This is getting a little away from the Charlie Weis on the hot seat post...so I'll reiterate my position on that again for those of you who might have missed it. Burn his ass. Get him gone, the sooner the better.
On to other thoughts...
Let me preface this by saying I DON'T LIKE THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH. I don't like Fat Charlie. I don't like Jimmy Clausen. Going back, I didn't like Brady Quinn. Or Rick Mirer. Or the Bus. I couldn't stand Michael Stonebreaker, or the Rocket. I didn't care for Joe Theisman. And I never liked Paul Hornung. And Lou Holtz? Hate is not strong enough a word.
But I will argue this. Like them or hate them, Notre Dame is the most popular team in college football, both pro and con. No team, not Florida, not Texas, not USC, not Bama, inspires the feelings Notre Dame does. You ask people in, for example, OKC what they think of Texas, and you might get an 'I hate the Horns. Pokes Rule.' response. Ask them what they think about Penn State, and you probably will get some equivalent of 'I really don't give a rats ass'. Ask someone in State College what they think of Texas and you'll likely get, again, the who gives a rats ass response, followed by a 'JoePa RULES!'. But in both places, you ask someone, what they think of Notre Dame, and you'll get a definite response, either positive or negative. And the same is likely true all across the country.
People will have many reasons why they hate Notre Dame, from their allegedly weak schedule, to their special treatment by the BCS, from their independent status to the Saturday afternoon telecast on N(otredame)BC. Do they have their own television contract? Yes. Why? Because people watch. And NBC makes money off them. They can pull ratings nationwide like no other school can week in week out. Sure, Texas can pull ratings for the Red River Shootout. But no one outside of Texas wants to see them play Baylor. As for their schedule, they played 10 games this season against BCS opponents. Few teams do that. Bama doesn't. Florida doesn't. Texas doesn't. SC did this year. Neither did Oklahoma or OK State did. They also played Nevada who have gone to bowls four years in a row. And Navy. Who they will play because the Mids scheduling games against the Irish during the War kept the school from going under. It's tradition.
As for the difficulty of their schedule, Jeff Sagarin rates them having the 20th toughest schedule in the country, tougher than every team in the top 12 of the BCS other than Georgia Tech and Oregon. They've also NEVER scheduled a 1-AA or D-2 opponent. Ever. It's them, SC, and UCLA. That's it.
And yes, they are given special consideration for BCS bowl bids. Because the bowls are about selling tickets. And Notre Dame puts asses in the seats, pure and simple. In the stadium or in front of the TV, Notre Dame puts asses down to watch better than anyone. You want an example? 60,000 people came to see Notre Dame vs. Washington State. In a regular season game. IN SAN ANTONIO.
Finally, yes, the Irish are an independent. But why should Notre Dame WANT to join a conference? What's in it for the Irish? If they win 9 games and finish in the top 8 of the BCS they go to a game automatically. They go to a conference, they lose that exception. Of course the Big East and the Big 10 would want them. So would any conference in their right mind. They'd bring media, fans, tv ratings, sponsors, and MONEY. So if they get all this on their own, why bother joining a conference and having to share?
So why should we care if the Irish are good? Because it's tough to hate a team thats mediocre. Ask Gator fans if the games against Free Shoes U have lost some of their lustre now that the 'Noles stink. Ask a Duck fan (like me) if the Civil War means more now that Moo U. doesn't suck. (Hell yeah, it does). Even if you hate the team, its tough to hate a team that loses 7 games a year. And one more reason...Notre Dame is about tradition. It's about the Golden Dome. And Touchdown Jesus. And the Rock. And 'Win One for the Gipper'. It's about the Green Jerseys against USC, and Montana in the Ice in the Cotton Bowl. It's about 7 heisman winners, and 11 national championships. It's about the fight song, and it's about 'Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore their names are Death, Destruction, Pestilence, and Famine. But those are aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Crowley, Miller and Layden.' Notre Dame is everyone's rival. Seeing them on your schedule is special because of the tradition and the history. Beating them should be too. And I want Notre Dame to be as good as they can be. If only so that kicking the crap out of them will mean something again.
And they should fire Charlie. Because they'll suck until they do.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Charlie Weis on the Hot Seat?
I'm not an Irish fan by a longshot. But college football is better when Notre Dame is better. And Charlie isn't making the Irish better.
Charlie Weis has been given everything that Ty Willingham wasn't given at Notre Dame. He wanted a lighter schedule...and he's got a lighter schedule. He wanted academic standards lessened for incoming recruits, and he got it. And he's failed miserably. He's never beaten USC. EVER. (Hell, John Cooper even beat Michigan a couple times). He has (I think I'm getting this right) never beaten a team that finished the season with fewer than 4 losses. He's lost to Navy. TWICE. He lost to Syracuse.
Just as it takes a very special coach to be able to make the transition from successful college coach to successful pro coach, it takes just as special a coach to make the transition the other way. Pete Carroll is the exception, not the rule. And I think Fat Charlie is falling more into the Bill Callahan mode than anything resembling a success.
The hue and cry when Ty Willingham was let go was that Notre Dame had ALWAYS given their coaches five years. Gerry Faust got five years. Bob Davie got 5 years. They didn't win. They were fired .Charlie's had his 5. He's 35-25. And right now, they stink. And there is one common denominator in their Stinkitude. And that's Charlie. He can't blame Ty for leaving the cupboard bare (although it was Ty's players that got him to his 2 BCS games). His players. His coaches. His record. His failures.
There is one thing that is keeping Charlie at ND right now, and it isn't the money. It's Notre Dame not wanting a repeat of the fiasco that went on when they hired Weis. They won't put themselves in the position (again) of getting shined by their number 1 guy (Urban Meyer). Or their #2 guy (Mike Bellotti). If there's a search going on, it's going on now; they'll have the new coach signed, sealed, and delivered before they pull the trigger on Weis. Charlie's done. We know it. He knows it. ND is just waiting until they've gone to Home Depot to get the New Head Shovel before they start throwing dirt on his coffin.
Charlie Weis has been given everything that Ty Willingham wasn't given at Notre Dame. He wanted a lighter schedule...and he's got a lighter schedule. He wanted academic standards lessened for incoming recruits, and he got it. And he's failed miserably. He's never beaten USC. EVER. (Hell, John Cooper even beat Michigan a couple times). He has (I think I'm getting this right) never beaten a team that finished the season with fewer than 4 losses. He's lost to Navy. TWICE. He lost to Syracuse.
Just as it takes a very special coach to be able to make the transition from successful college coach to successful pro coach, it takes just as special a coach to make the transition the other way. Pete Carroll is the exception, not the rule. And I think Fat Charlie is falling more into the Bill Callahan mode than anything resembling a success.
The hue and cry when Ty Willingham was let go was that Notre Dame had ALWAYS given their coaches five years. Gerry Faust got five years. Bob Davie got 5 years. They didn't win. They were fired .Charlie's had his 5. He's 35-25. And right now, they stink. And there is one common denominator in their Stinkitude. And that's Charlie. He can't blame Ty for leaving the cupboard bare (although it was Ty's players that got him to his 2 BCS games). His players. His coaches. His record. His failures.
There is one thing that is keeping Charlie at ND right now, and it isn't the money. It's Notre Dame not wanting a repeat of the fiasco that went on when they hired Weis. They won't put themselves in the position (again) of getting shined by their number 1 guy (Urban Meyer). Or their #2 guy (Mike Bellotti). If there's a search going on, it's going on now; they'll have the new coach signed, sealed, and delivered before they pull the trigger on Weis. Charlie's done. We know it. He knows it. ND is just waiting until they've gone to Home Depot to get the New Head Shovel before they start throwing dirt on his coffin.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thinking on a Tuesday Morning
It's tough being a college football fan in an NFL town. That being said, this past weekend was still great.
A few random thoughts.
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times for the Oregon Ducks. A season that had all the (forgive the pun) ducks in a row for greatness essentially ended on the Smurf Turf in Boise. They had it all; Jeremiah Masoli returning at QB, LeGarrette Blount in the backfield, USC, Cal, and Moo U. (Oregon State for you non-duck fans out there) at Autzen. It was all going to be sooo perfect.
Thud.
By the way, that urban legend about ducks mistaking the Smurf Turf in Boise for a lake and crashing into it? Yeah. I think no first downs until the third quarter pretty much proved that one isn't a myth at all.
Then, to top it all off, LeGarrette 'We Owe this team an a** whoopin'' Blount, gets taunted by some BSU twit, sucker punches him...and then attempts to fight the fans, his teammates, the cops, the North Idaho Potato Growers CoOp, and anything he can get his hands on.
And then it gets better. Seriously. How many times have you seen something like this happen? Player breaks team rules. Coach says 'We will discipline him internally'. Player misses home game against Dumptruck Community College. Player sees the error of his ways....miraculously coming back before the Big Game.
Except this time it didn't happen. LeGarrette Blount is done playing football at Oregon. Chip Kelly (and Bellotti) suspended him for the season. It didn't matter that the Ducks really don't have a backup running back. Or that LB was REALLY good. They drew the line in the sand. They said 'This is not acceptable behavior at Oregon. This behavior will not be tolerated. You will no longer have the privilege of wearing the Green and Yellow. And White...and Pewter...and Black.'
Thank you Chip. Thank you Coach Bellotti. Thank you for putting principle ahead of wins. Thank you for realizing that being a college football player does not abrogate you from following the rules of common society.
Now please don't change your minds and let him come back.
Is there any 18 year old you'd rather be than Matt Barkley? Movie star looks, a rocket arm, and the most prestigious starting job in college football. Quarterback. USC Trojans.
Anybody but me think it's ironic (and absurd) to hear the words 'loyalty' and 'trust' come out of the mouth of Rich Rodriguez?
Miami beat Florida State last night. Hey, at least you can't blame this one on Gerry Thomas or Dan Mowrey.
They paint the Notre Dame helmets with gold paint before every game. Lou Holtz was the head coach for the Irish. Anyone else think someone locked Lou in the paint room one too many times?
Highlights of the SEC non-conference schedule. Missouri State. Charleston Southern. Eastern and Western Kentucky. Southern Louisiana PLUS Lousiana Lafayette, Monroe, and Tech. Tennesee Tech. UTC. Florida Atlantic and International. Troy, lots of times. Furman. If I were an SEC season ticket holder and I saw this crap? REFUND! Props though to UGA for going to Ok. State this year and ASU last year. And LSU for playing UDub. And Auburn for going up to Morgantown (Git Them Couches Ready Boys! Flame ON!). Now, if only we could get Florida to leave the state for a non-conference game for the first time in two decades....
Steve Kornya's Rule #1 of College Football Scheduling. If you're going to consider scheduling Dumptruck Community College for your season opener, you need to beat them. Got that ACC? D-1 teams shouldn't lose to 1-AA teams. Ever. If you don't know you can win, don't put them on the schedule. And if you do lose? Well, my guess is, after that stellar performance against William & Mary, UVA coach Al Groh will be selling Kenmores by Christmas. By the way, James Madison has started looking awfully good in College Park this weekend.
Speaking of 'We Owe this team an a** whoopin', I'm reading the Baltimore Sun this weekend (albeit a couple of days late), and I come across this gem from Nolan Carroll, a fifth year Maryland cornerback. 'We feel this (season opening game against Cal) is a statement game for the whole nation to prove who we are.' What?? Couple of prefaces to this one. Cal came into the game as the #12 team in the country, predicted to challenge USC for the Pac-10 title. Maryland came in unranked, predicted to finish last in their division of the ACC. Cal returns 17 starters from a team that went 9-3; Maryland brings back 10 from an 8-5.
So this is a 'statement game for the whole nation'?
It was. Here's your statement. 52-13. Maryland football stinks. Thanks Nolan. 'The Nation' thanks you for clarifying that point.
Finally...
This past friday, 5 women (the 'Women in Black') were threatened with arrest if they didn't cease their protest in Baltimore's inner harbor. They weren't being violent. They weren't being disruptive. They were carrying signs saying 'Peace is Patriotic', as they have done most every Friday since 2003. Baltimore police officers told them they were 'breaking the law' and if they didn't leave they would be arrested. The commander of the Central Police District, Maj. Dennis Smith, has said the officers will be 'retrained'.
Here's all the training the officer needs. 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' It's called the first amendment to the United States Constitution. It's called the Bill of Rights. If the Baltimore PD needs to be 'retrained' to understand this, maybe that retraining should involve the phrase 'Blue light special. Catfood. Aisle three.'
A few random thoughts.
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times for the Oregon Ducks. A season that had all the (forgive the pun) ducks in a row for greatness essentially ended on the Smurf Turf in Boise. They had it all; Jeremiah Masoli returning at QB, LeGarrette Blount in the backfield, USC, Cal, and Moo U. (Oregon State for you non-duck fans out there) at Autzen. It was all going to be sooo perfect.
Thud.
By the way, that urban legend about ducks mistaking the Smurf Turf in Boise for a lake and crashing into it? Yeah. I think no first downs until the third quarter pretty much proved that one isn't a myth at all.
Then, to top it all off, LeGarrette 'We Owe this team an a** whoopin'' Blount, gets taunted by some BSU twit, sucker punches him...and then attempts to fight the fans, his teammates, the cops, the North Idaho Potato Growers CoOp, and anything he can get his hands on.
And then it gets better. Seriously. How many times have you seen something like this happen? Player breaks team rules. Coach says 'We will discipline him internally'. Player misses home game against Dumptruck Community College. Player sees the error of his ways....miraculously coming back before the Big Game.
Except this time it didn't happen. LeGarrette Blount is done playing football at Oregon. Chip Kelly (and Bellotti) suspended him for the season. It didn't matter that the Ducks really don't have a backup running back. Or that LB was REALLY good. They drew the line in the sand. They said 'This is not acceptable behavior at Oregon. This behavior will not be tolerated. You will no longer have the privilege of wearing the Green and Yellow. And White...and Pewter...and Black.'
Thank you Chip. Thank you Coach Bellotti. Thank you for putting principle ahead of wins. Thank you for realizing that being a college football player does not abrogate you from following the rules of common society.
Now please don't change your minds and let him come back.
Is there any 18 year old you'd rather be than Matt Barkley? Movie star looks, a rocket arm, and the most prestigious starting job in college football. Quarterback. USC Trojans.
Anybody but me think it's ironic (and absurd) to hear the words 'loyalty' and 'trust' come out of the mouth of Rich Rodriguez?
Miami beat Florida State last night. Hey, at least you can't blame this one on Gerry Thomas or Dan Mowrey.
They paint the Notre Dame helmets with gold paint before every game. Lou Holtz was the head coach for the Irish. Anyone else think someone locked Lou in the paint room one too many times?
Highlights of the SEC non-conference schedule. Missouri State. Charleston Southern. Eastern and Western Kentucky. Southern Louisiana PLUS Lousiana Lafayette, Monroe, and Tech. Tennesee Tech. UTC. Florida Atlantic and International. Troy, lots of times. Furman. If I were an SEC season ticket holder and I saw this crap? REFUND! Props though to UGA for going to Ok. State this year and ASU last year. And LSU for playing UDub. And Auburn for going up to Morgantown (Git Them Couches Ready Boys! Flame ON!). Now, if only we could get Florida to leave the state for a non-conference game for the first time in two decades....
Steve Kornya's Rule #1 of College Football Scheduling. If you're going to consider scheduling Dumptruck Community College for your season opener, you need to beat them. Got that ACC? D-1 teams shouldn't lose to 1-AA teams. Ever. If you don't know you can win, don't put them on the schedule. And if you do lose? Well, my guess is, after that stellar performance against William & Mary, UVA coach Al Groh will be selling Kenmores by Christmas. By the way, James Madison has started looking awfully good in College Park this weekend.
Speaking of 'We Owe this team an a** whoopin', I'm reading the Baltimore Sun this weekend (albeit a couple of days late), and I come across this gem from Nolan Carroll, a fifth year Maryland cornerback. 'We feel this (season opening game against Cal) is a statement game for the whole nation to prove who we are.' What?? Couple of prefaces to this one. Cal came into the game as the #12 team in the country, predicted to challenge USC for the Pac-10 title. Maryland came in unranked, predicted to finish last in their division of the ACC. Cal returns 17 starters from a team that went 9-3; Maryland brings back 10 from an 8-5.
So this is a 'statement game for the whole nation'?
It was. Here's your statement. 52-13. Maryland football stinks. Thanks Nolan. 'The Nation' thanks you for clarifying that point.
Finally...
This past friday, 5 women (the 'Women in Black') were threatened with arrest if they didn't cease their protest in Baltimore's inner harbor. They weren't being violent. They weren't being disruptive. They were carrying signs saying 'Peace is Patriotic', as they have done most every Friday since 2003. Baltimore police officers told them they were 'breaking the law' and if they didn't leave they would be arrested. The commander of the Central Police District, Maj. Dennis Smith, has said the officers will be 'retrained'.
Here's all the training the officer needs. 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' It's called the first amendment to the United States Constitution. It's called the Bill of Rights. If the Baltimore PD needs to be 'retrained' to understand this, maybe that retraining should involve the phrase 'Blue light special. Catfood. Aisle three.'
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A few thoughts on breakfast.
Jimmy's of Fells Point.
There are joints, dives, dumps, and then there's this place. I could get past the rude service, crowds, dirty surroundings and the inexplicably long lines of people waiting to get in if the wait were worth it. It isn't. I've actually been back several times...I go, don't like it, then read raves of people who love it, and think that maybe I just don't get it. I've finally figured it out; it's not that I don't get it, it's that I ain't buying it. At least they don't bring the coffee pot around that often...what they're pouring isn't worth drinking anyways. And since it's cheap, you won't feel like you've been all that ripped off. Basically this is the Emperor's New Clothes of breakfast places...except no one has stood on the tables to tell the place the Emperor is buck naked. Yet.
Jimmy's of Fells Point.
There are joints, dives, dumps, and then there's this place. I could get past the rude service, crowds, dirty surroundings and the inexplicably long lines of people waiting to get in if the wait were worth it. It isn't. I've actually been back several times...I go, don't like it, then read raves of people who love it, and think that maybe I just don't get it. I've finally figured it out; it's not that I don't get it, it's that I ain't buying it. At least they don't bring the coffee pot around that often...what they're pouring isn't worth drinking anyways. And since it's cheap, you won't feel like you've been all that ripped off. Basically this is the Emperor's New Clothes of breakfast places...except no one has stood on the tables to tell the place the Emperor is buck naked. Yet.
Friday, April 10, 2009
IndyCar at St. Pete
(Originally posted as a letter to SpeedTV writer Robin Miller (the premier IndyCar scribe on the planet. Click here to read the entire Q&A)
Was absolutely floored by the Versus coverage this weekend. A pre-race show? A race with multiple cameras? A REAL post-race show? Knowledgeable commentators? A network that actually seemed to care about putting on a quality broadcast? I had to check my calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1, and review the medicine cabinet to make sure the Advil bottle didn't list 'hallucinations' as a side effect. The only thing needed was Miller in the booth, but beggars can't be choosers....
That being said, a couple of questions. First, what's up with Milk and Doughnuts? First she's supposedly on NHL with Kid Rahal and Bobby D, she tests at Homestead, and now she's nowhere to be found. Did Hugo Chavez' check bounce, or did someone at NHL wake up and realize that hiring a moving chicane pretty much shoots any credibility you have as a legit racing team right to hell? Second, in light of the debacle of a start today at St. Pete, do you see Barnhart/George/et al being any more receptive to the possibility of trying a standing start on road courses? Finally, is there a chance that Rahal/Letterman can scrounge a sponsor or two to run Indy as a one-off, and if so, who do you think their driver (or drivers) would be?
Was absolutely floored by the Versus coverage this weekend. A pre-race show? A race with multiple cameras? A REAL post-race show? Knowledgeable commentators? A network that actually seemed to care about putting on a quality broadcast? I had to check my calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1, and review the medicine cabinet to make sure the Advil bottle didn't list 'hallucinations' as a side effect. The only thing needed was Miller in the booth, but beggars can't be choosers....
That being said, a couple of questions. First, what's up with Milk and Doughnuts? First she's supposedly on NHL with Kid Rahal and Bobby D, she tests at Homestead, and now she's nowhere to be found. Did Hugo Chavez' check bounce, or did someone at NHL wake up and realize that hiring a moving chicane pretty much shoots any credibility you have as a legit racing team right to hell? Second, in light of the debacle of a start today at St. Pete, do you see Barnhart/George/et al being any more receptive to the possibility of trying a standing start on road courses? Finally, is there a chance that Rahal/Letterman can scrounge a sponsor or two to run Indy as a one-off, and if so, who do you think their driver (or drivers) would be?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Random thoughts on a Saturday Morning
ARod (A-Fraud/A-Roid, whatever) continues to be excorciated about his admitted use of PED's. The latest reason? His association (alleged) with a trainer who has been banned from MLB for being a steroid mule for ARod's then-teammate Juan Gonzalez. Despite the fact that he ADMITTED using steroids over an extended length of time (unlike Andy Pettite who said he used it 'once', and Jason Giambi who despite his apology, never really admitted to using anything), he is now held up wrongly or rightly, as the new poster boy for everything that is wrong with baseball. Somewhere Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds are doing the happy dance....
Meanwhile, O's second baseman Brian Roberts signed a 4-year, $40 million dollar extension this week saying, in effect, he wants to spend his entire career with one team, and believes in the direction Andy Mac has the franchise going. Kudos to BRob for his loyalty and optimism, no matter how misguided they may be.
How bout this, though? ARod is getting hammered for his associations. BRob's closest friends with the O's in 2004 (when his power spiked) were Larry Bigbie and Jay Gibbons, two former O's named in the Mitchell Report, and admitted HGH users. 2004 was also the year that Miguel Tejada, another suspected drug cheat, joined the O's. Roberts goes from a slap-hitter in 2003, to 50 doubles in 2004. From 4 HR in 2004, to 18 HR in 2005.
Roberts admitted to taking 'one steroid shot' in 2003.
Believe that? If you do, let me put you on to a prime real estate deal. It's a bridge. In Brooklyn. I can get it for you cheap.
Just a few other thoughts...
There are supposedly 103 other names on the list of players who failed the anonymous drug tests in 2004. Why did SI focus solely on A-Rod? Where are the other 103 names? And if this was a test done solely for survey purposes, with anonymous samples, how can they conclusively link it to A-Rod? And why didn't the MLBPA (and Gene Orza) destroy the samples after they were taken in 2004 as the agreement said they were supposed to? I think Orza is covering his bases in case he gets laid off in the economic downturn...with this demonstrated ability to botch the handling of drug tests he's padding his resume for a job with that French company that does the TdF testing...
Tiger Woods announced his comeback will start week after next in the Accenture Match Play. BMore talking head Anita Marks (yes, I've seen the issue. Coyote. Major. Thank god for the inventor of the airbrush), argued that 'he would have to change his swing and wouldn't be as good, and having a new baby would distract him, and he probably won't be as good as before.' Memo to Anita: His daughter Sam was born the day after he finished second in the US Open. So with Elin about to drop he still finished second. Since then, with all the 'distractions' of a child, he finished in the top 5 of 10 of the next 12 majors, including 5 wins. Next, of COURSE he's going to change his swing. He's been playing for three years on a blown knee, caused by the inordinate amount of torque placed on hit by the clubspeed he generates, and has had to adjust his swing to deal with the pain. If he's pain free, he's as long as ever, if not longer. If he has to tone it down, he gets it more under control, hits more fairways, and its game over for everyone else. Finally, she made some comment about his 'focus'. Plain and simple, he's most focused athlete of our generation. Period. He won the US Open on a torn ACL and a broken leg. Let's repeat: HE WON THE TOUGHEST GOLF TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD WALKING ON A BROKEN LEG.
He's gonna be good. Scary good. Even more scary good than before.
Meanwhile, O's second baseman Brian Roberts signed a 4-year, $40 million dollar extension this week saying, in effect, he wants to spend his entire career with one team, and believes in the direction Andy Mac has the franchise going. Kudos to BRob for his loyalty and optimism, no matter how misguided they may be.
How bout this, though? ARod is getting hammered for his associations. BRob's closest friends with the O's in 2004 (when his power spiked) were Larry Bigbie and Jay Gibbons, two former O's named in the Mitchell Report, and admitted HGH users. 2004 was also the year that Miguel Tejada, another suspected drug cheat, joined the O's. Roberts goes from a slap-hitter in 2003, to 50 doubles in 2004. From 4 HR in 2004, to 18 HR in 2005.
Roberts admitted to taking 'one steroid shot' in 2003.
Believe that? If you do, let me put you on to a prime real estate deal. It's a bridge. In Brooklyn. I can get it for you cheap.
Just a few other thoughts...
There are supposedly 103 other names on the list of players who failed the anonymous drug tests in 2004. Why did SI focus solely on A-Rod? Where are the other 103 names? And if this was a test done solely for survey purposes, with anonymous samples, how can they conclusively link it to A-Rod? And why didn't the MLBPA (and Gene Orza) destroy the samples after they were taken in 2004 as the agreement said they were supposed to? I think Orza is covering his bases in case he gets laid off in the economic downturn...with this demonstrated ability to botch the handling of drug tests he's padding his resume for a job with that French company that does the TdF testing...
Tiger Woods announced his comeback will start week after next in the Accenture Match Play. BMore talking head Anita Marks (yes, I've seen the issue. Coyote. Major. Thank god for the inventor of the airbrush), argued that 'he would have to change his swing and wouldn't be as good, and having a new baby would distract him, and he probably won't be as good as before.' Memo to Anita: His daughter Sam was born the day after he finished second in the US Open. So with Elin about to drop he still finished second. Since then, with all the 'distractions' of a child, he finished in the top 5 of 10 of the next 12 majors, including 5 wins. Next, of COURSE he's going to change his swing. He's been playing for three years on a blown knee, caused by the inordinate amount of torque placed on hit by the clubspeed he generates, and has had to adjust his swing to deal with the pain. If he's pain free, he's as long as ever, if not longer. If he has to tone it down, he gets it more under control, hits more fairways, and its game over for everyone else. Finally, she made some comment about his 'focus'. Plain and simple, he's most focused athlete of our generation. Period. He won the US Open on a torn ACL and a broken leg. Let's repeat: HE WON THE TOUGHEST GOLF TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD WALKING ON A BROKEN LEG.
He's gonna be good. Scary good. Even more scary good than before.
Friday, January 9, 2009
And The Debate Goes On
Answering Mr. McCarter and some additional thoughts of my own...
I'd say that most of the media has incorrect perceptions of most of college football. They perceive the SEC as a league with great defense that holds scores down, yet don't acknowledge that a lot of that is mediocre, ineffective, unimaginative offenses. They anoint the Big-12 quarterbacks as the best group in the history of college football, while ignoring the fact that all run offensive freak shows, and no one plays defense. They perceive the Pac-10 as a throw throw throw league, yet ignore the fact that Oregon is possibly the best running team in the country.
Aside from the fact that it may change perception, staying up late to watch Pac-10 football gives you the opportunity to see some good players and good football. Players that, again, are generally ignored east of the Mississippi, but are going to either a) wind up playing in the NFL someday, or b) going to entertain the hell out of you while you watch them play in college. Quizz Rogers at Oregon State. Jeremiah Masoli, Jeremiah Johnson, and Nick Reed at Oregon. Jake Locker at UDub, Jahvid Best at Cal. The entire USC defense, plus Mark Sanchez. It's good football. Really.
You're right. SC does get killed because of perception. And some years they deserve it. Losing at home to Stanford, when you're a 41 point favorite IS laying an egg. A big Rotten One. They got killed for that, and they SHOULD have gotten killed for that. I could be like Bama Fan and roll out a litany of excuses (Bad Coaching, John David Booty was playing with a broken hand, yada yada yada), all of which true, but all, in the end, irrelevant. But that's where reality ends, and perception takes over.
When USC goes into Reser Stadium in Corvallis as a 23 point favorite and loses to Moo U. (aka Oregon State), it's perceived as a bad loss, and USC gets hammered for it for the rest of the season. Even though OSU winds up winning 9 games. Even though two of OSU losses are road losses to teams that would play in BCS bowls. Even though another loss was in their rivalry game to a 10-win team with a top 5 offense. USC loses a Pac-10 game, it's automatically a bad loss, they're done.
On the contrary when Florida loses AT HOME to a 23 point underdog Ole Miss team, it's automatically chalked up as 'Well, every game is tough in the SEC.' And Florida has a chance to climb back into the title picture. In the court of public opinion, SEC teams aren't penalized as heavily for bad losses, and aren't discounted as much for bad wins. Example: USC allows 28 yards and 1 first down in the first half to Washington. They lead 42-0, put the backups in in the second half and win 56-0. They drop two spots. Florida plays FCS opponent The Citadel, manhandles them, and the conventional wisdom says, well, they play such a difficult schedule, we won't ding them for scheduling a pansy.
So you're right on point. It is about perception. And since 2/3rds of the BCS formula is based solely on perception, I'm going to keep tilting at windmills trying to change said perception. And pointing out that,until it changes, what a crock the system is.
Yes, I'm blaming the BCS. And I'm also blaming all the parts the make up the BCS. I'm blaming the conference presidents like Tom Hansen of the Pac-10. I'm blaming the University presidents. I'm blaming the coaches. I'm blaming the media. I'm blaming the fans. I'm blaming everyone who isn't saying that this thing is crap and it either needs to be fixed or dumped. Not tweaked. Not massaged. Not adjusted. Fixed. Or screw the whole damn thing. (And I've never met, or talked to, anyone affiliated with the BCS. Except Roy Kramer who started it all. And I thought he was a jackass. But that's just me.) And you're right about the playoff. 8 is definitely too few, especially if you give out autobids to 6 conferences. And while I'd love to see a 16 team playoff with all FBS conference champions, I can't justify (although I'd love to see it) giving the Sun Belt conference champ a shot (irregardless of how miniscule it is) at the national title. While there has to be a way to invite the little guys to the table, we shouldn't hand them the keys to the pantry. Are there fewer teams complaining now about getting jobbed than there would be with an eight team playoff? Probably. But are there MORE teams complaining now than there were under the old no-system-at-all system? Definitely. And that to me is, and always will be a reason to either get it right, or get it gone.
Am I whining? Maybe. As a Pac-10 fan, do I have enough skin in the game to whine? Maybe. Perception likely cost Oregon a shot at the title game in 2001, and a BCS berth in 2005. Perception (and Mack Brown/Big-12 vote manipulation) likely cost Cal a BCS berth. USC got jobbed in 2003 (at least you media folks had sense that year. Thank your voter friends for me). But it goes beyond the Pac-10. If I'm whining about anything, it's that there needs to be a way to take perception OUT of the equation; find a system that doesn't involve anyone making subjective decisions. And find me some answers to THESE questions: How many times does a Utah or Boise State need to win a BCS game to prove that they aren't flukes? How many times does an ACC or Big East team need to lay a big one to prove that they're NOT deserving of an automatic bid? How many straight years will Ohio State get the benefit of the doubt as a BCS-bowl worthy team? How many straight years do Bob Stoops and Oklahoma need to drop a steamer in a BCS game before we start to question THEIR bonafides?
I'd say that most of the media has incorrect perceptions of most of college football. They perceive the SEC as a league with great defense that holds scores down, yet don't acknowledge that a lot of that is mediocre, ineffective, unimaginative offenses. They anoint the Big-12 quarterbacks as the best group in the history of college football, while ignoring the fact that all run offensive freak shows, and no one plays defense. They perceive the Pac-10 as a throw throw throw league, yet ignore the fact that Oregon is possibly the best running team in the country.
Aside from the fact that it may change perception, staying up late to watch Pac-10 football gives you the opportunity to see some good players and good football. Players that, again, are generally ignored east of the Mississippi, but are going to either a) wind up playing in the NFL someday, or b) going to entertain the hell out of you while you watch them play in college. Quizz Rogers at Oregon State. Jeremiah Masoli, Jeremiah Johnson, and Nick Reed at Oregon. Jake Locker at UDub, Jahvid Best at Cal. The entire USC defense, plus Mark Sanchez. It's good football. Really.
You're right. SC does get killed because of perception. And some years they deserve it. Losing at home to Stanford, when you're a 41 point favorite IS laying an egg. A big Rotten One. They got killed for that, and they SHOULD have gotten killed for that. I could be like Bama Fan and roll out a litany of excuses (Bad Coaching, John David Booty was playing with a broken hand, yada yada yada), all of which true, but all, in the end, irrelevant. But that's where reality ends, and perception takes over.
When USC goes into Reser Stadium in Corvallis as a 23 point favorite and loses to Moo U. (aka Oregon State), it's perceived as a bad loss, and USC gets hammered for it for the rest of the season. Even though OSU winds up winning 9 games. Even though two of OSU losses are road losses to teams that would play in BCS bowls. Even though another loss was in their rivalry game to a 10-win team with a top 5 offense. USC loses a Pac-10 game, it's automatically a bad loss, they're done.
On the contrary when Florida loses AT HOME to a 23 point underdog Ole Miss team, it's automatically chalked up as 'Well, every game is tough in the SEC.' And Florida has a chance to climb back into the title picture. In the court of public opinion, SEC teams aren't penalized as heavily for bad losses, and aren't discounted as much for bad wins. Example: USC allows 28 yards and 1 first down in the first half to Washington. They lead 42-0, put the backups in in the second half and win 56-0. They drop two spots. Florida plays FCS opponent The Citadel, manhandles them, and the conventional wisdom says, well, they play such a difficult schedule, we won't ding them for scheduling a pansy.
So you're right on point. It is about perception. And since 2/3rds of the BCS formula is based solely on perception, I'm going to keep tilting at windmills trying to change said perception. And pointing out that,until it changes, what a crock the system is.
Yes, I'm blaming the BCS. And I'm also blaming all the parts the make up the BCS. I'm blaming the conference presidents like Tom Hansen of the Pac-10. I'm blaming the University presidents. I'm blaming the coaches. I'm blaming the media. I'm blaming the fans. I'm blaming everyone who isn't saying that this thing is crap and it either needs to be fixed or dumped. Not tweaked. Not massaged. Not adjusted. Fixed. Or screw the whole damn thing. (And I've never met, or talked to, anyone affiliated with the BCS. Except Roy Kramer who started it all. And I thought he was a jackass. But that's just me.) And you're right about the playoff. 8 is definitely too few, especially if you give out autobids to 6 conferences. And while I'd love to see a 16 team playoff with all FBS conference champions, I can't justify (although I'd love to see it) giving the Sun Belt conference champ a shot (irregardless of how miniscule it is) at the national title. While there has to be a way to invite the little guys to the table, we shouldn't hand them the keys to the pantry. Are there fewer teams complaining now about getting jobbed than there would be with an eight team playoff? Probably. But are there MORE teams complaining now than there were under the old no-system-at-all system? Definitely. And that to me is, and always will be a reason to either get it right, or get it gone.
Am I whining? Maybe. As a Pac-10 fan, do I have enough skin in the game to whine? Maybe. Perception likely cost Oregon a shot at the title game in 2001, and a BCS berth in 2005. Perception (and Mack Brown/Big-12 vote manipulation) likely cost Cal a BCS berth. USC got jobbed in 2003 (at least you media folks had sense that year. Thank your voter friends for me). But it goes beyond the Pac-10. If I'm whining about anything, it's that there needs to be a way to take perception OUT of the equation; find a system that doesn't involve anyone making subjective decisions. And find me some answers to THESE questions: How many times does a Utah or Boise State need to win a BCS game to prove that they aren't flukes? How many times does an ACC or Big East team need to lay a big one to prove that they're NOT deserving of an automatic bid? How many straight years will Ohio State get the benefit of the doubt as a BCS-bowl worthy team? How many straight years do Bob Stoops and Oklahoma need to drop a steamer in a BCS game before we start to question THEIR bonafides?
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