I am not going to be posting for the next several weeks. I'll be working for the Milwaukee Bucks during the NBA Playoffs so there will be no posts from me until the season ends. The other bloggers can post at their own leisure and topics may get off the mantle of sports.
Thank you for your endless support and we look forward to seeing you in the future.
The best of everything,
Nick
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Realizations
Take Me Out To The Slow Lane
It’s April in America, which must mean one thing. Yep, sports highlights all over the country are about to get extremely boring and repetitive. It’s baseball season, AGAIN. At the risk of alienating myself from my fellow columnists more than I already have, (I still don’t see the problem with urinating on a public street during the day) I must let my thoughts be known.
Baseball is not sophisticated, it is not exciting and just because I don’t enjoy it, doesn’t mean I “don’t get it”. I don’t like Chinese food, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get it. I don’t have many friends who would claim baseball as their favorite sport. I suppose that could be true for a number of reasons, but mainly because I favor those who are not drawing social security or who don’t have to rely on Depends whenever leaving the house. My closest friends who do claim baseball as their favorite sport are without a doubt, Cubs fans. This is not a coincidence. It gives me an advantage in their lives. There is nothing I could ever do to disappoint them.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy attending a baseball game every now and then. Any place that will bring me a beer without me having to actually exert any energy or wait in any sort of line is a good place to me. No, my main problem with baseball is the people that run it and the fans who think that because they know what a double-switch is, it somehow makes them intellectually superior to the rest of the universe. The fans who recite batting averages and team era like it validates the fact that their sport requires a “stretching session” just to make sure that the people in the ballpark are still awake.
Bud Selig? Really? Could he have done a worse job? Please do not feed me this nonsense about how he has become an innovator for the sport. Bud did not create the Wild Card. Last I heard, playing copy-cat to the NFL does not qualify you as some sort of creative genius.
The All-star game now dictates which league has home field advantage in the World Series. What a complete joke. A game Bud once upon a time let end in a tie, now virtually punishes a team who could realistically have the best record in baseball. But, I digress.
Baseball is boring. Baseball is slow. Baseball does not have as much strategy as purists would like non-purists to believe. I refuse to be fascinated by the fact that with two outs and a full count, the runners will be put in motion. Wow, I can’t wrap my brain around that. They have less to lose than my grandma playing penny slots on Fremont Street.
I must let the cat out of the bag and admit that I was not born and raised in a city or state that has a professional baseball team. Perhaps this has a lot to do with my lack of interest. I was not force-fed baseball as a kid. I played little league like everyone else, but was not anywhere near the level of CTB with the sunflower seed chewing or the mom schmoozing. I made a few trips a year to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Akron, Ohio. Enough to call myself an Indians fan from visiting Jacob’s Field. I don’t recall the new corporate name of the ballpark… remember, those people are losers.
Baseball fans, I’m okay with you as long as you keep from trying to explain yourself. Bring yourself back down to earth. You are not what you once were, but there is nothing wrong with that… just as long as you don’t pretend that you are. Enjoy your sport. I salute you, as long as you leave me alone.
It’s April in America, which must mean one thing. Yep, sports highlights all over the country are about to get extremely boring and repetitive. It’s baseball season, AGAIN. At the risk of alienating myself from my fellow columnists more than I already have, (I still don’t see the problem with urinating on a public street during the day) I must let my thoughts be known.
Baseball is not sophisticated, it is not exciting and just because I don’t enjoy it, doesn’t mean I “don’t get it”. I don’t like Chinese food, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get it. I don’t have many friends who would claim baseball as their favorite sport. I suppose that could be true for a number of reasons, but mainly because I favor those who are not drawing social security or who don’t have to rely on Depends whenever leaving the house. My closest friends who do claim baseball as their favorite sport are without a doubt, Cubs fans. This is not a coincidence. It gives me an advantage in their lives. There is nothing I could ever do to disappoint them.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy attending a baseball game every now and then. Any place that will bring me a beer without me having to actually exert any energy or wait in any sort of line is a good place to me. No, my main problem with baseball is the people that run it and the fans who think that because they know what a double-switch is, it somehow makes them intellectually superior to the rest of the universe. The fans who recite batting averages and team era like it validates the fact that their sport requires a “stretching session” just to make sure that the people in the ballpark are still awake.
Bud Selig? Really? Could he have done a worse job? Please do not feed me this nonsense about how he has become an innovator for the sport. Bud did not create the Wild Card. Last I heard, playing copy-cat to the NFL does not qualify you as some sort of creative genius.
The All-star game now dictates which league has home field advantage in the World Series. What a complete joke. A game Bud once upon a time let end in a tie, now virtually punishes a team who could realistically have the best record in baseball. But, I digress.
Baseball is boring. Baseball is slow. Baseball does not have as much strategy as purists would like non-purists to believe. I refuse to be fascinated by the fact that with two outs and a full count, the runners will be put in motion. Wow, I can’t wrap my brain around that. They have less to lose than my grandma playing penny slots on Fremont Street.
I must let the cat out of the bag and admit that I was not born and raised in a city or state that has a professional baseball team. Perhaps this has a lot to do with my lack of interest. I was not force-fed baseball as a kid. I played little league like everyone else, but was not anywhere near the level of CTB with the sunflower seed chewing or the mom schmoozing. I made a few trips a year to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Akron, Ohio. Enough to call myself an Indians fan from visiting Jacob’s Field. I don’t recall the new corporate name of the ballpark… remember, those people are losers.
Baseball fans, I’m okay with you as long as you keep from trying to explain yourself. Bring yourself back down to earth. You are not what you once were, but there is nothing wrong with that… just as long as you don’t pretend that you are. Enjoy your sport. I salute you, as long as you leave me alone.
Monday, April 13, 2009
AMusings
I know that I wait 6 months every year for baseball season to make its grand return. It then takes approximately 24 hours for me to hate everyone associated with the sport. Fans, players, reporters, fans, coaches, fans, owners, umpires, fans, etc. Just within this first week of baseball I have seen and heard the following things that have lead me to believe that either the baseball gods hate me, or that everyone who is involved in the great American pastime possesses an IQ below 10:
- An ESPN segment on the “biggest surprises so far”. This took place on Friday morning. Most teams had played 3 games. 3 games. How surprising can you be with 159 games left to go? More so, doesn’t Tim Kurkijan have anything else to do than tell me what he’s surprised about after one series of baseball?
- A caller call in to a radio show here in Chicago telling the hosts that he hopes “the Cubs can just win 2 out of every 3 games this season”. For those of you who may not have your abacuses nearby, that would be a final record of 108-54. Isn’t that a little unrealistic? If you’re rooting for your team to win 108 games, why not just root for 162-0? If every team had the ability to win 108 games every year, why have only two teams done it in the last ten years?
- When Jim Thome hit the game winning home run on Tuesday for the White Sox, I saw no less than 6 facebook statuses that read something like “haha Cubs, White Sox win” or “White Sox win, I hope the Cubs lose”. Listen, I’m a Cubs fan, but I don’t care what the Sox do. Why would you, as a “fan” of a certain team, care what another team does? I don’t know if this is something that only goes on in the windy city, but I will never understand it.
- Several people either on the radio, on the internet, or in person tell me that Kevin Gregg is no good as a Cubs closer after blowing the save Friday in Milwaukee. He has blown one save. One. Anyone looking at the National League central is probably picking the Cubs to win, and not by a close margin either. One blown save will not amount to a problem. Give him time. How much time? Maybe more than a week.
Here’s all I’m trying to say to you baseball fans out there; baseball season is 6 months long. Every team has the opportunity of playing 162 games. This is not football. 1 loss does not make a difference. Every game is not the end of the world. Please, if you have any sense of decency or the ability to think, start thinking about what you’re saying before you say it. I know everyone is excited about the game returning, but relax. You’ll never make to October if you’re having heart attacks in April.
- An ESPN segment on the “biggest surprises so far”. This took place on Friday morning. Most teams had played 3 games. 3 games. How surprising can you be with 159 games left to go? More so, doesn’t Tim Kurkijan have anything else to do than tell me what he’s surprised about after one series of baseball?
- A caller call in to a radio show here in Chicago telling the hosts that he hopes “the Cubs can just win 2 out of every 3 games this season”. For those of you who may not have your abacuses nearby, that would be a final record of 108-54. Isn’t that a little unrealistic? If you’re rooting for your team to win 108 games, why not just root for 162-0? If every team had the ability to win 108 games every year, why have only two teams done it in the last ten years?
- When Jim Thome hit the game winning home run on Tuesday for the White Sox, I saw no less than 6 facebook statuses that read something like “haha Cubs, White Sox win” or “White Sox win, I hope the Cubs lose”. Listen, I’m a Cubs fan, but I don’t care what the Sox do. Why would you, as a “fan” of a certain team, care what another team does? I don’t know if this is something that only goes on in the windy city, but I will never understand it.
- Several people either on the radio, on the internet, or in person tell me that Kevin Gregg is no good as a Cubs closer after blowing the save Friday in Milwaukee. He has blown one save. One. Anyone looking at the National League central is probably picking the Cubs to win, and not by a close margin either. One blown save will not amount to a problem. Give him time. How much time? Maybe more than a week.
Here’s all I’m trying to say to you baseball fans out there; baseball season is 6 months long. Every team has the opportunity of playing 162 games. This is not football. 1 loss does not make a difference. Every game is not the end of the world. Please, if you have any sense of decency or the ability to think, start thinking about what you’re saying before you say it. I know everyone is excited about the game returning, but relax. You’ll never make to October if you’re having heart attacks in April.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Friday Night Lights
A Cold Day in Minnesota
Ahhh, birds chirping, sun shining, days getting longer, young love in the air, local bookmakers avoiding the IRS and its April 15th henchmen. Springtime is here, which means that baseball season is upon us. By us, of course, I mean residents of the West Coast, the Sun Belt, and south Florida. While baseball season may have arrived in the Midwest and Northeast, baseball weather is a couple weeks away.
Teams like Milwaukee and Toronto with the foresight to put roofs on their modern-day cold-weather cathedrals should be commended. The Cubs can be forgiven – retractable roofs weren’t exactly en vogue at the turn of the century. Less sympathy should be extended to the Indians, who were outplayed in their chilly, and fairly new, outdoor venue by a scrappy Marlins squad of mercenaries who took the World Series title home to Miami about a decade ago.
But what advice do you give to a team in a colder climate than all of the above, a team that plays under a Teflon roof and is currently constructing a new open-air stadium sans cover?
Well, you address the Minnesota Twins with, “typical.” Or “standard,” depending on your choice of vocabulary.
The 2009 season is the last campaign of domed goodness in Minnesota. In 2010, the club will relocate a mile down 5th Avenue in downtown Minneapolis to Target Field, a new stadium built almost adjacent to Target Center, and yes, right down the street from Target’s headquarters. In an ironic twist of fate, both the baseball team and the mega-corporation have encouraged their customers to “Expect More” while “Pay(ing) Less”.
Fans “expect more” of a game-day atmosphere in June, July and August with the new palace, an edifice which is at least fifteen years in the making. Unfortunately, former owner (and formerly alive) Carl Pohlad decided to “pay less” and let taxpayers shoulder the majority of the bill for construction of his ballpark. Excesses were removed and sacrifices were made in constructing this downtown diamond, which will have no roof, retractable or otherwise. The stadium is being erected on the smallest site in Major League Baseball (smaller than Fenway or Wrigley) – there simply isn’t enough space for the roof to be added.
At this point, it’s probably time to start examining the tradeoffs we make in order to have baseball in the heart of the city. Minnesota is a cold, cold place – I’ve seen snow in May – but climate trends make for dreary, cool Aprils. When the weather warms up, massive thunderstorms come along for the ride, and threaten the Heartland until August. September can be the perfect month, until October approaches and Canada gifts us cold air masses.
Basically, we live in a year-long weather nightmare. The short-sightedness of the urban planners and the team in accepting a stadium without a roof will have short-term and long-term repercussions. Games will be rescheduled, then rescheduled, and rescheduled again. Fans will turn out in droves from May 15 to September 15, but two months of home dates will have far fewer fans than would attend competition in a stadium with a roof. The “hearty Midwesterners” the team is banking on are fewer and further between, replaced by transplants from places like Texas and Georgia that will find better things to do in our cosmopolitan metropolis than freeze in a downtown stadium conveniently located next to a regional trash incinerator.
So what do you say to the team? Well, maybe it’s a good thing they haven’t torn down the Metrodome already.
Ahhh, birds chirping, sun shining, days getting longer, young love in the air, local bookmakers avoiding the IRS and its April 15th henchmen. Springtime is here, which means that baseball season is upon us. By us, of course, I mean residents of the West Coast, the Sun Belt, and south Florida. While baseball season may have arrived in the Midwest and Northeast, baseball weather is a couple weeks away.
Teams like Milwaukee and Toronto with the foresight to put roofs on their modern-day cold-weather cathedrals should be commended. The Cubs can be forgiven – retractable roofs weren’t exactly en vogue at the turn of the century. Less sympathy should be extended to the Indians, who were outplayed in their chilly, and fairly new, outdoor venue by a scrappy Marlins squad of mercenaries who took the World Series title home to Miami about a decade ago.
But what advice do you give to a team in a colder climate than all of the above, a team that plays under a Teflon roof and is currently constructing a new open-air stadium sans cover?
Well, you address the Minnesota Twins with, “typical.” Or “standard,” depending on your choice of vocabulary.
The 2009 season is the last campaign of domed goodness in Minnesota. In 2010, the club will relocate a mile down 5th Avenue in downtown Minneapolis to Target Field, a new stadium built almost adjacent to Target Center, and yes, right down the street from Target’s headquarters. In an ironic twist of fate, both the baseball team and the mega-corporation have encouraged their customers to “Expect More” while “Pay(ing) Less”.
Fans “expect more” of a game-day atmosphere in June, July and August with the new palace, an edifice which is at least fifteen years in the making. Unfortunately, former owner (and formerly alive) Carl Pohlad decided to “pay less” and let taxpayers shoulder the majority of the bill for construction of his ballpark. Excesses were removed and sacrifices were made in constructing this downtown diamond, which will have no roof, retractable or otherwise. The stadium is being erected on the smallest site in Major League Baseball (smaller than Fenway or Wrigley) – there simply isn’t enough space for the roof to be added.
At this point, it’s probably time to start examining the tradeoffs we make in order to have baseball in the heart of the city. Minnesota is a cold, cold place – I’ve seen snow in May – but climate trends make for dreary, cool Aprils. When the weather warms up, massive thunderstorms come along for the ride, and threaten the Heartland until August. September can be the perfect month, until October approaches and Canada gifts us cold air masses.
Basically, we live in a year-long weather nightmare. The short-sightedness of the urban planners and the team in accepting a stadium without a roof will have short-term and long-term repercussions. Games will be rescheduled, then rescheduled, and rescheduled again. Fans will turn out in droves from May 15 to September 15, but two months of home dates will have far fewer fans than would attend competition in a stadium with a roof. The “hearty Midwesterners” the team is banking on are fewer and further between, replaced by transplants from places like Texas and Georgia that will find better things to do in our cosmopolitan metropolis than freeze in a downtown stadium conveniently located next to a regional trash incinerator.
So what do you say to the team? Well, maybe it’s a good thing they haven’t torn down the Metrodome already.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Cousin Bink's Country Beer Jamboree
Volume 1, Issue 8
When I imagine going to a Major League Baseball game I picture the sun shining. I picture having to take out a small business loan to get a few cold refreshments. I picture coming home with a little sunburn on my arms and legs. I plan on witnessing a live chicken being sacrificed so Jobu will let the Cuban hit a curveball.
What I don't enjoy is thinking about going to baseball games where I'll have to decide how many stocking hats I should wear, not whether or not I should wear one. That is what happened this week on Opening Day as two games had to be canceled for a day due to the weather, while many games were played in cold and wet conditions. Let's take a closer look at these games, shall we:
Push the start of the season back a week? Well, considering that would push the playoffs back a week and the World Series had to be postponed for 2 days this past year that wouldn't work. But looking at the weather for opening day, there is a solution. We'll do this by league, starting with the senior circuit. There are 5 teams in the west, but Colorado's a bit iffy this time of year, so we'll say we have four teams. Houston and Milwaukee have domes, so that makes 6. Moving onto the east where we have Florida, Atlanta, and I guess you'll have to hope for Washington to have some nice weather. That makes 8 teams that should have good weather so for the first 2 weeks have these cities host home games.
Moving to the AL you have the four teams in the AL West. In Minnesota, Tampa and Toronto you have domes and once again we have 7, which is all we need for 14 teams and you can do the same thing, starting the first two weeks in these cities.
Now this is in noway a full-proof plan. I went to a game last year on April 26th that was delayed for 3 hours due to cold weather and a snow/rain mix, but this is just a way to improve Opening Day, not to get rid of delays completely.
When I imagine going to a Major League Baseball game I picture the sun shining. I picture having to take out a small business loan to get a few cold refreshments. I picture coming home with a little sunburn on my arms and legs. I plan on witnessing a live chicken being sacrificed so Jobu will let the Cuban hit a curveball.
What I don't enjoy is thinking about going to baseball games where I'll have to decide how many stocking hats I should wear, not whether or not I should wear one. That is what happened this week on Opening Day as two games had to be canceled for a day due to the weather, while many games were played in cold and wet conditions. Let's take a closer look at these games, shall we:
- Kansas City at Chicago- Game postponed 18 hours before game due to forecasts of snow and freezing temperatures.
- Tampa Bay at Boston- Postponed for rain.
- New York (N) at Cincinnati- 37 degrees and light rains throughout.
- Cleveland at Texas- 49 degrees and sunny
- New York (A) at Baltimore- 56 degrees with light rain
- Colorado at Arizona- 80 degrees with roof closed
- Detroit at Toronto- 66 degrees with roof closed
- Washington at Florida- 90 degrees and partly cloudy (now that's more like it)
- Pittsburgh at St. Louis- 42 degrees and cloudy
- Seattle at Minnesota- 69 degrees, in a dome
- Oakland at LA Angels- 75 degrees and clear
- Cubs at Houston- 68 degrees with roof closed
- LA Dodgers at San Diego- 75 degrees and sunny
Push the start of the season back a week? Well, considering that would push the playoffs back a week and the World Series had to be postponed for 2 days this past year that wouldn't work. But looking at the weather for opening day, there is a solution. We'll do this by league, starting with the senior circuit. There are 5 teams in the west, but Colorado's a bit iffy this time of year, so we'll say we have four teams. Houston and Milwaukee have domes, so that makes 6. Moving onto the east where we have Florida, Atlanta, and I guess you'll have to hope for Washington to have some nice weather. That makes 8 teams that should have good weather so for the first 2 weeks have these cities host home games.
Moving to the AL you have the four teams in the AL West. In Minnesota, Tampa and Toronto you have domes and once again we have 7, which is all we need for 14 teams and you can do the same thing, starting the first two weeks in these cities.
Now this is in noway a full-proof plan. I went to a game last year on April 26th that was delayed for 3 hours due to cold weather and a snow/rain mix, but this is just a way to improve Opening Day, not to get rid of delays completely.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Smoke Break
When I first fully immersed myself in baseball, the biggest concern was getting a good number for your Little League jersey. I wore jersey number 9. Now the number 9, as in a 9 p.m. start for west coast games upsets my sleep schedule for the rest of the week.
It’s funny how your perception of a certain sport changes over time.
Growing up, the Oakland Athletics were the lead villains in the theatre of the diamond. Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco were the sluggers getting big on the same workout routine, prayer sessions and Flintstone Vitamins that Hulk Hogan used to create his chiseled frame.
Now I know Canseco and McGwire were injecting some of those Flintstones Vitamins into their Bedrocks. The vitamins might have helped them Bam-Bam the ball, but those injections also shrunk their Barney Rubbles.
Pudge was a nickname given to a great all-around catcher. The man behind the plate had a rocket for an arm (don’t confuse that with Jay Buhner) and one with a direct line to the baseball gods. How else could anyone wave a homerun ball into fair territory?
Given the nickname “Pudge” as a twenty-something baseball fan and you should probably take more swings in the batting cage and less Sliders in the dugout.
Randy Johnson has been “The Big Unit,” throughout my entire life. In intermediate school he was an intimidating, dominating pitcher whose greatest asset was his fastball, followed by his presence on the mound.
He still remains an intimidating pitcher, but now I realize he won’t have to go on the card show circuit when he retires. Royalties from the use of his nickname in adult movies will make him a rich man for a long time.
Slump busters…well slump busters still mean the same thing.
Chris Berman was this neat big man who cleverly mixed “Three Stooges” sound effects in when anyone would bobble a ball in the infield. How fun it was to see this red-faced man, busting with excitement and high cholesterol work into a fervor and yell, “Back, back bac, bac bac, back,” as someone hit a homerun.
Now Chris Berman is the obnoxious big man who refused to leave the ESPN Never Land of the mid 1990’s and still uses the same folksy catchphrases. I later learned his face is not red from excitement over McLemore, Mark but Maker’s Mark. Leather, you’re still with him.
The Ryan Express explained the dominance of Mr. Nolan, the greatest strikeout pitchers of all-time.
Today, I venture to guess that Mrs. Ryan was undoubtedly late even if she jumped on the Ryan Express at the right time.
Even amidst shifting perceptions of baseball, there are some things that still hold true after all these years. John Kruk is fat, Vin Scully is the best voice of the game and Ron Santo chooses to ignore the importance of paying attention. It hasn’t changed my love affair with the game. It’s always good to see an old friend.
Welcome back baseball.
It’s funny how your perception of a certain sport changes over time.
Growing up, the Oakland Athletics were the lead villains in the theatre of the diamond. Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco were the sluggers getting big on the same workout routine, prayer sessions and Flintstone Vitamins that Hulk Hogan used to create his chiseled frame.
Now I know Canseco and McGwire were injecting some of those Flintstones Vitamins into their Bedrocks. The vitamins might have helped them Bam-Bam the ball, but those injections also shrunk their Barney Rubbles.
Pudge was a nickname given to a great all-around catcher. The man behind the plate had a rocket for an arm (don’t confuse that with Jay Buhner) and one with a direct line to the baseball gods. How else could anyone wave a homerun ball into fair territory?
Given the nickname “Pudge” as a twenty-something baseball fan and you should probably take more swings in the batting cage and less Sliders in the dugout.
Randy Johnson has been “The Big Unit,” throughout my entire life. In intermediate school he was an intimidating, dominating pitcher whose greatest asset was his fastball, followed by his presence on the mound.
He still remains an intimidating pitcher, but now I realize he won’t have to go on the card show circuit when he retires. Royalties from the use of his nickname in adult movies will make him a rich man for a long time.
Slump busters…well slump busters still mean the same thing.
Chris Berman was this neat big man who cleverly mixed “Three Stooges” sound effects in when anyone would bobble a ball in the infield. How fun it was to see this red-faced man, busting with excitement and high cholesterol work into a fervor and yell, “Back, back bac, bac bac, back,” as someone hit a homerun.
Now Chris Berman is the obnoxious big man who refused to leave the ESPN Never Land of the mid 1990’s and still uses the same folksy catchphrases. I later learned his face is not red from excitement over McLemore, Mark but Maker’s Mark. Leather, you’re still with him.
The Ryan Express explained the dominance of Mr. Nolan, the greatest strikeout pitchers of all-time.
Today, I venture to guess that Mrs. Ryan was undoubtedly late even if she jumped on the Ryan Express at the right time.
Even amidst shifting perceptions of baseball, there are some things that still hold true after all these years. John Kruk is fat, Vin Scully is the best voice of the game and Ron Santo chooses to ignore the importance of paying attention. It hasn’t changed my love affair with the game. It’s always good to see an old friend.
Welcome back baseball.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Realizations
One Shining Moment
There are three things that make me openly cry whenever I watch them on TV. The first being the final episode of Saved By The Bell when Zack must participate in the Bayside Ballet in order to obtain his final credit for graduation. Hugging Mr. Belding at the end and thanking all of his friends, it touches my soul. The second thing that makes me cry every time I watch it is when I see Mufasa get trampled by the stampede of wilderbeast in the Lion King. Forcing poor baby Simba to take on his evil uncle Scar all by himself… tragic. The third and final thing that makes me cry every time I watch it is taking place tonight (last night for you readers). One Shining Moment. The anthem of college basketball. Every year at the conclusion of the tournament, CBS puts together a highlight reel from tournament and sets it to the music of One Shining Moment. Written by David Barrett and performed by such artists as Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross, the song One Shining Moment symbolizes everything that is good and right about sports.
The song debuted in 1987, the year Keith Smart was left open on the baseline and the Hoosiers added banner number five to the rafters of Assembly Hall. Ever since then it has been the staple of the NCAA Tournament. Clips of kids diving for loose balls, sulking in agony after being defeated at the buzzer and celebrating with incredible joy after pulling off an epic upset. Every kid openly admits to wanting to be in that video.
The majority of the athletes that have competed in this tournament and all of the tournaments in the past do not go on to become professionals. There are no shoe contracts, no commercials and no V.I.P. treatment at local restaurants and clubs. This is their one moment to be a part of history. This is their One Shining Moment.
College sports will forever be my favorite over anything professional. The reason is quite simple. Every time I watch college athletics I am reminded why sports became such a big part of my life in the first place. Kids giving everything they have for one reason, the pure love of the game they play. Representing their schools and showcasing them to entire nation. One Shining Moment gets it. It is a snapshot of everything great about sports and competition. No one is mailing it in because they just inked their big contract or because they want to secure their spot at the top of next year’s draft lottery.
Maybe I’m getting older, losing some of my energy or maybe I’m just now realizing that when it comes down to it, I am not a big fan of people. Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that I am losing interest in the logistics of sports, the business side and everything negative that comes with it. Some people take pride in being able recite contract figures, who has what agent and the correct corporate names of stadiums and arenas around the country. I call those people losers.
This year more than ever I am going to let the song sink in as I watch the highlights. I am in denial that almost every player in college athletics is younger than me. Sam Young could get the senior citizen discount at my local golf course if he showed up for a tee time. But, it is this same reflection that is forcing me to take a much more enjoyable approach to my sports watching.
Make it pure. Make it fun. Work your butt off on the court and on the field. May the best team win and shake hands after it’s over. Show emotion and passion. I am not naïve enough to think that the business of sports is not important. Money must exchange hands in anything successful. But, for four minutes every year I will allow myself the pleasure of getting back to the basics. Getting back to the love of the game and the love of sports. It makes me feel like I’m alive…
There are three things that make me openly cry whenever I watch them on TV. The first being the final episode of Saved By The Bell when Zack must participate in the Bayside Ballet in order to obtain his final credit for graduation. Hugging Mr. Belding at the end and thanking all of his friends, it touches my soul. The second thing that makes me cry every time I watch it is when I see Mufasa get trampled by the stampede of wilderbeast in the Lion King. Forcing poor baby Simba to take on his evil uncle Scar all by himself… tragic. The third and final thing that makes me cry every time I watch it is taking place tonight (last night for you readers). One Shining Moment. The anthem of college basketball. Every year at the conclusion of the tournament, CBS puts together a highlight reel from tournament and sets it to the music of One Shining Moment. Written by David Barrett and performed by such artists as Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross, the song One Shining Moment symbolizes everything that is good and right about sports.
The song debuted in 1987, the year Keith Smart was left open on the baseline and the Hoosiers added banner number five to the rafters of Assembly Hall. Ever since then it has been the staple of the NCAA Tournament. Clips of kids diving for loose balls, sulking in agony after being defeated at the buzzer and celebrating with incredible joy after pulling off an epic upset. Every kid openly admits to wanting to be in that video.
The majority of the athletes that have competed in this tournament and all of the tournaments in the past do not go on to become professionals. There are no shoe contracts, no commercials and no V.I.P. treatment at local restaurants and clubs. This is their one moment to be a part of history. This is their One Shining Moment.
College sports will forever be my favorite over anything professional. The reason is quite simple. Every time I watch college athletics I am reminded why sports became such a big part of my life in the first place. Kids giving everything they have for one reason, the pure love of the game they play. Representing their schools and showcasing them to entire nation. One Shining Moment gets it. It is a snapshot of everything great about sports and competition. No one is mailing it in because they just inked their big contract or because they want to secure their spot at the top of next year’s draft lottery.
Maybe I’m getting older, losing some of my energy or maybe I’m just now realizing that when it comes down to it, I am not a big fan of people. Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that I am losing interest in the logistics of sports, the business side and everything negative that comes with it. Some people take pride in being able recite contract figures, who has what agent and the correct corporate names of stadiums and arenas around the country. I call those people losers.
This year more than ever I am going to let the song sink in as I watch the highlights. I am in denial that almost every player in college athletics is younger than me. Sam Young could get the senior citizen discount at my local golf course if he showed up for a tee time. But, it is this same reflection that is forcing me to take a much more enjoyable approach to my sports watching.
Make it pure. Make it fun. Work your butt off on the court and on the field. May the best team win and shake hands after it’s over. Show emotion and passion. I am not naïve enough to think that the business of sports is not important. Money must exchange hands in anything successful. But, for four minutes every year I will allow myself the pleasure of getting back to the basics. Getting back to the love of the game and the love of sports. It makes me feel like I’m alive…
Monday, April 6, 2009
AMusings
Welcome to opening day! Many people say that Christmas is their favorite holiday, others enjoy the fourth of July, some even vote for Thanksgiving. Not I. My favorite holiday is today. It is the beginning of a new baseball season. 6 months of unadulterated bliss are ahead of us. Every major league team (even my Pittsburgh Pirates) are in the running.
What we do know from experience is that all of these teams will not remain in the running for too long. As a matter of fact, I heard Dusty Baker and his Cincinnati Reds are already planning for next season. However, in the interest of showing off my psychic abilities, and crushing the hopes of all of you Royals fans, I am going to predict the finishing order of every division in Major League Baseball. It’s kind of like the old Johnny Carson segment “The Great Carson-i” except I wear that hat every day.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
A.L. EAST
1st Place- Boston Red Sox
I am aware that the Red Sox are older and slower, but I think my close personal friend PAPI will be back on his game in 2009.
2nd Place- New York Yankees (Wild Card Winner)
I like Joe Girardi. Some might even go as far as calling him “a good guy” (and those people can borrow Natasha Richardson’s skis anytime they like.) I don’t think Girardi going to be able to lead the Bronx Bombers to an AL East title this year though.
3rd Place- Tampa Bay Rays
I know they are the defending AL champions, but I think they have really upset the two teams above them in these standings, and while I don’t think their run last year was a fluke, I do think the Red Sox and Yankees of least year were.
4th place/5th place- Does it matter? If you live in Toronto or Baltimore just buy the MLB Extra Innings Package and pretend to enjoy the other teams.
A.L CENTRAL
1st Place- Minnesota Twins- It’s finally time for Peter Gammons’ babies to do it.
2nd Place- Cleveland Indians- After a disappointing season last year, I fully expect Cleveland to bounce back. They’re better than they showed in 2008.
3rd Place- Chicago White Sox- They won the division last year, but I think that was the definition of getting hot at the right time. I’m sorry South Siders. Not this year.
4th Place- Detroit Tigers- Based solely on how disappointed everyone was with them last year, I’m not rooting for them anymore.
5th Place- Kansas City Royals- Bad baseball. Bad, Bad, Bad.
A.L. WEST
1st Place- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Northern California on the West Coast of the United States of America in the Western Hemisphere- That’s all you need to know for the AL West. The rest of the teams, which include the baseball juggernauts of Texas, Seattle and Oakland will not compete, and the Angels will be making playoff plans by Labor Day.
-Off topic prediction- Nick’s blog at Milwaukee Bucks. Com will be declared the greatest blog ever. A close second will be PerezHilton.com (AMusings will come in at number 592, right behind CTB’s doppelganger, Rosie O’Donnell.)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.L. EAST
1st Place- New York Mets- In my opinion, they have everything going for them. They have a new ballpark, the best pitcher in the National League (and probably all of major league baseball) and the best batting stance in history, Gary Sheffield.
2nd Place- Atlanta Braves- Bobby Cox (who looks frighteningly like Pope John Paul II) will not be happy to receive this news, but he’s not winning the division this year. Chipper Jones can only hold the offense for so long.
3rd Place- Philadelphia Phillies- This one I’m not too sure on. Ryan Howard is very good, very, very good, but in the words of a friend of mine “He’s too strike-outy”.
4th Place- Florida Marlins- This will not be one of those years where the Marlins come out and surprise everyone. They have too much competition at the top of the division to do that. They’ll be a solid baseball team though. I put them around 80 wins.
5th Place- Washington Nationals- Ugh. Not good.
N.L. CENTRAL
1st Place- Chicago Cubs- That right there…that you can bet your house on. They will win this division by 15 games. Even if they have to battle the “June Swoon” or battle injury, they will still win by 5 games.
2nd Place- Cincinnati Reds- Why not? They have some great young talent, the unfortunate coincidence is that their manager doesn’t know what to do with them. He’s only comfortable bossing Mac Newton around.
3rd Place- Milwaukee Brewers- I love watching the Brewers. They are absolutely one of my favorite teams to watch, but with only Gallardo on the pitching staff, they won’t be able to compete.
4th Place- St. Louis Cardinals- Old. Bad. Angry. Old. Not fast. Not good. Old.
5th Place- (My) Pittsburgh Pirates- The Pirates haven’t been above .500 since their last playoff appearance in 1992. This year will be no different.
6th Place- Houston Astros- God help the people of Houston.
-Off topic prediction- CTB will get so tired of hearing about Jay Cutler, he will become a Packers fan just for spite.
N.L. WEST
1st Place- Los Angeles Dodgers- MANNY! MR. MANNY! The fact they will have Manny playing at his highest ability, combined with Joe Torre, there shouldn’t be too much trouble winning this division for Vin Scully’s boys.
2nd Place- Arizona Diamondbacks (Wild Card Winners)- Everyone gets excited by Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, and rightfully so, but I have no idea who their 3, 4 and 5 are. Their lineup also leaves something to be desired.
3rd Place- Colorado Rockies- I like their pitching staff. It won’t matter though, because you could hit a homerun in Denver using a toothpick.
4th Place- San Francisco Giants- Better than last year, but not good by any stretch of the imagination.
5th Place- San Diego Padres- They will be a good team until Mr. Peavy makes bye bye’s and then it’s going to be real bad news.
Playoff Predictions? Sure why not.
NLDS- Cubs d. Diamondbacks
NLDS- Mets d. Dodgers
NLCS- Cubs d. Mets
ALDS- Yankees d. Angels
ALDS- Red Sox d. Twins
ALCS- Red Sox d. Yankees
World Series- Red Sox d. Cubs (I’m sorry.)
There you have my predictions. You can feel free to place money on these things based on what I have said, but I wouldn’t suggest it.
What we do know from experience is that all of these teams will not remain in the running for too long. As a matter of fact, I heard Dusty Baker and his Cincinnati Reds are already planning for next season. However, in the interest of showing off my psychic abilities, and crushing the hopes of all of you Royals fans, I am going to predict the finishing order of every division in Major League Baseball. It’s kind of like the old Johnny Carson segment “The Great Carson-i” except I wear that hat every day.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
A.L. EAST
1st Place- Boston Red Sox
I am aware that the Red Sox are older and slower, but I think my close personal friend PAPI will be back on his game in 2009.
2nd Place- New York Yankees (Wild Card Winner)
I like Joe Girardi. Some might even go as far as calling him “a good guy” (and those people can borrow Natasha Richardson’s skis anytime they like.) I don’t think Girardi going to be able to lead the Bronx Bombers to an AL East title this year though.
3rd Place- Tampa Bay Rays
I know they are the defending AL champions, but I think they have really upset the two teams above them in these standings, and while I don’t think their run last year was a fluke, I do think the Red Sox and Yankees of least year were.
4th place/5th place- Does it matter? If you live in Toronto or Baltimore just buy the MLB Extra Innings Package and pretend to enjoy the other teams.
A.L CENTRAL
1st Place- Minnesota Twins- It’s finally time for Peter Gammons’ babies to do it.
2nd Place- Cleveland Indians- After a disappointing season last year, I fully expect Cleveland to bounce back. They’re better than they showed in 2008.
3rd Place- Chicago White Sox- They won the division last year, but I think that was the definition of getting hot at the right time. I’m sorry South Siders. Not this year.
4th Place- Detroit Tigers- Based solely on how disappointed everyone was with them last year, I’m not rooting for them anymore.
5th Place- Kansas City Royals- Bad baseball. Bad, Bad, Bad.
A.L. WEST
1st Place- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Northern California on the West Coast of the United States of America in the Western Hemisphere- That’s all you need to know for the AL West. The rest of the teams, which include the baseball juggernauts of Texas, Seattle and Oakland will not compete, and the Angels will be making playoff plans by Labor Day.
-Off topic prediction- Nick’s blog at Milwaukee Bucks. Com will be declared the greatest blog ever. A close second will be PerezHilton.com (AMusings will come in at number 592, right behind CTB’s doppelganger, Rosie O’Donnell.)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.L. EAST
1st Place- New York Mets- In my opinion, they have everything going for them. They have a new ballpark, the best pitcher in the National League (and probably all of major league baseball) and the best batting stance in history, Gary Sheffield.
2nd Place- Atlanta Braves- Bobby Cox (who looks frighteningly like Pope John Paul II) will not be happy to receive this news, but he’s not winning the division this year. Chipper Jones can only hold the offense for so long.
3rd Place- Philadelphia Phillies- This one I’m not too sure on. Ryan Howard is very good, very, very good, but in the words of a friend of mine “He’s too strike-outy”.
4th Place- Florida Marlins- This will not be one of those years where the Marlins come out and surprise everyone. They have too much competition at the top of the division to do that. They’ll be a solid baseball team though. I put them around 80 wins.
5th Place- Washington Nationals- Ugh. Not good.
N.L. CENTRAL
1st Place- Chicago Cubs- That right there…that you can bet your house on. They will win this division by 15 games. Even if they have to battle the “June Swoon” or battle injury, they will still win by 5 games.
2nd Place- Cincinnati Reds- Why not? They have some great young talent, the unfortunate coincidence is that their manager doesn’t know what to do with them. He’s only comfortable bossing Mac Newton around.
3rd Place- Milwaukee Brewers- I love watching the Brewers. They are absolutely one of my favorite teams to watch, but with only Gallardo on the pitching staff, they won’t be able to compete.
4th Place- St. Louis Cardinals- Old. Bad. Angry. Old. Not fast. Not good. Old.
5th Place- (My) Pittsburgh Pirates- The Pirates haven’t been above .500 since their last playoff appearance in 1992. This year will be no different.
6th Place- Houston Astros- God help the people of Houston.
-Off topic prediction- CTB will get so tired of hearing about Jay Cutler, he will become a Packers fan just for spite.
N.L. WEST
1st Place- Los Angeles Dodgers- MANNY! MR. MANNY! The fact they will have Manny playing at his highest ability, combined with Joe Torre, there shouldn’t be too much trouble winning this division for Vin Scully’s boys.
2nd Place- Arizona Diamondbacks (Wild Card Winners)- Everyone gets excited by Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, and rightfully so, but I have no idea who their 3, 4 and 5 are. Their lineup also leaves something to be desired.
3rd Place- Colorado Rockies- I like their pitching staff. It won’t matter though, because you could hit a homerun in Denver using a toothpick.
4th Place- San Francisco Giants- Better than last year, but not good by any stretch of the imagination.
5th Place- San Diego Padres- They will be a good team until Mr. Peavy makes bye bye’s and then it’s going to be real bad news.
Playoff Predictions? Sure why not.
NLDS- Cubs d. Diamondbacks
NLDS- Mets d. Dodgers
NLCS- Cubs d. Mets
ALDS- Yankees d. Angels
ALDS- Red Sox d. Twins
ALCS- Red Sox d. Yankees
World Series- Red Sox d. Cubs (I’m sorry.)
There you have my predictions. You can feel free to place money on these things based on what I have said, but I wouldn’t suggest it.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday Night Lights
Grades Bad, Settled for a Juco
"I could hoop yo, all-American my age group yo
Grades bad, settled for a juco"
-- Cam'ron
Amid the excitement of, you know, the other four college basketball teams still vying for a national championship, word came out of Milwaukee yesterday that Marquette University signed junior-college transfer Darius Johnson-Odom, an explosive combination guard out of Hutchinson (Kansas) Junior College. To be sure, self-coronated recruiting guru Buzz Williams and his staff need to find viable replacements for the terrific trio of Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal, and there's no doubt that Johnson-Odom can play, averaging over 22 points per game while battling tough competition at his level.
But oh, that level. For all of his faults, not least of which was the manner he departed the school, former coach Tom Crean primarily recruited four-year players who earned their degrees after their time at Marquette. Rarely did Crean take risks on junior college players (one of his jucos, Mike Kinsella, actually played at academically impossible Rice prior to injuring his ankle and going the juco route), and rarely were there more than two on the roster at any one given time. This strategy dovetailed nicely with Father Robert Wild tightening admissions standards, making MU-rah-rah far more selective in the process. All outward appearances, and NCAA graduation rates in the nineties, pointed to one conclusion: Tom Crean ran a team that was truly comprised of scholar-athletes.
Fast-forward just one year and one day from Crean's early April, 2008 departure to Indiana. Williams has now brought six junior-college players into the program. First, there was the Tyler tandem of Joe Fulce and Jimmy Butler. The former was hobbled by knee injuries for most of the season, yet he did turn in an energetic performance at Providence that helped the team to perhaps their best road victory of the season. Butler was a solid contributor all year, pulling down key rebounds and making strong drives throughout the Golden Eagles' stretch run.
Milwaukee natives Dwight Buycks and Monterale Clark were added to the roster as Buzz's tenure progressed, Buycks for the 2009 season, and Clark for the 2010 campaign. Canadian Liam McMorrow entered the fold as well, eligible for the 2009 season provided that his health improves. Then came yesterday's signing of Johnson-Odom. 2010's roster will feature at least six junior college players, quite the sea change for the humble Midwestern program.
For those that are unfamiliar with the reputation problems plaguing players that hail from junior colleges, the New York Times does a pretty good job of explaining, as does the AD at Blinn College, a noted juco in Texas:
Why does it matter? Well, I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it's not all that important, though the requirements mentioned by Blinn's AD can be easily met by even below average students. But I'll try to explain. Some alumni brag about their school' s postseason record, despite the fact that their alma mater is a diploma mill on the order of, say, the University of Wisconsin. Others like to talk up academic records -- "Well, we may not win, but we play the game the right way." Under the tenure of Tom Crean, and during the season immediately following his, with his core group of players, Marquette was both. It's an honor shared by very few teams. We won and we played the right way.
Perhaps we'll still win. Perhaps these jucos will prove me wrong; they could be academic all-stars who wanted to take a shot at high-major programs after a year or two of refinement. Just count me as an alumni who hopes for the best interest of his alma mater, on and off the court.
"I could hoop yo, all-American my age group yo
Grades bad, settled for a juco"
-- Cam'ron
Amid the excitement of, you know, the other four college basketball teams still vying for a national championship, word came out of Milwaukee yesterday that Marquette University signed junior-college transfer Darius Johnson-Odom, an explosive combination guard out of Hutchinson (Kansas) Junior College. To be sure, self-coronated recruiting guru Buzz Williams and his staff need to find viable replacements for the terrific trio of Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal, and there's no doubt that Johnson-Odom can play, averaging over 22 points per game while battling tough competition at his level.
But oh, that level. For all of his faults, not least of which was the manner he departed the school, former coach Tom Crean primarily recruited four-year players who earned their degrees after their time at Marquette. Rarely did Crean take risks on junior college players (one of his jucos, Mike Kinsella, actually played at academically impossible Rice prior to injuring his ankle and going the juco route), and rarely were there more than two on the roster at any one given time. This strategy dovetailed nicely with Father Robert Wild tightening admissions standards, making MU-rah-rah far more selective in the process. All outward appearances, and NCAA graduation rates in the nineties, pointed to one conclusion: Tom Crean ran a team that was truly comprised of scholar-athletes.
Fast-forward just one year and one day from Crean's early April, 2008 departure to Indiana. Williams has now brought six junior-college players into the program. First, there was the Tyler tandem of Joe Fulce and Jimmy Butler. The former was hobbled by knee injuries for most of the season, yet he did turn in an energetic performance at Providence that helped the team to perhaps their best road victory of the season. Butler was a solid contributor all year, pulling down key rebounds and making strong drives throughout the Golden Eagles' stretch run.
Milwaukee natives Dwight Buycks and Monterale Clark were added to the roster as Buzz's tenure progressed, Buycks for the 2009 season, and Clark for the 2010 campaign. Canadian Liam McMorrow entered the fold as well, eligible for the 2009 season provided that his health improves. Then came yesterday's signing of Johnson-Odom. 2010's roster will feature at least six junior college players, quite the sea change for the humble Midwestern program.
For those that are unfamiliar with the reputation problems plaguing players that hail from junior colleges, the New York Times does a pretty good job of explaining, as does the AD at Blinn College, a noted juco in Texas:
“We provide an opportunity to those kids who don’t meet N.C.A.A. academic requirements, to enable them to continue academic careers. Whether right or wrong, a lot of them wouldn’t go to college if athletic avenues weren’t available to them.”
Why does it matter? Well, I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it's not all that important, though the requirements mentioned by Blinn's AD can be easily met by even below average students. But I'll try to explain. Some alumni brag about their school' s postseason record, despite the fact that their alma mater is a diploma mill on the order of, say, the University of Wisconsin. Others like to talk up academic records -- "Well, we may not win, but we play the game the right way." Under the tenure of Tom Crean, and during the season immediately following his, with his core group of players, Marquette was both. It's an honor shared by very few teams. We won and we played the right way.
Perhaps we'll still win. Perhaps these jucos will prove me wrong; they could be academic all-stars who wanted to take a shot at high-major programs after a year or two of refinement. Just count me as an alumni who hopes for the best interest of his alma mater, on and off the court.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Cousin Bink's Country Beer Jamboree
Volume 1, Issue 7
I've been a Chicago Bears since birth. I remember little details from 1992 season. I asked Mark Carrier who is favorite teammate was as an 8 year old on the Dave Wannstedt Show (it was Big Cat Williams). And since I've been watching the Bears have never had a decent quarterback for more than a year. Sure Erik Kramer had a good year in 1995 and Rex Grossman looked like an MVP for the first six games in 2006, but then bad Rex came out.
And now the Bears, and most Bears fans seem satisfied with Kyle Orton. Why? Is it because he's a good "game manager"? When's the last time some one called Peyton Manning or Tom Brady a "game manager"? You don't because it's code for not a good quarterback, like saying a baseball player is a great utility player, which means they're not good enough to start anywhere on the field. Is it the love of Orton's neck beard clouding Bear's fans judgement? I would hope Bear's fans would be a bit more sophisticated, seeing as how the Bears are the oldest team in the NFL. But then every time there's a below zero weather game I see shirtless idiots who have the "original" idea of spelling out B-E-A-R-S on their chests I question the sanity of Bear's fans the world over.
The Bears don't need a game manager, unless they want to go 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7 every year. And for once an option is out there that doesn't involve signing away other team retreads (read Jeff Blake, Brian Griese, Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler). No, Jay Cutler wants out of Denver in the worst way and it's well known. What would it cost the Bears? A first round pick and maybe a few second day picks? Well, looking at Jerry Angelo’s track record for first round picks (Chris Williams, Cedric Benson, Michael Haynes, Rex Grossman, Marc Columbo, and David Terrel) I don't see that as that big of a sacrifice.
Common Bear's fans arguments against getting Cutler:
1. He hasn't been exposed to Bear weather and wouldn't be able to handle the harsh December Bear's games.
Counter-Argument: He's played in Denver for 3 years. It's snowing in Denver mid-way through October, unlike mid-late October in Chicago.
2. He's a cry-baby and would be a team cancer.
Counter-Argument: He only raised an argument after his new coach tried to trade for Matt Cassel and none of his teammates have ever complained about him.
3. He doesn't play "Bear-style" football and wouldn't hand the ball off in cold weather (Bear-weather).
Counter-Argument: This one's actually true. He'd be able to pass the ball for a win if needed.
So c'mon Jerry and Lovie. Get the Bears fans something they deserve, a quarterback. Jay Cutler may not be a "game manager" or "field general," he'd just be the Bears most talented quarterback since, well ever.
I've been a Chicago Bears since birth. I remember little details from 1992 season. I asked Mark Carrier who is favorite teammate was as an 8 year old on the Dave Wannstedt Show (it was Big Cat Williams). And since I've been watching the Bears have never had a decent quarterback for more than a year. Sure Erik Kramer had a good year in 1995 and Rex Grossman looked like an MVP for the first six games in 2006, but then bad Rex came out.
And now the Bears, and most Bears fans seem satisfied with Kyle Orton. Why? Is it because he's a good "game manager"? When's the last time some one called Peyton Manning or Tom Brady a "game manager"? You don't because it's code for not a good quarterback, like saying a baseball player is a great utility player, which means they're not good enough to start anywhere on the field. Is it the love of Orton's neck beard clouding Bear's fans judgement? I would hope Bear's fans would be a bit more sophisticated, seeing as how the Bears are the oldest team in the NFL. But then every time there's a below zero weather game I see shirtless idiots who have the "original" idea of spelling out B-E-A-R-S on their chests I question the sanity of Bear's fans the world over.
The Bears don't need a game manager, unless they want to go 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7 every year. And for once an option is out there that doesn't involve signing away other team retreads (read Jeff Blake, Brian Griese, Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler). No, Jay Cutler wants out of Denver in the worst way and it's well known. What would it cost the Bears? A first round pick and maybe a few second day picks? Well, looking at Jerry Angelo’s track record for first round picks (Chris Williams, Cedric Benson, Michael Haynes, Rex Grossman, Marc Columbo, and David Terrel) I don't see that as that big of a sacrifice.
Common Bear's fans arguments against getting Cutler:
1. He hasn't been exposed to Bear weather and wouldn't be able to handle the harsh December Bear's games.
Counter-Argument: He's played in Denver for 3 years. It's snowing in Denver mid-way through October, unlike mid-late October in Chicago.
2. He's a cry-baby and would be a team cancer.
Counter-Argument: He only raised an argument after his new coach tried to trade for Matt Cassel and none of his teammates have ever complained about him.
3. He doesn't play "Bear-style" football and wouldn't hand the ball off in cold weather (Bear-weather).
Counter-Argument: This one's actually true. He'd be able to pass the ball for a win if needed.
So c'mon Jerry and Lovie. Get the Bears fans something they deserve, a quarterback. Jay Cutler may not be a "game manager" or "field general," he'd just be the Bears most talented quarterback since, well ever.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Smoke Break
Is there such a thing as Midwestern cool? People in the entertainment world say Johnny Carson had it. He passed it off to David Letterman. Maybe it wasn’t the soup de jour for NBC --- northeastern hokey with the interview skills of Stuttering John suited their liking --- but the smiling, self-deprecating manner of this group superbly masks self-determination. The vestige of success doesn’t eliminate humility.
Look no further than East Lansing, Michigan. A good guy (Author’s Note: The author does not use the phrase “good guy” that often. In this instance he is borrowing the phrase from his Uncle Stan. The author thinks most people deserve to be pelted with road apples) has built a dominant basketball program at Michigan State.
This is not Duke where the aloof Polish guy from Chicago built a basketball monarchy and morphed from city guy with a long last name to scowling sideline nitwit after his team last won the national title in 2001.
Don’t confuse it with a Kentucky program where the only thing greater than a fan’s expectations for the basketball program is the number of incestuous relationships with first and second cousins.
The Spartan program is neither past its heyday nor saddled with insurmountable expectations thanks to Tom Izzo.
Izzo is New York City without the traffic and Milwaukee without the smell. He’s won and continued to win in his 14 years as the head basketball coach, five of the past twelve that have included Final Four appearances and one national title. Most of all, he is a good guy.
There’s that tag again. I hate to use it, but I find no faults with Izzo.
I admire the fact that he sometimes agrees with the refs instead of his own players when calls go against the Spartans. Kalin Lucas was called for an offensive foul in Michigan State’s Elite Eight game with Louisville. Lucas accepted the call like most players with a head full of steam would: complete denial and angst directed towards the officials. Lucas looked to Izzo who had witnessed the play up close. Izzo tilted his head and in a scene right out of “Analyze This,” told Lucas, “Yes you did. Yes you did.” He then shot a pillow with a semiautomatic weapon at halftime (ok, that didn’t happen).
Then there are the Midnight Madness events to kick off the basketball season. To begin the 2007-2008 season, Izzo dressed up as a Spartan and rode into the Breslin Center on a horse wearing a coat of arms and brandishing a sword. This year to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of Michigan State’s National Championship, Izzo donned a long-haired wig, bellbottom jeans and a tie-dye shirt. Some might view this as Izzo’s inner-urge to host a variety show screaming out. I like to think of it as a man so down to earth he’s not above clowning to the fans.
And oh yeah, the celebration of a national title team to kickoff the 2008-2009 season? Most coaches want to distance themselves completely from the past; god forbid the celebration puts pressure on the current headman to win. It’s important to separate the present from the past because the reminders of the past raise expectations of the here and now. One of the first people who congratulated Izzo on the court after the win on Sunday’s was Magic Johnson. He made the 30-year anniversary possible 30 years ago.
Will Izzo stay at Michigan State forever? No one knows. He’s flirted with the NBA once and his name pops up when anyone mentions the Arizona opening, but he’s done a remarkable job at Michigan State. Should he change jobs you best believe the same grounded person with Midwestern cool and violent mannerisms will stay true to form. A hell of a coach and a “good guy.” You're good you.
Look no further than East Lansing, Michigan. A good guy (Author’s Note: The author does not use the phrase “good guy” that often. In this instance he is borrowing the phrase from his Uncle Stan. The author thinks most people deserve to be pelted with road apples) has built a dominant basketball program at Michigan State.
This is not Duke where the aloof Polish guy from Chicago built a basketball monarchy and morphed from city guy with a long last name to scowling sideline nitwit after his team last won the national title in 2001.
Don’t confuse it with a Kentucky program where the only thing greater than a fan’s expectations for the basketball program is the number of incestuous relationships with first and second cousins.
The Spartan program is neither past its heyday nor saddled with insurmountable expectations thanks to Tom Izzo.
Izzo is New York City without the traffic and Milwaukee without the smell. He’s won and continued to win in his 14 years as the head basketball coach, five of the past twelve that have included Final Four appearances and one national title. Most of all, he is a good guy.
There’s that tag again. I hate to use it, but I find no faults with Izzo.
I admire the fact that he sometimes agrees with the refs instead of his own players when calls go against the Spartans. Kalin Lucas was called for an offensive foul in Michigan State’s Elite Eight game with Louisville. Lucas accepted the call like most players with a head full of steam would: complete denial and angst directed towards the officials. Lucas looked to Izzo who had witnessed the play up close. Izzo tilted his head and in a scene right out of “Analyze This,” told Lucas, “Yes you did. Yes you did.” He then shot a pillow with a semiautomatic weapon at halftime (ok, that didn’t happen).
Then there are the Midnight Madness events to kick off the basketball season. To begin the 2007-2008 season, Izzo dressed up as a Spartan and rode into the Breslin Center on a horse wearing a coat of arms and brandishing a sword. This year to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of Michigan State’s National Championship, Izzo donned a long-haired wig, bellbottom jeans and a tie-dye shirt. Some might view this as Izzo’s inner-urge to host a variety show screaming out. I like to think of it as a man so down to earth he’s not above clowning to the fans.
And oh yeah, the celebration of a national title team to kickoff the 2008-2009 season? Most coaches want to distance themselves completely from the past; god forbid the celebration puts pressure on the current headman to win. It’s important to separate the present from the past because the reminders of the past raise expectations of the here and now. One of the first people who congratulated Izzo on the court after the win on Sunday’s was Magic Johnson. He made the 30-year anniversary possible 30 years ago.
Will Izzo stay at Michigan State forever? No one knows. He’s flirted with the NBA once and his name pops up when anyone mentions the Arizona opening, but he’s done a remarkable job at Michigan State. Should he change jobs you best believe the same grounded person with Midwestern cool and violent mannerisms will stay true to form. A hell of a coach and a “good guy.” You're good you.
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