Oh my god! OH MY GOD! Count the superlatives:
This is, without hyperbole, the Greatest Upset in NFL History. (Particularly given that the Pats presumably sealed the win with that late TD.)
This is the Greatest Performance by a Defense in Super Bowl History. (Particularly given the way the Giants D shut down the Pats offense, the most devastating of our time.)
That play by Eli Manning to David Tyree may just go down as the Single-Greatest Play in Super Bowl history: "The Immaculate Escape." (Shanoff says: Firsts! AA's Brian P. has the video, and the astute observation that Joe Buck completely blew the call with his underwhelming delivery.) Eli Manning will never have to answer a single question about his career again. It's over: He'll just have to reference that play. (How about this: Greatest 4th Quarter in Super Bowl History?)
And that's before you even say: Perfection Denied. My god: Perfection Denied. From 19-0 to 18-1... there's very little distinguished about being the most accomplished Super Bowl runner-up of all time. (Except the irony that they displace the Super Bowl XXXVI-losing Rams, whose loss to these Pats was the point of such contention these last 48 hours. Dare I say: Karmic payback?)
All those superlatives -- not to mention the "perfection" stuff -- begs the question: Was this simply the greatest Super Bowl ever? Until the cheating questions came up, Super Bowl XXXVI was up there, but these Pats had so much more on the line than those Rams, and these Giants were given so much less of a chance than those Pats. I think we will look back -- tomorrow, next week and years from now -- and wonder if this is as great as a Super Bowl can ever get. I think that's quite possible.
I have never been so happy to get a prediction wrong. Did I say 41-17? I guess I had a few numbers turned around.
This is just the most incredible, unbelievable sports result I think I have experienced. (You know, that statement has had me up an hour later than I thought. I have experienced some incredible sports results -- Texas beating USC in the Rose Bowl for the national title, Duke beating UNLV in the 1991 Final Four, hell even Florida stomping Ohio State for the BCS title when no one gave them a chance. But this is the NFL, and the Pats were perfect. Again: I'm neither a Giants nor Pats fan -- but I was still blown away by this result.)
As unprecedented as 19-0 was going to be, this result is equally unprecedented, stunning and -- if you are a fan of football... sports... or just life -- completely energizing.
Here's a link to my Twitter coverage. Check out how it falls apart as the game ends!
-- D.S.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Super Bowl XLII Shanoff Twitter Event!
Shanoff on Twitter for Super Bowl XLII! There are plenty of live-blogs out there (I'll be tracking the three over at the Sporting Blog) and -- of course -- the Deadspin Comments section. But check out the Dan Shanoff Twitter page throughout the game for something a little different. I've been dabbling with it all day, but I will really ramp it up around 5:30 or so.
UPDATE: Up to 100 tweets at halftime! Be sure to check it out.
UPDATE: Up to 100 tweets at halftime! Be sure to check it out.
Sunday 02/03 A.M. (Very) Quickie:
XLII, Pats Scandal, CBB Upset, More
The countdown to the Super Bowl is on. Track the game through Shanoff's Super Bowl Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff. Should start around 6 p.m. ET.
Pats XXXVII Scandal, Cont'd: The Pats deny it, of course, and the league backs them up with a flimsy "it wasn't on the tapes the Pats provided and the Pats said they didn't."
(If the Pats did it, do you think they would provide the evidence to the league and/or admit to it? Those XXXVII tapes were probably destroyed the day after the first whiff of the spying scandal with the Jets at the start of the season, if not earlier.)
Cripes: Wright Thompson is making it unfair. It's getting to the point where everything he is writing these days is off-the-charts must-read. (Like this latest, a profile of the Pats' Ernie Adams.) In my estimation, Thompson is the best sportswriter in America right now.
UConn beats Pitt, continues sizzling streak.
Stanford shocks Wazzu in
SEC: Inexperienced, thin
Eddie Sutton hits 800 Ws: Wonder if he'll quit coaching the team today? No, I'm being serious.
Kevin Love Watch: 26 and 11 (yet another double-double) for my National Player of the Year, in a UCLA win over
Over/under on the number of fans who watched
-- D.S.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Pats Cheating Scandal Gets Murkier:
Did the Team Tape the Rams Before XXXVI?
Must-must-must read post on Pro Football Talk about the story in today's Boston Herald blowing open the story (which had been swirling as a mere rumor) that the Pats secretly taped the Rams final walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI, giving them just enough edge to allow them to slip past the heavily favored Rams to win the Pats' first title of the dynasty.
Given what we have seen this year, would it really surprise anyone that Bill Belichick uses rule-bending (or -breaking) videotaping techniques to gain an advantage? Like this year against the Jets (or last year against however-many teams) was the first time he did it? That doesn't pass the smell test. And there is little question that inside info like the walk-through video would have had a game-changing impact on the Super Bowl's result -- and thus sports history, connecting all the way to this weekend.
I believe these new allegations related to the Pats' XXXVI win over the Rams. Does it taint their dynasty? In theory, yes. In reality, no. Not only is it relatively ancient history, but NFL fans have shown an infinite capacity to not really care about cheating, whether it is technological or chemical. ("What competitors!") But god forbid the fantasy waiver wire malfunction.
But from the moment the New York Times broke things on Friday morning, this continues to be a really big story. Really big. Super big.
-- D.S.
Given what we have seen this year, would it really surprise anyone that Bill Belichick uses rule-bending (or -breaking) videotaping techniques to gain an advantage? Like this year against the Jets (or last year against however-many teams) was the first time he did it? That doesn't pass the smell test. And there is little question that inside info like the walk-through video would have had a game-changing impact on the Super Bowl's result -- and thus sports history, connecting all the way to this weekend.
I believe these new allegations related to the Pats' XXXVI win over the Rams. Does it taint their dynasty? In theory, yes. In reality, no. Not only is it relatively ancient history, but NFL fans have shown an infinite capacity to not really care about cheating, whether it is technological or chemical. ("What competitors!") But god forbid the fantasy waiver wire malfunction.
But from the moment the New York Times broke things on Friday morning, this continues to be a really big story. Really big. Super big.
-- D.S.
Saturday 02/02 A.M. (Very) Quickie:
Gasol, Goodell, Johan, Knoblauch, More
Today's Names to Know:
Lakers Snag Pau Gasol, Cont'd: There's a new "Big Three" in the NBA.
I would argue that trio is an even BETTER "Big Three" than Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce... at least if you want to win a title.
If the Lakers were in the East, they would now be favored to win the conference, ahead of the Celtics. As it is, they have moved from a second-tier contender in the West to the first tier, along with
Why do Bryant, Bynum and Gasol form the better "Big Three?" Size, for one. Give me two bigs and
The other factor? What's around the Big Three: Compare Lamar Odom to the Celtics' 4th-best player; that's not even a comparison. And the rising Jordan Farmar is a wash with Rajon Rondo. UPDATE: That last statement was WRONG. Rondo is better than Farmar, but I'm not quite sure he's more valuable than Odom.
What's amazing is that with this one move, the Lakers are so relevant... so now. Bethlehem Shoals and I were IM'ing about the deal shortly after it came out, and he said the Lakers were the "new Suns," the new team of fascinating, weird talents meshed together.
The wild thing is that we may get to see which "Big Three" rules: If the Celtics are the favorites to win the East, then the Lakers have to be considered a strong contender to win the West.
Celtics-Lakers might be the only thing that could save the NBA Finals. (Wow, just in time for Groundhog Day today, doesn't it seem like we're now re-living the 80s?)
Mets make a deal with Johan Santana for 6Y/$137.5M, the largest deal ever for a pitcher. What's $23 million a year between new friends?
Roger Goodell vs. Arlen Specter: So the Senator wants to know why the Commissioner destroyed the tapes involved in the Pats' cheating scandal; the Commish replied with a non-answer, focusing on his punishment of the Pats, not the underlying cover-up by the league.
Chuck Knoblauch vs. Congress: He testified and said he did truthfully, but also implied he didn't say anything about Roger Clemens. Andy Pettitte's testimony next week should be a little more interesting.
NBA Stud:
Meanwhile, Brandon Roy had a triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists).
Oh, and Grizzlies fans have to feel like they were fleeced; hopefully, this leads to a sale to a better owner. I mean: Why trade for Crittenton when you just drafted Conley and traded for Navarro? Rudy Gay IS a budding superstar they can build a team around, but they will need some size. Good thing they'll have their own high draft pick to use in what should be a loaded 2008 draft class: Kevin Love or Michael Beasley will look really good paired with Gay and Conley.
CFB: The
-- D.S.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Pau Gasol to the Lakers
The Lakers just fleeced the Grizzlies and suddenly are a very legit contender in the West.
Super Bowl XXXII, 10 Years Later
I have been to one Super Bowl in my life: Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego. John Elway's first title and the scene of his career-defining "helicopter" gain.
I got to the game as an employee of the NFL. (Not sure how many of you know I worked for the league itself, about a half-dozen jobs ago.) I worked in the division that managed NFL.com (at the time managed by Starwave, which also managed ESPN.com, where I worked before the NFL and which facilitated the role at the NFL).
For the most part, I was a low-level lackey. The culture wasn't particularly entrepreneurial and the atmosphere wasn't particularly welcoming to its nascent online division.
I did have the opportunity to do two interesting things:
(1) I got to conceive and manage SuperBowl.com that year, which would become the most widely visited single-event Web site in the young history of the consumer Web.
(2) They flew me out to San Diego for a long week of lead-up to the game. Here's where I have to tip my cap to the generosity of the league: They also provided for a companion to fly out to San Diego – and, because I was working at the game, they gave me two game tickets, along with a host of passes to all of the biggest and best parties.
I gave the tickets to my father and brother. My dad took advantage of the free flight; my brother used miles to get out to San Diego. They stayed with me in my hotel room for free and ate from the plates of food I brought from the employee dining tent. They got special access to the NFL Experience and front-row seats to MTV Rock-n-Jock and attended all those parties with me. It was one of their greatest memories ever. Mine, too.
For that, I can't thank the NFL enough, even if the experience of working for the league for those 8 months wasn't particularly fun – and, actually, kind of ruined any passion I had for the NFL.
I watched the game from an NFL.com press box, and two things stand out:
(1) Jim Fassel is a genius. He did the equivalent of a "live-blog" for SuperBowl.com, providing constant chatter and answering user questions throughout the game. I don't think I truly understood how smart the REALLY smart NFL minds are until I heard him talk about the game: He knew everything – his analysis skills were jaw-dropping. He was calling plays before they happened. He might not be a fit for TV as an analyst, but the NFL should allow guys like him to call games from a special live feed you get if you care about the actual game being played. And he was a truly nice guy and treated all the lowly NFL.com workers really well.
(2) I had a special league-approved locker-room pass, as part of NFL.com, ostensibly to cover the game. When the game was over, I could either go to the Broncos locker room – a once-in-a-lifetime experience – or sit in the box and work on a postgame column to lead SuperBowl.com, tinker with the SB.com site and otherwise avoid a scene in the bowels of the stadium that, in all honesty, I was horrifying intimidated by. (I will never be a reporter.) Instead, I gave the pass to a co-worker and she went to the locker room. As expected, she said it was one of the coolest scenes she has ever experienced. Of course it was. In hindsight, I regret my insecurity – it is one of my greatest regrets of my professional life, if only to have experienced a Super Bowl locker-room.
I can't believe it is 10 years later. My stint at the NFL wasn't particularly memorable. But this week 10 years ago, it elevated itself to one of the most enjoyable weeks and experiences of my life. (Oh, and I have never sniffed a return to the Super Bowl.)
Commenters: What is the greatest sporting event you have ever been to live? (I know we bring this up somewhat regularly. I can't get enough of your stories. This isn't my most meaningful sporting event I have ever attended, but it is the biggest, from an "objective" standpoint.)
-- D.S.
I got to the game as an employee of the NFL. (Not sure how many of you know I worked for the league itself, about a half-dozen jobs ago.) I worked in the division that managed NFL.com (at the time managed by Starwave, which also managed ESPN.com, where I worked before the NFL and which facilitated the role at the NFL).
For the most part, I was a low-level lackey. The culture wasn't particularly entrepreneurial and the atmosphere wasn't particularly welcoming to its nascent online division.
I did have the opportunity to do two interesting things:
(1) I got to conceive and manage SuperBowl.com that year, which would become the most widely visited single-event Web site in the young history of the consumer Web.
(2) They flew me out to San Diego for a long week of lead-up to the game. Here's where I have to tip my cap to the generosity of the league: They also provided for a companion to fly out to San Diego – and, because I was working at the game, they gave me two game tickets, along with a host of passes to all of the biggest and best parties.
I gave the tickets to my father and brother. My dad took advantage of the free flight; my brother used miles to get out to San Diego. They stayed with me in my hotel room for free and ate from the plates of food I brought from the employee dining tent. They got special access to the NFL Experience and front-row seats to MTV Rock-n-Jock and attended all those parties with me. It was one of their greatest memories ever. Mine, too.
For that, I can't thank the NFL enough, even if the experience of working for the league for those 8 months wasn't particularly fun – and, actually, kind of ruined any passion I had for the NFL.
I watched the game from an NFL.com press box, and two things stand out:
(1) Jim Fassel is a genius. He did the equivalent of a "live-blog" for SuperBowl.com, providing constant chatter and answering user questions throughout the game. I don't think I truly understood how smart the REALLY smart NFL minds are until I heard him talk about the game: He knew everything – his analysis skills were jaw-dropping. He was calling plays before they happened. He might not be a fit for TV as an analyst, but the NFL should allow guys like him to call games from a special live feed you get if you care about the actual game being played. And he was a truly nice guy and treated all the lowly NFL.com workers really well.
(2) I had a special league-approved locker-room pass, as part of NFL.com, ostensibly to cover the game. When the game was over, I could either go to the Broncos locker room – a once-in-a-lifetime experience – or sit in the box and work on a postgame column to lead SuperBowl.com, tinker with the SB.com site and otherwise avoid a scene in the bowels of the stadium that, in all honesty, I was horrifying intimidated by. (I will never be a reporter.) Instead, I gave the pass to a co-worker and she went to the locker room. As expected, she said it was one of the coolest scenes she has ever experienced. Of course it was. In hindsight, I regret my insecurity – it is one of my greatest regrets of my professional life, if only to have experienced a Super Bowl locker-room.
I can't believe it is 10 years later. My stint at the NFL wasn't particularly memorable. But this week 10 years ago, it elevated itself to one of the most enjoyable weeks and experiences of my life. (Oh, and I have never sniffed a return to the Super Bowl.)
Commenters: What is the greatest sporting event you have ever been to live? (I know we bring this up somewhat regularly. I can't get enough of your stories. This isn't my most meaningful sporting event I have ever attended, but it is the biggest, from an "objective" standpoint.)
-- D.S.
PFT Cracks Open Today's New NFL Scandal
Earlier this morning, I mentioned the NY Times breaking a story of Arlen Specter wanting to talk to NFL Commish Roger Goodell about the NFL confiscating any/all evidence of the Pats' cheating from earlier this season. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hits the critical point in this must-read post. This is so much bigger than just the one instance of spying (or the league's sketchy confiscation of any evidence that might prove it).
Here's the thing: Walsh might not want to talk, but if (or when) Congress asks him to testify, he can't say no. And if he's worried about the NFL pressuring him not to testify, I expect Specter would say something to the effect of: "NFL: You do NOT want to go down the road of intimidating a Congressional witness."
See, now THAT would be even worse than the league's cover-up, which itself was worse than the original spying crime. See how this works? (The league should take a lesson from its many steroid scandals: Fans don't really care, do they? So if I was Goodell I'd say: Happy to clear it all up.)
This is quickly becoming THE sub-plot outside the Super Bowl -- and I'm betting it continues to be a story long after Sunday's result has been determined and a champ has been crowned.
- D.S.
Here's the thing: Walsh might not want to talk, but if (or when) Congress asks him to testify, he can't say no. And if he's worried about the NFL pressuring him not to testify, I expect Specter would say something to the effect of: "NFL: You do NOT want to go down the road of intimidating a Congressional witness."
See, now THAT would be even worse than the league's cover-up, which itself was worse than the original spying crime. See how this works? (The league should take a lesson from its many steroid scandals: Fans don't really care, do they? So if I was Goodell I'd say: Happy to clear it all up.)
This is quickly becoming THE sub-plot outside the Super Bowl -- and I'm betting it continues to be a story long after Sunday's result has been determined and a champ has been crowned.
- D.S.
Super Bowl XLII Pick: Pats 41, Giants 17
Shanoff's Super Bowl XLII Prediction: Pats 41, Giants 17.
Quickie jinx is NOT in effect. That's how obvious it is that the Pats are going to win. (I will say, however, that my final vote in the "19-0 vs. 18-1" poll was to see the Greatest Upset Ever over the Greatest Season Ever. For superlative purposes, I can't lose, but I'd like to see the Pats lose slightly more than I'd like to see the Pats win.)
Submit your own picks in the Comments -- "Morning Quickie"-style! I want to know who you think will win, the score, your pick for MVP, your pick for a darkhorse MVP and any other (short) analysis you want to offer up.
Click here for a list of SBXLII picks from a ton of bloggers.
BTW: This story is fascinating -- Roger Goodell is going to be hauled in front of Congress to explain why the NFL destroyed any/all evidence related to the Pats'spying cheating. As he should be: It was one of the sketchiest moves of the last year in sports.
Senator Arlen Specter, driving the bus on this, echoes the old Quickie maxim, saying: "It's the same old story. What you did is never as important as the cover-up." So now the NFL's destruction of evidence is framed as a "cover-up."
And it's wild -- and a little bad-ass -- that Specter chose to make this announcement pop on the Thursday and Friday before the Super Bowl, for maximum impact. Tracking...
Oh, and about Microsoft wanting to buy Yahoo: The first thing I thought of was: Well, if MSFT kills the MSN partnership with FoxSports.com -- which drives FoxSports.com's traffic -- and keeps it "in-house" for Yahoo Sports, that would be massive for Yahoo Sports. 30 million unique users a month isn't out of the question, which is sort of insane.
-- D.S.
Quickie jinx is NOT in effect. That's how obvious it is that the Pats are going to win. (I will say, however, that my final vote in the "19-0 vs. 18-1" poll was to see the Greatest Upset Ever over the Greatest Season Ever. For superlative purposes, I can't lose, but I'd like to see the Pats lose slightly more than I'd like to see the Pats win.)
Submit your own picks in the Comments -- "Morning Quickie"-style! I want to know who you think will win, the score, your pick for MVP, your pick for a darkhorse MVP and any other (short) analysis you want to offer up.
Click here for a list of SBXLII picks from a ton of bloggers.
BTW: This story is fascinating -- Roger Goodell is going to be hauled in front of Congress to explain why the NFL destroyed any/all evidence related to the Pats'
Senator Arlen Specter, driving the bus on this, echoes the old Quickie maxim, saying: "It's the same old story. What you did is never as important as the cover-up." So now the NFL's destruction of evidence is framed as a "cover-up."
And it's wild -- and a little bad-ass -- that Specter chose to make this announcement pop on the Thursday and Friday before the Super Bowl, for maximum impact. Tracking...
Oh, and about Microsoft wanting to buy Yahoo: The first thing I thought of was: Well, if MSFT kills the MSN partnership with FoxSports.com -- which drives FoxSports.com's traffic -- and keeps it "in-house" for Yahoo Sports, that would be massive for Yahoo Sports. 30 million unique users a month isn't out of the question, which is sort of insane.
-- D.S.
Friday 02/01 A.M. Quickie:
XLII, NFLPA, Spurs, Wazzu, Duke, More!
Today's Names to Know from today's Sporting News column:
Tom Brady, Tom Petty, Paula Abdul, Ryan Seacrest, Bud Light, FedEx, Gene Upshaw, Jacque Vaughn, Washington State, Wisconsin, Chuck Knoblauch, Johan Santana, David West, Cameron Crazies and More!
Including: Why I'm rooting for the Pats to lose (but picking them to win)... why Tom Petty will rule (but you'll be talking about Paula Abdul on Monday morning)... why
Check back later this morning for a full discussion of the Super Bowl (prepare to share your own picks in the Comments), and be sure to check back on both Saturday and Sunday for the usual (Very) Quickies.
-- D.S.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday 01/31 A.M. Quickie:
K-State, Brady, Kidd, Johan, NBA, More!
Today's Names to Know in today's Sporting News column:
Michael Beasley, Tom Brady, Plaxico Burress, Johan Santana and Peter Greenberg, LeBron, Jason Kidd, Devin Harris, Al Jefferson, Jamario Moon, Steve Mariucci, Al Saunders, Terrelle Pryor, Mike Marshall and More!
Including: Why
UPDATE: It's obvious that my personal snub of Paul Pierce as an All-Star reserve was met with a karmic payback of Joakim Noah inexplicably not being named to the Rookie roster in the Rookie-Soph game. That's a joke, both because Noah is entertaining and because he is among the rookie leaders in PER. (Think it's punishment for his rebellious attitude earlier this season?)
And, in case you missed it, scroll down to the next post for a trip in the way-back machine to my days editing Dr. Z and Peter King...
-- D.S.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Dr. Z to MDS on Art Monk's HOF Chances:
"Just Put Him the F--- In Already"
There: I basically gave away the story in the headline. But it's worth your time to read MDS' latest dispatch from Phoenix, where he is covering Super Bowl XLII for Fanhouse.
I have a soft spot for Dr. Z. When I worked at SI.com as an editor and on-again columnist (anyone remember my "At a Glance" franchise? See the roots of the "Quickie" editorial style?), I was in charge of two notable columns: Peter King's MMQB and Dr. Z's picks and mailbag.
I'm not sure Dr. Z still does this, but one of the best columns I ever read was his description of the inner-workings of the Pro Football Hall of Fame deliberations. I think he got in trouble with the Hall for it, but it was an incredible glimpse at an appallingly closed process.
(That gets into my whole issue with every Hall of Fame, particularly Pro Football and Baseball, both of which are secretive cabals run by guys whose bonafides to make decisions on behalf of what are truly public -- fan -- trusts grows increasingly more suspicious every year.)
Anyway, that Dr. Z HOF column stands out in my mind -- as does one particularly brutal reaming he gave me over a simple misunderstanding. I wear it as a badge of honor now, I guess.
-- D.S.
I have a soft spot for Dr. Z. When I worked at SI.com as an editor and on-again columnist (anyone remember my "At a Glance" franchise? See the roots of the "Quickie" editorial style?), I was in charge of two notable columns: Peter King's MMQB and Dr. Z's picks and mailbag.
I'm not sure Dr. Z still does this, but one of the best columns I ever read was his description of the inner-workings of the Pro Football Hall of Fame deliberations. I think he got in trouble with the Hall for it, but it was an incredible glimpse at an appallingly closed process.
(That gets into my whole issue with every Hall of Fame, particularly Pro Football and Baseball, both of which are secretive cabals run by guys whose bonafides to make decisions on behalf of what are truly public -- fan -- trusts grows increasingly more suspicious every year.)
Anyway, that Dr. Z HOF column stands out in my mind -- as does one particularly brutal reaming he gave me over a simple misunderstanding. I wear it as a badge of honor now, I guess.
-- D.S.
Wednesday 01/30 A.M. Quickie:
Santana, Media Day, Pettitte, Kidd, More
Today's Must-Know Names in today's Sporting News column:
Johan Santana, Phil Humber, Carlos Gomez, Tom Brady, Kellie Pickler, Michael Strahan, Plaxico Burress, Andy Pettitte, Josh McDaniels, Kevin Durant, Jason Kidd, Yao, Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Houston, Ben Mauk, Rich Rodriguez, Barbaro and More.
Including: Why Johan saved the week in sports... how the Twins got fleeced... how Plaxico didn't pull a Namath... how Pettitte turned on Clemens... how Josh McDaniels is the best choice to coach the Redskins... how Kevin Durant shocked the NBA... how Memphis tried to justify its sorry conference schedule... how Barbaro is like Elvis...
All that and more... after the jump.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Johan Santana to the Mets a Done Deal?
Johan Santana to the Mets for Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey. Here's the story.
What a huge score for the Mets, who needed a No. 1 starter and a "win-now" move to revitalize a franchise debilitated by last season's epic late-season collapse.
It is also a big win for the Twins, who get three young (read: cheap) pitching prospects, along with an outfielder with star potential. (The Mets kept Fernando Martinez, another young OF prospect.)
(Worth considering that the Yankees and Red Sox played to a draw on this one: As long as neither came away with Santana, they both win -- or, more realistically, neither lose.)
More tomorrow, obviously. Refreshing to get a huge story to eclipse the insanity (and inanity) of Super Bowl Media Day.
-- D.S.
What a huge score for the Mets, who needed a No. 1 starter and a "win-now" move to revitalize a franchise debilitated by last season's epic late-season collapse.
It is also a big win for the Twins, who get three young (read: cheap) pitching prospects, along with an outfielder with star potential. (The Mets kept Fernando Martinez, another young OF prospect.)
(Worth considering that the Yankees and Red Sox played to a draw on this one: As long as neither came away with Santana, they both win -- or, more realistically, neither lose.)
More tomorrow, obviously. Refreshing to get a huge story to eclipse the insanity (and inanity) of Super Bowl Media Day.
-- D.S.
Super Bowl XLII Media Day Drinking Game
Super Bowl XLII Media Day At-Work/In-Class Drinking Game: Play along!
Dumb question: 1 sip.
Repeat question: 2 sips.
Comedian injects themselves in: 3 sips.
Blogger gets question in: 4 sips.
Questions about Gisele: 5 sips.
Will you be following Media Day online? (I won't.) Submit any interesting things/quotes/anecdotes you notice from the coverage in the Comments, and I will get them up ASAP.
-- D.S.
Tuesday 01/29 A.M. Quickie:
XLII Media Day, Paul, Kidd, Bedard, More
Today's Must-Know Names from today's Sporting News column:
Media Day, Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Koby Clemens, Chuck Knoblauch, Pete Carroll, Rex Ryan, Romeo Crennel, UConn, St. Mary's, Michael Beasley, Erik Bedard, Pedro Feliz, David Aardsma, Nolan Ryan, Chris Webber, Riley Skinner, Gilbert Arenas, Eric McErlain and More!
Including: Why Super Bowl Media Day sucks, why Chris Paul should be starting in the NBA All-Star Game, why Calbert Cheaney was the Next Big Thing in the NBA back in 1993 (intrigued by that?) and so much more, after the jump. (As soon as the column is updated by the SN home office.)
Coming at ~10:30 at DanShanoff.com:
The annual Super Bowl Media Day Drinking Game.
In case you missed it Monday:
Riley Skinner: The Naked Bootleg!
State of the (Sports)
Varsity Dad Athlete-Baby-Naming Update!
Lamenting Mike Lieberthal!
-- D.S.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Mike Lieberthal Retires
That's one less active Jewish baseball player. Lieberthal retires as a two-time All-Star, with a .274 BA and 150 career HR. MLB M.O.T. Nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Brad Ausmus.
Varsity Dad Update:
Naming Your Kid After an Athlete, Cont'd
The clubhouse leader is the guy who named his son "Zambrano," after Carlos. Can you top that? Additional fascinating comments/stories in the latest Varsity Dad post about naming your kid after an athlete. Be sure to include your own story in the Varsity Dad comments.
Must-Read: Darren Rovell's post picking up on the same baby-name meme (great minds think alike, obviously), with a lot more research and cool details than my post (his mind smarter than mine, obviously).
Must-Read: Darren Rovell's post picking up on the same baby-name meme (great minds think alike, obviously), with a lot more research and cool details than my post (his mind smarter than mine, obviously).
6th Annual State of the Sports Union
The State of the Sports Union in 2008 is…unsettled, but promising.
Fans are arguably coming off the worst year in a generation, between the Vick scandal, the Mitchell Report, the Donaghy mess (and even the debilitating BCS debate) – no major sport was left untouched.
On the field, the only fans who seem to be enjoying championship satisfaction are the ones in Boston. New England's empire-building across the NFL and MLB were joined by a once-unthinkable resurrection of the Celtics as title contenders. It is a terrible moment if you don't like Boston sports – or Boston sports fans -- a sentiment that covers most of the country. (Obviously, other pockets of fans -- in San Antonio or Louisiana -- had great years in 2007, but the dominant theme was "Boston.")
But there is hope for this new year.
2008 will be defined by three things:
(1) The Patriots either completing the unprecedented 19-0 championship season or the unthinkable upset of our generation, finishing 18-1. That result and its aftershocks will be felt as soon as this weekend; it will define the rest of the year in the nation's most popular sport.
(2) The Olympics in Beijing, which will pair spectacle and smog, with superstars like Michael Phelps sharing the spotlight with Olympic heroes (or goats) yet to be determined.
(3): The intersection of sports and politics, as we enter into the most contentious and exciting Presidential election year anyone can remember. The Presidential race will dominate everything else, and often intermingle with sports, as you will see this Sunday, the day of the Super Bowl and two days before Super Tuesday.
The rest of the sports year is, thankfully, kind of intriguing: Can the Red Sox repeat, extending this current Golden Age of New England sports? Or will the suddenly spend-happy Tigers give us reason to think of 1968 all over again? College hoops is as wide-open as it has been in years, with a Memphis team that might go undefeated – or dramatically implode short of the championship. College football has the prospects of being as wide-open as last season – whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is a personal choice. Tiger Woods seems poised for a Slam run. Sports blogs had a break-out year in '07, and will only get bigger in '08.
But here is the scarring effect of 2007: Back in January 2007, we didn't see the Vick thing coming or the Donaghy thing coming. "Mitchell Report" was a vague notion, rather than a defining phrase. What we know for certain is that scandal will inevitably rock sports – it is there, just waiting to be uncovered. The corrosive deeds are waiting to be committed: The only details needed are "who," "what" and "when."
What 2007 did was ensure that fans can't cheer without at least keeping in the back of their head that at any moment, scandal will tarnish the moments, will dominate the media coverage, will spoil the fun.
2008 can't possibly be worse than 2007. That's a hell of a statement, in and of itself. All signs point to "better" – even if you are a Boston sports fan.
Put your own thoughts on the State of the Sports Union in the Comments.
-- D.S.
Fans are arguably coming off the worst year in a generation, between the Vick scandal, the Mitchell Report, the Donaghy mess (and even the debilitating BCS debate) – no major sport was left untouched.
On the field, the only fans who seem to be enjoying championship satisfaction are the ones in Boston. New England's empire-building across the NFL and MLB were joined by a once-unthinkable resurrection of the Celtics as title contenders. It is a terrible moment if you don't like Boston sports – or Boston sports fans -- a sentiment that covers most of the country. (Obviously, other pockets of fans -- in San Antonio or Louisiana -- had great years in 2007, but the dominant theme was "Boston.")
But there is hope for this new year.
2008 will be defined by three things:
(1) The Patriots either completing the unprecedented 19-0 championship season or the unthinkable upset of our generation, finishing 18-1. That result and its aftershocks will be felt as soon as this weekend; it will define the rest of the year in the nation's most popular sport.
(2) The Olympics in Beijing, which will pair spectacle and smog, with superstars like Michael Phelps sharing the spotlight with Olympic heroes (or goats) yet to be determined.
(3): The intersection of sports and politics, as we enter into the most contentious and exciting Presidential election year anyone can remember. The Presidential race will dominate everything else, and often intermingle with sports, as you will see this Sunday, the day of the Super Bowl and two days before Super Tuesday.
The rest of the sports year is, thankfully, kind of intriguing: Can the Red Sox repeat, extending this current Golden Age of New England sports? Or will the suddenly spend-happy Tigers give us reason to think of 1968 all over again? College hoops is as wide-open as it has been in years, with a Memphis team that might go undefeated – or dramatically implode short of the championship. College football has the prospects of being as wide-open as last season – whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is a personal choice. Tiger Woods seems poised for a Slam run. Sports blogs had a break-out year in '07, and will only get bigger in '08.
But here is the scarring effect of 2007: Back in January 2007, we didn't see the Vick thing coming or the Donaghy thing coming. "Mitchell Report" was a vague notion, rather than a defining phrase. What we know for certain is that scandal will inevitably rock sports – it is there, just waiting to be uncovered. The corrosive deeds are waiting to be committed: The only details needed are "who," "what" and "when."
What 2007 did was ensure that fans can't cheer without at least keeping in the back of their head that at any moment, scandal will tarnish the moments, will dominate the media coverage, will spoil the fun.
2008 can't possibly be worse than 2007. That's a hell of a statement, in and of itself. All signs point to "better" – even if you are a Boston sports fan.
Put your own thoughts on the State of the Sports Union in the Comments.
-- D.S.
Blind Item of the Week
What Dickensian-named college QB is about to have the wildest day of his life?
UPDATE: Riley Skinner of Wake Forest. (h/t: With Leather)
UPDATE: Riley Skinner of Wake Forest. (h/t: With Leather)
Monday 01/28 A.M. Quickie:
Brady, Hendricks, Bedard, CBB, More!
Monday's Must-Know Names, as featured in today's Sporting News column:
Tom Brady (already a cliche), Randy Hendricks and the "Hendricks Report," Erik Bedard, Johan Santana, Dan Snyder, Gregg Williams, Lane Kiffin, Chris Paul, Rudy Gay, Hedo Turkoglu, Kevin Martin, LeBron James, Chris Webber, DeMarcus Nelson, Walter Hodge, Erik Ainge, Andre Caldwell, Zarah Yisrael, Djokovic(!) and More!
How do those names fit into today's sports discussion? Check out my Sporting News column and find out.
Meanwhile, coming later today on DanShanoff.com...
*My 6th annual State of the Sports Union address!
*Lamenting Lieberthal's retirement!
*Varsity Dad "baby-naming" update!
-- D.S.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Shanoff Twitter Mania: All Weekend Long!
Shanoff Twitter Mania! I will have spotty laptop access all weekend, but I've got two things that will get the job done: My Blackberry and my Twitter page (which everyone who uses Twitter should have already been "following" me with...right???).
So sign up to "follow" me at the Dan Shanoff Twitter page (twitter.com/danshanoff) and follow along all weekend as I tweet while driving, tweet while I should be minding my kid, tweet during family dinners and tweet during "discussions" about wasn't-I-supposed-to-take-the-weekend-off-from-blogging.
(I guess you're either a Twitter'er or a Tumblr'er: I have both, but for now Twitter is my preferred medium between the two -- come on: For a guy who made his living writing the "Quickie," Twitter is a dream come true. Tumblr lets me put my Twitter tweets as a post itself; hmm... anyone know how to convert a Blogger blog to a Tumblr blog?)
The other option is to check the blog and look on the right side for the area that says "Shanoff on Twitter," which updates just as quickly as the actual Twitter page. (I will also use Blogger's email-a-post function to try to get a standard post or two up between now and Monday morning.)
Have a great weekend.
-- D.S.
So sign up to "follow" me at the Dan Shanoff Twitter page (twitter.com/danshanoff) and follow along all weekend as I tweet while driving, tweet while I should be minding my kid, tweet during family dinners and tweet during "discussions" about wasn't-I-supposed-to-take-the-weekend-off-from-blogging.
(I guess you're either a Twitter'er or a Tumblr'er: I have both, but for now Twitter is my preferred medium between the two -- come on: For a guy who made his living writing the "Quickie," Twitter is a dream come true. Tumblr lets me put my Twitter tweets as a post itself; hmm... anyone know how to convert a Blogger blog to a Tumblr blog?)
The other option is to check the blog and look on the right side for the area that says "Shanoff on Twitter," which updates just as quickly as the actual Twitter page. (I will also use Blogger's email-a-post function to try to get a standard post or two up between now and Monday morning.)
Have a great weekend.
-- D.S.
New Varsity Dad Post Up:
Naming Your Kid After an Athlete
New post up at Varsity Dad: Anyone ever named their kid specifically after an athlete? Know anyone who did? Check out the post and share your stories.
(Let me reaffirm: Gabe was NOT named after Gabe Kapler, although I could pick worse than a rare Jewish baseball player.)
This reminds me of when my wife was pregnant, and the Morning Quickie chatters were guessing at baby names and the clubhouse leader going into the due date was "Noah," specifically named for Joakim. (It was just after the Gators had won their first title and Noah was named Tournament M.O.P.)
Noah is a great name, but the connection to the Gators has to make it ineligible. I couldn't take the abuse, even if it would have had nothing to do with Joakim. Seriously: No judgments from me if that's what you've done, but naming your kid after an athlete (or any celeb) ain't for me.
Imagine all those TONS of people who named their kid "Britney." Good luck with that.
-- D.S.
(Let me reaffirm: Gabe was NOT named after Gabe Kapler, although I could pick worse than a rare Jewish baseball player.)
This reminds me of when my wife was pregnant, and the Morning Quickie chatters were guessing at baby names and the clubhouse leader going into the due date was "Noah," specifically named for Joakim. (It was just after the Gators had won their first title and Noah was named Tournament M.O.P.)
Noah is a great name, but the connection to the Gators has to make it ineligible. I couldn't take the abuse, even if it would have had nothing to do with Joakim. Seriously: No judgments from me if that's what you've done, but naming your kid after an athlete (or any celeb) ain't for me.
Imagine all those TONS of people who named their kid "Britney." Good luck with that.
-- D.S.
Latest NYT PLAY Mag Essay: 19-0 vs. 18-1
So: Would you rather see the Pats finish the perfect season or suffer the biggest upset in pro sports history?
That's the topic of my latest essay for the New York Times' PLAY Magazine. (Here's the link to PLAY's main page this week.)
My answer? You'll have to check it out. But regular blog readers know I have been conflicted all season long. Still not sure how I'm going to go. (This is different from who I think will win, which is the Pats. This is about what result I'm rooting for: The Pats to win or the Pats to lose.)
Check it out, and weigh in through the Comments (and feel free to take the poll to the upper-right, if you haven't yet).
-- D.S.
That's the topic of my latest essay for the New York Times' PLAY Magazine. (Here's the link to PLAY's main page this week.)
My answer? You'll have to check it out. But regular blog readers know I have been conflicted all season long. Still not sure how I'm going to go. (This is different from who I think will win, which is the Pats. This is about what result I'm rooting for: The Pats to win or the Pats to lose.)
Check it out, and weigh in through the Comments (and feel free to take the poll to the upper-right, if you haven't yet).
-- D.S.
Friday 01/25 A.M. Quickie:
Federer, Belichick, Senior Bowl, More
The biggest Names to Know included in today's loaded week-ending Sporting News column, which leads with why Roger Federer's stunning loss in the semis of the Australian Open is a cautionary tale for Pats fans everywhere:
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Chase Budinger, Kevin Love, Xavier, OJ Mayo, Tim Floyd, Allen Iverson, Dwight Howard, KG, Monta Ellis and Baron Davis, Jose Canseco, Magglio Ordonez, Roger Clemens, Robinson Cano, Joe Flacco, Matt Forte, NHL All-Star Game, All-American Football League Draft, Kelly Tilghman and More!
Plus: At least 3 original posts coming to DanShanoff.com throughout the day. So check back later this morning and in the early afternoon.
-- D.S.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Big Daddy Drew on Bloggers vs. Reporters
Here's the must-read post, part of his weekly Jamberoo on Deadspin. Obviously, you all know this is stuff I'm extremely interested in. I'm going to take a little time to sort through it then post a reaction.
Tony Romo Dumps Jessica Simpson
Tony Romo dumps Jessica Simpson!
Wow: My SN column prediction took exactly one week to come true.
As one reader emailed, he "gave her the Romo."
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Thursday 01/24 A.M. Quickie:
Canseco, Baylor, Falcons, T'wolves, More!
Must-Know Names from today's Sporting News column:
Jose Canseco, Magglio Ordonez, Curtis Jerrells, Mike Smith, Al Jefferson, Jose Calderon, Jannero Pargo, Josh Smith, Andres Nocioni, Barry Bonds, Colt Brennan, Nolan Ryan, EMC, Chris Samuels and Chris Cooley, Cam Cameron, OJ Mayo, Urban Meyer (gack!), Tom Brady Sr. and More!
I just filed the column, which should be up at my usual spot momentarily (if not already).
New DS.com posts coming later today, so check back.
-- D.S.
Jose Canseco, Magglio Ordonez, Curtis Jerrells, Mike Smith, Al Jefferson, Jose Calderon, Jannero Pargo, Josh Smith, Andres Nocioni, Barry Bonds, Colt Brennan, Nolan Ryan, EMC, Chris Samuels and Chris Cooley, Cam Cameron, OJ Mayo, Urban Meyer (gack!), Tom Brady Sr. and More!
I just filed the column, which should be up at my usual spot momentarily (if not already).
New DS.com posts coming later today, so check back.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wednesday 01/23 A.M. Quickie:
Brady, Kentucky, Fassel, Majerus, More!
Today's Names to Know from today's Sporting News column:
Tom Brady (ugh),
Check out the column here. (Up shortly.)
-- D.S.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tuesday 01/22 A.M. Quickie:
TOM BRADY'S FOOT! TMZ! OMG! OMG!
In honor of the ridiculous breathless sports-media coverage of a celebrity-media-driven story -- Tom! Brady's! Foot! (photo/video courtesy of Page Six and TMZ) -- here's a preview of today's column at SportingNews.com:
Tom Brady! Scandal!
NFC Title Game TV Ratings! Scandal!
Tom Coughlin! Scandal!
Tony Dungy! Scandal!
LaDainian Tomlinson! Scandal!
Pat Riley! Scandal!
Doc Rivers! Scandal!
Dwight Howard! Scandal!
Troy Tulowitzki! Scandal!
Will Leitch! Scandal!
Bud Selig! Scandal!
Wow, I'm kind of tired after writing all that. Check out the column (up shortly) and check back here throughout the day for more original posts.
-- D.S.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Review: "God Save The Fan" by Will Leitch
Book Review: "God Save The Fan," by Will Leitch.
Publish Date: January 22, 2008 by Harper Collins.
We are living in a Golden Age of Fandom: Despite the Vick and Clemens scandals, Mitchell Reports and hundreds of other smaller scandals and disappointments that plague sports fans every day, we are living in a Golden Age of Fandom.
Why? Fans are empowered like never before, mainly through technological innovations brought on by the Internet Age: YouTube, Web 2.0 and, of course, blogging platforms, which have democratized opinion and revolutionized information-sharing:
As fast as a "traditional" sports-media outlet can break a story, everyone can have it, and the opinion from a well-informed fan -- passionate enough to blog essentially for free -- is often far more compelling or interesting than that which comes from the mainstream "expert."
It is appropriate that the ultimate manifesto of this new era of sports-fan empowerment comes from the creator and editor of Deadspin, which serves as the epicenter -- and id -- of 21st Century fandom.
Will Leitch's "God Save The Fan" – a must-have, must-read book for every sports fan – goes on sale tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 22) and entertainingly lays out both the provocative theory and compelling, often hilarious case studies behind this revolution – at the same time Will shatters the traditional sports-book mold.
Much like Deadspin itself, "God Save The Fan" is the "outsider's" perspective – but what does that say about the state of sports (and sports books) when the fan is the "outsider?" As much as anything, it is a reminder that the moment for a book like this is now. And as in his blog, Will captures and articulates the sentiments of the Everyfan.
The topics will be familiar to regular readers of Deadspin, but are accessible even to the fans who have never seen a blog before: The book is divided into four parts – Players, Owners, Media and Fans – each part with a dozen or so essays, all but one written entirely originally for the book. (The one that wasn't – a reprint of Will's famous/infamous Deadspin interview with John Rocker – contains hilarious new extra commentary.)
That is a key detail: Too many "books by bloggers" (and some notable mainstream sports media names) fail because they are merely rehashed blogs or reprinted columns, rather than using the topics covered on the blog as a jump-off point for a more complex and interesting conversation.
That's not to say "God Save The Fan" isn't a fun read: The format comes as close as any book I have ever read – certainly any sports book – to capturing the punchy ethos and conversational patter of blogging: Each essay is complex enough to dive into a topic in a more satisfying way than you get in a blog post, but short enough not to lose the attention of a reader. The four parts also are helpful organizing tools. That's not to say the book doesn’t have a touch of ultra-short-form blogginess: Each part's conclusion also includes a funny "Glossary" of notable names – and the Appendix includes a team-by-team guide to fandom, almost like a "Zagat's" for fans. (A very neat little conceit.)
But is it good for the bloggers? Books by bloggers in politics or entertainment have failed, mostly. Why will this book succeed? First, sports is the perfect topic: While it engenders all the passion of politics, it doesn't have nearly the bipolar rage. (Unless you're from Boston and New York.) Second, Will is an even better essayist than he is a blogger (see his ongoing contributions to the New York Times around big sports events).
Third, and most importantly, the sports-fan universe is, for the most part, one big community. Sure, we have our distinct faiths and our biases and our rivalries, but in the end, there is a sense of communal participation – particularly among those who write and consume sports blogs, from the bloggers to the readers to the commenters.
That will be the most interesting development to watch: Given Will and Deadspin's place at the center of gravity of the sports-blog universe – its reach, its influence, its driving support for the sports-blog ecosystem – it will be interesting to see how that translates into commercial traction.
Will bloggers promote it? (If they've ever gotten a link from Deadspin, they should. If they haven't gotten a link from Deadspin – but have any aspirations to write a book themselves – they should. And if they care about this era of fan empowerment, of which they are a part, they should, too.) To use a sports metaphor, the biggest "X-factor" is the "Deadspin bump" -- will the blog's massive audience buy the book?
And will fans buy it? I think given the overall exceptional quality of the writing in the book itself – plus the "pro-Fans" statement that buying the book makes – it will be a hit, both with those familiar with Deadspin and the curious fans who hear about it through what is sure to be a massive publicity blitz surrounding the book's launch -- both inside and outside mainstream media. Will has many friends and admirers in the media – sports and otherwise.
I go back to the "You're With Me, Leather" meme that was probably the first truly "Deadspin moment" that signaled that the blog (and its author) were leading the changing relationship between sports fans and the media and athletes who they follow. It showed that sports fans want something they can consider under their control, that is open to everyone and that recognizes that sports is gloriously messy – something the mainstream myth-making machine doesn't always want to showcase. In a sports-media landscape built on catch-phrases and highlights, it was the fans' catchphrase and the fans' highlight.
Most of the first three sections will have readers either (a) nodding their head in agreement or (b) laughing their ass off, even if you have heard the stories before. To the point about head-nodding, this book jumps right up to the top of my list of "Damn, I Wish I Had Written That." More than anything, it feels like the ultimate sports book written by a fan for fans, a genre I not only find extremely appealing (when done right, like "God Save The Fan" or "High Fidelity") but I also think has remarkable potential. Self-servingly, the huge success of "God Save The Fan" would open the door for many blogger-turned-authors to finally get that book deal. Cough.
(It is worth mentioning that there is an anecdote Will recounts in the "Media" section that came from me, first told to a Varsity Letters Reading Series audience back in early 2007, a dramatic, satiric recounting of my national-TV debut on "Around the Horn." Later this week, I will try to adapt that reading into an expanded version of the story that is told in the book. Then I will wait patiently – as I always do – for the call to make my glorious return.)
That doesn't mean I don't take serious issue with some of the arguments that Will makes, particularly in the "Fans" section. Will has harsh things to say about "bandwagon fans," a topic that hits entirely too close to home.
(As I mentioned at the most recent Varsity Letters event, where I was the opening act for Will and Dave Zirin, my most memorable conversation of 2007 came when I asked Will if he thought I was less of a fan than someone who had rooted for a team their entire life, and he said, unhesitatingly, "Yes." For some of you, that might clinch book-purchase.)
And I completely disagree with Will's perspective against the idea of rooting for your team to "tank," a short essay that had me so miffed when I first read it that I actually had to explain my counter-theory to the poor soul sitting next to me on the plane.
Hopefully, you'll have a few disagreements of your own with Will's arguments to go with your head-nodding. (Skip Bayless may have more than a few.) That's the underlying point of the book: Have your own opinions, make them heard, be the fan that you want to be… not the one that the mainstream media and leagues want you to be.
There's a fantastic passage near the end of the book that I think sums it all up:
"The key to taking our games back rests not just with blogs – though it has been immeasurably exciting to watch talented people who never had a voice succeed just by starting up a free Blogspot site and showing off their stuff – but with recognizing our power. It's not a matter of organizing fan boycotts, or somehow pretending that you don't care about sports as much as you actually do. It's about embracing the matters you DO have control over; whether it's through blogs or through demanding results on obvious antifan decisions like baseball's infamous Extra Innings fiasco, or just remembering the basic tenet of fandom: You are the one who decides what's important… If we prove to those who have the power that we are smarter than they think we are, they will have no choice but to follow our orders. We're in charge. Let's make the rules."And with that, the manifesto concludes. But the reverberations from Deadspin, from sports blogs, from "God Save The Fan" and from an increasingly empowered fandom are just beginning.
"God Save The Fan" is an instant classic – to borrow ironically from one of ESPN's more legendary sports-cultural framings – and absolutely worth your time and money to buy, read, consider and enjoy. I don't want to say that the future of sports fandom depends on it – but the future of sports fandom certainly reveals itself within it.
(Actually, I think the book is so compelling, let's convene the first-ever DanShanoff.com Book Club to discuss it. Pick up the book online or in bookstores starting tomorrow – Tuesday, Jan. 22 – and let's tentatively plan to re-convene on Thursday, January 31 to talk about it here, via the Comments section, time of day to be announced, but probably lunchtime ET. I will put out some discussion questions in advance. I'll also see if Will can pop by to join in.)
* - Disclosures: (1) Will is a good friend, and I am both friendly with and a great admirer of his editor at Harper Collins, David Hirshey. My name is listed in the book's acknowledgements. (2) I contribute regularly to Deadspin and have been paid by Gawker Media. (3) I have a book proposal in this genre and could really REALLY use the success of Will's book to boost my own potential. (4) Will and I play in the same fantasy football and baseball leagues, and you always want to suck up to The Commish. (5) I wrote this. (So: Biased? Absolutely. But give me at least some credit that I simply wouldn't have written anything if I thought the book was lousy.)
-- D.S.
Publish Date: January 22, 2008 by Harper Collins.
We are living in a Golden Age of Fandom: Despite the Vick and Clemens scandals, Mitchell Reports and hundreds of other smaller scandals and disappointments that plague sports fans every day, we are living in a Golden Age of Fandom.
Why? Fans are empowered like never before, mainly through technological innovations brought on by the Internet Age: YouTube, Web 2.0 and, of course, blogging platforms, which have democratized opinion and revolutionized information-sharing:
As fast as a "traditional" sports-media outlet can break a story, everyone can have it, and the opinion from a well-informed fan -- passionate enough to blog essentially for free -- is often far more compelling or interesting than that which comes from the mainstream "expert."
It is appropriate that the ultimate manifesto of this new era of sports-fan empowerment comes from the creator and editor of Deadspin, which serves as the epicenter -- and id -- of 21st Century fandom.
Will Leitch's "God Save The Fan" – a must-have, must-read book for every sports fan – goes on sale tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 22) and entertainingly lays out both the provocative theory and compelling, often hilarious case studies behind this revolution – at the same time Will shatters the traditional sports-book mold.
Much like Deadspin itself, "God Save The Fan" is the "outsider's" perspective – but what does that say about the state of sports (and sports books) when the fan is the "outsider?" As much as anything, it is a reminder that the moment for a book like this is now. And as in his blog, Will captures and articulates the sentiments of the Everyfan.
The topics will be familiar to regular readers of Deadspin, but are accessible even to the fans who have never seen a blog before: The book is divided into four parts – Players, Owners, Media and Fans – each part with a dozen or so essays, all but one written entirely originally for the book. (The one that wasn't – a reprint of Will's famous/infamous Deadspin interview with John Rocker – contains hilarious new extra commentary.)
That is a key detail: Too many "books by bloggers" (and some notable mainstream sports media names) fail because they are merely rehashed blogs or reprinted columns, rather than using the topics covered on the blog as a jump-off point for a more complex and interesting conversation.
That's not to say "God Save The Fan" isn't a fun read: The format comes as close as any book I have ever read – certainly any sports book – to capturing the punchy ethos and conversational patter of blogging: Each essay is complex enough to dive into a topic in a more satisfying way than you get in a blog post, but short enough not to lose the attention of a reader. The four parts also are helpful organizing tools. That's not to say the book doesn’t have a touch of ultra-short-form blogginess: Each part's conclusion also includes a funny "Glossary" of notable names – and the Appendix includes a team-by-team guide to fandom, almost like a "Zagat's" for fans. (A very neat little conceit.)
But is it good for the bloggers? Books by bloggers in politics or entertainment have failed, mostly. Why will this book succeed? First, sports is the perfect topic: While it engenders all the passion of politics, it doesn't have nearly the bipolar rage. (Unless you're from Boston and New York.) Second, Will is an even better essayist than he is a blogger (see his ongoing contributions to the New York Times around big sports events).
Third, and most importantly, the sports-fan universe is, for the most part, one big community. Sure, we have our distinct faiths and our biases and our rivalries, but in the end, there is a sense of communal participation – particularly among those who write and consume sports blogs, from the bloggers to the readers to the commenters.
That will be the most interesting development to watch: Given Will and Deadspin's place at the center of gravity of the sports-blog universe – its reach, its influence, its driving support for the sports-blog ecosystem – it will be interesting to see how that translates into commercial traction.
Will bloggers promote it? (If they've ever gotten a link from Deadspin, they should. If they haven't gotten a link from Deadspin – but have any aspirations to write a book themselves – they should. And if they care about this era of fan empowerment, of which they are a part, they should, too.) To use a sports metaphor, the biggest "X-factor" is the "Deadspin bump" -- will the blog's massive audience buy the book?
And will fans buy it? I think given the overall exceptional quality of the writing in the book itself – plus the "pro-Fans" statement that buying the book makes – it will be a hit, both with those familiar with Deadspin and the curious fans who hear about it through what is sure to be a massive publicity blitz surrounding the book's launch -- both inside and outside mainstream media. Will has many friends and admirers in the media – sports and otherwise.
I go back to the "You're With Me, Leather" meme that was probably the first truly "Deadspin moment" that signaled that the blog (and its author) were leading the changing relationship between sports fans and the media and athletes who they follow. It showed that sports fans want something they can consider under their control, that is open to everyone and that recognizes that sports is gloriously messy – something the mainstream myth-making machine doesn't always want to showcase. In a sports-media landscape built on catch-phrases and highlights, it was the fans' catchphrase and the fans' highlight.
Most of the first three sections will have readers either (a) nodding their head in agreement or (b) laughing their ass off, even if you have heard the stories before. To the point about head-nodding, this book jumps right up to the top of my list of "Damn, I Wish I Had Written That." More than anything, it feels like the ultimate sports book written by a fan for fans, a genre I not only find extremely appealing (when done right, like "God Save The Fan" or "High Fidelity") but I also think has remarkable potential. Self-servingly, the huge success of "God Save The Fan" would open the door for many blogger-turned-authors to finally get that book deal. Cough.
(It is worth mentioning that there is an anecdote Will recounts in the "Media" section that came from me, first told to a Varsity Letters Reading Series audience back in early 2007, a dramatic, satiric recounting of my national-TV debut on "Around the Horn." Later this week, I will try to adapt that reading into an expanded version of the story that is told in the book. Then I will wait patiently – as I always do – for the call to make my glorious return.)
That doesn't mean I don't take serious issue with some of the arguments that Will makes, particularly in the "Fans" section. Will has harsh things to say about "bandwagon fans," a topic that hits entirely too close to home.
(As I mentioned at the most recent Varsity Letters event, where I was the opening act for Will and Dave Zirin, my most memorable conversation of 2007 came when I asked Will if he thought I was less of a fan than someone who had rooted for a team their entire life, and he said, unhesitatingly, "Yes." For some of you, that might clinch book-purchase.)
And I completely disagree with Will's perspective against the idea of rooting for your team to "tank," a short essay that had me so miffed when I first read it that I actually had to explain my counter-theory to the poor soul sitting next to me on the plane.
Hopefully, you'll have a few disagreements of your own with Will's arguments to go with your head-nodding. (Skip Bayless may have more than a few.) That's the underlying point of the book: Have your own opinions, make them heard, be the fan that you want to be… not the one that the mainstream media and leagues want you to be.
There's a fantastic passage near the end of the book that I think sums it all up:
"The key to taking our games back rests not just with blogs – though it has been immeasurably exciting to watch talented people who never had a voice succeed just by starting up a free Blogspot site and showing off their stuff – but with recognizing our power. It's not a matter of organizing fan boycotts, or somehow pretending that you don't care about sports as much as you actually do. It's about embracing the matters you DO have control over; whether it's through blogs or through demanding results on obvious antifan decisions like baseball's infamous Extra Innings fiasco, or just remembering the basic tenet of fandom: You are the one who decides what's important… If we prove to those who have the power that we are smarter than they think we are, they will have no choice but to follow our orders. We're in charge. Let's make the rules."And with that, the manifesto concludes. But the reverberations from Deadspin, from sports blogs, from "God Save The Fan" and from an increasingly empowered fandom are just beginning.
"God Save The Fan" is an instant classic – to borrow ironically from one of ESPN's more legendary sports-cultural framings – and absolutely worth your time and money to buy, read, consider and enjoy. I don't want to say that the future of sports fandom depends on it – but the future of sports fandom certainly reveals itself within it.
(Actually, I think the book is so compelling, let's convene the first-ever DanShanoff.com Book Club to discuss it. Pick up the book online or in bookstores starting tomorrow – Tuesday, Jan. 22 – and let's tentatively plan to re-convene on Thursday, January 31 to talk about it here, via the Comments section, time of day to be announced, but probably lunchtime ET. I will put out some discussion questions in advance. I'll also see if Will can pop by to join in.)
* - Disclosures: (1) Will is a good friend, and I am both friendly with and a great admirer of his editor at Harper Collins, David Hirshey. My name is listed in the book's acknowledgements. (2) I contribute regularly to Deadspin and have been paid by Gawker Media. (3) I have a book proposal in this genre and could really REALLY use the success of Will's book to boost my own potential. (4) Will and I play in the same fantasy football and baseball leagues, and you always want to suck up to The Commish. (5) I wrote this. (So: Biased? Absolutely. But give me at least some credit that I simply wouldn't have written anything if I thought the book was lousy.)
-- D.S.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
01/21 A.M. Quickie: Slurper Bowl Mayhem!
Get ready for the Super Slurper Bowl with today's SportingNews.com column found at my spot at the Sporting Blog. Check it out (should be up shortly).
Why you shouldn't care about Super Bowl XLII storylines...
Why the Chargers should be accused of chokery...
Why the Giants win was a true shocker...
Why Pack fans wanted "Favre to be Favre" -- and got it...
Why UCLA's loss at home wasn't as bad as UNC's...
Why Tracy McGrady is more important than Pat Riley...
Why Golfweek is apologizing...
Why John Harbaugh is the new Bobby Petrino...
Why Norm Chow makes UCLA the new USC...
Why Herschel Walker's records need to be re-examined...
Why Terrelle Pryor is going to Michigan...
And More!
Take today's poll to the right!
Check out the weekend's columns below!
I especially encourage you to check out the post immediately below, where I lay out the stakes: The Pats are playing for 19-0, but the Giants are playing for nothing less than to exorcise the ghosts of the 2004 ALCS, because denying the Pats 19-0 should be every bit as devastating to Boston fans as choking away a 3-0 ALCS lead was to Yankees fans.
Why you shouldn't care about Super Bowl XLII storylines...
Why the Chargers should be accused of chokery...
Why the Giants win was a true shocker...
Why Pack fans wanted "Favre to be Favre" -- and got it...
Why UCLA's loss at home wasn't as bad as UNC's...
Why Tracy McGrady is more important than Pat Riley...
Why Golfweek is apologizing...
Why John Harbaugh is the new Bobby Petrino...
Why Norm Chow makes UCLA the new USC...
Why Herschel Walker's records need to be re-examined...
Why Terrelle Pryor is going to Michigan...
And More!
Take today's poll to the right!
Check out the weekend's columns below!
I especially encourage you to check out the post immediately below, where I lay out the stakes: The Pats are playing for 19-0, but the Giants are playing for nothing less than to exorcise the ghosts of the 2004 ALCS, because denying the Pats 19-0 should be every bit as devastating to Boston fans as choking away a 3-0 ALCS lead was to Yankees fans.
Pats vs. Giants in Super Bowl XLII
Here are the stakes in Super Bowl XLII between the Patriots and Giants:
The Pats are playing to go 19-0 and to complete the most perfect season in pro sports history.
The Giants are playing for nothing less than exorcising the ghost of the 2004 ALCS, when the Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox.
If the Giants could deny the Pats -- and Pats fans -- this most-perfect of accomplishments (and bragging rights), it would even the balance.
I never thought anything would ever come close to allowing New York fans to recover the bragging rights from the 2004 ALCS; beating the Pats and denying them 19-0 would do it.
(But the Giants are NOT beating the Pats.)
PS: Don't forget to take the poll. If you aren't a natural Pats or Giants fan, would you rather see the Patriots go 19-0 or see them lose?
The Pats are playing to go 19-0 and to complete the most perfect season in pro sports history.
The Giants are playing for nothing less than exorcising the ghost of the 2004 ALCS, when the Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox.
If the Giants could deny the Pats -- and Pats fans -- this most-perfect of accomplishments (and bragging rights), it would even the balance.
I never thought anything would ever come close to allowing New York fans to recover the bragging rights from the 2004 ALCS; beating the Pats and denying them 19-0 would do it.
(But the Giants are NOT beating the Pats.)
PS: Don't forget to take the poll. If you aren't a natural Pats or Giants fan, would you rather see the Patriots go 19-0 or see them lose?
NFL Conf Champ Games: Pats Win
UPDATE: Pats win the AFC title. 18-0. Super Bowl-bound. Regardless of their NFC opponent, let the insanity of their potential perfection climax, starting... now. Enjoy the next two weeks. You'll loathe them by the end.
(Truly: America will be divided between those who want to see 19-0 and those who can't stand the idea of these Pats -- and these Pats fans -- enjoying this unprecedented greatness.)
As for the Chargers, they were unable to get it done: Both within the 10-yard-line, where they had 3 shots and came away with 3 FGs -- and on D, where they let the Pats run out the clock.
Next up: Giants vs. Packers.
ORIGINAL POST:
I'll try to post your comments as often as possible, so drop on by.
Pats-Chargers, Packers-Giants.
Odds on that we'll see Pats-Pack in the Super Bowl, leading to the Brady-Favre "Slurper Bowl" -- along with the frenzy over the potential of 19-0.
Anything else: Giants winning... god forbid, Chargers winning... would be huge upsets. Obviously, the Chargers winning would be epically huge. We'll see...
UPDATE: AFC at Halftime. Good news, bad news for the Chargers. Good news: The D has played really well. Bad news: The O hasn't matched, particularly inside the 10.
(Oh, and if you saw that IBM ad with "Buzzword Bingo," we totally used to play that in business school during the classroom discussion. You won't find more buzzwords per hour than you will from a group of 85 MBA students.)
More on the ads: Did you see that Southwest ad featuring Clay Davis from "The Wire?" (The actor who plays Clay Davis, obviously, but it seemed unnatural: Like the actor was going to say, all of a sudden, "Wait in some got-damm line to get on the got-damm plane?! Sheeeeeee-it!" Actually, having the actor play Clay Davis IN CHARACTER in the ad would have been the greatest moment in TV ads in the last year.)
More ads: The new Air Jordan ad, promoting the upcoming AJ XXIII. I love when Nike uses old high school clips. I could take or leave the guys involved -- T.O., Rip Hamilton, Chris Paul, Ray Allen, Derek Jeter -- but points for creative presentation.
(Truly: America will be divided between those who want to see 19-0 and those who can't stand the idea of these Pats -- and these Pats fans -- enjoying this unprecedented greatness.)
As for the Chargers, they were unable to get it done: Both within the 10-yard-line, where they had 3 shots and came away with 3 FGs -- and on D, where they let the Pats run out the clock.
Next up: Giants vs. Packers.
ORIGINAL POST:
I'll try to post your comments as often as possible, so drop on by.
Pats-Chargers, Packers-Giants.
Odds on that we'll see Pats-Pack in the Super Bowl, leading to the Brady-Favre "Slurper Bowl" -- along with the frenzy over the potential of 19-0.
Anything else: Giants winning... god forbid, Chargers winning... would be huge upsets. Obviously, the Chargers winning would be epically huge. We'll see...
UPDATE: AFC at Halftime. Good news, bad news for the Chargers. Good news: The D has played really well. Bad news: The O hasn't matched, particularly inside the 10.
(Oh, and if you saw that IBM ad with "Buzzword Bingo," we totally used to play that in business school during the classroom discussion. You won't find more buzzwords per hour than you will from a group of 85 MBA students.)
More on the ads: Did you see that Southwest ad featuring Clay Davis from "The Wire?" (The actor who plays Clay Davis, obviously, but it seemed unnatural: Like the actor was going to say, all of a sudden, "Wait in some got-damm line to get on the got-damm plane?! Sheeeeeee-it!" Actually, having the actor play Clay Davis IN CHARACTER in the ad would have been the greatest moment in TV ads in the last year.)
More ads: The new Air Jordan ad, promoting the upcoming AJ XXIII. I love when Nike uses old high school clips. I could take or leave the guys involved -- T.O., Rip Hamilton, Chris Paul, Ray Allen, Derek Jeter -- but points for creative presentation.
Sunday 01/20 A.M. Quickie:
CBB Shockers: UNC, UCLA, A&M, Pitt!
College Hoops Mania! With college football a few weeks behind us and the NFL about to wind down, this was the first Saturday where I really spent it obsessing entirely over college hoops. And it was a good one to do it...
USC shocks UCLA at Pauley Pavilion: Now this was a true head-scratcher. As most of you know, UCLA was my preseason pick to win the national title, and nothing this season has changed my mind about that. (Even this result.)
I still think Kevin Love is the best player in the country – not the best freshman, the best player... period. I think this loss will offer more teaching lessons and motivation than any single win might have between now and the NCAA Tournament. (Losing to the cocky young crosstown rival at home? Definitely.)
But credit the Trojans – an extremely young and extremely talented team. They had a right to be cocky – it was the only way to go into Pauley and gut out this game in the face of UCLA's superior everything. Everyone talks about OJ Mayo; Jefferson is the real freshman revelation of that team (though it begs the question how much more effective
Name to Know: Dre Smith, who hit an NCAA-record 10-of-10 3-pointers to lead George Mason over James Madison.
More:
NBA Studs: McGrady returns to the Rockets, they beat the Spurs: Coincidence? Hmm... (As long as we're not talking about the playoffs, right?)
NBA Duds: The Heat lost their 13th straight – the worst such streak of Pat Riley's career. Adding insult to insult, they lost to the Knicks. The Knicks!
Uber-recruit Terrelle Pryor visits
Roy Jones Jr. beat Felix Trinidad in a "Wait: This Still Matters?" match...
Must-Read: Wilbon on the Golfweek/Tilghman controversy. Makes a lot of great points.
-- D.S.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Saturday 01/19 A.M. Quickie:
Walker, Favre, Seanor, Harbaugh, More
Today's Names to Know: Herschel Walker, Brett Favre, Dave Seanor, Dana Stubblefield, "Therapeutic Use Exemption," Baron Davis, Matt Holliday, John Harbaugh, Georgia Frontiere, Bill Callahan, Mike Carey, Patrick Patterson, Todd Wright and More.
I'm sorry, but this is my favorite story of the last 24 hours...
Herschel Walker has multiple personalities?! Not to make light of a serious condition, but I heard each personality ran for 1,000 yards in his sophomore season at
Slurper Bowl XLII: Give the New York Times' "Fifth Down" blog a nice bit of credit for this Mad Libs-style satire of the typical slobbering coverage of Brett Favre. I love this thing.
Golfweek controversy update: Editor fired. The instantly infamous "noose" cover has cost editor Dave Seanor his job, just days after the story went national – and nuclear. It was a huge error in judgment.
PED Scandal: Dana Stubblefield pled guilty to making false statements to the Feds in their BALCO investigation. Again: It's almost always the cover-up and not the crime itself.
Meanwhile, apparently, even before Selig's testimony before Congress last week when the "Therapeutic Use Exemption" came up in regards to players abusing Adderall and Ritalin in lieu of now-illegal stimulants like amphetamines, MLB claims it was already working on closing T.U.E. loopholes – I wonder why they wouldn't publicize that they were taking active steps? Maybe because they didn't want to draw attention to the staggering increase between 2006 and 2007 in TUE's.
NBA Last Night: Baron Davis had 40 in a Warriors win over the Bulls. In the last 12 months,
Rockies sign Matt Holliday to 2Y/$23M extension: What a critical deal for
Twins give Justin Morneau a 1Y/$7.4M deal: Remember when he was going to be a break-the-bank player for them?
Ravens hire John Harbaugh: He has never been a head coach. He has never been an offensive or defensive coordinator. But, hey, he's likeable.
RIP, Georgia Frontiere: The Rams owner brought a team back to
NFL Coaching Carousel: Bill Callahan is back in the NFL, as an assistant with the Jets, after his ill-fitting (and ill-fated) attempt to be a college head coach at
Know the Name: Mike Carey. Carey will become the first African-American referee to work a Super Bowl in NFL history. I'm not quite sure whether to cheer or shake my head: In 2008, how could a league like the NFL be at a point where they are still saying "first African-American ANYTHING." Shouldn't those barriers have been long-broken? Guess not.
College Hoops Today: GameDay is in
(Wonder if he's regretting that decision now? Given that he is a one-and-done college player, he was probably better off at a place where he could be the No. 1 star. Patterson is just below Kevin Love and Michael Beasley as the best freshman big man in college hoops.)
Sporting News Radio debut last night: One of the benefits of being part of the Sporting News network is that I am going to get the chance to go on their radio shows.
Last night, I had a terrific segment with Todd Wright, who is a fantastic host – phenomenal set-up questions and tremendously informed.
I will keep you updated as I do more of that, so you can listen in to hear me make a fool out of myself, trying to translate my shallow online ramblings into on-air commentary.
-- D.S.
Friday, January 18, 2008
"God Save The Fan": Review on Monday
I accept the Ladies... challenge! I will have a review of Will Leitch's new book "God Save The Fan" on DanShanoff.com on Monday, in advance of the book's official release on Tuesday.
Will I be the first blogger to have a review up? We'll see. 15-to-1 odds seem pretty out-of-whack for a guy who writes posts like this.
Yes, I've read the book. Yes, it's extremely well done. (No, that isn't the entirety of my review, despite my penchant for Quickie-style brevity.)
Will I be the first blogger to have a review up? We'll see. 15-to-1 odds seem pretty out-of-whack for a guy who writes posts like this.
Yes, I've read the book. Yes, it's extremely well done. (No, that isn't the entirety of my review, despite my penchant for Quickie-style brevity.)
Great Joakim Noah Read via TrueHoop
No one digs up as many fascinating NBA stories as Henry Abbott. This one is about Joakim Noah -- phenomenal must-read perspective on this week's controversy, from Noah's pre-draft trainer.
Yes, Chess Is a Sport
Let me arbitrate the debate going on at DSCommenters: Yes, chess is a sport. (Presumably, it came up in the context of the death of Bobby Fischer.) -- D.S.
Take Today's Poll About the Pats
If you aren't a natural Pats fan, are you rooting for the Pats to go 19-0 or to choke and lose in the Biggest Loss Ever?*
I'm totally intrigued by the idea that there is one segment of the country that wants to see the Pats go 19-0 and there is another segment that desperately wants to see them lose. (Pats fans, of course, are ineligible from consideration for obvious reasons.)
I myself am torn over witnessing the superlative novelty of 19-0... it might just be the greatest feat in team-sports history... and wanting to see them lose, in what would be an all-time epic collapse*. (It's not a choke, per se, but I struggle for the right word to describe the superlative.)
Would I rather see the Pats lose this weekend in the conference title game or in the Super Bowl?
Losing in the Super Bowl would be more dramatic, but I think that the Chargers (even without Rivers) have a better shot of beating the Pats than the Packers or Giants (even on the Super Bowl's neutral field). The bottom line: I don't really care. Seeing them lose at all would be plenty interesting.
But I am curious as to what YOU think, both whether you are rooting for 19-0 or the Biggest Loss Ever* and -- if you are rooting for them to lose -- WHEN you would like to see it happen.
Take the poll in the upper-right-hand corner.
-- D.S.
* - The closest thing I can think of to compete with the Pats losing in either of the next two games would be the unstoppable 1991 UNLV team losing in the Final Four to Duke... but that UNLV team had an excuse -- there's a long-standing urban legend that they were on the take to tank the game. That's right, Duke fans: I discount any credit assigned for what was arguably the greatest win in Duke program history.
I'm totally intrigued by the idea that there is one segment of the country that wants to see the Pats go 19-0 and there is another segment that desperately wants to see them lose. (Pats fans, of course, are ineligible from consideration for obvious reasons.)
I myself am torn over witnessing the superlative novelty of 19-0... it might just be the greatest feat in team-sports history... and wanting to see them lose, in what would be an all-time epic collapse*. (It's not a choke, per se, but I struggle for the right word to describe the superlative.)
Would I rather see the Pats lose this weekend in the conference title game or in the Super Bowl?
Losing in the Super Bowl would be more dramatic, but I think that the Chargers (even without Rivers) have a better shot of beating the Pats than the Packers or Giants (even on the Super Bowl's neutral field). The bottom line: I don't really care. Seeing them lose at all would be plenty interesting.
But I am curious as to what YOU think, both whether you are rooting for 19-0 or the Biggest Loss Ever* and -- if you are rooting for them to lose -- WHEN you would like to see it happen.
Take the poll in the upper-right-hand corner.
-- D.S.
* - The closest thing I can think of to compete with the Pats losing in either of the next two games would be the unstoppable 1991 UNLV team losing in the Final Four to Duke... but that UNLV team had an excuse -- there's a long-standing urban legend that they were on the take to tank the game. That's right, Duke fans: I discount any credit assigned for what was arguably the greatest win in Duke program history.
Friday 01/18 A.M. Quickie:
Pats, Pack, Kwame, Butler, Garrett, More!
Today's SportingNews.com column is live (be sure to take today's poll in the upper-right!), and I coin what will surely be the catch-phrase of the next two weeks:
"The Slurper Bowl."
That's what we're going to experience if (no: when) Tom Brady and Brett Favre lead their respective teams to their conference titles on Sunday. (If you're going to use "Slurper Bowl," be sure to credit the source!)
Those are my picks: Pats and Pack. Not particularly bold, but I do contend that Randy Moss will catch at least 3 TDs, because Bill Belichick will want to offer a great big F.U. over the hating on Moss this week because of his alleged "incident."
Anyway: The column is loaded today -- Conference title-game previews, Lakers fans booing Kwame Brown, Linas Kleiza Mania, Butler upset by Cleveland State, Jason Garrett dissing the Falcons and Ravens for the Cowboys, more on the Golfweek controversy, Bud Selig, Rich Rodriguez and More!
Check it out here.
(Two more original DS.com posts coming at 10:30 and 12:30, so be sure to wander back around later today.)
-- D.S.
"The Slurper Bowl."
That's what we're going to experience if (no: when) Tom Brady and Brett Favre lead their respective teams to their conference titles on Sunday. (If you're going to use "Slurper Bowl," be sure to credit the source!)
Those are my picks: Pats and Pack. Not particularly bold, but I do contend that Randy Moss will catch at least 3 TDs, because Bill Belichick will want to offer a great big F.U. over the hating on Moss this week because of his alleged "incident."
Anyway: The column is loaded today -- Conference title-game previews, Lakers fans booing Kwame Brown, Linas Kleiza Mania, Butler upset by Cleveland State, Jason Garrett dissing the Falcons and Ravens for the Cowboys, more on the Golfweek controversy, Bud Selig, Rich Rodriguez and More!
Check it out here.
(Two more original DS.com posts coming at 10:30 and 12:30, so be sure to wander back around later today.)
-- D.S.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Shoals Joins Shanoff at SportingNews.com
This is turning into a hell of a columnist line-up: Shanoff, Swindle, Florio, McErlain, Pinto, Brian from Awful Announcing, Mottram... and now Bethlehem Shoals of Free Darko.
(I'm thrilled to note that I traded "Shanoff" for shidduch to help make this happen, 'cause I love me some Shoals and I love me some SportingNews.com. I'm a yenta among sports bloggers.)
(I'm thrilled to note that I traded "Shanoff" for shidduch to help make this happen, 'cause I love me some Shoals and I love me some SportingNews.com. I'm a yenta among sports bloggers.)
Mathew Kowald: Worst. Dad. Ever.
Mathew Kowald: Worst. Dad. Ever.
You are going to be hearing a lot today about Mathew Kowald, a 36-year-old Portage, Wisconsin nut-job who strapped his 7-year-old son down and forced the kid to wear a Packers jersey during the Packers' playoff game last weekend.
We've all been there: We buy our infants or toddlers or kids the team gear, hoping they will be little reflections of ourselves -- what better way to bond than over a mutual love of a sports team? (Hell, most of you are probably fans of your favorite team because a parent was a fan and "passed it on" to you.)
But this is a cautionary tale: Taking it so far over the line as to constitute child abuse, rather than "super-fan" fun. Something to keep in mind as you pose your young child in the gear of your favorite team -- YOUR favorite team -- like some kind of Fandom Mini-Me.
Interested in your comments on this, either on this post or the simul-post at VarsityDad.com.
-- D.S.
This post was re-published from an earlier post at Varsity Dad, my blog about the intersection of sports and parenting.
You are going to be hearing a lot today about Mathew Kowald, a 36-year-old Portage, Wisconsin nut-job who strapped his 7-year-old son down and forced the kid to wear a Packers jersey during the Packers' playoff game last weekend.
We've all been there: We buy our infants or toddlers or kids the team gear, hoping they will be little reflections of ourselves -- what better way to bond than over a mutual love of a sports team? (Hell, most of you are probably fans of your favorite team because a parent was a fan and "passed it on" to you.)
But this is a cautionary tale: Taking it so far over the line as to constitute child abuse, rather than "super-fan" fun. Something to keep in mind as you pose your young child in the gear of your favorite team -- YOUR favorite team -- like some kind of Fandom Mini-Me.
Interested in your comments on this, either on this post or the simul-post at VarsityDad.com.
-- D.S.
This post was re-published from an earlier post at Varsity Dad, my blog about the intersection of sports and parenting.
Thursday 01/17 A.M. Quickie:
Sparano, Golfweek, Oprah, Pack Dad, More!
In today's SportingNews.com column at The Sporting Blog...
Bill Parcells vs. Bill Walsh!
Golfweek vs. the PGA!
Marion Jones vs. Oprah!
Randy Moss vs. Pac-Man Jones!
Joakim Noah vs. Ben Wallace!
Gerald Wallace vs. Chris Bosh!
Bobby Knight vs. History!
Tyler Hansbrough vs. The World!
Dayton and Xavier vs. UMass and Temple!
Tony Dungy vs. Jason Garrett!
The Tigers vs. Payroll Sanity!
WADA vs. MLB!
Mathew Kowald vs. Sports Parents Who Aren't Insane...
And More!
Here's the direct link. Or, keep your eye on this link.
Bill Parcells vs. Bill Walsh!
Golfweek vs. the PGA!
Marion Jones vs. Oprah!
Randy Moss vs. Pac-Man Jones!
Joakim Noah vs. Ben Wallace!
Gerald Wallace vs. Chris Bosh!
Bobby Knight vs. History!
Tyler Hansbrough vs. The World!
Dayton and Xavier vs. UMass and Temple!
Tony Dungy vs. Jason Garrett!
The Tigers vs. Payroll Sanity!
WADA vs. MLB!
Mathew Kowald vs. Sports Parents Who Aren't Insane...
And More!
Here's the direct link. Or, keep your eye on this link.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Anna Grant, Google Superstar
Anna Grant, the Pats fan and PPK winner who was booed by Colts fans last Sunday, is the No. 1 most-searched term on Google.
I don't think Grant became a story (the jeering happened Sunday) until the Pats announced she would be honored -- in Foxboro on Sunday -- in front of a more sympathetic crowd.
Grant is a great example of the "sports story" that catches fire in a "Good Morning, America" way:
Accessible to non-sports fans, because it involves a kid -- a teen girl -- and schadenfreude and redemption... and maybe because the Pats are a national sensation, even with non-sports fans.
Amazing: Another top ranking for the Patriots (and Boston sports). Even when they get booed, they turn up winners.
-- D.S.
I don't think Grant became a story (the jeering happened Sunday) until the Pats announced she would be honored -- in Foxboro on Sunday -- in front of a more sympathetic crowd.
Grant is a great example of the "sports story" that catches fire in a "Good Morning, America" way:
Accessible to non-sports fans, because it involves a kid -- a teen girl -- and schadenfreude and redemption... and maybe because the Pats are a national sensation, even with non-sports fans.
Amazing: Another top ranking for the Patriots (and Boston sports). Even when they get booed, they turn up winners.
-- D.S.
Tony Sparano Hired By Dolphins
Today's SportingNews.com column. Meanwhile...
Tony Sparano to Dolphins: Yes, I know that yesterday, I posted that Garrett was hired in Bal'mer. (Turned out to be just an offer.) But Glazer reports Sparano's been hired by the Fins, and I believe it:
Parcells is creating a management team with his guys -- GM, coach, more -- and that's an ideal way to construct an organization, particularly if you are as big of a control freak as Parcells is.
(No, really: Read today's column -- the A.M. post directly below has the short-hand teaser.)
Tony Sparano to Dolphins: Yes, I know that yesterday, I posted that Garrett was hired in Bal'mer. (Turned out to be just an offer.) But Glazer reports Sparano's been hired by the Fins, and I believe it:
Parcells is creating a management team with his guys -- GM, coach, more -- and that's an ideal way to construct an organization, particularly if you are as big of a control freak as Parcells is.
(No, really: Read today's column -- the A.M. post directly below has the short-hand teaser.)
Wednesday 01/16 A.M. Quickie:
Adderall, Garrett, LeBron, Rod, More!
Today's column is LIVE at SportingNews.com and The Sporting Blog:
Adderall vs. HGH, Selig/Fehr vs. Congress, Miguel Tejada vs. the D.O.J., Rich Rodriguez vs. West Virginia, Jason Garrett vs. Jerry Jones, LeBron vs. Joakim, Jarvis Varnado vs. Kentucky, Darrell Green vs. Cris Carter, Anna Grant vs. Colts fans and more!
Keep your eye on this link for today's column (which I just filed).Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Jason Garrett to Coach the Ravens Who?!?
UPDATE: Garrett hasn't taken the Ravens offer and is in Atlanta talking to the Falcons. Man, is that guy in a good position. I reiterate: Does Jerry Jones love Wade Phillips SO much that he's willing to lose out on hiring Garrett as his head coach?
Enough Apple fanboy talk: Let's get back to sports fanboy talk...
Jason Garrett is reportedly going to coach the Ravens, a team that just came off a term with a highly regarded offensive coordinator.
Garrett has more buzz than any other assistant in the NFL. Job No. 1: He is going to have to find his Tony Romo, because the Ravens don't have one.
Now: Will Garrett push to draft a QB high... or learn from the Romo Experience that top NFL QBs don't have to come in the first round.
Meanwhile, for the Cowboys: I always had the sense that Jerry Jones wanted Garrett to be HIS head coach. Jones should have hired Garrett as the head coach last season, instead of Wade Phillips. Better to be a year too early than a year too late.
(Maybe Jones should have fired Phillips yesterday and immediately made an offer to Garrett, suspecting that Garrett was about to be poached by the Ravens. I guess he didn't want to keep him that badly.)
-- D.S.
Enough Apple fanboy talk: Let's get back to sports fanboy talk...
Jason Garrett is reportedly going to coach the Ravens, a team that just came off a term with a highly regarded offensive coordinator.
Garrett has more buzz than any other assistant in the NFL. Job No. 1: He is going to have to find his Tony Romo, because the Ravens don't have one.
Now: Will Garrett push to draft a QB high... or learn from the Romo Experience that top NFL QBs don't have to come in the first round.
Meanwhile, for the Cowboys: I always had the sense that Jerry Jones wanted Garrett to be HIS head coach. Jones should have hired Garrett as the head coach last season, instead of Wade Phillips. Better to be a year too early than a year too late.
(Maybe Jones should have fired Phillips yesterday and immediately made an offer to Garrett, suspecting that Garrett was about to be poached by the Ravens. I guess he didn't want to keep him that badly.)
-- D.S.
Tom Brady Contemplating Retirement?
I will be curious to see how many mainstream sports media outlets pick this up.
(Please read the above line again before pinging me. I chose my words carefully.)
Update: Please tell me you didn't buy this. Lesson: You've got to read the Tags!
(Please read the above line again before pinging me. I chose my words carefully.)
Update: Please tell me you didn't buy this. Lesson: You've got to read the Tags!
Tuesday 01/15 A.M. Quickie:
Romo, Celtics, Pitt, MLB, WTA, CFB, More!
Today's SportingBlog column is up.
In today's SportingNews.com column (posted shortly, refer to this link for now):
Introduces "Pulling a Romo"...
Engages in some rare Celtics-bashing...
Praises Pitt...
Mocks Bud Selig...
Winces at the WTA...
Surveys the NFL Draft early-entry landscape...
Hat-tips Kissing Suzy Kolber...
Explains why a college football playoff push is D.O.A....
And the obligatory and all-encompassing "More."
Just filed (7:30-ish), so up soon. (Update: OK, the column is up.)
Keep your eye on The Sporting Blog or this rudimentary archive page. And check back at DanShanoff.com later for all-new original posts. (Yesterday, I managed to do two.)
-- D.S.
In today's SportingNews.com column (posted shortly, refer to this link for now):
Introduces "Pulling a Romo"...
Engages in some rare Celtics-bashing...
Praises Pitt...
Mocks Bud Selig...
Winces at the WTA...
Surveys the NFL Draft early-entry landscape...
Hat-tips Kissing Suzy Kolber...
Explains why a college football playoff push is D.O.A....
And the obligatory and all-encompassing "More."
Just filed (7:30-ish), so up soon. (Update: OK, the column is up.)
Keep your eye on The Sporting Blog or this rudimentary archive page. And check back at DanShanoff.com later for all-new original posts. (Yesterday, I managed to do two.)
-- D.S.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Mary J. Blige vs. Roger Clemens
Both are involved in steroid scandals. Both have denied it. Who do you believe more? (Let me just say that I believe the protests of innocence from neither.)
But, really: "Say it ain't so, Mary J!" has a much better ring than "Say it ain't so, Rocket."
But, really: "Say it ain't so, Mary J!" has a much better ring than "Say it ain't so, Rocket."
Monday 01/14 A.M. Quickie:
Sneak Peek at the NEW Column!
Today's Sporting News column. (Why is the usual morning post on SportingNews.com and not on DanShanoff.com? Here's the exciting explanation.)
Today's Names to Know: Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, Norv Turner, Tony Dungy, Tony Sparano, Chris Bosh, Mark Kotsay, Roger Clemens, Gus Malzahn, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and More.
Today's Storylines: Is Peyton back to being a choker? Is Eli the better Manning today? Should Cowboys fans blame Jessica or Tony? Has Norv Turner lost the "choker" label for good? Can the world survive the let-down from not getting Pats-Colts in the AFC Title Game? Is Chris Bosh an All-Star? Did you hear the latest on Roger Clemens? Is there a pick for the Australian Open BESIDES Roger Federer?
All that and more in today's first-ever edition of my new column at SportingNews.com and The Sporting Blog, the Wake-Up Call! Column just filed and should be published shortly. (You know, with the whole pesky "editors" thing!) I'll update here with links when it's live.
UPDATE: The Sporting News column is published. Here it is.More coming later today on DanShanoff.com, so be sure to check back!
-- D.S.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sunday 01/13 (Sorta) Quickie:
Pats, Pack Advance in NFL Playoffs
Today's Names to Know: Pats, Ryan Grant, Kevin Love,
Pats dismiss Jaguars, doubters to advance to AFC title game: It was close for a half-plus, then not so much. I had been saying that the Jaguars had a "puncher's chance," and going toe-to-toe for a half or so is about right in that construction.
But they couldn't stop the MVP, who saved his best performance of a truly spectacular season for the biggest game yet -- the Pats' playoff debut.
Tom Brady was simply incredible: 26-for-28 for 262 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs... a staggering 141.4 QB rating. He broke Phil Simms' record for highest completion percentage in a playoff game (92.9 to 88.0).
As soon as the Pats complete the Perfect Season and presuming Brady continues to have games even close to that sick, he will pass Montana, Elway or any other QB as the greatest QB in NFL history. Performing in the regular season, performing in the playoffs, performing year-after-year... amazingly, given the season (and career) he has had, he's even better now than before.
As you all know, I had held hopes of a Jags upset; now I'll join the rest of the country looking ahead to a Pats-Colts AFC title game that will be as monumental as any conference championships in recent memory (last season's is the gold standard, and is threatened to be eclipsed... at least by the hype.)
Packers shut down Seahawks in the snow: Undrafted, unheralded RB Ryan Grant takes his place in mythology among Packers fans, after rushing for 201 yards and 3 TDs in the blizzard-ish conditions.
As for the losers: Was this Mike Holmgren's final game coaching the Seahawks? Can the Jaguars build on this breakthrough season behind David Garrard, or will they have to petition to move to the NFC?
CBB: UCLA holds off Washington State, 81-74. Wazzu made 7 3s in the final two minutes of the game to make it interesting. Otherwise, Kevin Love continued to establish himself as arguably the best freshman (perhaps even the best player) in college hoops: Love had a career-high 27 to go with 14 rebounds (his 8th double-double in 17 games this season), in the biggest game of the season so far for UCLA – and the biggest intra-conference game you'll see this year. (Yes, even more than UNC-Duke, which gets more pub, but is less meaningful this year.)
College Hoops Futility Watch:
Vanderbilt loses for the first time this season: The good news is that it was in double-OT (VU is putting up a fight); the bad news is that they lost to
(Patrick Patterson, who is battling Kevin Love and Michael Beasley for the title of Freshman of the Year, had 23 and 12. Isn't it interesting that all three are power forwards? Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon are in the mix, too. Put those five in a starting lineup and you could beat any college team in the country; might be your NBA Draft Top 5, too.)
NBA: Celtics lose on the road to the Wizards. It was the C's 2nd loss in 3 games. More troubling for
More: Do you think Isiah Thomas would actually tell the media the truth -- one way or the other -- about the rumors that he's going to resign as coach?
Roger Clemens meets the Texas High School Baseball Coaches: Needless to say, "training methods" weren't on the table as the boot-licking coaches made sure to kiss the needle-marked ass of the Rocket. "But what about the children?" indeed.
NFL Draft: Darren McFadden's dad ("McDadden?") says his son hasn't filed paperwork with the NFL to turn pro, which is curious. What is he waiting for?
NFL Front Office Moves: The Falcons might not be close to hiring Pete Carroll, but they ARE close to poaching from the Pats – Tom Dimitroff, director of college scouting, as their new GM. The Falcons can expect to receive tons of kudos, because anyone who works for the Pats MUST be a genius.
Recruiting: Text-message ban upheld. 241 of 306 schools voted to uphold the ban, which showcases the association's Luddite backwardness. Now, does that include email viewed through cell phones or Blackberries and Sidekicks? I'm sure the NCAA hasn't thought about it that much, given that they barely seem to understand what texting is all about. (Memo to Urban Meyer and the others who love to text: Sure, they've banned texting, but have they banned posting to Facebook pages? Not yet!)
-- D.S.
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