Thursday, September 29, 2005

Straw stirs up trouble

You can file this one under "some things never change": Former New York Met Darryl Strawberry was charged with filing a false police report. According to the Associated Press, he told a detective that he lied when he reported his rental SUV was stolen from a gas station in Delray Beach, Florida.

I've been a Mets fan for a long time, and was thrilled when they won the 1986 World Series. But, looking at this more objectively, the team had a lot of bad, arrogant dudes. It's fun to see them continuing to get in trouble.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Nothing to crow about

This time around, we'll focus on some not-so impressive accomplishments in Major League Baseball:

* The magic number is two for the San Diego Padres to clinch the National League's West Division. That would be more impressive if the Padres were actually above .500. Right now, their record stands at 78-79. Please win out so your record looks more respectable.

* Last night, the Atlanta Braves clinched their 14th consecutive division title. They partied like it was 1991, the year the Braves started the streak. How could they have only won the World Series once in all that time?

* If the Chicago White Sox win the division, all people will remember is that they almost choked their lead away.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Major meltdown for Marlins

Look at the Florida Marlins now, and you probably couldn't tell this group actually won the World Series two years ago. The honeymoon has long since been over, and a few people are more than willing to divorce themselves from this team.

The players' hatred toward manager Jack McKeon is impossible to ignore. He benched Miguel Cabrera for disciplinary reasons. Pitcher A.J. Burnett was shown the door after saying the team plays scared because McKeon and the coaches are too negative. Team officials said they would not offer a contract to their soon-to-be free agent. I'm sure that's fine by him; Burnett already said he would not re-up with Florida anyway.

As for McKeon, he's hinted that he won't be back in '06. Leaving would be a very good idea. His players have turned against him. There's no way they'd ever get behind him again.

Owner Jeffrey Loria got exactly what he deserved. His term as owner of the Montreal Expos basically destroyed the team, forcing its move to Washington. I wanted the Expos to stay in Montreal, so I don't feel the least bit sorry that the Marlins have blown up in his face.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Michigan out of rankings, will recover

After a loss to Wisconsin, Michigan fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 rankings in college football for the first time since 1998. The Buckeye in me wants to let out a Jerry Seinfeld-ish "That's a shame". Michigan started the season at No. 4.

Even though the Wolverines haven't beaten any good teams in 2005, this descent in the rankings is just a temporary setback. Michigan has too much talent to crap out completely.

Logo courtesy of The University of Michigan.


Sunday, September 25, 2005

Philly kicker manned up

NFL kickers often get a bad rap (somewhat justified) because they have it easier than most players. They don't have to go through the rigorous training that most of their teammates do.

We can give Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers a little bit of a grace period. Today, he overcame a painful hamstring injury to kick the game-winning field goal against the Oakland Raiders with just a few seconds left on the clock.

Whether you love or hate the Eagles, you have to give the guy a lot of credit. Seeing him take the field with one good leg, and kick the winning field goal, was uplifting.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Any given Saturday...

Minnesota's victory over Purdue today in college football, once again, demonstrates that anyone can beat anyone else on any given Saturday in the Big Ten. The same can be said for Wisconsin's win over Michigan.

I'm glad the Gophers beat the Boilermakers. It just didn't seem fair that Purdue won't have to play Michigan or Ohio State this year. I didn't want the Boilers to have an easy path to the Big Ten title.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Braves not part of equation

With Major League Baseball's playoffs around the corner, many people following the sport have some burning questions.

Will the Chicago White Sox choke away their lead in the American League Central Division? If the White Sox hang on, will they have enough left in the tank to win the World Series? Can the St. Louis Cardinals make it back to the big show to atone for last year's dismal performance against the Boston Red Sox? And, who will come out on top in the bitter rivalry between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees?

None of us are paying attention to the Atlanta Braves, who are about to clinch yet another division title. Why should we? They only have one world championship to show for all those playoff appearances. We've been conditioned to write these guys off.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Not much left for Mets

Last night, the New York Mets put a small dent in the Florida Marlins' wild-card hopes. The Mets' 3-2 victory at Shea Stadium means the Marlins are now three games behind Houston with 11 games left.

At this point, all the Mets can do is play spoiler. They could've done much more, but faded out in typical Met fashion. What is with this team anyway? For as much money as the ownership spends on players, the return on the investment is so small. As guest commentator Marty Monforte would say, the Mets make headlines in December, but don't make the playoffs in the fall.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Movie script coming to life

Life is imitating art in the American League's Central Division. Last night, the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 7-5, cutting Chicago's division lead to 2 1/2 games.

This is shaping up just like the movie Major League, in which the Indians orchestrated a massive comeback. I hope Cleveland keeps it up. I want to see if the White Sox will choke away what was once a huge, seemingly insurmountable, lead.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Race provided uplifting experience

When I was a kid growing up in The Bronx, my father and I would always make a point to watch the NYC Marathon on television. In fact, one time, we even went to Central Park to see the finish in person. I always thought it would be cool to run in the marathon, but I don't have the time or energy to train for a 26-mile race. On top of that, I'd probably have to do without McDonald's and Chinese food.

Over the weekend, I got to take part in what I consider the next-best thing. For the third year in a row (photo from 2004), I ran in Race for the Cure in Scranton, PA. What a great event! Thousands of people participated and watched. The course was challenging. Scranton provides a little bit of a big-city atmosphere. I would've enjoyed it more if my knees, calves, and back weren't hurting so much.

It was also great to see how the experience was uplifting for those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Nothing to crow about

We highlight some not-so impressive accomplishments from Saturday's college football action. Hopefully, this will become a regular feature.
-Michigan clobbered crosstown cupcake Eastern Michigan 55-0 in a game available on an ESPN Plus regional telecast. It shouldn't even have been on television at all. This game was basically a practice session with full pads and uniforms.
-Nebraska beat Pittsburgh 7-6 in an ugly contest. The last few minutes of the game were interesting, but still ugly. Pitt's two unsuccessful attempts for a game-winning field goal show how low the quality of play was.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Wild one in South Bend

Fortunately, Ohio State's game against San Diego State was not on television here in the Binghamton area. That gave me the chance to see Michigan State take on Notre Dame. What a wild game this was! College football fans got more for the money on this one, as the contest between these two rivals was decided in overtime.

Consider the following: Michigan lost at home to ND, while Michigan State scored a victory on the road against the Fighting Irish.

So, does this mean the Spartans will beat the Wolverines this year? Not necessarily. It does mean a lot of people in Ann Arbor are irritated tonight.

I thought the Spartans' planting of their flag on ND's field was a little over the top. That one will come back to haunt them.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Two personas of athletes

On the cover of ESPN's latest magazine issue, you'll find the winner of NASCAR's recent race in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (track pictured) The caption refers to Tony Stewart as an "ex-bad boy".

I met him recently at an autograph session in the Binghamton area. He was very gracious toward his fans. They didn't get much time with him, because 700 people were waiting. But, the encounters were all pleasant.

I don't always put a lot of stock into a player's persona on the field. He may act like a jerk in the heat of battle, but it's just part of the game. When the contest is over, the real good guy comes out. That appears to hold true for Stewart. I use the word appears because I don't know him personally. However, some players really are asses both on and off the field.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Passing on the other Canseco book

If you're interested in some light reading, Jose Canseco's ex-wife Jessica has a book out on the market. In Juicy: Confessions of a Former Baseball Wife, Jessica gives us an inside look at her turbulent relationship with the disgraced slugger.

On BN.com, you find the following description: "This is the story of a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a hugely successful professional athlete, and who becomes addicted to him and to everything that his success seems to represent. It is also the story of a woman who spends the better part of ten years trying to beat that addiction, and who finds her true self in the process."

In other words, we're supposed to consider Jessica a tragic, sympathetic figure. I don't think so. She's just trying to, once again, make the most financially of Jose's fame. I'm not going to fund this gravy train. I didn't buy Jose's book, and I'll pass on Jessica's as well.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

QB controversy becoming annoying

I don't want this site to become all Ohio State, all the time; but I had to comment about the following story.

OSU coach Jim Tressel said Troy Smith will be the starting quarterback for the No. 9 Buckeyes on Saturday against San Diego State. Tressel didn't say if his other QB Justin Zwick will take the field against the Aztecs.

This is eerily similar to the 1996 season, and the constant alternating between quarterbacks Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine. Neither one was great, but the team did pretty well that season. However, the loss to Michigan killed any national title hopes.

The alternating between Zwick and Smith was irritating to watch in the game against Texas. It didn't help the offense develop any continuity. Neither quarterback was particularly effective.

Callers to sports radio talk shows are angry at Tressel. The grace period after the 2002 championship is clearly over. I agree. The last thing I want to see is for OSU to go back to the bad, old days of the John Cooper era.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Yanks can't afford giveaways

On my bowling team, one of our favorite expressions is "No more allowances". The New York Yankees should keep that saying in mind.

Tonight, they begin a three-game set on the road against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. With 20 games left, the Yanks can't afford to hand any more games to the last-place Rays.

The Yankees are not exactly in the driver's seat in either the AL East or Wild Card races. If they can't beat the Rays during the stretch run, the Yanks don't deserve to be in the playoffs, and they'll have no one to blame but themselves. Lately, Tampa Bay has really had the Yanks' number, so this road trip is not looking too promising.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Notre Dame on the right track

Notre Dame football is back on the proverbial map. Right? Well, maybe. The Charlie Weis era at ND certainly couldn't be off to a better start. The win over No. 3 Michigan in Ann Arbor is huge, and it put a big roadblock in Michigan's quest for a national championship. The biggest challenge for Weis is making sure the Fighting Irish avoid a letdown in Saturday's game with Michigan State.

I hope ND makes a resurgence. Sports are always more interesting when the most storied teams are part of the championship picture. Even if you love to hate the New York Yankees, baseball is more interesting if they're in the hunt. A return to glory in South Bend would give us a lot to talk about.

Image courtesy of The University of Notre Dame.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

NYC will never be the same


Saturday, September 10, 2005

Buckeyes hand game to Texas

John Cooper must have paid the Buckeyes a visit prior to tonight's game against Texas. How else could we explain No. 4 Ohio State's regression to the Cooper era of folding in big games with possible national championship implications?

No one person is to blame for the loss to No. 2 Texas, but the following contributed to this truly avoidable outcome:
-Tight end Ryan Hamby blew two chances to catch the same (very catchable) pass for a touchdown. When you play for a big program in a big game, you have to cash that in.
-OSU only converted Texas turnovers into field goals. Instead of putting the game away, the Buckeyes held the door open.
-The Buckeyes' offense became conservative and inept in the fourth quarter, forcing an unsuccessful 50-yard field goal attempt.
-OSU's defense ran out of gas, essentially wasting a brilliant effort by linebacker A.J. Hawk.

The only consolation is that Michigan lost also.

Logo courtesy of The Ohio State University.

Friday, September 09, 2005

True test coming for OSU

This morning, my wife and I talked about tomorrow night's game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns. She said the Buckeyes looked good last week. I agreed, but said a win over Miami of Ohio wasn't all that impressive. She thought I was again being too rough on OSU.

I don't really think I am. Sure, the Buckeyes got the job done last week, but a win over Texas would be a much better indicator of whether OSU indeed looks good.

Logo courtesy of The Ohio State University.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Come on back, Lance!

Lance Armstrong's retirement from cycling may not last very long. He's thinking about taking a shot at an eighth straight Tour de France victory. Armstrong is pissed because a French newspaper is reporting that he used an illegal substance. He denies those reports, and wants to stick it to the French by winning the Tour again.

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry tries to return a jacket to a department store for spite. If Lance is coming back purely for spite that's okay with me. I'd like to see him shut all the haters up.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Palmeiro's slide continues

Things keep getting worse for disgraced Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro.

He was recently sent home to rehab knee and ankle injuries. Earlier this season, he got hit No. 3,000, was suspended for failing a drug test, booed by fans when he returned, then slumped himself out of a starting spot.

His career has fallen flat in just a matter of weeks. However, what fan in his or her right mind would feel sorry for this guy? While we don't know for how long Palmeiro had been cheating, we know that he had been cheating.

Monday, September 05, 2005

Rice should retire

As of early Monday morning, legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice was considering retirement. His other option is to be a fourth or fifth receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Rice is the greatest wide receiver of all time, but he's outlived his usefulness to the NFL. Hanging on for another season, and spending much of that season on the sidelines, is just ridiculous. Great receivers want the ball. They don't want to watch the game passing them by.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

No fan of retro helmets

It seems that retro helmets are en vogue this college football season.

Wisconsin traded its attractive helmets for white head coverings with an ugly, plain, red "W" on the front and back, and a player's number on each side. Syracuse helmets have the player's number on each side.

What those teams had been wearing before last season was just fine.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Rutgers choked game away

Rutgers once again showed why it's an irrelevant force in college football. It blew a great opportunity to score a victory against a Big Ten team.

Late in today's game against Illinois, Rutgers had a chance to tack on an insurance field goal. Instead, the placekicker's attempt hit an offensive lineman in the back of the head. The Fighting Illini marched down the field, scored the tying touchdown, and won the game in overtime.

What a joke! For that disgusting display, Rutgers doesn't deserve to win a game all season.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Mets miss chance to move up

The New York Mets missed a golden chance to help their campaign for the National League's wild card playoff spot. They dropped two of three games to the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium.

Even if the Mets swept the Phils, that wouldn't have been enough to lock up the wild card spot. But, the Mets should've taken better advantage of having that series on their home field. At this point in the season, you don't get too many allowances. A series win or sweep of the Phillies would've given the Mets a much-needed lift.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Ump takes the high road

This morning, ESPN showed a staredown between Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson and a Major League Baseball umpire. It went on for more than 40 seconds before the umpire looked away.

It appeared the ump was taking the high ground, keeping his cool, and being a professional. Good for him! Usually, the umpires are more than willing to get in someone's face and throw gas on the fire.

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