Check out the Wednesday Podcast. It will be the last one of the year as I spend time with the fam in New York.
Talk to you on Monday! Have a safe and Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Ten Predictions For 2009 Guaranteed Not To Come True
It's out with the old and in with the new. So, here are Ten Predictions For 2009 Guaranteed Not To Come True. These are in no particular order.
#10: The NFL Says No To Mike Vick: Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Mike Vick has been out of the NFL for two seasons now due to his illegal dogfighting activities. He should be released sometime during the course of this year. In an unprecedented move, none of the thirty-two teams in the NFL sign him, saying he's just too risky of a person to invest money in.
Here's why that won't happen. The NFL is a league of mercenaries. If you have talent, you are going to get a job. If you can help a team win, someone is going to take a chance on you. Vick, despite his relative lack of success as a quarterback in the NFL, will find work somewhere. He has crazy talent. And, in a league of copycats, you are going to see teams go with a version of Miami's Wildcat offense. Vick is a perfect fit. He may not be a full time quarterback, but most people would be scared to see him in the Wildcat. And don't forget about Al Davis, who loves taking risks. It would not be a shock to see him in silver and black this coming September.
#9 - Terrell Owens Takes A Vow Of Silence: After his latest meltdown, Terrell Owens will find himself looking for a new team when the Cowboys cut him loose. Since he still has the ability to be a gamebreaker, some other team will sign him. At the news conference announcing the signing, Owens states that he will no longer talk to the media. No more news conferences. No more interviews with ESPN. Nothing. Owens will smile and say "This time I'll just let my play do the talking."
Here's why that won't happen. Owens can't help himself. He's just that kind of person. There are people who run away from the spotlight, and people who run towards it. Owens loves it when people talk about him. It doesn't matter if it's positive or negative, because he thinks any publicity is good publicity. Yes the Cowboys will let him go. Yes he will find another new team. But he, at some point, will say something that will have people shaking their heads in disgust.
#8 - The Yankees Announce They Will Stop Signing Free Agents: After spending over $420M on CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, the Yankees will come up short (once again) in their quest to to win the World Series. They will still have holes in the rotation. They will still need a corner outfielder. But, with a payroll of over $200M, GM Brian Cashman says the Yankees are sitting out free agency because they just don't have the money. The recession has hit them as well, and they need to watch their pennies like everyone else.
Here's why that won't happen. Two words. Hank Steinbrenner. They say the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree, and Hank is just like his father George. He has already shown a propensity for making bold statements to the media. He also has his father's thirst for buying players. He can't help himself. The Yankees will fall short in 2009, but don't think for a second that Hank will sit and watch as other teams sign free agent studs like Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey.
#7 - Tiger Woods Returns; Goes Winless: Tiger Woods will make his return to golf at The Master's in April. The last time we saw him, he won the U.S. Open on one leg in a fantastic playoff against plucky Rocco Mediate. Tiger will say on the Tuesday before the Master's that his knee is a hundred percent, that he is ready to reclaim his rightly spot as the #1 golfer in the world. But while his knee will be a hundred percent, his swing will be something less than that. He will struggle to find his groove, and fail to win a single tournament in 2009.
Here's why that won't happen. Tiger's too good. There has never been a golfer like him before, and there may never be another one like him again. He is not human. He is Superman. Not only will he win, but he will probably win The Master's. Heck, he might even win a second major. This is one prediction that I'll be happy to see fall by the wayside.
#6 - The Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Lebron James To A Contract Extension. In late July, the Cavaliers will shock the world. They will call a news conference, where Lebron James will sign an extension with the Cavs. The new deal will take Lebron off the market in the Summer of 2010. General Managers in Detroit, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Europe will come to the realization that their fantasies of Lebron wearing their uniform will just not happen. And at least one of them will wind up losing their jobs.
Here's why that won't happen. Why would Lebron leave money on the table? He might not be able to make more money playing basketball anywhere but Cleveland, but it's not about that. It's about growing his brand. Endorsement opportunities. He is viewed by Madison Avenue as the next Michael Jordan. If he signs in New York, L.A., or Chicago, he will likely make double off the court than he will on the court. It's business, and Lebron has said on many occasions he is a businessman as well as a basketball player. Besides, the Knicks will promise him that they'll change their uniforms to look just like the ones his favorite team - the Yankees - wear.
#5 - Plaxico Burress Stays Out Of Trouble. 2008 was a busy year for Plax. He won a Super Bowl, got suspended for failing to show up to practice (claiming he took his kids to school), shot himself in the leg (it takes real talent to do that), and had cops show up to his crib looking for more guns. Not quite a normal year in the life, if you know what I mean. As a result, Mr. Burress will likely be looking for a new job, if he can manage to stay out of jail.
Here's why that won't happen. Plax hasn't changed since his days at Michigan State. He had the reputation of being a slacker then. It didn't change when he was in Pittsburgh. It sure as hell didn't change when he was with the Giants. Why would it change now?
#4 - BCS Goes Bye-Bye. After four BCS Conference teams end the season undefeated, the people that run college football (the college presidents and network executives) finally see the error in their ways. ESPN announces it is backing out of its agreement to broadcast BCS games. The college presidents will get together and demand a playoff. Fans all over the world rejoice.
Here's why that won't happen. It's called money. There's too much of it to be made with the BCS. Fans all over the world cry in their beer.
#3 - Al Davis Hires a Real Head Coach. Saying he's tired of being an embarrassment, Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis decides to hire a real head coach. One with experience as a head coach in the NFL. One who isn't a former Raider from the 1970's. Davis also promises to stay out of his new coach's way, saying the game has changed dramatically since he was a head coach in the sixties. Raider Nation throws a party like they haven't seen in Oakland since the seventies.
Here's why that won't happen. Al just can't help himself. He still views himself as the genius he was over forty years ago. he looks at himself as a man who couldn't possibly be wrong about anything. And the yes men he has surrounded himself with won't even try to stop him.
#2 - The NHL Becomes a Major Sport Once Again. Back in the 70's and 80's the NHL was one of the four major sports in the country. Thanks to Tiger Woods, the growth of NASCAR, a strike, a lockout, and the neutral zone trap the league is barely a step above Roller Derby in terms of awareness around the country. But, 2009 will be the year that Sid the Kid (Crosby for those of you that don't know) and Alexander Ovechkin put the league back on the map. Arenas across the country will be sold out. Ratings will skyrocket. Gary Bettman will smile (does he ever really do that).
Here's why that won't happen. The NHL has never done anything to re-introduce itself to sports fans at large. They pretty much say "Here's the product. You should like it." Crosby isn't as visible as he should be. Neither is Ovechkin. Tickets still cost too much to see an NHL game. The economy is in the tank. The NHL will remain a second tier sport.
#1 - Brett Favre Makes A Quick Decision On His Future. Saying he won't repeat the soap opera he created during this past off-season, Brett Favre announces in early January that he will return to the Jets for a second season. Since there won't be any drama, ESPN will struggle to fill their sixty minute Sportscenters. Radio Talk Show Hosts will need to come up with new material.
Here's why that won't happen. Do I really have to go into that??
There you go. ten New Year's predictions guaranteed not to come true. Have a Happy New Year!
I'm taking the rest of the week off for a quick New Year's Visit to New York. I'll be back with a brand new blog on Monday, January 5th!
The 2008 Cliffy Awards
Before we ring in 2009, let's take one last look back at 2008, and hand out our First Annual Cliffy Awards!
It's fairly simple, we're going to take the time to honor those that made 2008 what it was in Wisconsin sports. Let's start ripping envelopes and start naming the winners!
Comeback Player of the Year: Avery Smith, UWM Panthers: Rewind exactly one year ago, and Smith was nowhere to be found. That's because he was suspended by Panthers head coach Rob Jeter indefinitely for violating team rules. Apparently, Smith used that time off to his advantage. He's back, he's walking the straight and narrow, and, at over twelve points per game, he's the second leading scorer on this UWM club. Smith might be the Comeback Player of the Year both on and off the court.
Honorable Mention: Dave Bush, Milwaukee Brewers: 'Bushie' had a wild ride in 2008. He started the year in the rotation, was bumped out, demoted to the minors, and then turned it around. Outside of CC Sabathia, Bush (at one point) was the most consistent Brewers starter in the second half. He was the only pitcher to hold the Phillies in check during the NLDS. He may never be a front end of the rotation kind of guy, but he is someone you can put in the back end of the rotation and feel fairly comfortable with at this point.
Breakout Player of the Year: John Clay, Wisconsin Badgers: The Racine product started 2008 fighting for carries behind both P.J. Hill and Zach Brown. He ended it as one of the players Bret Bielema can point to as a strength for 2009. Clay ran for 845 yards and nine touchdowns, had three hundred-yard rushing games. If Hill decides to leave for the NFL (you never know), Clay would step in and the Badgers wouldn't miss a beat. If Hill returns, the Badgers might have the best 1-2 combination in the country.
Honorable Mention: Salomon Torres, Milwaukee Brewers: When the Brewers traded for Torres, they figured they were getting a dependable arm for their bullpen. Someone who could pitch anywhere from the sixth inning on. Torres, before the Sabathia trade, might very well have been the team's MVP. When Eric Gagne faltered and got hurt, it was Torres who stepped in and more than held his own. He rolled up a career high 28 saves, and turned the back end of the bullpen into a strength as opposed to a question mark. His retirement leaves the Brewers as thin in the 'pen as they are in the rotation.
Newcomer of the Year: CC Sabathia, Milwaukee Brewers: The easiest category by far to pick a winner from. Let's see, 11-2 as a Brewer with a 1.65 ERA. His efforts in the last week of September pitching on three days rest are the stuff movies are made of. There may never have been an athlete to come to Wisconsin who had the kind of instant impact Sabathia had. Sure, Brett Favre had a gigantic impact, but he had no experience, and it took him a number of years to lead the Packers to the promised land. Sabathia was a Cy Young Award winner in his prime, and it only took him three months to carry the Brewers to their first postseason in twenty-six years.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers may not be a newcomer, but he had almost zero experience in NFL game action when the season started at Lambeau against Minnesota in September. No player in the NFL had more pressure on him. No player in the NFL was playing under a bigger microscope. After all, he was taking over for a legend. A legend that wanted his old job back. He may not have led the Packers to double digit wins or the playoffs, but he did prove that he wasn't as fragile as most thought he was. And, statistically, his numbers were every bit as good as Brett's were (this year). Now, if he can only do something about winning a game in the final seconds...
Executive of the Year: Doug Melvin, Milwaukee Brewers: He may not have been able to keep CC Sabathia from going to New York, but he was able to trade for him, which is enough for him to be awarded this Cliffy. The Brewers were the team that would routinely trade star players for prospects, but in early July, Melvin sent Matt LaPorta to Cleveland for Sabathia. The move had everyone in baseball finally taking the Brewers seriously. Melvin also signed Ryan Braun to a $45M contract extension that was seen as a victory for the Brewers.
Honorable Mention: John Hammond, Milwaukee Bucks: Hammond was hired in early April, and it didn't take him very long to put his stamp on the Bucks. Scott Skiles was brought in as coach, giving the Bucks their first coach with a track record since George Karl. The big move of the off-season was the trade for Richard Jefferson. Not only did Hammond bring Jefferson here, he convinced New Jersey to take Bobby Simmons' bloated contract. The Bucks aren't ready to challenge the big boys of the NBA just yet, but there's a plan in place. There is hope, which hadn't been there for a number of years.
Coach of the Year: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin Badgers: Every year, before the college basketball season starts, Bo Ryan and the Badgers are overlooked. The national experts always seem to leave the Badgers out as one of the nation's elite programs. Every year, though, the Badgers make those experts seem foolish. This past season was no different. The Badgers were expected to take a step back following the loss of Alando Tucker to the NBA. They did anything but, winning the Big Ten Conference regular season title, post-season tournament, and getting to the Sweet Sixteen, where Cinderella Davidson ended the Badgers season in Detroit. It doesn't matter what the roster looks like. It doesn't matter what kind of talent he has at his disposal. Ryan gets the most out of his players and then some.
Honorable Mention: Lance Leipold, UW-Whitewater: In 2007, Leipold led the Warhawks to the Division III National Championship. Some saw it as Leipold benefiting from all the hard work the legendary Bob Berezowitz did in his time at Whitewater. Some said Leiopold won with Berezowitz' players. Well, this year, he had to re-stock the shelves. He proved up to the task, taking Whitewater to its fourth consecutive Stagg Bowl, coming up just short against Mount Union.
Team of the Year: The Milwaukee Brewers: This one wasn't much of a contest. The 2008 Brewers, with all of their ups and downs, did something no Brewer team had done since gas was under $1.00 a gallon. They did something no Brewer team had done since Ronald Reagan was President. They did something no Brewer team had done since Sylvester Stallone was relevant. They made the playoffs. The summer sun went away, fall set in with the usual Wisconsin chill, and still the city was on fire. Milwaukee baseball fans, even those that had long ago given up the dream of seeing The Crew play meaningful baseball in October, rallied behind a team that put them on an emotional roller coaster for six months. It proved how good of a baseball city this really is.
Honorable Mention: Marquette Women's Basketball: In a year that saw the Packers go from being a Super Bowl contender to an also ran, the Bucks win just 26 games, the Badgers football team fall well short of expectations, and both Wisconsin and Marquette Men's Basketball teams fail to complete a run to The Final Four, Terri Mitchell's Lady Golden Eagles beat Michigan State 81-66 to win the WNIT. Women's basketball doesn't get the attention that the men's game does, but MU did win, they did raise a championship banner, and they deserve to be recognized for it.
Player of the Year: CC Sabathia, Milwaukee Brewers: Sabathia picks up his second Cliffy Award. No player had a bigger impact in Wisconsin in 2008. He struggled to start the season in Cleveland, but once he got to the Brewers, there was no slowing him down. It was like he smelled the post-season and decided he was going to carry the Brewers into October on his back. Without his starts against the Pirates and Cubs on three days rest in late September, it's likely that the Brewers miss the playoffs. No player on any of our teams was more valuable than Carsten Charles Sabathia.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: Braun made the transition from third base to left field flawlessly, which surprised a lot of people. Even though his batting averge went down, his power numbers went up. And, even though he struggled for most of September with an injury, he recovered in time to hit the two biggest homers of the season - the grand slam that beat the Pirates in the tenth inning to close out that series, and the big shot he hit on that final Sunday against the Cubs that helped the Brewers into the playoffs. In any other year Braun probably wins the award, but there was some guy named Sabathia in town that stole his thunder.
That's a wrap for The 2008 Cliffy Awards. Let me know what you think by sending an email to http://us.mc526.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=saundersonsports@yahoo.com.
It's fairly simple, we're going to take the time to honor those that made 2008 what it was in Wisconsin sports. Let's start ripping envelopes and start naming the winners!
Comeback Player of the Year: Avery Smith, UWM Panthers: Rewind exactly one year ago, and Smith was nowhere to be found. That's because he was suspended by Panthers head coach Rob Jeter indefinitely for violating team rules. Apparently, Smith used that time off to his advantage. He's back, he's walking the straight and narrow, and, at over twelve points per game, he's the second leading scorer on this UWM club. Smith might be the Comeback Player of the Year both on and off the court.
Honorable Mention: Dave Bush, Milwaukee Brewers: 'Bushie' had a wild ride in 2008. He started the year in the rotation, was bumped out, demoted to the minors, and then turned it around. Outside of CC Sabathia, Bush (at one point) was the most consistent Brewers starter in the second half. He was the only pitcher to hold the Phillies in check during the NLDS. He may never be a front end of the rotation kind of guy, but he is someone you can put in the back end of the rotation and feel fairly comfortable with at this point.
Breakout Player of the Year: John Clay, Wisconsin Badgers: The Racine product started 2008 fighting for carries behind both P.J. Hill and Zach Brown. He ended it as one of the players Bret Bielema can point to as a strength for 2009. Clay ran for 845 yards and nine touchdowns, had three hundred-yard rushing games. If Hill decides to leave for the NFL (you never know), Clay would step in and the Badgers wouldn't miss a beat. If Hill returns, the Badgers might have the best 1-2 combination in the country.
Honorable Mention: Salomon Torres, Milwaukee Brewers: When the Brewers traded for Torres, they figured they were getting a dependable arm for their bullpen. Someone who could pitch anywhere from the sixth inning on. Torres, before the Sabathia trade, might very well have been the team's MVP. When Eric Gagne faltered and got hurt, it was Torres who stepped in and more than held his own. He rolled up a career high 28 saves, and turned the back end of the bullpen into a strength as opposed to a question mark. His retirement leaves the Brewers as thin in the 'pen as they are in the rotation.
Newcomer of the Year: CC Sabathia, Milwaukee Brewers: The easiest category by far to pick a winner from. Let's see, 11-2 as a Brewer with a 1.65 ERA. His efforts in the last week of September pitching on three days rest are the stuff movies are made of. There may never have been an athlete to come to Wisconsin who had the kind of instant impact Sabathia had. Sure, Brett Favre had a gigantic impact, but he had no experience, and it took him a number of years to lead the Packers to the promised land. Sabathia was a Cy Young Award winner in his prime, and it only took him three months to carry the Brewers to their first postseason in twenty-six years.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers may not be a newcomer, but he had almost zero experience in NFL game action when the season started at Lambeau against Minnesota in September. No player in the NFL had more pressure on him. No player in the NFL was playing under a bigger microscope. After all, he was taking over for a legend. A legend that wanted his old job back. He may not have led the Packers to double digit wins or the playoffs, but he did prove that he wasn't as fragile as most thought he was. And, statistically, his numbers were every bit as good as Brett's were (this year). Now, if he can only do something about winning a game in the final seconds...
Executive of the Year: Doug Melvin, Milwaukee Brewers: He may not have been able to keep CC Sabathia from going to New York, but he was able to trade for him, which is enough for him to be awarded this Cliffy. The Brewers were the team that would routinely trade star players for prospects, but in early July, Melvin sent Matt LaPorta to Cleveland for Sabathia. The move had everyone in baseball finally taking the Brewers seriously. Melvin also signed Ryan Braun to a $45M contract extension that was seen as a victory for the Brewers.
Honorable Mention: John Hammond, Milwaukee Bucks: Hammond was hired in early April, and it didn't take him very long to put his stamp on the Bucks. Scott Skiles was brought in as coach, giving the Bucks their first coach with a track record since George Karl. The big move of the off-season was the trade for Richard Jefferson. Not only did Hammond bring Jefferson here, he convinced New Jersey to take Bobby Simmons' bloated contract. The Bucks aren't ready to challenge the big boys of the NBA just yet, but there's a plan in place. There is hope, which hadn't been there for a number of years.
Coach of the Year: Bo Ryan, Wisconsin Badgers: Every year, before the college basketball season starts, Bo Ryan and the Badgers are overlooked. The national experts always seem to leave the Badgers out as one of the nation's elite programs. Every year, though, the Badgers make those experts seem foolish. This past season was no different. The Badgers were expected to take a step back following the loss of Alando Tucker to the NBA. They did anything but, winning the Big Ten Conference regular season title, post-season tournament, and getting to the Sweet Sixteen, where Cinderella Davidson ended the Badgers season in Detroit. It doesn't matter what the roster looks like. It doesn't matter what kind of talent he has at his disposal. Ryan gets the most out of his players and then some.
Honorable Mention: Lance Leipold, UW-Whitewater: In 2007, Leipold led the Warhawks to the Division III National Championship. Some saw it as Leipold benefiting from all the hard work the legendary Bob Berezowitz did in his time at Whitewater. Some said Leiopold won with Berezowitz' players. Well, this year, he had to re-stock the shelves. He proved up to the task, taking Whitewater to its fourth consecutive Stagg Bowl, coming up just short against Mount Union.
Team of the Year: The Milwaukee Brewers: This one wasn't much of a contest. The 2008 Brewers, with all of their ups and downs, did something no Brewer team had done since gas was under $1.00 a gallon. They did something no Brewer team had done since Ronald Reagan was President. They did something no Brewer team had done since Sylvester Stallone was relevant. They made the playoffs. The summer sun went away, fall set in with the usual Wisconsin chill, and still the city was on fire. Milwaukee baseball fans, even those that had long ago given up the dream of seeing The Crew play meaningful baseball in October, rallied behind a team that put them on an emotional roller coaster for six months. It proved how good of a baseball city this really is.
Honorable Mention: Marquette Women's Basketball: In a year that saw the Packers go from being a Super Bowl contender to an also ran, the Bucks win just 26 games, the Badgers football team fall well short of expectations, and both Wisconsin and Marquette Men's Basketball teams fail to complete a run to The Final Four, Terri Mitchell's Lady Golden Eagles beat Michigan State 81-66 to win the WNIT. Women's basketball doesn't get the attention that the men's game does, but MU did win, they did raise a championship banner, and they deserve to be recognized for it.
Player of the Year: CC Sabathia, Milwaukee Brewers: Sabathia picks up his second Cliffy Award. No player had a bigger impact in Wisconsin in 2008. He struggled to start the season in Cleveland, but once he got to the Brewers, there was no slowing him down. It was like he smelled the post-season and decided he was going to carry the Brewers into October on his back. Without his starts against the Pirates and Cubs on three days rest in late September, it's likely that the Brewers miss the playoffs. No player on any of our teams was more valuable than Carsten Charles Sabathia.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: Braun made the transition from third base to left field flawlessly, which surprised a lot of people. Even though his batting averge went down, his power numbers went up. And, even though he struggled for most of September with an injury, he recovered in time to hit the two biggest homers of the season - the grand slam that beat the Pirates in the tenth inning to close out that series, and the big shot he hit on that final Sunday against the Cubs that helped the Brewers into the playoffs. In any other year Braun probably wins the award, but there was some guy named Sabathia in town that stole his thunder.
That's a wrap for The 2008 Cliffy Awards. Let me know what you think by sending an email to http://us.mc526.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=saundersonsports@yahoo.com.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Weekend Wrap
I hope everybody out there had a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah. Let's start The Weekend Wrap with some NFL Week 17 Nuggets..
Dolphins Flying High: The turnaround is complete. Miami goes into the Meadowlands and beats the Jets, winning the AFC East. Last year a team coached by Ravens Offensive Co-ordinator Cam Cameron went 1-15. This year, with Tony Sparanoat the helm, they go 11-5 and make the playoffs. Give credit to Sparano. Give credit to Chad Pennington, who might havehad the best season of his career. But give the most amount of credit to Bill Parcells, who has turned around yet another franchise. He did it with the Giants. He did it in New England. He did it with the Jets. He made the Cowboys respectable again. And now he's done it in Miami.
Eagles Soaring: That wasn't just a beating that the Eagles put on the Dallas Coboys. That was a thorough ass kicking. The Eagles started that game knowing whoever won would go to the playoffs. Donovan McNabb and Company came up big, as they've done ever since the week before Thanksgiving.
Dallas Drowning: The Cowboys had everything to play for yesterday afternoon, and blew it. Once again, Tony Romo comes up small in a big spot. The ramifications of this loss may be bigger than we can all imagine right now. Would it shock you if Jerry Jones went out and fired both Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett? Would it shock you if he pursued the likes of Bill Cowher and Mike Holmgren? It wouldn't shock me. And it shouldn't shock you if (when) it does happen.
The Hot Seat: Not only could we see a move made in Dallas this week, but it looks like there will be openings in Cleveland, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Oakland, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Detroit. There also could be vacancies in San Diego (it is Norv Turner) and Washington (no one knows what Daniel Snyder will do). That means there could be as many as ten coaching jobs up for grabs. Not all of the firings will take place today, but the bet here is that at least three coaches get axed before the end of the business day.
The Bowl Season: There have been some exciting bowl games so far this holiday season (the West Virginia win over North Carolina comes to mind, as does the TCU-Boise State game). But those have been the exceptions rather than the rule.
The norm has been one of two things. Either a blowout, as we saw with Florida State blasting Wisconsin Saturday afternoon, or games that no one could possibly care about, like the New Mexico, Eagle Bank, Emerald, Motor City, and R & L Carriers Bowl.
If you add up all the bowl games, you come up with 68 spots that need to be filled. It's fairy simple. There aren't 68 teams deserving of a bowl berth. As a result, teams that don't deserve a spot are getting in, and more often than not they are showing exactly why they didn't deserve the berth to begin with.
The standard to become bowl eligible are simply too easy to attain. All you need is six wins and you're in. Most Division I-A programs are halfway home before the conference season begins. And if you have enough weak teams on your conference schedule, you're home free.
The standards should be raised, we all know that. But, as long as we havethirty-four bowl games requiring 68 teams, it's just not going to happen. With that many spots available, more than a few dog teams are going to get a payday they simply do not deserve.
But there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Most of us have already felt the pinch of the economy. Not only are we cutting back in our personal lives, but big corporations are doing the same thing. For instance, Federal Express is not doing a Super Bowl Ad this year.
The guess here is that some of the corporations who are underwriting the lower tier bowls will wind up pulling out. It is, after all, a losing proposition. Commit a large amount of money to finance the bowl, and then watch two teams that may not deserve it get it. Pile on dwindling attendance numbers, and you have the perfect reason for a company to decide they cannot afford to back these bowl games anymore.
The hope would then be that these lower tier bowls just go away, never to be heard from again. At least that's the hope of the millions of college football fans that would like to see a playoff system crown the National Champion as opposed to the BCS.
That's the hope. Here's reality. For every company that decides to back out (and there will be companies that do), there will be four or five others ready to step in.
Bowls have gone away before. Does anyone remember the Aloha Bowl? It went away a few years back. But, the Hawaii Bowl has pretty much taken its place. One bowl went away because it has no corporate money behind it, but was quickly replaced when another company stepped in and paid up.
It always seems to work out that way, doesn't it?
After Christmas Bargins: The big names might be off the market in Major League Baseball, but there are still some productive players to be had. They might not command the $180M Mark Teixeira got, or the $161M CC Sabathia got, but they will be no less helpful to their new teams. Here's a look at my top five remaining free agents.
1. Manny Ramirez. Anyone who watched Man Ram since he came to the Dodgers last season knows he has a lot left. A motivated Ramirez will be a productive Ramirez. He hasn't gotten the deal he wanted from the Dodgers. He's not going to get the money that Teixeira got. But someone will sign him sooner rather than later, and they'll be happy they did. Most people still think the Dodgers will wind up re-signing Manny, but I wouldn't rule the Angels out, despite what they've stated publicly. They need to do something to off-set some of their offseason losses.
2. Derek Lowe. His stuff doesn't make you go 'OOOH' the way Sabathia's can. But Lowe brings consistency to the table. More consistency than most. He also is a proven innings eater. He has pitched at least 180 innings for the last seven years. In a day and age where Gil Meche and Jeff Suppan are paid more than $10M per season, Lowe will find someone that will pay handomely for someone who does what he does. It looks like Lowe will either be headed to the Mets or Red Sox.
3. Bobby Abreu. The former Yankee doesn't hit for thirty homers every year. but he is a consistent hitter who drives in runs. If you value run production, and don't feel like paying for a hit and miss sort of player (Adam Dunn), then Abreu is your guy. Don't be stunned if Abreu goes to Oakland and puts up some nice numbers.
4. Brian Fuentes. the Rockies weren't all that good last year, yet Fuentes, who started the season as a set up guy, still had over 30 saves. He's not as spectacular as K-Rod is, but we all know how important a solid closer is. You just can't win without one. The Cardinals saw that first hand. Don't be surprised if Fuentes winds up there. The Brewers could get in as well, following Salomon Torres' retirement.
5. Orlando Hudson. There's a belief in baseball that the stronger you are up the middle, the better team you have. Orlando Hudson of the Diamondbacks is a solid defensive player, and no slouch at the plate either. The question with him is whether or not he can stay healthy. The bet here is that he can, and that the White Sox will wind up signing him and thanking their lucky stars they did.
You might wonder why Ben Sheets, Pat Burrell, and Adam Dunn were left off this list. Well, Dunn has power but strikes out way too much (have you ever heard of Rob Deer or Dave Kingman?). Burrell can be very good, but he also can be very bad. And Sheets just can't stay healthy. He doesn't take care of himself enough, and has missed a chunk of time in each of the last four seasons. Buyer beware on all three.
Dolphins Flying High: The turnaround is complete. Miami goes into the Meadowlands and beats the Jets, winning the AFC East. Last year a team coached by Ravens Offensive Co-ordinator Cam Cameron went 1-15. This year, with Tony Sparanoat the helm, they go 11-5 and make the playoffs. Give credit to Sparano. Give credit to Chad Pennington, who might havehad the best season of his career. But give the most amount of credit to Bill Parcells, who has turned around yet another franchise. He did it with the Giants. He did it in New England. He did it with the Jets. He made the Cowboys respectable again. And now he's done it in Miami.
Eagles Soaring: That wasn't just a beating that the Eagles put on the Dallas Coboys. That was a thorough ass kicking. The Eagles started that game knowing whoever won would go to the playoffs. Donovan McNabb and Company came up big, as they've done ever since the week before Thanksgiving.
Dallas Drowning: The Cowboys had everything to play for yesterday afternoon, and blew it. Once again, Tony Romo comes up small in a big spot. The ramifications of this loss may be bigger than we can all imagine right now. Would it shock you if Jerry Jones went out and fired both Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett? Would it shock you if he pursued the likes of Bill Cowher and Mike Holmgren? It wouldn't shock me. And it shouldn't shock you if (when) it does happen.
The Hot Seat: Not only could we see a move made in Dallas this week, but it looks like there will be openings in Cleveland, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Oakland, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Detroit. There also could be vacancies in San Diego (it is Norv Turner) and Washington (no one knows what Daniel Snyder will do). That means there could be as many as ten coaching jobs up for grabs. Not all of the firings will take place today, but the bet here is that at least three coaches get axed before the end of the business day.
The Bowl Season: There have been some exciting bowl games so far this holiday season (the West Virginia win over North Carolina comes to mind, as does the TCU-Boise State game). But those have been the exceptions rather than the rule.
The norm has been one of two things. Either a blowout, as we saw with Florida State blasting Wisconsin Saturday afternoon, or games that no one could possibly care about, like the New Mexico, Eagle Bank, Emerald, Motor City, and R & L Carriers Bowl.
If you add up all the bowl games, you come up with 68 spots that need to be filled. It's fairy simple. There aren't 68 teams deserving of a bowl berth. As a result, teams that don't deserve a spot are getting in, and more often than not they are showing exactly why they didn't deserve the berth to begin with.
The standard to become bowl eligible are simply too easy to attain. All you need is six wins and you're in. Most Division I-A programs are halfway home before the conference season begins. And if you have enough weak teams on your conference schedule, you're home free.
The standards should be raised, we all know that. But, as long as we havethirty-four bowl games requiring 68 teams, it's just not going to happen. With that many spots available, more than a few dog teams are going to get a payday they simply do not deserve.
But there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Most of us have already felt the pinch of the economy. Not only are we cutting back in our personal lives, but big corporations are doing the same thing. For instance, Federal Express is not doing a Super Bowl Ad this year.
The guess here is that some of the corporations who are underwriting the lower tier bowls will wind up pulling out. It is, after all, a losing proposition. Commit a large amount of money to finance the bowl, and then watch two teams that may not deserve it get it. Pile on dwindling attendance numbers, and you have the perfect reason for a company to decide they cannot afford to back these bowl games anymore.
The hope would then be that these lower tier bowls just go away, never to be heard from again. At least that's the hope of the millions of college football fans that would like to see a playoff system crown the National Champion as opposed to the BCS.
That's the hope. Here's reality. For every company that decides to back out (and there will be companies that do), there will be four or five others ready to step in.
Bowls have gone away before. Does anyone remember the Aloha Bowl? It went away a few years back. But, the Hawaii Bowl has pretty much taken its place. One bowl went away because it has no corporate money behind it, but was quickly replaced when another company stepped in and paid up.
It always seems to work out that way, doesn't it?
After Christmas Bargins: The big names might be off the market in Major League Baseball, but there are still some productive players to be had. They might not command the $180M Mark Teixeira got, or the $161M CC Sabathia got, but they will be no less helpful to their new teams. Here's a look at my top five remaining free agents.
1. Manny Ramirez. Anyone who watched Man Ram since he came to the Dodgers last season knows he has a lot left. A motivated Ramirez will be a productive Ramirez. He hasn't gotten the deal he wanted from the Dodgers. He's not going to get the money that Teixeira got. But someone will sign him sooner rather than later, and they'll be happy they did. Most people still think the Dodgers will wind up re-signing Manny, but I wouldn't rule the Angels out, despite what they've stated publicly. They need to do something to off-set some of their offseason losses.
2. Derek Lowe. His stuff doesn't make you go 'OOOH' the way Sabathia's can. But Lowe brings consistency to the table. More consistency than most. He also is a proven innings eater. He has pitched at least 180 innings for the last seven years. In a day and age where Gil Meche and Jeff Suppan are paid more than $10M per season, Lowe will find someone that will pay handomely for someone who does what he does. It looks like Lowe will either be headed to the Mets or Red Sox.
3. Bobby Abreu. The former Yankee doesn't hit for thirty homers every year. but he is a consistent hitter who drives in runs. If you value run production, and don't feel like paying for a hit and miss sort of player (Adam Dunn), then Abreu is your guy. Don't be stunned if Abreu goes to Oakland and puts up some nice numbers.
4. Brian Fuentes. the Rockies weren't all that good last year, yet Fuentes, who started the season as a set up guy, still had over 30 saves. He's not as spectacular as K-Rod is, but we all know how important a solid closer is. You just can't win without one. The Cardinals saw that first hand. Don't be surprised if Fuentes winds up there. The Brewers could get in as well, following Salomon Torres' retirement.
5. Orlando Hudson. There's a belief in baseball that the stronger you are up the middle, the better team you have. Orlando Hudson of the Diamondbacks is a solid defensive player, and no slouch at the plate either. The question with him is whether or not he can stay healthy. The bet here is that he can, and that the White Sox will wind up signing him and thanking their lucky stars they did.
You might wonder why Ben Sheets, Pat Burrell, and Adam Dunn were left off this list. Well, Dunn has power but strikes out way too much (have you ever heard of Rob Deer or Dave Kingman?). Burrell can be very good, but he also can be very bad. And Sheets just can't stay healthy. He doesn't take care of himself enough, and has missed a chunk of time in each of the last four seasons. Buyer beware on all three.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
This Is Why I Hate The Yankees
Before we even get started, let me wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. I want to get the good wishes out of the way early because I'm pretty sure the rest of this blog is going to be filled with hate and venom.
I live in Milwaukee, which just happens to be the smallest market in all of Major League Baseball. I also was born in New York, but it was my good fortune to be born a Met fan as opposed to a Yankee fan. Met fans know misery. Met fans know what it's like to share a city with an evil force bent on world domination. That's what the Yankees represent to me.
I was driving through yet another snowstorm to pick my wife up from her job yesterday when I heard the news that Mark Teixeira signed with the New York Yankees. The Yankees, who had already shelled out $243.5M to buy (er, I mean sign) free agents CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, shelled out another $180M for Tex.
In the end, there was always something wierd about the possibility of Washington signing Teixeira. The Nats are years away from winning. Scott Boras doesn't do a whole lot of business with the have-nots of Major League Baseball. But the Yankees winning this sweepstakes was surprising, considering that they already spent all that money on two pitchers, that they had been connected to Manny Ramirez in a much shorter and cheaper deal, and the fact the Red Sox were still rumored to be the front runner to land the former Ranger, Brave, and Angel.
The signing is also utterly appalling. The Yankees are moving into a new ballpark, so they are going to be swimming in money. They have raised ticket prices, luxury suites have been priced out of this galaxy, and every game is a sellout. Yet, they had the unmitigated gall to ask New York City for more tax free bonds to help with the completion of their new stadium. In fact, they asked NYC for an additional $259M.
That's what ticks me off so much. They ask the people of New York for that kind of money, which sends the signal to me they didn't have the quarter-billion just lying around, yet they just spent nearly a half-billion dollars on these three free agents.
I am not going to begrudge any of these players their money. I covered CC Sabathia in Milwaukee, and he is more than deserving of what he got. He is a throwback. And, he's also a guy that will never give you a problem off the field. Burnett may not wind up being worth the $82.5M he got, but it's not that crazy of a contract considering that Gil Meche got $55M from the Royals two years ago. And, Teixeira is one of the top sluggers in the game. There were at least four teams falling all over themselves trying to sign him.
But, did they all have to sign with the Yankees? Did The Sons of George really have to buy everyone on the market?
This is why I hate the Yankees so much. They don't think they can win it unless they buy it. They've always had more money than anyone else, but they seem to have forgotten what won them those World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Believe it or not, the strength of those teams, even though they always made big trades and signed big free agents, was home grown talent.
You're not seeing things. I'll repeat it. Home grown talent. Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, and the best closer ever, Mariano Rivera. When George Steinbrenner was suspended in the early part of the 1990's the Yankees were forced to groom players through their minor league system. And it paid off with a dynasty.
But it all changed after the Diamondbacks beat New York in the 2001 World Series. Boss George went off the deep end. He started signing anyone and everyone. Some signings worked out (Mike Mussina), some have not (Jason Giambi). The man spent more money than the GDP of some Third World countries.
It was arrogance to think they could buy more titles. That's why I hate the Yankees so much. They could never accept that there may be a team that's better than they were. It's okay to strive for excellence, but it's another thing to try and buy it.
Look, I try to be the best talk show host I can be, best writer I can be. But I'm not naive enough to think that I'm the be all and end all. There is always going to be someone that is better than I am. It just makes me work harder. It motivates me to step my game up.
What the Yankees are doing is pretty much saying they don't need to step their game up. They think if they buy enough all stars they will win it all in October.
But, the strange thing is they have not. They have made exactly one World Series since 2000, and that was in '03 when the Marlins beat them. There have been playoff losses to the Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, and Angels.
But, the strange thing is they have not. They have made exactly one World Series since 2000, and that was in '03 when the Marlins beat them. There have been playoff losses to the Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, and Angels.
The worst part about the Yankees, though, is their fans. They are no less arrogant than Cowboys fans and Bulls fans (of the Jordan Era) are and were. They have a sense of entitlement that's just unreal. And, there is no bandwagon fan worse than a Yankee bandwagon fan. You know what I'm talking about. The one that wears all kinds of Yankee gear, yet can't tell you who any of the players are. The kind of fans that annoy you to the point that you just want to punch them in the mouth.
If there truly is a higher power, and at this time of year we all believe there is, then the Yankees will not be rewarded for their extravagance with a World Series Title.
That's enough venom for one blog. I now have to buy a Teixeira jersey for my wife the Yankee fan. It's her only fault. But then again, none of us are perfect, right?
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah again!
One more note. The blog will be taking the rest of the week off for the holidays. We'll be back Monday!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Top Ten of 2008
It's that time of year again. Christmas is just a couple of days away, and over the next week, the two things you'll see are a bunch of bad Bowl games and a look back at the year that was 2008 in sports. We figured we'd get a head start on everyone else.
So, here we go, with the Top Ten Local Stories of 2008. It was a year that had a little bit of everything. Celebration, controversy, and sadness. It was certainly not a dull year in Wisconsin sports. So, here we go going from Number Ten to Number One. Let the debate begin!
Honorable Mention: UW-Whitewater. In many other years, the Warhawks probably would have made the Top Ten. They lost a bunch of players to graduation, and all coach Lance Leipold did was reload. The Warhawks made their fourth straight Stagg Bowl, only to lose to Mount Union 31-26. Four years in a row. Sounds like a dynasty to me, and even though they don't make the Top Ten, they deserve some recognition. Here it is.
#10 - Ryan Braun Commits to Milwaukee: The news was not totally unexpected when word came down in mid-May that Ryan Braun had signed an extension with the Brewers. We all knew that the team was trying to sign their young cornerstones to long term deals. What was surprising was that Braun accepted in his first full year. Most thought if he had waited he would have gotten more than $45M. But Braun showed the kind of man he is, and committed to this city and franchise through 2015. He was, at the end of the day, the only one of the young players to sign a long term deal.
#9 - Wisconsin Football Falls on Hard Times: Before the 2008 season started, there was talk of a possible Rose Bowl for the Wisconsin Badgers. There were some who thought this team could go 11-1. Things didn't quite work out that way. After a 3-0 start, including a tough win on the road at Fresno State, the Badgers lost their next four, including a 48-7 loss at Camp Randall to Penn State.
Alan Evridge started the season as the quarterback, replacing Tyler Donovan, who had exhausted his eligibility. Evridge didn't make it past the Nittany Lions Game. Dustin Sherer took over, and the Badgers went 3-2 in his first five starts, becoming bowl eligible. The season might have, and maybe should have ended with a loss to Division I-AA Cal Poly, but their kicker missed three extra points, and the Badgers won in overtime. They will play Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, ending their streak of New Year's Day Bowl at four.
#8 - Senator Kohl Cleans House: With the Bucks struggling for yet another season, Senator Herb Kohl relieved General Manager Larry Harris of his duties in mid-March. It didn't take long to find Harris' replacement, as John Hammond, Joe Dumars' right hand man with the Pistons, was hired before the 2007-2008 season ended.
And, when that season did end (with a 26-56 record) Hammond wasted little time in firing then coach Larry Krystkowiak, replacing him with former Bulls coach Scott Skiles.
A new regime took over, making their mark with the trade in late June that brought Richard Jefferson to the team.
The results have been mixed up to this point, but there does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel. But, the Senator went outside the organization, got people with track records to run the organization, and though it will take time, the Bucks are not the sad outfit they were a year ago.
#7 - Tom Crean Leaves Marquette: The 2007-2008 season ended with the Marquette Golden Eagles just barely missing The Sweet Sixteen. Unlike past seasons, when Tom Crean's name came up almost every time a high profile coaching job opened, there wasn't a lot of buzz surrounding the coach that brought MU back from where they were under Mike Deane to where they are now.
But another school did come calling, and Crean not only listened, but jumped. To Indiana. Was it a surprise that he left? No, not really. The way he left was surprising. It turns out the players were not the first to find out that their coach was leaving. The media was, and when reporters tell players their coach has left them, it's not a good thing.
So, Crean left for the Hooisers, because, as he said "It's Indiana. It's Indiana." So, his successful run at MU ended, opening the door for Buzz Williams, who has the Golden Eagles playing well as of now.
#6 - Yost Was Toast: To say that former Brewers manager Ned Yost was unpopular would be a gigantic understatement. "Yost bashing" became the thing to do in Milwaukee. The Brewers struggled at the start of the 2008 season, and after a lost weekend in Boston, there were reports indicating the Brewers were going to fire the man that had been manager since the start of the 2003 season.
That report, though, turned out to be wrong. It also fired the Brewers up, as they went on a run in June, traded for a certain lefty in July (more on him in just a bit), and went 20-7 in August.
Things were looking good. The team looked like they were going to be in the playoffs for the first time since 1982. And then September hit. The Brewers went 3-11, saw their playoff hopes slipping away, and with just 12 games left to go, made the unconventional move to fire their manager.
So, Yost was gone. Dale Sveum was in. Fans either loved or hated the move. But, by the end of September, no one was complaining.
#5 - The Rise and Fall of the Packers: 2008 started off with the packers drilling Seattle in the NFC Divisional Playoffs and reaching the NFC Championship Game. It will end with a 2008 regular season that fell far short of expectations. It's not quite like the Packers went from the penthouse to the outhouse, but it was a wild swing for sure. There are some who believe the biggest reason for the fall is because of a major change the organization went through between March and August (we'll get to it), but most feel the reason the Packers fell so far so fast was because of injuries, a bad defense (Bob Sanders, please brush up your resume), a schedule that was a lot tougher this year than it was a year ago, and just plain luck. The 2007 Packers got nearly every break. The 2008 Packers couldn't buy one.
#4 - CC Comes to Town: It was the biggest trade in the history of the franchise. On Monday, July 7th, the Brewers officially acquired Carsten Charles Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians for a package centered around slugger Matt LaPorta. It was not the kind of move the Brewers were known for. In fact, they used to be the team that traded star players for prospects. But, a 16-10 June put the Brewers back in contention after their sluggish start, and GM Doug Melvin felt the time was right to make the move.
It was a move that was nothing more than a summer rental, but it was also a move that energized a city looking to fall in love with its baseball team. Sabathia gave the Brewers and their fans everything they could have hoped for during the four months he was here. It was a gamble the Brewers, in retrospect, needed to take. And it paid off in a big way.
#3 - Brett Retires: In late February, the Packers caused a little bit of controversy when their official website inadvertently published that Brett Favre was going to retire. It turns out that where there was smoke, there was fire.
Less than a week later FOX Sports' Jay Glazer was the first to officially report that Brett was indeed calling it quits after what may have been his finest season. On March 6th, the entire state, no, make that the entire nation, was watching when Brett, looking as emotionally spent as any human being could be, tearfully announced he was walking away.
At the time, most in Packer Nation thought Brett was making the decision at the right time (if not the right decision). No one thought in the 2007 Packers would go 13-3 and get within an overtime field goal of going to the Super Bowl. But that is exactly what they did, and considering there are no guarantees in the NFL, walking away after a magical season like that might have been as close to 'going out on top' as Brett might have come.
However, after a few months away, The Gunslinger had other ideas.
#2 - Brett Comes Back, Wearing a Different Color Green: The Summer of 2008 should have been known more for the Brewers and their run to the playoffs more than anything else. The operative words being should have been. During the spring, word kept leaking out that Favre was having second thoughts about retirement. Time went on, and those stories weren't going away. It turns out there was a reason for that.
As we now know, Brett decided in March he was going to return, but changed his mind at the last second. A couple of months later, he called the Packers and let them know he wanted to return. The Packers, tired of what they viewed as Brett's waffling, told him they were moving on with Aaron Rodgers.
What followed next was nothing short of a soap opera. A jilted Brett aired his grievances to the FOX News Channel of all places. The Vikings were accused of tampering. And by the time training camp started, nothing was resolved.
When training camp opened, the circus really came to town. Brett flew into Green Bay, and the media covered his arrival as if the President of the United States just came to town.
The next few days were nothing short of extraordinary. Brett met with Mike McCarthy, who re-iterated that the job was Aaron Rodgers. We all remember that news conference in which McCarthy proclaimed "the train is leaving the station." Less than a day later, Brett left Green Bay without getting his job back.
Within a day of Brett's departure from Green Bay (again, covered like it was the President leaving), the Packers struck a deal with the New York Jets. Favre was officially an ex-Packer, traded for a conditional draft pick.
The controversy has had a lasting effect on both organizations, and the fan base. Packer Nation remains a house divided, four months after the Favre trade was consummated. There are those who staunchly believe the Packers made the right move. And there are others, what could be considered a vocal minority, who believe just as strongly that the Packers never should have treated the legend as if he were a piece of meat.
It all made this past summer 'All Brett All The Time' in terms of media coverage. That was the summer, though. September gave us the biggest story of the season.
#1 Brewers Make The Playoffs: When the Brewers fired Ned Yost in mid-September, they were in the middle of a downward spiral that many thought would leave them on the outside looking in when the playoffs got underway in October. Dale Sveum took over with just twelve games left in the regular season. The Brewers went 2-4 in the first six games of Sveum's reign, and returning home for the final week of the regular season, the mood in the locker room, and in the city, was grim
But the final week of the season delivered more drama than anyone could have forseen. With hopes of winning the division dashed, the Brewers found themselves in a fight with the Mets for the wildcard spot. But, there was no guarantee that even if they took care of the Pirates, and then the archrival Cubs, that they would make the playoffs.
Never has a series with the Pirates meant so much. Prince Fielder's ninth inning homer gave the Brewers a 7-5 win in the opener that kept them alive. Sabathia started on three days rest and pitched the Brewers to a win in the second game of the series.
And in the finale, the Brewers welcomed back Yovani Gallardo, who hadn't pitched since tearing his ACL in April. Gallardo kept the Brewers in the game, and Ryan Braun hit a game winning Grand Slam in the 10th to complete the sweep.
The Brewers entered the final series of the regular season against the Cubs tied with the Mets for the wildcard lead. They would remain tied going into the final Sunday of the season.
And on that Sunday, the Mets did what they have been known to do when the calendar says September - and that is choke. The Brewers, meanwhile, got another spectacular start from Sabathia on three days rest, another dramatic home run from Braun, beat the Cubs, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The sellout crowd figuratively blew the roof off of Miller Park. Thousands showed up to the Summerfest grounds in October for a rally to send the Brewers off to Philadelphia and the NLDS.
And even though the playoff run lasted four games, even though CC is now a Yankee, the Brewers did something that hadn't been done in nearly three decades. They knocked the Packers off the front page in October.
For everything that team gave this city, all the highs and lows, all the drama. For the way an entire city united for one cause (as opposed to a fan base divided during the Favre Soap Opera), the run to the playoffs by the Milwaukee Brewers is the Number One Local Sports Story of 2008.
Let the debate begin. If you have any comments, thoughts, or arguments with the list, just drop me an email at saundersonsports@yahoo.com.
So, here we go, with the Top Ten Local Stories of 2008. It was a year that had a little bit of everything. Celebration, controversy, and sadness. It was certainly not a dull year in Wisconsin sports. So, here we go going from Number Ten to Number One. Let the debate begin!
Honorable Mention: UW-Whitewater. In many other years, the Warhawks probably would have made the Top Ten. They lost a bunch of players to graduation, and all coach Lance Leipold did was reload. The Warhawks made their fourth straight Stagg Bowl, only to lose to Mount Union 31-26. Four years in a row. Sounds like a dynasty to me, and even though they don't make the Top Ten, they deserve some recognition. Here it is.
#10 - Ryan Braun Commits to Milwaukee: The news was not totally unexpected when word came down in mid-May that Ryan Braun had signed an extension with the Brewers. We all knew that the team was trying to sign their young cornerstones to long term deals. What was surprising was that Braun accepted in his first full year. Most thought if he had waited he would have gotten more than $45M. But Braun showed the kind of man he is, and committed to this city and franchise through 2015. He was, at the end of the day, the only one of the young players to sign a long term deal.
#9 - Wisconsin Football Falls on Hard Times: Before the 2008 season started, there was talk of a possible Rose Bowl for the Wisconsin Badgers. There were some who thought this team could go 11-1. Things didn't quite work out that way. After a 3-0 start, including a tough win on the road at Fresno State, the Badgers lost their next four, including a 48-7 loss at Camp Randall to Penn State.
Alan Evridge started the season as the quarterback, replacing Tyler Donovan, who had exhausted his eligibility. Evridge didn't make it past the Nittany Lions Game. Dustin Sherer took over, and the Badgers went 3-2 in his first five starts, becoming bowl eligible. The season might have, and maybe should have ended with a loss to Division I-AA Cal Poly, but their kicker missed three extra points, and the Badgers won in overtime. They will play Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, ending their streak of New Year's Day Bowl at four.
#8 - Senator Kohl Cleans House: With the Bucks struggling for yet another season, Senator Herb Kohl relieved General Manager Larry Harris of his duties in mid-March. It didn't take long to find Harris' replacement, as John Hammond, Joe Dumars' right hand man with the Pistons, was hired before the 2007-2008 season ended.
And, when that season did end (with a 26-56 record) Hammond wasted little time in firing then coach Larry Krystkowiak, replacing him with former Bulls coach Scott Skiles.
A new regime took over, making their mark with the trade in late June that brought Richard Jefferson to the team.
The results have been mixed up to this point, but there does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel. But, the Senator went outside the organization, got people with track records to run the organization, and though it will take time, the Bucks are not the sad outfit they were a year ago.
#7 - Tom Crean Leaves Marquette: The 2007-2008 season ended with the Marquette Golden Eagles just barely missing The Sweet Sixteen. Unlike past seasons, when Tom Crean's name came up almost every time a high profile coaching job opened, there wasn't a lot of buzz surrounding the coach that brought MU back from where they were under Mike Deane to where they are now.
But another school did come calling, and Crean not only listened, but jumped. To Indiana. Was it a surprise that he left? No, not really. The way he left was surprising. It turns out the players were not the first to find out that their coach was leaving. The media was, and when reporters tell players their coach has left them, it's not a good thing.
So, Crean left for the Hooisers, because, as he said "It's Indiana. It's Indiana." So, his successful run at MU ended, opening the door for Buzz Williams, who has the Golden Eagles playing well as of now.
#6 - Yost Was Toast: To say that former Brewers manager Ned Yost was unpopular would be a gigantic understatement. "Yost bashing" became the thing to do in Milwaukee. The Brewers struggled at the start of the 2008 season, and after a lost weekend in Boston, there were reports indicating the Brewers were going to fire the man that had been manager since the start of the 2003 season.
That report, though, turned out to be wrong. It also fired the Brewers up, as they went on a run in June, traded for a certain lefty in July (more on him in just a bit), and went 20-7 in August.
Things were looking good. The team looked like they were going to be in the playoffs for the first time since 1982. And then September hit. The Brewers went 3-11, saw their playoff hopes slipping away, and with just 12 games left to go, made the unconventional move to fire their manager.
So, Yost was gone. Dale Sveum was in. Fans either loved or hated the move. But, by the end of September, no one was complaining.
#5 - The Rise and Fall of the Packers: 2008 started off with the packers drilling Seattle in the NFC Divisional Playoffs and reaching the NFC Championship Game. It will end with a 2008 regular season that fell far short of expectations. It's not quite like the Packers went from the penthouse to the outhouse, but it was a wild swing for sure. There are some who believe the biggest reason for the fall is because of a major change the organization went through between March and August (we'll get to it), but most feel the reason the Packers fell so far so fast was because of injuries, a bad defense (Bob Sanders, please brush up your resume), a schedule that was a lot tougher this year than it was a year ago, and just plain luck. The 2007 Packers got nearly every break. The 2008 Packers couldn't buy one.
#4 - CC Comes to Town: It was the biggest trade in the history of the franchise. On Monday, July 7th, the Brewers officially acquired Carsten Charles Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians for a package centered around slugger Matt LaPorta. It was not the kind of move the Brewers were known for. In fact, they used to be the team that traded star players for prospects. But, a 16-10 June put the Brewers back in contention after their sluggish start, and GM Doug Melvin felt the time was right to make the move.
It was a move that was nothing more than a summer rental, but it was also a move that energized a city looking to fall in love with its baseball team. Sabathia gave the Brewers and their fans everything they could have hoped for during the four months he was here. It was a gamble the Brewers, in retrospect, needed to take. And it paid off in a big way.
#3 - Brett Retires: In late February, the Packers caused a little bit of controversy when their official website inadvertently published that Brett Favre was going to retire. It turns out that where there was smoke, there was fire.
Less than a week later FOX Sports' Jay Glazer was the first to officially report that Brett was indeed calling it quits after what may have been his finest season. On March 6th, the entire state, no, make that the entire nation, was watching when Brett, looking as emotionally spent as any human being could be, tearfully announced he was walking away.
At the time, most in Packer Nation thought Brett was making the decision at the right time (if not the right decision). No one thought in the 2007 Packers would go 13-3 and get within an overtime field goal of going to the Super Bowl. But that is exactly what they did, and considering there are no guarantees in the NFL, walking away after a magical season like that might have been as close to 'going out on top' as Brett might have come.
However, after a few months away, The Gunslinger had other ideas.
#2 - Brett Comes Back, Wearing a Different Color Green: The Summer of 2008 should have been known more for the Brewers and their run to the playoffs more than anything else. The operative words being should have been. During the spring, word kept leaking out that Favre was having second thoughts about retirement. Time went on, and those stories weren't going away. It turns out there was a reason for that.
As we now know, Brett decided in March he was going to return, but changed his mind at the last second. A couple of months later, he called the Packers and let them know he wanted to return. The Packers, tired of what they viewed as Brett's waffling, told him they were moving on with Aaron Rodgers.
What followed next was nothing short of a soap opera. A jilted Brett aired his grievances to the FOX News Channel of all places. The Vikings were accused of tampering. And by the time training camp started, nothing was resolved.
When training camp opened, the circus really came to town. Brett flew into Green Bay, and the media covered his arrival as if the President of the United States just came to town.
The next few days were nothing short of extraordinary. Brett met with Mike McCarthy, who re-iterated that the job was Aaron Rodgers. We all remember that news conference in which McCarthy proclaimed "the train is leaving the station." Less than a day later, Brett left Green Bay without getting his job back.
Within a day of Brett's departure from Green Bay (again, covered like it was the President leaving), the Packers struck a deal with the New York Jets. Favre was officially an ex-Packer, traded for a conditional draft pick.
The controversy has had a lasting effect on both organizations, and the fan base. Packer Nation remains a house divided, four months after the Favre trade was consummated. There are those who staunchly believe the Packers made the right move. And there are others, what could be considered a vocal minority, who believe just as strongly that the Packers never should have treated the legend as if he were a piece of meat.
It all made this past summer 'All Brett All The Time' in terms of media coverage. That was the summer, though. September gave us the biggest story of the season.
#1 Brewers Make The Playoffs: When the Brewers fired Ned Yost in mid-September, they were in the middle of a downward spiral that many thought would leave them on the outside looking in when the playoffs got underway in October. Dale Sveum took over with just twelve games left in the regular season. The Brewers went 2-4 in the first six games of Sveum's reign, and returning home for the final week of the regular season, the mood in the locker room, and in the city, was grim
But the final week of the season delivered more drama than anyone could have forseen. With hopes of winning the division dashed, the Brewers found themselves in a fight with the Mets for the wildcard spot. But, there was no guarantee that even if they took care of the Pirates, and then the archrival Cubs, that they would make the playoffs.
Never has a series with the Pirates meant so much. Prince Fielder's ninth inning homer gave the Brewers a 7-5 win in the opener that kept them alive. Sabathia started on three days rest and pitched the Brewers to a win in the second game of the series.
And in the finale, the Brewers welcomed back Yovani Gallardo, who hadn't pitched since tearing his ACL in April. Gallardo kept the Brewers in the game, and Ryan Braun hit a game winning Grand Slam in the 10th to complete the sweep.
The Brewers entered the final series of the regular season against the Cubs tied with the Mets for the wildcard lead. They would remain tied going into the final Sunday of the season.
And on that Sunday, the Mets did what they have been known to do when the calendar says September - and that is choke. The Brewers, meanwhile, got another spectacular start from Sabathia on three days rest, another dramatic home run from Braun, beat the Cubs, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The sellout crowd figuratively blew the roof off of Miller Park. Thousands showed up to the Summerfest grounds in October for a rally to send the Brewers off to Philadelphia and the NLDS.
And even though the playoff run lasted four games, even though CC is now a Yankee, the Brewers did something that hadn't been done in nearly three decades. They knocked the Packers off the front page in October.
For everything that team gave this city, all the highs and lows, all the drama. For the way an entire city united for one cause (as opposed to a fan base divided during the Favre Soap Opera), the run to the playoffs by the Milwaukee Brewers is the Number One Local Sports Story of 2008.
Let the debate begin. If you have any comments, thoughts, or arguments with the list, just drop me an email at saundersonsports@yahoo.com.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Today's Podcast
The Monday Podcast is now up and running. Click here to listen to what I have to say about tonight's MNF game, a new drinking game you can play while watching ESPN tonight, and the possibility that Mark Teixeira will play for a team that won't win 75 games.
The Weekend Wrap:
Those Dirty Birds: 'The Worldwide Leader' will probably be gushing over the Tennessee win over Pittsburgh. Maybe the four letter network will be talking all about how New England has an easy path to the AFC Eastern Division title. Maybe they'll even talk about Dallas' latest loss. We know how they work. We also know they are missing a pretty good story with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings were a field goal favorite to beat Atlanta and clinch the NFC North division, thereby making tonight's game between the Packers and Bears meaningless. But, a funny thing happened on the way to Minnesota's division title. The Falcons did.
While most of the league was paying attention to Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, the Falcon defense was flying under the radar. Not anymore. Atlanta recovered four Viking fumbles, turning those into 17 points, which turned out to be the difference in the ballgame. Ryan and Turner played OK, but not like they had at other points during the season.
With the win, Atlanta improved to 10-5. They are on their way to the playoffs. The Atlanta Falcons. The same team that lost Mike Vick to prison. The same team that hired Bobby Petrino as their coach before the 2007 season, only to watch him slither out of town before the season ended for the comfort of college football. The Falcons were a mess less than a year ago. How did they get it turned around so fast?
That's an easy one to answer. The NFL is a copycat league. Owner Arthur Blank and former GM Rich McKay noticed the kind of success the Patriots have had this decade, and decided if they couldn't hire Scott Pioli that they would hire the next best thing. Piloi's assistant. Thomas Dimitroff. He might not have been a household name, but he was the correct hire.
Not only did he bring the Patriots philosophy to the ATL, but he's the one who hired Mike Smith as coach. When Smith got the job, a lot of people scratched their heads. How did a career assistant get this kind of opportunity? Well, after fifteen games we now understand, don't we. The man knows how to coach a defense. That was always his specialty. He's not doing anything different than he did when he was in Jacksonville. In fact, the vaunted Jaguars defense has struggled since he left.
Smith also had the courage to start Ryan at quarterback as opposed to Chris Redman. Most coaches would have trusted the veteran, but Smith gambled with the rookie and won. Won with the guy Dimitroff identified as the franchise quarterback they had to have last April.
Dimitroff has done a wonderful job since taking over football operations in Atlanta. He convinced Michael Turner, the free agent back evereyone wanted, to sign with his club. He not only drafted Ryan, but moved back up into the first round to select Sam Baker from USC, who played well when he was healthy earlier this season.
The Falcons may not get the same kind of pub the Titans, Patriots, and Cowboys do, but they are no less of a story. In fact, don't be surprised if Dimitroff wins NFL Executive of the Year when it's all said and done. He deserves it for turning around this franchise.
And though Tennessee's Jeff Fisher will probably win Coach of the Year honors, Smith deserves it just as much.
Lebron's future: Have you ever seen as much talk about someone's future as there has been about Cleveland's Lebron James? The man doesn't hit the free agent market until July of 2010, and yet there are teams already falling all over themselves trying to clear enough cap room in order to sign him. The Pistons dealt Allen Iverson to try and clear cap room. The Knicks traded a number of players in order to clear cap room. It seems as if some teams are willing to sacrifice this season, and even next season if it means they can sign King James.
But, what happens if James never hits the open market? He now says he will consider re-signing with Cleveland this coming off-season. What if he is really serious about staying with the Cavs?
Then again, maybe James is just saying the politically correct thing. Maybe James is just saying that because the Cavs are red hot this season, and he doesn't want to rock the boat. In fact, that is probably the case. James probably sees this Cavs team as being the best one he's ever been on, the one that could not only get him back to the NBA Finals, but win it this time. Why do anything that would put that in jeopardy?
Here's the bottom line. If James hits the open market (okay, when he hits the open market), he's gone. It won't matter if Cleveland can offer him more than any other team. His NBA salary will pale in comparison to what he can (and already has) made as an endorser. And no offense to the fans in Cleveland or any other small market NBA city, but the endorsement dollars, especially in today's economy, are more readily available in a New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago than they are in Cleveland.
Of course, if James does actually re-sign with the Cavs this summer, we'll all look pretty ridiculous. But, no more ridiculous than the GM's who were willing to sacrifice this season and next season for a pipe dream, right?
Sad Deal Holyfield: In case you missed it, and most of us probably did, former Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield lost a split decision to Nikolai Valuev Saturday as the former Olympian tried to recapture the Heavyweight Title. That was not a surprise. Holyfield is 46, hasn't won a meaningful fight in years, since knocking out Hasim Rahman six years ago.
The surprise was in all the moaning and groaning that came after the fight. There were some analysts who went on television and complained that Holyfield was robbed. That he should have been given the win, and the title that comes along with it.
There isn't a boxing fan around that doesn't admire Holyfield for what he has accomplished. But, he's got to stop fighting for his own good. Beating Valuev would be the worst thing that could happen to Holyfield. Because then you would see him in the ring with either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Either fight would be a mismatch. Both of the Klitschko's would overwhelm the 46-year old Holyfield, maybe even hurt the future Hall of Famer. Who would want to see that? Who would want to remember that?
There are so many things to remember Holyfield for. The1984 Olympics. Moving from Cruiserweight to Heavyweight and winning the title. The trilogy with Riddick Bowe. The first knockout of Mike Tyson. Bite-gate in the rematch one year later. The last image we all get of Holyfield should not be him seriously hurt at the hands of a younger, stronger, and better fighter.
But that seems to be the way it's going to end for him. Over the last couple of years, we've seen his name pop up in an investigation concerning performance enhancing drugs. He's talked freely about his financial problems, which were partly his own fault. He has eleven children by seven different women, two ex-wives, and the $40M plus he made in his career is pretty much gone. For losing to Valuev, Holyfield was paid a paltry $600K.
But that's the trouble with boxing. Fighters tend to hang on too long. Whether it's because of the money or the love of the spotlight, a lot of fighters continue their careers way past the time they should have gotten out. Even George Foreman, who shocked the world in 1994 by winning the title with a one punch knockout win over Michael Moorer, kept going. He should have made the Moorer fight his last one, but he didn't, and only quit after losing to Shannon Briggs three years later.
In fact, the only boxer that got out while he was still at the top of his game was probably Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He never put on a pair of gloves after losing to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987. Many people thought Hagler won that fight. Many people thought he was still the best fighter on the planet. But Hagler was so disgusted with the split decision loss to Leonard that he walked away. And never came back.
Holyfield should do the same. A fighter like him ought to leave on his own terms. Not because he hung on for one fight too long.
The Vikings were a field goal favorite to beat Atlanta and clinch the NFC North division, thereby making tonight's game between the Packers and Bears meaningless. But, a funny thing happened on the way to Minnesota's division title. The Falcons did.
While most of the league was paying attention to Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, the Falcon defense was flying under the radar. Not anymore. Atlanta recovered four Viking fumbles, turning those into 17 points, which turned out to be the difference in the ballgame. Ryan and Turner played OK, but not like they had at other points during the season.
With the win, Atlanta improved to 10-5. They are on their way to the playoffs. The Atlanta Falcons. The same team that lost Mike Vick to prison. The same team that hired Bobby Petrino as their coach before the 2007 season, only to watch him slither out of town before the season ended for the comfort of college football. The Falcons were a mess less than a year ago. How did they get it turned around so fast?
That's an easy one to answer. The NFL is a copycat league. Owner Arthur Blank and former GM Rich McKay noticed the kind of success the Patriots have had this decade, and decided if they couldn't hire Scott Pioli that they would hire the next best thing. Piloi's assistant. Thomas Dimitroff. He might not have been a household name, but he was the correct hire.
Not only did he bring the Patriots philosophy to the ATL, but he's the one who hired Mike Smith as coach. When Smith got the job, a lot of people scratched their heads. How did a career assistant get this kind of opportunity? Well, after fifteen games we now understand, don't we. The man knows how to coach a defense. That was always his specialty. He's not doing anything different than he did when he was in Jacksonville. In fact, the vaunted Jaguars defense has struggled since he left.
Smith also had the courage to start Ryan at quarterback as opposed to Chris Redman. Most coaches would have trusted the veteran, but Smith gambled with the rookie and won. Won with the guy Dimitroff identified as the franchise quarterback they had to have last April.
Dimitroff has done a wonderful job since taking over football operations in Atlanta. He convinced Michael Turner, the free agent back evereyone wanted, to sign with his club. He not only drafted Ryan, but moved back up into the first round to select Sam Baker from USC, who played well when he was healthy earlier this season.
The Falcons may not get the same kind of pub the Titans, Patriots, and Cowboys do, but they are no less of a story. In fact, don't be surprised if Dimitroff wins NFL Executive of the Year when it's all said and done. He deserves it for turning around this franchise.
And though Tennessee's Jeff Fisher will probably win Coach of the Year honors, Smith deserves it just as much.
Lebron's future: Have you ever seen as much talk about someone's future as there has been about Cleveland's Lebron James? The man doesn't hit the free agent market until July of 2010, and yet there are teams already falling all over themselves trying to clear enough cap room in order to sign him. The Pistons dealt Allen Iverson to try and clear cap room. The Knicks traded a number of players in order to clear cap room. It seems as if some teams are willing to sacrifice this season, and even next season if it means they can sign King James.
But, what happens if James never hits the open market? He now says he will consider re-signing with Cleveland this coming off-season. What if he is really serious about staying with the Cavs?
Then again, maybe James is just saying the politically correct thing. Maybe James is just saying that because the Cavs are red hot this season, and he doesn't want to rock the boat. In fact, that is probably the case. James probably sees this Cavs team as being the best one he's ever been on, the one that could not only get him back to the NBA Finals, but win it this time. Why do anything that would put that in jeopardy?
Here's the bottom line. If James hits the open market (okay, when he hits the open market), he's gone. It won't matter if Cleveland can offer him more than any other team. His NBA salary will pale in comparison to what he can (and already has) made as an endorser. And no offense to the fans in Cleveland or any other small market NBA city, but the endorsement dollars, especially in today's economy, are more readily available in a New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago than they are in Cleveland.
Of course, if James does actually re-sign with the Cavs this summer, we'll all look pretty ridiculous. But, no more ridiculous than the GM's who were willing to sacrifice this season and next season for a pipe dream, right?
Sad Deal Holyfield: In case you missed it, and most of us probably did, former Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield lost a split decision to Nikolai Valuev Saturday as the former Olympian tried to recapture the Heavyweight Title. That was not a surprise. Holyfield is 46, hasn't won a meaningful fight in years, since knocking out Hasim Rahman six years ago.
The surprise was in all the moaning and groaning that came after the fight. There were some analysts who went on television and complained that Holyfield was robbed. That he should have been given the win, and the title that comes along with it.
There isn't a boxing fan around that doesn't admire Holyfield for what he has accomplished. But, he's got to stop fighting for his own good. Beating Valuev would be the worst thing that could happen to Holyfield. Because then you would see him in the ring with either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Either fight would be a mismatch. Both of the Klitschko's would overwhelm the 46-year old Holyfield, maybe even hurt the future Hall of Famer. Who would want to see that? Who would want to remember that?
There are so many things to remember Holyfield for. The1984 Olympics. Moving from Cruiserweight to Heavyweight and winning the title. The trilogy with Riddick Bowe. The first knockout of Mike Tyson. Bite-gate in the rematch one year later. The last image we all get of Holyfield should not be him seriously hurt at the hands of a younger, stronger, and better fighter.
But that seems to be the way it's going to end for him. Over the last couple of years, we've seen his name pop up in an investigation concerning performance enhancing drugs. He's talked freely about his financial problems, which were partly his own fault. He has eleven children by seven different women, two ex-wives, and the $40M plus he made in his career is pretty much gone. For losing to Valuev, Holyfield was paid a paltry $600K.
But that's the trouble with boxing. Fighters tend to hang on too long. Whether it's because of the money or the love of the spotlight, a lot of fighters continue their careers way past the time they should have gotten out. Even George Foreman, who shocked the world in 1994 by winning the title with a one punch knockout win over Michael Moorer, kept going. He should have made the Moorer fight his last one, but he didn't, and only quit after losing to Shannon Briggs three years later.
In fact, the only boxer that got out while he was still at the top of his game was probably Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He never put on a pair of gloves after losing to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987. Many people thought Hagler won that fight. Many people thought he was still the best fighter on the planet. But Hagler was so disgusted with the split decision loss to Leonard that he walked away. And never came back.
Holyfield should do the same. A fighter like him ought to leave on his own terms. Not because he hung on for one fight too long.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Entering The 21st Century!!
It's taken a little while, but in addition to the blog, I have started podcasting!!
Click here to go to my podcast page.
I will update the podcast the same way I do the blog. There will be a fresh blog and podcast Monday thru Friday!
Click here to go to my podcast page.
I will update the podcast the same way I do the blog. There will be a fresh blog and podcast Monday thru Friday!
More TV!
If yesterday's episode of the Time Warner Sports 32 Roundtable wasn't enough for you, I will be back on today with Guest Host Bob Brainerd and WISN's Dan Needles at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 this afternoon!!
Tank? HELL NO!
The 2008 season hasn't been one to remember for the Green Bay Packers or their fans. The controversy started in July when Brett Favre decided he wasn't retired anymore, and it hasn't let up since.
Favre's replacement, Aaron Rodgers has played well statistically, but has not been able to pull out a win at the end of any game as of yet. Maybe he will in the future, but to paraphrase Mark McGwire, I'm not here to talk about the future.
That being said, the 5-9 record is obviously not all Rodgers' fault. The defense has been banged up and ineffective. The running game (Ryan Grant) hasn't been as effective as it was a year ago. That's the result of an offensive line that was inconsistent, Grant's injuries, and a holdout that pretty much wiped out his pre-season.
Other factors that have contributed include a tougher schedule than last season's, and just plain luck. The Packers aren't getting the breaks this year that they did a year ago.
The good news is there are two games left in the season. It's what the Packers should do with these two games that is up for debate.
There is one school of thought that says the Packers should play their young players and improve their draft position. The other school of thought says play the game honestly. That's what Mike McCarthy has been preaching this week, and that's what I think he should do as well.
What good would playing the young guys do at this point? They are already playing thanks to injuries. Josh Sitton is playing, Brandon Jackson is getting more carries than at any other point in his career. Desmond Bishop is playing. Jeremy Thompson has had plenty of snaps. Jordy Nelson has been a contributor. Who else would you want to see out there? Rookies Patrick Lee and Breno Giacomini? Please. Alan Barbre? They have given him chances and he hasn't taken advantage.
Would you really want to see Matt Flynn or Brian Brohm get a start down the stretch? They gave Rodgers over $60M a few weeks back. He's their quarterback, and if you really think they want to see what they've got in Flynn and/or Brohm you're kidding yourself. They know because they get reps in practice, and they got a long look in August. Quarterback is not a position that is up for evaluation at this point.
The second reason the Packers need to play it honest is this. They are at Chicago Monday night. The Bears. You know, the best rivalry in the NFL! The players may not feel the rivalry like they used to, but the fans do. Be honest here. Would you really want the Packers to tank against THE HATED CHICAGO BEARS??? I don't think so.
And let's fast forward a week. The Lions could be 0-15 when they come to Green Bay. If the Packers 'play the young guys' they could wind up being the one team Detroit manages to beat this season. How embarrassing would that be?? If there's any team that deserves to go 0-16, it's the Detroit Lions.
And finally, the best reason to play the games honestly is this. 7-9 looks a lot better than 5-11.
In a season that will be remembered for close losses, I'll take 7-9 every day.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
TV Update
I will be appearing on the Time Warner Sports 32 Roundtable this afternoon. The first airing at at 3:30. Other airings follow at 4:30, 5:30, 9:30 and 11:30PM.
Bob Brainerd will be hosting (filling in for Dennis Krause). The other panelist will not be Stephanie Sutton, who will be in Green Bay covering the Packer locker room. Dan Needles will be filling in. I'm looking forward to it. I've never met anyone before who could 'Stump the Schwab.'
Auburn Did Gill Wrong
Let's see, you are Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs. You had one of the most respected coaches in the nation in Tommy Tubberville, but you decided to fire him (or, accept his resignation, whatever) after a 36-0 loss to then #1 Alabama completed a 5-7 season.
Even though most felt Tubberville deserved another chance, it was Jacobs' prerogative to let Tubberville go (though you know there was a lot of input from boosters, alumni and the school president). The next thing Jacobs had to do was find a replacement.
He could have hired Texas Tech's Mike Leach, who turned the Red Raiders into one of the nation's best programs. That's not an easy thing to do in Lubbock, especially when you consider Tech is behind Texas and probably even Texas A&M in the hearts and minds of the people in the state. But, Auburn passed, reportedly because the stodgy university people felt that Leach was too quirky. Hey, quirky or not, the guy deserved a chance at the job, and Auburn will probably regret passing on this offensive genius (we all saw how bad Auburn's offense was this season).
That left two candidates for Jacobs to choose from. Gene Chizik, the former Auburn defensive co-ordinator, who had a 5-19 record in two seasons at Iowa State. And Buffalo's Turner Gill, who in three years with the Bulls, had the program winning the MAC Championship after spending years as a Division 1-A doormat. While no one was talking about Chizik as a hot coaching candidate, Gill's name was out there. So, who did Auburn hire? Chizik!
Chizik is said to be a fabulous defensive co-ordinator, and that may be true, but the results haven't been there as a head coach. Sure, Iowa State is one of the worst teams in the Big 12, but it wasn't so long ago that the Cyclones were going to bowl games (they went to five under former coach Dan McCarney).
The Tigers also went with a familiar face in Chizik. Remember, he was there for a few years as the defensive co-ordinator, including the undefeated season a few years back. So, they went with someone they were comfortable with.
There is speculation that race played a role in the choice of Chizik over Gill. Charles Barkley, who was right to come out against his alma mater, said Gill told him he felt like the interview he had was a 'token' interview. There were reports on ESPN that fellow SEC coaches said Gill would never get the job because he was married to a white woman.
If that's the case, then everyone involved in the hiring process should be embarrassed. The United States just elected Barack Obama as the country's first African-American President. Yet, the 'good old boys in the SEC' are operating like it's 1958, not 2008.
Who cares if Gill is married to a white woman? It has nothing to do with whether or not the man can coach. And the man can coach.
In fact, Gill has more head coaching experience than Chizik does (he's got Chizik by a year). He was also a long time Nebraska assistant. It's not like he was an unknown.
Consider what Gill has done in three years at Buffalo, and it's not a stretch to say he would have done better at Iowa State had he been there instead of Chizik.
Buffalo is not a college football hotbed. I lived there for four years, from 1989-1993 (went to college at cross-town Buffalo State). When Buffalo announced they were moving from Division III to Division I, most people in the community barely raised an eyebrow. Buffalo was then, and is now, a pro football town.
For over a decade, the Bulls languished at the bottom of Division I-A. It was so bad there, even Temple used to blow them out.
Gill changed all of that. Sure it took time, but he went from two wins in his first year, to five in his second, and eight this season, leading the Bulls to their first ever bowl game (by comparison, Chizik had three wins in 2007 compared to two wins this year). The Bulls ruined what was supposed to be the Cinderella year for Ball State.
This accomplishment is not small by any stretch of the imagination. Are the Bulls going to be a Top 25 team? Probably not. They aren't the second coming of South Florida.
Gill was able to get players to come to snowy Western New York, to a program that hasn't been seen on National television on a consistent basis. And he was able to get them to win.
By comparison, Chizik inherited a program that Dan McCarney put on the map. A program that belonged to one of the BCS conferences. A program that had been on National television. And, what did he do with it? He went 5-19. He had more to work with, including a better recruiting base, and didn't get the job done.
If you compare the resumes side by side, there is no way you couldn't choose Gill over Chizik. Unless, of course, you are Auburn, in the SEC, where apparently qualifications don't matter. Comfort does.
It certainly isn't the first time we've seen something like this in the SEC. If you go back a few years, you'll recall that Alabama hired Mike Shula over Sylvester Croom. Many people were shocked that someone with as little experience as Shula had got the job, but Alabama was quick to point out who his father was. And if that wasn't enough, he played quarterback for the Crimson Tide in the eighties. That's how they justified the hiring.
Well, Shula didn't exactly make anyone forget Bear Bryant while he was at Tuscaloosa. In the meantime, Croom, also a former player at 'Bama, was so angry he took the job as head coach at Mississippi State, which is only a half step higher than Vanderbilt in the SEC. it took a few years, but Croom turned the Bulldogs into a bowl team before resigning after a down 2008 season.
If 'Bama had to do it over again, they probably would have hired Croom over Shula. You wonder if Auburn is going to feel the same way in a few years about the choice of Gene Chizik over Turner Gill.
The bet here says they will.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
What Should Tex Do
If you trust ESPN.com then free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira is on the verge of making a decision on his future.
'Tex' is probably the best free agent left on the market as we speak (Manny Ramirez is out there as well, but he's in his mid thirties), and there are at least five teams that want him.
The Red Sox have - according to the Boston Herald - made a 'historic' offer to Teixeira. The Angels, who traded for him last season, have made their intentions known - they want him back and have made an offer as well.
The Nationals and Orioles are also in the Tex Sweepstakes. Not because they are contenders, but because Teixeira is a Maryland native. The Nationals, who have a gorgeous new ballpark but no one coming to their games, have promised Teixeira he will be the face of the franchise. That, alone of course, isn't going to get the deal done. Maybe the eight years and $160M they have apparently put on the table will.
And then there's Baltimore. The Orioles can afford to let Teixeira go to either the Red Sox or the Angels. What they cannot afford to do is let him sign with Washington. The Orioles have been a losing team for years, fans are tired of it, and those fans that are in the D.C. area (the ones that used to be Orioles fans) now have a team to call their own in the Nats (even if they aren't any good). O's fans, who have held protests as Camden Yards in recent seasons, would completely lose it if their native son decided to go to Washington.
So, you'd figure that the Orioles would have put the best offer on the table, right? Nope. Peter Angelos is reportedly only offering seven years and between $140M and $150M. If the Red Sox, Angels, and Nats are all at eight years for significantly more money, then the Orioles are just praying Teixeira will give them a hometown discount.
And then there are the Yankees, who are said to be in on the Teixeira race as well. I, for one, am not buying it. They just spent $243M on pitching, are looking to get even more pitching, and traded for Nick Swisher, who they have slotted in to play first base already. If the Yankees are in on Tex, they are only in it to drive the price up for everyone else.
So, what should Teixeira do? If he has four serious offers on the table, which one should he take.
If it's me, I'm taking the Boston offer. It's on the East Coast, so he would be close to home. It would be for an historic amount of money, which is important because Tex's agent is Scott Boras. And, the Red Sox are clearly going for it after losing to Tampa Bay in the ALCS last season. They have identified their weaknesses and are trying to address them. First base was considered a major weakness, and putting Teixeira in a lineup with Big Papi and everyone else Boston has could shore it up in a big way.
Besides, the Sox have won titles in 2004 and 2007, and there is no reason to think they won't contend for one in 2009.
It would be easy for Teixeira to stay with the Angels, but the Angels have had their problems in the post-season lately. They have made the playoffs no less than four times since winning it all in 2002, but have won just one playoff series, and lost in the first round the last two seasons. That, combined with the defection of K-Rod to the Mets means the Angels really aren't any stronger than they were in 2008. In fact, they are weaker, which wouldn't come into play during the regular season (because the rest of the West is just that bad), but would hurt in the playoffs should they get there again.
Tha Nats are years away from winning. This is a franchise that has not recovered from years of mismanagement when they were the Montral Expos. Teixeira would be a nice local attraction, but there isn't much else to watch outside of Ryan Zimmerman. If Tex goes to Washington, it would be for the money.
If reports are true that the Orioles offer is for less money and a shorter term than everyone else's, then they aren't even worth Teixeira's time. Their offer is seemingly for PR purposes only.
So, if everything is equal (money and length of contract), as it seems to be between Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington (which is shocking in and of itself), then Teixeira should go where he has the best chance to win.
And, that clearly is Boston.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Cliff on TV
Just a quick note for those of you that are interested. I will be on the Time Warner Sports 32 Roundtable on Thursday and Friday. It airs at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30PM, with more airings scheduled. When I get those times, I will let you know.
Bob Brainerd will be hosting (Dennis Krause is allowed to take some vacation, right?) And WISN 12's Stephanie Sutton will join me on the panel.
There's the heads up.
Bob Brainerd will be hosting (Dennis Krause is allowed to take some vacation, right?) And WISN 12's Stephanie Sutton will join me on the panel.
There's the heads up.
What Should Melvin's Priority Be?
With the Packers playoff hopes D.O.A., nearly everyone was paying more attention to what was happening in Las Vegas last week. What happened at Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings certainly didn't stay in Vegas, not with the type of money that was being thrown around.
It was no surprise that the Brewers lost CC Sabathia to the Yankees and their seven year offer worth $161M dollars. The surprise was that the Brewers were the only other team seemingly involved in the CC sweepstakes. They made an effort to keep Sabathia in Milwaukee, but the Yankee offer was too good to be true. He got the richest contract ever for a free agent pitcher, and he can leave The Bronx Zoo after three seasons if he doesn't like it there. How many of us would have turned that deal down? If we're all honest with ourselves, none of us would have left that kind of money on the table.
So, now the Brewers have a gaping hole in their rotation. A 6'7", 290 pound hole to be exact. And he won't be the only one leaving. Ben Sheets is expected to follow Sabathia out of town. Even though the Yankees are still an option, Sheets is probably better off going to Texas, where there is less pressure to win, less media scrutiny, and an old friend in new Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux.
If you're keeping score at home, Sheets' impending defection leaves the Brewers without their top two starters from 2008. The Crew also lost closer Salomon Torres and his 28 saves to retirement.
While most everyone expected CC and Sheets to leave, none of us had Torres' retirement on our radar screens, even though he talked about retiring right after he was traded here by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The question begs to be asked. What should Doug Melvin fix first, the rotation or the bullpen? What should his priority be?
If it's me (and many of you are probably happy it isn't) I'd be paying more attention to the rotation than the bullpen.
Melvin has shown the ability to find a closer out of nowhere. He has done it before, in fact, he's done it multiple times. Who would have thought Dan Kolb would have been able to rack up 61 saves in the 2003 and 2004 seasons? Had any Brewers fan even heard of Derrick Turnbow before he saved 63 games in the 2005 and 2006 seasons? Francisco Cordero had been moved out of the closer's role with the Rangers before Melvin traded for him in 2006. And Torres saved 28 games (and Melvin's bacon) after The Eric Gagne ($10M) Experiment failed. In other words, Melvin has never left this organization without a solid closer, and should be able to do it again (in house candidates include Seth McClung and Jorge Julio).
The rotation needs Melvin's full attention, and it needs it now. Yovani Gallardo is the closest thing the Brewers have to a sure thing, and is considered one of the best young pitchers in the game. After Gallardo it gets dicey.
Manny Parra was 10-8 this past season, but only had one win after July 20th. Parra also tends to get too down on himself when things aren't going his way. He was beaten mentally as much as he was tired physically during his first full season in the bigs. He is no sure thing, either.
Then there's Jeff Suppan. The Brewers spent $42M on him after the 2006 season. They have received a .500 pitcher in return. 'Supp' was 12-12 with a 4.62 ERA in '07, 10-10 with a 4.96 ERA last season, and the Phillies beat him like a piñata in Game Four of the NLDS. Suppan may be highly paid, but has not been the pitcher most of us expected him to be when he came here.
And which Dave Bush are the Brewers going to see next season? Will it be the Bush that went 4-1 in the second half of the season? The one that held the Phillies to a run on five hits in Game Three of the NLDS? Or, will the Brewers get the 'Bushie' that struggled throughout the first half? You know, the one that was demoted to Nashville at one point.
At this point, the fifth starter is anyone's guess. Among the names being thrown around include McClung and Chris Capuano. What about Carlos Villanueva, you ask? Well, in an interview Melvin gave last week, he indicated that 'Villa' is better suited for bullpen duty, maybe even as the closer.
So, as you see, the rotation could not exactly be considered at strength right now. Melvin has reportedly been in contact with the agents for Jamie Moyer, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, and Randy Wolf. In a perfect world, Melvin would have signed Moyer, who was one of the reasons the Phillies made their run to the playoffs this past season (he had 16 regular season victories, compared to 14 for Cole Hamels). But, Moyer re-signed with the Phillies yesterday, so that option is now off the table.
Johnson was able to make 31 starts for Arizona last year, but his health is always in question, whether it's his back or his knee. He is five wins away from 300, which is the only reason he is still hanging around.
Smoltz is a future Hall of Famer as well, but is also a big risk because of all the injury problems he had last season. Wolf was 6-2 with the Astros following a trade from San Diego in July. He would actually be the best option now Moyer is no longer on the market, but word is the New York Mets have focused their attention on him.
There is also the possibility that Melvin could pull off a trade and pick up a starter. It appears as if Mike Cameron is on his way to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera. Reports say Pitcher Kei Igawa could be included in the deal (NOOOOOOO!!!!). Maybe the deal could be expanded to include Bill Hall, and if that's the case, the Brewers should ask for Ian Kennedy in return (New York would never give up Phil Hughes for a Cameron/Hall package. Kennedy may never get the chance to flourish in New York because of the expectations and media, but that wouldn't be a problem here in Milwaukee.
Do you need more proof that the rotation needs more attention than the bullpen? Well, consider this. The Reds outbid the Brewers for Francisco Cordero a year ago. Sure, they got 34 saves, but the Reds finished with a 74-88 record. What's the lesson learned there?
Simply this. Having a closer is nice, but it doesn't make a big difference if the closer doesn't have a lead to protect.
Let's hope Melvin paid attention to that and acts accordingly.
It was no surprise that the Brewers lost CC Sabathia to the Yankees and their seven year offer worth $161M dollars. The surprise was that the Brewers were the only other team seemingly involved in the CC sweepstakes. They made an effort to keep Sabathia in Milwaukee, but the Yankee offer was too good to be true. He got the richest contract ever for a free agent pitcher, and he can leave The Bronx Zoo after three seasons if he doesn't like it there. How many of us would have turned that deal down? If we're all honest with ourselves, none of us would have left that kind of money on the table.
So, now the Brewers have a gaping hole in their rotation. A 6'7", 290 pound hole to be exact. And he won't be the only one leaving. Ben Sheets is expected to follow Sabathia out of town. Even though the Yankees are still an option, Sheets is probably better off going to Texas, where there is less pressure to win, less media scrutiny, and an old friend in new Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux.
If you're keeping score at home, Sheets' impending defection leaves the Brewers without their top two starters from 2008. The Crew also lost closer Salomon Torres and his 28 saves to retirement.
While most everyone expected CC and Sheets to leave, none of us had Torres' retirement on our radar screens, even though he talked about retiring right after he was traded here by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The question begs to be asked. What should Doug Melvin fix first, the rotation or the bullpen? What should his priority be?
If it's me (and many of you are probably happy it isn't) I'd be paying more attention to the rotation than the bullpen.
Melvin has shown the ability to find a closer out of nowhere. He has done it before, in fact, he's done it multiple times. Who would have thought Dan Kolb would have been able to rack up 61 saves in the 2003 and 2004 seasons? Had any Brewers fan even heard of Derrick Turnbow before he saved 63 games in the 2005 and 2006 seasons? Francisco Cordero had been moved out of the closer's role with the Rangers before Melvin traded for him in 2006. And Torres saved 28 games (and Melvin's bacon) after The Eric Gagne ($10M) Experiment failed. In other words, Melvin has never left this organization without a solid closer, and should be able to do it again (in house candidates include Seth McClung and Jorge Julio).
The rotation needs Melvin's full attention, and it needs it now. Yovani Gallardo is the closest thing the Brewers have to a sure thing, and is considered one of the best young pitchers in the game. After Gallardo it gets dicey.
Manny Parra was 10-8 this past season, but only had one win after July 20th. Parra also tends to get too down on himself when things aren't going his way. He was beaten mentally as much as he was tired physically during his first full season in the bigs. He is no sure thing, either.
Then there's Jeff Suppan. The Brewers spent $42M on him after the 2006 season. They have received a .500 pitcher in return. 'Supp' was 12-12 with a 4.62 ERA in '07, 10-10 with a 4.96 ERA last season, and the Phillies beat him like a piñata in Game Four of the NLDS. Suppan may be highly paid, but has not been the pitcher most of us expected him to be when he came here.
And which Dave Bush are the Brewers going to see next season? Will it be the Bush that went 4-1 in the second half of the season? The one that held the Phillies to a run on five hits in Game Three of the NLDS? Or, will the Brewers get the 'Bushie' that struggled throughout the first half? You know, the one that was demoted to Nashville at one point.
At this point, the fifth starter is anyone's guess. Among the names being thrown around include McClung and Chris Capuano. What about Carlos Villanueva, you ask? Well, in an interview Melvin gave last week, he indicated that 'Villa' is better suited for bullpen duty, maybe even as the closer.
So, as you see, the rotation could not exactly be considered at strength right now. Melvin has reportedly been in contact with the agents for Jamie Moyer, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, and Randy Wolf. In a perfect world, Melvin would have signed Moyer, who was one of the reasons the Phillies made their run to the playoffs this past season (he had 16 regular season victories, compared to 14 for Cole Hamels). But, Moyer re-signed with the Phillies yesterday, so that option is now off the table.
Johnson was able to make 31 starts for Arizona last year, but his health is always in question, whether it's his back or his knee. He is five wins away from 300, which is the only reason he is still hanging around.
Smoltz is a future Hall of Famer as well, but is also a big risk because of all the injury problems he had last season. Wolf was 6-2 with the Astros following a trade from San Diego in July. He would actually be the best option now Moyer is no longer on the market, but word is the New York Mets have focused their attention on him.
There is also the possibility that Melvin could pull off a trade and pick up a starter. It appears as if Mike Cameron is on his way to the Yankees for Melky Cabrera. Reports say Pitcher Kei Igawa could be included in the deal (NOOOOOOO!!!!). Maybe the deal could be expanded to include Bill Hall, and if that's the case, the Brewers should ask for Ian Kennedy in return (New York would never give up Phil Hughes for a Cameron/Hall package. Kennedy may never get the chance to flourish in New York because of the expectations and media, but that wouldn't be a problem here in Milwaukee.
Do you need more proof that the rotation needs more attention than the bullpen? Well, consider this. The Reds outbid the Brewers for Francisco Cordero a year ago. Sure, they got 34 saves, but the Reds finished with a 74-88 record. What's the lesson learned there?
Simply this. Having a closer is nice, but it doesn't make a big difference if the closer doesn't have a lead to protect.
Let's hope Melvin paid attention to that and acts accordingly.
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Weekend Wrap: Packers Fizzle, G-Men in Trouble, Heisman Sam, and Yanks Get Their Man.. Again!
Packers Fizzle: Where have we seen this story before? Packers take a fourth quarter lead, only to watch the defense give it up. Then, in what is becoming a disturbing trend, quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a late pick to end hopes of a comeback.
It happened again yesterday. Mason Crosby's FG with under six minutes to play gave the Packers a 16-14 lead in Jacksonville. But, the Jags went on an 80 yard drive that chewed up nearly four minutes of clock to go on top 20-14, and Rodgers threw an interception with under a minute left as the Packers fell to 5-9.
Injuries on the defensive side of the ball can be used as an excuse only so much. I am getting sick and tired of seeing a defense that helped get this Packer team to the NFC title game eleven months ago get ripped up week after week. And, to make matters worse, I am not seeing co-ordinator Bob Sanders make any kind of adjustments. Really, what changes, in game changes, has he made to help his defense out? None, zero, zip, nada. It is yet another reason why Sanders needs to go when this season mercifully comes to an end.
Now, I have been defending Rodgers all season long, and truth be told, he played well yesterday. However, the defense as an excuse also only goes so far. Rodgers needs to shoulder some of the blame as well.
By now we should all expect that the defense is going to give up yards left and right. We should expect the defense to squander whatever slim lead the unimaginative offense that Mike McCarthy continues to call gives it. We should also expect Rodgers to pull one of these games out.
The Packers had more time to work with down 20-16 with just under two minutes to go than they did against Carolina a couple of weeks back. But didn't it seem to you like the first few plays of the two minute offense seemed to be going at a slower than usual pace? It did to me. Now, it's either that Rodgers isn't getting his team to the line in a timely fashion. or the coaches aren't getting him the plays quick enough (which is something that McCarthy has been quietly accused of).
But, the bigger problem is that Rodgers seems to be pressing at the wrong time. When it matters most, Rodgers hasn't come up big. It does go all the way back to his Cal days, where he nearly beat mighty USC, but came up just under ten yards short late in the game. Sound familiar?
Look, it's easy to sit here and say he can't win the big one, as some in the media (Dave Begel) have written recently. In fact, Begel compared Rodgers to Alex Rodriguez, Barry Sanders, and Jim Kelly - guys who had great stats but didn't win 'The Big One.'
While I think it's way too early in Rodgers' career to make that comparison, the fact that he hasn't pulled even one of these games out is disturbing. He's going to have to win a game by himself in a big spot, and he's going to have to do it soon.
Because as good as his numbers are, the only number that really matters is the one that appears on the left side of the standings. And that number, in 2008, is what Rodgers and the Packers will be remembered for more than anything else.
G-Men In Trouble: Last night’s 20-8 loss in Dallas was not what the doctor prescribed for the New York Giants. Not by a long shot. You see, the Cowboys were a team in turmoil, with Terrell Owens fighting Jason Witten. The Cowboys also were blitzed by Big Blue earlier this season 35-14, and the Giants had the opportunity to pretty much put the final nail in Dallas’ coffin with a win last night.
That didn’t happen. What happened was that the Giants got exposed.
We always knew the Cowboys had talent. That was why they had been favored to go to the Super Bowl this past summer, even after the Giants came out of nowhere and beat the supposedly unbeatable New England Patriots. But to do what they did last night, considering the soap opera week the Cowboys had, was more than a lot of people expected. But, maybe it shouldn’t have been such a surprise.
The Giants had survived injuries up until last week’s loss to the Eagles. An undermanned defense was still playing well. But two key cogs have been plucked from the New York offense, and Eli Manning hasn’t really been able to recover.
Plaxico Burress shot himself a few weeks ago, and literally shot the Giants in the foot. The Giants have serviceable receivers, but no playmakers. It’s easier for a defense to plan for Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Domenick Hixon and Sinorice Moss than it is to plan for Plax. The much maligned Dallas secondary showed you that last night.
As if losing Burress weren’t bad enough, Brandon Jacobs sat last night with a knee injury. He may not be a gamebreaker, but his 260 pound body wears on a defense. When Jacobs slams into a defensive line twenty-five times a game, they tend to get beat up, which makes it easier for Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to get their yards. Without Jacobs, Ward was limited to fourteen carries and 64 yards.
So, now the Giants have lost two in a row. Games they probably should have won but didn’t. Now they are 11-3, with must win games against the Panthers and Vikings coming up to close the regular season.
The game at the Meadowlands next Sunday night is going to be a dangerous one for the G-Men. Carolina plays the run well. They have their own version of Smash and Dash with thousand-yard rusher D’Angelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart. And even though Jake Delhomme isn’t the best quarterback in the world statistically, he’s one of the best leaders in the NFL. His players go to the wall for him, plain and simple
It may have been outlandish to think that Carolina could wind up as the NFC’s number one seed when camps opened up in July. But, five months later, the outlandish could be reality. And New York’s dreams of winning back to back Super Bowls could very well be vanishing before our very eyes.
Heisman Sam: It didn’t come as a shock that Sam Bradford won the Heisman. The Oklahoma QB threw for nearly 4,500 yards and 48 TD’s. He also had high profile late season wins broadcast in primetime over Oklahoma State and Missouri. In the end, Bradford was probably the right choice. Not to take anything away from McCoy, but Texas’ late season schedule (Baylor and Texas A&M) left something to be desired. Tebow was everything for Florida in the SEC title game win over Alabama, but he did not have as dominating a season as he did a year ago.
However, this was no runaway victory for Bradford. Texas QB Colt McCoy, who out-dueled Bradford in the Red River Rivalry/Shootout on a neutral field, finished second. Last year’s winner, Florida QB Tim Tebow, finished third. Less than 200 points separated these three players, and no one would have been surprised or upset had either Tebow or McCoy won the award.
All of which makes the showdown for the B(C)S National Championship early next month even more intriguing. Will Bradford suffer the same fate that Oklahoma’s last Heisman winning QB, Jason White did? (For those of you that don’t remember LSU beat Oklahoma in ther Sugar Bowl to win a split National Championship, holding White to 13-of-37 passing for 102 yards and a pair of interceptions). Or, will Bradford outduel Tebow on a neutral field, doing what he did not do in Dallas this past October, when McCoy and the Longhorns edged Bradford and the Sooners 45-35?
Then there is the question of whether or not Bradford and Tebow will decide to turn pro after the bowl game (remember, McCoy has already said he will return to Austin next season). The bet here says both will wind up in the NFL next season. There is too much risk in returning to college. Injuries can occur, and careers can be derailed before they even get started.
If both do go pro, which would wind up being the better NFL quarterback? Even though Heisman winning quarterbacks do not always go on to productive NFL careers (White, Eric Crouch, and Gino Torretta come to mind), Bradford is a good bet to have a productive pro career. He is bigger and has a better arm than some of the other QB’s that have won the Heisman. He also is a quarterback, not an athlete playing quarterback, which will play a big role as he makes the transition from college to the NFL.
Don’t get me wrong. Tebow is going to have a productive NFL career as well. Just not at quarterback. He’s not a good enough passer to make the transition to the next level. But he is a superior runner. He is a superior athlete. It would not be a shock to see him move to an H-back type of position in the NFL, where we could see him line up at quarterback in the much talked about ‘Wildcat’ formation.
Bottom line - in college, the best athlete on the team normally plays quarterback. In the pros, it’s a different story.
Yanks Get Their Man.. Again: Well, the Yankees did it again. Even though Atlanta reportedly had $80M on the table at one point, the Yankees put $82.5M on the table and Blue Jays free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett decided to take his act to The Big Apple.
So, in case you are scoring at home, the Yankees have put down $243.5M for the top two free agent starters on the market. And they may not be done. Word is they are trying to convince Derek Lowe to spurn Boston and Philadelphia for Yankee pinstripes. And, if they can’t get Lowe they may turn their attention to Ben ‘Fragile’ Sheets.
We’ll deal with Lowe and/or Sheets if and when the Yankees sign them. But, let’s concentrate on the two guys the Yankees did sign. What did they get for their $243.5M?
Keep in mind that it takes a special athlete to come to New York. There are two 24-hour Sports Radio stations in NYC. There are over ten newspapers in the area. There are six local over the air television stations plus three cable outlets that cover the team on a daily basis. CC Sabathia and Burnett are going to face more pressure and scrutiny than they ever have before.
Sabathia should be able to handle it without a problem, even with his misadventures in the playoffs. Sabathia was the reason the Brewers got to the playoffs last season. The man pitched four times down the stretch on three days rest. He could have told then manager Dale Sveum that he wouldn’t do it to protect himself, but that’s not the kind oif guy Sabathia is. He wants the ball in clutch situations. He’s a throwback, a guy that reminds you of Gibson, Koufax, and Spahn.
Burnett, on the other hand is a different story. Sure he had a terrific year last season, going 18-10 with an ERA just a little over 4.00. But, to be fair, it was the first time in his career that he put together a season with over fifteen wins.
Part of the reason why was because he was able to make over thirty starts for the first time since 2005. Burnett came up to the Marlins in 1999 but didn’t become a fixture in their rotation until 2001. Injuries limited Burnett to four and twelve starts in 2003 and 2004, and after staying healthy in ‘05 (his walk year), he made just 21 and 25 starts in 2006 and 2007. In other words, the man is an injury waiting to happen.
He better be able to stay healthy in New York. Otherwise he is going to hear it from the media, the fans, and maybe even Hank Steinbrenner, who is not shy about making his feeling known in the press (I wonder where he got that from?). The track record Burnett has put together suggests he is more Carl Pavano than Sabathia, who doesn’t get hurt, wants the ball when it matters most, and will wind up being worth every penny the Yankees spent on him.
It happened again yesterday. Mason Crosby's FG with under six minutes to play gave the Packers a 16-14 lead in Jacksonville. But, the Jags went on an 80 yard drive that chewed up nearly four minutes of clock to go on top 20-14, and Rodgers threw an interception with under a minute left as the Packers fell to 5-9.
Injuries on the defensive side of the ball can be used as an excuse only so much. I am getting sick and tired of seeing a defense that helped get this Packer team to the NFC title game eleven months ago get ripped up week after week. And, to make matters worse, I am not seeing co-ordinator Bob Sanders make any kind of adjustments. Really, what changes, in game changes, has he made to help his defense out? None, zero, zip, nada. It is yet another reason why Sanders needs to go when this season mercifully comes to an end.
Now, I have been defending Rodgers all season long, and truth be told, he played well yesterday. However, the defense as an excuse also only goes so far. Rodgers needs to shoulder some of the blame as well.
By now we should all expect that the defense is going to give up yards left and right. We should expect the defense to squander whatever slim lead the unimaginative offense that Mike McCarthy continues to call gives it. We should also expect Rodgers to pull one of these games out.
The Packers had more time to work with down 20-16 with just under two minutes to go than they did against Carolina a couple of weeks back. But didn't it seem to you like the first few plays of the two minute offense seemed to be going at a slower than usual pace? It did to me. Now, it's either that Rodgers isn't getting his team to the line in a timely fashion. or the coaches aren't getting him the plays quick enough (which is something that McCarthy has been quietly accused of).
But, the bigger problem is that Rodgers seems to be pressing at the wrong time. When it matters most, Rodgers hasn't come up big. It does go all the way back to his Cal days, where he nearly beat mighty USC, but came up just under ten yards short late in the game. Sound familiar?
Look, it's easy to sit here and say he can't win the big one, as some in the media (Dave Begel) have written recently. In fact, Begel compared Rodgers to Alex Rodriguez, Barry Sanders, and Jim Kelly - guys who had great stats but didn't win 'The Big One.'
While I think it's way too early in Rodgers' career to make that comparison, the fact that he hasn't pulled even one of these games out is disturbing. He's going to have to win a game by himself in a big spot, and he's going to have to do it soon.
Because as good as his numbers are, the only number that really matters is the one that appears on the left side of the standings. And that number, in 2008, is what Rodgers and the Packers will be remembered for more than anything else.
G-Men In Trouble: Last night’s 20-8 loss in Dallas was not what the doctor prescribed for the New York Giants. Not by a long shot. You see, the Cowboys were a team in turmoil, with Terrell Owens fighting Jason Witten. The Cowboys also were blitzed by Big Blue earlier this season 35-14, and the Giants had the opportunity to pretty much put the final nail in Dallas’ coffin with a win last night.
That didn’t happen. What happened was that the Giants got exposed.
We always knew the Cowboys had talent. That was why they had been favored to go to the Super Bowl this past summer, even after the Giants came out of nowhere and beat the supposedly unbeatable New England Patriots. But to do what they did last night, considering the soap opera week the Cowboys had, was more than a lot of people expected. But, maybe it shouldn’t have been such a surprise.
The Giants had survived injuries up until last week’s loss to the Eagles. An undermanned defense was still playing well. But two key cogs have been plucked from the New York offense, and Eli Manning hasn’t really been able to recover.
Plaxico Burress shot himself a few weeks ago, and literally shot the Giants in the foot. The Giants have serviceable receivers, but no playmakers. It’s easier for a defense to plan for Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Domenick Hixon and Sinorice Moss than it is to plan for Plax. The much maligned Dallas secondary showed you that last night.
As if losing Burress weren’t bad enough, Brandon Jacobs sat last night with a knee injury. He may not be a gamebreaker, but his 260 pound body wears on a defense. When Jacobs slams into a defensive line twenty-five times a game, they tend to get beat up, which makes it easier for Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to get their yards. Without Jacobs, Ward was limited to fourteen carries and 64 yards.
So, now the Giants have lost two in a row. Games they probably should have won but didn’t. Now they are 11-3, with must win games against the Panthers and Vikings coming up to close the regular season.
The game at the Meadowlands next Sunday night is going to be a dangerous one for the G-Men. Carolina plays the run well. They have their own version of Smash and Dash with thousand-yard rusher D’Angelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart. And even though Jake Delhomme isn’t the best quarterback in the world statistically, he’s one of the best leaders in the NFL. His players go to the wall for him, plain and simple
It may have been outlandish to think that Carolina could wind up as the NFC’s number one seed when camps opened up in July. But, five months later, the outlandish could be reality. And New York’s dreams of winning back to back Super Bowls could very well be vanishing before our very eyes.
Heisman Sam: It didn’t come as a shock that Sam Bradford won the Heisman. The Oklahoma QB threw for nearly 4,500 yards and 48 TD’s. He also had high profile late season wins broadcast in primetime over Oklahoma State and Missouri. In the end, Bradford was probably the right choice. Not to take anything away from McCoy, but Texas’ late season schedule (Baylor and Texas A&M) left something to be desired. Tebow was everything for Florida in the SEC title game win over Alabama, but he did not have as dominating a season as he did a year ago.
However, this was no runaway victory for Bradford. Texas QB Colt McCoy, who out-dueled Bradford in the Red River Rivalry/Shootout on a neutral field, finished second. Last year’s winner, Florida QB Tim Tebow, finished third. Less than 200 points separated these three players, and no one would have been surprised or upset had either Tebow or McCoy won the award.
All of which makes the showdown for the B(C)S National Championship early next month even more intriguing. Will Bradford suffer the same fate that Oklahoma’s last Heisman winning QB, Jason White did? (For those of you that don’t remember LSU beat Oklahoma in ther Sugar Bowl to win a split National Championship, holding White to 13-of-37 passing for 102 yards and a pair of interceptions). Or, will Bradford outduel Tebow on a neutral field, doing what he did not do in Dallas this past October, when McCoy and the Longhorns edged Bradford and the Sooners 45-35?
Then there is the question of whether or not Bradford and Tebow will decide to turn pro after the bowl game (remember, McCoy has already said he will return to Austin next season). The bet here says both will wind up in the NFL next season. There is too much risk in returning to college. Injuries can occur, and careers can be derailed before they even get started.
If both do go pro, which would wind up being the better NFL quarterback? Even though Heisman winning quarterbacks do not always go on to productive NFL careers (White, Eric Crouch, and Gino Torretta come to mind), Bradford is a good bet to have a productive pro career. He is bigger and has a better arm than some of the other QB’s that have won the Heisman. He also is a quarterback, not an athlete playing quarterback, which will play a big role as he makes the transition from college to the NFL.
Don’t get me wrong. Tebow is going to have a productive NFL career as well. Just not at quarterback. He’s not a good enough passer to make the transition to the next level. But he is a superior runner. He is a superior athlete. It would not be a shock to see him move to an H-back type of position in the NFL, where we could see him line up at quarterback in the much talked about ‘Wildcat’ formation.
Bottom line - in college, the best athlete on the team normally plays quarterback. In the pros, it’s a different story.
Yanks Get Their Man.. Again: Well, the Yankees did it again. Even though Atlanta reportedly had $80M on the table at one point, the Yankees put $82.5M on the table and Blue Jays free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett decided to take his act to The Big Apple.
So, in case you are scoring at home, the Yankees have put down $243.5M for the top two free agent starters on the market. And they may not be done. Word is they are trying to convince Derek Lowe to spurn Boston and Philadelphia for Yankee pinstripes. And, if they can’t get Lowe they may turn their attention to Ben ‘Fragile’ Sheets.
We’ll deal with Lowe and/or Sheets if and when the Yankees sign them. But, let’s concentrate on the two guys the Yankees did sign. What did they get for their $243.5M?
Keep in mind that it takes a special athlete to come to New York. There are two 24-hour Sports Radio stations in NYC. There are over ten newspapers in the area. There are six local over the air television stations plus three cable outlets that cover the team on a daily basis. CC Sabathia and Burnett are going to face more pressure and scrutiny than they ever have before.
Sabathia should be able to handle it without a problem, even with his misadventures in the playoffs. Sabathia was the reason the Brewers got to the playoffs last season. The man pitched four times down the stretch on three days rest. He could have told then manager Dale Sveum that he wouldn’t do it to protect himself, but that’s not the kind oif guy Sabathia is. He wants the ball in clutch situations. He’s a throwback, a guy that reminds you of Gibson, Koufax, and Spahn.
Burnett, on the other hand is a different story. Sure he had a terrific year last season, going 18-10 with an ERA just a little over 4.00. But, to be fair, it was the first time in his career that he put together a season with over fifteen wins.
Part of the reason why was because he was able to make over thirty starts for the first time since 2005. Burnett came up to the Marlins in 1999 but didn’t become a fixture in their rotation until 2001. Injuries limited Burnett to four and twelve starts in 2003 and 2004, and after staying healthy in ‘05 (his walk year), he made just 21 and 25 starts in 2006 and 2007. In other words, the man is an injury waiting to happen.
He better be able to stay healthy in New York. Otherwise he is going to hear it from the media, the fans, and maybe even Hank Steinbrenner, who is not shy about making his feeling known in the press (I wonder where he got that from?). The track record Burnett has put together suggests he is more Carl Pavano than Sabathia, who doesn’t get hurt, wants the ball when it matters most, and will wind up being worth every penny the Yankees spent on him.
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