Can&#8217;t Stop The Bleeding

Time To Say Something Nice About Marty Schottenheimer

Posted in Gridiron at 8:47 pm

Denver 23, San Diego 7

A lot of you expert-types who’ve never coached at any level will no doubt be quick to criticize Marty Schottenheimer for allowing Drew Brees (above) to suffer a potentially serious injury in a meaningless game, but let’s give the Chargers coach some credit : despite promising otherwise all week, he did find a way to get Philip Rivers some substantial playing time.

As did John Lynch, but let’s not focus on the negative as we enter a new year.

Serby Vs. The Black Hole

Posted in Gridiron at 2:22 pm

With the Giants needing a win in Oakland tonight to guarantee the NFC East title, the NY Post’s Steve Serby solicits some negative commentary about Raider Nation.

For Giants fans, more ominous than Kerry Collins’ desire for revenge is their team’s disturbing pattern of getting distracted in an alien stadium. This one, especially on this night, will look and sound as if it has been taken over by Martians.

“Imagine a big, giant Halloween party,” Bob Whitfield said. “Them [jerks] are gonna be dressed up in all kind of costumes. They got the dude in the end zone with three heads. They said he got three little heads in there, it ain’t like a costume. Like Rosie Grier and James Caan stuck together, remember that? ‘The Man With Two Heads.’ Remember that? It’s really more intimidating during the pregame, ’cause right about the second quarter happens, [jerks] are drunk.”

Morton knows the Black Hole from his Jets days.

“If you let ‘em get to you, then it’s over,” Morton said, “because they’ll be on you the whole game.”

Diminuitive Morton laughs hysterically as he tells this story: “There’s this one guy who always dresses … like these platform boots, like a real tall guy, and before the game he’s like, ‘Morton, you need my shoes?’”

Serby notes the Raiders are narrowly leading the Giants in the most penalties assessed in 2005. Even without Bill Callahan, Oakland are defending that Dumbest Team In America title.

Islanders coach Steve Stirling on the benching of captain Alexi Yashin for the final 16 minutes of last night’s loss to Ottawa ;

Dallas To Host 2007 NHL All-Star Game

Posted in Hockey at 2:06 pm

The Dallas Stars have been chosen to host the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, an honor slightly more coveted than getting the Arena Bowl, though considerably less exciting than the World Curling Championships.

“It was lazy, sloppy and just coming off an awful power play,” Stirling said. “Anything more I have to say?”

No, I think that about covers it. Maybe Stephon Marbury can offer Yashin some sage advice about the right way to handle such a critique.

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of spending Christmas week in Las Vegas, where the IHL’s now defunct Thunder were doing-their-thing at the Thomas & Mack Center. With their fingers on the pulse of something or other, Thunder management arranged for Quiet Riot’s Kevin DuBrow to sing “The Star Spangled Banner”. While it wasn’t quite R. Kelly (or Liz Phair), it was still a memorable rendition (for one thing, it sounded nothing like Slade).

Sidearm Delivery’s Brushback informs us that although the IHL has long since left Vegas, the marketing savvy is still in ample supply. Not only are the ECHL’s Wranglers playing some of their home games at midnight, but a recent contest with the Long Beach Ice Dogs was preceeded by a performance by Mini Kiss.

No minor league hockey love for the Kissfits (shown above), however, which is a very sobering thought on this most unsober of days.

Manny & The Mets, Continued

Posted in Baseball at 11:51 am

Following on yesterday’s report by the Star-Ledger’s Dan Granziano that tipped Kris Benson to the Orioles, Miguel Tejada to Boston and Manny Ramirez to the Mets, the Daily News’ Bill Madden and Anthony McCarren claim that talks have expanded to include the Devils Rays (again). (link courtesy Chuck Meehan)

The basics of the four-team deal that had the baseball executives buzzing yesterday and would appear to satisfy the needs of all four clubs would have Tejada and Tampa Bay’s Joey Gathright going to the Red Sox to fill Boston’s holes at shortstop and center field.

Ramirez and Baez would go to the Mets, giving them one of the game’s best sluggers and a setup man. The Orioles would satisfy their need at shortstop by getting Julio Lugo from Tampa Bay and add pitching by getting Matt Clement from Boston and possibly Kris Benson from the Mets.

The Devil Rays, who have always been difficult to deal with, especially in complicated transactions, are seeking top prospects and young pitching and would be satisfied in that regard by getting third baseman Andy Marte from Boston and Jae Seo and Aaron Heilman from the Mets. In addition, the Mets would send Kaz Matsui to Tampa to give the D-Rays a stopgap shortstop replacement until prospect B.J. Upton is ready.

An executive with one of the teams called the four-team scenario far-fetched, but an official with another of the teams said he expected to broach such talks.

On the less savory side of things, yesterday Deadspin repeated the rumor that Manny’s reluctance to stay in Boston stems from Mrs. Manny’s unhappiness with his fucking around. This scoop is right up there with Kyle Farnsworth being a jerk. What part of “Manny wants more privacy” was so hard to decipher until now?

Tony Parker’s Furry Sac Campaign

Posted in Basketball, Fashion at 10:21 am

As seen on the back of a Paris bus, Spurs G Tony Parker (photograph courtesy of Jay Strell). Maybe that bicycle cop really did just want his autograph?

Jon Solomon Visits Tavern, All Hell Breaks Loose

Posted in Gridiron, The Mailbag at 1:51 am

Dear CSTB,

This afternoon, on my way south from the Volcano Suns reunion show, I stopped off in Manhattan to watch my alma mater play UCLA in the Sun Bowl. It was appropriate that a football game sponsored by Vitalis would make me want to rip out my hair. While I was taking a picture of myself in the bar to remember the game by, I discovered an eerie spectre had appeared in the background of the frame. I’ve attached photographic evidence of my encounter.

Diamond Rio performed at halftime in El Paso. All hail west Texas!

I have to log off before the Bruins return a third onside kick for a touchdown.

Signed,

Mystified in Mercer County

12.30.05

How We Got Here From There : CSTB’s Sports Books Of The Year

Posted in Baseball, Basketball, Sports Journalism at 6:38 pm

The sport, unfortunately, had been belching the residue of its shortsighted money-grabbing for the better part of a decade. People I have known for many years who were at The Palace of Auburb Hills that night spoke of the anger in the air, palpable and ugly, a gladitorial ambience that over the years had become pervasive in too many NBA arenas. Obviously, this was partly attributable to to the intensity between two physical rivals, but it was more a by-product of a regrettable marketing scheme to create an in-your-face product that was edgy enough to resonate with the young and rebellious, those who would buy the jerseys, play the video games, create the buzz.

However, the fans paying a king’s ransom for the expensive seats were much less forgiving, more easily antagonized upon the sounding of those deep-rooted racial alarms. Drunk or not, too many basketball fans had reached the point where they objectified the players, could not related to them as human beings, or see beyond societal stereotypes and flimsily disguised racial codes. If the imagery of large black men beating on defenseless white fans was alarming, the too-widely accepted pastime of affluent whites feeling empowered to verbally abuse half-dressed, sweaty black men should have enoked even more discomfort and disturbing American historical chapters.

The irony was that, the more the fans shelled out for their seats, the closer they got to the action —- but the closer they got, the wider the gulf between them and players seemed to grow. The arguments over which side of the basketball divide was more to blame could be carried on ad infinitum, but, when all was said and done, the sad spectacle revealed more about how American big business operated, more about profiteering than it did about punches, more about how gluttonous corporations had steered the sport off course and over time created a poweder keg ready to blow on a short racial fuse.

- From Harvey Araton’s ‘Crashing The Borders : How Basketball Won The World and Lost Its Soul At Home’ (Free Press).

1) Howard Bryant’s ‘Juicing The Game : Drugs, Power And The Fight For The Soul Of Major League Baseball’ (Viking).

Horsing Around In The Pacific Northwest

Posted in Going To The Zoo at 6:19 pm

Following up on one of 2005’s top scoops, Tim Cook writes,

It certainly wasn’t any natural disaster or accomplishments of the local 5, 9 or 11 (Sonics, Mariners or Seahawks), but was, in fact, according to the Times’ Danny Westneat, but was the heartbreaking story of the King County equestrians.

Happy new year!

From the San Francisco Chronicle’s Tom Fitzgerald.

Creamy Krueger Returns To The Airwaves

Posted in Sports Radio at 12:00 pm

Larry Krueger has a regular radio gig again, nearly five months after being fired as a sports talk host at KNBR for criticizing the Giants’ “brain-dead Caribbean hitters hacking at slop nightly.”

Krueger (above) has been hired by KGO, one of KNBR’s main competitors, as a sports reporter on the weekday, 4-to-7 p.m. program anchored by Greg Jarrett and Rosie Allen.

On the surface, the new job would seem to be new territory from Krueger’s previous show, which allowed him free rein to issue his outspoken views.

At KGO, he’ll basically have a two-minute slot twice an hour in which he’ll give scores, issue news reports and give his opinions.

“People (at KGO) told me they want to get away from (strictly scores and news) and to use my creative abilities to concentrate on things and take a new approach,” Krueger said Thursday, shortly after the station announced his hiring.

“I’ll be trying to concentrate on issues and things that would be appealing to our vast audience.”

Because of the furor over Krueger’s remarks about the Giants — he likened manager Felipe Alou’s mind to “Cream of Wheat” — KGO news director Greg Tantum said he “wanted to take the time to get to know him. We found out he’s a quality human being. I felt that whatever had happened, that was not going to be problem (at KGO). Not because of the negative publicity, he felt very bad as a human being about the whole situation.”

Krueger said his biggest regret about the incident that prompted his firing was “that Felipe didn’t do his due diligence on finding out who I really am, and that he wouldn’t accept word one of an apology from me.”

As for his controversial blast at the team, he said, “I’d go back to what I originally said, that there was never any malicious intent on my part. I’m sorry that Felipe and others were offended, but there was no intent on my part to put anybody down.”

From the Newark Star-Ledger’s Dan Graziano.

Graziano : Mets Still In Manny Mix

Posted in Baseball at 11:54 am

According to two baseball officials familiar with the talks, the Mets have been involved in several complicated trade discussions with the hope of landing Manny Ramirez. Both officials said the large, complex deals still required a lot of work, but that the Mets were keeping their toe in the water in case they still had a chance to add Ramirez to their 2006 lineup.

One of the possibilities would involve a multi-team deal in which Mets pitcher Kris Benson would end up in Baltimore, Tejada in Boston and Ramirez with the Mets (with a variety of other players and cash bouncing around in the deal as well). The Orioles like Benson and, earlier this off-season, offered reliever Jorge Julio for him. The Mets have been looking to trade him and certainly would do so if it meant bringing in Ramirez for right field.

The “variety of other players” portion of this seems to be the most complicated part of the equation. There’s no way the Orioles can sell their fans on the notion that Kris Benson for Tejada represents fair value, to say nothing of the message it would send to Jeromy Burnitz.

Marbury Declares Love For Dolan, Fails To Speak With Brown

Posted in Basketball at 11:39 am

Newsday’s Greg Logan on the Knicks’ Stephon Marbury, who says (some of) the right things after being buried by Larry Brown in the coach’s postgame press conference Wednesday night.

“Hey, man, I love New York, and I want to be here more than anything,” Marbury volunteered in an interview after practice. “Whatever it’s going to take for me to win, I’m going to do it because I feel like New York deserves it … If it’s sacrificing my game, I’m willing to do that.”

In Marbury’s view, that’s exactly what he was doing in Orlando when he took only three shots in the first three quarters and finished with five points, 0-for-7 shooting and three assists.

Marbury said he passed up open shots to get better ones for teammates, which is what Brown wants from his point guard.

Brown was in no mood to add fuel to the fire yesterday, declaring the incident over. But he did not back off his critical postgame comments. Performance fluctuates from game to game, but Brown said, “In my mind, he had a lot of good looks [in Orlando] that he didn’t look to take. I think you can hurt your team by doing that.

The point guard from Coney Island (above), who has been traded three times, acknowledged the possibility of a fourth trade, but he’s not asking out.

“I can’t do nothing about that, but like I said, I love New York more than anything, and I’ll do anything to be in New York,” Marbury said. “This is the place I grew up at, loving to play basketball and being a fan of New York.”

Marbury said the thought of leaving “never crossed my mind.” He hasn’t talked to Thomas about his desire to remain with the Knicks, but then again, Marbury said that’s not necessary.

“My heart and my soul say that,” Marbury said. “My heart and my soul bleed New York colors. I know that, and I believe everybody else knows that.”

It’s plain to see Marbury doesn’t enjoy Brown’s emphasis on defense and a structured offense that takes the ball out of his hands to stress ball movement and an inside-out attack. But Marbury insisted, “I made the adjustment. So I’m willing, and I’m ready.”

Curiously, Brown and Marbury discussed their views openly with reporters but never spoke to each other about what happened in Orlando. The one question Marbury refused to answer was about his relationship with Brown, and when asked if he needs to talk to Brown about his role as point guard, Marbury snapped, “I don’t need to talk to him. He needs to come tell me what he wants me to do if that’s what he feels is the case.”

So things aren’t exactly hunky-dory in paradise, but Marbury even went so far as to say, “I love [Cablevision CEO James] Dolan for bringing me here. Like I said, once we all get to the point where we’ve had enough [of losing], then that’s when it’s going to be enough.”

The New York Post’s Peter Vescey, unsurprisingly, finds much to mock in the Marbury/Brown stalemate.

Only genius can get away with the infantile concept of starting players in their college or home town, or in David Lee’s case, home state. One day you’re thrown into Brown’s moth ball drawer, the next day you’re being introduced with four other irregulars. And here all this time I believed sports was about winning, not playing to the crowd.

The catch is, Lee hails from St. Louis, Mo., and played at the University of Florida at Gainesville, not anywhere near Orlando. Worse yet, Brown assigned the 6-9 power ranger to cover Grant Hill, who, despite four ankle operations, is still infinitely more mobile than Lee.

It’s as if Brown picked his starting lineup out of hat in anticipation of getting sawed in half at the Magic Kingdom. I’d like to see the alpha waves that comprise Brown’s thought process when he Etch-A-Sketches his nightly starters. Is there some essay contest on the team plane? Does he go up and down the aisles asking, “I’m thinking of a number between . . . ?” Is there speed-dial with the Psychic Friends Network?

Adding insult to our already insulted intelligence, four members of Wednesday night’s queasy quintet didn’t see as much as 17 minutes of daylight. Stephon Marbury (0-7, three assists in 40 malicious minutes) was the only one who did, and he didn’t deserve 17 seconds of unsupervised activity.

Transit workers, who recognize a strike when they see one, claim they gave New York City more production than that during their nearly three-day work stoppage. Question is, why would Brown leave Marbury in there for so long if he felt he was laying down on the job? Seems like both men went out of their way to embarrass each other and each was very effective.

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Great Moments In Beauty Pageant History

Posted in Sports Radio at 10:50 am

From today’s edition of Scott’s Shots :

The blurry, amateur pictures from the Miss WEEI contest found at the woeful WEEI website showed once again, what a “high class” organization the radio station truly is. Over/Under on the total number of Revere and Worcester hair bimbos was four and a half. The pictures probably don’t justice to the, ahem, lovelies, but it was a motley crew to be sure. And it begs the question: What kind of woman would want to be Miss ‘EEI? And what are the benefits?

From the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

Old Coot Demands Ballplayers Spruce Up

Posted in Baseball, Fashion at 10:41 am

From the land that time forgot (ie. Palm Beach), here’s the TC Post’s Bill Vaylo, advocating an MLB dress code (thanks to Repoz for the link).

There is only one conclusion that can be reached after George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees, made Johnny Damon get rid of his beard and long hair before he becomes part of the again new New York Yankees lineup — make him head up the dress code committee for Major League Baseball.

Steinbrenner has not been one of my favorite baseball owners. He interferes much too much with the manager. What he does do right, however, is make sure that his team looks good on and off the field.

Baseball players have become sloppy over the years. With all the money the make (yes, I will add this much used phrase), you would think that they could afford a haircut and a shave.

Most teams in the majors are poor examples for the cities they represent. City officials should put in a clause in the contracts they sign with owners when money for a new stadium are bantered about. It should read “we will give you the money, provided that your ballplayers get haircuts and beards removed” and that they set a fine example on and off the field.

Social fashion trends have molded the attitudes of ballplayers throughout the years. It seems that long hair, moustaches, beards, sideburns and goatees are common in lineups today.

In the late 60s and 70s, baseball dress on the field was conservative. Facial hair was out during this period. I remember when Dick Allen, the powerful first baseman, came to Philadelphial sporting a moustache and beard in the 70s. My loyalty to the team took a dip during his tenure with the Phillies.

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Sherman : Mets Closing In On Baez

Posted in Baseball at 6:43 am

In a move that could give the Mets perhaps the finest 1-2 closing punch in the National League, GM Omar Minaya is working to finalize a trade that would bring Danys Baez from Tampa Bay to serve as the primary set-up man for Billy Wagner, The Post has learned.

The Mets have spoken regularly to the Devil Rays for weeks about both Baez and shortstop Julio Lugo, who the Mets would play at second base. But over the last few days, the Mets have narrowed their focus to Baez, who had more saves for Tampa last season (41) than Wagner did for Philadelphia (38).

The Devil Rays would receive a package in return that would be headed by either Jae Seo or Aaron Heilman.

Though such a transaction would give the Mets the sort of bullpen depth we’ve not seen in Flushing since the mid ’80’s, it does seem as though little consideration is given to Heilman’s huge potential, as a set-up guy, closer when/if Wagner does down or a starter. If not traded this time, it seems like he’ll be bait as long as he wears a Mets uniform.

Conversely, it is easy to project any number of games next season in which neither Martinez nor Glavine are going to pitch beyond the 7th inning. Baez’s value, if obtained, could go far beyond that of a mere middle reliever.

From the Associated Press :

12.29.05

Miggy Unimpressed With Burnitz Signing

Posted in Baseball at 9:18 pm

On Thursday, the disgruntled All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada said he was upset by the Orioles’ failure to make trades that would strengthen the team.

“Now, I am more upset than when I requested the trade because it’s been a month and they haven’t done anything,” Tejada told The Associated Press on Thursday.

“I don’t want to say anything bad that can hurt my teammates, but look at Toronto, they have strengthened themselves and we haven’t done anything,” said Tejada, who hit .305 last season with 26 homers and 98 RBIs.

Tejada noted that division rivals New York and Toronto made moves to improve. The Yankees acquired outfielder Johnny Damon and the Blue Jays signed closer B.J. Ryan, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett and third baseman Troy Glaus.

“If the Orioles don’t do anything, I want them to trade me because I am tired of losing,” Tejada said before a winter league game.

If he isn’t traded by the Orioles, Tejada said he would “respect the game as I have always done.”

“I am not asking for a team of superstars, I only want a good group that helps me to win,” he said.

Apparently, Baltimore’s acquisitions of Jeromy Burnitz and Jeff Conine weren’t enough to satisfy Tejada. Though he did say he’s not asking for a team of superstars.

Rotoworld quotes the Indianpolis Star’s Mark Montieth as dismissing said deal, suggesting a swap with the Nuggets for Nene is the more likely scenario.

Artest To Lakers Trade Disputed

Posted in Basketball at 8:58 pm

Earlier today, Pro Basketball News’ Sam Amico reported the following :

Indiana is nearing a three-team trade that would send swingman Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Lakers, a league source has told ProBasketballNews.com.

Meanwhile, Lakers forward Devean George would end up in Indiana.

The third team involved in the proposed trade is the Toronto Raptors, according to the source. The Raptors would send Jalen Rose to Los Angeles — and in return receive Pacers forward Austin Croshere and at least one player from the Lakers.

The source added that George and an undetermined player from the Raptors — or perhaps a draft pick — would be to dealt to the Pacers.

“Basically, it’s Artest for Devean George, with the Raptors getting involved to make it work financially,” the source said. “When and if it happens, this will be a trade that consists of plenty of throw-ins.”

Sonics F Danny Fortson, no doubt ready to blame the whole thing on Peter Vescey, has been suspended by the league for two games for the wonderfully worded “failure to leave the court in a timely manner” after his ejection in last night’s visit to Minneapolis.

Quote Of The Day…

Posted in Baseball, The World Of Entertainment at 6:53 pm

…if not the calendar year comes from actor John C. McGinley (Dr. Perry Cox on NBC’s “Scrubs”), as interviewed by Dodger Thoughts’ Jon Weissman (link swiped from Baseball Musings’ David Pinto)

Obviously, McGinley is not alone among actors in his sports infatuation. John Cusack is deep into it, according to McGinley, though no one may be more hardcore than D.B Sweeney of Eight Men Out and The Cutting Edge.

“Sweeney is right up there,” McGinley said. “And (Tom) Sizemore, before he got into all this trouble, he had close to a photographic memory. He was kind of like Bob Costas; he was unbelievable.

Unless someone (any bloggers from Albany feel up to it?) wants to testify that Tom Sizemore is a really nice guy, I think we’ll have to let McGinley’s comment stand. The Bob Costas comparison is a curious one — maybe he really meant Jean Louis Costes?

Race and Reason With Sir Charles

Posted in Sports Radio at 6:27 pm

ESPN Radio’s Dana Jacobson spoke with Charles Barkley today on the subject of Tiger Woods’ 30th birthday. Barkley, being a pal of Woods, was asked “what do you get the man who has everything?”

“I’m gonna get him him some CD’s. I need to blacken him up.”

“Any CD in particular?”, inquired Jacobs0n.

“That new Eminem CD, ‘Curtain Call’.

FSU’s Nicholson Suspended

Posted in College Spurts, Gridiron at 1:30 pm

Oh for the days when the words “Butkus Award semi-finalist” and “rape allegation” didn’t appear alongside each other in the newspaper.

I don’t actually remember those days, but maybe a handful of you are older than me.

From the Seattle Times’ Bob Finnegan :

Finnegan : Mariners Chasing Lester, Papelbon

Posted in Baseball at 1:18 pm

(most assuredly the wrong Lester)

An East Coast source said the Mariners are offering pitcher Gil Meche as well as center fielder Jeremy Reed, in an effort to obtain one of Boston’s prized pitching prospects, Jon Lester (a Puyallup native) or Jonathan Papelbon, in a trade.

Boston began the talks when it became apparent it would lose center fielder Johnny Damon. In its initial inquiry about Reed, Boston was believed to have talked about giving hard-throwing Matt Clement, who will make $19 million over the next two seasons.

Since signing left-hander Jarrod Washburn to a $38 million contract, Seattle has focused on sinker-baller Bronson Arroyo in recent discussions since he made only $1.85 million in 2005 and is arbitration eligible and under club control for three more years.

“It might be tough to get Lester or Papelbon,” a National League scout said. “Every team who has talked to the Sox about a deal has asked for one of them.”

While the Mariners are said to be more proactive in pushing a trade with Boston, they apparently are down on the Red Sox’s dance card.

The Sox, in need of a shortstop as well as a center fielder, are reportedly focused on a multi-player deal with Tampa Bay, trying to land shortstop Julio Lugo and outfielder Joey Gathright.

The Kansas City Star’s Jeff Passan reports the Royals will host one of the World Baseball Classic’s Group A qualifiers —- Korea, China or Japan — in a March 8 exhibition in Surprise, AZ. There’s a whole ‘nuther continent dying to get a first glimpse of Doug Mientkiewicz in a K.C. uniform, apparently.

The Nationals have agreed upon a one-year deal with righthander Ramon Ortiz (source, the Associated Press).

Whoever is handling Frank McCourt’s public relations needs a raise. Either that, or an online petition convincing he or she not to kill themselves.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Bill Conlin.

Tom Hicks Takes His Licks From Bill Conlin

Posted in Baseball at 11:36 am

Kevin Millwood is not the first .500 pitcher Tom Hicks made a little richer. Ross Perot’s good buddy and fellow billionaire bought the Texas Rangers from George Walker Bush and his partners for $250 million in 1998.

As usual, Hicks (above) appeared to overpay. But is it overpaying when you’re always coming to the table loaded with the casino’s money, the public’s money or the cable subscribers’ money?

Baseball men wondered if Hicks would ever do business again with his Rangers “shadow partner,” agent Darth Boras, after the $252 million Alex Rodriguez contract launched the Rangers to last place.

But old Tom must be selling scads of premium-tier packages on the cable system that also

carries his Rangers and lots of other sports. He must be renting truckloads of those shiny little boxes that let you watch a recorded show while recording two more shows on different channels at the same time. And in the afternoon, instead of watching soaps you can watch all the HBO goodies you missed on demand. What a thing.

After Scott Boras burned him big-time on the Pudge and Alex Rodriguez contracts, Hicks swore up and down he would not lavish any more 5-year deals.

Then Kevin Millwood came along with that soft body and country way of sounding humble and sincere.

Kevin now stands as king of the mountain of wretched salary excess. With his numbers well-adjusted for inflation, his $60 million for 5 years is now the analog to Claudell Washington in 1980. At least Hicks didn’t buy the whole fifth year.

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Strahan Sacked At Rangers/Isles Derby

Posted in Gridiron, Hockey at 11:14 am

Though the New York Rangers running riot over the Islanders last night at the Nassau Mausoleum (potentially a new piece in the Wilpon empire?) is gratifying enough, thumbs up to the NY Post’s Evan Grossman for the following aside about Giants DE Michael Strahan.

Perhaps the only thing more disgusting than the Islanders’ performance last night at the sold-out Coliseum crowd was Michael Strahan trying to plug his line of pork products on the Jumbotron during an in-game interview in the tunnel.

The Giants’ gap-toothed sack artist apparently did not realize — as he was booed by the fans he blindsided with the shameless plug — that the building already housed its share of swine.

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Mets Fan, 13 Others Swaying Kaz From Seppuku

Posted in Baseball at 10:55 am

Miracle Mets’ Chris Wilcox has posted the following online petition :

To : Kaz Matsui

The undersigned agree that the life of Kazuo Matsui, second baseman for the New York Mets, is ultimately far more important than however poor his performance on the field may be. The Japanese culture is such that suicide is accepted for those who may feel as though they have disgraced their family. We would not like to see Mr. Matsui commit an act that would take his own life, and take a father away from a child, a husband away from a wife, and a son away from their parents. It is with that intent in mind that the undersigned agree to not boo Mr. Matsui, and agree to attempt to encourage him in the upcoming season to achieve greater heights. Whether or not he achieves those heights, we would still like to see to it that Mr. Matsui one day returns to Japan to his family, and that no harm comes to him from his own hand

下記によってはしかし貧乏人が分野の彼の性能そうかもしれないことをことがKazuo Matsui ニューヨークMets のための二塁手の、生命である最終的に遠い重要より一致する。日本文化は自殺が彼らが彼らの家族を恥となったように感じるかもしれない自殺のために受け入れられることそのような物である。私達は彼自身の生命を氏が行為を託すのを見ることをMatsui 取る望まなかったし、妻からの子供、夫、および彼らの親からの息子から父を連れ去る。それはないブーイングの氏にMatsui 下記によってが一致するあり、次の季節の彼をすばらしい高さを達成するために励ますように試みることに同意する心のその意思と。それらの高さを達成するかどうか彼、私達はまだ害が彼自身の手から彼に来ないこと、そして彼の家族にそれにそのMatsui 日本への氏の日帰りを見ることを望む。

Sincerely,

The Undersigned.

This is quite a coincidence, because I was just about to bulk e-mail the following to all of my friends and colleagues ;

TO: Fred and Jeff Wilpon

The undersigned agree that the lives of Fred and Jeff Wilpon, owner and devoted son of the owner of the New York Mets, are ultimately far more important than however ill-advised some of their decisions have been. American business culture is such that forcing an underling to fall on his or her sword is an acceptable practice, though sometimes, suicide is attempted by those who may feel as though they have disgraced their family and/or have listened to Mike and The Mad Dog too often. We would not like to see Fred or Jeff commit an act that would take their own lives, and take a father away from a child, a husband away from a wife, and a son away from their parents. It is with that intent in mind that the undersigned agree to continue spending as much money as possible on New York Mets tickets, parking, concessions and subscription fees to Fred and Jeff’s new cable network.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned.

If anyone would like to take a crack at translating the above for the Wilpons, please let me know.

From the Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy.

B.C. Football Vs. The Cosmopolitan Sensibilities Of Boise, ID

Posted in Gridiron at 9:37 am

When Monday night’s banquet turned into a rah-rah event for Boise State, the Boston College players let it be known they might have a little extra motivation for the MPC Computers Bowl.

After last night’s 27-21 victoryl, it became clear just how upset and offended the Eagles were. BC took offense at Mayor Dave Bieter’s open rooting for Boise State at the banquet, but particularly galling was the fact that MPC Computers CEO Mike Atkins made a running joke of mispronouncing Mathias Kiwanuka’s name.

Kiwanuka (above), whose grandfather was the first prime minister of Uganda, is extremely proud of his African heritage and his family name. The jokes hit him hard.

“I thought the banquet was extremely disrespectful,” Kiwanuka said. “I’ve never been that disrespected so much as a Boston College football player, as a person from the city of Boston and as an individual. To see the mayor get up and say some disrespectful things, then to have the CEO of the title sponsor get up and say what he said and attack me personally, that was ridiculous.”

BC coach Tom O’Brien was clearly angered.

“We got to a banquet that turns into a pep rally,” he said. “I didn’t have to say anything to this team. I ought to thank the mayor and the people of Boise. They did everything to get this team (ready). I’ve been to 19 bowl games and I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It was a banquet. The pep rally was the next night. You don’t disrespect the best player on the opposite team by making fun of his name and having everyone in the audience laugh at him. There wasn’t anything I had to do to get this team ready. You all did it for us. Thank you.”

Grizzlies 100, Lakers 99 (OT)

Grizzlies Survive Kobe’s 45, Forearm

Posted in Basketball at 1:18 am

It was an huge win for Memphis at the Staples Center tonight, particularly with the ejection of Eddie Jones and Mike Miller and Shane Battier having fouled out. And while I’d prefer to focus on the clutch play down the stretch by Damon Stoudamire (having a bit of a revival this week), the real question is how did Kobe Bryant stay in this game? Bryant was bloodied in a collision with Mike Miller (above) during the 3rd quarter, but the foul was correctly called on the former. After being bandaged, Bryant returned to hit 3 successive 3 pointers….and delivered a blatant forearm to Miller’s throat when the Memphis guard tried to drive the lane.

Retaliation is one thing, but Bryant was settling a score over contact he initiated. ESPN’s Dee Brown observed that had a similar foul been committed by Ron Artest or Danny Fortson, either would’ve been ejected (and presumably, fined or suspended afterwards).

Had such an incident occured in a city other than L.A., the failure to run Kobe would’ve resulted in a riot. This was about as premeditated a mugging as it gets, and nonsensical to boot.

Permalink 6 Comments

12.28.05

Carroll Staying At USC

Posted in Gridiron at 10:18 pm

In a development that should surprise absolutely no one, USC head football coach Pete Carroll has agreed to a contract extension with the school, the length of which is unspecified. There’s a Matt Leinart joke in here somewhere, but I’ve got to get up early tomorrow.

Given that say, unlike Charlie Weis, Carroll has actually won something, he had more than a little leverage. And while the prospect of Carroll ever returning the NFL seemed terribly farfetched, it would’ve been great to see how the league might’ve coped with his unique sense of humor.

Shame they can’t give Reggie Bush a contract extension, though.

Michigan are currently leading Nebraska, 21-17 in the Mastercard Alamo Bowl, with another quarter to play. Though I have no rooting interest, every time a Bill Callahan-coached team, pro or college, loses, another dead kitten comes back to life, break dances and hands out free gum.

(postscript : hillarious finish to this one, all it needed was a tuba player getting creamed. Well, that and Bill Callahan being electrocuted. The Wolverines lost 5 games this year by a combined total of 21 points. Even Marty Schottenheimer is shaking his head).

Permalink 4 Comments

Brown : Marbury’s Lousy Night No Accident

Posted in Basketball at 9:08 pm

Magic 105, Knicks 96

“I think he just didn’t want to shoot the ball. So I thought he’d have 15 or 20 assists. Just one of those nights. (pause). Maybe he didn’t feel like he was on. He played 40 minutes, shot 0 for 7 with 3 assists. He got the ball all the time. I ran plenty of stuff for him. He had 3 assists and no steals. By accident, you can get a steal. “

I’ve listened to a lot of depressing stuff in my time, but nothing worse than a disconsolate Larry Brown telling the truth.

Spurs’ Ted Ditchburn, RIP

Posted in Football at 7:55 pm

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Ted Ditchburn has passed away at the age of 84.

From the Spring of 1946 to March 1954, Ditchburn missed only 2 matches for Spurs, appearing in 247 consecutive games. Ditchburn also made 6 appearances for the England side.

Charlton Athletic’s Wednesday evening match at Newcastle, scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm, was cancelled at 7:15 due to snow throughout the day. A nice surprise, in that case, for Charlton fans who’d travelled some 300 miles for the privilege of turning around and going home.

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The Holiday Tradition That Is The MPC Computers Bowl

Posted in Gridiron at 5:47 pm

Boston College 24, Ball State O (halftime)

As you probably know, there is no bigger fan of the pomp and pagentry of big time collegiate athletics than yours truly. I woke up early this morning and watched the MPC Computers Parade, then spent most of the afternoon listening to old Eyeless In Gaza albums in homage to Boston College’s terrific WZBC.

That said, I’m not sure any contest, let alone one with this game’s rich history, is worthy of blowing off a D.U.I court date.

Nor can I understand, after trying in vain to adjust the settings of my very expensive television set, why the field is blue. What’s up with that?

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Coming In August 2006 : Will Leitch Watches The “Lazy Sunday” Video

Posted in Blogged Down, Will Leitch Sucks at 5:11 pm

With typical aplomb, Will Leitch (to say nothing of his cretinous readers) is in a tizzy today over a video of a Ball State undergrad stammering his way through a crap sports newscast.

Granted, it’s a funny video. Just as funny, in fact, when others linked to it in April of 2005. The only thing that could be funnier would be if it turned out the unfortunate would-be Mike Lynch had recently committed suicide.

Seems to me that if you’re gonna take the time to publicly ridicule someone for their complete and utter inability to function as a public speaker, you’d better have some chops of your own in said department. I’ve seen Will sweating bullets on ESPN2. I’ve heard his insomnia-cure cameos on Sports Bloggers Live. Suffice to say, if you had to choose from Radar O’Riley, Leon Spinks and Will Leitch for a recitation of the Gettysburg Address, the poetry of Robert Frost or just today’s blue plate specials, Will would come in third.

Ball State’s Brian Collins can take some solace in knowing that a few minutes of net video humilation is nothing compared to life as a Walking Blooper Reel.

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Swindon’s Iffy : We Didn’t Hire Big Ron

Posted in Football at 3:06 pm

Despite numerous reports that much travel manager / disgraced TV pundit Ron Atkinson had taken a consultancy job at Swindon Town, manager Iffy Onuora denies having given Big Ron the gig.

Swindon on Wednesday denied they have appointed former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson (above) as a consultant.

Atkinson, who lost two media jobs after a racist remark he made last year about French defender Marcel Desailly, was quoted as saying he would team up with Swindon’s black coach, Iffy Onuora.

But Onuora said Atkinson was only hosting a TV documentary at the club.

“We have got a staff of people here which I am very happy with,” Onuora said. “Results are showing we are not doing too bad. Any other help we will get will be great – but Ron is here to front a TV show.”

Currently in progress, QPR, looking to bounce back from their Boxing Day loss at Brighton, are leading Cardiff City 1-0 courtesy of a 47th minute goal from Marc Nygaard.

Live right now on FSC, the much maligned former QPR striker Peter Crouch has scored his 4th goal in his past 3 matches, Liverpool leading Everton, 2-1 at intermission.

P John Garland (18-10 in 2005) and the White Sox avoided arbitration today, the right hander agreeing to a 3 year, $29 million deal.

Garland’s New Deal

Posted in Baseball at 2:15 pm

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dean Kovacevic reports the Pirates have come to terms with 3B Joe Randa on a one-year deal worth $4 million. Just in time to shoot the cover of the Pirates’ 2006 Media Guide, then.

Molori : Burton Acts Like Journalist, Is Accused Of Masturbation

Posted in Gridiron, Sports TV at 2:08 pm

Over at the finest blog ever named after a Germs song, Mediablitz’ John Molori comments on Ch. 38’s Steve Burton having the termerity to ask Patriots coach Bill Belichick a real question after New England’s Monday night win over the Jets.

(Belichick, wondering when TV-38 will cut everyone a break and put “Ask The Manager” back on the air)

After Belichick stated that Tedy Bruschi had tightness in his leg, Burton pressed on asking exactly what part of Bruschi’s leg was tight. Belichick typically dodged the question. Subsequently, Burton again questioned Belichick, politely asking why a key player like Bruschi is playing special teams in a game that was very much in hand.

A clearly agitated Belichick responded that the Patriots play to win. Burton’s questions were extremely valid and refreshing. In a region where the media largely falls at the feet of the three-time Super Bowl winning coach, Burton was direct and fearless.

In short, he did what no one else in the room had the guts to do. He took on one of the most intimidating and indomitable figures in New England sports history.

Later, Burton chased down Bruschi off the air and asked about his condition. According to Burton, Bruschi was walking with a noticeable limp and replied, “I’m fine.” Burton asked again and Bruschi reiterated, “Burton, I’m fine.” Kudos to Burton for flagging down Bruschi and getting an answer.

On Tuesday’s “Big Show” on WEEI, “Fifth Quarter” cohost Steve DeOssie took issue with Burton’s line of questioning. DeOssie called Burton’s actions “mental masturbation” and stated that he would never ask Belichick such questions because he already knows the answers. He also said that reporters who ask such questions are trying to show that they are tough guys.

DeOssie is, in my view, the best football commentator in the region, but in this case, he is out of line. You don’t have to be an ex-player to know that Belichick plays his starters longer than most coaches and that he values special teams as much as offense and defense.

We also know that he is never going to give any specifics on injuries. In fact, ABC’s Al Michaels had the line of the night when he said of Belichick’s injury silence, “If you die, (the Patriots) list you as questionable.”

XM Saves The Worst For Last

Posted in Baseball, Sports Radio at 1:34 pm

XM has a funny way of thanking loyal subscribers for their support — the satellite provider is touting a December 31 broadcast in which Buzz Bissinger and Tony La Russa chew the fat about the former’s “3 Nights In August”, with said discussion moderated by none other than Tank McNamara’s twin brother from different mothers, Ronnie “Night Train” Lane.

The other media option for the evening, of course being the Stuart Scott / Little Steven Van Zandt ball-dropping, perhaps it would make sense to actually venture out of the house on New Year’s Eve.

(Real Player, iTunes or Windows Media friendly)

The (Semi) Popular Music Of 2005, Neatly Summarized

Posted in Radio, Rock Und Roll at 12:22 pm

If the CSTB Top Whatever Of 2005 didn’t satiate your need to have the year in ruckity roll wrapped up, tune into to Her Jazz’ Maria on WPRB today from 2:30-5:30 EST, for another compelling point-of-view.

Bayless Answers The Bell

Posted in Boxing, Sports Radio at 12:05 pm

Subbing for Jim Rome this afternoon, the extremely tight-faced Skip Bayless (above) accepted Charles Barkley’s challenge to square off in “Celebrity Boxing” (surely both fighters have to be celebrities?) and went on to proclaim that despite being “17 or 18 years older than Charles…I’m in much better shape. I can outrun him for 15 rounds. He won’t even last two rounds with me.”

I do hope this match occurs, if only because it will give America’s No. One (thousand) author of books-for-teens something else to do other than sneer at depressed kids.

From the Chicago Sun-Times’ Brad Biggs.

Kreutz’ Market : Bears C In Pro Bowl Flap With Fat Slob

Posted in Gridiron at 9:42 am

Sincere thanks are due to Olin Kreutz (left) and Pat Williams (right) for adding much needed intrigue to an otherwise meaningless Week 17 contest, if not the even less-meaningful Pro Bowl.

Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams is out for revenge for what he feels was a Pro Bowl snubbing orchestrated by Kreutz, a charge the Bears center finds ridiculous. Don’t be surprised if Kreutz petitions coaches to let him play in an otherwise meaningless game, despite spraining an ankle Sunday at Green Bay.

Williams ripped Kreutz in a Nov. 4 article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, calling the five-time Pro Bowl player “a joke.”

”You all want to bump the guy up,” Williams said. ”Kreutz, he ain’t nothing but a joke. He’s been a joke since he came in the league. I’ve never respected the guy.”

The bad-mouthing was followed last week by comments from Angelo Wright, Williams’ agent, in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, alleging that Kreutz worked to blackball Williams in Pro Bowl voting by players. Williams finished in the top three among NFC defensive tackles in fan balloting but was not named to the team, passed over by, among others, the Bears’ Tommie Harris.

”I know for a fact that the Bears were upset about Pat’s comments about Olin Kreutz,” Wright told the Pioneer Press. ”So Kreutz and the players called around and were in cahoots to make sure Pat didn’t get votes.”

Those comments set off Kreutz, who started ahead of Minnesota’s Matt Birk in last season’s Pro Bowl.

”When [Williams] talks nonsense about me like that, I can respond in so many ways,” Kreutz said. ”I can attack him. I can call him a fat slob. I can tell him he has never made the Pro Bowl. I can say all of this stuff. Then his stupid agent comes out and says I am manipulating Pro Bowl votes. Like I actually know that many people.

”Obviously, if everyone likes you, you’re probably doing something wrong. I’m glad there is someone out there that hates my guts. It makes me feel good about myself.”

Gourmet Corner

Posted in Food at 9:22 am

From Wednesday’s editions of The Mirror, a list of potential new menu items for Tom Conran’s insanely overrated and overpriced Lucky 7 (Westbourne Grove).

Fancy a Mars Bar sandwich washed down with a glass of milk and coke?

Or perhaps you’d prefer a buttered Weetabix.

The bizarre snacks are revealed in a survey of the nation’s most unusual eating habits.

The study, for bakers Warburtons, found we are increasingly keen to try new combinations.

Mandy Lloyd of Birmingham College of Food said: “People are becoming more adventurous.

“With a wide selection of food available they love to experiment.”

Top 10 most unusual concoctions: 1 Spaghetti Bolognese on a bed of crisps, 2 Mars Bar sandwich, 3 Chicken casserole with chocolate sauce, 4 Coca-Cola with milk, 5 Gherkins and ice cream, 6 Peanut butter and bacon sandwich, 7 Banana in chicken soup, 8 Honey and cheese sandwich, 9 Chocolate and salted crisps, 10 Coca-Cola and red wine.

The Newark Star-Ledger’s David Waldstein on a similar theme.

Taking Names With Nate Robinson

Posted in Basketball at 9:13 am

Knicks rookie G Nate Robinson led a spirited garbage time comeback against the Nets on Tuesday night, cutting a 21 point NJ lead to 7 and generally raising the level of intensity en route….to fouling out in 20 minutes of playing time. The New York Times’ Marek Fuchs on Robinson’s relationship with NBA referees.

Larry Brown seems to regard Robinson (above), appreciatively, as something of a puzzle – like a well-loved middle child who’s also something of a handful. Brown can often be seen counseling Robinson. “Half the time I’m talking about his emotions,” Brown said. “It’s not always basketball related.”

Instead, it is the way Robinson seems to gesture and express outrage over so many calls against the Knicks.

“He’s like a barrister,” Brown said. “He negotiates everything. I’m trying to get him to focus on basketball, the task at hand.”

Robinson said of his chats with Brown, “He’s just always telling me to keep my mouth shut.”

He said that some teammates, including the veteran Malik Rose, who fought with him in the locker room early this month, had advised him to romance the referees by calling them by their names.

But for a lively rookie making his first turn around the league, such advice is not easy to follow.

“There are so many different names, and they have the same names,” Robinson said. “There are a couple of Mikes, one Dick, I remember, and another guy – a Richard. It’s kind of easy, but at the same time it’s hard.”

Referees around the league have already pegged Robinson as a problem child, a player who complains about every call, even though as a rookie he hasn’t yet earned the their respect or their whistles.

He’ll yell, “Hey, Ref,” at an official, instead of calling him or her by their first name, and make faces showing varying degrees of anguish every time the whistle blows against him. Referees, like everybody else, talk, and the word is spreading.

Referees know only what they see and hear, and they don’t appreciate a lack of respect from a 21-year-old rookie. One official, whom Robinson called “Ref,” gave the rookie the following terse response. “My name is Tim!”

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reports the New York Mets have acquired free agent RHP Chad Bradford.

Bradford To The Mets

Posted in Baseball at 8:52 am

Bradford, who will receive a contract for between $1 million and $1.5 million, had back surgery and missed the first half of last season. When he returned, pitching for the A’s and Red Sox, he failed to overwhelm righties as he had in the past. Righties batted .282 against Bradford in 2005 after previously managing to hit just .220.

Nevertheless, Bradford still did not allow a homer to a righty batter, and has permitted just 10 homers in 835 at-bats against righties in his career. However, his funky motion does not deceive lefties, who have hit .319 against him during his career. He is a matchup reliever, but the Mets have no sure-thing lefties to serve as a complement.

The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro quotes Eric Byrnes’ agent as claiming the Diamondbacks have shown interest in his client, perhaps to play center field next season.

The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebic writes that the Orioles, undaunted by the prospects of a 37 year old who never saw a bad pitch he didn’t like, are close to signing OF Jeromy Burnitz to a two-year pact worth $12 million >. Only compared to say, inviting Raul Mondesi or Derek Bell to spring training does this seem like a good idea.

4am – time to make the doughnuts.

Michael Vale, RIP

Posted in Food at 8:35 am

7pm – classes at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute

11pm – Stanislavski Workshop

1am – nap

Raffy’s December Damage Control

Posted in Baseball at 12:25 am

In a deliberate snub to countdown maven Buster Olney (number of days we’ve waited for Olney’s ESPN blog to reappear : 3), the disgraced Rafael Palmiero chats with Murray Chass in Wednesday’s New York Times.

Given the way last season ended for him – the stunning suspension, the poor performance upon his return, the injuries that gave the Baltimore Orioles an excuse to send him home – Palmeiro, a free agent, would ideally like to play another year or two, bat .300 and hit 30 home runs or so each season.

But, he added in a telephone interview:“I think it is an unfair thing to expect me to do at the age of 41, 42, play the way I did when I was 30 . But maybe if I have some solid years and don’t test positive, they can say he went out and hit that way. Maybe that’s what I can do.”

“At this point I really don’t know,” he said, speaking publicly for the first time since last season. “I love baseball and I’d like to play forever, but there are other things that are important.” He mentioned his two sons, ages 15 and 10. “There are things I have to weigh. Baseball needs to be second to my family. I’m still interested in playing. I want to see what options I have. If there’s something that’s intriguing, I’ll do it.”

And what might he find intriguing?

“I’m not sure,” he said. “Well, obviously I’d like to play for a good team. I’d have to see what the options are out there. The Yankees would be intriguing. I grew up being a Yankee fan; I’ve always loved the Yankees. But the Yankees seem to be maxed out.”

Between Raffy, Sammy Sosa and Bret Boone, the Newark Bears will have some impressive talent to choose from in 2006.

12.27.05

Charlie Weis Gets Straight Banged

Posted in Blogged Down, Gridiron at 9:04 pm

Straight Bangin’s list of “Ten People We Saw Too Much Of In 2005″ includes Will Ferrell (ok, maybe the “Bewitched” movie was a bad idea), Bill Simmons (no argument here), Jamie Foxx, and Notre Dame’s universally beloved Charlie Weiss.

I’m pretty certain that Charlie Weis has a wife. I think her name is Maura. I could be wrong, but this is the information I’m going with. Why am I writing about her? Well, I guess I just wonder if she is satisfied. You know, sexually. I mean, her husband’s dick is in so many mouths so often that I can’t imagine he has much left for her.

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Gary Parrish.

Jays Say No Way To Trade Of Superfluous Shea

Posted in Baseball at 8:27 pm

With the addition of Troy Glaus (above), Toronto’s glut of corner infielders now includes the former D-Backs/Angels 3B, Corey Koskie, Eric Hinske and the recently acquired Lyle Overbay.

So what do we make of this line from the Globe & Mail’s Jeff Blair?

Manager John Gibbons has urged Ricciardi to hang on to righty-hitting Shea Hillenbrand, and Ricciardi has all but taken him off the trade block.

If there’s an old adage about how “you can never have too many guys who play 1st or 3rd” I’ve not heard it.

What Could Be Funnier Than Someone’s Kid Dying?

Posted in Blogged Down, Will Leitch Sucks at 4:16 pm

Human Whoopie Cushion Will Leitch’s sense of humor is becoming as sophisticated as his sense of fair play. Not content with laughing at those with Down’s Syndrome, Leitch’s latest targets seem to be the grieving relatives of young men who have committed suicide. Troubled ex-reliever Jeff Reardon says he’s having troubling coping with his son’s overdose, giving Will the excuse to make fun of Reardon’s beard.

You’ll recall it was just last week that Leitch showed the presence of mind to link to the MySpace page of Tony Dungy’s late son, James. Today, Leitch defended said decision, claiming said profile is “the first thing that has given any insight, however slight, of what might have been inside James Dungy’s head.”

And thank god for that, too. There’s no way the public could’ve lasted another moment without knowing for example, that Tony Dungy’s kid was into weed, Randy Moss and Snoop Dogg.

Anyhow, for once, I am in agreement with Will. The public’s right to know supercedes any considerations of privacy, sensitivity or compassion. And you can learn a lot about a person from their MySpace profile.

Permalink 8 Comments

Dr. Marshall’s Diagnosis For Prior

Posted in Baseball at 2:16 pm

In the event the Baltimore Orioles really are foolish enough to trade Miguel Tejada for Mark Prior, the Daily Southtown’s Paul Ladewski has dug up some useful advice (link courtesy Repoz and Baseball Think Factory).

“Prior has a pitching motion that is very problematic, no question about it,” Dr. Mike Marshall said. “If he doesn’t change, he will never reach everything that he should be.”

Mike Marshall? What does he know? What did the guy ever accomplish in the big leagues, anyway?

Actually, a lot.

In 1974, Marshall became the first relief pitcher to capture the Cy Young Award. He pitched 208-plus innings in an unheard of 106 games that season. And he often pitched batting practice on his few days off.

“Prior has what I call a ‘loop’ in his motion,” said Marshall, who had a career 3.14 earned-run average even though he rarely reached 90 mph on the speed gun. “He brings his right hand up close to his ear. When his elbow starts forward, his hand goes back and flies laterally away from his body. That’s an incredible amount of stress on the front of his shoulder.”

But what makes Marshall such an authority on the subject? What does he know about bones and muscles and the mechanics of a pitcher?

A lot, really. Marshall devoted much of the last 40 years to book and film study on the subject. After extensive undergraduate work in kinesiology at Michigan State, he earned a doctorate degree in exercise physiology.

Then again, Marshall is a bitter 62-year-old man who has been blackballed by the big leagues because he has a lot of goofy ideas and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. For instance, Marshall is a proponent of the four-man rotation. He also believes that rest only leads to atrophy.

Yet Marshall isn’t so bitter as to refuse to help any pitcher who asks for it. Which is why Dr. Mike trains young pitchers in suburban Tampa (fee: 10 bucks per day) and spreads the word on his Web site.

If Marshall has a problem, then it’s that he knows too much, if you ask me.

“If Prior would take the time to relearn a few things about his pitching motion, I believe he could be an incredible pitcher,” Marshall said. “He should have started the day after last season ended and worked his tail off to correct the flaws that have caused him to unnecessarily stress his arm to a point that it cannot withstand. The problem isn’t complicated, but it takes hard work to rectify it. I’d work his (butt) off.”

The thing is, as long as Prior puts his faith in the theories of former pitcher Tom House and Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Marshall is convinced that he won’t come close to his potential.

“Ask either one of them what the four muscles are that comprise the rotator cuff, and he wouldn’t have a clue,” Marshall said. “How the heck can you teach anything when you don’t know the muscles that are involved? They sure as heck don’t know how to apply Newton’s first, second and third laws to the pitching motion. They don’t know Isaac Newton from the Fig Newton.”

As for Dusty Baker, his former Dodgers teammate, Marshall said, “Dusty openly admits that he knows nothing about pitching except how to hit it.”

Permalink 5 Comments

Calipari Obsesses Over Adam Morrison

Posted in Basketball at 1:57 pm

Memphis coach John Calipari has dealt with some formidable foes in the past. John Chaney. The UMass Board Of Regents. The Newark Star-Ledger’s Dan Garcia. But none of the above present the sort of challenge that Calipari’s Memphis Tigers will face tonight in the form of Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison.

A 6-8 junior, Morrison (above) comes in as perhaps the most-hyped college player since Syracuse’s Carmelo Anthony captured the country’s attention three years ago. He’s the early favorite to nab National Player of the Year honors, and his matchup with Carney has been heavily promoted. Yet given a choice, U of M coach John Calipari would rather avoid such an isolated scenario.

“It’s Morrison against us,” said the UofM coach. “The problem — and I’ve tried to tell this to Rodney — is that we have seven or eight guys who can all score about the same. So Rodney (Carney) can’t get into a head-to-head where Morrison scores, so now he has to shoot it. Because Morrison is taking 25 shots, and Rodney, in all likelihood, will not unless he has it going like he did last game. But the reality of it is that Rodney can’t be saying, ‘Well, he did it to me, so I’m going to do it to him.’ We can’t play that way and beat them.”

Though most media outlets have lauded Memphis, the Tigers were recently called overrated on national television by analyst Seth Davis. Ever since, Calipari has used the verbal jab as motivation, and mentioned it in virtually every interview conducted.

Monday, included.

“There are some people who think we are a pretender,” Calipari said.

“Well, the bell is about to be rung here in a minute. So let’s see how we do.”

Permalink 9 Comments

Who’s The Pussy Now? Gentry Sidesteps Kandi Man Critique

Posted in Basketball at 12:58 pm

If you’re an NBA assistant coach who’s been quoted in a national magazine referring to one of your former players as “a pussy”, you have a number of options when you’re called on it. You could choose to,

a) repeat the slur
b) deny having said it and/or claim you were quoted out of context
c) ‘fess up and apologize
d) pick none of the above.

Suns assistant Alvin Gentry, who’d previously tutored C Michael Olowakandi (above) while the two were with the Clippers, has chosen “d” writes the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Steve Aschburner.

In the Oct. 31 issue of Sports Illustrated, Gentry was quoted as having made a derogatory, tasteless remark about the Wolves center. It appeared in a story by writer Jack McCallum, after McCallum spent several days in training camp with the Phoenix coaching staff. He was given liberal access to locker rooms and meetings, and Gentry’s remark — basically challenging Olowokandi’s toughness — came from one of those casual conversations.

Gentry declined to address the matter before Monday night’s game. “You’re going in the wrong direction,” he said in the Suns’ locker room, after drawing up their pregame board. “You’re not going to get me to say anything about that. You’re going to have to formulate that one on your own.”

Olowokandi said he had neither seen nor heard of the comment.

“I’m a little surprised he would say that,” the center said. “He coached me for a couple of seasons, and then everybody went their separate ways. Actually, whenever we’ve played, he has come up to say hello.”

Vescey On The Widow Cobain

Posted in Sports Journalism at 12:19 pm

In addition to getting more laughs at the expense of Larry Brown and Stephon Marbury (”the Best Point Guard On The Knicks’ Bench”) after their Boxing Day defeat to the Nets, the New York Post’s Peter Vescey pulls the following out of his hat :

Courtney Love is being forced to sell her Olympia, Wash., bungalow to satisfy loans and legal fees. Here’s some unsolicited advice: Claim the Jets want to move there, then have Cablevision overpay for it.

Bolts Bonkers For Sitting Rivers

Posted in Gridiron at 12:14 pm

Philip Rivers is either a massive bargaining chip for the San Diego Chargers or he’s their quarterback of the future. And while the former is the more likely scenario, Rivers has taken all of 8 snaps in real competition since being acquired in the 2004 Draft day deal that brought Eli Manning to the Giants. With the Chargers having been eliminated from playoff contention, what possible reason could there be for coach Marty Schottenheimer sticking with Drew Brees in this weekend’s finale with Denver? The Union-Tribune’s Jay Posner writes that Schottenheimer is less concerned with Rivers’ development and/or showcasing the QB compared to…the Chargers’ regular season record?

“We will play everybody that is healthy enough to play,” Schottenheimer said. “Our starters will start, our starters will play, because we have one objective and that is to get to 10-6.”

It might seem as if there’s little difference between finishing 10-6 or 9-7 – except the latter could mean playing Buffalo and Tennessee next year instead of Miami and Jacksonville – but Schottenheimer disagreed.

“There’s a difference between preseason and regular season in my view,” he said. “Ours is about winning football games. And as strange as it might sound, 10-6 just sounds a lot better to me than 9-7.”

“Winning, that’s the name of the game,” Schottenheimer said. “I understand those that might say play Philip and all, but that’s not the way the National Football League, in my view, is set up. Our goal is to win the game and get our 10th victory. That’s our objective.”

From the Associated Press :

Jeff Reardon Celebrates The 2nd Biggest Shopping Day Of The Year

Posted in Baseball, The Law at 11:22 am

No fewer than 3 persons forwarded this story, which either means I shouldn’t sleep so late…or that Jon Solomon is faster than the rest of them.

Jeff Reardon, one of the top relief pitchers in history, blamed medication for depression after his arrest for a jewelry store robbery.

Police said Tuesday that the 50-year-old Reardon, retired since 1994 and sixth in career saves, walked into Hamilton Jewelers at the Gardens Mall on Monday and handed an employee a note saying he had a gun and the store was being robbed.

Reardon, who starred with the Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police found him at a nearby restaurant, recovered the stolen money and charged him with armed robbery.

Lt. David O’Neill said Reardon did not have a gun and offered no resistance when he was handcuffed.

“He said it was the medication that made him do it and that he was sorry,” O’Neill said.

He said Reardon has lived in the city for more than 20 years and has never caused any problems.

Meanwhile, John Franco is allowed to walk the streets. Where’s the justice?

There’s no truth to the rumor that following Reardon’s arrest, the St. Louis Cardinals offered him a one-year deal.

On Monday, he was out of work, the 4th such kicking change the Dallas Cowboys have made in 2005.

Heartless Parcells Waives Cundiff

Posted in Gridiron at 2:15 am

On Saturday, Billy Cundiff drew a crucial roughing-the-kicker penalty against the Panthers’ Julius Peppers.

Bill Parcells would have you believe that such a transcation was entirely performance related, but I suspect that Cundiff’s latest exodus is related in no small part to his wildy provocative website.

Like web pioneers Barry Bonds and Terrell Owens before him, Billy Cundiff is a loose cannon. And the football establishment’s worst nightmare to boot — a kicker with an opinion. Is anyone really surprised that Billy Cundiff.com is “temporarily down”? Jerry Jones, you might be able to rent Billy’s services a few afternoons a year, but you cannot buy his silence. Some time in the very near future, Billy Cundiff.com will be up and running, and Cundiff’s unpopular views on the Iraq war, abortion, same sex unions and other hot button issues will be once again be available for public perusal.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s T.R. Sullivan writes the Rangers have signed free agent P Kevin Millwood.

12.26.05

Texas Signs Millwood

Posted in Baseball at 6:30 pm

The AP’s reports Millwood’s contract is worth $60 million over 5 years, though Texas can void the 5th year of the deal if the former Indians/Phillies/Braves hurler doesn’t pitch a minimum number of innings during prior years.

Chan Ho Park was unavailable for gloating purposes.

Milwood, 31, had an AL leading 2.86 ERA amongst starters last season, a figure that will surely be higher in 2006 given the likely effects of pitching in Arlington.

Ted Nolan’s Whereabouts Confirmed

Posted in Hockey at 5:57 pm

From Newsday :

Former Jack Adams Award winner Ted Nolan (above) has tossed his hat into the ring for the vacant head coaching job in New Jersey.

According to the Buffalo News, Nolan has, through a friend, inquired about the Devils’ job and is waiting for a response. Nolan spent two seasons as the Buffalo Sabres’ bench boss in 1995-96 and 1996-97, but has not guided an NHL team since.

Nolan is currently the head coach and director of hockey operations for the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.

Comments Oddsnark,

Nolan is quoted as saying, “To leave the situation I’m in now would be tough, but I know I can coach.” Yeah, I can imagine it would be a tough call to move away from Moncton, home of the largest shopping mall in the Atlantic provinces.

To which I can only reply, if you’ve neither worked for Lou Lamoriello nor spent much time in the East Rutherford, NJ ‘hood, you have no idea how tough a call it must be.