Day 1 of the annual DanShanoff.com Summer Reading Series, featuring the best books of the summer for your vacation/beach/commuter/seasonal reading interests...
Today: "Bad Sports" by Dave Zirin
Dave Zirin is the conscience of sports media -- and one of the most essential writers of the genre.
That's because Zirin talks about the things the rest of us -- the sports punditocracy -- won't or can't, at least without the necessary gravitas, let alone the necessary command of both fact and nuance that are vital to talking about the thorniest issues in sports.
More than anything, Zirin is willing to live at the intersection of sports and politics -- brutal terrain for a few reasons, not the least of which is that fans, for the most part, hate mixing sports and politics. (That, and fans can agree on a team allegiance but otherwise hate each other's political leanings.)
But, again, Zirin's work is altogether necessary; almost every sportswriter who attempts to write about politics or socioeconomic issues as they relate to sports ends up failing in some essential way: They (or their outlets) are beholden to corporate interests; they lack a fundamental understanding of the issues (or, more importantly, the historical and social context of those issues); or they simply cannot summon the substance to match their own hysterics.
Or, more often than not, they claim they "can't touch" the issue. It's just too controversial -- which probably means it's important. Too important to be left in the hands of shallow thinkers.
Because of this fundamental unwillingness or inability to write about these issues, even on issues of populism -- as with Zirin's highly recommended new book "Bad Sports," about how corporate interests (particularly at the ownership level) can undermine sports for fans -- most writers lack the foundation to present cohesive and compelling arguments.
That is why it is so important that we have Zirin. And why it is so important that Zirin -- in addition to his writing at his own site (EdgeOfSports.com) or The Nation -- takes the time to put all of these compelling arguments in a single place like "Bad Sports," for fans to grasp the larger issues at hand. (Check out a good Q&A with Zirin that dives into the big themes of the book. And here is another.)
It isn't necessarily the things we want to talk about -- like this week's on-field NFL storyline or trade rumors or any number of other issues that dominate sports-talk radio and talking-head shows. It is the things we need to talk about -- that we should be talking about.
By the way: That's not to say that I agree with everything Zirin has to say. By nature, I am a populist with commercial leanings -- that is, I'm not just about putting fans first, but I think it makes the most business sense when owners and marketers put fans first, too.
And with the obvious exception of the ownership-political-developer axis related to stadium funding -- which dwarfs most marketing spending, btw -- I think many corporate folks, from the top on down, are increasingly recognizing how important it is to engage and empower fans with a new respect and spirit of collaboration and transparency. It is a net benefit for fans. Yes, there are the Donald Sterlings of the world -- but there are also the Ted Leonsis and Mark Cuban-style owners illuminating a new path for owners.
But the fact remains that these thorny, sports/political issues lack a natural home in sports: Political media find sports unnecessary; sports media fear alienating fans, sponsors and owners.
That's why I am so glad that Dave Zirin has made himself an indispensable part of the sports-fan experience, through his insightful takes on the latest news -- and through his challenging new book, "Bad Sports."
Coming tomorrow: Michael Weinreb's "Bigger Than the Game"
(Update: Just saw that Yahoo's terrific Dan Wetzel has produced his own summer-reading list. We've only got one crossover, for better or worse.)
-- D.S.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
08/17 Quickie: Harper, K-Rod, Melo
Today's Names to Know: Bryce Harper, K-Rod, Max Scherzer, Shawn Marcum, Eli Manning, Brian Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Christian LeMay, Tim Tebow, Pro Football Talk, Jason Whitlock and More.
Don't blame Bryce Harper for taking until 11:59 p.m. on a midnight deadline to sign his deal with the Nats. Blame MLB for having a deadline that isn't, say, 6 p.m. Or, instead of months after the draft, a few weeks, which would allow signees to get developmental experience faster.
All that said, contract negotiations are rarely something fans ultimately care about. For Nats fans' purposes, they have locked up (at a highest-ever cost for a non-pitcher) the best hitting prospect in years -- a perfect running mate for Stephen Strasburg and yet another rookie who will fill seats and get the team attention, no matter how they are doing in the standings.
K-Rod: From bad to worse. Typical Mets luck that when K-Rod allegedly smacked his father-in-law, he tore a ligament in his hand (throwing hand) while doing it. His season is over, but the mockery has just begun.
Cliff Lee vs. David Price: Lee pitched further into the game, but it turned out to be long enough to let the Rays finally get to him. Tampa won the game between likely playoff teams. They'll play another good one today: Tommy Hunter vs. Matt Garza.
First Brian Bullington... now Max Scherzer? The Yankees are struggling with super-high-draft-picks who have traditionally struggled. The Red Sox will undoubtedly try to sign (or perhaps merely find) Todd Van Poppel and Brien Taylor for their rotation next year.
Shawn Marcum!
The lasting image from the Giants-Jets game (or is that "Jets-Giants"... in NYC, you can never know who you're going to offend) isn't the new stadium, but Eli Manning's bleeding noggin. He'll be fine, and the Jets 2nd-stringers will give Rex Ryan plenty to bleep about on the next episode of Hard Knocks.
Brian Westbrook signs with the 49ers: He hadn't attracted much attention, and then the 49ers' RB depth imploded and it suddenly became a good situation. (Whither Anthony Dixon? Nowhere, apparently. Glad I didn't do my fantasy draft yesterday.)
Carmelo Anthony ain't gonna re-sign with the Nuggets: We have all seen this coming for months -- since his wedding, since he hemmed and hawed about their 3Y/$65M contract offer, since he recognized that his fellow superstars were all bolting for super-teams.
So what next? The Nuggets would be wise to trade Melo now -- or perhaps the trade deadline. It would be nice if it was to a team that Carmelo would be interested in signing with as a free agent (say, the Knicks or Wizards), but the Nuggets have a bigger problem: How to get back even dimes on the dollar for Melo's talent. Who, exactly, would the Knicks be able to trade? At least the Nets could offer something like Devin Harris and even Derrick Favors.
The thing is: Carmelo could simply play out the string for the season, then leave Denver hanging next summer -- not unlike the way LeBron and Bosh played it. It's not his problem; it's Denver's. (I have to say: As a Wizards fan, I really really really hope they clear enough cap room to make a play for Carmelo, who I think could be swayed by the Wiz's proximity to Melo's beloved Baltimore. Maybe I'm just engaging in wish fulfillment.)
Tiger Watch: I can't see how Corey Pavin doesn't pick Tiger for the Ryder Cup team. And when we look back, playing for the U.S. will be the resurrection of Tiger's career.
Fascinating: A top high school senior quarterback is skipping his final season of high school to spend the year (or the fall, if he's enrolling early) preparing for college football. Now, Christian LeMay is doing that because a suspension forced him to, but given the recent trend of players skipping their final high school semester to enroll early at college, why wouldn't top players -- at least more of them -- who have made a commitment heading into their senior years skip that year entirely to focus on preparing for college?
(This isn't far off from top college players skipping, say, their junior season to spend an entire year getting ready for the NFL Draft. I wonder what that would do to their draft stock? On the one hand, they lose out on "live" reps; on the other hand, they can focus specifically on developing NFL skills -- see the way most QBs ultimately have to work with pre-draft tutors to fix mechanics and the leap from simple college playbook to complex NFL schemes.)
Obligatory Tebow Item: They need to call him "Tim Pageviews," because bloggers and sites can't resist writing stories about him, they get so many people clicking on anything Tebow. Yesterday, there was that oddball story of the two media folks (a reporter and a photographer) who asked Tebow for his autograph after the Bengals game. And then you get stuff like today's massive feature on Tebow in USA Today.
Media: Here's a dumb one -- that Arkansas radio person who was fired for wearing a Florida hat to a Petrino press conference. Unless she was being ironic, it wasn't the hat itself that should be considered a fireable offense, but that anyone would ever think that was a good idea.
Jason Whitlock leaving the Kansas City Star: This has been a long time coming, as Whitlock's profile has catapulted from the provincial to the national. (Something similar happened to KC Star columnist Joe Posnanski -- as well as KC Star baseball writer Jeff Passan and feature writer Wright Thompson.) I have to believe Whitlock will end up at a national sports site -- perhaps FoxSports.com, where he currently writes on the side (but as FoxSports.com's leading draw)? He is also a candidate to host a national radio show. I'm sure he already has something lined up.
So the Rivals.com founders are launching their version of Rivals 2.0 -- "247Sports.com," a network of team-focused sites, starting with leading college teams. Sounds familiar. They promise the company will be even more extensive than Rivals, both in terms of team coverage and use of social media tools. They are also putting in $6M of their own money, which gives them a ton of runway. (Hell, for $6M, they could make compelling offers to the Top 20 bloggers who write for other team-focused online-sports networks.)
More inside-baseball sports-media news: NBCSports.com is re-launching its site next month with a focus on the ProFootballTalk network of sites they have built. NBCSports.com has been smart: They have used PFT has a hub to create a Yahoo-like network of nationally focused sport blogs, which can then be promoted from high-traffic entry points like MSNBC.com.
(Of course, any relaunch is a drop in the bucket compared to the potentially massive collaboration between NBCSports.com and its presumptive acquirers from Comcast.)
Coming later today: Day 1 (of 4!) of Summer Reading Week.
-- D.S.
Don't blame Bryce Harper for taking until 11:59 p.m. on a midnight deadline to sign his deal with the Nats. Blame MLB for having a deadline that isn't, say, 6 p.m. Or, instead of months after the draft, a few weeks, which would allow signees to get developmental experience faster.
All that said, contract negotiations are rarely something fans ultimately care about. For Nats fans' purposes, they have locked up (at a highest-ever cost for a non-pitcher) the best hitting prospect in years -- a perfect running mate for Stephen Strasburg and yet another rookie who will fill seats and get the team attention, no matter how they are doing in the standings.
K-Rod: From bad to worse. Typical Mets luck that when K-Rod allegedly smacked his father-in-law, he tore a ligament in his hand (throwing hand) while doing it. His season is over, but the mockery has just begun.
Cliff Lee vs. David Price: Lee pitched further into the game, but it turned out to be long enough to let the Rays finally get to him. Tampa won the game between likely playoff teams. They'll play another good one today: Tommy Hunter vs. Matt Garza.
First Brian Bullington... now Max Scherzer? The Yankees are struggling with super-high-draft-picks who have traditionally struggled. The Red Sox will undoubtedly try to sign (or perhaps merely find) Todd Van Poppel and Brien Taylor for their rotation next year.
Shawn Marcum!
The lasting image from the Giants-Jets game (or is that "Jets-Giants"... in NYC, you can never know who you're going to offend) isn't the new stadium, but Eli Manning's bleeding noggin. He'll be fine, and the Jets 2nd-stringers will give Rex Ryan plenty to bleep about on the next episode of Hard Knocks.
Brian Westbrook signs with the 49ers: He hadn't attracted much attention, and then the 49ers' RB depth imploded and it suddenly became a good situation. (Whither Anthony Dixon? Nowhere, apparently. Glad I didn't do my fantasy draft yesterday.)
Carmelo Anthony ain't gonna re-sign with the Nuggets: We have all seen this coming for months -- since his wedding, since he hemmed and hawed about their 3Y/$65M contract offer, since he recognized that his fellow superstars were all bolting for super-teams.
So what next? The Nuggets would be wise to trade Melo now -- or perhaps the trade deadline. It would be nice if it was to a team that Carmelo would be interested in signing with as a free agent (say, the Knicks or Wizards), but the Nuggets have a bigger problem: How to get back even dimes on the dollar for Melo's talent. Who, exactly, would the Knicks be able to trade? At least the Nets could offer something like Devin Harris and even Derrick Favors.
The thing is: Carmelo could simply play out the string for the season, then leave Denver hanging next summer -- not unlike the way LeBron and Bosh played it. It's not his problem; it's Denver's. (I have to say: As a Wizards fan, I really really really hope they clear enough cap room to make a play for Carmelo, who I think could be swayed by the Wiz's proximity to Melo's beloved Baltimore. Maybe I'm just engaging in wish fulfillment.)
Tiger Watch: I can't see how Corey Pavin doesn't pick Tiger for the Ryder Cup team. And when we look back, playing for the U.S. will be the resurrection of Tiger's career.
Fascinating: A top high school senior quarterback is skipping his final season of high school to spend the year (or the fall, if he's enrolling early) preparing for college football. Now, Christian LeMay is doing that because a suspension forced him to, but given the recent trend of players skipping their final high school semester to enroll early at college, why wouldn't top players -- at least more of them -- who have made a commitment heading into their senior years skip that year entirely to focus on preparing for college?
(This isn't far off from top college players skipping, say, their junior season to spend an entire year getting ready for the NFL Draft. I wonder what that would do to their draft stock? On the one hand, they lose out on "live" reps; on the other hand, they can focus specifically on developing NFL skills -- see the way most QBs ultimately have to work with pre-draft tutors to fix mechanics and the leap from simple college playbook to complex NFL schemes.)
Obligatory Tebow Item: They need to call him "Tim Pageviews," because bloggers and sites can't resist writing stories about him, they get so many people clicking on anything Tebow. Yesterday, there was that oddball story of the two media folks (a reporter and a photographer) who asked Tebow for his autograph after the Bengals game. And then you get stuff like today's massive feature on Tebow in USA Today.
Media: Here's a dumb one -- that Arkansas radio person who was fired for wearing a Florida hat to a Petrino press conference. Unless she was being ironic, it wasn't the hat itself that should be considered a fireable offense, but that anyone would ever think that was a good idea.
Jason Whitlock leaving the Kansas City Star: This has been a long time coming, as Whitlock's profile has catapulted from the provincial to the national. (Something similar happened to KC Star columnist Joe Posnanski -- as well as KC Star baseball writer Jeff Passan and feature writer Wright Thompson.) I have to believe Whitlock will end up at a national sports site -- perhaps FoxSports.com, where he currently writes on the side (but as FoxSports.com's leading draw)? He is also a candidate to host a national radio show. I'm sure he already has something lined up.
So the Rivals.com founders are launching their version of Rivals 2.0 -- "247Sports.com," a network of team-focused sites, starting with leading college teams. Sounds familiar. They promise the company will be even more extensive than Rivals, both in terms of team coverage and use of social media tools. They are also putting in $6M of their own money, which gives them a ton of runway. (Hell, for $6M, they could make compelling offers to the Top 20 bloggers who write for other team-focused online-sports networks.)
More inside-baseball sports-media news: NBCSports.com is re-launching its site next month with a focus on the ProFootballTalk network of sites they have built. NBCSports.com has been smart: They have used PFT has a hub to create a Yahoo-like network of nationally focused sport blogs, which can then be promoted from high-traffic entry points like MSNBC.com.
(Of course, any relaunch is a drop in the bucket compared to the potentially massive collaboration between NBCSports.com and its presumptive acquirers from Comcast.)
Coming later today: Day 1 (of 4!) of Summer Reading Week.
-- D.S.
Quickie Readers Football Pick 'Ems
Pick 'em sign-up is here! I have set up the annual Daily Quickie Readers "pick 'em" groups for the upcoming NFL and college football seasons.
NFL pick 'em group here.
College football pick 'em group here.
In case you don't do it now, just search "Daily Quickie Readers" -- as usual -- and no password necessary.
Best. Pick 'em Group. Ever.
-- D.S.
NFL pick 'em group here.
College football pick 'em group here.
In case you don't do it now, just search "Daily Quickie Readers" -- as usual -- and no password necessary.
Best. Pick 'em Group. Ever.
-- D.S.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
08/15 Quickie: PGA, Tebow, Slo-No
Names to Know: Dustin Johnson, Tim Tebow, Anthony Dixon, Kevin Slowey, Albert Pujols, Tim Lincecum, Brian Bullington, Kevin Durant, Brett Sloppy and More.
"Grounding the club" is the new "jumped on the emergency slide."
Well, it could have been worse for the PGA: Dustin Johnson's 2-stroke penalty that cost him a place in the playoff could have cost him an outright win.
But it was a pretty bad evening for the PGA: The rules are clear, but the context was fuzzy -- or sandy. Most agree that Johnson should have asked for a clarification, but the optics -- all those fans standing around Johnson in what didn't look very much like a bunker -- doesn't favor the PGA. They look like sticklers who jobbed a deserving player.
As for the PGA Champ Martin Kaymer himself, in other contexts, this slew of first-time major winners would be a great thing for the sport -- more new talents winning titles.
In the case of golf, though, it is awful; the sport needs dynastic super-names winning the major titles. Tiger would be the top preference, obviously, but Phil would work, too. But all these relative no-names just dilutes the star power and mainstream appeal.
(Or, as Mike "Ken Tremendous" Schur tweeted: "Golf tournaments aren't as exciting when none of the leaders is a Ambien-addicted quad-ethnic illicit-bareback-sex-addled killing machine.")
Tim Tebow's Debut: Not bad! Something for everyone:For the fans (pretty good completion percentage, plus that TD as the clock expired) and for the haters (quibbles about his mechanics, plus the idea that Tebow was going against 3rd-stringers).
Here is the upshot: Tebow turned an otherwise forgettable preseason game into An Event that everyone was talking about. In the absence of a playoff season in Denver, it's a pretty good consolation prize to be relevant, because everyone is so interesting in seeing how Tebow does.
More thoughts from the first full weekend of NFL Preseason games:
*What does it say that the dominant reaction to Sam Bradford's debut was: "Well, he got sacked a bunch and didn't crumple?" (It says that he is REALLY likely to crumple at some point.)
*Fantasy: Ryan Matthews likely cemented himself as a 2nd-round RB; Anthony Dixon has gone from ADP afterthought to what I imagine will be a Top 100 average draft position.
*Could not feel worse for Stafon Johnson.
*Can't wait for these games to actually mean something. It only gets worse from here, until Kickoff Week.
Quickie Vocab: "Slo-no." Definition: When the manager removes a pitcher in the middle of throwing a no-hitter.
If you were the manager, would you pull your starter while he's working on a no-hitter? Here's the thing: You're paid to win the game(s), not position your pitchers for individual glory in the history books.
And so you have to give the manager some latitude to win the game, but at least importantly, looking ahead to what the pitch counts, etc., might mean for future starts down the stretch for that pitcher. (Slowey was at 106 pitches when he was pulled.)
Does it suck for Kevin Slowey's chances for joining the history books as someone pitching a no-hitter? Totally.
Then again, given his pitch count, it was entirely uncertain that Slowey would have been able to keep things hitless for another 6 outs -- and we have no idea what the strain of pitches 107 through, say, 130-150 would have done to his arm for the meaningful starts he has to make down the stretch.
Amazing Albert Pujols Milestone: He becomes the first player in baseball history to hit at least 30 HR in each of his first 10 seasons. I don't know anyone who doesn't respect Pujols as much or more than any player in the league, but I'm not sure he is given the credit for being -- in real-time -- one of the Top 20 (Top 10?) hitters in the history of baseball.
Has Tim Lincecum lost it already? Wow. Keep that in mind as we start to think about career-long dominance for folks like Steven Strasburg. What if we are now living in a reality where "peak years" means 2-3 (rather than 5-6) and flame-outs happen before you hit 30?
(This isn't unlike the new relativity of dynasties I introduced in the Daily Quickie years, where back-to-back league championships now qualifies as a dynasty, because things move that quickly. It's the Moore's Law or Zuckerberg's Law of sports. Shanoff's Law: Increasing levels of parity and efficiency means that definitions of dynasty are cut in half every decade.)
Brian Bullington!
Tonight's Best: Cliff Lee vs. David Price. ALDS Game 1 preview?
USA Hoops: Nothing wrong with a 31-point win, led by Kevin Durant. But much like the Redeem Team, anything less than winning the world championship will be considered a massive failure. (Don't buy into the "what an inexperienced, young team!" stuff; they are the most talented roster of the world championships, by a wide margin.)
Terrible tragedy in that off-road car race in southern California. Will probably result in serious crack-down on the fringe levels of car racing.
Coming this week, starting tomorrow and running all week: The annual DanShanoff.com Summer Reading Series, featuring 3 books I have recently read, enjoyed and recommend for your summer-reading pleasure.
-- D.S.
"Grounding the club" is the new "jumped on the emergency slide."
Well, it could have been worse for the PGA: Dustin Johnson's 2-stroke penalty that cost him a place in the playoff could have cost him an outright win.
But it was a pretty bad evening for the PGA: The rules are clear, but the context was fuzzy -- or sandy. Most agree that Johnson should have asked for a clarification, but the optics -- all those fans standing around Johnson in what didn't look very much like a bunker -- doesn't favor the PGA. They look like sticklers who jobbed a deserving player.
As for the PGA Champ Martin Kaymer himself, in other contexts, this slew of first-time major winners would be a great thing for the sport -- more new talents winning titles.
In the case of golf, though, it is awful; the sport needs dynastic super-names winning the major titles. Tiger would be the top preference, obviously, but Phil would work, too. But all these relative no-names just dilutes the star power and mainstream appeal.
(Or, as Mike "Ken Tremendous" Schur tweeted: "Golf tournaments aren't as exciting when none of the leaders is a Ambien-addicted quad-ethnic illicit-bareback-sex-addled killing machine.")
Tim Tebow's Debut: Not bad! Something for everyone:For the fans (pretty good completion percentage, plus that TD as the clock expired) and for the haters (quibbles about his mechanics, plus the idea that Tebow was going against 3rd-stringers).
Here is the upshot: Tebow turned an otherwise forgettable preseason game into An Event that everyone was talking about. In the absence of a playoff season in Denver, it's a pretty good consolation prize to be relevant, because everyone is so interesting in seeing how Tebow does.
More thoughts from the first full weekend of NFL Preseason games:
*What does it say that the dominant reaction to Sam Bradford's debut was: "Well, he got sacked a bunch and didn't crumple?" (It says that he is REALLY likely to crumple at some point.)
*Fantasy: Ryan Matthews likely cemented himself as a 2nd-round RB; Anthony Dixon has gone from ADP afterthought to what I imagine will be a Top 100 average draft position.
*Could not feel worse for Stafon Johnson.
*Can't wait for these games to actually mean something. It only gets worse from here, until Kickoff Week.
Quickie Vocab: "Slo-no." Definition: When the manager removes a pitcher in the middle of throwing a no-hitter.
If you were the manager, would you pull your starter while he's working on a no-hitter? Here's the thing: You're paid to win the game(s), not position your pitchers for individual glory in the history books.
And so you have to give the manager some latitude to win the game, but at least importantly, looking ahead to what the pitch counts, etc., might mean for future starts down the stretch for that pitcher. (Slowey was at 106 pitches when he was pulled.)
Does it suck for Kevin Slowey's chances for joining the history books as someone pitching a no-hitter? Totally.
Then again, given his pitch count, it was entirely uncertain that Slowey would have been able to keep things hitless for another 6 outs -- and we have no idea what the strain of pitches 107 through, say, 130-150 would have done to his arm for the meaningful starts he has to make down the stretch.
Amazing Albert Pujols Milestone: He becomes the first player in baseball history to hit at least 30 HR in each of his first 10 seasons. I don't know anyone who doesn't respect Pujols as much or more than any player in the league, but I'm not sure he is given the credit for being -- in real-time -- one of the Top 20 (Top 10?) hitters in the history of baseball.
Has Tim Lincecum lost it already? Wow. Keep that in mind as we start to think about career-long dominance for folks like Steven Strasburg. What if we are now living in a reality where "peak years" means 2-3 (rather than 5-6) and flame-outs happen before you hit 30?
(This isn't unlike the new relativity of dynasties I introduced in the Daily Quickie years, where back-to-back league championships now qualifies as a dynasty, because things move that quickly. It's the Moore's Law or Zuckerberg's Law of sports. Shanoff's Law: Increasing levels of parity and efficiency means that definitions of dynasty are cut in half every decade.)
Brian Bullington!
Tonight's Best: Cliff Lee vs. David Price. ALDS Game 1 preview?
USA Hoops: Nothing wrong with a 31-point win, led by Kevin Durant. But much like the Redeem Team, anything less than winning the world championship will be considered a massive failure. (Don't buy into the "what an inexperienced, young team!" stuff; they are the most talented roster of the world championships, by a wide margin.)
Terrible tragedy in that off-road car race in southern California. Will probably result in serious crack-down on the fringe levels of car racing.
Coming this week, starting tomorrow and running all week: The annual DanShanoff.com Summer Reading Series, featuring 3 books I have recently read, enjoyed and recommend for your summer-reading pleasure.
-- D.S.
Sunday (Very) Quickie
No Big Ben.
Yes, A-Rod.
Ryan Matthews just vaulted up fantasy draft charts. (Meanwhile: Will Legedu Naanee become Phil Rivers' go-to WR? That has some big fantasy value.)
Sam Bradford was not very good, but let's call it a success that his shoulder didn't pop out when it was breathed on by NFL D-linemen.
Meanwhile, Jake Delhomme had a terrific debut for the Browns. (Pete Carroll won his debut with the Seahawks, too.)
Injury Watch: Stafon Johnson, with a dislocated ankle? Oh, no. The worst news, for a player so horribly injured last year in college. Can only hope for his full recovery.
NFL Preseason Game of the Day: Tim Tebow's pro debut vs. the 85/TO Bengals.
Here come the SF Giants. (And, staying in the NL West, Ted Lilly keeps on winning for LA.)
Not expecting Tiger to make some kind of run today at the PGA.
Have two fantasy drafts coming up later this week. Probably time to start researching.
Meanwhile, also coming this week: The annual DanShanoff.com Summer Reading Series, featuring THREE books I've recently read that are worth your summer read.
-- D.S.
Yes, A-Rod.
Ryan Matthews just vaulted up fantasy draft charts. (Meanwhile: Will Legedu Naanee become Phil Rivers' go-to WR? That has some big fantasy value.)
Sam Bradford was not very good, but let's call it a success that his shoulder didn't pop out when it was breathed on by NFL D-linemen.
Meanwhile, Jake Delhomme had a terrific debut for the Browns. (Pete Carroll won his debut with the Seahawks, too.)
Injury Watch: Stafon Johnson, with a dislocated ankle? Oh, no. The worst news, for a player so horribly injured last year in college. Can only hope for his full recovery.
NFL Preseason Game of the Day: Tim Tebow's pro debut vs. the 85/TO Bengals.
Here come the SF Giants. (And, staying in the NL West, Ted Lilly keeps on winning for LA.)
Not expecting Tiger to make some kind of run today at the PGA.
Have two fantasy drafts coming up later this week. Probably time to start researching.
Meanwhile, also coming this week: The annual DanShanoff.com Summer Reading Series, featuring THREE books I've recently read that are worth your summer read.
-- D.S.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Saturday (Very) Quickie: McNabb, Vick, Ben
That jostling you felt? Folks speed-walking over to the station to pick up the Mike Vick Bandwagon.
More NFL Preseason:
*Donovan McNabb looked just fine in his debut with the Redskins. (Plus... Brandon Banks!)
*Dexter McCluster is going to be fun to watch (and that Chiefs backfield is going to be maddening for fantasy football GMs).
*Today's most intriguing: Ben Roethlisberger makes season debut at home. Guaranteed it will be 95 percent cheers, but you'll hear the boos.
*Hmm: Sam Bradford's Rams debut vs. the Vikings. Let's see how Bradford holds up to the hits -- bet the Rams keep him pretty shielded. That'll only last so long.
Nelson Cruz: Hero to Red Sox-haters everywhere. (And when combined with Thursday's loss? Brutal. Any lingering hopes fans had that this team would make a run? Gone.)
No no-no for Mets, but pretty close: RA Dickey's 1-hitter joins the list of other Mets' pitchers who have come as close as possible to the franchise's first no-hitter. What a season for Dickey. Knuckleballers rule.
Loved the emotion from Karl Malone during his Basketball HOF induction speech.
(As long as the Hoops Hall is enshrining entire teams, I think it would be appropriate if they took the 20th anniversary of the debut of the Fab Five to induct the 1991-92 Michigan starting 5 in next year's class.)
More people will learn who Matt Kuchar is as the latest "guy who isn't Tiger Woods winning the latest tournament Tiger is entered into" than knew of him before.
So, wait: Reggie Bush didn't apologize?
The AVP pro beach volleyball tour has cancelled the rest of it season: Remember back during the mid-decade when new leagues would enter, do really well and it looked like we were headed for a golden age of niche-y sports?
Obligatory Tebow item: Lee Corso -- so take it or leave it -- says he thinks Tebow will be starting for the Broncos by Week 6. If the Broncos are 1-4 going into the week? Absolutely could see it.
Enjoy your Saturday, everyone!
-- D.S.
More NFL Preseason:
*Donovan McNabb looked just fine in his debut with the Redskins. (Plus... Brandon Banks!)
*Dexter McCluster is going to be fun to watch (and that Chiefs backfield is going to be maddening for fantasy football GMs).
*Today's most intriguing: Ben Roethlisberger makes season debut at home. Guaranteed it will be 95 percent cheers, but you'll hear the boos.
*Hmm: Sam Bradford's Rams debut vs. the Vikings. Let's see how Bradford holds up to the hits -- bet the Rams keep him pretty shielded. That'll only last so long.
Nelson Cruz: Hero to Red Sox-haters everywhere. (And when combined with Thursday's loss? Brutal. Any lingering hopes fans had that this team would make a run? Gone.)
No no-no for Mets, but pretty close: RA Dickey's 1-hitter joins the list of other Mets' pitchers who have come as close as possible to the franchise's first no-hitter. What a season for Dickey. Knuckleballers rule.
Loved the emotion from Karl Malone during his Basketball HOF induction speech.
(As long as the Hoops Hall is enshrining entire teams, I think it would be appropriate if they took the 20th anniversary of the debut of the Fab Five to induct the 1991-92 Michigan starting 5 in next year's class.)
More people will learn who Matt Kuchar is as the latest "guy who isn't Tiger Woods winning the latest tournament Tiger is entered into" than knew of him before.
So, wait: Reggie Bush didn't apologize?
The AVP pro beach volleyball tour has cancelled the rest of it season: Remember back during the mid-decade when new leagues would enter, do really well and it looked like we were headed for a golden age of niche-y sports?
Obligatory Tebow item: Lee Corso -- so take it or leave it -- says he thinks Tebow will be starting for the Broncos by Week 6. If the Broncos are 1-4 going into the week? Absolutely could see it.
Enjoy your Saturday, everyone!
-- D.S.
Friday, August 13, 2010
08/13 Quickie: NFL Pre, Tiger, HOF
For those who care about NFL preseason games, a triple-header last night to kick off a long weekend of openers for every team:
*Slow start for the defending champ's 1st-team offense.
*The Cowboys offense still stinks.
*The Ravens offense looks pretty good.
*Jimmy Clausen didn't embarrass himself.
Honestly, it's all fluff. The starters play a couple of series, then it's all backups and players that will get cut inevitably. Tonight: McNabb debut for Redskins; Kolb's first game as clear QB1.
(Apparently, McNabb is not having an easy time executing Mike Shanahan's offense, so tonight -- even only a series or two -- could be a train-wreck. Expect lots of hand-offs.)
Yes, that would be Tim Tebow's NFL debut coming on Sunday. It will get more attention than any other preseason detail this weekend.
Tiger at the PGA: Only 3 back. OK, OK, not bad... Wow: Tiger has created expectations to the point where not sucking is reason to view him as a success.
MLB: What was more shocking -- the Blue Jays scoring 4 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Red Sox or the Phillies scoring 4 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Dodgers?
The big question isn't whether Chipper Jones will return this season (he most definitely won't), but whether this is the way his career ends, period.
MLB Fantasy Stud: Johan, who made fans momentarily forget about K-Rod by taking care of everything himself (10 Ks, 0 ER and -- naturally -- playing for my fantasy opponent this week.)
CFB Season Preview: Playboy magazine thinks that Ohio State will be national champs, beating Texas in the title game. Umm.... no. Oh, sure, OSU might make the title game, but they wouldn't beat Texas... or Alabama... or Boise State... or even Florida, should it come to that.
USA Hoops: Is it me or did the intramural scrimmage not showcase the team in the best light? Durant looked good, obviously, but otherwise I was underwhelmed.
NBA Labor Woes: Don't let yesterday's meeting fool you -- there is a lockout coming. The owners will win the battle to cut/cap salaries and the players might strike or get locked out, but they aren't going to win. It is really hard for NBA players to gain fan sympathy when the NFL system of no guaranteed contracts is something we've all gotten used to.
I find it quaint that LeBron, Wade and Melo showed up -- like their presence was going to dazzle the owner's side (either that, or that they are somehow populist supporters of the union, rather than mostly concerned that their own deals will be ripped up and replaced with much less).
Congrats to the new Basketball Hall of Famers, getting inducted tonight: Karl Malone (who redefined the power forward position, a foreshadow of FreeDarko's positionless revolution), Scottie Pippen (best sidekick ever?), Cynthia Cooper (all-time great women's player), the late Dennis Johnson and Gus Johnson, Lakers owner Jerry Buss (good timing) and legendary high school coach Bob Hurley.
Reggie Bush privately apologized to new USC AD Pat Haden? That's the first smart PR move Bush has made in this whole fiasco. Now, if only he would offer a public apology to USC fans.
Great hire by Georgia to poach Florida assistant AD Greg McGarity, who has strong personal ties to UGA and the experience of working in the best-run athletic department in the country.
-- D.S.
*Slow start for the defending champ's 1st-team offense.
*The Cowboys offense still stinks.
*The Ravens offense looks pretty good.
*Jimmy Clausen didn't embarrass himself.
Honestly, it's all fluff. The starters play a couple of series, then it's all backups and players that will get cut inevitably. Tonight: McNabb debut for Redskins; Kolb's first game as clear QB1.
(Apparently, McNabb is not having an easy time executing Mike Shanahan's offense, so tonight -- even only a series or two -- could be a train-wreck. Expect lots of hand-offs.)
Yes, that would be Tim Tebow's NFL debut coming on Sunday. It will get more attention than any other preseason detail this weekend.
Tiger at the PGA: Only 3 back. OK, OK, not bad... Wow: Tiger has created expectations to the point where not sucking is reason to view him as a success.
MLB: What was more shocking -- the Blue Jays scoring 4 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Red Sox or the Phillies scoring 4 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Dodgers?
The big question isn't whether Chipper Jones will return this season (he most definitely won't), but whether this is the way his career ends, period.
MLB Fantasy Stud: Johan, who made fans momentarily forget about K-Rod by taking care of everything himself (10 Ks, 0 ER and -- naturally -- playing for my fantasy opponent this week.)
CFB Season Preview: Playboy magazine thinks that Ohio State will be national champs, beating Texas in the title game. Umm.... no. Oh, sure, OSU might make the title game, but they wouldn't beat Texas... or Alabama... or Boise State... or even Florida, should it come to that.
USA Hoops: Is it me or did the intramural scrimmage not showcase the team in the best light? Durant looked good, obviously, but otherwise I was underwhelmed.
NBA Labor Woes: Don't let yesterday's meeting fool you -- there is a lockout coming. The owners will win the battle to cut/cap salaries and the players might strike or get locked out, but they aren't going to win. It is really hard for NBA players to gain fan sympathy when the NFL system of no guaranteed contracts is something we've all gotten used to.
I find it quaint that LeBron, Wade and Melo showed up -- like their presence was going to dazzle the owner's side (either that, or that they are somehow populist supporters of the union, rather than mostly concerned that their own deals will be ripped up and replaced with much less).
Congrats to the new Basketball Hall of Famers, getting inducted tonight: Karl Malone (who redefined the power forward position, a foreshadow of FreeDarko's positionless revolution), Scottie Pippen (best sidekick ever?), Cynthia Cooper (all-time great women's player), the late Dennis Johnson and Gus Johnson, Lakers owner Jerry Buss (good timing) and legendary high school coach Bob Hurley.
Reggie Bush privately apologized to new USC AD Pat Haden? That's the first smart PR move Bush has made in this whole fiasco. Now, if only he would offer a public apology to USC fans.
Great hire by Georgia to poach Florida assistant AD Greg McGarity, who has strong personal ties to UGA and the experience of working in the best-run athletic department in the country.
-- D.S.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
08/12 Quickie: Isiah, Pavin, Knocks
Today's Names to Know: Isiah, K-Rod, Tiger, Corey Pavin (& Jim Gray!), Roy Oswalt, Marcus Thames, Rod Thorn, Darren Collison, Rex Ryan, Evander Holyfield, Nick Saban and More.
Naturally, the whole Isiah-returns-to-Knicks story ends with a whimper...
Stat of the Day: Tiger has been the favorite in every tournament he has entered since 1997... until today's PGA.
(This has become the dominant meme: Tiger's struggles as amazing for golf -- tournament results are uncertain and Tiger is a "redemption-or-failure" proposition. I think most fans tune in to see Tiger win, but are getting accustomed to the idea of tuning in to see him lose.)
Are you on Team Pavin or Team Gray? (As jerky as Corey Pavin seems to be, it's very hard to be sympathetic to Jim Gray, who is still dealing with residual bad feelings over his participation in The Decision. On the one hand, I don't believe Gray would go public with a made-up story; on the other hand, I believe Pavin did not explicitly say "Tiger is in.")
Big win yesterday for the Cardinals to take over 1st place in the NL Central. And without the need for bench-clearing brawls, no less.
Roy Oswalt's debut for the Phillies went about as well as could have been expected: 7 IP, 0 ER.
Um... wow, K-Rod. That's a lot of in-law rage. (What did his father-in-law say? "Mets suck?" Is his F-i-L really going to press charges?)
LaRoche, Montero, Reynolds, Drew: Back-to-back-to-back-to-back HRs.
That Yankees' win over the Rangers was a nice foreshadowing of what's going to happen in the playoffs: Cliff Lee pitches amazingly against NYY, but ultimately, the Yankees win.
USC suspends RB Dillon Baxter for opener: I presume you have to screw up pretty badly to be suspended by Lane Kiffin.
Not sure why Nick Saban would think limiting pro scout access to his practices would stop agents from approaching his players -- all it becomes is a datapoint for other coaches to (negative) recruit with.
Wait: Didn't Rod Thorn leave the Nets for retirement because he was old and it was time? Apparently not! (Don't mess with the Russian....)
NBA Trade: Great news for Darren Collison, who gets to run his own team in Indiana and step out of CP3's shadow in NOLA. (Doesn't it feel like Collison was traded for dimes on the dollar?)
The Hornets get a solid frontcourt player in Trevor Ariza. The Nets get a solid frontcourt player (with an expiring contract) in Troy Murphy. The Rockets dump Ariza's salary. Small wins!
Can anyone explain what Evander Holyfield is thinking?
Wow, "Hard Knocks" was kind of great. Rex Ryan is made-for-TV.
I just realized that I have two fantasy football drafts next week. Entirely unprepared, except that I won't draft Tim Tebow with my first-round pick. Clarity!
-- D.S.
Naturally, the whole Isiah-returns-to-Knicks story ends with a whimper...
Stat of the Day: Tiger has been the favorite in every tournament he has entered since 1997... until today's PGA.
(This has become the dominant meme: Tiger's struggles as amazing for golf -- tournament results are uncertain and Tiger is a "redemption-or-failure" proposition. I think most fans tune in to see Tiger win, but are getting accustomed to the idea of tuning in to see him lose.)
Are you on Team Pavin or Team Gray? (As jerky as Corey Pavin seems to be, it's very hard to be sympathetic to Jim Gray, who is still dealing with residual bad feelings over his participation in The Decision. On the one hand, I don't believe Gray would go public with a made-up story; on the other hand, I believe Pavin did not explicitly say "Tiger is in.")
Big win yesterday for the Cardinals to take over 1st place in the NL Central. And without the need for bench-clearing brawls, no less.
Roy Oswalt's debut for the Phillies went about as well as could have been expected: 7 IP, 0 ER.
Um... wow, K-Rod. That's a lot of in-law rage. (What did his father-in-law say? "Mets suck?" Is his F-i-L really going to press charges?)
LaRoche, Montero, Reynolds, Drew: Back-to-back-to-back-to-back HRs.
That Yankees' win over the Rangers was a nice foreshadowing of what's going to happen in the playoffs: Cliff Lee pitches amazingly against NYY, but ultimately, the Yankees win.
USC suspends RB Dillon Baxter for opener: I presume you have to screw up pretty badly to be suspended by Lane Kiffin.
Not sure why Nick Saban would think limiting pro scout access to his practices would stop agents from approaching his players -- all it becomes is a datapoint for other coaches to (negative) recruit with.
Wait: Didn't Rod Thorn leave the Nets for retirement because he was old and it was time? Apparently not! (Don't mess with the Russian....)
NBA Trade: Great news for Darren Collison, who gets to run his own team in Indiana and step out of CP3's shadow in NOLA. (Doesn't it feel like Collison was traded for dimes on the dollar?)
The Hornets get a solid frontcourt player in Trevor Ariza. The Nets get a solid frontcourt player (with an expiring contract) in Troy Murphy. The Rockets dump Ariza's salary. Small wins!
Can anyone explain what Evander Holyfield is thinking?
Wow, "Hard Knocks" was kind of great. Rex Ryan is made-for-TV.
I just realized that I have two fantasy football drafts next week. Entirely unprepared, except that I won't draft Tim Tebow with my first-round pick. Clarity!
-- D.S.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
08/10 Quickie: LeBron, Cards, Stras
As if the Amare-is-Jewish stuff didn't blow my mind enough, now there's this whole LeBron-hiring-the-rabbi thing. Seriously: What's going on here?
"Don't think I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me." -- LeBron on Twitter last night. Does he understand that only encourages the jokes?
The complete NBA schedule came out, and there's only one date everyone wanted to know: December 2 -- when LeBron returns to Cleveland.
The NL Central is all tied up. And these two teams appear to loathe each other, which is excellent. I love that Brandon Phillips yapped about hating the Cards, and I love that Molina got in Phillips' face about it last night. I love that, during the on-field scrumming, the Reds took a shot at Monday's winning pitcher, Chris Carpenter, and I love that everyone is just a tad pissy. It's exciting, it's healthy and it makes for a thrilling stretch run, particularly if you want a counter-balance to the AL East myopia.
Stephen Strasburg: Ouch.
Jeremy Hellickson is the new Strasburg: That's overstating by a wide margin, but the Rays rookie -- pitching in place of the injured Wade Davis -- gives Tampa yet more depth at SP.
The Twins are back in first in the AL Central. Another fun race -- will be hard to top last year's playoff.
Would it have been so tough for the Nats to play the entire game wearing the old Expos hats?
Fantasy Watch: Typical of my season that after two months of lackluster starts, I dumped Wade LeBlanc -- just in time for him to have 8 Ks in a W. I'm clearly out of playoff contention, but as usual, I will consider finishing in the "first division" (top half of the 14-team league) to be a success. It's never happened before, so there's that.
I have no doubt that Carmelo would love to play in New York for the Knicks -- I still find it crazy that he would turn down what could be a LOT more money to stay in Denver. But more power to him if he does forgo the cash to play where he wants to play. (Cough: D.C.!)
Does anyone really believe that Mike D'Antoni is fine with Isiah being a consultant for the Knicks? No one else is -- why should the coach be?
SI's CFB Preview issue has four regionalized covers, featuring Alabama, Ohio State, Texas and Boise State. Can't argue with that. Always one of the great issues of the year.
Obligatory Florida football item: The Gators had their Media Day yesterday, and I'm giddy that frosh DE Dominique Easley compared he, fellow frosh DE Ronald Powell and fellow frosh DT Sharrif Floyd to LeBron, Wade and Bosh. 2012 National Champs.
So the Nets are going to change their name, just in time for the move to Brooklyn. What should the name be? My vote is for "Biggies."
Tough timing for US Soccer, getting a Brazil team coming off its World Cup humiliation. They are reconstructing themselves as "new old Brazil," and the 2-0 win over the US was the first step toward a World Cup title in front of home fans in 2014.
Usain Bolt is taking the rest of the year off overhumiliation over losing back pains.
The new season of "Hard Knocks" starts tonight, and I hope that HBO focuses a ton of its attention on the Darrelle Revis holdout -- I'm not holding my breath. Unfiltered Rex Ryan is decent consolation.
-- D.S.
"Don't think I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me." -- LeBron on Twitter last night. Does he understand that only encourages the jokes?
The complete NBA schedule came out, and there's only one date everyone wanted to know: December 2 -- when LeBron returns to Cleveland.
The NL Central is all tied up. And these two teams appear to loathe each other, which is excellent. I love that Brandon Phillips yapped about hating the Cards, and I love that Molina got in Phillips' face about it last night. I love that, during the on-field scrumming, the Reds took a shot at Monday's winning pitcher, Chris Carpenter, and I love that everyone is just a tad pissy. It's exciting, it's healthy and it makes for a thrilling stretch run, particularly if you want a counter-balance to the AL East myopia.
Stephen Strasburg: Ouch.
Jeremy Hellickson is the new Strasburg: That's overstating by a wide margin, but the Rays rookie -- pitching in place of the injured Wade Davis -- gives Tampa yet more depth at SP.
The Twins are back in first in the AL Central. Another fun race -- will be hard to top last year's playoff.
Would it have been so tough for the Nats to play the entire game wearing the old Expos hats?
Fantasy Watch: Typical of my season that after two months of lackluster starts, I dumped Wade LeBlanc -- just in time for him to have 8 Ks in a W. I'm clearly out of playoff contention, but as usual, I will consider finishing in the "first division" (top half of the 14-team league) to be a success. It's never happened before, so there's that.
I have no doubt that Carmelo would love to play in New York for the Knicks -- I still find it crazy that he would turn down what could be a LOT more money to stay in Denver. But more power to him if he does forgo the cash to play where he wants to play. (Cough: D.C.!)
Does anyone really believe that Mike D'Antoni is fine with Isiah being a consultant for the Knicks? No one else is -- why should the coach be?
SI's CFB Preview issue has four regionalized covers, featuring Alabama, Ohio State, Texas and Boise State. Can't argue with that. Always one of the great issues of the year.
Obligatory Florida football item: The Gators had their Media Day yesterday, and I'm giddy that frosh DE Dominique Easley compared he, fellow frosh DE Ronald Powell and fellow frosh DT Sharrif Floyd to LeBron, Wade and Bosh. 2012 National Champs.
So the Nets are going to change their name, just in time for the move to Brooklyn. What should the name be? My vote is for "Biggies."
Tough timing for US Soccer, getting a Brazil team coming off its World Cup humiliation. They are reconstructing themselves as "new old Brazil," and the 2-0 win over the US was the first step toward a World Cup title in front of home fans in 2014.
Usain Bolt is taking the rest of the year off over
The new season of "Hard Knocks" starts tonight, and I hope that HBO focuses a ton of its attention on the Darrelle Revis holdout -- I'm not holding my breath. Unfiltered Rex Ryan is decent consolation.
-- D.S.
08/10 Quickie: Happy Madden Day
Happy Madden Day! Yes, this IS a national holiday, for many -- the release of EA's latest in the Madden franchise, "Madden 11," with Drew Brees as the cover guy.
I believe that I once argued in the Quickie that Madden Day was the 2nd biggest single day of the year, related to pro football. (I'll probably revise that now to fall behind Day 1 of the Draft.)
The point is this: It's a big day, a huge day. Through Madden, people are talking about the NFL -- they are immersing themselves in the NFL.
The game is far more immersive than merely reading updates from your team's training camp or watching NFL shows on TV. It is even more immersive than fantasy football, at least in terms of the level of concentration you are applying to football in any given stretch of time.
I'm not a video-game guy -- I'm just not coordinated enough -- but I absolutely respect the sports-game culture, particularly the loyalty and enthusiasm for Madden.
For those of you who have your game in hand and plan to spend the rest of the week not doing much besides playing -- I salute you.
*I'm not a Jets fan, but even so: What a shame it would be if Darrelle Revis sat out the entire season.
It would jeopardize the Jets' shot at a Super Bowl and deprive fans of seeing the best cornerback in the league, in his prime. Make no mistake: Woody Johnson knew exactly what he was doing when he said that.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out: Fans love and respect Revis, but they generally hate hold-outs -- even if he IS being underpaid. Players usually cave, ultimately.
*Tons of positive buzz for Sam Bradford -- yesterday's MMQB from Peter King was gushing -- and not a trace of question that he might crumple when he takes his first rough hit or 20.
*Huge win for the Cardinals over the Reds -- is this the moment Cincinnati flails?
*Don Wakamatsu made some mistakes, to be sure, but it is unclear that the Mariners' disappointing season was enough of his fault to make him worthy of being axed.
*Strasburg is back tonight. We'll see....
*It's only a matter of time before the NBA is playing a full slate of regular-season games in London, with a full-time London franchise.
*Brian Cushing Watch: What, exactly, is "overtraining?" And what does that have to do with accidentally testing positive for PEDs?
*MJ to introduce Scottie Pippen at HOF ceremony: Let's hope his speech this time is a little less bitter than the last time he was at the Hall.
*Jeff Van Gundy thinks that the Heat will win more than 72 games this season -- I will absolutely take the under there.
*Joe Paterno for the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Um, I guess so?
-- D.S.
I believe that I once argued in the Quickie that Madden Day was the 2nd biggest single day of the year, related to pro football. (I'll probably revise that now to fall behind Day 1 of the Draft.)
The point is this: It's a big day, a huge day. Through Madden, people are talking about the NFL -- they are immersing themselves in the NFL.
The game is far more immersive than merely reading updates from your team's training camp or watching NFL shows on TV. It is even more immersive than fantasy football, at least in terms of the level of concentration you are applying to football in any given stretch of time.
I'm not a video-game guy -- I'm just not coordinated enough -- but I absolutely respect the sports-game culture, particularly the loyalty and enthusiasm for Madden.
For those of you who have your game in hand and plan to spend the rest of the week not doing much besides playing -- I salute you.
*I'm not a Jets fan, but even so: What a shame it would be if Darrelle Revis sat out the entire season.
It would jeopardize the Jets' shot at a Super Bowl and deprive fans of seeing the best cornerback in the league, in his prime. Make no mistake: Woody Johnson knew exactly what he was doing when he said that.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out: Fans love and respect Revis, but they generally hate hold-outs -- even if he IS being underpaid. Players usually cave, ultimately.
*Tons of positive buzz for Sam Bradford -- yesterday's MMQB from Peter King was gushing -- and not a trace of question that he might crumple when he takes his first rough hit or 20.
*Huge win for the Cardinals over the Reds -- is this the moment Cincinnati flails?
*Don Wakamatsu made some mistakes, to be sure, but it is unclear that the Mariners' disappointing season was enough of his fault to make him worthy of being axed.
*Strasburg is back tonight. We'll see....
*It's only a matter of time before the NBA is playing a full slate of regular-season games in London, with a full-time London franchise.
*Brian Cushing Watch: What, exactly, is "overtraining?" And what does that have to do with accidentally testing positive for PEDs?
*MJ to introduce Scottie Pippen at HOF ceremony: Let's hope his speech this time is a little less bitter than the last time he was at the Hall.
*Jeff Van Gundy thinks that the Heat will win more than 72 games this season -- I will absolutely take the under there.
*Joe Paterno for the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Um, I guess so?
-- D.S.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
08/09 Quickie: NFL, Tiger, Morrow
It's nice to have NFL football back and all, but you couldn't have watched any part of last night's preseason opener and not been reminded that preseason football stinks.
(If you're curious: T.O. had 2 catches for 18 yards, but Carson Palmer didn't seem to mind throwing at T.O. early and often.)
*Speaking of stinks: Tiger. No, really: It was the worst tournament of his pro career -- and likely his life. Just when you think he can't bottom out any further, he does. Crazy.
Let's be totally clear: Strictly talking about his golf, Tiger has never been more compelling in success than he is in failure right now.
*I would have thought that Chad Ochocinco would have insisted on being Batman and having T.O. be Robin. And, frankly, that's the way it should be.
*Brandon Morrow was jaw-dropping dominant -- 17 Ks in a complete-game 1-hitter. You can have the perfect games; that was the best pitching performance of the year.
*Milestones: Derek Jeter now has more hitsas a Yankee than Babe Ruth had as a Yankee. I'm as underwhelmed by this as you are.
*Um, wow: That sounds like the greatest pickup hoops game ever. And I really hope there is some video or at least one reporter who got to chronicle the thing for posterity.
*Love the idea of Alabama and Michigan playing each other in a non-conference CFB game -- it's a sign of the brand power of both schools that they could play that game in Dallas. Of course, Alabama would eviscerate Michigan if they played, but that's kind of beside the point.
*Tina Thompson became the leading scorer in WNBA history last night. She is a lock for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
*Let's not make too much of Emmitt Smith's "dis" of Florida by not mentioning them in his HOF induction speech; he went on Twitter last night to profusely apologize for the snub.
*Instead of defiantly denying he had anything to do with A-Rod's BP injury, why doesn't Joe Buck admit he might have had something to do with it -- and if that's the case, he's sorry.
*In case you missed it: Tim Tebow's hazing haircut. Yes, you may laugh.
*Sincere thanks again to all for the interest in the legwork project. If you emailed me or filled out the form, expect that I'll get back to you this week.
-- D.S.
(If you're curious: T.O. had 2 catches for 18 yards, but Carson Palmer didn't seem to mind throwing at T.O. early and often.)
*Speaking of stinks: Tiger. No, really: It was the worst tournament of his pro career -- and likely his life. Just when you think he can't bottom out any further, he does. Crazy.
Let's be totally clear: Strictly talking about his golf, Tiger has never been more compelling in success than he is in failure right now.
*I would have thought that Chad Ochocinco would have insisted on being Batman and having T.O. be Robin. And, frankly, that's the way it should be.
*Brandon Morrow was jaw-dropping dominant -- 17 Ks in a complete-game 1-hitter. You can have the perfect games; that was the best pitching performance of the year.
*Milestones: Derek Jeter now has more hits
*Um, wow: That sounds like the greatest pickup hoops game ever. And I really hope there is some video or at least one reporter who got to chronicle the thing for posterity.
*Love the idea of Alabama and Michigan playing each other in a non-conference CFB game -- it's a sign of the brand power of both schools that they could play that game in Dallas. Of course, Alabama would eviscerate Michigan if they played, but that's kind of beside the point.
*Tina Thompson became the leading scorer in WNBA history last night. She is a lock for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
*Let's not make too much of Emmitt Smith's "dis" of Florida by not mentioning them in his HOF induction speech; he went on Twitter last night to profusely apologize for the snub.
*Instead of defiantly denying he had anything to do with A-Rod's BP injury, why doesn't Joe Buck admit he might have had something to do with it -- and if that's the case, he's sorry.
*In case you missed it: Tim Tebow's hazing haircut. Yes, you may laugh.
*Sincere thanks again to all for the interest in the legwork project. If you emailed me or filled out the form, expect that I'll get back to you this week.
-- D.S.
Sunday (Very) Quickie
Well, for starters, there's this:
That's Tim Tebow, post-haircut as part of his rookie hazing. I don't know if this was intentional, but the "Friar Tuck" look is fairly inspired by the Broncos vets.
More for a Sunday morning:
*Congrats to the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Who's watching the preseason opener tonight?
*Would YOU want Tiger Woods on your Ryder Cup team right now?
(Actually, playing for something other than himself, among his peers, might be exactly the right thing for Tiger right now to get him out of his funk.)
*I don't follow UFC (yes: probably should), but apparently the Silva-Sonnen ending last night was insane, with Silva improbably coming from behind to get Sonnen to tap out.
*So much for that momentum for the Red Sox. (Also known as: "No A-Rod, no problem for the Yankees." Also known as "For Boston, it's Delgado time!")
*JP Arencibia leads the Jays to what will undoubtedly be the highlight of their season: a 17-11 win over the Rays, which included 8 Jays HRs (2 by rookie Arencibia, including a HR on his first MLB pitch).
*Oh, so now the Pistons want T-Mac?
*Zenyatta!
-- D.S.
That's Tim Tebow, post-haircut as part of his rookie hazing. I don't know if this was intentional, but the "Friar Tuck" look is fairly inspired by the Broncos vets.
More for a Sunday morning:
*Congrats to the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Who's watching the preseason opener tonight?
*Would YOU want Tiger Woods on your Ryder Cup team right now?
(Actually, playing for something other than himself, among his peers, might be exactly the right thing for Tiger right now to get him out of his funk.)
*I don't follow UFC (yes: probably should), but apparently the Silva-Sonnen ending last night was insane, with Silva improbably coming from behind to get Sonnen to tap out.
*So much for that momentum for the Red Sox. (Also known as: "No A-Rod, no problem for the Yankees." Also known as "For Boston, it's Delgado time!")
*JP Arencibia leads the Jays to what will undoubtedly be the highlight of their season: a 17-11 win over the Rays, which included 8 Jays HRs (2 by rookie Arencibia, including a HR on his first MLB pitch).
*Oh, so now the Pistons want T-Mac?
*Zenyatta!
-- D.S.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Saturday (Very) Quickie
Still would rather talk about the college football Top 25 than anything else, but today is a big day for two of the biggest names in NFL history....
*Jerry Rice (arguably the greatest WR in NFL history) and Emmitt Smith (certainly a Top 5 all-time RB) enter the Hall today, and I don't mean to dismiss the others (Grimm, Jackson, LeBeau, Little, Randle), but the star wattage is Jerry and Emmitt.
The defining detail of Rice's career: His work ethic. That, and the famous pre-draft test that put his 40 time at less than blazing, but Bill Walsh ignoring it and making the small-college star a linchpin of his offense.
The defining detail of Smith's career: The all-time career rushing yards record. Yes, the Super Bowl rings matter a lot (without them, he's a mere Dan Marino), but the record succinctly illustrates the duration and consistency of Smith's spectacular abilities.
We are partial to Emmitt in my house -- he is Mrs. Quickie's favorite player of all time, going back to his college days at Florida when she was an impressionable kid. His college stats were absurd; when he wasn't injured he was absolutely dominant -- on a Herschel-like level.
As for Rice, he is one of those NFL immortals for whom you can never find a fan who dislikes them. You may not have been a 49ers fan -- in fact, you may have hated them. But everyone respected Jerry Rice for his jaw-dropping awesomeness.
Ultimately, both all-time greats are a fairly compelling indictment of the NFL's player-evaluation system: 16 players were taken before Emmitt; 15 players were taken before Rice.
Of course, the two players are forever bound together by history for their dominance on "Dancing With the Stars."
I've always thought that the Hall of Fame induction ceremony was less about the players themselves and more about the fans of those players. If you grew up loving Rice or Emmitt -- or Russ Grimm or Floyd Little or John Randle or Rickey Jackson, congratulations to you.
Today is a wonderful day to think back fondly on the way those players thrilled you.
*Is Tyson Gay over Usain Bolt the biggest sports upset of the year? Yes.
*I'm sure everyone is shocked -- shocked -- to find out that Tennessee football is under investigation for more potential violations under Lane Kiffin.
(With Miami, it's par for the course, but it also comes just when it looked like they were turning the corner to restored respectability. It'll feed the U's whole persecution complex.)
*We all already knew he screwed up. So why would Super Bowl XL ref Bill Leavy re-open the wound now about he and his crew's shoddy work in the game?
*Is last night the start of the Red Sox making an improbable 7-week surge into the playoffs? (It would have to come at the expense of either the Rays or Yankees.)
*So when do the Orioles finally wake up? That's 4 straight Ws under Buck Showalter. Did he switch them to all-cotton uniforms? (More DMV baseball: Can the Nats please lock up Dunn?)
*I love that Anthony Tolliver is ready to mock LeBron openly -- Tolliver goes from virtual unknown to folk hero.
*Isiah Thomas is an MBA case study for failing upwards. We can all hope to fail so successfully in our careers.
(Jokes aside, Adrian Woj expressed the proper point: How can a college hoops coach be a consultant for a pro team? Imagine if John Calipari was a consultant for the Heat.)
-- D.S.
*Jerry Rice (arguably the greatest WR in NFL history) and Emmitt Smith (certainly a Top 5 all-time RB) enter the Hall today, and I don't mean to dismiss the others (Grimm, Jackson, LeBeau, Little, Randle), but the star wattage is Jerry and Emmitt.
The defining detail of Rice's career: His work ethic. That, and the famous pre-draft test that put his 40 time at less than blazing, but Bill Walsh ignoring it and making the small-college star a linchpin of his offense.
The defining detail of Smith's career: The all-time career rushing yards record. Yes, the Super Bowl rings matter a lot (without them, he's a mere Dan Marino), but the record succinctly illustrates the duration and consistency of Smith's spectacular abilities.
We are partial to Emmitt in my house -- he is Mrs. Quickie's favorite player of all time, going back to his college days at Florida when she was an impressionable kid. His college stats were absurd; when he wasn't injured he was absolutely dominant -- on a Herschel-like level.
As for Rice, he is one of those NFL immortals for whom you can never find a fan who dislikes them. You may not have been a 49ers fan -- in fact, you may have hated them. But everyone respected Jerry Rice for his jaw-dropping awesomeness.
Ultimately, both all-time greats are a fairly compelling indictment of the NFL's player-evaluation system: 16 players were taken before Emmitt; 15 players were taken before Rice.
Of course, the two players are forever bound together by history for their dominance on "Dancing With the Stars."
I've always thought that the Hall of Fame induction ceremony was less about the players themselves and more about the fans of those players. If you grew up loving Rice or Emmitt -- or Russ Grimm or Floyd Little or John Randle or Rickey Jackson, congratulations to you.
Today is a wonderful day to think back fondly on the way those players thrilled you.
*Is Tyson Gay over Usain Bolt the biggest sports upset of the year? Yes.
*I'm sure everyone is shocked -- shocked -- to find out that Tennessee football is under investigation for more potential violations under Lane Kiffin.
(With Miami, it's par for the course, but it also comes just when it looked like they were turning the corner to restored respectability. It'll feed the U's whole persecution complex.)
*We all already knew he screwed up. So why would Super Bowl XL ref Bill Leavy re-open the wound now about he and his crew's shoddy work in the game?
*Is last night the start of the Red Sox making an improbable 7-week surge into the playoffs? (It would have to come at the expense of either the Rays or Yankees.)
*So when do the Orioles finally wake up? That's 4 straight Ws under Buck Showalter. Did he switch them to all-cotton uniforms? (More DMV baseball: Can the Nats please lock up Dunn?)
*I love that Anthony Tolliver is ready to mock LeBron openly -- Tolliver goes from virtual unknown to folk hero.
*Isiah Thomas is an MBA case study for failing upwards. We can all hope to fail so successfully in our careers.
(Jokes aside, Adrian Woj expressed the proper point: How can a college hoops coach be a consultant for a pro team? Imagine if John Calipari was a consultant for the Heat.)
-- D.S.
Friday, August 06, 2010
08/06 Quickie: CFB Top 25, Tiger, Rays
Hustling out to accompany my kid and his day-care class to the Brooklyn Aquarium. I've never been busier with work -- but I wouldn't miss this for anything...
*Want to enjoy some "shoedenfreude?" Read about my sorry experience with the Tebow shoe that got away.
*The USA Today Preseason College Football Top 25 is out! Yes, it's the Coaches' Poll, which I loathe, but it's something -- and it's part of the BCS formula, for better or worse.
Alabama is No. 1 -- as expected.
Ohio State is No. 2 -- as expected.
Florida is No. 3 -- despite losing Tim Tebow and a slew of other stars to the NFL. (If that's not an indicator of the talent that Urban Meyer has collected, I don't know what is.)
Texas is No. 4 -- Garrett Gilbert is to Colt McCoy what John Brantley is to Tim Tebow.
Boise State -- my premature pick to win the national title -- is No. 5. (With VA Tech at No. 6, that will make their season opener all the more huge.)
This is the year the BCS implodes worse than ever, and it will revolve around Ohio State's worthiness to play in the national-title game, with either the SEC champ (unbeaten or one loss) or an unbeaten Texas left out, if the Buckeyes fool their way in. (Poor Boise State won't even rate into the discussion, despite beating VA Tech to start the season.)
Prediction: Unless Ohio State is the ONLY unbeaten team -- and we saw how well that worked out for them in 2006 -- BCS voters will look at OSU's track record and vault the SEC champ and Texas ahead of them, treating Ohio State like... well, like Boise State, frankly.
(I say this every year: Filling out the BlogPoll is one of my favorite things of the year. My initial ballot is coming soon, and as usual I want your input.)
*It's OK for you to say it: Tiger kinda sucks. Now, he may regain his form -- at which point you're perfectly entitled to respect his game again. But until that happens? He just ain't good.
It is, in a sense, the perfect complement to the old "Tiger vs. the Field" phenomenon where every tournament Tiger entered, you just assumed he'd win and were surprised when he didn't.
Now, even though there's a part of you that still assumes he's going to win, there is a bigger part of you that is tuning in to see just how much of a train wreck this guy's game has become.
It is like A-Rod stuck on 599 squared.
*So how about that "dome run" that the Twins used to rally past the Rays? What happens when that loss is the difference between the Rays getting home-field advantage over the Yankees for the playoffs? (Eh, I'm overstating -- MLB has always been about "just make the playoffs." Still: A "dome run!")
*Bob Davidson's missed call in the Phillies-Marlins game is one more reason that baseball is desperate for more extensive replay. Let's focus on the big picture: Getting the calls right.
*No, Roger Goodell shouldn't cut Big Ben's suspension. That will just enable the guy that there are no consequences.
*Well, the new Rangers owners aren't Mark Cuban (unfortunately), but they do seem to be saying all the right things. For now, at least. But the proof in the "We'll spend!" claims are in the payroll.
*Karen Sypher: Guilty. That was obvious -- less obvious was the Sharpie-permanent humiliation of Rick Pitino.
*Keith Olbermann off of Football Night in America? You can disagree with KO's politics, but he was a terrific talent to read over the day's football highlights. Hope this didn't have to do with his polarizing work on Countdown.
*Huge and sincere thanks for the near-overwhelming response to yesterday's Legwork post. Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
If you haven't seen it and are interested, check it out and get back to me. I'm going to try to get through it this weekend and get back to everyone by early next week.
-- D.S.
*Want to enjoy some "shoedenfreude?" Read about my sorry experience with the Tebow shoe that got away.
*The USA Today Preseason College Football Top 25 is out! Yes, it's the Coaches' Poll, which I loathe, but it's something -- and it's part of the BCS formula, for better or worse.
Alabama is No. 1 -- as expected.
Ohio State is No. 2 -- as expected.
Florida is No. 3 -- despite losing Tim Tebow and a slew of other stars to the NFL. (If that's not an indicator of the talent that Urban Meyer has collected, I don't know what is.)
Texas is No. 4 -- Garrett Gilbert is to Colt McCoy what John Brantley is to Tim Tebow.
Boise State -- my premature pick to win the national title -- is No. 5. (With VA Tech at No. 6, that will make their season opener all the more huge.)
This is the year the BCS implodes worse than ever, and it will revolve around Ohio State's worthiness to play in the national-title game, with either the SEC champ (unbeaten or one loss) or an unbeaten Texas left out, if the Buckeyes fool their way in. (Poor Boise State won't even rate into the discussion, despite beating VA Tech to start the season.)
Prediction: Unless Ohio State is the ONLY unbeaten team -- and we saw how well that worked out for them in 2006 -- BCS voters will look at OSU's track record and vault the SEC champ and Texas ahead of them, treating Ohio State like... well, like Boise State, frankly.
(I say this every year: Filling out the BlogPoll is one of my favorite things of the year. My initial ballot is coming soon, and as usual I want your input.)
*It's OK for you to say it: Tiger kinda sucks. Now, he may regain his form -- at which point you're perfectly entitled to respect his game again. But until that happens? He just ain't good.
It is, in a sense, the perfect complement to the old "Tiger vs. the Field" phenomenon where every tournament Tiger entered, you just assumed he'd win and were surprised when he didn't.
Now, even though there's a part of you that still assumes he's going to win, there is a bigger part of you that is tuning in to see just how much of a train wreck this guy's game has become.
It is like A-Rod stuck on 599 squared.
*So how about that "dome run" that the Twins used to rally past the Rays? What happens when that loss is the difference between the Rays getting home-field advantage over the Yankees for the playoffs? (Eh, I'm overstating -- MLB has always been about "just make the playoffs." Still: A "dome run!")
*Bob Davidson's missed call in the Phillies-Marlins game is one more reason that baseball is desperate for more extensive replay. Let's focus on the big picture: Getting the calls right.
*No, Roger Goodell shouldn't cut Big Ben's suspension. That will just enable the guy that there are no consequences.
*Well, the new Rangers owners aren't Mark Cuban (unfortunately), but they do seem to be saying all the right things. For now, at least. But the proof in the "We'll spend!" claims are in the payroll.
*Karen Sypher: Guilty. That was obvious -- less obvious was the Sharpie-permanent humiliation of Rick Pitino.
*Keith Olbermann off of Football Night in America? You can disagree with KO's politics, but he was a terrific talent to read over the day's football highlights. Hope this didn't have to do with his polarizing work on Countdown.
*Huge and sincere thanks for the near-overwhelming response to yesterday's Legwork post. Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
If you haven't seen it and are interested, check it out and get back to me. I'm going to try to get through it this weekend and get back to everyone by early next week.
-- D.S.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Looking For Some Help With a Project
Hey, everyone: If you consider yourself a sports news junkie and seem to spend all your time refreshing Twitter and blog feeds but can never get enough, I want to hear from you.
I am looking for a clever self-starter with phenomenal attention to detail and an interest in hustling over the next few weeks to help me with some legwork on a research project. (Journalism or media experience is good, but I have a pretty elastic mindset about what that means.)
You would ideally be able to give me a total of 10-15 hours over the next few weeks, but I’m not fixated on when you do it -- during slow times on your job or summer internship, at night, on the weekend, whatever fits your schedule. NYC-based is good, but not necessary (we can talk via Skype and IM).
I can afford a gratuity -- it won’t be much, but it will let you feel like it is more than “unpaid.” (If you are willing to do it "for the experience," that's fine, but I'm still going to do the right thing.) And when you end up doing a phenomenal job, I would love to be able to give you more work. That would be good news for both of us.
If you’re interested (or know someone who might be), shoot me an email that says “LEGWORK” in the subject line and include:
*A short description (say, tweet-length) about your interest;
*2-3 links to some relevant work;
*Your favorite sports and sports teams (specific fandom won't disqualify you!);
*(Optional) The names of 2-3 people I don’t follow on Twitter but should. (If you know my Quickie style, you know my preference: Essentially, keep it short!)
As for timing, I am going to try to get this figured out by early next week. It's short notice, but on the other hand, I don't think this will be a drawn-out process.
Thanks so much for the help.
PS: For better or worse(!), you will not be doing any research related to Tim Tebow.
I am looking for a clever self-starter with phenomenal attention to detail and an interest in hustling over the next few weeks to help me with some legwork on a research project. (Journalism or media experience is good, but I have a pretty elastic mindset about what that means.)
You would ideally be able to give me a total of 10-15 hours over the next few weeks, but I’m not fixated on when you do it -- during slow times on your job or summer internship, at night, on the weekend, whatever fits your schedule. NYC-based is good, but not necessary (we can talk via Skype and IM).
I can afford a gratuity -- it won’t be much, but it will let you feel like it is more than “unpaid.” (If you are willing to do it "for the experience," that's fine, but I'm still going to do the right thing.) And when you end up doing a phenomenal job, I would love to be able to give you more work. That would be good news for both of us.
If you’re interested (or know someone who might be), shoot me an email that says “LEGWORK” in the subject line and include:
*A short description (say, tweet-length) about your interest;
*2-3 links to some relevant work;
*Your favorite sports and sports teams (specific fandom won't disqualify you!);
*(Optional) The names of 2-3 people I don’t follow on Twitter but should. (If you know my Quickie style, you know my preference: Essentially, keep it short!)
As for timing, I am going to try to get this figured out by early next week. It's short notice, but on the other hand, I don't think this will be a drawn-out process.
Thanks so much for the help.
PS: For better or worse(!), you will not be doing any research related to Tim Tebow.
08/05 Quickie: Cuban, A-Rod, Lance, CFB
Like the rest of you, I am bummed -- but not surprised in the least -- that Mark Cuban's bid to own the Texas Rangers did not win. Here's hoping he can one day get that team. (Although from a strategic standpoint, it was much more important for him to own a Texas baseball team than, say, the Dodgers or Pirates or Cubs.)
A-Rod hits 600th: And the most over-deployed joke of the event was something related to "Well, if you discount for PEDs, it was really only like 300." In 10 years -- if not right now -- no one really cares about those asterisks or PED influence.
Lance: Yikes. To follow on that last point, I really do think that proof that Lance used PEDs won't fundamentally erode the rep he has earned for all those Tour de France wins and his inspiring life story.
To mildly contradict myself, the fact that Lance has protested his drug-free-ness -- extremely strongly -- would only make confirmation of any allegations that much more brutal. In true Quickie form, the cheating might be bad; the lying/cover-up is always worse.
Lots of college football teams get started practicing today, including Florida, whose practices are entirely closed to the media and public. I don't need to watch them or get first-hand media reports to know that John Brantley is going to destroy defenses this season.
(I have no problem saying that my expectations for Florida in Year 1 of the "Post-Tebow Era" is that they will make the SEC Championship with one loss -- at Alabama -- then win the SEC title. The following fact accrues every year: This is the most talented Florida roster in Urban Meyer's tenure at Florida.)
Shaq to the Celtics is official: What a circus that is going to be. By the way, Shaq is making something along the lines of league minimum -- what a crazy coda on his career.
Huge props to reader Garrett, who saw yesterday's item about Shaq and my question about Shaq playing for 6 teams and how many other Top 20/50/100 NBA players had that long of a resume... then in the comments, he totally pulled out Moses Malone:
MLB Studs: Good debut -- almost Lilly-ish -- for Edwin Jackson as a White Sox starter... Now Lilly teammate Vicente Padilla? Even better than Lilly's LA debut... Ubaldo wins his 17th, but it just doesn't feel the same as the 1st-half "Ubaldomania"... Fantasy Stud: Domonic Brown: 3 RBI for the Phillies rookie.
NFL Camping: Sounds like Bucs QB Josh Freeman is not only way ahead of where he was as a rookie a year ago -- typical for QB development. I'm sure he will be even better a year from now. That's why I'm unconcerned about where Tim Tebow is right now. As long as he gets some snaps this season -- maybe even a few starts -- he will be on pace for a leap next season.
LenDale White has found a home: With the RB-light Broncos, who just lost Knowshon Moreno for at least a month and Corell Buckhalter for god-knows-how-long and are left with a stable of unknowns (which is hardly unusual for them). If White would just get in shape and -- well, care -- he might actually make something of himself.
Brett Favre, cont'd: The cell phone picture stuff is at least amusing -- far more amusing than the waffling.
Interesting job opportunity coming later today -- check back around noonish. Need some help with a project.
-- D.S.
A-Rod hits 600th: And the most over-deployed joke of the event was something related to "Well, if you discount for PEDs, it was really only like 300." In 10 years -- if not right now -- no one really cares about those asterisks or PED influence.
Lance: Yikes. To follow on that last point, I really do think that proof that Lance used PEDs won't fundamentally erode the rep he has earned for all those Tour de France wins and his inspiring life story.
To mildly contradict myself, the fact that Lance has protested his drug-free-ness -- extremely strongly -- would only make confirmation of any allegations that much more brutal. In true Quickie form, the cheating might be bad; the lying/cover-up is always worse.
Lots of college football teams get started practicing today, including Florida, whose practices are entirely closed to the media and public. I don't need to watch them or get first-hand media reports to know that John Brantley is going to destroy defenses this season.
(I have no problem saying that my expectations for Florida in Year 1 of the "Post-Tebow Era" is that they will make the SEC Championship with one loss -- at Alabama -- then win the SEC title. The following fact accrues every year: This is the most talented Florida roster in Urban Meyer's tenure at Florida.)
Shaq to the Celtics is official: What a circus that is going to be. By the way, Shaq is making something along the lines of league minimum -- what a crazy coda on his career.
Huge props to reader Garrett, who saw yesterday's item about Shaq and my question about Shaq playing for 6 teams and how many other Top 20/50/100 NBA players had that long of a resume... then in the comments, he totally pulled out Moses Malone:
"I'm not sure where you'd rank him, but Moses Malone played for the Braves, Rockets, Sixers (twice), Bullets, Hawks, Bucks and Spurs. And before he even played a regular season NBA game, he was on the Utah Stars and St. Louis Spirits in the ABA, then drafted by the Blazers in the ABA dispersal draft."I'd definitely put Moses in the Top 50 and I love this call by Garrett. Kudos!
MLB Studs: Good debut -- almost Lilly-ish -- for Edwin Jackson as a White Sox starter... Now Lilly teammate Vicente Padilla? Even better than Lilly's LA debut... Ubaldo wins his 17th, but it just doesn't feel the same as the 1st-half "Ubaldomania"... Fantasy Stud: Domonic Brown: 3 RBI for the Phillies rookie.
NFL Camping: Sounds like Bucs QB Josh Freeman is not only way ahead of where he was as a rookie a year ago -- typical for QB development. I'm sure he will be even better a year from now. That's why I'm unconcerned about where Tim Tebow is right now. As long as he gets some snaps this season -- maybe even a few starts -- he will be on pace for a leap next season.
LenDale White has found a home: With the RB-light Broncos, who just lost Knowshon Moreno for at least a month and Corell Buckhalter for god-knows-how-long and are left with a stable of unknowns (which is hardly unusual for them). If White would just get in shape and -- well, care -- he might actually make something of himself.
Brett Favre, cont'd: The cell phone picture stuff is at least amusing -- far more amusing than the waffling.
Interesting job opportunity coming later today -- check back around noonish. Need some help with a project.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
08/04 Quickie: Shaq, Cuban, Favre
Watch me evade leading with Favre...
The NBA has done a spectacular job of turning itself into a 11-month-a-year league. Beyond the regular season and playoffs, there was the John Wall Lottery in May, the Draft in June, July's free-agent insanity...
...And even into August -- which should be a dead zone -- the league has three things it can stand on: The schedule release (yesterday, which was big enough), the World Basketball Festival (in two weeks) and, of course, Shaq about to sign with the Celtics.
So about Shaq: There isn't another star among the game's Top 20 ever -- or Top 50 ever (or Top 100 ever) -- who has played for as many teams as Shaq's half-dozen: Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavs, Celtics. He's not "Shaq Daddy"; he's a 7-foot version of journeyman Kevin Ollie.
The Celtics may have no chance of winning the East (then again, I said the same thing last season), but they will be among the upper-echelon of entertaining.
And for yet another news cycle in its offseason, the NBA will get a dominant headline. This is, by far, the biggest and most memorable offseason in the history of the league.
More:
*MLB will never let it happen, but Mark Cuban owning the Rangers would be the best thing to happen to baseball ownership in years, not quite Henry buying the Red Sox but a strong No. 2 with Sternberg buying the Rays. Cuban is the best owner in sports -- although Ted Leonsis is giving him a run for his money. He would make the Rangers relevant, just like he did with the Mavs. (Yes, I'm saying that even in a playoff year, the Rangers aren't particularly relevant.)
*Ndamukong Suh gets paid: There's been some griping that he is getting All-Pro money. Unlike Sam Bradford -- who I think will be a bust -- I think Suh will be dominant for the Lions from the get-go and worth all that money. My pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
*A-Rod still stuck on 599: Of course he is.
*The Rays are back on top of the AL East. In April or May? Whatever. In August? It's a big deal. There isn't a better-run franchise in baseball.
*Ryan Howard, Kevin Youkilis to the DL: Howard's benching curbs what had been a sweet little run of good fortune for the Phillies; Youk on the DL is par for the course for Boston this season. (Youk is also at the heart of my fantasy lineup, which has mirrored Boston's injury issues.)
*Well, hello there, Ted Lilly!
*Carmelo not signing Nuggets extension? That would be an obvious sign he is bolting next summer (Knicks? Nets? Wizards?) and Denver has no choice but to trade him to try to get something before he does.
*See how I refused to lead with Favre? That's because I am certain he will play this season. Just when you think he can't stretch this "will-I-or-won't-I" schtick any further, he does it.
-- D.S.
The NBA has done a spectacular job of turning itself into a 11-month-a-year league. Beyond the regular season and playoffs, there was the John Wall Lottery in May, the Draft in June, July's free-agent insanity...
...And even into August -- which should be a dead zone -- the league has three things it can stand on: The schedule release (yesterday, which was big enough), the World Basketball Festival (in two weeks) and, of course, Shaq about to sign with the Celtics.
So about Shaq: There isn't another star among the game's Top 20 ever -- or Top 50 ever (or Top 100 ever) -- who has played for as many teams as Shaq's half-dozen: Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavs, Celtics. He's not "Shaq Daddy"; he's a 7-foot version of journeyman Kevin Ollie.
The Celtics may have no chance of winning the East (then again, I said the same thing last season), but they will be among the upper-echelon of entertaining.
And for yet another news cycle in its offseason, the NBA will get a dominant headline. This is, by far, the biggest and most memorable offseason in the history of the league.
More:
*MLB will never let it happen, but Mark Cuban owning the Rangers would be the best thing to happen to baseball ownership in years, not quite Henry buying the Red Sox but a strong No. 2 with Sternberg buying the Rays. Cuban is the best owner in sports -- although Ted Leonsis is giving him a run for his money. He would make the Rangers relevant, just like he did with the Mavs. (Yes, I'm saying that even in a playoff year, the Rangers aren't particularly relevant.)
*Ndamukong Suh gets paid: There's been some griping that he is getting All-Pro money. Unlike Sam Bradford -- who I think will be a bust -- I think Suh will be dominant for the Lions from the get-go and worth all that money. My pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
*A-Rod still stuck on 599: Of course he is.
*The Rays are back on top of the AL East. In April or May? Whatever. In August? It's a big deal. There isn't a better-run franchise in baseball.
*Ryan Howard, Kevin Youkilis to the DL: Howard's benching curbs what had been a sweet little run of good fortune for the Phillies; Youk on the DL is par for the course for Boston this season. (Youk is also at the heart of my fantasy lineup, which has mirrored Boston's injury issues.)
*Well, hello there, Ted Lilly!
*Carmelo not signing Nuggets extension? That would be an obvious sign he is bolting next summer (Knicks? Nets? Wizards?) and Denver has no choice but to trade him to try to get something before he does.
*See how I refused to lead with Favre? That's because I am certain he will play this season. Just when you think he can't stretch this "will-I-or-won't-I" schtick any further, he does it.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
08/03 Quickie: NBA Sked, B10, Xs/Os
Heat-Celtics to tip off the new NBA season? Can't ask for more than that. I couldn't believe the NBA would put the Heat in Cleveland to open the season, even though that would be the greatest game ever. (Have to believe it will be Lakers-Heat in the NBA's premier Christmas Day spot.)
Big Ten Media Day: Conference title game in 2011, once Nebraska joins and makes it an even 12. Now, about that thorny issue of splitting up the league....
Indians super-rookie Carlos Santana was supposed to be one of those savvy mid-season pick-ups that takes me from middle-of-the-pack in fantasy to the playoffs. D'oh....
As previewed yesterday, Rays top prospect Jeremy Hellickson did win his MLB debut last night -- but it was apparently a one-night-only kind of deal. Much bigger future ahead.
The anti-doping folks are so intent to get Lance that they are willing to give sweet deals to any rider willing to talk with them about Lance using PEDs.
(Either Lance is the most honorable -- and maligned -- athlete in sports history or he is going to get crucified on this.)
That Karen Sypher intended to extort money from Rick Pitino was kind of obvious, wasn't it? It doesn't change the fact that Pitino has irreparably hurt his rep with this trial.
As expected, Phil Jackson signed that extension with the Lakers -- his ultimate career encore can be leading the Lakers to a(nother) three-peat while crushing the dreams of LeBron.
New book out today: Tim Layden's "Blood, Sweat and Chalk" -- a history of strategy in the NFL. (It was previewed in that amazing piece in SI a few weeks ago about Don Coryell.) I'm digging into it now and will hopefully have a review later this week. (In the meantime, here's a Q&A Layden did with the NYT; I'm going to line up my own, hopefully.)
I think A-Rod is trying too hard....
-- D.S.
Big Ten Media Day: Conference title game in 2011, once Nebraska joins and makes it an even 12. Now, about that thorny issue of splitting up the league....
Indians super-rookie Carlos Santana was supposed to be one of those savvy mid-season pick-ups that takes me from middle-of-the-pack in fantasy to the playoffs. D'oh....
As previewed yesterday, Rays top prospect Jeremy Hellickson did win his MLB debut last night -- but it was apparently a one-night-only kind of deal. Much bigger future ahead.
The anti-doping folks are so intent to get Lance that they are willing to give sweet deals to any rider willing to talk with them about Lance using PEDs.
(Either Lance is the most honorable -- and maligned -- athlete in sports history or he is going to get crucified on this.)
That Karen Sypher intended to extort money from Rick Pitino was kind of obvious, wasn't it? It doesn't change the fact that Pitino has irreparably hurt his rep with this trial.
As expected, Phil Jackson signed that extension with the Lakers -- his ultimate career encore can be leading the Lakers to a(nother) three-peat while crushing the dreams of LeBron.
New book out today: Tim Layden's "Blood, Sweat and Chalk" -- a history of strategy in the NFL. (It was previewed in that amazing piece in SI a few weeks ago about Don Coryell.) I'm digging into it now and will hopefully have a review later this week. (In the meantime, here's a Q&A Layden did with the NYT; I'm going to line up my own, hopefully.)
I think A-Rod is trying too hard....
-- D.S.
Monday, August 02, 2010
08/02 Quickie: Rays, Broncos, Masoli
The Yankees-Rays battle in the AL East is turning into something awesome -- Shields over Sabathia brings Tampa as close as they've been since they led the division early in the season.
That said: It feels like a foregone conclusion that one of these teams will win the AL East and the other will be the AL Wildcard, and that they both should advance to the ALCS.
I guess that makes a head-to-head battle on the first day of August a little less meaningful in an absolute sense... and more like foreshadowing.
Strasburg Watch: Throws without pain. I'm not sure how much solace that gives Nats fans who are inclined to presume the worst.
Well, what Ozzie Guillen had to say about how Latino players are treated vs. how Asian players are treated should open up an interesting discussion about race in baseball. Unfortunately, what sports media doesn't do well is discussions about race.
NFL Camping: The good news for the Broncos? The set a team record for fan attendance at training camp (more than 3,100, undoubtedly there for Tebowmania). The bad news? Knowshon Moreno may have torn his hamstring, which will sideline him for at least 3 weeks. (Corell Buckhalter was also injured; the Broncos' RB situation is bleak. Enter Brian Westbrook?)
Darrelle Revis is going to hold out: Depending on who you talk to, he is the best player in the league, the best defensive player in the league or merely the best player on a Jets team that considers itself a leading contender to make the Super Bowl. Whatever: Give him his raise.
CFB: Jeremiah Masoli to Ole Miss. Given his history, he needs a substantial support system. But as a football talent, he will help instantly; the minute he walks on campus -- literally and metaphorically -- he is the best skill position player on the team.
The next big X-sports phenom? Pedro Barros, the 15-year-old who won gold in Skateboard Park at the X Games.
Tracking today: Jeremy Hellickson, the Rays' top minor-league pitching prospect, gets his first MLB start today, to give the Rays' terrific rotation an extra day of rest. Don't go rushing to add him to your fantasy roster; apparently, this is just a one-day thing, even though he is arguably good enough to be starting regularly for every other team in the league.
Ooh: The HeismanPundit.com Preseason Watch List is out! It's not a ranking, but he does list the players in order of their odds of winning -- Terrelle Pryor is first, with Miami QB Jacory Harris at No. 2.
Look who's at No. 7: Florida QB John Brantley, who has never even started a college game before. That's how good he is -- and will be. (No, there won't be a BrantleyBlog.)
Interestingly: Mark Ingram doesn't make the list of 16 would-be winners. That doesn't mean he won't finish No. 2 or in the Top 5 (I suspect he won't, if only because Trent Richardson will get more and more of Ingram's carries), but he won't win.
My biggest quibble: Boise State QB Kellen Moore at No. 11; I see Moore as the favorite. Boise will go unbeaten (potentially playing for the national championship) and Moore will put up sick stats.
Lots of chatter this weekend with NFL training camps kicking off about how close the NFL season is -- let's not forget that college football is closing in fast, too.
I just booked my flight to get to Gainesville for the first two games of Florida's season. Ironically, I will be flying out of Jacksonville an hour before Tim Tebow and the Broncos kick off in their season-opener against the Jaguars. Attendance there was apparently not meant to be for me.
-- D.S.
That said: It feels like a foregone conclusion that one of these teams will win the AL East and the other will be the AL Wildcard, and that they both should advance to the ALCS.
I guess that makes a head-to-head battle on the first day of August a little less meaningful in an absolute sense... and more like foreshadowing.
Strasburg Watch: Throws without pain. I'm not sure how much solace that gives Nats fans who are inclined to presume the worst.
Well, what Ozzie Guillen had to say about how Latino players are treated vs. how Asian players are treated should open up an interesting discussion about race in baseball. Unfortunately, what sports media doesn't do well is discussions about race.
NFL Camping: The good news for the Broncos? The set a team record for fan attendance at training camp (more than 3,100, undoubtedly there for Tebowmania). The bad news? Knowshon Moreno may have torn his hamstring, which will sideline him for at least 3 weeks. (Corell Buckhalter was also injured; the Broncos' RB situation is bleak. Enter Brian Westbrook?)
Darrelle Revis is going to hold out: Depending on who you talk to, he is the best player in the league, the best defensive player in the league or merely the best player on a Jets team that considers itself a leading contender to make the Super Bowl. Whatever: Give him his raise.
CFB: Jeremiah Masoli to Ole Miss. Given his history, he needs a substantial support system. But as a football talent, he will help instantly; the minute he walks on campus -- literally and metaphorically -- he is the best skill position player on the team.
The next big X-sports phenom? Pedro Barros, the 15-year-old who won gold in Skateboard Park at the X Games.
Tracking today: Jeremy Hellickson, the Rays' top minor-league pitching prospect, gets his first MLB start today, to give the Rays' terrific rotation an extra day of rest. Don't go rushing to add him to your fantasy roster; apparently, this is just a one-day thing, even though he is arguably good enough to be starting regularly for every other team in the league.
Ooh: The HeismanPundit.com Preseason Watch List is out! It's not a ranking, but he does list the players in order of their odds of winning -- Terrelle Pryor is first, with Miami QB Jacory Harris at No. 2.
Look who's at No. 7: Florida QB John Brantley, who has never even started a college game before. That's how good he is -- and will be. (No, there won't be a BrantleyBlog.)
Interestingly: Mark Ingram doesn't make the list of 16 would-be winners. That doesn't mean he won't finish No. 2 or in the Top 5 (I suspect he won't, if only because Trent Richardson will get more and more of Ingram's carries), but he won't win.
My biggest quibble: Boise State QB Kellen Moore at No. 11; I see Moore as the favorite. Boise will go unbeaten (potentially playing for the national championship) and Moore will put up sick stats.
Lots of chatter this weekend with NFL training camps kicking off about how close the NFL season is -- let's not forget that college football is closing in fast, too.
I just booked my flight to get to Gainesville for the first two games of Florida's season. Ironically, I will be flying out of Jacksonville an hour before Tim Tebow and the Broncos kick off in their season-opener against the Jaguars. Attendance there was apparently not meant to be for me.
-- D.S.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Sunday (Very) Quickie
So many trades, but first....
I'm still choking on Sam Bradford's unprecedented deal. Oh, I know why it was what it was (only $1M more than Stafford's, entirely "reasonable" for a QB taken 1st overall).
But if you remember my bearish analysis for Bradford's future (basically: he can't even handle BYU linemen; how will he handle NFC linemen?), then it is a joke.
(Of course, I don't have nearly the same intense hostility about Eric Berry becoming the highest-paid safety in NFL history, mostly because I think Berry is going to be worth it.)
The rookie salary cap is going to be the least-contentious part of the new CBA. I think everyone -- owners, union, media, fans -- can agree that it makes complete sense.
Lance Berkman will get more national recognition in his brief, career-ending (and probably title-winning) stint with the Yankees than he got in Houston.
(Astros fans can lament the trading away of one of the franchise's most popular and successful players, but they should feel good knowing he could finally win that elusive World Series title.)
More notable trades: Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals; Ted Lilly to the Dodgers; Kerry Wood on the Yankees; Rick Ankiel on the Braves; Chad Qualls to the Rays.
Everyone may be watching A-Rod, but the Yankees' MVP this season remains Robinson Cano -- who had the key HR to send the Yankees past the Rays.
Stud: Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies, who hit for the cycle, but did it in the most improbable way possible -- with a walk-off HR to win the game.
Is Rudy Fernandez going to the Bulls? (I'm a Rudy fan and was bummed the Wiz didn't make a stronger play for him.)
More tomorrow morning.
-- D.S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
