Saturday, May 24, 2008
Saturday 05/24 (Very) Quickie
Sorry for the delay: Moving sucks. Lakers won't impress me until they win in San Antonio. Doug Davis' return trumped Barry Zito getting off the schneid. More later. Back to packing hell. - DS
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday 05/23 A.M. Quickie:
Celtics, MLB Replay, Lila Garrity, More
I am overwhelmed by schadenfreude about the Celtics. Everyone saw this coming; the only question now is: If they can't even beat the Hawks in Atlanta, how will they beat the Pistons in Detroit? The Celtics may very well be able to beat the Pistons in Detroit 1 out of 3 times, but now that they have lost at home, the sense of "unbeatable" has evaporated.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column.
(Adding insult to injury is that it was the best playoff game from the entirety of the Big Three, and it still wasn't enough. Maybe Celtics fans will stop haranguing Ray Allen about his scoring, because they did a lot better when he was sucking.)
Meanwhile, if it wasn't for the Celtics' dud at home, I would have totally led the column with the MLB replay story, which is totally huge. For those of us who have been lobbying for replay in baseball for years, this is a very positive step -- this week's home-run mis-calls surely helped. (Look: Better now than in a World Series game.)
The fact is: Replay works. The only instance I can think of when it doesn't work is in college football, when the replay official DOESN'T review an obviously messed up call. That, and the ludicrous guidelines about what is "reviewable" and what is not (ie, penalty calls).
Baseball had been holding out because of this misplaced sense of nostalgia -- that umps are part of the game. But I would argue that it holds up the spirit of the game's "integrity" to get the calls right -- particularly when all we're asking for is fair-or-foul (or fan interference) on home runs.
Technology is a wonderful thing: Nice to see baseball taking advantage of it to ensure the fairest outcome of its games.
I'll be blogging all weekend -- including Memorial Day -- for those of you who check in on the weekends. Otherwise, have a great weekend, everyone. While you are lazing around, don't forget to take a moment to remember the service of those for whom the holiday was created.
-- D.S.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column.
(Adding insult to injury is that it was the best playoff game from the entirety of the Big Three, and it still wasn't enough. Maybe Celtics fans will stop haranguing Ray Allen about his scoring, because they did a lot better when he was sucking.)
Meanwhile, if it wasn't for the Celtics' dud at home, I would have totally led the column with the MLB replay story, which is totally huge. For those of us who have been lobbying for replay in baseball for years, this is a very positive step -- this week's home-run mis-calls surely helped. (Look: Better now than in a World Series game.)
The fact is: Replay works. The only instance I can think of when it doesn't work is in college football, when the replay official DOESN'T review an obviously messed up call. That, and the ludicrous guidelines about what is "reviewable" and what is not (ie, penalty calls).
Baseball had been holding out because of this misplaced sense of nostalgia -- that umps are part of the game. But I would argue that it holds up the spirit of the game's "integrity" to get the calls right -- particularly when all we're asking for is fair-or-foul (or fan interference) on home runs.
Technology is a wonderful thing: Nice to see baseball taking advantage of it to ensure the fairest outcome of its games.
I'll be blogging all weekend -- including Memorial Day -- for those of you who check in on the weekends. Otherwise, have a great weekend, everyone. While you are lazing around, don't forget to take a moment to remember the service of those for whom the holiday was created.
-- D.S.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Thursday 05/22 A.M. Quickie:
Kobe, Man U, Webb, Mayo, Joba, More
The Spurs ran out of gas, as much as Kobe stepped on the pedal. Besides, Game 1 ain't Game 7, which is where this is heading.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column.
More you'll find:
Brandon Webb: No longer destined for 30 wins...
Joba Chamberlain: No longer shackled to 1 inning...
Bartolo Colon: One more master stroke by Theo...
USC: Parsing "didn't know" in a shameful way...
Man U: Lucky that Chelsea choked it away...
David Cook: Most talented Idol winner ever...
And more, here's the link.
If you didn't see yesterday's post on Indiana Jones, just look directly below this post -- and weigh in, if that's your thing.
- D.S.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column.
More you'll find:
Brandon Webb: No longer destined for 30 wins...
Joba Chamberlain: No longer shackled to 1 inning...
Bartolo Colon: One more master stroke by Theo...
USC: Parsing "didn't know" in a shameful way...
Man U: Lucky that Chelsea choked it away...
David Cook: Most talented Idol winner ever...
And more, here's the link.
If you didn't see yesterday's post on Indiana Jones, just look directly below this post -- and weigh in, if that's your thing.
- D.S.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Indiana Jones: Best Movie Hero Ever?
I have a special place for Indiana Jones, arguably the greatest lead action hero in movie history.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the first movie I have any sort of memory of seeing. Two flashing images remain -- cripes: was it really 1981?
(1) The line to see it. It was huge, like nothing I had ever seen before, snaking around the modest strip-mall on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, Maryland.
(2) At the end, of course, when the main Nazi baddie's face melts off.
Later, "Temple of Doom" was right in my then-11-year-old wheelhouse; I didn't care much for "Last Crusade."
But, much in part due to its particular nostalgic significance for me, "Raiders" remains one of my all-time most cherished movies ever -- if no longer a Top 5 (or even Top 10) favorite.
I'm not sure I will make the midnight screenings tonight -- or even try to brave the insane lines during this opening weekend...I think I had to be 8 to have the patience for that.
But I can't wait to see it, and I'm curious how you all feel about the Indiana Jones franchise.
You all know I'm a sucker for superlatives, and there might not be a better or more beloved lead action hero in movie history. (Certainly in my lifetime.)
-- D.S.
PS: Here's a trip in the way-back machine -- the original trailer for "Raiders." 27 years later, wow, have trailers become different.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the first movie I have any sort of memory of seeing. Two flashing images remain -- cripes: was it really 1981?
(1) The line to see it. It was huge, like nothing I had ever seen before, snaking around the modest strip-mall on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, Maryland.
(2) At the end, of course, when the main Nazi baddie's face melts off.
Later, "Temple of Doom" was right in my then-11-year-old wheelhouse; I didn't care much for "Last Crusade."
But, much in part due to its particular nostalgic significance for me, "Raiders" remains one of my all-time most cherished movies ever -- if no longer a Top 5 (or even Top 10) favorite.
I'm not sure I will make the midnight screenings tonight -- or even try to brave the insane lines during this opening weekend...I think I had to be 8 to have the patience for that.
But I can't wait to see it, and I'm curious how you all feel about the Indiana Jones franchise.
You all know I'm a sucker for superlatives, and there might not be a better or more beloved lead action hero in movie history. (Certainly in my lifetime.)
-- D.S.
PS: Here's a trip in the way-back machine -- the original trailer for "Raiders." 27 years later, wow, have trailers become different.
Wednesday 05/21 A.M. Quickie:
Bulls, Lottery, A-Rod, Piazza, NFL, More
I appreciate that "Beasley vs. Rose" is sort of like "Durant vs. Oden 2.0," but to me it's clear that the Bulls should take Rose.
The Lottery leads today's Sporting News column, bumping Game 1 of the East finals, which couldn't be more predictable and lame -- at least until someone wins a road game or the series reaches a 7th game, whichever comes first.
Yes, the Bulls need the frontcourt help and Beasley would be an instant scorer to pair with the less scoring-sophisticated Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. But Rose has the potential for impact on the Chris Paul/Deron Williams level. He will make Thomas and Noah (and Deng, if they keep him) that much better -- in a way that Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon can't.
(The Bulls are likely regretting giving Hinrich that huge contract extension, but not quite as much as Mike D'Antoni is likely regretting not taking the Bulls job, although if he took the job, there is no guarantee the Bulls would have pulled the 1-in-100 chance of winning the Lottery.)
Things get intriguing after Rose and Beasley go 1-2 (or 2-1) to the Bulls and Heat. The T'wolves should be taking advantage of Jerryd Bayless or even OJ Mayo. But with the past two Lotteries yielding Randy Foye and Corey Brewer (not to mention Rashad McCants the year before that), they really need size, and that means they have to go with -- ugh -- Brook Lopez, who seems to be rated this high simply because he is 7 feet tall.
The Sonics need a PG. The Grizzlies need a PF. The Knicks could use a true PG, but presuming that Bayless is gone, it seems like a reach that they take Augustin or Westbrook. Mayo seems redundant when they have Crawford, so will Mike D'Antoni feed his Italian jones with Danilo Gallardi? (He better set that up early with NY media and fans, who likely won't appreciate a European pick.)
In MLB, Mike Piazza retires, A-Rod returns and the Red Sox trot out yet another spectacular young arm, which they appear to have an endless supply of. There isn't a better-run organization in sports, let alone baseball. Yes, that's my long-time man-crush on Theo Epstein emerging for the first time in a long time. You cannot understand how conflicted I am about my crush on Theo and my general dislike for Boston sports.
I, for one, would like to see the next generation of replacement players, who almost surely would be better and more talented than the version from the late-80s. What a replacement season would do is create the greatest fantasy football season in the history of everything. Meanwhile, I hope the Falcons enjoy the gentle upside of Matt Ryan, now that they are locked in. (Put Mike Vick's first game back in Atlanta on an opposing team -- presuming Arthur Blank doesn't bring him back for the league minimum -- as the game of the decade.)
Complete SN column can be found here.
Update: My Wii Fit shipped yesterday, but I have no idea when it will arrive. Anyone get one?
-- D.S.
The Lottery leads today's Sporting News column, bumping Game 1 of the East finals, which couldn't be more predictable and lame -- at least until someone wins a road game or the series reaches a 7th game, whichever comes first.
Yes, the Bulls need the frontcourt help and Beasley would be an instant scorer to pair with the less scoring-sophisticated Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. But Rose has the potential for impact on the Chris Paul/Deron Williams level. He will make Thomas and Noah (and Deng, if they keep him) that much better -- in a way that Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon can't.
(The Bulls are likely regretting giving Hinrich that huge contract extension, but not quite as much as Mike D'Antoni is likely regretting not taking the Bulls job, although if he took the job, there is no guarantee the Bulls would have pulled the 1-in-100 chance of winning the Lottery.)
Things get intriguing after Rose and Beasley go 1-2 (or 2-1) to the Bulls and Heat. The T'wolves should be taking advantage of Jerryd Bayless or even OJ Mayo. But with the past two Lotteries yielding Randy Foye and Corey Brewer (not to mention Rashad McCants the year before that), they really need size, and that means they have to go with -- ugh -- Brook Lopez, who seems to be rated this high simply because he is 7 feet tall.
The Sonics need a PG. The Grizzlies need a PF. The Knicks could use a true PG, but presuming that Bayless is gone, it seems like a reach that they take Augustin or Westbrook. Mayo seems redundant when they have Crawford, so will Mike D'Antoni feed his Italian jones with Danilo Gallardi? (He better set that up early with NY media and fans, who likely won't appreciate a European pick.)
In MLB, Mike Piazza retires, A-Rod returns and the Red Sox trot out yet another spectacular young arm, which they appear to have an endless supply of. There isn't a better-run organization in sports, let alone baseball. Yes, that's my long-time man-crush on Theo Epstein emerging for the first time in a long time. You cannot understand how conflicted I am about my crush on Theo and my general dislike for Boston sports.
I, for one, would like to see the next generation of replacement players, who almost surely would be better and more talented than the version from the late-80s. What a replacement season would do is create the greatest fantasy football season in the history of everything. Meanwhile, I hope the Falcons enjoy the gentle upside of Matt Ryan, now that they are locked in. (Put Mike Vick's first game back in Atlanta on an opposing team -- presuming Arthur Blank doesn't bring him back for the league minimum -- as the game of the decade.)
Complete SN column can be found here.
Update: My Wii Fit shipped yesterday, but I have no idea when it will arrive. Anyone get one?
-- D.S.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
NBA Draft Lottery Rose-Beasley Mania!
(Plus: Another Rant Against Age Limits)
As I mentioned this morning, I love the NBA Draft Lottery. I think that goes back to my childhood fandom of the Bullets, who were perennial Lottery losers. It was my playoffs.
The consensus has shifted that the Lottery's big prize is Derrick Rose, rather than Michael Beasley, who is a strong -- and consensus -- No. 2. No. 3 and beyond is a toss-up, depending on which team is there and what their needs are.
Rose is like Oden in that he is a true franchise-changer. Consider Chris Paul and Deron Williams, because -- coming out of college at least -- Rose is a better NBA talent than either of them.
Beasley is like Durant in that he could be a franchise player, but there is really no guarantee. After all, Durant was simply a poor man's Rashard Lewis this season. Working in Beasley's favor is that he is better -- more suited to excel in the NBA -- than Durant.
You won't hear much about that, because all the Durant-backers from a year ago would be loathe to admit that their "game-changing" favorite isn't even the best forward prospect of the past two drafts -- that would be Beasley.
But as you watch the mock drafts come screaming out of the mainstream media and blogosphere in the wake of the Lottery's results, please note how many freshmen there are on the list -- it is the best signal that the NBA's age-limit remains totally idiotic.
The only thing worse than the current age limit would be to raise it unconditionally, similarly to the way that they installed this first age limit.
Here's a novel idea: Let the market work. From '95-06 that is exactly what it did, producing highly efficient results, particularly among prep-to-pro players.
The idea of an "age limit" is very simple: If you don't want to "ruin" your NBA career prematurely, don't enter the NBA earlier than you should.
"Should" is an amorphous notion -- was Monta Ellis wrong to enter the NBA when he did? Most experts would say he did just fine for himself, even though he went much later than he thought he would.
The bottom line is that NBA GMs are, for the most part, highly rational: You don't take prep Dwight Howard over college Player of the Year Emeka Okafor because you are an idiot, blinded by potential. You take him because you are fairly certain Howard's upside is vastly greater than Okafor's. Howard's "expected value" is far superior to Okafor's -- but not that much. Just enough to know you would take Howard over Okafor if given the choice of both. Okafor remained a superior choice to the players that went below him.
The point is that GMs who wildly pick young prospects and end up with a sketchy "hit" rate won't be GMs for long. There is a built-in incentive to do what is in the GM's own best interests, which align with that of the team.
Most GMs in the Lottery will be taking freshmen -- in their first year of draft eligibility -- over older players who could have entered the draft in previous years but didn't, because the weren't good enough to play in the NBA. (See Tyler Hansbrough: If he would have been a Lottery pick after his freshman year, he sure as hell wouldn't have stuck around for the past two seasons.)
This is because those freshmen are better prospects than the older players -- this isn't some fad. And if those players were available a year ago, they likely would have also been first-round picks (if not drafted quite as high as they will be taken next month).
All I'm saying is: Look at the signals the market is sending. Look at the history of efficiency within the market (before artificial constraints were clamped onto it). In this case, the rules should follow what you are seeing unfold in front of you.
Enjoy the Lottery! I love that Jay-Z will be there, representing the Nets (watch for coded signals to LeBron!), but I love even more that the Kings are sending a fan. That's what the Lottery should be all about.
-- D.S.
The consensus has shifted that the Lottery's big prize is Derrick Rose, rather than Michael Beasley, who is a strong -- and consensus -- No. 2. No. 3 and beyond is a toss-up, depending on which team is there and what their needs are.
Rose is like Oden in that he is a true franchise-changer. Consider Chris Paul and Deron Williams, because -- coming out of college at least -- Rose is a better NBA talent than either of them.
Beasley is like Durant in that he could be a franchise player, but there is really no guarantee. After all, Durant was simply a poor man's Rashard Lewis this season. Working in Beasley's favor is that he is better -- more suited to excel in the NBA -- than Durant.
You won't hear much about that, because all the Durant-backers from a year ago would be loathe to admit that their "game-changing" favorite isn't even the best forward prospect of the past two drafts -- that would be Beasley.
But as you watch the mock drafts come screaming out of the mainstream media and blogosphere in the wake of the Lottery's results, please note how many freshmen there are on the list -- it is the best signal that the NBA's age-limit remains totally idiotic.
The only thing worse than the current age limit would be to raise it unconditionally, similarly to the way that they installed this first age limit.
Here's a novel idea: Let the market work. From '95-06 that is exactly what it did, producing highly efficient results, particularly among prep-to-pro players.
The idea of an "age limit" is very simple: If you don't want to "ruin" your NBA career prematurely, don't enter the NBA earlier than you should.
"Should" is an amorphous notion -- was Monta Ellis wrong to enter the NBA when he did? Most experts would say he did just fine for himself, even though he went much later than he thought he would.
The bottom line is that NBA GMs are, for the most part, highly rational: You don't take prep Dwight Howard over college Player of the Year Emeka Okafor because you are an idiot, blinded by potential. You take him because you are fairly certain Howard's upside is vastly greater than Okafor's. Howard's "expected value" is far superior to Okafor's -- but not that much. Just enough to know you would take Howard over Okafor if given the choice of both. Okafor remained a superior choice to the players that went below him.
The point is that GMs who wildly pick young prospects and end up with a sketchy "hit" rate won't be GMs for long. There is a built-in incentive to do what is in the GM's own best interests, which align with that of the team.
Most GMs in the Lottery will be taking freshmen -- in their first year of draft eligibility -- over older players who could have entered the draft in previous years but didn't, because the weren't good enough to play in the NBA. (See Tyler Hansbrough: If he would have been a Lottery pick after his freshman year, he sure as hell wouldn't have stuck around for the past two seasons.)
This is because those freshmen are better prospects than the older players -- this isn't some fad. And if those players were available a year ago, they likely would have also been first-round picks (if not drafted quite as high as they will be taken next month).
All I'm saying is: Look at the signals the market is sending. Look at the history of efficiency within the market (before artificial constraints were clamped onto it). In this case, the rules should follow what you are seeing unfold in front of you.
Enjoy the Lottery! I love that Jay-Z will be there, representing the Nets (watch for coded signals to LeBron!), but I love even more that the Kings are sending a fan. That's what the Lottery should be all about.
-- D.S.
Tuesday 05/20 A.M. Quickie:
Spurs, Lester, Barkley, Lottery, More
You can hate the Spurs for their soullessness, but admire them for their dominance. To win a Game 7 on the road is remarkable -- in its own right, let alone because the Spurs had failed to do it in previous tries. The defending champs remain the team to beat.
The Spurs lead today's Sporting News column, with coverage of even more:
Jon Lester's no-hitter awesomeness...
Evan Longoria's heroics...
Charles Barkley's gambling problem...
The NBA's perception problem...
A Wings-Pens Stanley Cup finals...
Complete SN column here.
And, of course, the NBA Draft Lottery, being held tonight and annually one of my favorite events of the entire sports year. More on that later this morning.
-- D.S.
The Spurs lead today's Sporting News column, with coverage of even more:
Jon Lester's no-hitter awesomeness...
Evan Longoria's heroics...
Charles Barkley's gambling problem...
The NBA's perception problem...
A Wings-Pens Stanley Cup finals...
Complete SN column here.
And, of course, the NBA Draft Lottery, being held tonight and annually one of my favorite events of the entire sports year. More on that later this morning.
-- D.S.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday 05/19 A.M. Quickie:
Pierce, Hornets, Reds, Parker, More
Was Pierce vs. LeBron like Nique vs. Larry 20 years ago? Eh: Sort of. The bottom line is that, like Larry, Pierce was significantly advantaged by his supporting cast; like Nique, LeBron may spend his entire career without earning an NBA title.
In the lead of today's Sporting News column, I was a little more concerned with looking forward than looking back: Boston did nothing to convince me that they will beat Detroit in the East finals, let alone the West champ in the NBA Finals. I am thoroughly unimpressed with their perfect playoff home record.
Becoming the first team ever to advance to a conference-finals round without winning a road game is not a mark of distinction. What it sets up is that if/when (ok: when) Detroit wins a game in Boston, the Celtics are in a ton of trouble. I wouldn't be saying that if they had a single road win during the last 14 playoff games. It's just not the signal of a championship team to not have them.
Meanwhile, Hornets-Spurs should be incredible. If any team can win a Game 7 on the road in a series in which the home team has dominated, it is the defending champs.
MLB: Edison almost rhymes with 7-win... If Big Unit is on, that makes the D'backs 4-deep in very very good starting pitching... Ryan Braun is my hero.
Candace Parker's rookie season in the WNBA is worth following on a game-by-game basis -- she seems to be THAT good... instantly the best player in the WNBA, which affirms her as the greatest female basketball player on the planet.
Big Brown: Triple Crown. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Let's hope he's not a Belmont fizzler. I have a feeling he is going to do it.
More later. Here is the rest of the Sporting News column today.
-- D.S.
In the lead of today's Sporting News column, I was a little more concerned with looking forward than looking back: Boston did nothing to convince me that they will beat Detroit in the East finals, let alone the West champ in the NBA Finals. I am thoroughly unimpressed with their perfect playoff home record.
Becoming the first team ever to advance to a conference-finals round without winning a road game is not a mark of distinction. What it sets up is that if/when (ok: when) Detroit wins a game in Boston, the Celtics are in a ton of trouble. I wouldn't be saying that if they had a single road win during the last 14 playoff games. It's just not the signal of a championship team to not have them.
Meanwhile, Hornets-Spurs should be incredible. If any team can win a Game 7 on the road in a series in which the home team has dominated, it is the defending champs.
MLB: Edison almost rhymes with 7-win... If Big Unit is on, that makes the D'backs 4-deep in very very good starting pitching... Ryan Braun is my hero.
Candace Parker's rookie season in the WNBA is worth following on a game-by-game basis -- she seems to be THAT good... instantly the best player in the WNBA, which affirms her as the greatest female basketball player on the planet.
Big Brown: Triple Crown. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Let's hope he's not a Belmont fizzler. I have a feeling he is going to do it.
More later. Here is the rest of the Sporting News column today.
-- D.S.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Sunday 05/18 (Very) Quickie
Big Brown wins Preakness: OK, so NOW we can talk about the Triple Crown, probably one of the Top 5 most respected accomplishments in sports.
Candace Parker's WNBA debut: 34 points. Hmm...I think she's going to be good at this.
MLB: Ryan Ludwick makes me regret not picking him up off the fantasy waiver wire before last weekend. I missed him, and now I'm kicking myself, particularly after his 2-HR performance yesterday.
Tale of Two Santanas: Johan gets his 5th win for the Mets, against the Yankees no less. And Ervin was hit with his first loss of the season, against the Dodgers.
Ryan Braun hits No. 11. OK, so after his monster HR week last week AND his big new deal with the Brewers, I think it's time I got a replica jersey T-shirt. (I can't get the actual jersey, but I am willing to go to the jersey T-shirt level.)
-- D.S.
Candace Parker's WNBA debut: 34 points. Hmm...I think she's going to be good at this.
MLB: Ryan Ludwick makes me regret not picking him up off the fantasy waiver wire before last weekend. I missed him, and now I'm kicking myself, particularly after his 2-HR performance yesterday.
Tale of Two Santanas: Johan gets his 5th win for the Mets, against the Yankees no less. And Ervin was hit with his first loss of the season, against the Dodgers.
Ryan Braun hits No. 11. OK, so after his monster HR week last week AND his big new deal with the Brewers, I think it's time I got a replica jersey T-shirt. (I can't get the actual jersey, but I am willing to go to the jersey T-shirt level.)
-- D.S.
Saturday 05/17 (Very) Quickie
The Lakers finally broke the home-court thing in the NBA conference semis, dispatching the Jazz in a Game 6 in Utah. Think they are rooting for the Hornets or what?
Meanwhile, the Celtics continue to go winless on the road, setting themselves up for a much tougher Game 7 in Boston than they had with the Hawks: LeBron is no Josh Childress.
(And even if Boston wins, it still does nothing to quell fears they are ultimately doomed for not being able to win on the road - putting pressure on them to win EVERY game at home.)
MLB: The Josh Hamilton Comeback Story has been one of the best in baseball this decade (second only to Rick Ankiel, only with coke instead of HGH...comebacks don't come easy, y'know). But last night was his best game yet: 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5-5, 4 R, BB. Amazing.
Speaking of amazing, Jayson Werth had 3 HR and 8 RBI -- 8!!! (Alfonso Soriano also had a 2-HR game).
Rays handcuff the Cards in St. Louis: Of all the projections of the solid Rays rotation, who had Andy Sonnenstine at 6 wins?
D'backs beat Tigers: AL, NL it doesn't matter -- the D'backs keep winning, and the Tigers keep losing.
Spygate (sigh-gate): Bill Belichick calls Matt Walsh's allegations "absurd." This from a self-admitted cheater, so consider the source. (By the way, by reacting -- in any way -- Belichick keeps this story alive.)
Oscar Pistorius declared eligible to run in the Olympics: This is really, really big. By putting it at the bottom, I don't mean to diminish how big it is.
Not only does it set up the most must-see, most-watched moment of the Olympics in 2008, but it creates an entire new barrier being broken in sports -- bionic athletes.
Interestingly, yesterday I had a disagreement with someone about this: I argued that Speedo's new LZR swimsuits -- which have been obliterating records since being introduced a few months ago -- are a similar external enhancement as the prosthetics that Pistorius uses.
Now, that's not entirely (or even remotely) accurate (Michael Phelps would still be Olympic-record fast without the new suit; Pistorius would not be an Olympic runner without his prosthetics), but both speak to the emerging influence of technology on competitors...and competition.
-- D.S.
Meanwhile, the Celtics continue to go winless on the road, setting themselves up for a much tougher Game 7 in Boston than they had with the Hawks: LeBron is no Josh Childress.
(And even if Boston wins, it still does nothing to quell fears they are ultimately doomed for not being able to win on the road - putting pressure on them to win EVERY game at home.)
MLB: The Josh Hamilton Comeback Story has been one of the best in baseball this decade (second only to Rick Ankiel, only with coke instead of HGH...comebacks don't come easy, y'know). But last night was his best game yet: 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5-5, 4 R, BB. Amazing.
Speaking of amazing, Jayson Werth had 3 HR and 8 RBI -- 8!!! (Alfonso Soriano also had a 2-HR game).
Rays handcuff the Cards in St. Louis: Of all the projections of the solid Rays rotation, who had Andy Sonnenstine at 6 wins?
D'backs beat Tigers: AL, NL it doesn't matter -- the D'backs keep winning, and the Tigers keep losing.
Spygate (sigh-gate): Bill Belichick calls Matt Walsh's allegations "absurd." This from a self-admitted cheater, so consider the source. (By the way, by reacting -- in any way -- Belichick keeps this story alive.)
Oscar Pistorius declared eligible to run in the Olympics: This is really, really big. By putting it at the bottom, I don't mean to diminish how big it is.
Not only does it set up the most must-see, most-watched moment of the Olympics in 2008, but it creates an entire new barrier being broken in sports -- bionic athletes.
Interestingly, yesterday I had a disagreement with someone about this: I argued that Speedo's new LZR swimsuits -- which have been obliterating records since being introduced a few months ago -- are a similar external enhancement as the prosthetics that Pistorius uses.
Now, that's not entirely (or even remotely) accurate (Michael Phelps would still be Olympic-record fast without the new suit; Pistorius would not be an Olympic runner without his prosthetics), but both speak to the emerging influence of technology on competitors...and competition.
-- D.S.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday 05/16 A.M. Quickie:
Spurs, Spying, Webb, Barkley, More
Crazed this morning, but here's a link to today's Sporting News column. Highlights: I'm loving the Spurs-Hornets series, Brandon Webb, Ryan Braun and questioning Charles Barkley's integrity. And I'm hating Spygate, in all of its various forms this morning. You all have turned me to the "sick-of-this" side of this, over the course of the week. More later. -- D.S.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Will the Wii Fit Make Me Fit?
I'll admit it: I'm not a particularly hard-core gamer. I'm terrible at Madden and the other games. I used to have a PS2, but it was frustrating and annoying to be so bad at the games. That's one of the reasons I was a perfect candidate for the Wii.
I got it a few months ago. I like playing the Sports games. I liked buying some of the old-school games like Tecmo (though, like many of you, I'm not nearly as good as I was in college). I got Mario Kart -- complete with the steering wheel -- and I have enjoyed that.
And, yes, I placed a pre-order for the Wii Fit, which comes out next week. Not necessarily because I think it can help me get in shape -- most reviews are skeptical -- but because I'm intrigued by these applications aimed at casual users.
(Just a thought: Can EA build a spin-off Wii Fit version of Madden that will let me do the actual running as the QB, RB or WR? Now THAT would be kind of cool.)
There was a pretty interesting hands-on review in the NY Times today -- it was actually a little more bullish on the Fit's potential to actually be a tool to tone up the user. But it remains to be seen what it can do for me. I have reached new levels of doughiness.
-- D.S.
I got it a few months ago. I like playing the Sports games. I liked buying some of the old-school games like Tecmo (though, like many of you, I'm not nearly as good as I was in college). I got Mario Kart -- complete with the steering wheel -- and I have enjoyed that.
And, yes, I placed a pre-order for the Wii Fit, which comes out next week. Not necessarily because I think it can help me get in shape -- most reviews are skeptical -- but because I'm intrigued by these applications aimed at casual users.
(Just a thought: Can EA build a spin-off Wii Fit version of Madden that will let me do the actual running as the QB, RB or WR? Now THAT would be kind of cool.)
There was a pretty interesting hands-on review in the NY Times today -- it was actually a little more bullish on the Fit's potential to actually be a tool to tone up the user. But it remains to be seen what it can do for me. I have reached new levels of doughiness.
-- D.S.
Thursday 05/15 A.M. Quickie:
Celtics, Lakers, Specter, Indians, More
I'm torn: The split-personality of the Celtics -- home vs. road -- fascinates me, but it also sort of bores me. Something needs to happen: Either they need to win on the road or they need to lose at home.
I lead with the Celtics' home-road dichotomy in today's Sporting News column.
There's this prize of novelty if they keep winning at home (and losing on the road) -- no team has ever made the conference finals (let alone won the conference finals...or the NBA Finals for that matter) without winning on the road at least once in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
But that seems so far away -- the Celtics are still 9 home wins away from that. And the Pistons and whoever wins the West will be a much tougher matchup than either the Hawks or Cavs. I think they can't keep going in the current direction: "Win (on the road) or go home," I guess is the slogan.
Meanwhile, I'm with most of you that Spygate is played out. Then you read Greg Bishop's best-in-the-country reporting in the NY Times -- today's is a must-read -- and you find yourself saying, "Wait a second... there IS a lot more here than Roger Goodell would want you to believe."
In MLB, I am in as much awe of the Indians starting pitching as the rest of you: 43 IP without a run? And what's gotten into Ted Lilly and Mike Mussina?
There's a lot more going on in the column today.
More coming later today.
-- D.S.
I lead with the Celtics' home-road dichotomy in today's Sporting News column.
There's this prize of novelty if they keep winning at home (and losing on the road) -- no team has ever made the conference finals (let alone won the conference finals...or the NBA Finals for that matter) without winning on the road at least once in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
But that seems so far away -- the Celtics are still 9 home wins away from that. And the Pistons and whoever wins the West will be a much tougher matchup than either the Hawks or Cavs. I think they can't keep going in the current direction: "Win (on the road) or go home," I guess is the slogan.
Meanwhile, I'm with most of you that Spygate is played out. Then you read Greg Bishop's best-in-the-country reporting in the NY Times -- today's is a must-read -- and you find yourself saying, "Wait a second... there IS a lot more here than Roger Goodell would want you to believe."
In MLB, I am in as much awe of the Indians starting pitching as the rest of you: 43 IP without a run? And what's gotten into Ted Lilly and Mike Mussina?
There's a lot more going on in the column today.
More coming later today.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Kornheiser Takes Washington Post Buy-Out
Tony Kornheiser ends his newspaper career at the Washington Post: Tony Kornheiser hadn't been a particularly active "newspaperman" for years -- perhaps not since he became a better radio guy than newspaper guy, then an even better TV guy (on PTI) than radio guy.
Kornheiser was one of the original "cross-platform" talents, even though he probably doesn't see himself (or want to see himself) that way. Ironically, when you say "cross-platform," you almost always mean "online" as part of that "platform" group; TK was NOT an online guy.
Ironically, if he had started his career two decades later than he did, TK would have been an incredibly online guy -- his schtick always struck me as being ideal for a blogger (although I think he would quickly find that blogging is a lot more work than he thinks it is).
I grew up on Tony Kornheiser. I grew up on the Washington Post sports section as a whole -- and from the mid-80s to the mid-90s it was, by far, the best sports section in the country, and if you look at the alumni list, you'd agree with me.
But when I was a kid and young adult, TK was my favorite. I knew I wanted to be in journalism -- sports, hopefully -- and TK seemed to have the best job in the world.
I'm quite sure that some of my shallow, from-the-couch analysis in the Quickie days (and now with the blog) was inspired by Kornheiser. And I say that with all the respect in the world, because -- as I think we've found -- "shallow" and "from-the-couch" has emerged as the dominant form of sports punditry.
I think that it's not unfair or inaccurate to say that TK's column-writing quality (along with Wilbon's) declined as their TV jobs got bigger; it's simple math: If you're spending your entire professional life on writing a fabulous 800-word column, you will do a better job than when you are spending most of your professional life on creating a fabulous TV show (or, even on top of that, a great radio show).
Something has to take a hit, and when they looked at their lives, both Kornheiser and Wilbon decided that TV (and, to a lesser extent, radio) were more important than their newspaper careers, the newspaper audience or the newspaper industry, in general. And I don't blame them one bit: TV offered more reach, more influence, more fame -- and god knows a LOT more money.
But that's also why I can't get behind Tony hoping his headstone reads "newspaper guy." I know Wilbon also says something similar. I appreciate the sentiment, but it rings hollow. Twenty years ago, I'm sure both guys would have earned that title -- but 20 years ago, I'm not sure either saw the glory and cash from TV coming either.
In a way, Kornheiser taking the Post's buy-out is a perfect symbol of the state of the newspaper industry: Eclipsed by other forms of media, both for talent acquisition and relevance to audiences. You can't take the buy-out and go back to the TV and radio studio (not to mention "Monday Night Football") as the foundation of the newspaper industry -- including the Post -- is imploding, then claim "newspaper guy" status.
(I will add that I'm sure Tony will still earn oodles of cash from the Post to do "contract" work, which means quick-hit video clips and perhaps 200-word "columnettes," which seems like a nice deal for him, if you add in the presumptive cash from the buy-out. What is weird is that the Post probably has the best online sports section of any newspaper in the country, led by Dan Steinberg and their beat writers, who have transformed themselves into pretty good part-time bloggers.)
Here's a personal lament: My son won't have an experience with a columnist like I had with Tony Kornheiser when I was growing up. Oh, sure, I'm hoping he will find pundits he enjoys, but I will tell him stories about reading TK at the breakfast table before school and loving his schtick, and my son will have a complete inability to relate.
Kornheiser's life as a "newspaper guy" ended almost a decade ago when PTI launched -- if not before that, when he got his national radio show. Heck, a lot of people don't know he left the newspaper sports section for a while to write newspaper "lifestyle" columns geared towards parenthood, Seinfeldian "what's-the-deal-with..." and other non-sports issues, before coming back to the sports section.
But here's the thing: I don't think that Kornheiser's headstone should say "newspaper guy," but -- if it is any consolation to him (and I doubt it is) -- that is how I personally will remember his career.
-- D.S.
Kornheiser was one of the original "cross-platform" talents, even though he probably doesn't see himself (or want to see himself) that way. Ironically, when you say "cross-platform," you almost always mean "online" as part of that "platform" group; TK was NOT an online guy.
Ironically, if he had started his career two decades later than he did, TK would have been an incredibly online guy -- his schtick always struck me as being ideal for a blogger (although I think he would quickly find that blogging is a lot more work than he thinks it is).
I grew up on Tony Kornheiser. I grew up on the Washington Post sports section as a whole -- and from the mid-80s to the mid-90s it was, by far, the best sports section in the country, and if you look at the alumni list, you'd agree with me.
But when I was a kid and young adult, TK was my favorite. I knew I wanted to be in journalism -- sports, hopefully -- and TK seemed to have the best job in the world.
I'm quite sure that some of my shallow, from-the-couch analysis in the Quickie days (and now with the blog) was inspired by Kornheiser. And I say that with all the respect in the world, because -- as I think we've found -- "shallow" and "from-the-couch" has emerged as the dominant form of sports punditry.
I think that it's not unfair or inaccurate to say that TK's column-writing quality (along with Wilbon's) declined as their TV jobs got bigger; it's simple math: If you're spending your entire professional life on writing a fabulous 800-word column, you will do a better job than when you are spending most of your professional life on creating a fabulous TV show (or, even on top of that, a great radio show).
Something has to take a hit, and when they looked at their lives, both Kornheiser and Wilbon decided that TV (and, to a lesser extent, radio) were more important than their newspaper careers, the newspaper audience or the newspaper industry, in general. And I don't blame them one bit: TV offered more reach, more influence, more fame -- and god knows a LOT more money.
But that's also why I can't get behind Tony hoping his headstone reads "newspaper guy." I know Wilbon also says something similar. I appreciate the sentiment, but it rings hollow. Twenty years ago, I'm sure both guys would have earned that title -- but 20 years ago, I'm not sure either saw the glory and cash from TV coming either.
In a way, Kornheiser taking the Post's buy-out is a perfect symbol of the state of the newspaper industry: Eclipsed by other forms of media, both for talent acquisition and relevance to audiences. You can't take the buy-out and go back to the TV and radio studio (not to mention "Monday Night Football") as the foundation of the newspaper industry -- including the Post -- is imploding, then claim "newspaper guy" status.
(I will add that I'm sure Tony will still earn oodles of cash from the Post to do "contract" work, which means quick-hit video clips and perhaps 200-word "columnettes," which seems like a nice deal for him, if you add in the presumptive cash from the buy-out. What is weird is that the Post probably has the best online sports section of any newspaper in the country, led by Dan Steinberg and their beat writers, who have transformed themselves into pretty good part-time bloggers.)
Here's a personal lament: My son won't have an experience with a columnist like I had with Tony Kornheiser when I was growing up. Oh, sure, I'm hoping he will find pundits he enjoys, but I will tell him stories about reading TK at the breakfast table before school and loving his schtick, and my son will have a complete inability to relate.
Kornheiser's life as a "newspaper guy" ended almost a decade ago when PTI launched -- if not before that, when he got his national radio show. Heck, a lot of people don't know he left the newspaper sports section for a while to write newspaper "lifestyle" columns geared towards parenthood, Seinfeldian "what's-the-deal-with..." and other non-sports issues, before coming back to the sports section.
But here's the thing: I don't think that Kornheiser's headstone should say "newspaper guy," but -- if it is any consolation to him (and I doubt it is) -- that is how I personally will remember his career.
-- D.S.
Wednesday 05/14 A.M. Quickie:
Walsh, Goodell, Hornets, Rays, More
I give: I'm ready to stop talking about the Pats' cheating scandal...if everyone is ready to stipulate that they are cheaters and that for all their greatness, the are indelibly tainted.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column.
Speaking of tainted, the Boston Herald is the sports media punchline for admitting they were totally wrong about the Super-spying scandal from XXXVI.
Can we all move along to more interesting topics now? Good.
The Hornets are looking very good against the Spurs. At least in New Orleans. Which is all that matters. Because even if the Spurs win in San Antonio in Game 6 (which they surely will), the Hornets have looked unbeatable at home. Game 7s are a bit of a different story, but you have to give the edge to New Orleans.
Speaking of unbeatable at home, if the Cavs or Jazz can pull off a win on the road tonight, either should be favored to win their series.
The Rays are in first place with the best record in the AL. They jumped ahead of the Red Sox. They swept the Angels. And, most impressively, they hung a loss on Mariano Rivera. They are the story of the spring in sports.
Question: Would the NCAA be investigating the OJ Mayo thing if it wasn't all over the news over the last 48 hours? Doubt it. (And where was this kind of crusading about Reggie Bush?)
Billy Gillispie recruits another high school freshman: I was fairly benign in my Sporting News column about it, but what I really wanted to say is that Gillispie is apparently interested in starting a NAMBLA chapter in Lexington. His fascination with 14-year-old boys is skeevy.
There's a ton more in the column today, so check it out.
More later.
-- D.S.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column.
Speaking of tainted, the Boston Herald is the sports media punchline for admitting they were totally wrong about the Super-spying scandal from XXXVI.
Can we all move along to more interesting topics now? Good.
The Hornets are looking very good against the Spurs. At least in New Orleans. Which is all that matters. Because even if the Spurs win in San Antonio in Game 6 (which they surely will), the Hornets have looked unbeatable at home. Game 7s are a bit of a different story, but you have to give the edge to New Orleans.
Speaking of unbeatable at home, if the Cavs or Jazz can pull off a win on the road tonight, either should be favored to win their series.
The Rays are in first place with the best record in the AL. They jumped ahead of the Red Sox. They swept the Angels. And, most impressively, they hung a loss on Mariano Rivera. They are the story of the spring in sports.
Question: Would the NCAA be investigating the OJ Mayo thing if it wasn't all over the news over the last 48 hours? Doubt it. (And where was this kind of crusading about Reggie Bush?)
Billy Gillispie recruits another high school freshman: I was fairly benign in my Sporting News column about it, but what I really wanted to say is that Gillispie is apparently interested in starting a NAMBLA chapter in Lexington. His fascination with 14-year-old boys is skeevy.
There's a ton more in the column today, so check it out.
More later.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Matt Walsh vs. Goodell and Specter
So there was no Super Bowl walk-through tape, but there reportedly was a Super Bowl walk-through spying, albeit in person -- by Walsh, relayed to the Pats. Not cheating necessarily, but iffy.
Roger Goodell's declaration that "there was no tape" comes across as the NFL's version of "I did not have sex with that woman" -- technically true, but arguably misleading.
Given Goodell's history with the destruction of evidence, I don't expect anything less than him portraying this in the best light possible for the league.
However, I just don't buy it -- why wouldn't he disclose that Walsh told him he personally spied on the Rams, unless he felt like it was something to hide.
-- D.S.
Roger Goodell's declaration that "there was no tape" comes across as the NFL's version of "I did not have sex with that woman" -- technically true, but arguably misleading.
Given Goodell's history with the destruction of evidence, I don't expect anything less than him portraying this in the best light possible for the league.
However, I just don't buy it -- why wouldn't he disclose that Walsh told him he personally spied on the Rams, unless he felt like it was something to hide.
-- D.S.
Tuesday 05/13 A.M. Quickie:
Celtics, Braun, Mayo, LeBron's Mom, More
I'm sorry: I just can't see the Celtics winning the East -- let alone the NBA title -- if they can't win on the road.
The Pistons already won in Orlando (and I had earlier picked them to beat the Celtics in the East finals). Meanwhile, someone in the West will eventually break HCA in this round, and that team will instantly be my favorite to win the title.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column, found here.
Meanwhile, the OJ Mayo saga continues, with the agent denying everything, the NCAA being its ineffectual self and the NBA finding out that its age-limit has some serious unintended consequences. (Although anyone could have seen them coming.)
In MLB, how can you not love the unassisted triple-play? It's baseball immortality! (I still remember the game in '94 I was at where it happened.) Oh, and Ryan Braun rules.
Want a tale of two no-decisions? There's Cliff Lee, who missed out after 9 shutout innings, then there's Barry Zito, for whom an ND is actually a huge improvement.
David Stern hates the pre-game pyrotechnics at NBA games, and while I like to think of myself as a highly progressive fan, I totally agree with him. You don't have to be a purist or a fuddy-duddy to think it is out of control.
Matt Walsh is talking with Roger Goodell RIGHT NOW (wonder what they're talking about?) and he meets with Arlen Specter this afternoon. Should be lots of fun hearing the Commish and the Senator spin their conversations.
There's a bunch more in the SN column today and more coming later today on the blog.
-- D.S.
The Pistons already won in Orlando (and I had earlier picked them to beat the Celtics in the East finals). Meanwhile, someone in the West will eventually break HCA in this round, and that team will instantly be my favorite to win the title.
That's the lead of today's Sporting News column, found here.
Meanwhile, the OJ Mayo saga continues, with the agent denying everything, the NCAA being its ineffectual self and the NBA finding out that its age-limit has some serious unintended consequences. (Although anyone could have seen them coming.)
In MLB, how can you not love the unassisted triple-play? It's baseball immortality! (I still remember the game in '94 I was at where it happened.) Oh, and Ryan Braun rules.
Want a tale of two no-decisions? There's Cliff Lee, who missed out after 9 shutout innings, then there's Barry Zito, for whom an ND is actually a huge improvement.
David Stern hates the pre-game pyrotechnics at NBA games, and while I like to think of myself as a highly progressive fan, I totally agree with him. You don't have to be a purist or a fuddy-duddy to think it is out of control.
Matt Walsh is talking with Roger Goodell RIGHT NOW (wonder what they're talking about?) and he meets with Arlen Specter this afternoon. Should be lots of fun hearing the Commish and the Senator spin their conversations.
There's a bunch more in the SN column today and more coming later today on the blog.
-- D.S.
Monday, May 12, 2008
I'm Kind of Intrigued to Apply
This is the kind of thing I have always wanted to enter (and win). I'm not an alum of Washington? So what? I spent a year living in Seattle -- I figure that's enough. "U-Dub," Huskies, lakes, tailgating in boats, Pacific Northwest, Don James...got it. Although I guess, as I think about it, I've wanted to write a fight song, not an alma mater, which always comes out like a dirge. -- D.S.
Name to Know: Britt Robson
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