Saturday, February 07, 2009
Saturday 02/07 (Very) Quickie
In the debate whether Kevin Durant or Greg Oden has made the better pro -- to the extent that last night's first head-to-head match-up between the two can be used as a proxy -- Durant wins: Not just for scoring 31 points to Oden's 4, but because KD's Thunder beat Oden's Blazers. (But let's not make any career-long pronouncements -- and this comes from Mr. Instant History.)
Marquette was SO overrated -- and if they lost to South Florida, just wait until they play their final 5 games of the regular season, as brutal of a stretch as exists in the country over those last 5 games. Marquette's record and ranking were built on the softest of schedules.
Chiefs hire Todd Haley: I'll skip the easy jokes about his problems with his star receivers and simply echo yesterday's comment -- given the first-year success of rookie coaches like Smith, Harbaugh and Sparano, Haley better show progress immediately. The era of "Just give me a couple years to get things going" is over.
LeBron loses the MSG triple-double -- not just the triple-double, but the 50-double-double, which put him in truly rare air. (I had forgotten that the NBA had stripped Hakeem of his quadruple-double in the same way, after the fact.) The new accounting is not insubstantial -- LeBron's 50-double-double was more impressive than Kobe's 61; LeBron's 50 (plus double-digit assists and single-digit rebounds) is not.
Name to Know: Erin Hamlin. You can not care about women's luge at all, but Hamlin snapping the epic dominance of the German lugers was damn impressive.
More later, hopefully. Enjoy your Saturday.
-- D.S.
Marquette was SO overrated -- and if they lost to South Florida, just wait until they play their final 5 games of the regular season, as brutal of a stretch as exists in the country over those last 5 games. Marquette's record and ranking were built on the softest of schedules.
Chiefs hire Todd Haley: I'll skip the easy jokes about his problems with his star receivers and simply echo yesterday's comment -- given the first-year success of rookie coaches like Smith, Harbaugh and Sparano, Haley better show progress immediately. The era of "Just give me a couple years to get things going" is over.
LeBron loses the MSG triple-double -- not just the triple-double, but the 50-double-double, which put him in truly rare air. (I had forgotten that the NBA had stripped Hakeem of his quadruple-double in the same way, after the fact.) The new accounting is not insubstantial -- LeBron's 50-double-double was more impressive than Kobe's 61; LeBron's 50 (plus double-digit assists and single-digit rebounds) is not.
Name to Know: Erin Hamlin. You can not care about women's luge at all, but Hamlin snapping the epic dominance of the German lugers was damn impressive.
More later, hopefully. Enjoy your Saturday.
-- D.S.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Friday 02/06 A.M. Quickie:
Lakers, Phelps, Cassel, Summitt, More
The Lakers are the NBA team to beat.
USA Swimming is idiotic.
Pat Summitt is the best coach in college basketball.
Matt Cassel will play the '09 season as a Pat.
Zaga-Memphis is the Game of the Weekend.
Who else isn't watching the Pro Bowl?
Ray Allen is the All-Star super-sub.
Brad Pitt as Billy Beane? Don't see it.
All that and a lot more in today's SN column. Sorry for the short post. More later.
-- D.S.
USA Swimming is idiotic.
Pat Summitt is the best coach in college basketball.
Matt Cassel will play the '09 season as a Pat.
Zaga-Memphis is the Game of the Weekend.
Who else isn't watching the Pro Bowl?
Ray Allen is the All-Star super-sub.
Brad Pitt as Billy Beane? Don't see it.
All that and a lot more in today's SN column. Sorry for the short post. More later.
-- D.S.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Varsity Letters Tonight: Leitch, MMA, Walsh
If you live in NYC, the Varsity Letters Reading Series returns tonight at Happy Ending, 8 pm and FREE. Featuring: Will Leitch, Jon Wertheim on MMA and a guy who wrote the book on Bill Walsh. Should be a great event, as always. Hope to see you there! More info here.
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Thursday 02/05 A.M. Quickie:
LeBron, CFB Signing Day, Duke, Koufax
I did not possess the imagination to envision how LeBron might top Kobe's 61 at MSG.
I see it now: 50+ points AND a triple-double. Based on the history, scoring 60+ seems sort of blah when compared to the 50-3D.
So it even managed to nudge over Signing Day as the lead of today's SN column.
That doesn't mean I don't go crazy over Signing Day:
*Alabama wins. You can keep Ohio State (I guess if you are from the Midwest and you don't want to win national titles, OSU is the place to go) and even LSU, I think Bama had the best class.
*Manti Te'o to Notre Dame: What will be particularly fun is when Te'o leaves for 2 years on his mission -- Catholics and Mormons don't historically have a great relationship, do they? (Or is that Evangelicals and Mormons?)
*The SEC rules: And I don't say that with bias -- they put 10 teams in the Top 25, including late-starting/fast-finishing Lane Kiffin at Tennessee and Dan Mullen at Mississippi State.
Meanwhile:
*Duke got walloped.
*Since beating Duke, Wake has been terrible.
*Another home loss for Texas?
*Koufax: Scammed by Madoff.
*Phelps on Phelps.
*And another gratuitous shot at Jeter.
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
I see it now: 50+ points AND a triple-double. Based on the history, scoring 60+ seems sort of blah when compared to the 50-3D.
So it even managed to nudge over Signing Day as the lead of today's SN column.
That doesn't mean I don't go crazy over Signing Day:
*Alabama wins. You can keep Ohio State (I guess if you are from the Midwest and you don't want to win national titles, OSU is the place to go) and even LSU, I think Bama had the best class.
*Manti Te'o to Notre Dame: What will be particularly fun is when Te'o leaves for 2 years on his mission -- Catholics and Mormons don't historically have a great relationship, do they? (Or is that Evangelicals and Mormons?)
*The SEC rules: And I don't say that with bias -- they put 10 teams in the Top 25, including late-starting/fast-finishing Lane Kiffin at Tennessee and Dan Mullen at Mississippi State.
Meanwhile:
*Duke got walloped.
*Since beating Duke, Wake has been terrible.
*Another home loss for Texas?
*Koufax: Scammed by Madoff.
*Phelps on Phelps.
*And another gratuitous shot at Jeter.
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Wednesday 02/04 A.M. Quickie:
National Signing Day Mania!
Sorry for the woefully late post today. Obviously, I am so excited about National Signing Day that I couldn't even blog. Hopefully, you saw the column at SN earlier today. If not, here you go.
I get very excited about the guys who sign with my team, but I simply can't get outraged or mad when a kid -- even a previous commitment -- backs out and goes elsewhere.
Maybe it goes back to college, where I spent a semester being wooed by one fraternity and seemed like a lock to pledge there, only to go to a rival fraternity after an agonizing decision process.
Some of the guys at the first fraternity were cool about it; a bunch of them were really dickish. It's like: I'm 18, being "recruited" and mistakenly think I'm all that -- give me a break.
So good luck to you, Nu'Keese Richardson. If nothing else, it'll be fun greeting you and your new Vols teammates at the Swamp next September.
(And welcome Jelani Jenkins, Andre Debose and Co.!)
More tomorrow!
-- D.S.
I get very excited about the guys who sign with my team, but I simply can't get outraged or mad when a kid -- even a previous commitment -- backs out and goes elsewhere.
Maybe it goes back to college, where I spent a semester being wooed by one fraternity and seemed like a lock to pledge there, only to go to a rival fraternity after an agonizing decision process.
Some of the guys at the first fraternity were cool about it; a bunch of them were really dickish. It's like: I'm 18, being "recruited" and mistakenly think I'm all that -- give me a break.
So good luck to you, Nu'Keese Richardson. If nothing else, it'll be fun greeting you and your new Vols teammates at the Swamp next September.
(And welcome Jelani Jenkins, Andre Debose and Co.!)
More tomorrow!
-- D.S.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Tuesday 02/03 A.M. Quickie:
Kobe 61, SB 43, UConn, UWGB, Paris, More
There is a longstanding perception that there is some sort of "lull" from the end of the NFL season until, say, March Madness.
That's insanely wrong, of course. Between CFB's National Signing Day (tomorrow, as big a single day as there is in the college football year); the NBA All-Star Game; Daytona 500; Bracketology jostling; and the start of spring training (and your fantasy baseball drafting), it's plenty busy.
Still, of any day in the sports year, the day after the Super Bowl, you just don't expect much. Among other things, that's why Kobe's 61 was so epic. (Leads SN column.)
Beyond it being the highest point total in the NBA this season. Beyond it being at Madison Square Garden, eclipsing MJ's 55 and King's 60. Beyond it being one more thing to add to Kobe's myth. Beyond it came on the day that we learn Bynum is out 3 months (or more).
It was even more spectacular because there was nothing else going on. It was right player, right place, right moment, right kind of performance -- all the way.
Other storylines you'll find opined in today's column:
*UConn: Who's afraid of No. 1? Winning at L'ville is no joke.
*Butler: Overrated? Or is Wisco-Green Bay pretty good?
*Courtney Paris: Best women's CBB post player ever?
*Chris Paul injured: Yikes. "Injury-Proves-MVP" theory.
*Michael Phelps: No endorsement hit for bong hit. (Duh.)
*Manny turns down 1Y/$25M -- hey, he wanted 4Y.
*Clemens: Screwed (as if you didn't know he was already)
*SB 43 Hangover: Sure, I'll take Pittsburgh to repeat.
Check out the entire thing here. More later.
-- D.S.
That's insanely wrong, of course. Between CFB's National Signing Day (tomorrow, as big a single day as there is in the college football year); the NBA All-Star Game; Daytona 500; Bracketology jostling; and the start of spring training (and your fantasy baseball drafting), it's plenty busy.
Still, of any day in the sports year, the day after the Super Bowl, you just don't expect much. Among other things, that's why Kobe's 61 was so epic. (Leads SN column.)
Beyond it being the highest point total in the NBA this season. Beyond it being at Madison Square Garden, eclipsing MJ's 55 and King's 60. Beyond it being one more thing to add to Kobe's myth. Beyond it came on the day that we learn Bynum is out 3 months (or more).
It was even more spectacular because there was nothing else going on. It was right player, right place, right moment, right kind of performance -- all the way.
Other storylines you'll find opined in today's column:
*UConn: Who's afraid of No. 1? Winning at L'ville is no joke.
*Butler: Overrated? Or is Wisco-Green Bay pretty good?
*Courtney Paris: Best women's CBB post player ever?
*Chris Paul injured: Yikes. "Injury-Proves-MVP" theory.
*Michael Phelps: No endorsement hit for bong hit. (Duh.)
*Manny turns down 1Y/$25M -- hey, he wanted 4Y.
*Clemens: Screwed (as if you didn't know he was already)
*SB 43 Hangover: Sure, I'll take Pittsburgh to repeat.
Check out the entire thing here. More later.
-- D.S.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Monday 02/02 A.M. Quickie:
Super Bowl Analysis, Ads, Bruce, More
First this: That was a great game, an all-time great game.
If the regions involved were "New York" and "Boston" rather than "Pittsburgh" and "Arizona," we'd be calling it even better than last year's game, which had hype, an upset and a Best Play Ever.
This game had little hype, a back-and-forth near-upset (almost as amazing as a real upset) and not quite the Best Play Ever, but at least three memorable plays (Harrison Pick-6, Fitz's 2nd TD, Holmes' Catch) that are likely to be in the top tier of "most memorable" Super Bowl plays.
And controversy:
Don't think for a second -- a second -- that if it was Big Ben (or Tom Brady) "throwing" that ball, it wouldn't have been reversed by review as a fumble and turned into an incomplete.
I do think the Cards got jobbed -- I think Warner's arm was going forward. At the very least, it merited a full earnest review; it felt like the refs let the Steelers hike the ball too quickly to end the game. Gamesmanship by Pittsburgh, but shoddy work by the refs.
Because -- and this is key -- you could totally see the Cardinals scoring on a last-second play. Larry Fitzgerald, of any player in the league, could have willed that to happen. And I think he had earned the chance to try.
The refs blew the play twice: First, by ruling it a fumble, not an incomplete pass; finally, by not allowing a proper review, robbing the Cards -- and fans -- of one last play of an amazing game.
You can check out my Twitter feed from last night for the running commentary. My favorite ads were different than the USA Today AdMeter or other reviewers. I liked the Potato Heads. I liked Alec Baldwin in Hulu. I was oddly grabbed by "Land of the Lost."
I'm not one for animal ads, and I think that the slapstick humor is so overdone as to be cliche:
Doritos "Crystal Ball" ad won the USA Today AdMeter comp; doesn't anyone remember that Sprint did this last year with the "thrown-phone" ad? Of course, you can never discount the power of the Groin Shot.
My new litmus test was whether you liked "Pepsuber" -- it was terrible...like a bad SNL sketch, which I think it was actually trying to parody. I like Kristin Wiig, too, but...cripes, awful.
On the other hand, you have to understand the genius of Cash4Gold.com doing a Super Bowl ad -- not for the cheesy McMahon/MC Hammer cameos, but as a sign of the times we are living in that Cash4Gold.com is a Super Bowl sponsor at all.
I thought Bruce Springsteen was excellent -- all you want is high energy and some songs you know and enjoy, and he delivered on that. I also took it incredibly personally when he looked at me through the TV and told me to drop the chicken finger -- I was literally holding a chicken finger in my hand when he said it, so it was both amazing and totally unnerving.
(Seriously: Why "chicken fingers?" Are they really that popular of a Super Bowl snack food? I didn't think so -- within the chicken family, I have to believe that wings rank far higher on the popularity list. It's as if Springsteen was hanging out in my living room with me. Freaky.)
A few other notes:
James Harrison's 100-yard Pick-6: Despite the fact that the Cards played their way back into the game (no: the lead!), I think this will go up there among the top few most consequential plays in NFL history. The swing was simply too wide; it changed everything. If he hadn't have scored, another story -- but he did, and it was 100 yards, just as Arizona was knocking on its own TD.
Larry Fitzgerald: Even in defeat, he added to his legend -- his ongoing legend, I should say. That 2nd TD was absolutely amazing.
Santonio Holmes's "Catch": I'm willing to concede the TD, obviously, but I honestly don't think he got his right toe on the turf; I think it was trapped behind his left shoe and never actually touched the ground. Too close to call, but on a play that big -- with HD cameras to prove it -- it would be nice to have a conclusive shot that the right toe touched.
What next for Kurt Warner: I hope he comes back. First, he is back at the top of his game, with an amazing array of receivers to go to, including the best WR of the generation. Why leave after that? There is this idea of going out on top -- there is no way the Cards repeat as NFC champs or acquitting themselves in a Super Bowl as they did here. But if he can perform, why leave now, just when he has re-built the Warner Bandwagon?
How can you not love the Cardinals? I wrote this in the SN column, but it's worth restating:
More in the column: HOF, Bynum, Wake, Clemente, Nadal and -- of course -- Phelps.
Leave your own SB analysis -- about the game, the quasi-controversy, the stars, the ads, the pomp, etc. -- in the Comments. I'll update as fast as I can get to them.
-- D.S.
If the regions involved were "New York" and "Boston" rather than "Pittsburgh" and "Arizona," we'd be calling it even better than last year's game, which had hype, an upset and a Best Play Ever.
This game had little hype, a back-and-forth near-upset (almost as amazing as a real upset) and not quite the Best Play Ever, but at least three memorable plays (Harrison Pick-6, Fitz's 2nd TD, Holmes' Catch) that are likely to be in the top tier of "most memorable" Super Bowl plays.
And controversy:
Don't think for a second -- a second -- that if it was Big Ben (or Tom Brady) "throwing" that ball, it wouldn't have been reversed by review as a fumble and turned into an incomplete.
I do think the Cards got jobbed -- I think Warner's arm was going forward. At the very least, it merited a full earnest review; it felt like the refs let the Steelers hike the ball too quickly to end the game. Gamesmanship by Pittsburgh, but shoddy work by the refs.
Because -- and this is key -- you could totally see the Cardinals scoring on a last-second play. Larry Fitzgerald, of any player in the league, could have willed that to happen. And I think he had earned the chance to try.
The refs blew the play twice: First, by ruling it a fumble, not an incomplete pass; finally, by not allowing a proper review, robbing the Cards -- and fans -- of one last play of an amazing game.
You can check out my Twitter feed from last night for the running commentary. My favorite ads were different than the USA Today AdMeter or other reviewers. I liked the Potato Heads. I liked Alec Baldwin in Hulu. I was oddly grabbed by "Land of the Lost."
I'm not one for animal ads, and I think that the slapstick humor is so overdone as to be cliche:
Doritos "Crystal Ball" ad won the USA Today AdMeter comp; doesn't anyone remember that Sprint did this last year with the "thrown-phone" ad? Of course, you can never discount the power of the Groin Shot.
My new litmus test was whether you liked "Pepsuber" -- it was terrible...like a bad SNL sketch, which I think it was actually trying to parody. I like Kristin Wiig, too, but...cripes, awful.
On the other hand, you have to understand the genius of Cash4Gold.com doing a Super Bowl ad -- not for the cheesy McMahon/MC Hammer cameos, but as a sign of the times we are living in that Cash4Gold.com is a Super Bowl sponsor at all.
I thought Bruce Springsteen was excellent -- all you want is high energy and some songs you know and enjoy, and he delivered on that. I also took it incredibly personally when he looked at me through the TV and told me to drop the chicken finger -- I was literally holding a chicken finger in my hand when he said it, so it was both amazing and totally unnerving.
(Seriously: Why "chicken fingers?" Are they really that popular of a Super Bowl snack food? I didn't think so -- within the chicken family, I have to believe that wings rank far higher on the popularity list. It's as if Springsteen was hanging out in my living room with me. Freaky.)
A few other notes:
James Harrison's 100-yard Pick-6: Despite the fact that the Cards played their way back into the game (no: the lead!), I think this will go up there among the top few most consequential plays in NFL history. The swing was simply too wide; it changed everything. If he hadn't have scored, another story -- but he did, and it was 100 yards, just as Arizona was knocking on its own TD.
Larry Fitzgerald: Even in defeat, he added to his legend -- his ongoing legend, I should say. That 2nd TD was absolutely amazing.
Santonio Holmes's "Catch": I'm willing to concede the TD, obviously, but I honestly don't think he got his right toe on the turf; I think it was trapped behind his left shoe and never actually touched the ground. Too close to call, but on a play that big -- with HD cameras to prove it -- it would be nice to have a conclusive shot that the right toe touched.
What next for Kurt Warner: I hope he comes back. First, he is back at the top of his game, with an amazing array of receivers to go to, including the best WR of the generation. Why leave after that? There is this idea of going out on top -- there is no way the Cards repeat as NFC champs or acquitting themselves in a Super Bowl as they did here. But if he can perform, why leave now, just when he has re-built the Warner Bandwagon?
How can you not love the Cardinals? I wrote this in the SN column, but it's worth restating:
The Cardinals deserved to win more than any other Super Bowl runner-up in history. At a minimum, the Cardinals have wiped out the franchise's legacy of being the NFL's biggest losers. They earned something almost as good as a Super Bowl title tonight; they earned the respect of fans everywhere.I haven't seen a Super Bowl loser ever earn this much cred. For a franchise this bedraggled, it was as close as it gets to a moral victory. At the very least I think they came much closer to winning their Super Bowl than the Pats did against the Giants a year ago.
More in the column: HOF, Bynum, Wake, Clemente, Nadal and -- of course -- Phelps.
Leave your own SB analysis -- about the game, the quasi-controversy, the stars, the ads, the pomp, etc. -- in the Comments. I'll update as fast as I can get to them.
-- D.S.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday 01/31 (Not A) Quickie
Taking the morning/day off, conserving my strength for tomorrow night's 2nd Annual Super Bowl Live-Twitter Extravaganza. Enjoy the day.
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday 01/30 A.M. Quickie:
Cardinals, Magic, Gonzaga, All-Stars, More
Cardinals 20, Steelers 16. But I'm less concerned about the score than simply picking the Cardinals to win, which leads today's SN column.
Here's the thing: After last year's Super Bowl, there is simply no such thing as "upset" anymore. But the closest thing to it would be to utter the phrase "Cardinals: Super Bowl Champs."
I suspect that Pittsburgh's defense is going to be the toughest the Cards have faced this season. But I'm not sold on the Steelers' offense, and the Cards have been defying expectations all month.
For those of you who remember last year's experiment with Twitter (back before EVERYONE was doing it) during the Super Bowl -- it beats a live-blog! -- should check it out on Sunday night: twitter.com/danshanoff.
(I'm sure this year, there will be a ton more folks tweeting during the game. The more the merrier, I say. Following lots of people active during the game will just make your Twitter stream that much more fun and interesting.)
Meanwhile, other things you'll find in the column today:
*SB Ads preview: Coke FTW? Or sacrilege?
*Obama picks the Steelers: That's not change.
*Gonzaga beats St. Mary's: With a HUGE caveat.
*Magic beat Cavs: LeBron will get those calls in May.
*Nelson an All-Star: But not Rondo? Come on.
*Wells gripes about Torre: You don't say!
It's a fun-filled Friday before the Super Bowl. Check out the column. Check back here all weekend long. And, if you're not planning to come back until Monday, enjoy the game.
-- D.S.
Here's the thing: After last year's Super Bowl, there is simply no such thing as "upset" anymore. But the closest thing to it would be to utter the phrase "Cardinals: Super Bowl Champs."
I suspect that Pittsburgh's defense is going to be the toughest the Cards have faced this season. But I'm not sold on the Steelers' offense, and the Cards have been defying expectations all month.
For those of you who remember last year's experiment with Twitter (back before EVERYONE was doing it) during the Super Bowl -- it beats a live-blog! -- should check it out on Sunday night: twitter.com/danshanoff.
(I'm sure this year, there will be a ton more folks tweeting during the game. The more the merrier, I say. Following lots of people active during the game will just make your Twitter stream that much more fun and interesting.)
Meanwhile, other things you'll find in the column today:
*SB Ads preview: Coke FTW? Or sacrilege?
*Obama picks the Steelers: That's not change.
*Gonzaga beats St. Mary's: With a HUGE caveat.
*Magic beat Cavs: LeBron will get those calls in May.
*Nelson an All-Star: But not Rondo? Come on.
*Wells gripes about Torre: You don't say!
It's a fun-filled Friday before the Super Bowl. Check out the column. Check back here all weekend long. And, if you're not planning to come back until Monday, enjoy the game.
-- D.S.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday 01/29 A.M. Quickie:
Wake, SB 43, Bonds, WRs, All-Stars
Recovery continues!
I'm torn between giving Wake all sorts of credit for beating Duke -- and remembering that Duke recently has been abysmal in the NCAA Tournament, so how much stock should I put into beating them?
Because right now, I'm inclined to think that Wake looks more like an NCAA champ than any other team -- size (depth of size), great defense, go-to scoring guard. I can't believe it's not a fully loaded bandwagon, though, which is more telling than, say beating Duke.
Meanwhile, I find the Big East to be ludicrously loaded -- Nova beats Pitt, Providence beats Syracuse, Georgetown is beaten by whomever.... I'll stick with my original pronouncement: This conference will get 8 or 9 teams in the NCAA Tournament; the acid test of its awesomeness is how many of those teams get to the Sweet 16 or even the Elite Eight.
Not sure if I can visualize how a Wake or a Duke or a UNC or an Oklahoma would do in the Big East, with the game-in-game-out punishment. When you look at Wake's remaining schedule, it seems fairly mild -- yeah, a game at Duke, but beyond that...what, exactly? You simply can't say that about the top teams in the Big East. You can't go more than a game or two without playing another team in the Top 25.
Super Bowl: Eh, Super Bowl week is so overrated. The lull on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday before the game is stupefying. The only fun is in making the pick on Friday -- mine is coming tomorrow.
NBA All-Star Reserves announced tonight: What I would like to see is less "same old stars" and more new guys whose play this season has merited inclusion (Danny Granger, Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, Rajon Rondo) -- it's in the NBA's best interests to raise the profile of younger guys, rather than celebrate the longtime all-stars like Paul Pierce.
Complete SN column here. More later.
-- D.S.
I'm torn between giving Wake all sorts of credit for beating Duke -- and remembering that Duke recently has been abysmal in the NCAA Tournament, so how much stock should I put into beating them?
Because right now, I'm inclined to think that Wake looks more like an NCAA champ than any other team -- size (depth of size), great defense, go-to scoring guard. I can't believe it's not a fully loaded bandwagon, though, which is more telling than, say beating Duke.
Meanwhile, I find the Big East to be ludicrously loaded -- Nova beats Pitt, Providence beats Syracuse, Georgetown is beaten by whomever.... I'll stick with my original pronouncement: This conference will get 8 or 9 teams in the NCAA Tournament; the acid test of its awesomeness is how many of those teams get to the Sweet 16 or even the Elite Eight.
Not sure if I can visualize how a Wake or a Duke or a UNC or an Oklahoma would do in the Big East, with the game-in-game-out punishment. When you look at Wake's remaining schedule, it seems fairly mild -- yeah, a game at Duke, but beyond that...what, exactly? You simply can't say that about the top teams in the Big East. You can't go more than a game or two without playing another team in the Top 25.
Super Bowl: Eh, Super Bowl week is so overrated. The lull on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday before the game is stupefying. The only fun is in making the pick on Friday -- mine is coming tomorrow.
NBA All-Star Reserves announced tonight: What I would like to see is less "same old stars" and more new guys whose play this season has merited inclusion (Danny Granger, Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, Rajon Rondo) -- it's in the NBA's best interests to raise the profile of younger guys, rather than celebrate the longtime all-stars like Paul Pierce.
Complete SN column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Jeff MacGregor on Media Day
MacGregor nails it. (Didn't know he was now full-time for ESPN.com and the Mag, but he is one of my all-time favorite sportswriters. I presume all of you have read "Sunday Money" by now.)
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Wednesday 01/28 A.M. Quickie:
Wake, Duke, Media Day, Cavs, A-Rod, More
So Media Day was sort of a dud, I think.
I have been very excited about Wake-Duke tonight. Then I had a standard reality check: College basketball regular season games -- these "Game of the Year" candidates -- are entirely overrated.
So Duke wins? So Duke loses? So what? Everything in college basketball is back-loaded to the NCAA Tournament. If you are a "national" contender, it's all how you do in late March.
Duke's No. 1 ranking this week? A win over Wake? An ACC title? Hell, even a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? Meaningless, unless Duke wins the national title.
(It's a bit more complicated for Duke: They have been so awful the last few Tournaments that even a Final Four appearance would be some kind of validation.)
Anyway, as I said in today's SN column, I'll definitely watch the game tonight -- but, as with every game I watch during CBB's regular season, it's with one eye on the TV and another on my bracket in March.
Complete SN column here. More later, although the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the Super Bowl are traditionally some of the slowest days of the sports year.
-- D.S.
I have been very excited about Wake-Duke tonight. Then I had a standard reality check: College basketball regular season games -- these "Game of the Year" candidates -- are entirely overrated.
So Duke wins? So Duke loses? So what? Everything in college basketball is back-loaded to the NCAA Tournament. If you are a "national" contender, it's all how you do in late March.
Duke's No. 1 ranking this week? A win over Wake? An ACC title? Hell, even a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? Meaningless, unless Duke wins the national title.
(It's a bit more complicated for Duke: They have been so awful the last few Tournaments that even a Final Four appearance would be some kind of validation.)
Anyway, as I said in today's SN column, I'll definitely watch the game tonight -- but, as with every game I watch during CBB's regular season, it's with one eye on the TV and another on my bracket in March.
Complete SN column here. More later, although the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the Super Bowl are traditionally some of the slowest days of the sports year.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday 01/27 A.M. Quickie:
Super Bowl Media Day, Marquette, Chris Paul, More
An annual tradition for me: Dinging Super Bowl Media Day, which leads today's SN column.
That said: I am intrigued to see what kind of impact that Twitter may have on the event. Media Day was already pretty stale -- in the 24/7 sports era, who needs "get all your quotes for the week in one place!"
I'm not holding my breath: Like blogs a few years ago, Twitter has been slow to catch on among mainstream sports media -- I know the political cycle lends itself to Twitter, but why do mainstream political reporters adapt to new media so much better than mainstream sports writers?
I'm hoping that there are enough progressive sports media types in the Media Day to make Twitter a go-to place for instant news and analysis.
Meanwhile: Is Marquette for real? Winning at ND suddenly isn't what it was a week ago, and Marquette's schedule is back-loaded -- see the column for their harrowing final 5 games.
A lot more in the column today. Check it out here. I'm still in recovery mode.
-- D.S.
That said: I am intrigued to see what kind of impact that Twitter may have on the event. Media Day was already pretty stale -- in the 24/7 sports era, who needs "get all your quotes for the week in one place!"
I'm not holding my breath: Like blogs a few years ago, Twitter has been slow to catch on among mainstream sports media -- I know the political cycle lends itself to Twitter, but why do mainstream political reporters adapt to new media so much better than mainstream sports writers?
I'm hoping that there are enough progressive sports media types in the Media Day to make Twitter a go-to place for instant news and analysis.
Meanwhile: Is Marquette for real? Winning at ND suddenly isn't what it was a week ago, and Marquette's schedule is back-loaded -- see the column for their harrowing final 5 games.
A lot more in the column today. Check it out here. I'm still in recovery mode.
-- D.S.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday 01/26 A.M. Quickie:
Super Bowl, 100-0, Torre, Louisvillle, Lakers
After a few days away from the column, I have to have my say about the "100-0" game, and I get a hook to do it in today's column because the school fired the coach, who seems entirely unrepentant.
Otherwise:
*It's Super Bowl week. (Much more tomorrow.)
*Joe Torre: Is A-Rod HIS fault?
*Duke No. 1? How about...Louisville?
*The Lakers still rule.
*More on Pat White.
Complete column here. More later, hopefully. I'm pretty laid out still.
-- D.S.
Otherwise:
*It's Super Bowl week. (Much more tomorrow.)
*Joe Torre: Is A-Rod HIS fault?
*Duke No. 1? How about...Louisville?
*The Lakers still rule.
*More on Pat White.
Complete column here. More later, hopefully. I'm pretty laid out still.
-- D.S.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday 01/25 (Very) Quickie
UConn drops Notre Dame in South Bend: Just one more big-time Big East battle, notable mostly for snapping ND's endless home win streak, which you could kind of see coming. But, like every Big East game this season, totally meaningless until we see how many of these 9 or 10 Big East top teams make it to the Sweet 16.
Duke No. 1? I watched the first half of the Duke-Maryland game, because I knew that the Terps always give Duke a game -- even at Cameron. Whoops: I came for the rivalry but I stayed to witness the carnage. I haven't seen a first-half beat-down like that in a long time.
So, yeah: I'm sure Duke will be crowned No. 1 this week, but I'm picking Wake on Wednesday.
(Washington beats UCLA: Don't sleep on how thoroughly competitive the Pac-10 is this season. It's like Big East Lite.)
Senior Bowl: Pat White Show. All week long, scouts had been ripping Pat White. In the game, he did what he does in every bowl game -- win. 95 yards passing and 2 scoring drives. Now, that doesn't mean he can play QB in the NFL, but he has a good future ahead as a Wildcat specialist.
RIP Kay Yow. A legend in women's basketball. Condolences to her many many friends, fans and admirers.
-- D.S.
Duke No. 1? I watched the first half of the Duke-Maryland game, because I knew that the Terps always give Duke a game -- even at Cameron. Whoops: I came for the rivalry but I stayed to witness the carnage. I haven't seen a first-half beat-down like that in a long time.
So, yeah: I'm sure Duke will be crowned No. 1 this week, but I'm picking Wake on Wednesday.
(Washington beats UCLA: Don't sleep on how thoroughly competitive the Pac-10 is this season. It's like Big East Lite.)
Senior Bowl: Pat White Show. All week long, scouts had been ripping Pat White. In the game, he did what he does in every bowl game -- win. 95 yards passing and 2 scoring drives. Now, that doesn't mean he can play QB in the NFL, but he has a good future ahead as a Wildcat specialist.
RIP Kay Yow. A legend in women's basketball. Condolences to her many many friends, fans and admirers.
-- D.S.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Saturday 01/24 (Very) Quickie: Catching Up!
So you have one unexpected appendectomy and you miss all sorts of good stuff...
Chiefs fire Herman Edwards: You knew this was coming, and you can't say he didn't deserve it. But with a new GM, there was no way Edwards was going to be retained.
So who replaces him? I don't think it will be Mike Shanahan, and the original reporting -- then retracting -- of the story indicates that they are going another way. I expect that Pioli doesn't want a re-tread. If he had only acted faster, he could have had Josh McDaniels. (But maybe he wants to go away from the Belichick coaching tree. Or will he go after Kirk Ferentz?)
LeBron hits a buzzer-beating game-winner: Of course he did. As the votes for "First-Half MVP" roll in, I have to believe James is going to win in a landslide.
(More intriguing: Eric Gordon had 41 last night in a Clippers win over the Thunder. Yes, it was the Thunder, but I'm convinced there aren't a TON of players in the NBA who can just go out and score 41, particularly as a rookie. Maybe 50 total? 100? No more than 30 percent of the league. But you just KNOW that OJ Mayo is saying: "Oh, I can totally beat that...")
UPDATE: I'm a total moron. Um, beyond Gordon's 41...how about Durant's 46? I guess in a loss (and the haze of post-op Vicodin) it gets lost.
Northwestern wins at Michigan State: You have to understand the historical (and recent) futility of NU hoops to recognize how massive this was. Top 3 regular-season win in the last 20 years ('88 vs. Indiana; '94 vs. Michigan... the '94 NIT win over DePaul doesn't count.)
No. 1 Wake Forest loses to Virginia Tech: Well, now I have NO idea what bandwagon to climb on. (Meanwhile: West Virginia beats Georgetown -- god, the Big East is so freaking amazing this season.)
Celtics clock the Magic: Obviously, Boston wanted to prove they were still tops in the East -- and wow did they ever. That was some textbook defense -- and why Orlando won't topple Boston this spring in the playoffs. The young Magic should consider acquiring a rotation player with deep playoff experience, if only to show them how to step up when it matters.
NBA All-Stars: The only intrigue was Amare. Otherwise: I'm glad Chris Paul earned the starting spot; I'm not sure Allen Iverson deserves it, unless he is the designated "just plain popular, if not deserving" spot. Which is totally fair -- it IS an exhibition, after all. Reserves should be more interesting.
Cubs get a new owner: I like that the guy is a Cubs fan. Used to live near Wrigley. Met his future wife at a Cubs game. Of the three qualities you want in a sports owner, they are: (1) Tons of money (and willing to spend it); (2) Smart enough to hire smart people to run the team; (3) A true fan of the team.
Lions hire Scott Linehan as Offensive Coordinator: Love this hire. Linehan couldn't head-coach his way out of a paper bag, but as an OC, there's no denying the guy is smart. And he joins up with a really smart H.C. in Jim Schwartz.
Jeff Kent retires: Not a nice guy, but his stats are undeniable. Haven't had a chance to see how the SABR-friendly folks have weighed in on him, so how else would I know what to think about it?
Ben Sheets to the Rangers? That has to come with a huge "IF he's healthy..." caveat. Think he's willing to sign a deal that ties payment to his health? When healthy, a top 5 pitcher in the league. But he's hardly ever truly healthy.
Senior Bowl tonight: And the biggest winner was BJ Raji, the BC DT. And I'm so thrilled to see Derrick Williams have a great week and move himself into the first round. What a great player he is, right up there with Harvin and Maclin as the most dynamic and versatile WR talents in the country.)
Back tomorrow a.m. as usual.
-- D.S.
Chiefs fire Herman Edwards: You knew this was coming, and you can't say he didn't deserve it. But with a new GM, there was no way Edwards was going to be retained.
So who replaces him? I don't think it will be Mike Shanahan, and the original reporting -- then retracting -- of the story indicates that they are going another way. I expect that Pioli doesn't want a re-tread. If he had only acted faster, he could have had Josh McDaniels. (But maybe he wants to go away from the Belichick coaching tree. Or will he go after Kirk Ferentz?)
LeBron hits a buzzer-beating game-winner: Of course he did. As the votes for "First-Half MVP" roll in, I have to believe James is going to win in a landslide.
(More intriguing: Eric Gordon had 41 last night in a Clippers win over the Thunder. Yes, it was the Thunder, but I'm convinced there aren't a TON of players in the NBA who can just go out and score 41, particularly as a rookie. Maybe 50 total? 100? No more than 30 percent of the league. But you just KNOW that OJ Mayo is saying: "Oh, I can totally beat that...")
UPDATE: I'm a total moron. Um, beyond Gordon's 41...how about Durant's 46? I guess in a loss (and the haze of post-op Vicodin) it gets lost.
Northwestern wins at Michigan State: You have to understand the historical (and recent) futility of NU hoops to recognize how massive this was. Top 3 regular-season win in the last 20 years ('88 vs. Indiana; '94 vs. Michigan... the '94 NIT win over DePaul doesn't count.)
No. 1 Wake Forest loses to Virginia Tech: Well, now I have NO idea what bandwagon to climb on. (Meanwhile: West Virginia beats Georgetown -- god, the Big East is so freaking amazing this season.)
Celtics clock the Magic: Obviously, Boston wanted to prove they were still tops in the East -- and wow did they ever. That was some textbook defense -- and why Orlando won't topple Boston this spring in the playoffs. The young Magic should consider acquiring a rotation player with deep playoff experience, if only to show them how to step up when it matters.
NBA All-Stars: The only intrigue was Amare. Otherwise: I'm glad Chris Paul earned the starting spot; I'm not sure Allen Iverson deserves it, unless he is the designated "just plain popular, if not deserving" spot. Which is totally fair -- it IS an exhibition, after all. Reserves should be more interesting.
Cubs get a new owner: I like that the guy is a Cubs fan. Used to live near Wrigley. Met his future wife at a Cubs game. Of the three qualities you want in a sports owner, they are: (1) Tons of money (and willing to spend it); (2) Smart enough to hire smart people to run the team; (3) A true fan of the team.
Lions hire Scott Linehan as Offensive Coordinator: Love this hire. Linehan couldn't head-coach his way out of a paper bag, but as an OC, there's no denying the guy is smart. And he joins up with a really smart H.C. in Jim Schwartz.
Jeff Kent retires: Not a nice guy, but his stats are undeniable. Haven't had a chance to see how the SABR-friendly folks have weighed in on him, so how else would I know what to think about it?
Ben Sheets to the Rangers? That has to come with a huge "IF he's healthy..." caveat. Think he's willing to sign a deal that ties payment to his health? When healthy, a top 5 pitcher in the league. But he's hardly ever truly healthy.
Senior Bowl tonight: And the biggest winner was BJ Raji, the BC DT. And I'm so thrilled to see Derrick Williams have a great week and move himself into the first round. What a great player he is, right up there with Harvin and Maclin as the most dynamic and versatile WR talents in the country.)
Back tomorrow a.m. as usual.
-- D.S.
What's Wrong With Sports Journalism
The canard of no cheering in the press box, the absurdity of which won't be illustrated any better than Larry Fitzgerald's father. I say: Cheer away, Dad!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obamaball: Sally Jenkins' Agenda for Sports
As usual, a provocative take from the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins -- laying out an agenda of sports reform for President Obama. I would call it hit-or-miss:
(1) Get rid of the BCS. Really? As the No. 1 priority? For a thoughtful sports thinker like Jenkins, this is ludicrous. (She is correct, however, that a simple threat of taking away college tax benefits would be a game-changer.)
(2) Declare freshman ineligible. Hate it. Only if it went hand-in-hand with insisting that the NFL and NBA got rid of their age minimums for draft eligibility. Forcing a pro-worthy player to toil in college for two years -- when they have no actual interest in college beyond its role as a stepping-stone to the pros -- is counter-productive.
(3) Dress more appropriately for golf. A bit prudish, but fair.
(4) Play Candace Parker 1-on-1 at the White House, to generate more support for women's basketball. I like the symbol, but it's pretty empty -- leagues must move the needle themselves.
(5) National Anthem played IN TUNE at all sports events. Fair, but here's a better idea: Ditch the Anthem for "America the Beautiful" or -- as witnessed Sunday -- "This Land Is Your Land."
(6) Save tennis. Eh. This is like saving the banking industry -- the sport did this to themselves.
(7) Final Four back in arenas, not domes. Better idea: 75 percent of tickets must be ear-marked for fans. Even better idea: All major sports championships must earmark more tickets for fans than are given to corporate sponsors, and at reasonable rates.
(8) Equal pay for women's sports. I fully support it, but Jenkins cherry-picks the Pearl-Summitt comparison. When women's sports bring in the revenue of men's, it is a stronger argument. (See women's tennis, where pay inequity is a joke.) For women in the front office? Absolutely. And, while we're at it: More women and minorities in the front office.
(9) Pardon Marion Jones. You've got to be kidding me. I'm sorry that prosecutors haven't done a better job with the other steroid felons, but that doesn't mean Jones should get off. Her betrayal of sports and fans was one of the Top 3 worst of the 20th Century in American sports. She didn't seem particularly remorseful when she was collecting all those medals -- or collecting all those endorsement checks.
(10) Force Dan Snyder to hire a GM. Now THERE you go.
I would add a few others:
-Obliterate AAU and start over.
-Mandate any team relocating to give a substantial cash rebate to fans.
-Develop an unobtrusive test for HGH.
-Legalize sports gambling but tax the hell out of it.
-Name Tim Tebow to lead President's Council on Physical Fitness.
From the serious to the silly, do you have any other items on a sports to-do list for Obama?
-- D.S.
(1) Get rid of the BCS. Really? As the No. 1 priority? For a thoughtful sports thinker like Jenkins, this is ludicrous. (She is correct, however, that a simple threat of taking away college tax benefits would be a game-changer.)
(2) Declare freshman ineligible. Hate it. Only if it went hand-in-hand with insisting that the NFL and NBA got rid of their age minimums for draft eligibility. Forcing a pro-worthy player to toil in college for two years -- when they have no actual interest in college beyond its role as a stepping-stone to the pros -- is counter-productive.
(3) Dress more appropriately for golf. A bit prudish, but fair.
(4) Play Candace Parker 1-on-1 at the White House, to generate more support for women's basketball. I like the symbol, but it's pretty empty -- leagues must move the needle themselves.
(5) National Anthem played IN TUNE at all sports events. Fair, but here's a better idea: Ditch the Anthem for "America the Beautiful" or -- as witnessed Sunday -- "This Land Is Your Land."
(6) Save tennis. Eh. This is like saving the banking industry -- the sport did this to themselves.
(7) Final Four back in arenas, not domes. Better idea: 75 percent of tickets must be ear-marked for fans. Even better idea: All major sports championships must earmark more tickets for fans than are given to corporate sponsors, and at reasonable rates.
(8) Equal pay for women's sports. I fully support it, but Jenkins cherry-picks the Pearl-Summitt comparison. When women's sports bring in the revenue of men's, it is a stronger argument. (See women's tennis, where pay inequity is a joke.) For women in the front office? Absolutely. And, while we're at it: More women and minorities in the front office.
(9) Pardon Marion Jones. You've got to be kidding me. I'm sorry that prosecutors haven't done a better job with the other steroid felons, but that doesn't mean Jones should get off. Her betrayal of sports and fans was one of the Top 3 worst of the 20th Century in American sports. She didn't seem particularly remorseful when she was collecting all those medals -- or collecting all those endorsement checks.
(10) Force Dan Snyder to hire a GM. Now THERE you go.
I would add a few others:
-Obliterate AAU and start over.
-Mandate any team relocating to give a substantial cash rebate to fans.
-Develop an unobtrusive test for HGH.
-Legalize sports gambling but tax the hell out of it.
-Name Tim Tebow to lead President's Council on Physical Fitness.
From the serious to the silly, do you have any other items on a sports to-do list for Obama?
-- D.S.
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