baseball this season. I also understand this is the best he has pitched since donning a Giants uniform. However, that isn't saying much. Zito has made great steps this year and has the opportunity to endear himself more to faithful Giants fans like myself. The Giants must give him some runs, but Zito cannot have a meltdown against Jason Marquis on Monday, he cannot exit before the sixth inning and he cannot give up more than two runs.
For the love of God Zito, keep the team in the game.
The Round-Up: Some serious jaw-ing going on in Oakland; the Mets just can't catch a break
By Fernando Gallo
I don't know if he's a good coach, but he's got a monster left hook
So Tom Cable was somehow involved in the breaking of assistant coach Randy Hanson’s jaw - are we supposed to be surprised about this? In recent years, there hasn’t been a more dysfunctional franchise in professional sports than the Oakland Raiders. There are pathetic teams (hello Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Pirates), but Oakland is the only team that still makes it entertaining. The real trouble is not Hanson’s broken jaw, or even that the Napa, Calif. police are investigating the matter - the real concern for Raider Nation is that Cable is not the first head coach to have problems with Hanson. Lane Kiffin suspended Hanson last season, which was reportedly one of the things that set Al Davis off and played a part in his firing (although I suppose losing 15 of 20 games didn't help). If cryptkeeper, er, Davis wants Hanson there, he ain’t going anywhere, so Cable better find somewhere quiet to put him and then leave him alone. Otherwise, Cable will be adding to California’s horrendous unemployment rate.
And yet, they still charge full price to go to the games
What do we know so far about the NFL in 2009, based on two weeks of preseason? The Raiders are second in points per game (25.5), the Cardinals are second-to-last (8), Tarvaris Jackson completed 12 of 15 passes to spark a great comeback win for Minnesota, and 49ers rookie running back Glen Coffee has more than three times as many rushing yards (196) as Adrian Peterson (64). Which proves yet again that the preseason is about as meaningless as a Clippers - Bobcats game in April.
Three outs, one player, zero happiness in Queens
Eric Bruntlett of the Phillies completed an unassisted triple play on Sunday, which doesn’t seem that special, but you’d be surprised: There have actually been fewer of them than perfect games. Bruntlett’s feat was the fifteenth such accomplishment in major league history, while Mark Buehrle threw baseball’s eighteenth perfect game this season. The fact that it happened against the Mets to end a game in which they had two runners on with no outs is more noteworthy to me. Since New York’s spectacular collapse to lose the NL East on the last day of the season in 2007, has there been a team with worse luck? In 2008, the Mets were eliminated from the playoffs on the season’s last day yet again (and both times the Marlins did them in), and they’ve celebrated the opening of a new stadium by stumbling to a 57-67 record. If it weren’t for the fact that they play in the same division as the lowly Washington Nationals, the Mets would surely be in last place.
I don't know if he's a good coach, but he's got a monster left hook
So Tom Cable was somehow involved in the breaking of assistant coach Randy Hanson’s jaw - are we supposed to be surprised about this? In recent years, there hasn’t been a more dysfunctional franchise in professional sports than the Oakland Raiders. There are pathetic teams (hello Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Pirates), but Oakland is the only team that still makes it entertaining. The real trouble is not Hanson’s broken jaw, or even that the Napa, Calif. police are investigating the matter - the real concern for Raider Nation is that Cable is not the first head coach to have problems with Hanson. Lane Kiffin suspended Hanson last season, which was reportedly one of the things that set Al Davis off and played a part in his firing (although I suppose losing 15 of 20 games didn't help). If cryptkeeper, er, Davis wants Hanson there, he ain’t going anywhere, so Cable better find somewhere quiet to put him and then leave him alone. Otherwise, Cable will be adding to California’s horrendous unemployment rate.
And yet, they still charge full price to go to the games
What do we know so far about the NFL in 2009, based on two weeks of preseason? The Raiders are second in points per game (25.5), the Cardinals are second-to-last (8), Tarvaris Jackson completed 12 of 15 passes to spark a great comeback win for Minnesota, and 49ers rookie running back Glen Coffee has more than three times as many rushing yards (196) as Adrian Peterson (64). Which proves yet again that the preseason is about as meaningless as a Clippers - Bobcats game in April.
Three outs, one player, zero happiness in Queens
Eric Bruntlett of the Phillies completed an unassisted triple play on Sunday, which doesn’t seem that special, but you’d be surprised: There have actually been fewer of them than perfect games. Bruntlett’s feat was the fifteenth such accomplishment in major league history, while Mark Buehrle threw baseball’s eighteenth perfect game this season. The fact that it happened against the Mets to end a game in which they had two runners on with no outs is more noteworthy to me. Since New York’s spectacular collapse to lose the NL East on the last day of the season in 2007, has there been a team with worse luck? In 2008, the Mets were eliminated from the playoffs on the season’s last day yet again (and both times the Marlins did them in), and they’ve celebrated the opening of a new stadium by stumbling to a 57-67 record. If it weren’t for the fact that they play in the same division as the lowly Washington Nationals, the Mets would surely be in last place.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
You Should Have Voted for the Kung Fu Panda
By Jordan Guinn
Baseball's All-Star game is set to take place next week and we here at Unsportsmanlike Conduct relish and look forward to the festivities every year. We could rail against the laughable stipulation to the game that requires the winning league to receive home field advantage during the World Series, but that topic has been done more than Kate Hudson (no easy feat). With the exception of one final player for each team, the rosters have already been announced. That's right, thanks to the Sprint Final Vote, the San Francisco Giants had the possibility to send three players to the Midsummer Classic in St. Louis.
I wouldn't be doing my job as aGiants fan if I hadn’t voted endlessly for Pablo Sandoval while I still had the chance. The charismatic 22-year-old is versatile and among the league leaders in most offensive categories. He is fourth in batting average, tied-fifth in doubles and third in multi-hit games. This is his first full season in The Show and he has put on a clinic after starting the season off slumping horribly. He has exceeded expectations and is one of the main reasons the Giants ever score runs.
Kung Fu Panda would be a household name if he played in New York or Boston. His stats warrant an All-Star selection and he should have been selected by the players, or by the fans. Shane Victorino has earned a right to be there as well, but it would have been nice to see a big fella like the Panda in the game: If it’s for the fans, shouldn't we have at least one player there who looks like one of us?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Roundup: Manny being Mannoying, the Kings' draft decisions and the coach with no shame
By Fernando Gallo
Was it a wrong turn at Albuquerque?
Manny Ramirez made a rehab start last night in Albuquerque, going 0-2 and staying mum about his drug violation bust. Thanks for continuing to be a stand-up guy! Seriously, has anyone ever given a damn less about what people think than Manny? The guy is a joke. He does what he pleases, shows up to the park in a uniform so baggy it looks like a kid wearing daddy’s clothes, and apologizes for absolutely nothing. Worse yet: nobody cares. The Dodgers will keep paying him, the fickle Dodger fans will adore him, he’ll hit a bunch of home runs and be in the postseason again. I’d like to be an athlete, because apparently accountability isn’t necessary. Just ask Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds.
A new Kings chant will be born: Ru-Bee-ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! (here’s a link for the uninitiated)
Ricky Rubio during his stint at point guard
for the Spain National team. Picture by user
Rich115 on Flickr.
My appeal to Geoff Petrie: Please please please please please please please don’t screw this up. The No. 4 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft could be used on a variety of players, including Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio, punishing hybrid guard Tyreke Evans, or defensive specialist Hasheem Thabeet (if he falls that far – not likely). Aside from having awesome names, these three guys appear destined to be difference makers in the NBA.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Sad Saga of Sammy Sosa
Sosa in the final years of his once
brilliant career. Photo from user
shgmom56 on Flickr - her second
straight on our blog. She's good.
By Jordan Guinn
In these troubled times of rampant unemployment, massive federal takeovers of banks and private industry and Iran's sham of an election, it makes perfect sense for the New York Times to report that Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003.
This is the most shocking revelation in the pages of the Times since it endorsed Barack Obama for president.
Since I am the resident steroid expert on our desperately under-manned staff, it falls on my shoulders to write something on the Times' earth-shattering revelation regarding Sosa's use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Sosa went from being the most beloved Cubs icon since Ernie Banks to the most reviled person in the North Side of Chicago. Even former mayor Richard Daley and his son don't incite as much vile hatred in Illinois as Sosa does.
And Chicago fans are justified in feeling this way. Sosa duped them. He duped all of us. For years, we thought of Sosa as the energetic guy with the wide smile and kind eyes. We even tolerated his infantile finger-kissing-chest-thumping ritual. The media even did its best to portray it as charming.
But things started going downhill for Sosa on June 3, 2003. It was on that fateful day that Sosa broke his bat and cork sprayed across Wrigley Field's infield and forever changed the way Chicago, America and baseball itself viewed him. To his credit, Sosa's excuse was a fine one: That he mistakenly grabbed the bat he used to put on a show for the fans during batting practice.
Brilliant.
Too bad everyone but naive Cubs apologists saw right through it. Sosa came back to Wrigley after an eight-game suspension to cheers and fanfare, but the damage was done. Never again would Sosa be the favored son of Chicago. His reputation continued its free-fall in subsequent years and culminated with his abandonment of the Cubs on the final day of the 2004 season, when he left the stadium well before the game had ended. Sosa said he didn't leave, even though security footage showed his car exiting the garage while the game was still being played. He was traded to Baltimore after the 2004 season.
But corked bats and team abandonment would pale in comparison to what waited on the horizon for Sosa: a Congressional hearing. The St. Patrick's Day hearing in 2005 featured Mark McGwire's legacy-murdering testimony, Rafael Palmerio's finger-wagging and Sosa, ahem, forgetting how to speak English.
Sosa had a dismal 2005 with Baltimore and had to take 2006 off because no one wanted to risk signing him. In 2007, the organization he broke into the majors with, the Texas Rangers, inked him to a minor-league deal. Sosa made the team and went on to hit his 600th career home run. Had Sosa played a little bit longer, he could have broken Reggie Jackson's all-time record for strikeouts. Sosa's career ended 291 k's short of the record. It should be noted that Jackson played for 21 years and Sosa only played 18.
But Sosa thinks his career .273 batting average, copious strikeouts and zero Gold Gloves have punched his ticket to Cooperstown. In an interview with ESPNDeportes on June 4, Sosa said, "I will calmly wait for my induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Don't I have the numbers to be inducted?"
No Sammy, you don't.
Oh, before I forget, Commissioner Bud Selig did not make an on-the-record comment regarding the New York Times' report in Tuesday's paper. My birthday is just chock-full of surprises.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Roundup: Marshall on the move? Kobe gets his and the boy wonder skips the prom
Press coverage? No problem.
But watch out for that Big
Mac box! Photo by user
JeffreyBeall on Flickr
I’m Lovin’ it
Brandon Marshall is a dope, plain and simple. He’s also immature, as evidenced by his inability to take the hit for previous injuries he inflicted on himself by supposedly slipping on a McDonald’s wrapper. As a man who’s enjoyed his share of McChickens in his day, I can tell you that I’ve never been close to slipping on a wrapper. I guess making a tip-toe catch in the back of the endzone is easier than avoiding a piece of paper from Mickey D’s.
But now Marshall has decided he’s done with the Denver Broncos, and everyone has a different opinion about what happens next. Should the Broncos trade him? No. As much of a child as Marshall is, he is still very talented and the Broncos need all the talent they can get right now. But then again, they shouldn’t have traded Jay Cutler, and we all know how that worked out. Josh McDaniels can’t afford to have disgruntled players in his first year as head coach, so Denver is likely to move Marshall if they get a decent offer. The Jets, Bears and Raiders are all teams that would get immediate upgrades from a guy like Marshall, provided he doesn’t fall over a Chicken McNuggets box at some point in 2009.
Friday, June 5, 2009
300 is the Loneliest Number
Is Randy Johnson the last 300-game winner?
Photo taken from Flickr. Photo can be found
here. Licensing info here.
By Jordan Guinn
Randy Johnson punched his ticket to Cooperstown with win number 300 in our nation’s capitol on Thursday. Amid all the controversy with Johnson’s personality and former teammates voicing their displeasure with him and his aloof nature, no one can debate that the Big Unit is the best pitcher of his generation, and possibly all-time.
He may not be personable, approachable or even much to look at, but he is steroid-free and fundamental. He has provided baseball fans with timeless clips of making hitters across several decades look foolish or downright petrified. Him buzzing John Kruk is one of my favorite All-Star game memories. Kruk was bailing out of every swing after Johnson sent a 100-mph fastball sailing over his head; it was like someone had a rope tied around his front ankle and tugged on it as every pitch came in.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
What a Lucky Bastardo
One of the members of our list.
Do you know his strange name?
This photo was taken from a Flickr
account which can be found here.
Licensing info here.
By Fernando Gallo
Tuesday night was the major league debut of Phillies pitcher Antonio Bastardo, whose last name does indeed mean bastard in Spanish. The 23-year old got the victory against San Diego after six strong innings in which he gave up only one run, a solo shot by Adrian Gonzalez. Since Gonzalez is leading the majors in home runs (what the hell!?), I’d say that’s a pretty good start for the young Bastardo. In honor of his strange last name, Unsportsmanlike Conduct presents:
The Top Ten Strangest (and Funniest) Last Names in Sports:
Monday, June 1, 2009
Leave LeBron Alone
LeBron James photo from Flickr. For
licensing info, click here.
By Fernando Gallo
Lebron James is taking a lot of flack right now, with one Yahoo! Sports columnist even comparing him to an “immature, self-absorbed brat,” but ladies and gentlemen, how about a little perspective?
It wasn’t two weeks ago that the Orlando Magic was locked in a 2-2 tie with the Boston Celtics, with Paul Pierce refusing to let his team die without Kevin Garnett. After Game 5 of that series, I speculated that a stupid cheap shot by Dwight Howard might cost the Magic Game 6, and possibly the series. Imagine my surprise when Orlando finished off the Celtics, without Howard, and advanced to face Cleveland.
Of course, most believed the Magic would see its run end on the Midwestern plains of Ohio – the Cavaliers hadn’t lost a game through two rounds, and looked downright unstoppable. But then the Magic put a Howard-sized hand around Cleveland’s throat by going up 3-1, and delivered the knockout punch in Game 6.
Not a single one of Cleveland’s players looked like they could help the cause against Orlando, and the LeBron James show floundered. James may be the greatest player of his generation, but Jordan won nothing without Pippen, Magic always had Kareem to pass to, and Shaq, regardless of all his boasting, has never even made it to the NBA Finals without a reliable guard. James can't do it all by himself.
So forgive him if he was a little pissed off as the confetti rained down on him in Orlando. What more can the guy do? He’s a freakish talent to be sure – it’s almost as if someone took the starting five of another team and crammed them into his 6-foot, 8-inch frame. His playoff numbers were downright stupid - the guy nearly averaged a triple-double, for crying out loud. Clearly he also wants to win badly, and damned if he cares what anyone else thinks as evidenced by his willingness to wear a Yankee hat to an Indians home playoff game.
The problem is, no one on the Cavs seems to care half as much as he does. Mo Williams left his shooting touch in the second round, Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak looked like over-the-hill has-beens (which is what they probably are), and Daniel “Boobie” Gibson was relegated to the bench for reasons I still don’t understand.
Is walking off the court without so much as a nod towards the victorious Magic a little rude? Sure. Is it completely classless? I wouldn’t go that far. After all, what is the biggest complaint from many fans about today’s athletes: That they don’t care enough about winning and it’s all about them first. I find it refreshing that LeBron was furious and didn’t care about sportsmanship at that moment (and apparently still doesn’t, since he hasn’t apologized). I don't want my teams to feel fine after a loss - I want the players to be as angry and frustrated in the arena as I am on my couch.
And that Yahoo! columnist who took so many shots at LeBron? Give me a break. In his column, which I would call haughty and self-riotous, he also blasted some of LeBron's worshippers - but I wonder if he includes himself in that group, since he wrote three columns over four days last month that glorified LeBron. How quickly they have turned on you, King James.
Yesterday’s athletes didn’t have multi-million dollar contracts and endorsement deals; they played simply for the love of the game. Hall-of-Famer Rollie Fingers appeared on the Oakland A’s local TV broadcast Sunday and said the day after the A’s had their championship parade in 1972, he had started his offseason job of stocking shelves at Sears. Those are the types of players I want on my team, and LeBron is a lot closer to them than he is to real ingrates like Latrell Sprewell or Terrell Owens.
I’m sure LeBron won’t be cancelling any future puppet commercials or giving Nike back any of its money, but at least he still values winning above anything else. With that in mind, it would behoove Danny Ferry to get LeBron some help ASAP, because he won’t be any happier about losing next season, when he’s in the final year of his contract with Cleveland.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
There's No Going Back Now
This photo was taken from Flickr,
from user Kimberly*
It can be found here
by Fernando Gallo
After years of waiting and wishing that third baseman Eric Chavez would return, it appears that we’ve come to the end of the road. The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that Chavez is down to his last chance – literally. His back has become such a profound mess that if it goes out one more time, his career is almost certainly over. The linked story mentions a spinal fusion as the surgery Chavez would likely have to endure, but that was later corrected. It is actually a microdiscectomy. From the Chronicle's A's blog:
A microdiscectomy would still leave his spine too unstable to play baseball (he had the same procedure done on an adjacent hernited disk), so he would have to stop playing at that point... he plans to rehab and do therapy to strengthen his back with the aim of playing as long as he can, but the doctors told him the herniation can go at any time.
So there you have it. Chavez’ back has been so fragile that lately it seemed like the slightest movement would put him back on the disabled list: that has now become a reality. Chavez plans to come back as a third baseman, and his back will be a ticking time bomb. If it goes, there will be no more surgeries and no more rehab; just a spinal fusion and one very promising career left unfulfilled.
For baseball fans, this won’t register as much more than a small bleep on the radar. But for A’s fans (like me) this is a very sad day, although I can’t say it’s a major surprise. There was talk last year that Chavez might have to switch to first base to prolong his career, and we’ve come to expect that No. 3 wouldn’t be in the lineup – he’s been on the DL six times in the last three years. But Chavvy was supposed to be the player that was different than all the rest. Not only was he off to a stellar start as a young player, but he also was the one guy the A’s got to keep.
Not so long ago, the A’s were simply the farm team for larger-market clubs. They let Johnny Damon go, got outbid on Jason Giambi, and didn’t even make Miguel Tejada an offer. But when it came time for Chavvy to become a free agent, the A’s finally kept a budding superstar. He got the biggest deal in franchise history at $66 million for 6 years, and a cornerstone of the franchise had been established. In the famed book Moneyball, General Manager Billy Beane compared Chavez’ early numbers to those of more established stars, and proclaimed that he was on pace to be better than them all.
But since 2004, Chavez has spent more time on the bench than on the field. He’s averaged only 107 games a year since signing that big contract, and hasn’t hit 30+ home runs since 2002. The man who was supposed to be the face of the franchise is hardly around enough for new fans to recognize him.
A’s analyst F.P. Santangelo (who isn’t exactly what I’d call a role model, or a player with a great track record) said on San Francisco sports talk station KNBR yesterday that he personally told Chavez to just call it a career. His reasoning? If one more setback is going to call for a major back procedure, it’s time to think about life after baseball. Chavez does have two young children, and, at 31, a long life ahead of him. As much as it pains me to say it, I think Santangelo might be right.
Chavvy gave us A’s fans a lot to cheer about over the last several years, including six consecutive Gold Gloves and some very funny TV commercials, and helped lead the team to its first ALCS appearance in 18 years. I’ll never forget walking into the Coliseum for Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS in the second inning, just as Chavvy belted a home run into right field to give the A’s the lead. The feeling of finally advancing to the second round after years of futility must have been just as euphoric for him as it was for all of us in the stands - but it’s probably now offset by the pain of knowing that’s the farthest he’ll ever go as a pro ballplayer.
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