SeeperSports

Dumb comment from Mets broadcaster

2006-04-23T23:50:00.000-04:00

I knew this was going to be trouble as soon as I heard it: During the New York Mets' game on Saturday night, former Met and current broadcaster Keith Hernandez said, during the gamecast, women "don't belong in the dugout".

That came after he spotted a woman in the San Diego Padres dugout; as it turns out, she's the team's massage therapist. She and the Padres' manager both took offense to the comment.

Hernandez tried to clean it up by saying "I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout...You know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there - always have."

What a weak attempt to atone for a purely boneheaded comment. While anything can happen during a live broadcast, and things can slip out, a broadcaster should have a better internal filtering system.

Transition

2006-04-22T23:45:00.000-04:00

I've been away for a while. You may have noticed. It's an understatement to say things have been busy.

By this time next month, I'll be living in a new place here in the Binghamton area and will have a new job. As I've been getting ready for this transition, I just haven't had the time and energy to work on this site.

At this point, I'd like to keep SeeperSports going; however, the updates may not be as frequent.

Passed on Sunday's bowling cast

2006-04-10T13:52:00.000-04:00

I'm one of the few people who faithfully watches Denny's PBA Tour telecasts each weekend on ESPN. Instead of taping yesterday's cast and watching it later, as I usually do, I passed altogether.

The Tournament of Champions used to have real appeal. In the past, the entire season built up to this event. There was no question about it: that was the biggest tournament of the year. The current PBA ownership has built more hype around the other major events, and the prestige of this tournament has diminished.

For years, the T of C was held annually at Riviera Lanes, near Akron, Ohio. Watching this tournament as a teenager in the New York City area, I never thought I'd get to see this historic place. While living in Ohio, I had occasion to pass through the Akron area, and didn't miss the chance to play a few practice games at Riviera. Now, the tournament is held in Connecticut, so there's no sense of mystique or history.

On top of that, this year's final didn't really have any players I'd really go out of my way to watch. In particular, I had no desire to watch Chris Barnes. He used to be bowling's Phil Mickelson, a hard luck story. Close to greatness, but no cigar. However, after a few major victories, Barnes has been ripped by fans as being arrogant. He's no longer a sympathetic figure.

Happy for Phil's victory

2006-04-09T23:46:00.000-04:00

Phil Mickelson won his second Masters title earlier today. Is there any better story in golf? Here's a guy whom most people had written off as unable to win when it really counted. Not only did he break through and win a green jacket in 2004, but he's won the event twice in the last three years.

Stories like this are uplifting. It provides hope for all of us who are waiting for a big break, or some major positive life change. You wait for years, hoping your luck will change, and then it's better than you could've even imagined.

I'm sure Phil would've been happy with only one green jacket, and two in a span of three years is more than he ever could have asked for.

Mets unveil new park plans

2006-04-07T00:35:00.000-04:00

File this under: "We're going to pay for it, one way or the other".

Yesterday, the New York Mets released their plans for a new stadium; it will be built in Queens near Shea Stadium. Private investment will cover $550 million of the construction costs. New York City will contribute $90 million, while the state is kicking in $75 million.

I had to send in a payment when I recently completed our family's New York State tax return. We know where part of that money is going.

I'm all for private investment. If a team wants a new stadium, it should find a way to pay for that. However, I fully expect that cost would be passed onto me and others in the form of higher ticket prices.

Gooden heading to prison

2006-04-06T00:26:00.000-04:00

You can file this one under "I've been going through a lot, but here's someone who's having a worse day than me."

Former New York Met pitching phenom Dwight Gooden was sentenced yesterday to a year and a day in prison for violating probation by using cocaine. He's likely to only spend 7 1/2 months behind bars, because he'll be credited for time served in jail and a drug rehab facility.

"I have a problem, sir, with cocaine," Gooden told a state judge in Florida. "I had a cocaine relapse."

At first, I wanted to bash Gooden because I was a fan of his in the 1980's and was disappointed when his drug problems came to light.

But, you almost have to feel sorry for the guy. Here he is 20 years later and he's no better off than he was. It's a shame drugs came in the way between him and what almost certainly would've been a Hall of Fame career. He'll be remembered more for his drug problems than for winning a Cy Young Award or World Series ring.

Griffey in the spotlight

2006-04-05T23:24:00.000-04:00

A prolific home run hitter made history today. Thankfully, we're not talking about Barry Bonds.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 537th career home run in Cincinnati; the Red broke a tie with Yankee legend Mickey Mantle for 12th on the career list. Griffey also notched his 1,538th RBI, moving ahead of Joe DiMaggio, another Yankee great.

I'm glad to see these achievements get attention. That's because I feel confident that Griffey achieved them legitimately. After all, his performance dropped off considerably in recent years. If he was really juicing, he would've fared much better.

Patriots shouldn't hang heads

2006-04-02T03:26:00.000-04:00

George Mason's amazing run through the NCAA tournament has come to an end. Last night, the Patriots lost to Florida 73-58 in the national semifinal. The Gators will move on to face UCLA for the title tomorrow night.

After the game, you could see members of the Patriots hanging their heads and crying. I understand they wanted to go all the way and win a national championship. But, any tears should be tears of joy and pride. By just making it to the Final Four, George Mason achieved something truly special. They have nothing to feel bad about.

Gotta love the underdog

2006-04-01T00:32:00.000-05:00

Is there anyone out there whose bracket is still in tact? I mean, who would have predicted UCLA, LSU, Florida, and George Mason would make it to the Final Four? Who would have thought that we'd have no top seeds left?

I'd love to see George Mason shock the world and win the title. Unless you're a LSU, UCLA, or Florida fan, how could you not get behind Mason?

There are few story lines in sports better than a team coming from almost nowhere to capture glory. It's satisfying to see teams overcome tremendous odds to reach the top levels of their sports. After all, isn't that the reason we've been pulling for Lance Armstrong all these years? It's edifying to see a guy fight cancer and win the Tour de France.

It gives hope to the rest of us who are trying to overcome our own challenges.

Skepticism over steroids probe

2006-03-31T09:37:00.000-05:00

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has appointed a former U.S. Senate Majority Leader to head the investigation into steroids in baseball. This probe will be limited to happenings after September 2002, when baseball banned performancing-enhancing drugs. However, the investigation could be expanded.

Results will be made public; however, there's no word yet on how long the investigation will take.

I hope this is not some smokescreen baseball is putting up just as a public relations measure. Inquiries are only as good as the amount of energy someone is willing to put into them. I want to see this lead to real changes in the sport. I'd also like to know who has been cheating and who hasn't.

If a player can't honestly break records (hello, Barry Bonds), the achievements aren't worth all that much.

Hoosier choice surprising

2006-03-30T12:47:00.000-05:00

I really thought Indiana was going to choose Steve Alford as its next basketball coach. Instead, IU hired long-time Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson.

I can't imagine the IU faithful is really happy about this. Ever since Bobby Knight was tossed out, many Hoosier fans wanted some kind of link to the program's glory days. Instead of picking a past hero such as Alford, the program chose to go in a completely different direction. Sampson is a solid coach, but just I don't get it.

Living up to its moniker

2006-03-29T23:15:00.000-05:00

The NFL has once again demonstrated that the moniker "No Fun League" is more fitting than "National Football League".

Owners voted 29-3 today to limit end zone celebrations, including those with props, such as Terrell Owens' use of a Sharpie to sign a football after a touchdown. A move like that will now earn a player a 15-yard penalty.

Oh, please. The end zone celebrations add color to a game. Who wants to see NFL games that are less animated than telecasts of the PBA Tour? The tour seems to encourage players to show personality on the lanes. Why can't the NFL do the same?

Recycled dramatic plots

2006-03-27T22:26:00.000-05:00

In case you need a break from college basketball, we have a non-sports take today.

For those of you Everwood fans who are old school like me, did you get the feeling you were watching a recycled subplot from Degrassi Junior High/Degrassi High?

Amy and Ephraim remind me a lot of Caitlin and Joey. When the Degrassi kids went on to high school, Caitlin ditched Joey in favor of socially-conscious Claude who turned her into an anti-nuke protestor. In tonight's Everwood episode, Amy's professor tried to get her involved in controversial causes. When Ephraim wanted to get back together with Amy, she gave him some dumb excuse about how she needed to find herself.

In short, the plot could be summed up as: agitator separates couple we want to see together. I don't really mind the story recycling so much. I wish Degrassi still lived on in cable somewhere.

Pulling for George Mason

2006-03-26T23:07:00.000-05:00

When Ohio State got knocked out of the NCAA tournament, I figured I no longer had a reason to keep watching or caring about March Madness.

I now have a reason. It's a longshot, but I hope George Mason wins the national championship. It was great to see Mason knock off UConn today to earn a spot in the Final Four.

Growing up in the New York City area, I was a St. John's fan, so I've never liked UConn. On top of that, we have a real underdog and virtual unknown in the Final Four. It's so refreshing to see one of the little guys make it to the big time, instead of a Duke.

Sports guys love good stories. Would there possibly be a better story out there than a team coming from almost nowhere to win a national title?

Former Knick tossed from Hall

2006-03-25T14:44:00.000-05:00

Imagine taking your team to the NCAA tournament and getting fired shortly afterward. That's what happened to Seton Hall basketball coach Louis Orr. He was fired yesterday, just days after his team lost by 20 points in the first round of March Madness.

Why? The athletic director said Orr did a poor job recruiting in the New York City metropolitan area, where Seton Hall is located. The school has no recruits for next season.

That's completely unacceptable. If you're not able to bring in solid, young talent, how can you build anything for the future? You'd think a former New York Knick would have more street cred in the NYC area. He should be able to attact skilled players who want to play for a big school while staying close to home.

The football equivalent would be if Ohio State coach Jim Tressel watched the best players in the Buckeye State go to Michigan and Penn State. OSU would not stand for that.

Ice Dancing worth watching

2006-03-24T23:55:00.000-05:00

Tonight, I went with a group of friends to a neighborhood tavern to watch the NCAA basketball tournament. Another screen in the room showed an ice dancing competition.

Even though Boston College and Villanova were in overtime, skating had my attention. It had everything to do with the fact that Canada's Patrice Lauzon was on the tube. If you've never seen her, do a Google search. It will be worth the time spent. Let's just say that while some men prefer blondes, I certainly don't.

Read between the lines

2006-03-23T17:05:00.000-05:00

Steve Alford's name has been linked with several available jobs, including the now-vacant head coaching position at Indiana, his alma mater. However, Iowa's basketball coach says he has not scheduled any interviews with other schools.

Okay, coach. Does anyone think he'd readily admit that he is interviewing somewhere? Think about it. If you have a job, are you going to draw attention to the fact that you're looking for a better opportunity elsewhere? Of course not.

There's no way that he's not interested in the Indiana job. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he goes back to Bloomington.

Hope it didn't cost much

2006-03-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

The Boston Red Sox recently signed the injury-prone Juan Gonzalez, 36, to a minor league contract. The team hopes he'll return to his old form. Gonzalez hit more than 40 home runs in a season five times during his career. He's had three seasons with at least 140 RBI.

I hope the Sox didn't spend much on Gonzalez because he's had a lot of time on the bench nursing injuries over the past few years. Last year, he only had one at-bat. I expect him to have more playing time this year, but not a whole lot more.

Skills Challenge needs to go

2006-03-21T23:05:00.000-05:00

If the people running the Denny's PBA Tour really want bowling to be taken seriously, they should consider making major changes to the Skills Challenge, or even getting rid of it altogether.

Basically, this is bowling's equivalent of trick-shot pool. You'll see PBA pros hurling balls over chairs, trying to knock down 30 pins at once, or make splits by throwing two balls down the lane at the same time.

Is pool considered a sport? Very debatable.

It's also very debatable on whether the Skills Challenge is testing real skills. It certainly isn't testing anything a person could use in a real game. You only have to knock down 10 pins at a time, not 30. Also, the average person would get thrown out of a center for putting a chair on a lane.

The Tour should give us another match, and go back to a five-man stepladder format. If not, how about using some air time to teach people real skills and help them improve their games?

Trade Soriano again

2006-03-20T22:35:00.000-05:00

This town isn't big enough for the both of us. You could say that sums up Alfonso Soriano's attitude. He refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals tonight. As a result, team officials believe Soriano violated his contract, and the Nats may do the baseball equivalent of placing him on unpaid leave.

Washington acquired the four-time All-Star second baseman in a trade back in December. However, the Nats already had an All-Star second baseman - Jose Vidro. He was the team's clear choice to play second this season.

Having two star second basemen is almost worse than having two star quarterbacks. Each scenario is not a case of two being better than one. Expecting Soriano to be so happy to play for the Nationals that he'd eagerly embrace the idea of changing positions is just dumb.

Good season for Buckeyes

2006-03-19T23:39:00.000-05:00

The basketball season is over for the Ohio State Buckeyes, as they lost to Georgetown today 70-52 in Dayton, Ohio in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

OSU had run out of gas after a great regular-season run through the Big Ten. G'town had a 13-point lead at the half, and outdid the Bucks in key stat categories such as shooting percentage and boards. I thought OSU would bring it a little bit stronger in what was sort of a home game, as Dayton is only an hour from the OSU campus.

Even so, the Bucks had a great year. Despite the weak finish, I believe in coach Thad Matta, and think OSU has a great future.

Kansas bounced from tournament

2006-03-17T23:14:00.000-05:00

I wonder if Bill Self is wishing he hadn't left Illinois. For the second year in a row, his Kansas Jayhawks have made an early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Bucknell knocked the Hawks out of the tournament; this year, Bradley bounced Kansas.

And, Kansas fans thought they had it tough when Roy Williams was around.

Are we in the Soviet Union?

2006-03-16T20:13:00.000-05:00

The NCAA has ruled that Ohio State must erase any references to regular-season games that Boban Savovic played from 1999 to 2002. Just days ago, the NCAA ruled that Savovic was ineligible because he received a $6,000 payout.

"Ohio State is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA tournament and first since 1992," the media guide now says.

That's asinine. We know that OSU went to the tournament under disgraced former head coach Jim O'Brien. Am I just supposed to forget about all of that? Are we in the Soviet Union where people and events are erased from history?

The Coach of the Year in the America East Conference -- Hartford coach Larry Harrison -- resigned today after a 13-15 season. How could someone with a losing record be Coach of the Year?

Hampton coach Bobby Collins also resigned today; two days ago, his team lost to Monmouth in the tournament's "play-in" game. I didn't think losing to Monmouth was something to be ashamed of and quit over.

Fallout from OSU misdeeds

2006-03-14T21:40:00.000-05:00

Paul Biancardi resigned as the head basketball coach at Wright State (Ohio) University yesterday, just three days after the NCAA barred him from recruiting. The NCAA found that he passed $6,000 from former OSU coach Jim O'Brien to a recruit's family in 1999. Both coaches acted unethically by not reporting their behavior to OSU.

It's about time that someone who caused the mess in Columbus was held accountable. Biancardi screwed up and should face the consequences. Why should Thad Matta and his players suffer for what O'Brien and his former assistant did?

Eyes on play-in game

2006-03-13T11:02:00.000-05:00

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tips off tomorrow night when Monmouth takes on Hampton in a game many people consider the "play-in". While most of the college hoops world will likely ignore that game, I'll be watching whatever I can.

Monmouth is sort of a sentimental favorite. Last year, I was this close to being hired as a full-time journalism professor there. I enjoyed my visit to the beautiful and super-clean campus in West Long Branch, N.J. And, the people there couldn't have been any nicer and welcoming. Everything about the place was first-class.

Go Hawks! It would be wild to see Monmouth take on Ohio State for a spot in the Final Four. Hey, we all can dream.