Saunders on Sports

Attention, Media: There's News On The Field, Too!

2009-08-05T05:59:00.002-05:00

In case you didn’t know, we’ve got some pretty interesting races going on in baseball this summer. In case you missed it, there are some very intriguing storylines being played out in NFL camps across the country. In case you didn’t know, we’re less than a month away from what looks like it might be an ultra-competitive season in college football.

And you couldn’t be blamed if you did miss these stories. Why? Because we have been distracted by other things this summer, that’s why!

We’re talking about steroids (again). We’re talking about players making idiotic mistakes off the field (Plaxico Burress). We’re talking about whether a convicted felon (Michael Vick) should get another chance after paying his debt to society. We’re talking about a guy who can’t decide if he wants to play or stay retired (Brett Favre). We’re talking about Twitter and Facebook. We’re not talking about what’s happening on the field.

That would be the fault of my friends and colleagues in the media. The Skip Bayless’ of the world won’t stop screaming about cheating in baseball. Websites like Rotoinfo.com have now twice published a rumored list of the 103 players that tested positive for steroids in 2003. Plaxico Burress and his future – both legal and in the NFL are being talked about more than the baseball pennant races right now. Brett Favre and his flip flopping has taken our attention away from Tom Brady’s return from a blown out knee.

And then there’s the Twitter/Facebook controversy that seems to have writers like my friend Jay Mariotti at Fanhouse all hot and bothered.

So, athletes use Twitter and Facebook to get their messages out there. Is that a big deal? So Chargers defensive back Antonio Cromartie hates the food the team gives him during camp. Is that worth the fine they gave him? And, is it really worth spending an hour or two writing a column complaining about it? I sure as hell don’t think so.

The fans don’t spend nearly as much time obsessing about these off field stories as the media does. They do spend time obsessing about how their teams are doing. And the stories on the field are very compelling.

Let’s start in baseball, where nearly every division is up for grabs. The Yankees and Red Sox are going toe to toe in the AL East. The Tigers are trying to hold the White Sox and Twins off in the Central. The Angels haven’t shaken the Texas Rangers in the AL West.

Over in the National League, the picture is a little less murky. The Phillies have the upper hand in the East. The Dodgers are the class of the West. The only division up for grabs is the Central, where it looks like it will come down to the Cardinals and the Cubs. The wildcard race promises to be interesting as well, with the Giants and Colorado Rockies still in the picture.

In the NFL, there are compelling storylines that are beginning to unfold. Tom Brady is back under center with New England – will it make them the team they have been in the past? Jay Cutler is the new man in Chicago – can he lead the Bears back to the promised land? Now that Brett Favre has (for the moment at last) told the Vikings he will stay retired, can a team led by Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels play up to the potential it has on defense and in the running game? And, will this be the year that Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys finally get over the hump?

And then there is the upcoming college football season. Florida’s Tim Tebow will go for his second career Heisman. He will try to cement his legacy as (maybe) the best player in college football history.

Tebow will have plenty of competition for the Heisman. Colt McCoy is going to be in the race. Sam Bradford – who happened to have won the Heisman last season – is going to have something to say about this year’s race. And those three teams – Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma, should be in the mix for the BCS national championship as well.

I’m sure I’m leaving some things out. But at least I’m paying attention to what’s happening on the field. I don’t think a lot of people (outside of the media) really care who’s Twittering and who isn’t. Fans aren’t worried about who is and isn’t using performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. The average fan cares more about what happening on the field than what’s happening off the field.

That’s the biggest difference between being a fan and being a media person. There are plenty of people in the media who think that they are the watchdogs for the rest of us. That they are looking out for what’s right and wrong in sports. In reality, these media types just want to hear themselves talk and just want to be part of the story as opposed to covering the story.

So, for once, I beg my colleagues to just look at what’s actually happening on the field. Try it for one day (because I know it’s impossible to do it for a week). You might actually find out what a lot of us already know.

That it’s actually fun to be a fan.

Deadline Winners and Losers

2009-08-01T10:47:00.001-05:00

The trading deadline has come and gone. Oh, I know the waiver deadline is still about a month away - and I understand more players might get through waivers because of the economy - but I don't think we'll see the kind of movement we saw for the last couple of weeks throughout Major League Baseball.

For the most part, teams are set. They will go to battle with the players on their rosters as we speak. So it's time to take a look at who won, who lost, and who gambled now that the shopping season has come to an end.

We'll start with the biggest gamble - and that would be the White Sox dealing four prospects to San Diego for Jake Peavy. I know that Kenny Williams is looking at the future - one that includes Peavy for another couple of years - but he also says the deal should put the Sox into the playoffs.

Yes, Chicago is within striking distance of Detroit, but Peavy isn't going to be available until the end of August. The Sox have to hang in until Peavy is able to help. They have to make sure the Tigers - who dealt for Jarrod Washburn - don't pull away. They have to worry about the Twins as well.

If Peavy is able to help this year, then obviously the White Sox are winners. But, if Peavy isn't able to contribute until 2010, then at least for the short team, Williams' gamble wouldn't have been worth it.

Here are my winners from the trading season (in no particular order):

* St. Louis: Yes, I know the Cards gave up multiple prospects to bring Mark DeRosa and Matt Holliday to town, but they are clearly going for it now. The Cubs are clearly not what they were a year ago. The Brewers are within striking distance, but their pitching will likely wind up being their Achilles heel. I know some fans are unhappy that the kids were sacrificed, but prospects don't always pan out. The Cards brought known quantities into the fold - quantities which will probably put this team into the playoffs.

* Philadelphia: Did the Phillies need to make the Cliff Lee deal to win the NL East? Probably not. But they needed to do it if they wanted a realistic chance to repeat as World Series Champions. The fact they didn't have to give up J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek makes the move even better.

* Boston: Sure, Roy Halladay would have been great, but Victor Martinez isn't a bad haul by any stretch. He can catch - which will take some pressure off of Jason Varitek. He can play first as well. His bat is exactly what the doctor ordered - and like the Phillies - they didn't have to give up the farm to get him.

* Detroit: Washburn gives them another starter as they try to hold off Chicago and Minnesota in a tight AL Central. Seattle asked for the moon from other teams (reports say Manny Parra and top prospect Alcides Escobar was what they wanted from Milwaukee), but if you believe those who would know then the kids the Tigers shipped to the Mariners weren't of the same caliber.

* Dodgers: They were involved in the Roy Halladay talks. They were said to be talking about an Adrian Gonzalez deal with the Padres. In the end they sent two prospects who weren't in their plans for Baltimore's George Sherrill. Joe Torre's bullpen just got a lot better, and the combination of Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton is one that will scare a lot of teams in the NL.

Now, my list of losers:

* Toronto: Not dealing Roy Halladay will come back to haunt J.P. Ricciardi. Halladay's value will go down in the off-season because teams aren't desparate to land that one guy that will put them over the top. And, if you think his value will go up as we get closer to next year's deadline - think again! Why would a team give up mutliple prospects when they can sign Halladay for free a year from now?

* Cleveland: Mark Shapiro dealt two of his best players. He might have gotten some future stars in return, but we won't know for sure for a couple of years. In the meantime, the Indians might wind up being as bad as they were before their resurgence in the 1990's.

* Cncinnati: Let's see, you're ten games out in your division and you are a buyer??? Scott Rolen is having a nice season, but he's not the Scott Rolen of old. He's an expensive player who doesn't have the power he used to. I have no idea what Walt Jocketty was thinking here.

* Pittsburgh: Will the last guy out of PNC Park please turn out the lights? The Pirates play in a gorgeous ballpark. Too bad the team is minor league. There is no reason whatsoever to watch these guys right now. Or next year. Or 2011. Maybe even 2012.

* Washington: When you talk about losers in MLB, no list is complete without the Nationals. Even if you understand why Nick Johnson was dealt (and I do), they have made so many mistakes over the last few years that they are MLB's ultimate losers. Now the Stephen Strasburg watch can begin in earnest.

So there it is. The winners, losers, and biggest risk of the shopping season. Enjoy the stretch drive!

Ho Hum, More Steroid Cheats

2009-07-30T15:10:00.002-05:00

So, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz reportedly tested positive for using steroids six years ago. Is anyone shocked? Is anyone surprised? Is anyone stunned? If you are, then you just haven't been paying attention. Anyone who is surprised by players taking performance enhancing drugs these days probably believes the professional wrestling is still real. Anyone surprised by this bit of news is probably one of the most gullible, easily manipulated people you have ever come across.

Baseball hasn't been innocent for a very long time. The fans know it - deep in their gut they do. But yet they come out in record numbers most every year. If a player on their team is caught cheating, it's usually forgiven because the player was trying to help that particular fan's team. Players on opposing teams - that's not considered that much of a big deal anymore either.

If you want to be surprised by anything, be surprised that Ortiz was naive enough to think he could get away with calling for long suspensions if a player got caught using the juice. He took that stand back in spring training, and today probably wishes he had kept his big mouth shut.

It should have been clear to Ortiz, or to anyone that thought they failed those MLB administered steroids tests six years ago, that there is someone out there who wants to destroy their lives. It's probably some lawyer that feels slighted in some way - a lawyer who has an axe to grind with MLB.

That's why the 'Dirty 104' from 2003 are being revealed. Do I have proof? No, but just call it an educated guess. I would bet my last dollar that the person that 'outed' Alex Rodriguez is the same one that dropped Sammy Sosa's name. That same person is probably the one who dropped dime on Ortiz and Ramirez.

My reaction to the news that Big Papi and Man Ram are dirty is no reaction. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Guilty until proven innocent. It's not fair, but it's the way I feel.

I've also said I'm not going to take any of these steroid cheats to task. I've laid my reasons out before. I won't go over them again. But I will add another to my list by asking you one simple question.

What would you have done in that situation?

It's real easy to say you wouldn't cheat. But, let's take it out of baseball and put it into your real life situation. If you - in this economy - could get ahead or make sure you kept your job by cutting corners, would you? If you say no you probably don't have a family to support. If you have a wife and two kids at home you might very well cut those corners. If you have a mortgage you'd consider it. If it threatened your family and its well being you'd think long and hard about it. Hell, I'd think long and hard about it.

Players in baseball aren't only playing a game. It's their job. It's how they support their families. Don't think for a second that it's really any different from what you and I go through. Athletes put their pants on one leg at a time. They have real life concerns that aren't all that different from what you and I have. Bills. Strained marriages. It happens to the players we watch on television, too. They aren't immune from life's problems.

So, before you tell your buddy that guys like Ortiz and Ramirez are criminals, take a second and think about what you would do in their situations. It's very easy for us as fans to forget that because - hell - we aren't making millions of dollars a year. It's even easier for my colleagues in the media to forget it.

I'll protect the name of this particular talk show host because, well - stupidity like that deserves to be swept under the rug. But, I heard a guy on the radio today just tee off on Ramirez and Ortiz. I expected that. What I didn't expect was what followed.

Simply, it was one of the most ridiculous rants I've ever heard on the radio - and I've heard a lot of them. Hell, I might have gone on one or two of those rants myself. But, I've never said anything this stupid.

The host - let's call him Carl - blamed not only the players, other MLB executives for ignoring the problem, and fans for looking the other way, but he blamed the managers. The managers, Carl said, were responsible as well because they didn't force their guys to stop using PED's. He then singled out Joe Torre of the Dodgers and Tony LaRussa of the Cardinals. Most people think these two managers will be in Cooperstown one day. Carl thinks they should be kept out because they allowed their players to cheat. Carl even demanded that the World Series titles won by the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cardinals over the last fifteen years be vacated.

I'll give you all a minute to digest the utter stupidity of these statements.....

OK, time's up.

There are so many things wrong with these statements that I don't even know where to begin. So, I'll try to begin at the beginning. How in the world are the managers responsible for players who injected drugs into their system? They are managers, not parents. And, these are adults, not kids. What are they supposed to do, demand their players drop their pants so they can make sure there are no needle marks on their asses? Give me a break.

Besides, let's be totally honest here. The jobs of these managers are totally dependent on what these players do on the field. If you don't win, you are done in pro sports as a coach or manager. So, as a manager you might suspect that one of your guys is doing something wrong. But, even if you do, do you risk your own job.

Please don't misunderstand. I am not condoning anything that the steroid users in baseball have done. I'm not condoning the fact that MLB owners ignored the problem. I'm not condoning fans for looking the other way, and I am not condoning managers for not having more control of their players. I am just saying - as I have said before - that I will not take anyone to task over the steroid issue. And, maybe in a way, I understand why the players did what they did. And I might even understand why most in baseball ignored the problem.

Back to Radio Guy Carl and his stupid rant. Going on the record and saying that managers - specifically Torre and LaRussa - should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame - is lunacy. Look at their records, and look at the amount of World Series rings they have (that would be seven between the two). You judge their eligibility for the Hall of Fame based exclusively on how they managed. Anyone who looks at the record and rips Torre or LaRussa is just talking to hear himself talk (like Carl the Radio Guy).

And finally, the whole deal about vacating World Series Championships like the NCAA did with Final Four appearances by Michigan and UMASS. What a crock! Put an asterisk next to them in the record book. Hell, take them out of the record book if you want. But you can't change what you saw with your own eyes. And our eyes watched those teams climb to the top of the mountain.

The sense of righteous indignation that comes to light every time a baseball player gets outed for being a steroid cheat has gotten old. The players don't care - if they did they wouldn't have done the stuff in the first place. The fans, baseball executives, and a lot of other people looked the other way.

I'm not saying the media should look the other way. Not at all.

The Steroid Era happened. It is probably still happening. The time for being surprised and stunned has long passed. The righteous indignation; the pounding of the chests; the stomping of the feet on the sopabox - it all has gotten old.

I'm not saying the media should give everyone a pass. I'm saying the rhetoric you hear every time a steroid story breaks has just got to stop.

Favre Needs To Stay Out Of The Spotlight

2009-07-29T05:44:00.002-05:00

So, Brett Favre finally made a decision. Instead of coming out of retirement again to play for the Minnesota Vikings, Favre has decided that discretion is the better part of valor. He is (at least for now) going to stay retired.

The shoulder that he was worried about? Apparently that was not the issue. The issues were his knees an ankle – which had been giving him problems during his workouts. The other major stumbling block was the fact that he wasn’t prepared mentally for the rigors of an NFL season.

So Favre has decided to take his ball and go home. It seems to me that he also may have realized that he was coming back (again) for the wrong reasons. It was clear to almost everyone that this dalliance with the Vikings was nothing more than a way to get back at the Green Bay Packers for whatever transpired over the last eighteen months. It wasn’t the right reason to come back. Favre may have realized that and decided it wasn’t worth it at the end of the day.

Was it the right decision? Maybe, maybe not. The only one that can say that for sure is Favre himself. He’s the one that has to look at himself in the mirror every day. He’s the one that has to live with the decision. If he’s comfortable with the decision – if he is happy with the decision – then it was the right one. But, only time will tell.

There will be many different reactions to this news. Talk to any Vikings fan, and there probably will be a lot of anger directed towards Favre. Maybe rightly so. After all, Favre basically held the Vikings hostage for the last three months while he decided whether or not he wanted to play again. Certainly Favre would have been a better option than either Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson. So you can understand if Viking fans feel like Favre teased them. You can understand if they feel like jilted lovers left at the altar by a partner who wound up getting cold feet.

By contrast, talk to any Green Bay Packer fan today and you will get a completely different take. For the last three months many Packer fans felt like Favre had committed treason – that he was for lack of a better term sleeping with the enemy. Now that Favre has decided not to play for one of Green Bay’s rivals he will probably be considered one of the good guys again. In Green Bay the Favre jerseys might very well be taken out of the closets and worn proudly by more than a handful of Packer Backers.

Then there are your average fans – those with no real allegiance to either the Packers or Vikings. They are probably disappointed to a degree – because let’s face it – the NFL with Favre on the field is a hell of a lot more fun than without him.

And there are probably more than just a few fans who don’t believe that this story is completely over. Those that think Favre might jump at the chance to play again should an opportunity come up during the season – an opportunity that would mean he wouldn’t have to go through the rigors of training camp or a sixteen game season.

And it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that some team during the season – a team that has quarterback issues – would put a call into the old gunslinger. If a team thinks that a forty year old Favre is a better option than what they have, they almost have to feel Favre out. And, if you are Favre – should that happen – you might very well consider it.

But, considering it and doing it are two very different things. Something tells me this might really be it for Favre. I know I’ve said it before and had egg on my face as he returned to the New York Jets and teased the Vikings, but I really think it’s over.

My gut tells me that yesterday’s decision to stay retired was Favre’s and only Favre’s. I don’t believe he made the decision to play for the Jets on his own. I don’t believe he made the decision to consider Minnesota on his own.

Favre has surrounded himself with a lot of people who have become rich and famous just by being in his inner circle. People who don’t want the money to stop coming in. People who like to hear other people talking about the legendary quarterback. Favre is seemingly influenced very easily. Heck, three years ago – when he waited until late April to decide whether or not he was going to play – he followed the advice of Phil Simms. Simms didn’t talk to Favre privately. The advice was given to Favre on a national radio show that Favre just happened to be listening to.

I have no doubt that those people were in Favre’s ear telling him to stick it to the Packers by playing for one of their chief rivals. And, knowing that Favre doesn’t have a great relationship with Packers GM Ted Thompson, they knew that Favre would (at the very least) consider it.

The decision to stay retired, though seems to me to be Favre’s and Favre’s alone. The reasons he has given for staying retired sound like the reason he retired in January. Favre feels like he just cannot do it physically anymore. It’s not the first time he has talked bout that, and it isn’t the first time that he has talked about being mentally unprepared to go through what a player of his stature needs to go through for a sixteen game season.

Favre has long talked about just wanting to relax and take time off. Now he has the chance to do it.

But he also has to rehabilitate his image. The constant waffling on his football future has caused a lot of people to look at him and make jokes. The best thing Favre can do now is to go underground. No commercials. No interviews. No nothing. The best thing Favre can do now is to keep out of the public eye. As time goes by, people will forget about the waffling and flip flopping and will just remember the thrills he gave to millions of fans on the field.

As time goes by the wounds that were opened by Favre and the Packers will heal to the point that Favre will return to Lambeau Field to have his jersey retired.

But the only way that will happen is if Favre does what he hasn’t shown the ability to do for a very long time.

Stay out of sight.

Brewers Hopes Might Hinge On Melvin's Ability To Deal

2009-07-28T05:16:00.001-05:00

When the season started in April, many had the Brewers and Cubs as the favorites in the National League Central. So far, that has played out. But, what the experts didn't necessarily count on was the way a seemingly undermanned St. Louis Cardinals team shot up the standings. What the experts couldn't predict was the way Cecil Cooper's Houston Astros got themselves off the canvas to become a threat in the division. Heck, up until recently the Cincinnati Reds were making some noise. About the only team out of it was Pittsburgh, and it looks like the Pirates are in fire sale mode again.

With a little over two months to go in the season, the picture in the NL Central is murkier than ever. There are four teams that have shows the ability to get hot and take control. But, showing the ability to do it and actually doing it are two different things.

Which leaves a lot of people around here wondering where the Brewers fit in. Are they as good as they showed when they went on that little 21-5 run earlier this season? Or, are they as bad as the team that has been well below .500 outside that run?

To me, it's real simple. They are neither as good as their hot streak showed, and they aren't as bad as their struggles have shown either. In most years, and in most divisions, a team like the Brewers would be forced to think about next year. But, we are talking about the NL Central here.

Look at the standings again. Yes, the Brewers are looking up at three teams. But do any of those three teams really scare you? The Astros recently lost Lance Berkman to a calf injury - one that forced him to the DL. Can the Astros survive Berkman's absence? If they can, then you have to worry about them. But, if losing two out of three to the New York Mets (a team that has looked absolutely awful lately) is any indication, Cooper's team has their work cut out for them.

The Cardinals didn't have the greatest of weeks last week - getting swept by Houston and losing two out of three at Philadelphia. Now the Cardinals are facing the Dodgers at home before a rematch with Houston this weekend at Busch Stadium. The Cards have been the most aggressive team in the division - dealing multiple prospects in order to acquire Mark Derosa and Matt Holliday. On paper, they have a potent lineup and their rotation - with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright at the top - looks tough as well. But, they have to start playing like the team that vaulted up the standings in June and less like the team that struggled against the Astros and Phillies. It might take a few more games for the Cardinals to get it figured out, but you'd have to think they will. Tony LaRussa has done more with less (as evidenced by winning a World Series in 2006 with a team that won just 83 games in the regular season).

The Cubs still have the most talent in the division, and are finally starting to play like the team most thought they were going to be. They have survived injuries and the struggles of star players like Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley. They were thought to be dead not so long ago, but here they are - smack in the middle of things. They, like the Astros - have another injury to fight through, though. This time it's Ted Lilly that's on the DL. So far the Cubs have dealt with all the adversity, but you have to wonder if they can continue to do so, especially with the problems Soriano and Milton Bradley have had.

Which brings us to the Brewers. Yes, it was nice to get a useful piece like Felipe Lopez, but he won't be the piece that gets the Brewers over the top. There are rumors about Cliff Lee (I'm not going to mention Roy Halladay because the Blue Jays' asking price is way too high if the publicized talks with the Phillies are any indication). There are rumors about Wisconsin native Jarrod Washburn - who is enjoying a good season with a Seattle Mariners team that has been better than they were expected to be. I don't see the Brewers landing Lee, but Washburn is more than just a possibility. Remember that Doug Melvin would be working with his old scouting director in Jack Zduriencik - now the GM in Seattle. There won't be any secrets between these two. I could see the Brewers acquiring Washburn without giving up too many prospects.

If that trade - or a Lee trade - gets done, then the Brewers (at least on paper) have some things going for them. If no trade is made, then the Brewers will be hard pressed to turn things around. The pitching outside of Yovani Gallardo isn't strong enough (though Dave Bush will help when he returns). The bullpen - with the exception of Trevor Hoffman has been inconsistent (I'm being kind here). The lineup hasn't been nearly as potent as it should be with the talent that's out there (Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder could use some help from Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy). We've seen that the pitching isn't good enough to overcome the lack of production behind them.

So, whether or not the Brewers can make up what is not a big deficit in the division might very well come down to Doug Melvin and his ability to make a trade that will help this team. He's done it in the past. He might not be able to make a CC Sabathia type of trade, but he has more than enough ammunition to make a deal for Washburn.

The Cardinals have shown they are willing to go for it now. When it comes down to it, the Cubs probably will, too.

It's your move, Doug. Are you all in?

Halladay Might Have To Change From Labatt's To Bud

2009-07-23T05:10:00.002-05:00

Attention all Roy Halladay shoppers! Time is running out on your chance to get the one player that could put your team over the top this season! Make your best offers NOW to Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi! But make no mistake. Halladay isn't for sale in these tough economic times. There are no coupons or special deals. If you want him, you will have to pay dearly for him.

That's pretty much what Ricciardi said when he announced a deadline of next week to consummate any trade for his star pitcher. Ricciardi claims that the offers he has gotten haven't been good enough, and that it's unlikely he will make any trade at all.

Don't buy it. Not for a single, solitary second.Toronto has no choice but to trade Halladay. You cannot put a guy on the market - and announce publicly that you are accepting offers - without making a deal. Halladay knows the Blue Jays would like to move him. If you knew you weren't wanted by your bosses, would you want to stick around? I didn't think so. You can tell me about Jake Peavy and his turning a trade to the White Sox down earlier this season and use it as an example of an unwanted player who wanted to stay with his current team. But, had Peavy not gotten hurt, I guarantee that he would have been dealt.

Toronto has to move him. After a terrific start this season, the Jays - well, they've become the Jays we expected them to be. They are under .500 and their deficit in a murderous AL East is now in double digits. They haven't won with Halladay, so they figure they can lose without him and rebuild what was once a proud franchise.

The deadline that Ricciardi has put on any Halladay deal is nothing but a smokescreen. All he's doing is trying to get a better offer. And he will. There is no doubt about that whatsoever.

As far as who will wind up trading for Halladay - well, if you believe rumor sites the everyone outside of Washington, San Diego, Baltimore, and a few other teams is in the sweepstakes. Frankly, I don't buy it. So, I figured I would try to sort out fact from fiction and see if I couldn't narrow the field of Halladay suitors down to two or three teams.

Let's start with the teams I do not believe are really in the Halladay race. And you can start with the team that always has money to burn in the New York Yankees. Sure, they could use Halladay - hell, Sergio Mitre started for them on Tuesday night. But, I cannot see the Yankees spending that kind of money when they already have a number of highly priced starters in the rotation. I think the Yankees will try to trade for a starter, but I don't see it being Halladay. I don't see the Red Sox getting involved, either. And I sure as hell don't see the Blue Jays dealing Halladay within their division.

The Phillies are the team that most seem to think is the favorite to land Halladay. If the reports are true, and the Phillies won't part with highly touted pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, then I don't see Toronto doing business with Philly. Besides, look at how weak the NL East is. Does Philly really need Halladay to win the division? Nope.

You can take the Dodgers and Angels out of the mix, too. If Toronto thinks they are going to get Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley in a Halladay package, then they are fooling themselves. And considering the Dodgers have a big lead in the NL West, acquiring Halladay isn't something they need to do.

The Angels managed to put a bad start behind them and move into first place in the AL West without Halladay. I don't see them pulling the trigger either - especially when you consider they have said they will not deal their top prospects.

I'm not sure the Giants have enough to make a deal for Halladay. The Rangers have the prospects, but owner Tom Hicks might be gun shy about bringing in such a high priced player in this economy. Kenny Williams - the GM of the White Sox will do his best to make a trade, but if he refuses to give up Gordon Beckham then he has no chance of pulling it off.

That leaves three teams left in my mind - the Tigers, Cardinals and Brewers.

I don't think Detroit will be the team that winds up with 'Doc.' Sure, they have the prospects and adding Halladay to their staff would make them the odds on favorite to win the AL Central. But, keep in mind that there are few cities that have been hit by the recession harder than Detroit. Does owner Mike Ilitch want to add another big money player when he has done that a few times over the last couple of years (with mixed success)? I don't think so.

I also don't believe the Brewers will pull it off. I know there are rumors that GM Doug Melvin is offering Toronto a package including Manny Parra and Mat Gamel, but it doesn't pass my smell test. First of all I don't think Melvin will trade his top prospect two years in a row. Milwaukee - a small market team - just cannot afford to do that. I also don't think that the Brewers will trade a guy they consider their third baseman of the future - especially when they don't have any other solid options at that position. And finally, keep in mind that Halladay can approve or disapprove of any trade Ricciardi comes to him with. Milwaukee is a good team and a nice town, but Halladay might not want to go there when there might be better options on the table.

All of which leaves the St. Louis Cardinals. They could be the team most motivated to make a move here. Halladay would put them over the top in a crowded NL Central. Not many teams would love the prospect of facing a rotation that includes Halladay, a resurgent Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright (who is just nasty), and Kyle Lohse (rounding into form after his injury). It might not be Maddux-Smolts-Glavine of the Atlanta Braves heyday, but it's damn close.

The Cards have the prospects to make a deal happen (they would have to give up third base prospect Brett Wallace in any deal). Halladay probably wouldn't mind going to a city like St. Louis - which just might very well be the best baseball city in America. And with the prospect of having to re-sign Albert Pujols in a couple of years, the Cardinals must do everything they can to show Pujols they are trying to win now (kind of like what the Cleveland Cavaliers did when they made the Shaq trade this summer).

I'm not saying you can make book on it, but come August first, don't be surprised if Roy Halladay is wearing a St. Louis Cardinals uniform.

Thank You, Tom Watson

2009-07-21T04:50:00.002-05:00

With all due respect to Dan Croak and all the great people at the U.S. Bank Championship, the story in golf this past weekend took place in Scotland, where Stewart Cink won the British Open. I point out that Cink won the Claret Jug because when we talk about what went down at Turnberry years from now, we won't be talking about Cink. We'll be talking about the guy who didn't win the tournament.

That would be the great Tom Watson.

It doesn't matter that he lost Sunday. It doesn't matter that he failed to par the 18th to win the whole thing in regulation. And it doesn't matter that his dream turned into a nightmare on the third hole of the four hole playoff. Because what happened this past weekend was - quite possibly - the best sports story of the year.

Like I said a minute ago, this tournament will be remembered more for what Watson did than Cink's victory. If you don't believe me, well, tell me who won last year's British Open. I'll give you a minute.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Time's up. Stumped? It was Padraig Harrington. We don't really remember Harrington's win, but we do remember that thrill that Greg Norman gave golf fans by holding a lead entering the final round a year ago. That would be 54-year old Greg Norman. The guy who choked away the '96 Masters (and other majors) in spectacular fashion. The guy who hadn't played full time on any tour for years. And yes, the guy who married Chris Evert. His run was more memorable than anything Harrington did. It, along with Watson's incredible weekend, will be talked about for years to come.

I watched the final few holes (and the playoff) at an airport bar. The place was packed, no small feat considering it was in a small airport. And the one thing every person in that bar had in common was the fact they were all rooting for Watson to bring it home. There was the older gentleman nursing a Guinness - who kept talking about how great Watson was back in the day. There was the 22-year old Chicagoan who had never seen Watson in his prime who wanted the old guy to win it. There was a pretty diverse cross section of people all pulling for Watson.

I can't talk for anyone else who was in that bar. I can only speak for myself. What happened this weekend took me back to a time when life was much simpler. Watson turned back the clock to 1977, when he and Jack Nicklaus squared off in what was called 'The duel in the sun.' I was six back then. I don't recall how it all played out, but I do remember what I was doing all those years ago.

I was spending the summers with my parents and grandparents at a house they rented for the summer on Long Island. My grandfather, along with his brothers, owned a butcher store on the Washington Heights section of New York City. He would work Monday through Thursday and then drive out to spend the weekends with us on Friday.

My grandfather was a strong, hard working man. Back when he owned the store, he would get up at four in the morning to get everything ready. On most days he wouldn't come home until well after 8 o'clock at night. For ten months out of the year my grandfather didn't spend much time with anyone outside of his business. But, for those two months every summer he spent every moment of his free time with his family.

My Opa was born 94 years ago in Germany, and returned there to help fight Hitler in World War II. He fought for his country and fought against the genocide that claimed six million lives. There are memories he has from that time that he cherishes and talks about to this very day. There are also memories that are much darker - memories he never has, and never will, speak about.

I tell you all of this because I got to see my grandfather last week for the first time in months. It isn't easy to see your family when you are about a thousand miles away. It's harder when you see someone you love - someone you cherish so much - suffering through a difficult time.

That's what is happening with my grandfather right now. He mourned the loss of his parents. He mourned the loss of five brothers and sisters. He mourned the loss of my grandmother, who passed away suddenly nine years ago.

His health is failing as well. He fell in his home (where he had been living on his own) in April. He couldn't get up, and hasn't been able to walk since. He spent three months in a rehab center (which is just another way of saying nursing home). Despite intense physical therapy, he has not been able to regain the ability to walk.

We're talking about a man with a tremendous sense of pride here. Life has dealt him a lot of blows. But he's always been able to withstand those blows and come back. He's having a lot of difficulty getting off the canvas from the hand that life has dealt him these last few months. He isn't sad. He isn't angry at anyone. He's disgusted with himself. He never blamed anyone else for anything that happened to him. He took accountability for everything.

As I said, my grandfather has a tremendous sense of pride. That's why it was difficult for him to let anyone see him in the state he is in right now. It was even more difficult for me to see him as he is. This strong man - who I always looked up to as a giant in my life - is wheelchair bound.. This strong man has withered away - if he weighs seventy-five pounds it's a lot. His clothes no longer fit him. His glasses are too big for his face. He now requires a live in aid, and no longer sleeps on the bed he did for so many years. He now sleeps in a hospital bed that has been set up for him in his bedroom - with metal railings on the side to make sure he doesn't fall. It's not an easy sight to take in.

His mind, though, is still there for the most part. He remembers everything, and likes to talk more about the past than he ever did before. He may repeat stories every now and then, but I don't care - I still love listening to them. I could listen to those stories for hours and hours.

But it's tough to see him going through what he's going through right now. You can see the emotional pain on his face. The light in his eyes isn't nearly as bright as it used to be. I'm not one who breaks down and cries a lot, but that's exactly what I did when I left his apartment last week.

I know what you're thinking. What does this have to do with Tom Watson and his run at Turnberry this past weekend?

Everything.

All the talk of '77 - all the talk of history - brought me back to that house in Long Island. I was no longer a thirty-eight year old man with his own family and his own problems to deal with. I was a six year old kid spending time with his grandfather - whether it was playing in the backyard or going to temple or whatever. He wasn't the man stuck in that wheelchair like he is right now. He was the strong man from my childhood - the one that I always saw as invincible.

What Watson did this past weekend was get me to remember the man my grandfather was and all the good time that we shared. Not the man suffering right now. And for that, I only have three words that I want to say to Watson.

Thank you, Tom.

My next podcast will be posted on Wednesday, July 22nd!

Taking My All Star Break

2009-07-15T05:30:00.002-05:00

Hey, if the major leaguers can do it, why can't I?? Going back East to hang with the family for a few days. My next column will be up on Monday.

In the meantime, I'll be updating my Twitter and Facebook pages if you are interested.

Attention Brewers Fans: RELAX!!!!!!!

2009-07-14T05:09:00.002-05:00

The All-Star break is here. The Brewers ended the first half on a down note - losing eleven of their last nineteen. Still, a quick look at the standings shows that things aren't as bad as they seem. The Brewers are 45-43, and just two and a half games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. Of course, if you listen to some of the radio shows around here, you'll hear some people say that the sky is falling. You'll hear some panic. Don't buy into it.

There are few reasons why. First of all, two and a half games is not a whole lot to make up - especially with seventy-four games left in the regular season. Not to bring up old wounds, but just ask the Cubs of a couple of years ago. Ask the 1978 Yankees, who were fourteen and a half back at the break - and they won the World Series!!

The Cardinals look good - and yes, they might be the team that eventually lands Roy Halladay (they have the quantity and quality of prospects Toronto is seeking). But if they don't land Halladay they can be caught from behind. They have Albert Pujols, but they have their issues as well (third base has been a problem, as have down seasons by Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel). They are not invincible.

The Cubs - well, we all know what's gone down in Chicago this season. Sure, they have the potential to be a factor, but potential and production might be two different things. On top of that, I keep waiting for Lou Piniella to blow a gasket. Instead, he's trying to be the calm, cool, and collected one. Something is very wrong with that.

The Astros have managed to get back to .500 after starting the season badly, but until proven otherwise, I put them in the same category as the Reds and Pirates. They are more of a pretender than a contender.

Not only is winning the division a distinct possibility, but don't count this team out of the wildcard as well. The Brewers are four games out there. The Giants look good right now, but I am not sure if they have the hitting (outside of Pablo Sandoval, who is just a lot of fun to watch) to keep it up. They ask a lot from their pitchers given the state of their offense. Colorado has been red hot, but do they have what it takes to keep it up? And the Florida Marlins haven't been consistent enough to be a threat. They have not been a particularly good baseball team since a hot start a few months ago.

You want other reasons to be positive about the second half? I've got some for you. Dave Bush is on target to make his return from the DL. There is no reason to think we won't see the Bush we saw before he got hurt. The Bush that struggled before being put on the DL was not a hundred percent physically. The pre-injury Bush looked a lot like the guy we saw in the second half of last year.

If Bush returns and is close to the pitcher he can be, then the rotation looks a lot better than it does right now. Yovanni Gallardo has lost his last three starts, but it's really the first stretch he's gone through at this level where he has struggled. He's closer to the guy that has eight wins than the guy that we've seen over the last couple of weeks (and granted, he might not have lost two of those games had the Brewers given him any run support at all). Jeff Suppan isn't great, but he's not the worst pitcher ever. And, Braden Looper has been better than I thought he'd be.

That being said, Manny Parra might turn out to be the key for the rotation. I know it's tough to swallow for fans, given the nightmare of a first half he had, but it is true. If Parra can build on his performance against the Cardinals this past Thursday (seven shutout innings), then the rotation is going to look a lot better than it has for the last few weeks. Sometimes young pitchers struggle in their first year or two, then work things out thanks to a trip to the minor leagues. You hope that Chris Bosio was able to straighten Parra out while he was with the Nashville Sounds.

The Brewers have really no other choice than to hope Parra and Bush pitch up to their capabilities. Roy Halladay isn't coming here. And the price for some of the other pitchers on the market (like Doug Davis) is probably higher than GM Doug Melvin wants to pay.

One last reason to feel better about the Brewers' chances in the second half is the schedule. Among the teams the Brewers will face include the Reds, Pirates, Braves, Nationals, and Padres. None of these clubs will remind anyone of the Dodgers or Cardinals. The Brewers - at least on paper - have a good chance to get on a roll in the second half. I understand they don't play the games on paper. But, until I'm proven wrong, I'll look at the second half schedule and feel a lot better about this team's chances.

Of course, not everything is perfect. This team has its share of problems. The rotation isn't the only part of the club that has struggled. The lineup has its holes, and the bullpen has been spotty outside of Trevor Hoffman lately. But, I have some unsolicited suggestions to help manager Ken Macha work those problems out.

The first thing Macha should do is make rookie Mat Gamel the every day third baseman, if for no other reason than it eliminates the Bill Hall option. No offense to Hall or any of his fans, but let's face it - he has not been the same player since hitting 35 homers in 2006. The last couple of years people wrote off because Hall was making position changes. That excuse isn't available this year. The lasik surgery he had during the off-season didn't solve his problems either. Hall simply had a career year in 2006. He is a shell of the player we saw three years ago, and one that doesn't need to get at bats considering his .199 average.

Gamel, on the other hand needs the playing time. Are his numbers what anyone wants them to be? No, but he hasn't gotten consistent playing time. I'd like to see what he would do if he played every day. Just look at the homer he hit Friday night against the Dodgers. The thing that jumped out at me was his bat speed. He'd be a lot more productive if he played every day. His defense remains a concern, but his bat is what the Brewers need right now.

Not only should Gamel be playing every day, but I'd have Casey McGehee in the lineup at second base every day. I was wrong about the former Chicago Cub farmhand. He's not just a throwaway guy. He's a player. Sure, his knees give him problems from time to time, and he has almost as much speed as I do, but he is a player. His on base percentage ranks third on the club behind Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. His .329 average is better than every regular or semi-regular on the roster. The guy just makes things happen. He's the kind of guy you need in this lineup. And, I'd have him at the top of the order, too. I can't knock Jason Kendall - he's giving you everything he's got and he is very good defensively. I just cringe when I see him at the top of the order.

I know that the promotions of Gamel and McGehee would cost Craig Counsell his everyday spot at second base, but I believe Counsell would be more valuable as the team's super-sub. If McGehee needs a day off because of his knees, well just slide Counsell into that spot. If Gamel's glove is a concern in the late innings, Counsell would make a good defensive replacement. If J.J. Hardy - who started to hit a little bit before the break - doesn't get completely back on track, well Counsell can help out there, too. Counsell is having a really good season - far better than anyone of us could have dreamed - but he's better suited for the super-sub role that I'm talking about here.

I wish I had a solution to Corey Hart's problems in rightfield. Maybe he comes back from the break, and the light finally goes on inside of his head. It's been off since the All Star break a year ago. Macha really has no other choice than to play him. Frank Catalanotto isn't an every day player, and as for Jody Gerut - well, let's just leave him alone. Unless a deal is made - and I'm not sure there is one to be had - Hart is the guy Macha has to sink or swim with.

There are also problems in the bullpen. It (okay, Carlos Villanueva) has let Macha down lately. But considering how effective it was for much of the first half, I have to think it will come around.

So, with the season resuming on Thursday in Cincinnati, things could be better for the Brewers. Two games above .500 was not what anyone had in mind.

But, things could also be a lot worse. Don't buy into the panic. Don't look for a ledge to jump off of.

The 2009 Milwaukee Brewers story has yet to be written.

Why Sanchez' No-No Was Special

2009-07-12T07:42:00.004-05:00

I've been lucky. I've covered a lot of baseball over the last fifteen years. Got to go to a couple of All Star Games. Was in attendance at a couple of World Series. But, there's something special about watching a no-hitter. To me, there's nothing like it. To watch someone completely shut down an opposing team for nine innings - not allowing a single, solitary hit - has got to be one of the toughest things to do in sports.

I'm one of the lucky ones. Most people never get to see that kind of performance. I got to see not one, but two no hitters in person. The fist was the one that Dwight 'Doc' Gooden threw against the Seattle Mariners on May 14th, 1996. What stands out about that one for me is a couple of things. It was the first time I appeared on a New York City radio station (I did updates and a game wrap for 1010 WINS that night). The other thing that stood out was the fact that Gooden was really a shell of the pitcher he was in the mid-1980's with the New York Mets.

That Gooden wouldn't just have thrown a no-hitter. The Doc Gooden of 1984 and 1985 would have thrown a perfect game and probably struck out fifteen batters. The Doc Gooden on the mound for the Yankees that May night thirteen years ago actually struggled with his command. If you don't believe me, just check the boxscore. Gooden struck out just five batters that night while walking six. His pitch count was an ugly 134. It was a no-hitter, and a great moment, but it wasn't the kind of dominance you expect when you watch a no-no.

I witnessed that kind of dominance three years later, when David Cone threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos on July 18th, 1999. Coney - another former Met (George Steinbrenner liked to collect former Mets in the 1990's) - was dominant from the very first pitch. I remember joking to someone in the press box on that Sunday afternoon that Cone could throw a perfect game after the first inning. Sure, the Expos back then had Vladimir Guerrero, Jose Vidro, and Rondell White, but they didn't have anything else. Cone was a man against boys that day. That's the kind of dominance you expect to see when a pitcher throws a no-hitter or perfect game.

The kind of dominance we saw from San Francisco Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez Friday night when he no-hit the San Diego Padres.

Sanchez' gem had everything you expect to see in a no-hitter. A great defensive play (Aaron Rowand's ninth inning catch of Edgar Gonzalez' drive to deep centerfield. Plenty of run support (the weak hitting Giants actually had eight runs). And a pretty cool storyline that made Sanchez' gem special.

His father was in the stands. Just like he was when Sanchez was a kid in his native Puerto Rico.

It was just the second time that Sigfredo Sanchez had watched his son pitch a big league game. The other time was three years ago, when Sanchez came out of the bullpen against the Mets in New York.

This was the man that taught him how to pitch. This was a man that is still involved in the game - he is a pitching coach for a Double A Puerto Rican team.

On Friday, he wasn't a coach or a teacher. He was just a proud father. And Sanchez - who would not have been considered a likely candidate to throw a no-hitter considering his career track record (let alone what happened this year, when he was demoted from the rotation to the bullpen) - looked like a kid who wanted to make his father proud. That was evident when television cameras captured the two of them hugging in the dugout.

It was a moment many of us can relate to. Let's face it. We all played one sport or another as a kid. Even if we weren't the best player on the team, we all participated. We all had out parents sitting in the stands watching us, cheering us on. We all wanted to do well with our parents watching us. Heck, some of us were coached by our parents!

I played Little League as a kid. My father was my team's coach. I wasn't the best player on the team (I know, a shocker right there). But, I busted my hump and worked my way up the ladder - to the point where I was one of the better players on the team. My father helped me as a kid, and I know he was proud of what I was able to accomplish.

Granted, the stage most of us played on as kids could never compare to the stage Sanchez was on this past Friday night. But look at the shot of Sanchez and his father hugging after the game Friday night. That was you. That was me. That was all of us.

Not many major leaguers get to do that at that stage of the game. I'd say that 99% of the players ply their trade far away from their families. What we saw Friday night was one of the best moments of the year so far. Call me a sap if you want. I'm perfectly fine with that.

You can take your steroids scandals, your divas, and most everything else and stuff 'em. I'll take what happened Friday night every single time.

Click here for today's podcast!

We In The Media Need To Lighten Up A Bit

2009-07-10T04:58:00.001-05:00

The biggest thing I've learned in the months that I've been looking for a job is that there is a big difference between being a fan and being a member of the media. Being a member of the media for almost eighteen years now, I had kind of forgotten what it was like to be a fan. Being a member of the media, I got caught up in my own BS - thinking that the scandals of the day were as serious as anything else going on in the world.

But, sitting these last nine months on the sideline, I have gotten the chance to be a fan again. I have been able to watch a ballgame - any game - no matter what the sport is - and enjoy it as it is. I haven't had to worry about how I was going to attack the game on my show the next day. I didn't have to worry that the game was going too long, and I wasn't going to get enough sleep. I could just sit back, relax, and watch the game. I've found that I had become jaded as a member of the sports media. The one thing that I have promised myself is that when I get that next job - whenever, or where ever that is - I am going to think more like a fan and less like a media guy.

That's why I don't get fazed by the steroid scandal in baseball. When other media guys were complaining that Manny Ramirez shouldn't have played in the minors before his suspension was up, I thought it was ridiculous. Why not give fans in cities that would otherwise never have a chance to see a player like Ramirez a chance to see him in person? When members of the media complained that the fans were giving Man Ram a break when he returned last week, I thought to myself that if I were sitting in the stands, I probably would have cheered too. Because baseball is more entertaining when Manny is playing. Is he a flake? Absolutely. But, it's also what makes him so endearing to fans.

The thing I've discovered in recent months is that the sports fan and the sports media guy don't think alike at all. The sports media guy takes everything too seriously. Here's another example. In Milwaukee, Ryan Braun complained a couple of weeks ago that playing day games at Miller Park was difficult because of the shadows that creep in. Listening to one of the two sports radio stations in town, you would have thought Braun committed a felony. But that was the guy on the radio. The fan didn't have a problem with it at all.

So, the next time I see Terrell Owens do something on the field like celebrate a touchdown - something that would have ticked me off a year ago - I am going to just let it go. You know why? Because T.O. is not just an athlete. He's an entertainer. In a sense, every pro athlete is an entertainer. When you think about it, fans who go to the games are paying good money for the right to watch. They want to be entertained. No one wants to part with money these days if they are going to be bored off their ass. So, let them be entertained.

These last nine months have been an enlightening experience for me. Has it been frustrating? Sure - it sucks not having a job. But, it also - in a weird way - got me to realize why I wanted to go into sports radio in the first place. And that's because I was a fan. The mistake many of us in the sports media business make is thinking that we are above the fans. Now I realize that we are no better than the average fan. We just happen to have the opportunity to talk into a mocrophone, type on a keyboard, or look at a television camera. What we do as sports media isn't really rocket science. I know that many of my friends in the media - and I won't name them - will probably blast me for saying it, but being out of work puts a lot of things into perspective.

All of that being said, the media has been up in arms over the last few months because of a phenomenon that has threatened the way the sports media has been doing their job. That phenomenon is Twitter.

If you're reading this right now, then you know what Twitter is. You probably even have a Twitter account (and a Facebook one too - like me). Twitter has crossed into the mainstream as well. Try watching a television show for more than fifteen minutes every once in a while. Everyone has a Twitter account. You can follow any show, actor, actress, or anchorman on Twitter. You can also follow your favorite athletes.

Shaquille O'Neal has a Twitter page. So do T.O., Nick Barnett of the Green Bay Packers, Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons, and Chad Ochocino of the Cincinnati Bengals. There are many other pro athletes who have Twitter accounts - all you have to do is search for them. These athletes are using their Twitter pages to get the stories out that they want to get out. Shaq Twittered on his trade to Cleveland long before he had his introductory press conference. Nick Barnett has Twittered on the state of the Packers and what he thought of his team's draft. It's gotten so prevalent that the writers that cover these athletes wind up following them on Twitter so they can get stories that others might miss.

It's got to be disheartening for your average beat writer to see how this is all unfolding. You see, there was a time when athletes needed the writer to help get their message out. They needed the writer to get their side of a story or controversy out there. With Twitter, the athlete doesn't need the writer or any other media member anymore. They can get their own stories out without anyone else's help. And trust me when I tell you that the athlete is happy to not have to depend on the media as much as they used to.

Twitter is easier than having your own website. It's instantaneous. It's short, sweet (or tweet) and to the point. It also makes the fan feel a little closer to the player, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Of course, the media doesn't appreciate that as much as the fan does. Charlie Villanueva, then of the Bucks, actually tweeted during halftime of a game last season. Ochocinco recently told a radio show in Houston that he was planning to tweet during games. And, predictably, the media reacted negatively. Villanueva was roundly taken to task by media types for not taking the game seriously. The less enlightened of the bunch would say "How dare he do that during halftime! He's got a game to try and win." The funny thing, though, is that I never heard one fan - NOT ONE - rip into Villanueva for doing what he did.

I actually asked a couple of my friends - die hard Bucks fans who live in my development - what they thought of Villanueva's halftime tweet. Both said it was cool. Both said it was nice to know what was going through a player's mind in the middle of the game. Both felt a little closer to the action, and less detached from the whole thing.

As I mentioned before, Ochocinco wants to Tweet during a game too. I wish he'd come up with something a little more original than that (since Villanueva was the first one to do it), but I digress. Predictably, media people took Ochocinco to the proverbial woodshed. They talked about how he'll never change. How it's always about him. I listened to this talk and came to this conclusion.

Ochocinco is just entertaining his fans. Which is what they want. I actually am a follower of his on Twitter (I also follow Shaq, T.O., Barnett, and Villanueva). Not for nothing, but I think it'd be kind of cool to get a tweet from Ochocinco after he scored a touchdown. Who wouldn't want to get a tweet from him talking about what Marvin Lewis told the team at halftime (especially if they were down by a couple of touchdowns)? All he and the other athletes are doing is letting the fans in to a place they have never been able to get to before.

The sports media - most of it, anyway - looks at Villanueva and Ochocinco and judges them as being flakes or clowns.

If they got off their high horse for a minute, and thought like a fan, they'd feel differently.

I - for one - wish they would.

Click here for today's podcast!

Bringing Halladay (Or Anyone Else) To Milwaukee This Summer Might Be Easier Said Than Done

2009-07-09T04:44:00.003-05:00

The Brewers have been struggling for a little while now. They've gone from first place in the NL Central to looking up at the St. Louis Cardinals, and those two teams will wrap up their three game set later today. The Crew is smack dab in the middle of that tough stretch which included games against the Mets, Cubs, Cards, and Dodgers before the All Star break hits. It started out well enough against New York, as Ken Macha's club took two of three from a Mets team decimated by injuries. The Cubs landed a couple of haymakers while winning three of four last weekend. The Cards could take a two game lead on the Brewers in the NL Central. And the Dodgers have been one of the best teams in all of baseball this season.

Everyone knows why the team is struggling. Forty percent of the starting rotation that was here in April is somewhere else now. Dave Bush is on the DL, and Manny Parra is trying to regain his confidence in Triple A. Mike Burns and Seth McClung have simply not been up to the task of replacing them.

But, pitching certainly isn't the only thing ailing the Brewers. The bats haven't exactly been hot lately, either. You want proof? All you need to do is look at what happened Tuesday night against Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright. The Brewers - at one point - had three hits and a walk in a single inning. How many runs did that produce? Zero. Zip. Nada. Bubkus. That is inexcusable. Yovanni Gallardo is good, but you cannot expect him to be perfect every time out.

Prince Fielder is producing. So are Ryan Braun, Casey McGehee, and to a lesser extend, Craig Counsell. Outside of that, there are problems. Where is the Corey Hart that got into the All Star Game last year? I haven't seen him since that July night in New York. Mike Cameron has cooled off considerably since a hot start. Jason Kendall's bat really hurts when there are other problems in the lineup. J. J. Hardy is having a down year (I'm being kind), and the only reason Bill Hall is still here is because no one will take his bloated contract. After hitting 35 homers in 2006, it's hard to comprehend why he is hitting under .200.

So, Ryan Braun had the right idea when he addressed the team's problems after another loss to the Cubs on Sunday. Braun did it partly to fire the club up - as he did earlier this season and last season after that awful sweep in Boston. But he also did it because he sees things going badly and knows the team needs reinforcements.

He's not the only one that sees it. GM Doug Melvin does as well. He knows this is a flawed team. He knows the starting pitching has become suspect (an understatement). He knows the lineup has suffered ever since Rickie Weeks went down with his injury. What he didn't want was his star player to point it out to him for the entire world to see.

I have no problem with what Braun did. Maybe this team needs a kick in the ass. Actually, there are no maybes about it. They do. The choice of words could have been different, but I won't blow it out of proportion like others have done.

Braun's request for the Brewers to bring in some help was followed by the news that Toronto has put ace starter Roy Halladay on the block. Immediately, Brewer fans tried to dream up deals that would bring Halladay to Milwaukee. There are some experts - like my friend Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports - who think that the Brewers should be on the list of teams that will go after Halladay. The logic behind that thinking is that Melvin pulled off a blockbuster for CC Sabathia last summer. But that was last year. This year is going to be a completely different story.

There will be no Halladay trade. In fact, there might not be any move at all.

Not that Melvin and his staff won't try. But trying to make a deal and actually completing said deal might be two different things.

Let's deal with the Halladay scenario first. There are a couple of reasons it won't happen. Halladay has pitched in relative obscurity in Toronto. Make no mistake. Toronto is a hockey city first, second, and third. Then comes football (Buffalo is only 90 miles away). Baseball is a solid third (but would be second if the Jays had won anything since 1993). Halladay might want a bit of the spotlight, and if the Phillies and Yankees are after him, then the Brewers don't stand a chance of landing him. True, the Brewers are a contender, but Philly just won the World Series and the Yankees are the Yankees. Halladay can pick and choose where he will go because of his no trade, and I'm not sure Milwaukee would be on his list of teams he'd approe a trade to.

Then again, I doubt the Brewers have enough to actually get the deal done. Toronto is said to be looking for a huge return if they do wind up parting with 'Doc.' We're talking a package of five players from what I have heard (courtesy of ESPN's Buster Olney). The Brewers farm system isn't depleted, but they don't have the quantity that Toronto is looking for. And they certainly don't have it in the pitching department.

Another reason I wouldn't plan on getting Halladay's name and number embroidered on your jersey right now is because of last year's CC trade. Melvin parted with his top prospect in Matt LaPorta, and a couple of other good young pieces in order to rent Sabathia for three months. He has already said he isn't going to trade any more of his top young guns. That means Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar are off the table. I believe Melvin when he says this. He's not Brian Chasman, who has no problem in selling the farm to win now. He runs the Brewers differently.

And if the Brewers won't deal their top prospects, I doubt they have enough on the big league level to get it done. Corey Hart is a nice piece, but he doesn't bring you Roy Halladay. Neither does J.J. Hardy, who I can't see being moved because you don't throw a rookie shortstop into the fire of a pennant race midway through the season unless you absolutely have to (because of injuries).

So, Halladay is off the table. There have been rumblings about Javier Vazquez of the Braves. I don't see that happening, either. Sure, the ERA is down from where it was a year ago. But, Vazquez hasn't always been a guy you can count on in crunch time. Ask the Yankees and White Sox. He's just not a big game pitcher, and if the Braves want Gamel in return, well let's just say it would be lunacy to pull the trigger on that deal.

Another trade possibility - if you believe the 'insiders' is Doug Davis, who would also bring infielder Felipe Lopez with him. Sure, Lopez is having a nice season, but is it just an aberration? His career numbers suggest that it might be. He's had only one really productive season - and that was four years ago. I get nervous about guys like Lopez - who produce for teams going nowhere, but might not be able to perform at the same level during the heat of a pennant race.

And - as far as Davis goes - haven't we been there and done that with him? He's just a guy. He's not anything special. He's not going to rescue your season the way Sabathia did last September. He's a journeyman. So is Lopez. And, given all the teams that are looking for pitching, the price for those two players is probably higher than Melvin is willing to play.

I don't mean to throw a fly in the ointment. I know fans get excited by trade rumors. But that's what they are - rumors. They are fantasy, not reality.

And reality is Halladay isn't going to be a Brewer. There won't be a trade withToronto. There may not be a trade at all.

Sometimes reality bites, doesn't it?

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Media Only Too Happy To Focus On McNair's Faults

2009-07-08T04:59:00.002-05:00

Glad to be back from my mini-vacation. A lot happened since my last column. Roger Federer became the undisputed King of the Slams. Manny Ramirez returned from his steroid suspension and found that the fans missed him more than the critics thought they would. Serena Williams beat her sister and won her second Grand Slam of the year, but is still ranked second in the world.

And Steve McNair was shot to death.

By now we all know the story. The former NFL quarterback was discovered Saturday alongside his girlfriend in an apparent murder-suicide. There is no sense in re-hashing the details. They have been talked about over and over again since the news broke Saturday afternoon. What should be talked about is the reaction that the media has had to the whole sordid affair (no pun intended).

The media's reaction has been a bit different than the reaction of fans. Football fans (not just Titans fans) - like everyone else - were stunned at the news and preferred to talk about the player McNair was as opposed to whatever was going on in his private life. The media has been a bit different.

Sure, media members have talked about the warrior McNair was on the field, and rightly so. But, in a sampling of columnists around the country and sports radio , I've discovered that writers and radio talk show hosts are only too happy to take McNair to task for the way he conducted his personal life.

A good example of this is Jay Mariotti. I've known Jay for over ten years. I think he's a pretty good writer. He'd be a great writer if he didn't always jump to blast someone. His piece on AOL Monday wasn't a hatchet job, but it certainly wasn't a tribute to McNair either. Jay was only too happy to point out that the former Titan and Raven had been on the wrong side of the law before.

"But if you looked closely enough, which his beloved fans in Nashville were reluctant to do, you'd have noticed danger signs. In 2003, he was pulled over by police who said he had a blood-alcohol content level of .18 percent, more than twice the state's legal limit. In the same episode, he faced charges of possessing a 9mm weapon. Mysteriously, all charges were dropped. There was no public outcry at the time, as there would be for some athletes, because McNair was that revered. He was honored regularly for his direct involvement with the Steve McNair Foundation, his work with Boys and Girls Clubs, his Thanksgiving turkey deliveries to the needy and his tireless efforts after Hurricane Katrina."

That was actually tame compared to what I heard two different shows on Chicago's 670 The Score. The afternoon team of Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein - two guys I have a lot of respect for - made childish jokes about what can happen if you cheat on your wife. Laurence Holmes - who hosts nights on The Score - called the whole thing 'seedy.' And as I was driving along - returning from my holiday break - I couldn't help but think that the media was wrong to point accusing fingers at a man who died way too young.

It doesn't matter what he was like off the field, and frankly - I never met or talked to McNair. I have no idea what McNair the man was like. What matters is that he's no longer here.

My colleagues in the media (and I've done it in the past as well to be totally honest with you) love to get on the soapbox and blast someone for doing something that - on its face - is morally, ethically, and sometimes legally - wrong. The problem is when you do that before knowing all of the facts, you might just wind up with egg on your face.

The Sean Taylor murder is a great example of this. How many radio guys and writers assumed that Taylor's past of hanging out with the wrong crowd led to his untimely death? A whole bunch of them. And they all had to apologize when the truth came out - that Taylor's murder had nothing to do with his past and everything to do with a home invasion.

Yes, we know that McNair and Sahel Kazemi were dating. That's been established by the police in Nashville. But that's all we know.

Was it an affair? It might have been. But, it also might have been a case where McNair and his wife (who may have been living separate lives apart from each other by the way) were either separated or in the process of getting a divorce. If that's the case, then McNair's only mistake was dating someone who might have had some 'issues.'

Consider another possibility. Maybe McNair and his wife had an 'understanding.' It wouldn't be the first open marriage in the history of civilization. If that's the case, then McNair - again - did nothing wrong.

So he was dating a girl who was young enough to be his daughter. So what? How many athletes - heck - how many guys in their thirties or forties go after a younger woman? That's a shocker to anyone in this day and age? Please!

And maybe he was just having an affair with Kazemi. Plenty of people - both men and women I might add - cheat on their signifigant others. I believe there was a man named Clinton who had trouble being faithful to his wife. He was elected President of the United States (and re-elected, too) - even though it was common knowledge that he had a wandering eye (among other things). Having an affair is not something you should pay for with your life (though your bank account may suffer).

There are plenty of star athletes who weren't perfect. I'll just use one as an example. Mickey Mantle was an alcoholic who cheated on his wife for years until they got divorced. Yet, when he passed away fourteen years ago, no one took him to task for his faults. He was remembered as a great player.

I know that people like Mariotti (with whom I have argued for years on this point) that believe athletes have a higher responsibility because of their standing. That they are role models. If the McNair story has taught us anything, it's that the superstar athlete isn't that much different than the rest of us. They put their pants on one leg at a time. They have the same faults that you and I do. Yet, it was much more titillating to talk about what McNair was doing in his personal life as opposed to the warrior that he was on the field or the fact that someone so young was gunned down in the prime of his life.

We in the media have a LONG, LONG way to go.

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July 4th Break!

2009-07-01T07:43:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute and wish everyone a Happy July 4th. I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday!

I'm taking an extended break for the holiday. My next blog will be up on July 8th.

NBA Teams Won't Throw Away Money This Summer

2009-07-01T04:35:00.002-05:00

The NBA's silly season is here. It's July first, and the free agent market is open for business. It's not the blockbuster market that we will say a year from now. But there are still some useful pieces out there.

Hedo Turkoglu is a 6-10 sharpshooter that might have gotten a raw deal in Orlando. Ben Gordon of the Bulls is probably going to leave Chicago after the two sides tried and failed for two years to come to terms on a new deal. Trevor Ariza may cash in on a nice little playoff run. Lamar Odom has talent that teams fall in love with (though consistency has always been an issue) Andre Miller, Jason Kidd, and Mike Bibby are the point guards that will be shopping for a new home. Houston's Ron Artest is available as well if you like to gamble with your franchise's future. And Paul Milsap, David Lee, and Ramon Session are three restricted free agents that teams will have their eyes on.

Again, it's not a bad class, but it isn't quite as sexy as the one we'll see next summer, when some dude named Lebron will auction off his services.

The big question, though, is whether or not this class of free agents will hit the lottery. Will NBA teams overpay as they have done many times in the past? Or, will financial responsibility be the new buzzword?

At the end of the day, financial responsibility will win out. Even some ofthe prospective free agents realized that, which is why Carlos Boozer of the Jazz decided to stay in Utah as opposed to opting out. I know, you probably think I'm crazy. The NBA is a league where stiffs like Milwaukee's Dan Gadzuric scored a six year deal worth $36M a few years ago. But, before you hit send on the email you'll write me and tell me I have no idea what I'm talking about, consider these factors.

* The economy is still not in good shape. Don't let the partisan political hacks fool you into thinking that everything is on track to recover from where it was a few months ago. It just doesn't happen that quickly. The NBA has suffered like everyone else did. Did you notice the amount of empty seats at the arenas around the country this past season? That has affected the bottom line, and the bottom line is what rules right now.

* The NBA is rumored to be lowering the salary cap while raising the luxury tax threshold. Not every NBA team is swimming in cash the way the Lakers are. There are teams who used to spend like a drunken sailor that won't do it this time around because they don't want to pay a luxury tax.

* Other sports have had to dial back on free agent spending because of the recession. The NFL was the exception to the rule, but take a look at what happened in baseball this past winter. How many free agents had to wait until March to sign with a team? Manny Ramirez couldn't get anyone to offer him the kind of cash he was looking for. Orlando Hudson was a late addition to the Dodgers. Adam Dunn, one of the game premier power hitters, had to settle for a two year deal from the Washington Nationals of all teams.

The NFL is a cash cow. MLB still is, but there numbers are off from where they were a year ago. The NBA is no longer the moneymaker it used to be - at least not at the same level it was at during the Magic-Larry-Michael heyday. Don't think for a second that isn't going to be a factor this summer.

* Next year's free agent class is going to have a big impact on the class of 2009. Why, if you are the New York Knicks, for instance, would you spend millions this summer, and reduce any chance you have of signing a James next year? You wouldn't, plain and simple. The Knicks aren't the only team in the league that think they can land Lebron. There are ten teams that think they probably have a shot. And because they do, they won't be spending major money this summer.

I actually feel bad for this summer's free agents. If there was ever a year not to be a free agent, it's this one. In the past, a free agent could count on one team overspending to acquire his services.

That's the past. The future may look a lot like the past.

But we're not in the past or the future. We're in the present.

And the present doesn't look all that good.

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Hammond Has A Plan

2009-06-30T05:23:00.001-05:00

The last week has been a wild one for John Hammond, Scott Skiles and the Milwaukee Bucks. There was the trade of Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA Draft followed two days later with the selection of point guard Brandon Jennings with the tenth overall pick.

These two moves represent change, which some people in Bucks Nation seem to have a problem with. There is a portion of Bucks fans, and the media that cover this team as well, that fell Hammond and company have 'raised the white flag' and conceded the season. These fans (and media personalities) are about winning now. Don't get me wrong - winning now would be nice, especially for a franchise that hasn't won in a long time. But there is also something to be said for building a team that can win year after year.

Under Larry Harris, the Bucks were a team that tried to put Band-Aids on their problems. They were a team that wanted to get into the playoffs - even if it was only as the eighth seed in the eastern Conference. Harris was more about winning now. There wasn't a whole lot of thought put into winning on a year in, year out basis.

To be totally fair, Hammond thought he could turn the team into a playoff contender right away as well. You don't make the Jefferson trade with the Nets if you aren't trying to win now, especially if you keep Michael Redd around the way the organization did a year ago.

The problem was that Hammond's best laid plans didn't exactly work out. No one saw all of the injuries coming. The injuries turned the Bucks from a playoff contender into a team that was on the outside looking in. But it also gave Hammond and Skiles the chance to see what the future might look like.

The injuries (and the MASH unit included Luke Ridnour at times) gave a player Ramon Sessions a chance to show what he could do with consistent playing time - something he hadn't had during his first two years with the Bucks. All Sessions did in sharing the point with Luke Ridnour was put up better numbers - both points and assists, than the veteran from Oregon. Not bad for a second round pick out of Nevada that had more than his share of doubters.

The bottom line was that Hammond saw a young player who was starting to emerge in this league. Sure the club fizzled down the stretch and finished five games out of the playoffs. But, for the first time since maybe the 2001 season, Bucks fans saw something unfamiliar - light at the end of the tunnel.

Don't think that Hammond and Skiles didn't see it either. It's one of the reasons they decided to clear cap space and make a run at re-signing Sessions, who is just 23 years old.

The plan last year was to try and turn the Bucks around as quickly as possible. Plan A didn't work. But, in the process, Hammond came up with Plan B, and it's a plan that will probably pay off on a much larger scale in the long run.

It's a simple plan, really. Build a consistent winner. Build a team that doesn't just go to the playoffs one year and then takes a step back to Lotteryland for the next four years. Build a team that can not only get to the playoffs, but make a run in the playoffs. You know, the way the Bucks of the 1980's used to be.

In order to do that, some tough decisions have to be made. The first decision that was made was to commit to the young players like Sessions. They did that by dealing Jefferson to the Spurs and making him a qualifying offer. They will be able to match anything Sessions can find on the open market.That's more than they could have said a few months ago.

Yes, it hurts to lose Jefferson, but what were you winning with Jefferson? Were you going to the playoffs? There was no guarantee of that, none at all. And, considering the moves that Cleveland (Shaquille O'Neal) and Orlando (Vince Carter) made last week, was Jefferson really the difference between being a lottery team and a team that could not only make the playoffs, but maybe win a series as well? Probably not.

Trading Jefferson is a gamble, no doubt about it. Letting Villanueva go might be a gamble as well. And the pick of Jennings isn't something that's going to pay off right away either. It will likely take a year or two before Jennings can emerge as a real player in the league.

But, for the first time in a long time, the Bucks have a plan. The plan is to go young and build around center Andrew Bogut. Don't be shocked if Hammond isn't done making moves. That's not to say that Michael Redd will be traded during the off-season. He's coming off that knee injury, so he will be difficult to move. But, if he comes back healthy and proves that his knee is sound, don't be surprised if he is an ex-Buck come February.

It seems to me that the Bucks want to go young. If Sessions returns (and you have to assume he will), he could make for a nice tutor for Jennings. He knows Skiles' system and might be just as good of a tutor for Jennings as Ridnour would be.

The Bucks also seem to know what they want to do without CV. It's not like they don't have options. They love Amir Johnson's game, and don't forget that Hammond was in Detroit when the Pistons got him. If anyone knows what he can and cannot do, it's Hammond. Luke Richard Mbah a Moute showed everyone a few things last season. You have to hope that Joe Alexander will improve upon what was a lost rookie season. And, it looks like Ersan Ilyasova might be a real option after refining his game overseas the last couple of years.

There can be no doubt that the Bucks are in a rebuilding mode. Sometimes, when you rebuild, you have to take a step or two back before you take a step forward (the Brewers are a good example of this). And my level of trust in Hammond is higher than it ever was in Harris.

They aren't raising the white flag on the upcoming season. They're trying to build a consistent winner. A team that become a contender in the NBA. A team this city can be proud of.

What's wrong with that?

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Rubio Doesn't Deserve The Star Treatment Yet

2009-06-28T08:01:00.003-05:00

Before the hype for the NBA Draft began six plus weeks ago - when the Los Angeles Clippers won the lottery - how many of you out there knew about Ricky Rubio? Sure, some NBA writers wrote a couple of blurbs about him being the next Pete Maravich. And, yes, there were some grainy videos of Rubio that were getting a lot of hits on Youtube. But, really. How many of you out there really knew all about Ricky Rubio?

I'd venture to say not many.

Over the years, European players have been hyped like they were the next best thing since sliced bread. Six years ago, Darko Milicic was supposed to be the man. He's been anything but - Detroit, Orlando and Memphis have given up on him. The Knicks think they can turn him into something, but I doubt that will happen.

There are many others who have tried to come over from Europe. Most have them have failed. Dirk Nowitzki is the exception to the rule. Pau Gasol is the exception to the rule as well.

So, while there is hype surrounding Rubio, there are plenty of question marks as well.

"I don't see Rubio being that dynamic player now," said Danny Ainge, general manager of the Boston Celtics. "I think he's got a lot of potential. He's a flashy player. I don't see him -- just physically, and because he doesn't shoot the ball very well -- I don't see him having an impact as a rookie."

Ainge isn't the only one who has his doubts. Some players - including those in Rubio's draft class, do as well. Milwaukee's first round pick - Brandon Jennings - has seen Rubio up close and personal. Jennings is the kid who decided to spend a year in Europe as opposed to going to college for a year before entering the league. To say he's not impressed with Ricky doesn't even begin to clue you in to how he feels about Rubio's game.

"The only thing I've seen him do sometimes is when he has a home run pass or something like that. I think the dude is just all hype," Jennings said recently. "I can't even front. I'm just going to be real with you guys."

There were other questions surrounding Rubio before the draft last week. They included his willingness to come to this country if the team that drafted him wasn't to his liking (his camp had already informed the Memphis Grizzlies he wouldn't play for them). Then there is the buyout of his contract, which might be more expensive than some teams want to talk about considering the economy right now.

That's why Rubio fell to Minnesota at #5. The T-Wolves never thought he'd be there. They made the trade with Washington before the draft so they would have ammunition to go and get Rubio with the second overall pick. It turns out they didn't need that ammo. It also turns out that they might never see Rubio put on a Minnesota uniform. The kid wants no part of Minnesota, just like he wanted no part of Memphis.

"It's too cold," he said, a day after announcing that his mother also thinks the city is too cold. "I have to think about that ... I'm going to talk with my agent about that and we are going to see."Rubio also told a Spanish newspaper, "I wouldn't rule out at all returning to Spain.''

His father also has been quoted as saying that Rubio could remain in Spain for the next couple of years.

Then the Knicks went public and said they were going to try and trade for Rubio. Rubio is reportedly going to meet with Minnesota officials to talk about his NBA future amid reports he has offers to play in Spain and Turkey as well. Something tells me those two options - much like the Minnesota options - are not what Rubio or his people have in mind. The Big Apple, though, is a different story.

New York is a team that Rubio would love to play for. It's not even really about the team. It's the city. Rubio and his camp want to be in a city that's slightly more cosmopolitan than Minneapolis is. It doesn't matter how bad the team is (and the Knicks are far from being good). It's all about money. Rubio and his advisers believe playing in New York will bring more endorsement deals than playing in Minneapolis. Kevin Garnett might beg to differ.

Rubio doesn't realize this, but he actually has to produce before that endorsement money starts rolling in. No one in this day and age is going to hand this eighteen year old question mark millions of dollars if he doesn't become the next Maravich. No one handed money to Nowitzki until he became a star.

Rubio thinks he's special. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. We'll all find out over the course of the next few years. Right now, the only think you can say about Rubio is that he's acting like a spoiled little brat.

The NBA doesn't allow kids to enter the league and pick and choose which team they want to play for. That's one of the reasons they have a draft.

Rubio and his advisers obviously think they can control the situation here. They might want to talk with Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets.

Yi was drafted by the Bucks two years ago, and this was after he and his camp told Milwaukee they didn't want to come to Wisconsin. They wanted to go to New York, Houston, or Golden State. The Bucks ignored Yi's request and drafted him anyway.

Yi never really warmed up to Milwaukee. He came for one reason on one reason only. The Bucks told him he either played for them or he stayed in China. It wasn't long afterwards that Yi decided to drop his attitude and signed with the Bucks.

It didn't necessarily work out for him - he was traded to the Nets after one year - but you had to like how the Milwaukee organization drew a line in the sand (ok, snow) and told Yi that they weren't going to be told what to do.

It's exactly what Minnesota and GM David Kahn should do with Rubio. There's a good chance that it's exactly what he will do.

There was a reason Minnesota drafted back to back point guards last week (they took Syracuse's Jonny Flynn at #6). Flynn is insurance against a Rubio boycott. And, if Rubio gets off his high horse, takes the silver spoon out of his mouth, and signs with Minnesota, the T-Wolves will move Flynn somewhere else and get a pretty good haul in return. It wasn't clear what Minnesota was doing when they drafted Rubio and Flynn back to back on Thursday night. It is clear now.

So, Minnesota doesn't have to give in to an eighteen year old that hasn't done anything in the league to warrant special treatment. If Rubio wants to play and make his mark in the NBA, it's going to have to be in Minnesota. Rubio needs the NBA more than the NBA needs Rubio. Sure, there's money to be made overseas, but it's not the kind of money to be made here. The stage is nice overseas, but it's bigger here. If I were advising him, I'd tell him to drop the brat act, sign with Minnesota, and prove that he's worth the hype.

And if I'm the T-Wolves, I don't give in. Just like Milwaukee didn't give in to Yi two years ago.

It's one thing to be a star and have a sense of entitlement. It's another to be a spoiled brat with a sense of entitlement.

And Rubio - at least as of now - isn't a star. Yet.

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The Lebron-Shaq Show Might Have A Limited Run

2009-06-26T06:25:00.001-05:00

The sports fans of Cleveland are more hopeful now than they were immediately after the Orlando Magic eliminated their beloved Cavs in seven games to win the Eastern Conference Finals. That's because Cleveland GM Danny Ferry is bringing The Original Superman, The Big Diesel - Shaquille O'Neal - to ride shotgun with Lebron James.

Ferry didn't have to give up much to get Shaq - just Ben Wallace, Saha Pavlovic and a pick. The pick is almost a throwaway. Wallace and Pavlovic have expiring contracts - so who knows if either one will ever suit up for Phoenix. The Cavs got one of the best centers in history for nothing. It wasn't highway robbery. It was a salary dump by a Phoenix team that knows Shaq - at the age of 37 - won't fit with the return to their old run and gun scheme under coach Alvin Gentry.

Shaq might have been a bad fit for the Suns, but he might very well be just what the doctor ordered for the Cavs.

He might be 37, but he played 75 games last year and was very effective. His 17.8 points per game was the highest number he'd put up since the 2006-07 season. And the 75 games he played in were the most he's suited up for in a long time. It seems like Shaq has a handle on how to prepare himself for a full season at his advanced age.

His addition to the Cavs gives them something they have been lacking for years. A bona fide big man. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao (both of whom have player options for next season) are okay, but no one will ever confuse either one of them with being any kind of threat. Shaq may not be the same player we saw in Orlando and Los Angeles, but he has more than enough left in his tank to be Robin to Lebron's Batman. Mo Williams becomes the third threat on this team, which is probably the role he is best suited to playing (although he was an All-Star last season, he disappeared at times in the playoffs).

Shaq is also smart enough to keep his large ego in check. Yes, he took Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard to task during the playoffs, but consider that a lot of people have had their 'issues' with Van Gundy, and Howard - who I am a huge fan of, hasn't become as dominant as Shaq was at the same age. Shaq didn't need time to develop when he came to the NBA in the early 90's. Howard needed a couple of years - he still has a ways to go before he can be rightly compared with O'Neal. I can overlook Shaq's outbursts and tweets because I know he's smart enough to realize he isn't what he used to be.

He knows there isn't as much sand in the hourglass as there once was. He knows that he isn't a go to guy anymore - at least not the way he used to be. He deferred to Dwayne Wade without any problems in Miami. He knew where he stood in Phoenix (behind Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash). He knows what his role will be in Cleveland. He won't rock the boat to satisfy his ego.

All of that being said, I'm not sure how long the Lebron-Shaq Show will be running with the Cavs. My gut tells me it's a one year thing. The Cavs are doing everything they can to show Lebron some love in the hopes he will stick around after next season. They know they have weaknesses they need to address. That's why the trade was made.

But I don't see this as a long term venture. Shaq has one year left on his deal. He'll make $20M next season. I doubt the Cavs will give him the extension he reportedly would like. They - at the end of the day - are a small market team, and while they have enough money to try and keep Lebron around, they don't have unlimited resources. And, by the time O'Neal's contract expires, he'll be thirty-eight and not worth the money he once commanded - especially in this economy.

So, to me at least - and I admit I could be totally off-base here - this is a one year deal for Shaq on Lake Erie. Which puts more pressure on the Cavaliers than they've ever faced before.

Make no mistake, the Cavs need to win the NBA Championship next season for this to be a success. Anything less will be considered a failure. Anything less, and Lebron leaves as a free agent next summer (which he might do even if they win). Anything less and coach Mike Brown - who has reportedly been on the hot seat over the last month - will be off the hot seat and on the unemployment line.

It's an all or nothing gamble for the Cavs. And there isn't a big window of opportunity here.

The clock is ticking.

Click here for today's podcast on the NBA Draft and death of Michael Jackson!

Don't Feel Bad For Blake Griffin

2009-06-24T09:49:00.002-05:00

Blake Griffin made the right decision to leave Oklahoma for the NBA a few months ago. There were those that thought he should have left a year ago, but there was no way he was going to be the top pick in a draft that included Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo.

Griffin doesn't have to worry about that this time around. He is the closest thing to a sure thing in this draft. Every other player that will be chosen tonight has questions that have to be answered.

* Ricky Rubio - Will he live up to the hype or will he be yet another European import that falls short of expectations?

* Hasheem Thabeet - Will he ever be an offensive force or a liability?

* Tyreke Evans - Did he come out too early?

* James Harden - Why is a player whose game is said to be the most well rounded (outside of Griffin) not slated to go higher than some of the mocks have him?

* Stephen Curry - Is he a point or a shooting guard?

* Brandon Jennings - Is a year of European ball enough to get him ready for the NBA?

* Jonny Flynn - Is he big enough?

I think you get the point. There are questions about every player other than Griffin. That's why the plethora of mock drafts that are out there look as different as they do. No one knows what's really going to happen tonight, except for the fact that the Clippers will take Griffin shortly after the picking begins tonight.

And speaking of Griffin, the only negative thing if you're in his shoes today - and a big one at that - is the realization that he's going to play for the Clippers.

The Clippers aren't just a bad franchise. They are a laughably bad franchise. This is nothing NBA fans haven't known for the last twenty-five years.

The Clips are the NBA's version of the Washington Nationals. They are the NHL's New York Islanders. They are the NFL's Detroit Lions. They are that bad. Coaches have come and gone. The one guy that owner Donald Sterling kept around - former GM Elgin Baylor - is suing Sterling over his dismissal. ESPN The Magazine just did a profile of Sterling that was less than flattering.

The Clipper have had the top pick in the draft before. Danny Manning was ok, but never the superstar he was at the college level. Most of that isn't Manning's fault - he wasn't the most durable player we ever saw. Michael Olowakandi was one of the biggest busts in the history of the league. I'm not saying Griffin is going to bust out or have injury issues. I am saying is the L.A.'s history with the number one pick isn't really all that good.

So you couldn't necessarily hold it against Griffin if he (at least on the inside) isn't thrilled with the prospect of playing for a team with such a colorful history.

But, I'm not here to pile on the Clippers. A million people already have done that. I'm here to give Griffin five good reasons that playing for the Clips won't be that bad.

1. There's only one way for the Clippers to go - up. L.A. was 19-63 last season. It would be very hard for the Clips (even for them) not to improve on that record. Especially with injured center Chris Kaman - who is more important to the team's success than anyone realized - returning from injury.

2. The Clippers actually have some talent. Baron Davis - when his mind and body are right - is a game changer. Davis wants to prove that last season was a fluke. Eric Gordon and Al Thornton can score. Kaman is returning. It's not like the cupboard is totally bare in Clipperland.

3. He'll be in Los Angeles. He might not play for the Lakers, but L.A. isn't a bad place to be. It could have been a lot worse. Memphis could have landed the top pick. Oklahoma City could have won the lottery as well. He could be playing for Sacramento. Even if the Clippers don't improve on what they did last year, L.A. isn't a bad place to be considering the alternatives.

4. Griffin will be well compensated. Those millions he will make for being the top pick overall will help him get over losing more in his rookie season than he did in all of his time at Oklahoma.

5. He doesn't have to play for the Clips his entire career. There is something called free agency. If things don't improve for the Clippers, Griffin will be able to go somewhere else - probably to a team that has a better chance of winning than the Clippers do.

So you see, playing for the Clippers isn't all bad. Right??

Click here to listen to today's podcast!

I'm Done Ripping Players Who Use Steroids

2009-06-24T05:22:00.002-05:00

Manny Ramirez returned to the field last night, playing for the Dodgers' top minor league team - the Albuquerque Isotopes. It was obviously huge news in New Mexico, where the game was a sellout. Tickets, according to reports, for the remaining games on their homestand are selling like wildfire too. A young fan - fifteen year old J.J. Gutierrez - was quoted by the Associated Press as saying "he's a cheater, but I still want to see him play." Many other fans in Albequerque agree with the teenager.

It's just another piece of evidence that fans have gotten over the steroid mess baseball has found itself in for the last several years. It's clear that fans won't demonize players who use steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. When was the last time Alex Rodriguez got razzed by fans for his steroid use? Not only has it not happened very often, in many ways, his steroid use isn't even an issue anymore as far as fans are concerned.

The national media knows this. They strive to give the fan what he or she wants. And today, the fan wants Manny. They want news about Manny. They want to see the hilites from his return. Check out some of the big websites today. They all have stories on Manny's return. Sportscenter was all over the story. National radio shows were all over the story. Part of the reason is that there isn't much else going on, but the main reason is the media knows there is an appetite for Man Ram, and they are doing their best to satisfy that hunger.

I'm not sure about you, but I'm starting to believe that my fellow media colleagues are being somewhat hypocritical here. On the one hand, writers, radio guys, television talking heads - they are all taking Ramirez to task for getting caught using steroids and the subsequent fifty game suspension. Yet, at the same time, their papers, websites, radio stations, networks, and television outlets are covering his return to Triple A as if the Lakers had just won the NBA championship. Why else would ESPN send Colleen Dominguez to New Mexico to cover a minor league rehab stint?

Would ESPN have done the same thing had a player of lesser talent and popularity - say a journeyman - made a minor league rehab appearance after getting caught using illegal drugs? Hell no. But it's Man Ram. It's Manny being Manny. It's Mannywood. He's a popular guy. So, of course he's going to get more coverage.

I'm not sure about you, but I think there are media people who are being hypocrites here. I'm not going to tell them what to do. I'm not going to demonize Ramirez for using juice.

In fact, I'm not going to demonize anyone for using PED's anymore. Mark McGwire used? No big deal. Barry Bonds broke baseball's most hallowed record while using? That's okay. Roger Clemens won his 300 plus games and multiple Cy Young awards thanks to the help of some steroids? I'll give him a pass.

And I'm not being sarcastic.

It's a battle that I'm just not going to fight anymore. I've always known that fans were willing to overlook steroid use, especially if it was helping their team win ballgames. I've always maintained the players accepted what was going on for any number of reasons - chief among them being money. The more money one guy made meant there was more money for everyone. And speaking of money, the MLB clubs made it by the truckloads during the height of The Steroid Era. Everyone knew. No one did anything to stop it until it was pretty much too late.

And now you've got national media outlets doing big time coverage of a steroid user making a minor league rehab start. For me, that's just too much.

I won't speak for anyone else who may want to rip apart the next player that gets caught with his pants down, so to speak. I'm just speaking for me.

I'll fall in line with the fans from now on, especially when it comes to this issue. I won't get upset with the next star that gets caught using juice. And, If it were my vote, all these guys who got caught - McGwire, Clemens, etc. - they all would be voted in to the Hall of Fame.

I just can't fight the good fight anymore. And I'm no longer going to try.

Click here to listen to today's podcast!

Flynn Would Fit The Bill For The Bucks

2009-06-23T05:04:00.002-05:00

We are two days away from the NBA Draft, which will be GM John Hammond's' second with the club. There can be absolutely no doubt that Hammond is the polar opposite of the guy he replaced, Larry Harris. Don't get me wrong - Harris knows his basketball and did his best to turn the Bucks into a playoff team. In that respect, Hammond and Harris are alike. But the big difference is how they go about doing their jobs.

Harris was a media guy's dream. He was always available for interviews. He always had something interesting to say. And he had a knack for dropping hints to the media as to what he was doing with the basketball team. I'll never forget that Friday in July a couple of years ago when Tom Enlund reported that the Bucks were working on a big trade, and less than twenty-four hours later the Bucks shipped T.J. Ford to Toronto for Charlie Villanueva.

Hammond, like Harris, gets the media game. He used to be part of Detroit's pregame show when he worked for the Pistons. He also makes himself available to talk almost anytime you want to sit down with him. But, other than that, Hammond is a closed book. And you have to like that. Hammond won't give you much in an interview. You can try to get him to say something juicy, and he just won't do it.

Hammond also will never tell you about any move he might be on the verge of making. Let's face it. On draft day one year ago, Hammond sent Yi Jianlian, and Bobby Simmons to the Nets for Richard Jefferson. No one saw that move coming. The only person that wasn't surprised by the move was Hammond. Fans were blindsided. We in the media were stunned. We were all used to this organization telegraphing the moves they were about to make. The fact that no one had a clue that Hammond was even working on this deal signaled that a new era was on tap for the team that Senator herb Kohl purchased almost twenty-five years ago.

Why am I writing all of this? It's really simple. The draft is two days away, and I honestly don't think anyone has a handle on what Hammond and the Bucks are going to do with their first round pick - the tenth selection overall.

Take a look at the mock drafts that are out there. There isn't a consensus as to who the Bucks are going to take. You see DeJuan Blair's name mentioned. You see Jonny Flynn's name connected to the Bucks. Jrue Holiday has been thrown out there as well (though I think he'll wind up going higher). Other names I've seen for the Bucks include Arizona's Jordan Hill and Stephen Curry of Davidson (though, like Holiday, I don't see him being available at number ten).

I won't sit here and tell you that the Bucks will definitely do this or that. I don't think anyone knows for sure what they will do, except for Hammond and his assistants. Sure, there may be a writer here or a radio guy there will will claim that they know what Hammond is thinking right now, but I wouldn't bet the house on what those guys say.

Since I can't tell you what the Bucks are thinking, the only thing I can do is tell you what I'd like them to do.

And that would be to draft Syracuse's Jonny Flynn.

In the end, I think Blair, Flynn, and Hill will get heavy consideration from Hammond (remember, I said think, not know). And, I'll be honest, all three would fill a need for the Bucks, who face the possibility of losing both Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva to free agency this summer. But if it were me, and they don't pay me to make the pick, I'd take Flynn.

Don't get me wrong, I like Blair. I know he has worked hard to shed some weight as we get closer to the draft. But he's 6-6. That's relatively small for a power forward. I know people will say that Charles Barkley was similar to Blair in size, but the league was a lot different when Barkley broke in with Philly. I look at Blair and see a good college player, but a guy who is a tweener in the NBA. And, his weight will always be a concern. I'm not saying Blair is Tractor Traylor, but can the organization really afford to find out?

Hill has a lot of upside, and he would provide the toughness that coach Scott Skiles demands, but I just think Flynn is the guy they should go with.

My gut tells me they will lose one of the two young guys to free agency. With the way the economy is right now, and the fact that the league is considering lowering the luxury tax threshold, I don't see Sessions and Villanueva getting the kind of money that was out there just a few years ago. Of the two, I think Sessions is more likely to get what he's looking for because young point guards who can dish and score just don't grow on trees.

The Bucks will then be looking for someone to groom behind Luke Ridnour. I think Flynn is that guy. Unlike some of the other point guards that have come into the league recently (Mike Conley Jr. comes to mind), Flynn wouldn't be trusted to run the franchise right away. In my mind, that can only work to his advantage. Ridnour isn't spectacular, but he is solid (especially when he is healthy). He'd be a good teacher for Flynn.

And anyone who watched Flynn against Marquette this past March knows he's for real. He took over that game, plain and simple. He was the reason the Orange beat MU, scoring 20 of his 24 after halftime.

He fits a need for this team. And I think he's more likely to succeed than either Blair or Hill. After Joe Alexander's rookie year, and with free agency threatening to take two of their contributors away, the Bucks don't need someone who is a gamble. They need someone they can count on.

For me, that guy is Jonny Flynn

Click here to listen to today's podcast!

The Real Reason Boxing Is Dying A Slow Death

2009-06-22T05:04:00.002-05:00

As a kid, I spent many weekend afternoons watching boxing on free television. Back in the seventies and eighties, ABC, CBS, and NBC all had championship fights on every couple of weeks or so. And, if they weren't championship fights, they were fights involving guys that would go on to become big stars in the sport. Of course, that was when the sport actually mattered.

I grew up at the tail end of Muhammad Ali's career, so the guys I grew up watching were Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini, Thomas Hearns, Hector Camacho, and of course, the heavyweights. Ali would pass the torch on to Larry Holmes. Holmes was the man until being beaten by puffed up light heavyweight champ Michael Spinks. Spinks might have been the next big thing in the heavyweight division, but he decided to fight stiffs like Gerry Cooney after beating Holmes in a rematch. While he was fighting stiffs, Mike Tyson emerged as the baddest man on the planet. Tyson was boxing's biggest star, and when he finally got Spinks in the ring, he disposed of him in less than 90 seconds.

That was twenty-one years ago. Boxing hasn't been the same since Tyson was in his prime. In fact, it's pretty much on its deathbed as we speak. Oh, don't get me wrong. There are great fighters out there these days - Manny Pacquiao being at the top of the list. But unlike the 70's and 80's these guys fly much lower on the radar.

Why is this? What happened to boxing?

Of course, there are plenty of reasons why boxing isn't spoken about as often as it used to be. It's only talked about these days when there are big fights on Pay Per View. And, PPV is actually part of the problem. The purses for the 'superfights' are so huge - so outrageous - that promoters charge over fifty dollars (sometimes) for people to watch the fights. In the economy we are in these days, there aren't many people that have that kind of cash sitting around just to spend on a fight.

There are other problems boxing has faced. Don King and other promoters being one of them. Too many organizations giving fighters championship belts that they don't deserve was another. The rise of MMA (which I don't get into but I don't rip on people who do) hasn't done the sweet science any favors.

But the biggest problem boxing has these days is in the heavyweight division.

There really is no true heavyweight champion. There is no dominant fighter. There is no Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Lennox Lewis, or anyone else that you could consider dominant. Wladimir Klitschko, who owns two of the numerous belts that are out there, just knocked someone named Ruslan Chagaev out Saturday night in ten rounds. Sure, the fight drew 61,000 to a soccer stadium in Germany, but how many people here in the U.S. even knew that there was a heavyweight championship fight? Not many, that's for sure. Back when I was a kid - heck - even six years ago when Lewis was the champ - if there was a heavyweight title fight, you knew about it.

Klitschko might be a good fighter, but he hasn't faced anyone that could really do anything to him. One of the reasons for that is that when he was coming up and actually faced someone who punched back - he was knocked out. In fact, he was knocked out twice. If this guy is considered 'best in class' as many experts believe, it's not saying much.

It also isn't saying much that Klitschko's brother Vitali was out of the sport for a few years then came back and won a belt without really working his way up the ladder. The WBA champ - Nikolai Valuev - is a bear of a man at seven feet tall and over 300 pounds. But, he's not the most skilled guy in the world, and for a guy that big, actually has very little punching power.

This is a division that allowed Evander Holyfield to fight for a belt (Valuev's) about six months ago. Yes, the same Holyfield who is in his mid forties, and hasn't been in his prime since beating Mike Tyson eleven years ago.

If you take a look at the rankings, you also notice something that hasn't been the case before - a lack of American heavyweight contenders. None of the champs are from the United States. Eddie Chambers is regarded as the best American heavyweight, but most people wouldn't know him from Adam. This is a division in which John Ruiz is still seen as a contender. Ruiz was the guy Roy Jones beat for the heavyweight title years ago - in Jones' first fight as a heavyweight!

People want a heavyweight champ they could recognize. People want a heavyweight champ with some personality. One who can punch and knock guys out. It's why Tyson was viewed as a contender when he met Lewis in Memphis six years ago - which may be the last heavyweight title fight anyone cared about.

The division is in shambles, and boxing is in shambles as a result. Pacquiao is the best fighter in the sport, but he can't carry the flag for boxing. Neither can Floyd Mayweather, who had to postpone his comeback fight because of injury.

Boxing needs not only a dominant fighter, but a dominant personality. And, it would help if he was a heavyweight. Preferably an American heavyweight. One who can knock guys out. One who will get the average boxing fan in the country to care as they did a couple of decades ago, when Tyson ruled the division and the sport.

Until then, boxing will continue to die a slow death.

It's a shame. A damn shame.

Click here for today's podcast on the U.S. Open!

Three Day Weekend

2009-06-19T05:02:00.002-05:00

I'll be back with a brand new blog on Monday. I've decided to take a day off and have a three day weekend for a change.

Why I'm Rooting For Lefty This Week

2009-06-18T04:54:00.002-05:00

The U.S. Open begins today at Bethpage Black just outside New York City. Tiger Woods seems to be the favorite by those who take the gamble and predict these things (predicting who will win any golf tournament is one of the hardest things to do as far as predicting goes).

Would I like to see Woods win his fifteenth career major? Sure I would. I'm a big Tiger fan. I've talked about it in the past. The only reason I got into golf was because of Tiger. The only reason I even make an attempt (though a feeble one) to play golf is because of Tiger. I have two Tiger hats. If I ever got the chance to go to a PGA event as a fan, I'd walk the course with Tiger.

But I won't be rooting for him this week.

I will be rooting for Phil Mickelson.

I understand that it's strange. Most golf fans are either a Tiger guy or a Phil guy. It's not that they hate one or the other. It's just that they have their guy, and that's that.

I've been - and will continue to be - a Tiger guy. First of all, he's a winner. Second of all, I admire the intensity the guy has. And lastly, he doesn't accept anything less than winning. It doesn't matter if it's a major, or any other tournament. If Woods doesn't win, he isn't happy with himself. Anyone who is in a competitive business can understand that mentality. I can. Radio is a competitive business, and if I lost to my competition in any given ratings period (and to be up front I did), I was very hard on myself.

Mickelson - to me - was always a little soft. I didn't have a problem with him saying he would leave the U.S. Open ten years ago if his 'baby pager' went off. In fact, I would have done the same thing. I know a lot of people who didn't give Phil any crap for saying what he said at Pinehurst in '99. That wasn't the reason I considered 'Lefty' soft.

I thought he was soft because he had a knack for grabbing defeat out of the jaws of victory. I thought he was soft for taking chances he didn't have to take (for instance - the Open at Winged Foot a few years ago). I considered him soft because of the way he looked (Tiger has always been in prime shape; Phil - that's a different story).

But the biggest reason I thought Mickelson was soft was the way he handled defeat. It always seemed - at least publicly - that Phil wouldn't mind losing. He'd crack a couple of jokes (the "I am such and idiot" line is particularly memorable), smile for the camera, and walk off into the sunset with his wife and kids.

Tiger has never been like that. if he loses a tournament, there is no smile. There's no joking. Tiger just wants to fix what went wrong in time for the next tournament. I related more to Tiger than I ever did to Phil.

But, as I said before, I will root for Mickelson this weekend.

It's not going to be easy for Mickelson. First of all, The Black Course at Bethpage isn't a walk in the park. If you can't keep it in the fairway, you're screwed (I know - great analysis). It's twice as hard when you have something weighing on your mind like Mickelson does.

By now, you know the story. Phil's wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she is getting ready for surgery next month, and the treatment that is required after that. She will not be at Phil's side this weekend. It will be a little strange to see Mickelson without his wife and kids waiting for him at the 18th green.

I know that I couldn't do what Mickelson is about to do. You have to have a high degree of mental toughness to play while your wife - the woman you've built your life with - is in the fight of her life. No one would have been surprised if Mickelson had decided to skip the Open (as he will do next month when he bypasses the British Open). Many golfers in Mickelson's position would have done the same thing.

I'm fortunate. I haven't had anyone in my family who has had to deal with breast cancer. I worked with one woman - The Fabulous Sports Babe - who went through breast cancer over ten years ago. I cannot imagine what is going through Mickelson's mind as he begins his round today.

But I am rooting for him. And I don't think I'm the only 'Tiger guy' who is.

Click here for today's podcast!

The Real Problem With 'Joe Buck Live'

2009-06-17T04:56:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take a full day and gauge the reaction of the media critics who would write reviews on Joe Buck's new HBO show "Joe Buck Live" before giving you my thoughts.

After watching Monday night's show, I've come to the conclusion that it was only okay. I mentioned in yesterday's column that Bob Costas - who Buck was replacing - is the gold standard when it comes to sports interviewing. Buck - a great play by play man - is no Costas when it comes to his interviews.

I thought Buck did a decent job of getting Brett Favre to open up. Not only did Favre tell everyone what was going through his mind as far as his playing future is concerned, but he had the veteran quarterback so comfortable that he (accidentally) dropped a word you can't use on free television. As an interviewer myself (and someone who has had to work at it), one of my goals was always to have my guest comfortable enough that he would tell me things without really realizing it. From that standpoint, Buck did what he was supposed to do.

Chad Ochocinco provided some light moments, and Michael Irvin was Michael Irvin. HBO should have ended the show right there.

The segment that killed the show was the segment that included Howard Stern sidekick Artie Lange, Paul Rudd, and Jason Sudeikis . If you missed this, take a look right here. But I warn you, it isn't for the faint of heart.

Lange was at his raunchy best, taking shots at almost everyone, including Buck. Everyone on that panel, including Buck, was clearly uncomfortable with what Lange was doing. The segment led to reviews like this one from USA Today, and this one from the New York Daily News. The reviewers weren't kind, and they pointed the finger of blame at Lange.

I have a problem with Buck's show (which I will get to later), but it has nothing to do with Lange. I thought he was funny at times on Monday night, and there were times that I thought he was trying too hard, which led to most of the uncomfortable moments.

Lange isn't everyone's cup of tea. He has a colorful life (I'm being kind) off the air, and it has an influence on his act. He's funny, but he's also the guy that you hang out with once in a while that you kind of wish would shut the hell up. Think Andrew Dice Clay in his prime twenty-something years ago.

The critics want to say Lange's segment sunk the show. Why not point blame at either Buck or his producers?

Buck's producers had to know who Lange was and what he was capable of doing. He never should have been booked on the show. Buck clearly wanted to give his buddy Rudd a plug, and he wanted to pump up Sudeikis for his work on SNL. There was no need for a third comic on that stage, especially someone who can be as destructive as Lange can.

Buck also deserves to take a little bit of the blame as well. I can't say for sure, but I honestly don't know how familiar Buck was with what Lange can do. He seemed surprised by many of Lange's haymakers (he shouldn't have been). Had Buck been ready for it, he might have been able to put a stop to it before it got out of hand.

Not only did Buck seem unprepared for Lange, but he doesn't have the presence - as an interviewer - to keep Lange in line. That's because he hasn't done this kind of show long enough to build that presence. Doing this kind of show is much different than doing play by play, and Buck found that out on Monday night.

That being said, the biggest problem I had with the show was the fact that it tried too hard to be a combination of sports and pop culture. HBO tried to emulate what Costas had done for them, and if the first effort was any indication, they need to re-think their strategy.

Costas was able to get away with talk to athletes, coaches, and celebrities from all walks of life because he had the experience to do that. He did a late night show for NBC which didn't always focus on sports. Costas also filled in for Larry King on CNN, where his subject matter was rarely sports.

In other words, Costas was well rounded enough to pull it off. Buck, who has a long resume in the sports world, does not.

HBO made a mistake here. They need to go back to the drawing board and figure out what Buck does best. Once they do that, they need to play to his strengths.

It's like any other talk show, whether it's on radio or television. The producers and programmers are charged with directing the show and playing to their man's strengths.

HBO did not do that Monday night. The good news is they can fix this. The bad news is it might be too late.

Click here for today's podcast!

It's Over For Chicagosportswebio.com

2009-06-16T13:14:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, I wrote about the problems at the new sports talk radio venture in Chicago - Chicagosportswebio.com. At the time I wrote that column, the financial backer of the venture - Chicago area businessman David Hernandez - fired Mike North and two others after they questioned why he was bouncing checks to employees.

The situation has only gotten worse. North and Hernandez went at each other through the media over the weekend. The FBI is investigating Hernandez' business practices. The SEC is involved. It's a mess.

And then, this morning, the other shoe dropped. According to Ed Sherman of Chicagobusiness.com, it's over for webio.

I'm not surprised that Chet Coppock is doing one last show to close it down. The guy is a pro. And, he's a better man than I am - I wouldn't do what he's doing today. But that's what a pro does - and I told him so in an email earlier today.

I feel bad for the people who are losing their jobs because of the shady business that Hernandez was allegedly operating. Most of those guys left good jobs at either The Score in Chicago or ESPN 1000 - jobs they could have kept if they so desired - to make a go at what they thought was a better opportunity.

Part of the reason most of these guys jumped was because they were recruited by North. North is a veteran radio guy who has had big success - ratings-wise - in the past. Unfortunately for him, that success did not extend to his time doing morning drive at The Score. That's one of the reasons he was let go last summer (the other was his refusal to take a pay cut).

North is also a guy who has made money for the people that advertised on his show. He always has. That's why many clients followed him to the internet venture when it launched in April.

But, unfortunately, North didn't do his homework on this one. He has claimed in reports that he did a background check on Hernandez. But it must not have been a thorough one, because if it had been, it would have turned up a felony conviction on fraud charges and three bankruptcy filings in three years. This is not someone most people would want to do business with.

But, North took a chance on Hernandez (for reasons that could only be speculation, and I won't do that right now - though keep in mind that North's leaving The Score was not a mutual parting of the ways; you can take it from there). He personally recruited talent to his website. Now that talent is out of work because North seemingly failed to practice due diligence.

Unless North can convince another investor to back him financially - which he'll try to do - the venture he started just two months ago is dead. I have serious doubts that North can find someone to bail him out. It's a bad situation, and when the FBI and SEC are involved, not many people would be willing to take a financial risk.

So, a bunch of good people are out of work. There is a lesson to be learned here, and I'm sure it's something that everyone at webio is saying this afternoon. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

From everything I have read in recent days - including a blog by one of webio's daily talents - there was thought - for just a second - that it might be too good to be true. But at the end of the day, they took a chance because the money was good, and because it was a better opportunity than what they had before North, Hernandez, and webio came along.

As for North, I don't think this will affect him very much. Even though Hernandez was a main sponsor to his television program on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago, I would think there are other sponsors lined up. Television is a better bet for people who want to advertise as opposed to the internet. And, like I said before, North has a bunch of clients he's always made money for. I'm sure they'll help him out now.

So, he will probably keep doing his television show and not miss a beat. Meanwhile, the people he recruited to jump on board with him are wondering how they are going to make ends meet.

Somehow it doesn't seem fair, does it?

I Understand Why Favre Is Planning A Comeback

2009-06-16T05:52:00.002-05:00

Now we know. There is no need to speculate anymore. There is no need for ESPN to lead Sportscenter with news that a Minnesota Vikings trainer went to visit Brett Favre to suggest a routine that will help make his surgically repaired shoulder stronger. There is no need to take every little detail - however minute it may be - and turn it into a huge story.

Why? Because we now know what Favre's plans are. He told Joe Buck on HBO last night that he'd like to play this coming season. He told Buck that the only team he's considering is the Vikings. he told Buck the only thing that would stop him from un-retiring again would be his arm.

If you listen to the medical experts (and ESPN has had a number of them on to analyze this situation), it takes about five weeks to fully recover from the kind of surgery Favre had. So, it's no surprise that he isn't throwing at 100% yet. None at all. If he's still not where he wants to be in another three weeks, then there will be reason for Favre and the Vikings to worry.

Somehow, I don't see that happening. Favre's surgery was performed by one of the best surgeons in the business - Dr. James Andrews. The guy has saved more than one career before. And Favre is getting additional help by having the Minnesota trainer suggest a way to get the shoulder where he and the team want it to be by the time the Vikes open up training camp next month.

So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Favre will be wearing Minnesota Purple when the 2009 season kicks off. It my not look right, just like it didn't look right when Brett wore the Jets colors last season, but as he said last night "It is what it is."

As far as the rest of the interview on Buck's show is concerned, there really was nothing earth shattering. Favre was as relaxed as I've ever seen him in that setting. His explanation as to why he didn't show up for Minnesota's OTA's certainly made sense. Why show up when there's no guarantee that his arm will let him play in the first place? Why go through two media frenzies when you only need to go through one?

It's also not like Favre has to digest an entirely new offense - the way he did with New York last season. Minnesota's system is the exact same one he ran with the Packers for so many years.

As I said, there was nothing earth shattering about Buck's interview. At the same time, though, it wasn't the best interview I've ever seen. Buck replaced Bob Costas - who left to concentrate on his NBC and MLB Network jobs. Costas is the gold standard when it comes to conducting interviews. Buck is an excellent play-by-play guy, but not necessarily the best interviewer I've ever seen.

The one thing that I wanted Buck to ask Brett was why he was coming back again. What was his motivation? It's a question that begs to be asked. It's a question that Costas certainly would have hit Favre with. In that respect, Buck came up short.

Not that we all didn't know what the answer would be to that question, but it would have been nice to hear Favre say it. It doesn't take a Mensa member to figure out that Favre wants to stick it to the Packers for what he thinks they did to him last summer. The best way to do that is to sign with a division rival. This gives him two chances to beat Green Bay - the team he feels did him wrong. It doesn't hurt that Minnsota - with Favre under center - would be considered a Super Bowl contender. It's a bonus, but I don't think it's the reason Favre is (likely) coming back.

He is doing this because of the acrimony that remains between him and GM Ted Thompson. Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. It is also one hell of a motivator.

Some people have a problem with why Favre is coming back. Take FOX Sports' Mark Kriegel, who wrote last week that Favre was coming back for the wrong reasons.

I've done a lot of thinking about this. A year ago, I believed that Favre was coming back because he wanted to play. I never said he couldn't play. I always maintained that he had to play somewhere besides Green Bay because they had moved on and committed themselves to another quarterback.

This year, I think the motivation is different. Sure, Favre wants to show that last December was nothing more than a fluke, and yes, it would be great to win another Super Bowl. But I do believe that Favre's main reason for un-retiring this time around is to stick it to the Packers. Again, there are a lot of people that have a problem with that. I don't.

I know, that shocks you considering what I've said about Favre over the years on the radio. But it's true, I don't have a problem with Favre coming back just to stick it to the Packers. And I have a very simple reason.

While not many of us can imagine ourselves as Favre, we certainly can relate with what's going through his mind. He feels he got done wrong by the Packers. That he wanted to play for them but they decided to go with a younger guy. It's something we all can understand.

How many of you reading this has ever been fired from a job? I would venture to guess that a lot of you have. Heck, we all have. How many of you would love to stick it to your old boss - the boss that told you to clean out your desk? Again, I'd venture to guess a lot of you would.

I know I would. I've been fired from a radio job more than once in my career (and I guarantee it will happen again). If I had the chance to 'stick it' to my ex-bosses, I would. Sure, I'd love to show my old bosses they were wrong in moving on without me. It's a natural reaction. No one wants to be cast aside for someone younger and cheaper.

That's what has been going through Brett's mind for well over a year now. At the end of the day, he is human. He puts his pants on one leg at a time just like we all do. Even though he has millions of dollars, he has the same emotions that we all do. So it's actually easy (for me at least) to understand what is driving Favre right now.

Some people may not like it. But anyone who has ever lost a job can relate.

I can relate.

Click here to listen to today's podcast!

The NHL Just Can't Get A Break

2009-06-15T05:10:00.001-05:00

Last week I wrote about the NHL and why I think Commissioner Gary Bettman needs to go. If you missed it, here's your chance to get caught up.

Game Seven went off without a hitch on Friday night. Pittsburgh, to the surprise of most, won the game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit to win The Stanley Cup. It was a huge upset, actually. Here was Pittsburgh - a team that fired their coach midway through the season, winning Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals on the road. And not only was it on the road, it was in Detroit - not the easiest place to play if you aren't wearing the home sweater.

The Penguins winning gave Sidney Crosby a chance to skate around with the Cup (and by the way, can the Wings stop complaining about Sid the Kid's supposed snub? He shook their hands. It was later than it should have been, but jeez, he just won the freakin' Stanley Cup!). Crosby is the NHL's version of Lebron James, and by winning on Friday night, Sid has a leg up on Lebron because he actually won a title.

Make no mistake, Friday night was big for the NHL. Pittsburgh is a young team. Not only do they have Crosby, but if you didn't know who Evgeni Malkin was before this series, you sure do know who he is right now. Marc Andre Fleury is one of the better young goaltenders in the game. All three are signed for the next few years. It might be early to suggest, but a team this young and talented could very well become a dynasty, like the Red Wings have done. Again, it might be too early, but you wouldn't be that off base to compare Pittsburgh's trio of Sid, Gino and Fleury to a trio that reeled off a bunch of Cups a couple of decades ago - Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Grant Fuhr. Pittsburgh's trio is that talented.

As I said, Friday night was big for the league. But, as is usually the case with the league under Commissioner Bettman's stewardship, it wasn't big enough.

The Penguins winning should be something the league can build on. It should be something that a lot of people are talking about this morning, even outside of Pittsburgh. But it isn't.

My bet is that most of the talk during your coffee break this morning - when it gets to sports - will be about the NBA Finals and the Lakers beating the Magic in five games.

The reason for this is pretty simple. The NBA game took place last night - a Sunday night. Most of America was a captive audience for it. Let's face it - most of us don't go out on Sunday nights. Sunday nights are when you wind down from a long weekend and prepare for the work week ahead.

The NHL played Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals over 48 hours ago. Sure, your local sports radio guy may bring it up for a couple of minutes, but it certainly isn't top of mind anymore. That's because the game took place over two days ago. Sure, the ratings were good. It was a Game Seven. I expect them to be good. But it isn't what people are talking about this morning.

I'm not saying that the league should have gone up against the NBA Finals again. We've already seen how that turns out for the league (not good). What I am saying is that Bettman & Company should have scheduled this series a lot better.

So you don't play the game Friday or Saturday. Stretch the series out a couple of extra days (it's what the NBA is great at doing, by the way). Get the hype going. Play it on Monday night.

Not many people are going out Monday night, either. Like the NBA did last night, the NHL would have had a captive audience. People would be talking about it for a full day afterward. It would have created - and maintained - the buzz that the league has been lacking for over a decade now.

It's not rocket science. Any marketing guy would make the same suggestion. There is an appetite - though not on the scale of Kobe Bryant or Lebron James - for Sidney Crosby. He's been hailed as The Next Gretzky, etc. He's the kind of player you build up. And the league hasn't done a great job of building him up.

There would have been no harm into stretching the Cup Finals out a few extra days - especially between Games Six and Seven. It would have given the league a chance to build up Game Seven. As it was, the hype for Game Seven came (strangely enough) from ESPN for the most part (because NBC did a poor job of promoting the NHL, too). The Worldwide Leader was all over it Friday - on all of their media platforms. I guarantee you it won't be like that today. The simple reason is because the NBA Finals (which ESPN/ABC holds the rights to) took center stage last night. It's top of mind. It's what everyone is talking about.

The NHL had a couple of good weeks during the playoffs thanks to the Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin series in the second round. They got a seven game series in the finals. And the new face of the league won the Cup. But there won't be a lot of talk about it outside of Pittsburgh and Detroit because it just isn't top of mind. The NHL almost never is.

How many times can a league manage to shoot themselves in the foot?

Click here to listen to today's podcast!

Chicago Sports Radio Venture In Trouble

2009-06-13T06:38:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about the state of Sports Radio (as I saw it) in 2009. As part of that blog/column, I wrote about a trend that was starting in the industry - internet sports radio stations.

There are a number of them around the country. One of the more high profile ones is Chicagosportswebio.com. The idea for this was the brainchild of former WSCR/Chicago host Mike North, who was let go by The Score after a contract dispute about one year ago.. North hooked up with his old partner - former NFL player Dan Jiggets - to re-create their old radio show on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.

The television show led to the birth of the radio station on the internet. North proceeded to pretty much raid The Score and ESPN 1000 of personalities and behind the scenes workers. Among those he brought over to his internet venture included:

* Fred Huebner - formerly of The Score

* Matt Weber - formerly of The Score

* Jonathan Hood - formerly of ESPN 1000

* Chet Coppock - formerly of ESPN 1000

* George Offman - formerly of The Score

* Jesse Rogers - formerly of The Score (the PD at the new station)

* Tim Bock - formerly of The Score

To be totally upfront with you, I have worked with every person on this list with the exception of Weber. I worked with Hood, Huebner, Offman, Rogers, and Bock while I filled in at The Score a few years back. I worked with Chet in a number of different capacities when he and I were both at Sporting News Radio.

Each of these talents were either being under used where they were at, or in a similar position that I'm in - looking for that next gig. I was happy at first when the news broke that these guys had moved on to the new venture, but I was also concerned about whether or not it would succeed.

You see, sports radio is (for the most part) something that people listen to in their cars on their way to or from work. The technology that would bring internet radio stations into your car is only partially here (you have to have the right phone, etc.). Most people cannot listen for eight hours a day while they are at their jobs.

The people at Chicagosportswebio.com quickly realized that and were trying to make a deal with one of the local stations in Chicago to bring their programming to a wider audience. Had they been able to do that, they had enough talent and recognizable names to make an impact on the Chicago sports radio scene. They might not have beaten The Score or ESPN, but they would have made an impact.

That's probably not going to happen now. Reports in Chicago late last night indicated that North, his wife, and the venture's General Sales Manager - Jeff Schwartz - had been fired. According to the report, the firings took place after North questioned his business partner's finances. Apparently checks were being bounced.

If the reported financial problems are true, then I just cannot see this venture lasting too much longer. I understand North - who personally recruited a lot of the people that joined him - is trying to take it over, but he needs a financial backer. The economy is still not in good shape, and that might be easier said than done.

This is only speculation on my part, but I think this new venture's days are numbered. It's a shame.

A lot of good people - specifically the ones I mentioned before - are going to be out of work. This is not the time to be looking for a job (trust me on this).

These people left good radio jobs - ones they were in no danger of losing - to join North as he tried to shake up the Chicago radio scene. It seems as if North put his trust in a business partner that didn't have the cash to keep this thing going.

I doubt that North will be affected a lot by this. Even if his business partner pulls out of the television show (which you have to assume he will), CSN in Chicago will find someone else to pony up the advertising dollars. North's ratings weren't great at The Score, but the guy brought a lot of business to the table. He goes all out for his clients. Chicago businesses love the guy. So I don't worry about him.

I worry about the other people I told you about, who went to bed last night not knowing what their futures looked like. In this day and age, that's a scary proposition.

Trust me - I know.

The NHL Needs New Leadership

2009-06-11T10:37:00.002-05:00

Game Seven of the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals is tonight in Detroit. The Red Wings have home ice as they try to capture back-to-back Stanley Cups. And yes, for those of you wondering, the game is on NBC, not Versus. You don't have to go looking through every channel on your system to find it. If you know what your local NBC affiliate is, you're set for tonight.

The league finds itself in a position they aren't used to this evening. They have the spotlight. There is no NBA Finals game to go up against (by the way, why didn't they change their schedule so they wouldn't go head to head with The Association?). Either the Red Wings - an Original Six team with some of the best players around whose names you cannot pronounce - will win, or the Penguins and the NHL's version of Lebron James (because he hasn't won anything yet) - Sidney Crosby - will skate around the ice at Joe Louis Arena with Lord Stanley's Goblet.

Tonight is a win-win situation for the NHL. The Red Wings have a following in other cities besides Detroit and Sid The Kid - in just a few short years - has become one of the faces of the league, if not the sole face.

It's what the NHL does after tonight that will determine whether or not they can make a comeback in this country (remember, they still rule in Canada) or fade away once again - as they have done numerous times over the last fifteen years.

A good way to start would be by parting ways with Commissioner Gary Bettman, who has been in the job for sixteen years now.

I know some people will disagree with this. But, exactly what has he done do make the league more popular in the U.S.? You can tell me about the attendance and ratings in Canada all you want, but the league isn't called the Canadian Hockey League. It's the NHL, and it needs to be successful in this country if it ever hopes to return to the level of popularity they enjoyed a couple of decades ago.

Honestly, can anyone tell me what Bettman has done to improve the league? Sure, NHL fans will say The Winter Classic has been a huge success, and I won't deny that. But the buzz it creates every January fades immediately after the game ends. It's actually the story of the league's history, if you really think about it.

Every time the NHL seems to be on the verge of something big it manages to shoot itself in the foot. The league had a tremendous opportunity when the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994. They were more than just a New York team. They were a national team. Instead of trying to ride the success of one of their flagship franchises, the league and Bettman decided it would be a good idea to lock the players out. A lockout which lasted for more than a couple of months. By the time it came back - in early 1995 - many fans (who also were burned by the baseball strike and cancellation of the World Series the previous fall) - stayed away, disgusted with the whole situation.

It was a move the league has never recovered from.

Under Bettman's leadership, the NHL has turned into a second and maybe even a third tier sport. Teams like Ottawa and Buffalo suffered through financial problems and almost didn't survive. The same story goes for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had to be rescued by one of the league's greats - Mario Lemieux, and his business partners. The financial problems continue today. Just do a Google search and you'll find out how dire the situation is with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Bettman also spearheaded the lockout which wiped out an entire season. His goals might have been admirable - as the league needed to streamline operating costs. But losing an entire season? Fans discovered there were other things they could do with their time. The league hasn't recovered, even though Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are doing their best to carry it. The league hasn't recovered, despite new rules designed to rid itself of ties that make most fans sick.

But, of all the things Bettman has done, nothing was as bad as leaving ESPN. The Worldwide Leader wanted to retain the television rights, but not at the cost the NHL was demanding. Instead of working out a compromise, the NHL decided to take its product to Versus. You know - what used to be OLN (Outdoor Life Network for those of you that don't know).

Sure, the league also struck a deal with NBC to get back on over the air television, but it has never been promoted correctly. Unless you look it up you don't know which Stanley Cup Finals games are on NBC or Versus. When the league was on FOX and ESPN/ABC, you knew when the games were, and what channel they were on. That isn't the case now.

Some will say ratings are up. Of course they are. There was nowhere to go but up. Even so, the numbers are awful.

Take the case of what happened on Tuesday night. The NBA Finals were on ABC and drew 9.8 million viewers. The Stanley Cup Finals were on NBC and drew 3.9 million viewers. That's more than a 2-1 margin. And the NBA's numbers were down from a year ago, to boot!

When the league hired Bettman sixteen years ago, it was thought that he would turn the NHL into a mini-NBA because of his background as an NBA executive. That simply hasn't happened.

It's time for new leadership for this league. Someone who knows how to get a product out there and in front of people. David Stern took over the NBA in the early 1980's, when drug use was a major problem and Finals games were carried on a tape delay basis by CBS. He took that product, and combined with the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry (along with some guy named Jordan), made it a major sport once again.

I'm not saying the NHL should try to get Stern away from the NBA. He would never abandon the empire he has built. But, the league's owners need to find someone like Stern. Someone who knows how to market. Someone who can get the games back on ESPN (the contract with Versus isn't up for a couple of years). Someone who has a track record of running businesses and having success with those businesses. Not someone who will run the league into the ground.

I like Gary Bettman. I've had the opportunity to speak to him on a few occasions. He has only good intentions with everything he does. But, his run as commissioner has been anything but successful. It's time for new blood.

Some of you probably think I hate the NHL. Nothing could be further from the truth. I grew up rooting for the Rangers. I took pride in winning the Stanley Cup fifteen years ago. I still watch the game today, even if it looks nothing like the league I grew up watching. The league has stars that have the ability to keep it going. But it needs new leadership.

When women's college basketball is deemed more popular than the NHL, it's time for change.

Without change, the league will remain as unpopular as it is right now, and may not survive the next ten years.

Click here to check out today's podcast!

Ibanez Is Blaming The Wrong People

2009-06-11T04:56:00.002-05:00

Raul Ibanez of the Philadelphia Phillies is not a happy camper right now. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

It's hard to see why. The thirty-seven year old outfielder, who toiled in Seattle and Kansas City in relative anonymity for years, signed a big money free agent deal with Philly this past off-season. All he's done since is go out and prove what many hardcore baseball fans already knew. That he was good. Damn good. Not great, like Ken Griffey Jr. But good enough that you put him in the outfield every day and you don't worry.

Had Ibanez played in a bigger market, he probably would have been a bigger name. But for whatever reason, he did not. Until this year.

Philadelphia isn't Seattle or Kansas City. It's one of the top ten sports cities in this country. Philly fans are passionate (an understatement). If you don't believe me just check out one of the two sports radio stations they have - WIP and WPEN. Both are online. You'll hear the passion come through your computer speakers.

Since Philadelphia is big league, it really isn't a surprise that Ibanez' great start is getting some attention right now. After all, the guy is hitting .327 with 20 HR's and 55 RBI in 56 games this season - easily the best start of his long career.

It also isn't surprising that some would question that start, as a blog did just a couple of days ago. What was surprising was the way Ibanez reacted.

"I'll come after people who defame or slander me," he said on Tuesday. "It's pathetic and disgusting. There should be some accountability for people who put that out there."

Ibanez also went on to say that he wasn't surprised the steroid question was brought up.

"Unfortunately, I understand the environment we're in and the events that have led us to this era of speculation," he said. "At the same time, you can't just walk down the street and accuse somebody of being a thief because they didn't have a nice car yesterday and they do today. You can't say that guy is a thief."

Then the veteran outfielder laid down a challenge.

"You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool - anything you can test," Ibanez said. "I'll give you back every dime I've ever made" if the test is positive.

"I'll put that up against the jobs of anyone who writes this stuff," he said. "Make them accountable. There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother's basement. It demeans everything you've done with one stroke of the pen.

"Nobody is above the testing policy. We've seen that."

Again, surprising stuff from Ibanez. But his reaction was out of line.

Ibanez may very well be clean. I can't say for sure because I don't know. I do know he hasn't failed any Major League baseball mandated steroids test. But until there is a test for Human Growth Hormone, who really knows who is clean? Remember, the chemists and the cheats always seem to be one step ahead of the people trying to stop them. If you don't believe me, just go back and remember that it was years before anyone knew anything about the cream or the clear. Years. Who is to say that there isn't some new synthetic steroid out there that we don't know about? Who is to say players aren't taking HGH?

I'm not saying they are. I'm not saying Ibanez is. What I am saying is that I don't know for sure. And since I don't know, I will presume guilt before I presume innocent. It might not be the American way, but history tells me I would be foolish to assume that anyone is clean.

If you don't believe me, just go back to the day that Sports Illustrated broke the news that Alex Rodriguez used steroids. He was pretty much promoted by baseball as the anti-Barry Bonds. A lot of people were in some form of shock when they found out A-Rod had been using PED's.

Then came the Manny Ramirez suspension. At that point no one was shocked that Ramirez used steroids. People were just shocked that Man Ram was stupid enough to get caught.

The biggest names in the game have been exposed as cheaters. Many other names also came to light thanks to The Mitchell Report. Hundreds of names - big and small. And those names were supplied by just two people - Kirk Radomski (a former employee of the New York Mets) and Brian McNamee (who worked with the Yankees). Two people from one city gave up hundreds of names. Do you think they were the only ones employed in Major League Baseball selling players and other trainers steroids and HGH?

If you do, you are incredibly naive. There are probably more names than MLB will care to admit to using steroids. Had they gotten more of these trainers to flip, we'd probably have a lot more names to talk about. Both big ones and small ones.

Fans - as I've said many times before - have gotten over the steroid issue. It's the media that harps on it more than anyone else. And lately, even the media seems to realize that there isn't much use in screaming your head off when someone tests dirty. The fans will still come to the ballpark. They will still shell out money for jerseys, shirts, and hats. The numbers over the last few years prove it.

Ibanez can be angry all he wants. But if he had been smart, all he would have said was "I've never tested positive." Instead, he got defensive and promised to go after the people who raised the question.

It's not a blogger's fault that people seem to bring up these questions about players and their use of steroids and HGH. If Ibanez wants to be angry with anyone, he should be angry at all the players who cheated, a union which didn't care what their rank and file were putting into their bodies, and management that didn't want to see there was a problem because they were making money hand over fist.

Those are the people Ibanez should blame. Not a fan who brings up a legitimate question.

Click here for today's podcast.

Why The Media Goes Nuts Over Favre

2009-06-10T04:52:00.003-05:00

The NBA Finals are going on as we speak. The Stanley Cup Finals are as well (if you can find them on television). The Yankees and Red Sox are going toe to toe. Roger Federer just tied Pete Sampras. Tiger Woods won The Memorial and played eighteen at Bethpage Black on Monday. These are all great stories. These are all things that people are talking about at the bar or water cooler.

Yet Brett Favre seems to trump them all.

In case you haven't been paying attention - something that's impossible to do when it comes to this story - Brett retired (again) following a disastrous December with the New York Jets. Soon after the draft, the rumors started that Favre was getting the itch to play, and that if he did un-retire again, it would be to sign as the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

Ever since then, sports fans have been treated to an almost daily update on the Favre situation, whether it's on ESPN or somewhere else (yes, there are others besides The Worldwide Leader reporting on Favre).

The reporting has been at a fever pitch this week. First there was the report on Sunday that Favre had surgery but won't commit to the Vikes just yet because he's not throwing at one-hundred percent. Then came the report that the Vikings told Favre they wanted an answer from him this week (not the first time we have heard of a deadline).

Up next was this. The Green Bay Press Gazette has reported that someone close to Favre has reserved a block of hotel rooms for the week of the Packers-Vikings game in Green Bay. Let that sink in for a second. A newspaper is reporting that someone close to someone might have called some hotel and made a reservation. Are we sure that this someone really was a Favre family member? Could it be that this person - whoever he is - was just playing a joke on this hotel (which is possible). Could it be that the hotel manager quoted in the story is making the whole thing up in an attempt to get some publicity (or business) for his establishment? Or, could it be that the report is accurate?

The only thing I know is that the guy reporting this - Pete Dougherty - is as fine of a reporter as there is. That being said, even good reporters get a hold of bad information.

And late yesterday a report from ESPN saying the Vikings were temporarily putting their pursuit of Favre on hold because he failed to show for Organized Team Activities yesterday. However, the team wants Favre to continue rehabbing from shoulder surgery, and he could still wind up wearing purple after all is said and done.

Here's the bottom line We don't know ANYTHING as far as what Favre's mindset is. We don't know if he wants to play. We don't know because the man himself hasn't said anything (and he doesn't have to right now either, though it would be nice if he let everyone know what was going on).

The only other thing I know about this situation is that we have reporters trying to scoop each other on a story. As a result, there are a lot of things that are out there that are being blown out of proportion. It's happening at ESPN, other national outlets, and in the Wisconsin media as well.

A lot of people have a problem with this. Some say this whole thing is a non story until Favre actually makes up his mind. But, there are others who are just asking a question in response to the breathless reporting on Favre that has been going on for about six weeks now. Why is this happening? Why is there so much speculation that is being reported as fact?

It's really simple. Everyone wants to be first with this story. Everyone wants to be the guy that breaks the story. Everyone wants to be the guy that reports that Favre is either coming back or staying retired.

There is pressure being put on these reporters from their bosses to get the story (and believe me there's more pressure on the reporters not employed by ESPN).

As a result, there are a lot of bits and pieces of information being reported. No one has the story locked down. No one knows for sure what Favre is going to do. But these little bits and pieces of information that come out are being blown up because there is a demand for it.

NFL fans want to know what Favre is going to do. Packer fans want to know what Favre is going to do. Viking fans want to know.

Add all of this together and you start to understand why media outlets like the Green Bay Press Gazette are going to great lengths to either get the story or get as much of the story as they can. That's why a hotel reservation that may or may not be real is being reported and being treated as if it is a key piece to the Favre puzzle.

Since I used to do sports radio in Milwaukee, I get plenty of emails from people who want to know what I think of the media circus going on right now. I tell them all the same thing.

If it's me, I'm leaving this story alone as much as I possibly can. Other than the original report that he was considering coming back again, there has been nothing new with Favre to talk about. If I'd have been on the air I probably would have talked about it for a day and then leave it alone.

I understand that some of you reading this might not believe me. But, I ask you - what is there that's new to talk about? Nothing. He's still retired. He had surgery. Great. I'll get juiced up for this story if and when he makes a decision. And, once that decision is made, the only way I'd really talk about it on the air is if he came back. If he decides to stay retired, it's as much of a non story as it was before all of this speculation started.

I know that some of my colleagues in the media are probably shaking their heads at this and wondering why I wouldn't talk about it. Wondering why I wouldn't try and put someone on the air who could shed some light on the situation (does it make sense to bring an analyst on until he does come back?).

The answer is real simple. I'm a radio talk show host. My first job is to entertain. If I break a story or two along the way, great. But, it's not my main purpose as a radio host. In this situation, I'd rather be right than first. Let someone else have the glory, if there is any to be had.

I say this because of a couple of reasons. I once went on the air and broke a story about a trade. It turns out my information (from a fellow host who read it on a message board) was bad. It was a low point in my career.

Others have made the same mistake. Just within the last six months I heard a radio host in Kansas City report that TCU's Gary Patterson had been signed to come on board as the next coach of Kansas State. It was a message board thread - and a bad one at that. Patterson never got the KSU job (Bill Snyder actually came out of retirement at the age of 69), and the radio host was eventually replaced (it was for more than just the erroneous report).

Have I blogged about Favre over the last six weeks? Yes I have. Have I podcasted about it? Yes I have. But, before you go calling me a hypocrite, consider that before this week I had not written about Favre in about a month. I have only podcasted about Favre twice. I have not been guilty of going overboard on this situation.

Do I want him to make a decision? Sure I do. I'd like to know. We all would. But, because he's so unpredictable, and because no one knows for sure what he's going to do, I'll sit back and wait until he says something definitive before I start talking or writing about it non stop.

My colleagues should too.

Click here for today's podcast!

Calm Down Brewer Nation

2009-06-08T15:47:00.002-05:00

The Brewers lost a game on Sunday. A game they should have won. I won't make any bones about it. It was a game they pretty much let slip away.

But, I'm not going to go off the deep end here. I won't follow some of my colleagues in the media by piling on a team that just took two out of three from a team on the road. I won't ride the same roller coaster that some of Brewer Nation seems to be on right now.

You can't get too high over any one win (unless it clinches your first playoff spot in twenty-six years). You can't get too low over any one loss.

A baseball guy - someone way smarter than I am - once told me that teams will win sixty games a season and lose sixty games a season. It's the other forty-two that will make or break you.

Sunday's loss in Atlanta wasn't one of those forty-two.

You might be tempted to question Ken Macha's decision to let Jason Kendall swing away with a runner on in the top of the ninth. Yes, I think Macha should have had Kendall bunt. But I cannot argue with Macha's philosophy that you play to win on the road. He was playing for the win. He was playing for the sweep. He was going for the kill. Part of me likes that. Still, I would have had Kendall bunting.

I'm not going to get on Macha, though. He's an improvement over the guy that was in the dugout last season. Anyone who argues that is arguing from a position of weakness. And, he's done enough good things already this season that I will give him a pass for not having Kendall bunt.

You might be tempted to pile on reliever Carlos Villanueva for the way he pitched on Sunday. I ask you to fight that temptation. So, Villanueva pitched badly. It happens. Brad Lidge of the Phillies was the only guy I ever saw that went through a season without blowing a game. Besides, since the return of Trevor Hoffman from his oblique injury, Villanueva has been good. Heck, he's been better than good. Call it good-plus if you will. One game isn't going to change my mind about Villa's season.

At the end of the day, the Brewers still took two out of three from the Braves on the road. I'll take that. As a fan, you have to take it. A sweep would've been nice, but that's easier said than done on the road.

To listen to the reaction I heard following the game on Sunday, you would think this team wasn't 33-24. You wouldn't think this team was leading the NL Central. You would think this team was the same team that stumbled out of the gate in April.

When did Milwaukee become New York or Chicago? I expect Yankees, Mets, and Cubs fans to react that way. I expect the fans and media in those cities to get emotionally worked up. I expect something different from Brewer Nation.

Just think back to last year. This team was in a tailspin after being swept by Boston in May. This team did everything they could to hand the wildcard spot to the Mets before Ned Yost was fired. What happened? The Brewers made the playoffs on the last day of the season. Once they did that, the struggles in May and September were forgotten as quickly as you could snap your fingers.

There's a lesson to be learned there. That lesson is simply this. There's a time to get worked up about a loss and a time when you have to just let that loss go. This would be a time to let that loss go.

I know that some of you are scratching your head because just a couple of years ago I would probably have gone on the radio and reacted much in the same way a lot of people did following Sunday's loss. Maybe I'm getting wiser in my old age. Maybe being off the air these last seven months forced me to take a step back and see things more clearly. I don't know. You can make the judgment for yourself.

I'm not going to say the Brewers don't have their share of problems. They do. What I am saying is that those problems haven't cost them anything. Yet.

And even if they do, I'm not sure that going out and bringing in big name reinforcements would be the way to go.

I know Manny Parra is struggling. I know there are a lot of people who would like to see him in the bullpen. Some would like to see him work his problems out in the minors. There are those that wouldn't mind seeing either Tom Glavine or Jake Peavy come in as his replacement. I don't think that's the way to go.

First of all, Glavine is forty-three. He thinks he can still pitch at this level. I don't know how many of the decision makers around Major League Baseball agree with him. It's not like he has a lot of people knocking on his door right now. I don't think there is much left in his gas tank. Glavine would be wise to just hang it up now before he gets released again.

As far as Peavy is concerned, don't get me wrong - I'd love to see Peavy here. I'd bring him in without worrying all that much about his contract. That's not the problem.

The problem is that Padres GM Kevin Towers is asking for a lot in return for his ace. The White Sox were ready to give up four top prospects (including their best two pitching prospects) for Peavy. The Cubs might be tempted to pay the Pads what they want too, especially if they can't make a move up the standings over the next month.

But, teams like the Cubs and White Sox can afford to do that. The Brewers do not operate that way. I don't want to give up Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar just yet. Not just a year after dealing top prospect Matt LaPorta to Cleveland in the CC Sabathia deal. The Brewers - like most smaller market teams - cannot do that two years in a row.

The Brewers also have their problems at third base. Bill Hall had lasik surgery this past off-season It was supposed to help him hit righties better. To say it hasn't worked would be an understatement.

A lot of fans want the team to get rid of Hall and see Gamel get more playing time. I want Gamel to get the bulk of the time at third base, too. But trading Hall isn't possible right now. He has a big contract that he hasn't lived up to. Other teams might have a tough time justifying acquiring a player like Hall. On top of that, it's not like Hall has done a whole lot on the field since hitting 35 HR's in 2006.

What I'm saying is that the Brewers are stuck with Hall. But, let's try and look at this in a positive way. Hall might be expensive, but useful, especially when you consider his versatility. He can play third, he can move to the outfield, and he can play other positions as well. He's shown a willingness to move around this year - indicating to Macha he will not let his ego get in the way of this team's success.

Hall might actually come in handy. Sure, Craig Counsell has been hitting over .300, but he hasn't shown that he can do that consistently while playing every day. I can't help but think his hitting will return to the level it's been at for years. You have to play him at second while he is hot (and he has done a good job of filling in for the injured Rickie Weeks). When he cools off, you might have to look in a different direction. Hall might be handy when that time comes.

If you're the Yankees, you can simply make a trade and bring in a high priced player to help fix your problems. Again, the Brewers are not the Yankees. And besides, when was the last time the Yankees actually won a World Series? (That would be 2000 if you're keeping score at home.)

It's real easy for fans and media to say a team should do this, trade for this player, and cut this guy. But - and believe me I know it isn't easy - fans need to keep an even head about a six month long season. I won't give you the whole marathon/sprint argument.

I will point to last season, when the Brewers overcame adversity and clinched a playoff spot on September 28th.

Remember that before you start ranting about a loss on a Sunday in early June.

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I Should Have Listened To My Wife

2009-06-07T10:21:00.004-05:00

Everyone I know has one of these stories. There's the guy who goes to Vegas once a year and puts his NFL bets down. Sure enough, at the end of the year, when he loses everything he turn around and says something to the effect of, "You know, I was going to put money on Pittsburgh to win the whole thing, but at the last second I decided not to. I could have won a lot of money. I'm such a moron."

It's the same guy who complains that he should have asked his friend to put some money on the Tampa Bay Rays to win the American League a year ago, because he had a feeling about that team. It's the guy who you roll your eyes at when he tells you these things, because you just don't think he's being serious. You think he's lying through his teeth, and part of you wants to punch him in the mouth so that he would just shut up.

Then something happens to you like what happened to me this weekend, and it makes you think your Vegas buddy might have been telling the truth after all.

Let me set it up for you. It's Saturday morning. My wife (who is a pretty big sports fan) is watching Sportscenter with me. The preview for the Belmont Stakes comes up, and she heads to the computer to see the horses and the odds.

You also have to understand, before I go any further, that I do not claim to be a horse racing expert. I watch three races a year - the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. I don't pay attention to The Breeders Cup. I don't read The Daily Racing Form. I'm not a horse racing guy. I imagine there are a lot of you reading this who totally understand what I'm saying.

When I lived in New York (I actually used to work across the street from Belmont), I would put a couple of bucks down on the Kentucky Derby. I almost always went with the favorite. I didn't pick exactas, trifectas, or anything like that. I also almost always never won.

So, I didn't think much of it when my wife looked at the odds and said "You know, we should go and put fifty bucks on Summer Bird." I didn't take her seriously. I didn't know a damn thing about that horse. I didn't even know who the jockey was. I dismissed my wife out of hand, saying that we had better things - more important things - that we could spend our money on. I then asked why my wife was so high on this horse. Her response - "I just like the name." That was enough for me to say no, we weren't going to put money on any horse because of its name.

As I said no to my wife, part of me - a small part - flashed to all of those NCAA tournament pools that I participated in. The ones that I almost never won, or even wound up finishing in the money. I thought of all the administrative assistants that did win based on team nicknames and colors. Still it wasn't enough for me to change my mind. I wasn't putting fifty bucks on any horse, no matter how much my wife protested. The clincher for me was the fact that this horse was a long shot. Summer Bird was 11-1 by the time the race went off on Saturday afternoon. I thought for sure it would be fifty bucks flushed right down the toilet.

We went through the rest of our day doing errands, but got home in time to watch the race (as I said the Belmont is one of three races I sit down to watch every year). I was convinced that Mine That Bird with jockey Calvin Borel was going to win.

The race started, and the Derby winner did what he almost always does. Start slow. In fact, Borel had his horse in last at one point. Then came Mine That Bird's patented move. Borel had his horse moving quickly, and in fact, in the lead. I thought for sure that it was over. I thought Mine That Bird had it in the bag. I thought Borel was going to get his personal triple crown (though that actually doesn't mean a whole lot to me or most horse racing experts.

But fate dealt Mine That Bird and Borel a bad hand. It turned out that Borel made his move too soon. Mine That Bird didn't have the stamina to hold off the rest of the field. The mile and a half test that Belmont provides might very well be the toughest test in the sport. A test that Mine That Bird was going to fail.

Here came Dunkirk, making a charge at Borel. But almost out of nowhere came Kent Desormeaux and Summer Bird. As I watched it unfold, I thought to myself, "Oh no. Please don't let this happen." Sure enough, Summer Bird caught Mine That Bird, and passed the Derby winner and Borel on his way to a stunning victory.

I looked over at my wife. She was silent. Then she just sat there and shook her head. I thought that I might not get hit with the 'I told you so' speech that was coming. I thought wrong.

"You idiot," my wife said. We should have put fifty bucks on that horse. We could have won so much money. Why did I listen to you? I should have gone and placed the bet myself."

You can imagine how the rest of the weekend went. She didn't let me forget about it. I'm not sure she's going to for a while. What can I say? The woman was right. I was wrong, and yes, I am a moron.

The moral of the story? Well, anyone who is married or has been in a long term relationship probably knows it by now. It's something my old friend - James Brown of CBS Sports used to say all the time when I was part of the team that worked on his nationally syndicated radio show at Sporting News Radio.

"Listen to the lady. When Mama's not happy, nobody's happy."

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Ads On Uniforms No Big Deal

2009-06-04T15:47:00.003-05:00

What do the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the NFL's Hoston Texans, and Green Bay Packers all have in common? (I know, tough question)

I'm sorry if I started your day with a brain twister, but it really isn't so hard. Just think for a second.

If you said all three teams are selling advertising on their uniforms, you're 100% right.

The Mercury are doing it for obvious reasons. They need the cash. They're in the WNBA for goodness sakes! That league needs to do everything it can to survive. I'm just surprise that the Mercury, or some other team (and no, I can't tell you all of the teams left in the league after the dynastic Houston Comets folded) took so many years to take that bold step.

The Texans and Packers have both come out and said they are looking into the idea of adding advertising patches to their practice jerseys.

Fans have had very different reactions to this. Some don't care. Some do. The ones that do look at the team's uniforms as 'pure' and don't want that 'purness' desecrated.

I have one question for the people who feel this way. Are you kidding me?

Putting advertising patches on team's uniforms is just the next natural step in the evolution of pro sports in this country. It might be new here (actually it isn't because of NASCAR, but no one ever mentions that), but it sure as hell isn't new in other countries. Have you seen a European basketball game? Ads all over the uniforms. The same for soccer matches around the world (and here too, by the way). Heck, the CFL uniforms have advertising, too. So do Srena Football League unis. This isn't a new concept. It just hasn't happened in this country's major team sports just yet.

Considering how bad our economy is right now, it's only natural that teams in this country would consider the 'patch possibility' as a way to make money in tough times. Some advertisers are leaving teams because of the economy. Radio and television rights have been impacted (so has radio and television advertising). But, at the same time, fans demand that teams add payroll in an attempt to win now. So, the team has a couple of choices (should they add payroll). Make the fans pay for it by raising ticket prices or find new, creative ways of advertising to bring more money in. I don't know about you, but I'd rather see advertising on jerseys than pay any more money for tickets.

It's why we've seen teams strike partnership deals with local businesses. Here in Milwaukee, the Brewers are presented by Potawatomi (a casino). The Brewers then went out and signed free agent reliever Trevor Hoffman, starter Braden Looper, gave a nice contract to Prince Fielder, and made a $100M offer in an attempt to keep CC Sabathia from signing with the Yankees. Had the Brewers not had the deal with the casino in place, I doubt some of those moves - if not all of them - would have been made. Why? Because owner Mark Attanasio knows that he can only raise prices so much before fans decide their money is best spent elsewhere.

Ninety miles to the south, the Chicago White Sox once sold the start times to games to 7-11. Take a wild guess when games at U.S. Cellular Field start? If you said 7:11PM, you win!

The moral of the story - teams will do just about anything these days to make a buck.

The people who think that advertising on a team's uniforms is tantamount to a capitol crime ought to realize a couple of things. First of all, it already exists here in this country. I mentioned NASCAR. Watch an MLS game on television if you can find it. Check out the advertising you see there.

And, when you're watching the U.S, Open next week, or maybe even the finals of the French Open this weekend, you'll see advertising all over the place. Not just on the court or course, but on the players themselves. Roger Federer is a walking billboard for Nike. So is Tiger Woods. Golfers and tennis players wear the clothing they are CONTRACTUALLY bound to wear. Do you think golfers wear PING, Taylor Made, or Cleveland Golf hats because they want to? Or is it possible that they're wearing them (and others) because they use their equipment?

One last thing. Go to your closet. Take a look at some of the clothes you own. Specifically, the jerseys, sweatshirts, t-shirts and anything else you wear that bears your favorite team's logo. Tell me what you see. Oh, that's right! Advertising logos. I, personally, have a Brett Favre jersey (Jets) with the Reebok logo on the sleeve. I've got a University of Wisconsin sweatshirt that has an Adidas logo on it. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Adverstising on player jerseys is nothing new. It's already there, and it's been there for a number of years (decades, actually). They just did it without us really noticing or caring.

So, now they want to slap patches on the uniforms. And some people are getting way too worked up over it.

Especially since, as I mentioned just a minute ago, it's already there!

Click here for today's podcast!

About ESPN's East Coast Bias

2009-06-03T09:53:00.003-05:00

I'm not going to pull any punches here. Given my current employment situation, I've got some free time on my hands. I try to use as much of it as constructively as I can. However, I, like many others have found myself spending time on a couple of 'social networking' sites. I'm on Facebook and Twitter. I have a Myspace page, too, but I honestly haven't checked it in months.

Anyone who is familiar with Facebook and Twitter knows that member periodically update their 'status.' In other words, they allow their friends to let them see what they are doing. Some people update their status more than others. Some do it once a week. Some do it multiple times a day. I have honestly done it both ways.

I might have stepped in a bit of hot water yesterday when I updated my status with this:

"Cliff Saunders gave Colin Cowherd a chance and has come the conclusion that the guy knows what he's doing. He keeps you interested, has strong opinions, and runs a solid show. Which is more than I can say for Dan Patrick."

I didn't think I'd get the kind of reaction that I got. I guess I ticked some people off. It wasn't my intention, but it is what it is. The reaction, I got, though got me to thinking about some misconceptions that are out there.

Let me say - in the interest of full disclosure - that I hadn't given 'The Herd' much of my time up until a couple of weeks ago. Mostly because I was working. Partly because I just hadn't thought about his show. I honestly stumbled by it when I was channel surfing a couple of weeks ago, started listening, and started liking it.

In a nutshell, Cowherd grabs your attention as a listener. You might not agree with what he says, but he always has something interesting to say. I can relate to a lot of what he talks about because we are both media types and we are almost the same age (I'm 37 and he's in his early 40's).

Cowherd can talk sports on a hardcore level, but really concentrates on talking to the casual sports fan (notice I said 'to' and not 'at'). He's bringing more people into the party and getting them to stay there.

He sometimes strays from the sports world, but he never goes into the Howard Stern type of talk. That might have been one of the benchmarks of Sports Radio a few years ago. But these days, Guy Talk is less T&A and more 'water cooler' talk. He knows what the line is and usually does not cross the line.

He isn't afraid to give his opinion, and frankly, doesn't care whether or not he ruffles a few feathers. There are a lot of other people doing sports talk on a national basis. I'm not going to name them, but there are more than a few who are afraid to really come out with a strong opinion because they fear the consequences (whether those are ruining relationships with teams, players, analysts or simply saying something that will annoy their management). Cowherd - from what I can tell - doesn't do that. I'd much rather listen to someone who has something to say, as opposed to listening to someone who wants to make sure his guests/friends keep coming on the show.

That explains why I said what I said about his show on my Facebook page. Now, to the reaction that I got for saying that.

I guess the best way to describe it is that I should have expected it. In a nutshell, I got a lot of people telling me that Cowherd and ESPN concentrates more on the New York and Boston teams more than they should. Admittedly, the reaction came from some of my former listeners at Sportsradio 1250 WSSP in Milwaukee, and there are some people who feel that the Brewers - who at one point had won 21 out of 26 games didn't get the coverage they deserved. I don't agree with that at all.

The Brewers went on their hot streak at a time that the NBA playoffs were in full swing, Sidney Crosby was going toe to toe with Alexander Ovechkin, Manny Ramirez was suspended for failing a drug test, and Alex Rodriguez made his return from hip surgery. While the Brewers streak certainly was worthy, it didn't measure up to those stories. It's about news judgment. Editors and producers have to decide which stories have more interest to more people. Lebron, Sid-Ovie, Man Ram, and A-Rod aren't just local stories. They are national stories (by the way I should put Kobe and the Lakers in there as well).

ESPN is doing what we all do in media, whether it's local or national. They are 'playing the hits.'

And, just so you don't think ESPN doesn't pay attention to anything but the coasts, go back to last summer. How many times did the Tampa Bay Rays - the TAMPA BAY RAYS!! - lead Sportscenter. I don't have the exact number, but the Rays were the top story many times a year ago.

And by the way, the last time I checked, Lebron James plays for Cleveland - not exactly an East Coast metropolis.

Another thing you have to consider before you accuse ESPN of 'East Coast Bias' is where they are located. Bristol, CT is between New York and Boston. The Yankees, Mets, Giants, Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics all have big fan bases there. They all have been big stories over the last couple of years.

In this economy, companies such as ESPN would much rather hire local people (especially for behind the scenes positions) as opposed to bringing in people from around the country (which they did more of when the economy was booming). When you do that, you are bringing in people who already have a connection to the teams in their area, and the product will reflect that.

If ESPN were located in Chicago, there would probably be people complaining that there was too much talk about the Cubs and Bears.

ESPN has tried recently to change that perception by opening a studio in L.A. and doing Sportscenters from that studio. That would explain why they are reminding everyone that they are in Los Angeles every chance they get.

ESPN isn't the only outlet that could be accused of bias based on where they are located. Take FOX Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio for instance. Both are in L.A. Listen to both of those networks once in a while. If they aren't talking about the Lakers or Dodgers, it's a good bet they are talking about USC.

It's not bias. It's location.

So, before you go and accuse ESPN of being biased towards the East Coast teams, consider all the factors that are in play here.

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Don't Blame Memphis, Blame The NBA

2009-06-03T04:56:00.003-05:00

So, it appears as if Derrick Rose might have cheated in order to make himself eligible to play for Memphis a couple of years ago. He allegedly had someone take the SAT for him. It also looks like one of his grades from high school was fudged so that the Tigers could benefit from what he could do on the basketball court.

And, it looks like the people at Memphis - an institution of higher learning - knew about all of this a year ago and basically sat on it, hoping no one would find out. They wanted to keep their 38 win season and Final Four appearance intact. I guess wins are really more important than academic success. I guess the term 'student athlete' really is a joke.

And I ask you, are you really surprised by all of this?

If you say yes, well, you just haven't been paying attention.

No, this is not going to turn into a John Calipari bash-fest. Even the NCAA isn't convinced that Calipari knew about the SAT episode. Cal isn't named in the allegation by the NCAA. He does have a checkered past, though. Just ask the people at UMASS.

Again, this isn't going to be a 'pile on Cal' rant. I'm not saying he's not part of the problem. I'm saying he isn't the problem.

The problem goes much higher than Calipari or the NCAA. It's in the NBA.

You see, the NBA instituted a minimum age a few years ago. The idea behind it was to make sure that players were mature enough to handle being a professional athlete. The league was almost universally praised when they took this step by people who had short-sighted views of the situation. There were a lot of people applauding David Stern for taking a stand and forcing kids to grow up before being handed guaranteed million dollar contracts. Almost no one was looking at the big picture. Well, almost no one.

There were college coaches who completely disagreed with what the NBA was doing, and as a result, they refused to recruit 'one and done' kids like Rose, Greg Oden, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo. Those coaches feared that the 'one and done' players might wind up causing more problems for their programs than they were worth.

Those coaches might have been right. USC has been accused of violating NCAA rules as far as Mayo is concerned. There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Beasley chose Kansas State. We know about the Rose situation. And even though Ohio State hasn't been accused of doing anything wrong where it concerns Oden and former teammate Mike Conley Jr. (another 'one and done' player), it's not like the Buckeyes have never been in hot water with the NCAA before.

Schools that had seen their basketball programs fall to the point that they were irrelevant (and USC, KSU would qualify - as would OSU in the pre-Oden years) were willing to do almost anything - literally sell their souls -to get these 'one and done' players to come to their campus.

Had the NBA not enacted the rule requiring players to attend college for at least a year, it would probably be a different story.

And the rule is what the real problem is. This age requirement never should have been put into place by Stern & Company.

Forget about the argument that at the age of eighteen, kids can be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to (possibly) die, but they can't play in the NBA. It's been used over and over again. There's nothing new with that argument, and it has never convinced anyone who believes in the NBA minimum age rule to change their minds. There are better arguments to choose from.

The best argument of them all is simply this. Kids like Rose never wanted to go to college in the first place.

Think about it for a few minutes. Put yourself in the shoes of some of these kids. What would you rather do, play in the NBA for a million dollars and help your family get out of the poverty they reside in or go to school and take courses you are almost certain never to use in your professional life? I think most of you would choose the money and the NBA. I know I would.

The NBA will tell you they out the rule into place because they tired of players like Korleone Young, Leon Smith, Kwame Brown, and Sebastian Telfair declaring themselves eligible for the draft, and flaming out for any number of reasons (most of them having to do with maturity issues). What they don't tell you is that there are plenty of high school players who have made the jump without problems (Kobe, Lebron, KG, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Jermain O'Neal come to mind). What they don't tell you is that there are plenty of players who went to college who come into the league with those very same maturity problems. One year of college isn't going to make someone grow up. Heck, how many of us really are 'grown up' at the age of nineteen? Most of us don't really mature until we get into our twenties.

What the NBA isn't telling you is the real reason they have this minimum age requirement. The real reason is money. They don't want their teams wasting money on players who don't go to college and may never develop into NBA stars. They don't want their teams putting money into developing these young men only to watch them go to another team a few years later and realizing their potential with that new team. The league is trying to protect the teams from themselves, though there are plenty of players who go to college and still fail to develop into NBA stars.

Here's what the league has created. It's created a group of players who are now forced to go to school. They don't want to be there. The legendary Bob Knight once explained that these players get to school, know they are only there for a year, and then do the minimum required academically to keep themselves eligible. That means going to class for their first semester. After that, a lot of these players never step inside of a classroom, lecture hall, or library. They are there for one reason and one reason only. To play basketball and pass the time until the NBA welcomes them with open arms.

Of course, not every young man takes the 'one and done' route. Take Brandon Jennings for example. This kid's heart was never in the books. It was in basketball. Arizona wanted him badly, but he couldn't make himself academically eligible. So, instead of going to school and picking his grades up, Jennings turned pro in Europe. He was ripped to shreds by people who thought it was a bad idea.

Now, Jennings didn't exactly tear it up in Europe. In fact, he struggled. But, the NBA obviously doesn't care, because he is projected to be a top ten pick in the draft, which takes place later this month. NBA talent evaluators are falling all over themselves to draft this kid. They would have done the same thing had Jennings been able to make the jump to the NBA directly from high school, trust me.

Jennings was the first player to use Europe as a way to get to the NBA without having to spend a year in college disguising himself as a 'student athlete.' I guarantee you he won't be the last.

So, when you and your friends hit the bar and talk about the Memphis/Derrick Rose situation, it might be a good thing to take a step back and stop yourself from ripping the school, the coach or the player. You'd be better off placing the blame where it belongs.

On the NBA.

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A New Kobe/Lebron Puppet Commercial!

2009-06-02T08:51:00.002-05:00

No, this one isn't from Nike. Some radio guy decided to spoof the Lil' Dez commercial. Check it out! It's pretty funny!

Why I Think Thompson Will Give In To Driver

2009-06-02T04:49:00.002-05:00

The moment that Brett Favre decided to retire in March of last year was the moment that Donald Driver became the face of the Packers. He became the elder statesman in the locker room. He was the guy with the longest track record on the roster. He took over Favre's charity softball game. He was doing all the commercials. When Brett retired, Driver became Mr. Packer.

That's why it was so hard for me to fathom that Driver, who should know better, was unhappy with his contract and decided not to report to OTA's. Granted, he didn't skip anything that was mandatory, but Driver not being in Green Bay for workouts was very, well, un-Driver-like.

Then you read Jason Wilde's report in the Wisconsin State Journal that not only was Driver unhappy with his contract, but he he had approached the Packers about re-doing his deal for four consecutive years. Driver got what he wanted in 2006 and 2007, but didn't get what he wanted last season. Just by virtue of the report over the weekend in the Green Bay Press Gazette that Driver's agent has been negotiating with the team, it seems to me he will get what he wants this year. Three for four isn't bad, especially when you're a thirty-four year old player who isn't even the number one guy that his position anymore (that would be Greg Jennings).

I'm not going to pull any punches. Driver picked the wrong time to approach the team about an extension, especially considering the state of the economy, and the fact that Joe Fan who is barely making ends meet relates less and less to athletes that make millions of dollars.

But, I understand why Driver is going for the cash now. This is the NFL. It's a business. The league will give you a chance to play no matter what crimes you may have committed because you have talent. Conversely, this is also a league that will chew you up and spit you out the minute it thinks you have lost the ability to help a team. Heck, Jerry Rice was cut by the 49ers the minute they thought he wasn't the player he used to be. That has to be a factor into Driver's thinking. And, considering Jennings' emergence (plus the fact that he's about to get paid in a big way), Driver may think he won't get the money he signed for (remember that NFL contracts are not guaranteed) unless he asks Green Bay to re-work his deal.

So, I understand why Driver's doing it. What I don't understand is why Ted Thompson is (apparently) giving in to Driver's demands. This is literally the first time in two seasons that I have disagreed with a Thompson decision.

I'm not saying that Driver isn't a good player. I'm not saying that Driver doesn't deserve every dollar that he signed for in 2006 and 2007. For the most part (with the exception of this incident) he has been the model Packer. What I'm saying is that if Thompson and the Packers are considering re-working Driver's contract, it goes against everything that Thompson has done over the last few years.

Time and time again, Thompson has chosen youth over experience. He doesn't dive into free agency. He prefers to draft, and he likes to take care of his young players that are up for new deals. That's why he took care of Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, Cullen Jenkins, and others. It's why he will take care of Jennings and safety Nick Collins sooner rather than later. It's why he let Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle walk away years ago. it's why he refused to pay Ahman Green when Green wanted a lifetime achievement contract a couple of years ago.

So, I'm a little confused as to why Thompson is changing the way he operates. But, I do have a theory (I always seem to, don't I?). Let me lay it on you.

Could it be that Thompson has decided to give in to Driver's contractual demands to avoid the circus that he presided over a year ago?

I think that might very well be the case. We all know that Favre-gate was a major distraction last year. There were interviews on FOX News Channel. people firing up websites looking for their fifteen minutes of fame, and reporters covering Favre's comings and goings like he was the President. In short, it was madness, and it probably is something Thompson and the Packers desperately want to avoid at this point.

Is it the best reason to give in to a player's demand for more money? Maybe not. But, remember that Driver is the face of this franchise. He is arguably the most popular Packer as we speak. What kind of distraction would it be if Driver didn't show up to training camp at the end of July because of a contract situation? It might not be the distraction that Favre was, but it would be a distraction. A big one.

This team can't afford distractions. They were 6-10 last season. A repeat of what happened last year won't sit well with the fans, and it probably won't sit well with President Mark Murphy, either. Besides, there are going to be enough questions about this team as we go forward this summer, whether it's about the defense, Aaron Rodgers' ability to finish opponents off, or the other players who just happen to be looking for new contracts.

Having a happy Driver in camp is key to avoiding the kind of circus the Packers had last summer. Maybe that's why they have decided to 'play ball' with Driver as opposed to taking care of Jennings and Collins first (which is what I personally would do).

He's also doing this before signing a single one of his draft picks, which I find interesting, too.

Like I said, it's just my theory. Take it for what it is. At the end of the day, though, Thompson is still going against every instinct he's shown in four years as the GM of this team.

And I just don't understand it.

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Don't Knock Kobe vs. Dwight

2009-05-31T06:53:00.002-05:00

You're an NBA fan. You were looking forward to a possible Kobe vs. Lebron matchup in the NBA Finals. You're a little upset that you aren't getting it (believe me, ESPN, ABC, and Madison Avenue are, too). You feel let down after months and months of Kobe vs. Lebron hype. You probably don't think Kobe vs. Dwight is going to live up to Kobe vs. Lebron. It probably won't. But have no fear. I'm here to tell you why you should be looking forward to the L.A. - Orlando finals showdown.

* It's going to be a good series. The Lakers, like the Cavs, face similar matchup problems against the Magic. If they double team Dwight Howard, then the brigade of three point bombers (Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston, and Michael Pietrus) will do their share of damage, just as they did against Cleveland. If the Lakers try to defend the three, then Howard might have all the room he needs to roam the paint. Either way, the Lakers leave themselves vulnerable.

* Phil Jackson: Phil is going for his tenth NBA championship. At this point, the only debate is who people think was the better coach - Red Auerbach of The Zen Master.Both have nine championship rings. Phil would help his case by winning his tenth right here.

Does that make Phil the better coach? I honestly can't tell you. I really don't think anyone can. They coached in two completely different eras. The game was completely different. Though both coaches probably would have been able to adjust, it's not an absolute. So for now, you just have to say they coached in different eras.

I will say this, though. People who say Auerbach was the better coach like to point out that Phil has had the best talent ever assembled to coach. Those same people never admit that Red had some pretty good talent, too. Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Bob Cousy; I could go on and on. Those guys are all Hall of Famers.

Jackson did have great talent to work with. But consider this. Between the intensely driven Michael Jordan, the moody Scottie Pippen, and the flaky Dennis Rodman, Jackson had his hands full. He had to massage Pippen's ego and keep Rodman walking the straight and narrow while allowing Michael to be the dominant personality of the team.

In L.A., Jackson managed to win three straight titles despite the fact that his two biggest stars - Kobe and Shaq - hated each other. That isn'teasy to do either.

And if Jackson can win his tenth ring as a coach with a team made up of Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and role players, he might have done his best coaching job ever.

I'm not saying Phil was a better coach than Auerbach. But he's the best I've ever seen (I wasn't around for Red). And ten rings is more than any other coach has.

* Stan Van Gundy: He's not the greatest coach in the world, but he is one of the more entertaining guys you'll find. He doesn't beat around the bush. He tells you what's on his mind, and doesn't care if it's the right thing to say or not.

Van Gundy doesn't have much of a filter. He doesn't speak in the language that coaches have spoken with for years. He doesn't say 'safe' things. Add that up to the fact he won't be doing many shoots for GQ anytime soon, and has an uncanny resemblance to porn star Ron Jeremy, and you have a media guy's dream. The fans like him too. He's a 'never a dull moment' kind of guy.

* Dwight Howard: When people talk about the best players in the league, they usually talk about Kobe and Lebron. Howard's one of those guys that people get to and say 'he's really good,' but he's almost never mentioned when you talk about the best player in the league.

It might be time to start thinking of him when the 'best player' conversation pops up. I'm not saying he is the best, but he's got to be in that group. He's the best center in the league (sorry Yao), and he just eliminated James in what a lot of people considered a big upset.

He's young. His game seems to be improving. And there isn't anyone on the Lakers that can stop him. Nike might want to make a Dwight Howard puppet soon.

* Kobe Bryant: There isn't much to say about Bryant that hasn't already been said. I think he's the best player in the league. The biggest difference between Kobe and Lebron is that Kobe has that killer instinct. When Kobe senses that an opponent is on his way out, he puts his foot on that opponent's throat. Lebron has done that, but not as often and not as consistently as Kobe has.

The one thing Kobe hasn't done is win a title without Shaq. You know how much that bothers him. Shaq is probably getting ready to do another song at a night club should Kobe and the Lakers lose to Orlando. This is Kobe's chance to shut the few critics he has left up. This is his chance to shut Shaq up. That alone should make for some entertainment.

There you go. Five reasons why the NBA Finals won't suck even though we don't have the Kobe-Lebron showdown we were dreaming about.

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Driver Picking The Wrong Time To Complain About His Contract

2009-05-29T06:37:00.002-05:00

A year ago, the Green Bay Packers were going through a couple of controversies that everyone was talking about. Brett Favre was about to un-retire, and Ryan Grant was holding out for a new contract. Eventually, Favre was traded to the Jets and Grant signed a long term deal to remain the Packers number one back.

I thought this year might be controversy free. It looks like I was wrong.

Things aren't going exactly as planned in Titletown. Not every Packer is happy with their current situations.

Aaron Kampman refuses to talk to the media about his move from defensive end to outside linebacker.

Nick Collins reportedly wants a new deal and is skipping OTA's not because of his father's death, but because of his contract.

And, Donald Driver reportedly wants his deal re-worked as well.

I can just see Packers GM Ted Thompson walking around with that frustrated look on his face. The same look we saw for most of last summer.

Kampman may not be talking about his position switch, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's unhappy with it. It could just be that the guy wants to work and learn his new position. Kampman isn't a big talker anyway, so at the moment it doesn't faze me that he didn't tell reporters how things were going.

Collins will earn a little over $3M this year, but has apparently been looking for an extension. The second round pick from 2005 racked up seven interceptions last year, his best season so far. If the Packers stay true to their policy of taking care of young players, then Collins almost certainly will get a new deal.

Driver - on the other hand - is the one that concerns me the most. He has two years and nearly $8M left on his deal, and is coming off his worst statistical season since 2003.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Driver, who signed a $17M extension before the 2006 season, has approached the team about re-working his deal for four straight years. This is the same Donald Driver who is loved by Packer Nation for his work ethic and community work. This is not the Driver we have seen publicly for almost a decade.

I know that NFL players think they have to get theirs while they can, but Driver is picking the wrong time to moan and groan about his contract (I know he hasn't said anything publicly, but he's not in camp, is he?)

Driver may be the veteran of the group, but he's not the go to receiver anymore. He shares that role with Greg Jennings. Instead of being the #1 WR, Driver is now #1A.

And speaking of Jennings, we all know he's been looking for a new deal (deservedly so after the numbers he has put up in the last two seasons). However, Jennings is in camp, participating in OTA's. He obviously thinks that showing the Packers he's willing to work as opposed to holding out will get him what he wants. And, don't be shocked if it does.

Driver is not a dumb guy. He has to realize that the Packers have priorities. He's 34 now. Who does he realistically think is a bigger priority in Thompson's mind? A receiver who might very well be on the downside of his career? Or the 25 year old who has far more left in his tank?

On top of everything, Driver is seemingly complaining about his contract in the worst economy since The Great Depression. He has two years and almost eight million dollars left to go on his current deal. He will get his. Joe Fan who might be out of work and trying to make ends meet on unemployment checks isn't going to feel sorry for Driver. I know I don't.

I am honestly surprised that Driver is doing this. I thought he knew better.

But I guess I was wrong. And so is Driver.

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Those Who Won't Deal With Change Are Destined To Be Left Behind

2009-05-29T05:25:00.001-05:00

I come to you today admitting that I am a convert. I am now a believer. A believer in what, you ask?

A believer in new media.

I didn't go to college two decades ago intending to become a sports radio host. I went to college with the idea to become a sportswriter. I wanted to be a columnist, more specifically. I wanted to be the guy that wrote things that had people talking at the water cooler and during coffee and lunch breaks.

Life, though, has a funny way of throwing curveballs at you. The curveball it threw at me was going to school and being told that I couldn't write for the newspaper until I was a junior. The internet was only a gleam in Al Gore's eye back in 1989. There was no information super highway. No one knew what a blog was. There was only one place for me to turn to. That place was radio.

I walked into my college's radio station and never left (believe me, my grades reflected that). I've been in radio ever since. Well, up until I was laid off this past October.

In the last few years, I watched the internet explode into a force as far as sports media was concerned. I watched as people in all walks of life launched websites and blogs. I admit that up until last October, I was somewhat down on the new media. I saw how people wrote whatever they wanted to without having to check their facts or put their name to it. To be honest, I was a victim of this trend in new media as well. I hosted a Brewers pregame show for two years. One of my colleagues handed me a piece of paper saying the following. "An internet report states the Brewers have traded for (then) Reds slugger Adam Dunn." I went with it, and quickly realized I had gotten some bad info. We - as a radio station, backed off the report, and I apologized personally to Brewers GM Doug Melvin.

So as you see, I had a reason to be down on the new media. But since that day in 2007, I've watched new media - especially in sports - mature.

From a personal standpoint, new media has helped me keep my name 'out there.' My blog and podcast each weekday allows my to keep in touch with the people that used to listen to me in Milwaukee. My podcast helps me keep my talk show skills in shape so I won't be rusty when I get my next radio job.

From a professional standpoint, I have watched the new media become the modern day version of the newspaper. I'm not going to tell you how the newspaper is yesterday's news a day late or anything like that. I think we all know that the internet has had a negative impact on the newspaper industry. I am going to tell you that I have watched as some of the best writers in the country have left their newspaper columns behind to go 'online.'

Jay Mariotti left his job as the lead sports columnist at The Chicago Sun Times last summer. There was speculation that he might go across town to the Chicago Tribune, but that didn't materialize. Instead, Jay took his writing skills to Fanhouse (AOL Sports). He has totally embraced new media and its place in sports journalism.

Other writers have done the very same thing. Michael Felger of the Boston Herald is now a columnist for WEEI.com. Greg Couch left the Chicago Sun Times to join Mariotti at Fanhouse. There are others who have made the move, as well. But, I am not going to waste anyone's time by rattling off name after name after name.

I am going to tell you that not everyone has jumped on the internet bandwagon. I know there are plenty of writers who still look at the internet and think of it as the annoying little brother to print media (did anyone see Buzz Bissinger on Costas Now a year ago?).

Those writers are missing the boat here. The blogosphere is full of people who write whatever they want and post their ramblings under a fake name. But, in the last year or so, more writers - newspaper writers - have made the move to the net. They are writing hard hitting columns, and they are putting their names to them. The blogosphere is not the Wild Wild West it used to be. It has more credibility than it has ever had before. Sure, there are still plenty of people posting things under fake names. But they are being overshadowed by the established journalists who are embracing new technology.

The writers who don't believe in new media will tell you they are 'newspaper guys.' That's an admirable thing. But times are changing. The newspaper isn't what it used to be. Major newspapers like the Rocky Mountain News (Denver) and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer have either gone out of business or are out of the print side of it (concentrating on the internet).

There are literally hundreds of newspapers who have been making cutbacks by the boatload over the last year. Not just small newspapers either. Almost every newspaper in every major city is cutting back because circulation is down. It's a good bet that we will see more newspapers go out of business over the next year.

So, the anti-'net writers have a couple of choices. Become a magazine writer (because magazines will probably never die), or eventually make the jump like some of their colleagues have.

The alternative is sticking with a business (newspapers) that is dying (if not dead already). I have friends who work for my local newspaper (I'll keep their names out of it) who tell me it's not a matter of if they will be laid off, but when.

To me, the choice was clear (at least when I was laid off). Either embrace new technology and new media, or fade away. I chose to embrace the new media/technology.

The 'newspaper guys' who haven't caught up to the rest of us should get on board as well.

It's simple evolution. Get on board or get left behind.

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Don't Rip ESPN For Hyping Kobe-Lebron

2009-05-28T05:16:00.001-05:00

It seems like everyone has been hyping the possible Lebron vs. Kobe NBA Finals matchup since February, right? Well, judging by how the conference finals have been playing out, it might not happen. The Orlando Magic lead Cleveland in their best of seven series 3-1, and the Denver Nuggets are giving the Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money. Not only might Lebron not get to the finals, but Kobe & Company might miss out, too.

I've been listening to a lot of the talking heads on television. I've been listening to various radio talk shows throughout the country (thanks to the internet). It seems like the new thing to do is to bash ESPN for overhyping Kobe vs. Lebron and ignoring the other teams still in the playoffs.

Now, I'll admit that ESPN has done their fair share of hype. In fact, no entity in sports does a better job of promoting something than The Worldwide Leader. However, to rip ESPN for this is just a tad off base.

Sure, ESPN is hyping Lebron vs. Kobe, but isn't that what they are supposed to do? They are, after all, one of the NBA's television partners. They are airing the Western Conference Finals, and their production of the NBA Finals will air on ABC. To not promote it would be stupid. I know, it seems harsh, but it's really simple. You have a product, and you want to promote it. To not acknowledge that a Kobe-Lebron matchup was possible would be crazy. You don't just put that matchup on the air and hope people somehow find it.

Not once have I heard anyone say anything about the way other media outlets have promoted a possible Kobe-Lebron matchup. Surely, ESPN isn't the only entity that is talking about it, right?

Of course they aren't. There are plenty of websites that have been talking about this possible showdown, and they've been talking about it for months. FOX, CBS, Fanhouse - all of the major websites - have had Kobe-Lebron on the brain for months.

Newspapers have had columnists writing about the matchup for a long time, too - even if their cities or teams aren't involved in the playoffs. Why? Because these two superstars are (arguably) the two best players in the league. They are (arguably) the two most popular players in the league. They aren't just basketball players, either. They have crossed over into the mainstream, thanks to advertising campaigns like the one that Nike has been putting out there lately (those puppet commercials are hilarious).

The radio talk shows have been talking Kobe-Lebron for a while, too. Sure, listeners like to hear about their local teams, but they also want to know about teams and players who transcend the games they play. Kobe and Lebron certainly do that, just like Tiger Woods does.

I'm not the biggest ESPN fan in the world. I think Sportscenter has gotten so far away from what made it a great show. I've talked about this on the radio many times in the past. ESPN used to go after the hard core sports nut. That was back in the days of Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann. Now, ESPN is more like Entertainment Tonight. They are going for the casual sports fan now more than they ever have before. While it might be the smart thing to do because they want to attract the biggest possible audience, the hard core fans - like me - have been turned off to a degree.

ESPN has done other things that I consider wrong as well. It doesn't happen nearly as much as it used to, but The Worldwide Leader used to be the king of taking a breaking news story and claiming it as their own, when someone else - usually a local outlet - actually had the story first.

Many people complain that ESPN has shown too much bias to the teams in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles. To a degree, that's true. But, they are based on the East Coast, and most of the best teams and athletes just happen to be as well. ESPN has recently started paying attention (maybe too much) to other parts of the country - emanating a nightly Sportscenter from Los Angeles and launching a Chicago only website. They might not be paying attention to the developing baseball stories in Milwaukee, Kansas City, or Texas, but they are trying to be a little less biased towards the coasts.

There are a lot of negative things fans and talking heads can say about ESPN. But promoting a possible Kobe-Lebron matchup in the upcoming finals isn't the worst thing they could have done.

Instead of ripping on ESPN (which is a no-win situation), maybe more of me media brothers should look in the mirror and ask themselves whether they were a part of the hype or not.

If they were (and most of them have been), then they need to stop ripping on someone else for doing the same thing.

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More Social Networking Stuff!

2009-05-27T06:46:00.002-05:00

Some of you are following me on Twitter but I know that not everyone is 'tweeting.' I have been on Facebook for about a year now - feel free to check out my profile and become a Facebook friend!

Mo Williams Should Have Kept His Mouth Shut

2009-05-27T04:54:00.002-05:00

You have to love the fact that pro athletes have supreme confidence. Not just a little bit of confidence. Not just confidence. Supreme confidence. Some athletes are so confident that no matter how bleak the situation looks, they will say something that is sure to make headlines and light a fire under the other team's collective butt.

Earlier during the NBA playoffs, Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing (no stranger to making guarantees) went out and told the media he guaranteed his Magic would beat Boston. Now, if you remember Ewing as a player, you probably remember the many guarantees that he made. He also was almost always wrong. Luckily for him the Magic went out and beat Boston in seven games.

Now the Magic, locked in a battle with the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, have had the tables turned on them. And turned on them by none other than Mo Williams.

“Guarantee we’re going to win the series? Yeah, yeah,” he said. “We are down 2-1. But there is nobody on this team and definitely not myself that says we are not going to win this series. Yeah, it is going to be tough. We know that. We get this game tomorrow, go home, still got home-court advantage. We don’t see ourselves losing two out of three at home.”

So Williams opened up his mouth and put the rest of his team on the spot. I can't help but think that Williams should have just kept his mouth shut, especially since the Magic beat the Cavs last night in overtime to take a 3-1 lead in the best of seven series.

First of all Williams hasn't shot better than 33.3% in this series. He doesn't look like the same player who went to the All-Star Game a few months ago. I'd have an easier time swallowing this guarantee if Williams was playing at a higher level. I'd have an easier time swallowing this guarantee had it been made by one Lebron James.

But it wasn't. It was made by Williams, who is a nice player, but wouldn't have even been considered an All-Star had it not been for the trade last summer that sent him to Cleveland for Milwaukee.

I was in Milwaukee when Williams played there. When he first got here he was the kid just happy to have a chance to play in the league. Thanks to injuries to others - and his own improved play - Williams found himself as the starting point guard of the Bucks.

Not that he led them anywhere. Williams' two seasons as the lead guard for the Bucks weren't successful. They had 28 and 26 wins in the two years since Milwaukee dealt T.J. Ford and made Williams the man at the point.

Williams was productive during those two years, and his offense was the main reason he got a $52M deal from the Bucks. But once he got that deal, he forgot what his main job was supposed to be (distributing the ball). He decided he had to justify the big contract by scoring 30 points a night. His shooting suffered. When coaches tried to get him to realize what his job was, he rebelled. It got so bad that he reportedly took a swing at former Bucks assistant coach Tony Brown.

The trade to Cleveland gave Williams a fresh start. But make no mistake, Williams would not have blossomed if it weren't for Lebron. He'd be the same frustrating player he was in Milwaukee.

And, it also looks like Williams doesn't learn from history. Most of these guarantees don't come to pass. Joe Namath guaranteeing a win in Super Bowl III over Baltimore is the exception, not the rule.

Here are some of the guarantees that didn't quite live up to the hype.

* Lions quarterback Jon Kitna guaranteed Detroit would win ten games in 2007. The Lions won just seven games.

* Former Lions WR Roy Williams guaranteed a win over Chicago in 2006. The Bears crushed the Lions 34-7.

* Former Steelers (now Packers) safety Anthony Smith made all the national headlines by guaranteeing a win over the then undefeated New England Patriots a couple of years ago. Tom Brady threw for 399 yards and four TD's in a 34-13 thrashing of the Steelers.

* Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow guaranteed a win in last year's Belmont Stakes, which would have secured The Triple Crown. Da 'Tara spoiled Big Brown's bid at horse racing immortality.

* Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck guaranteed his team would score first and beat the Packers in overtime of their 2003 Wildcard Playoff game. Instead, Hasselbeck threw a pick-6 to Al Harris.

* Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano guaranteed that the Northsiders would win the World Series and that he would win the NL Cy Young Award. The Cubs were swept out of October in the divisional round, and Zambrano finished well behind Jake Peavy in the Cy Young voting.

I could go on and on. But I get the feeling that Williams would still say what he said earlier this week.

The Cavs are a supremely confident bunch. But, the last time I checked, they haven't won anything. Ever. They might very well be denied this year, too. They are a flawed team. Sure, they have a great player in Lebron, but he needs help. They don't match up well with the Magic, who happen to be performing well even though Jameer Nelson is sitting on the bench wearing a suit. Williams fit the bill during the regular season, but hasn't been as effective in the playoffs.
And, in case you didn't know, the Cavs were just 3-6 this season (before playoffs) against teams considered 'elite.'

Maybe Mo Williams should have taken all that into consideration before opening up his big mouth.

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You Gotta See This

2009-05-26T06:39:00.002-05:00

It might be time for the Cubs to just play a tape of good old Harry singing 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame." Ozzy Osbourne was bombed out of his mind when he sung it. Mike Ditka might have been. Jeff Gordon called it 'Wrigley Stadium.'

But Mr. T might have taken it to a whole new level.

Here's the video.

I Wouldn't Want To Be John Hammond This Summer

2009-05-25T08:37:00.003-05:00

While the Brewers find themselves in a fight for the NL Central, the Bucks are flying under the radar. While the Packers are trying to implement the new 3-4 defense at OTA's, Bucks GM John Hammond has some decisions to make. And they won't be easy ones.

The Bucks didn't make the playoffs, but they did improve from 26 to 34 wins in Hammonds' first year on the job. The Bucks did it with new coach Scott Skiles demanding defense and accountability (something no Bucks coach had done in a long time). The team made progress despite the fact that Michael Redd missed 49 games and center Andrew Bogut missed 46 games. The Bucks managed to give the fan base hope for the future.

That's because some of the young guys stepped up. Charlie Villanueva had some rocky moments, but put up the best numbers of his four year NBA career (16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds). Ramon Sessions proved a lot of people who said he couldn't be a starter in this league wrong by putting up 12.4 points and 5.7 assists a game. Not bad, considering he spent most of his rookie season in the D-League after being drafted in the second round out of Nevada.

Then there was Richard Jefferson, who had to become the team's go to guy in the wake of all the injuries. Jefferson accepted the challenge and performed well in his first year in Milwaukee.

So, things are looking up for the Bucks, right?

Well, I don't want to be an alarmist, but the league could throw a few wrinkles into the plan. There are rumblings that the league is going to lower the luxury tax threshold. I've heard that the number could be as low as $68M. The Bucks, who are scheduled to pay almost $47M to Redd, Jefferson, Bogut, and Dan Gadzuric, are going to have to make some difficult decisions.

What do they do with Jefferson, Villanueva, and Sessions?

There was speculation around the league that the Bucks tried to deal Jefferson right before the trade deadline. However, no move was ever made. And, if you believe Hammond, there are no plans to move Jefferson as of now.

"No, we're still not talking about trading Richard," Hammond told Hoops World last week. Part of me liked hearing that, because I've always been a Jefferson fan, going back to his days at Arizona. However, a lot of things could change between now and draft day.

If the Bucks are going to keep Jefferson - and I believe that it's still up in the air (you never know what team will offer come draft day), then that pretty much means both Villanueva and Sessions are going to wind up leaving as free agents.

The Bucks may be preparing for that as we speak. Mock drafts have the Bucks targeting point guards such as Jonny Flynn from Syracuse and UCLA's Jrue Holiday. Word is the team may bring Ersan Ilyasova back after a couple of years in Europe as part of their plan to replace Villanueva. That plan would also include Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who showed a lot of promise during his rookie season.

No matter what happens, fans are going to question every move. Jefferson brings a lot to the table, but does it make more sense to move him and try to keep Sessions and Villanueva? Sessions opened a lot of eyes around here these past two seasons. Is it smart to let him walk and finish his development somewhere else?. And after the best season of his career - a year in which he finally started to deliver on his vast potential - is the right move to let Charlie V. just go somewhere else without even getting a qualifying offer?

There are just some of the questions that Hammond is going to have to deal with over the next few months. The answers he comes up with are going to be critical to the team's short and long term success.

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now.

Click here for today's podcast!

Why I Think Peavy Said No To The White Sox

2009-05-22T05:48:00.002-05:00

One thing that I've always liked about Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams is that he's never been afraid to make a big move. If he thinks a trade can help his team win, he goes for it, without worrying about whether or not he gave up too much to get whatever he felt his team needed.

That's why I wasn't shocked when reports said Williams and the Sox had agreed to send the San Diego Padres four prospects (including the team's top pitching prospects) for one Jake Peavy. All that was needed to make the deal official was for Peavy to sign off on it and waive the full no-trade clause in his contract. It was a risky move for Williams, not only because he was giving up multiple prospects, but because he was also bringing back a big salary. Peavy is owed around $60M through the 2012 season.

But, by the time Sox fans were leaving their offices to head home, the dream of landing Peavy (dreamy especially since Bartolo Colon was lit up in a 20-1 Sox loss to Minnesota) was over. Peavy had officially blocked the trade by refusing to waive that no trade clause. His reasoning? That his family thought it was best for him to stay in San Diego for now.

I don't doubt that Peavy's family loves San Diego. Have you ever been there? It's absolutely gorgeous. I'll take 75 degrees and sunny every day, thank you very much. But it's also not the real reason that Peavy said no to the move (had the trade been to the Cubs he probably would have accepted).

There is some thought around baseball that Peavy would prefer to stay in the National League, and that may be true. But, somehow I don't think it was the real reason Peavy decided to stay in San Diego.

I think the real reason is that he doesn't think the White Sox give him the best chance to win.

The Sox made the attempt to land Peavy because they thought he might be able to turn around what has been a sluggish start to the season. Chicago is 17-23, and in fourth place in the AL Central. They are six and a half games behind front running Detroit. They thought Peavy would be the key to the turnaround.

Some in Chicago wanted to compare the move that was almost made to the trade Milwaukee made a year ago for CC Sabathia. But there is a difference. The Brewers were coming off a red hot month of June when they made the deal for Sabathia. They were contenders. The Sox aren't - at least not yet.

They could turn into contenders, but a lot of things have to change.

Peavy's not stupid. I'm sure he looked at what the Sox had before he said no (and if they were a contender he would have said yes). The rotation has Mark Buehrle and John Danks, who are pitching well, but after that - well it's a little rough. Gavin Floyd hasn't built on his big year from 2008. Jose Contreras is now in the bullpen. Bartolo Colon hasn't been good and looks like he might be all done.

Then there is the lineup. Paul Konerko is the only regular batting over .300. Jermaine Dye leads the club with 10 HR's. After that you have problems. Jim Thome is hitting .255 and looks every bit the 38 year old he is. Carlos Quentin was an MVP candidate last year, but is batting just .233 this year. Josh Fields is making no one forget Joe Crede (who hit a homer in yesterday's blowout). And Alexei Ramirez isn't hitting nearly as well as he did a year ago.

But these players could all turn it around and have productive years. Which leads to the another reason why I think Peavy said no to the White Sox.

Ozzie Guillen.

Ozzie (no one in Chicago calls him by his last name) isn't for everybody. Even he says that. And, from what I know about Peavy, I don't think he and Guillen would be a fit. Peavy's a no nonsense baseball guy. Ozzie's a baseball guy too, but he also doesn't mind the occasional controversy.

And, in the years Ozzie's been in Chicago, there have been plenty of controversies. Last year there was the blow up doll fiasco in the clubhouse. The year before Guillen went on a radio program and dropped F-Bomb after F-Bomb - knowing he shouldn't. In 2006, Ozzie got into some hot water for calling former Chicago Sun Times Columnist Jay Mariotti (an Ozzie critic) a derogatory name.

There are other controversies that I haven't mentioned (for instance, challenging his front office to make moves and punishing a pitcher for not throwing at a batter). Ozzie likes being the center of attention. Most managers that I've encountered don't. And, Guillen knows the fans love him because he helped bring them a world championship in 2005. He thinks he is bullet proof. Let me say this. Had they not won the World Series four years ago, Ozzie would have been fired a long time ago.

Ozzie's a pretty good baseball guy, and if he kept his nose clean he might even be considered one of the better managers in the big leagues. But it's not Ozzie. He wants to be the guy you talk about. He gets the attention - for sure, but not the respect. His opposite number in Chicago - Lou Piniella - gets the kind of attention and respect that Ozzie really craves. That's because for years all Piniella has done is manage his team and win. Have there been controversies with Lou? Sure, but nothing like what we've seen with Guillen.

So Peavy can talk all he wants to about San Diego being the right spot for him and his family. The analysts on ESPN can say it's about staying in the National League.

But the real reason Jake Peavy is not a member of the White Sox today is that he looked at their organization and saw flaws.

Lots of them.

Vick Is Entitled To Another Chance

2009-05-21T05:42:00.002-05:00

Michael Vick got out of jail yesterday. It wasn't a cupcake jail, either. It was Leavenworth. Then again, Vick's crimes deserved more than just a cupcake kind of jail. He deserved hard time, and that's exactly what he served for the last nineteen months.

He's not quite done paying his debt to society. He has to serve two months of home confinement before the government cuts him loose. That should be right about July 20th or so. Not so far away from the start of training camps in the NFL.

I've talked many times before about how the NFL talks tough, but rarely backs it up. The personal conduct policy has been in place for a couple of years, and we still have players who do dumb things and break the law. The latest two examples are Donte Stallworth and Plaxico Burress. The personal conduct policy has led to some lengthy suspensions, but face it, it was more PR than anything else. Rumors are flying that Pacaman Jones is going to get another shot. Stallworth and Burress (if legally available to play) will play. And Vick will as well.

I loved how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is talking tough, saying that Vick has to do this and that to my satisfaction before I let him back in. My guess is they will meet as close to July 20th as possible, with the league letting him back in shortly afterward. Not so long after that, some team is going to give him another chance. Vick may not see the $130M deal he once got from the Falcons, but he'll be paid nicely, even if it isn't right away. He's 29 years old, still has a lot of athletic ability, and can help a team win.

And that's all that matters.

The league talks a tough game. So do the teams. Rarely is that tough talk backed up. Winning is the most important thing in the NFL, and if you can help a team win - so long as you're out of jail - you'll get a job. Winning in the NFL also usually means more money coming into the winning team's bankroll. In these economic times, that's more of a consideration that you might think.

So Vick will get another chance. Some team will sign him. Some owner will put his arm around him at a news conference, claiming everyone deserves a second chance. That team will put up with whatever bad PR comes their way. Protests? The team will put up with those if they should happen (and they will at first but probably die down sooner than you might think). The payoff - wins and money - is worth the risk to whoever signs him.

I used to think that Vick should be the one guy the NFL made an example of, because of what he did. My senses were so offended by his crimes that I wanted him banished. Banished to play in the AFL or CFL. Just not in the NFL. I looked at the pictures of those dogs, the videos of dogfighting that were showed over and over again, and I wanted someone to pay.

Maybe it's hindsight being 20/20, I don't know. But I have backed off what I said in the Summer of 2007. Vick does deserve a second chance.

Whether it's for PR purposes or not (and there will always be people looking at Vick with suspicious eyes), Vick seems to be trying to do things the right way. Neither he or his people have made any public comments about him coming back to the league just yet. He has already struck a deal with The National Humane Society. He will likely be a spokesman against cruelty against animals. He will likely do speeches on The National Humane Society's behalf. He's not going to sit at home and do nothing. He's making an attempt to right the wrongs he committed, and I give him credit for that.

He's also 29 years old. He's had two of his prime athletic years taken away by his incarceration. Those that want the NFL to tack on a season-long suspension for Vick (and two years ago I was one of them) are just looking to pile on. That would be overkill, and again, I say that admitting that in 2007 I was advocating for Vick to serve an NFL mandated suspension on top of his jail term. Vick doesn't have ten years left in his career. Most quarterbacks don't play until they are 39. And, when you have a player like Vick, whose game is more his legs than his arm, you have a player that the NFL will discard as soon as he starts to slow down - even if it's just by a step. He's lost two years. A third might effectively end his career.

Michael Vick is no angel, that's for sure. But there are plenty of players in the NFL that aren't angels. Vick has a chance to show some of the young guys who might be traveling down that wrong path that it isn't worth it. He can be a mentor. He can actually save some players from ruining their careers, maybe even their lives, by taking them under his wing. But he can't do it if the NFL keeps him on the outside looking in.

If you think about it, Vick might be more effective by his mere presence in the league than their personal conduct policy. Maybe some young guys will look at him and think to themselves "If I'm not careful I could lose everything just like he did." Vick is a live human being. The personal conduct policy is a bunch of words in the NFL employee handbook that probably isn't read by the majority of players. The live human being will have more of an impact, trust me.

Michael Vick has paid his debt to society. It took me two years to realize it, but I did.

Michael Vick deserves a second chance. Here's to hoping he does more with his second chance than he did with his first.

ESPN Just Turned Monday Night Football Into Your Average Broadcast

2009-05-20T04:52:00.002-05:00

On Monday, ESPN took a break (for about fice seconds) from breathlessly reporting on the retirement/un-retirement of Brett Favre to let everyone know they were making a change. A change in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth. Gone is Tony Kornheiser, who had been in the booth for three years. In his place - former Tampa Bay Bucs coach Jon Gruden.

ESPN says that Tony K. decided to leave on his own, and I believe that 100%. Kornheiser is tremendously talented, but as is the case with tremendously talented people a lot of times, he is very insecure. I've seen it for myself.

When I worked with The Fabulous Sports Babe at ABC in New York, Kornheiser came to the network to do his show. He was in town for some awards dinner (he normally did his show from Washington. The guy came into our studio without anyone noticing, hoping to get a couple of minutes with The Babe. When he talked to us (her production staff), it was almost like a kid looking for approval from an authority figure.

I know Kornheiser was bothered by the criticism he took over the last three years. Some of it was deserved (the almost schoolgirl-like crush on Favre). Most of it wasn't. But Kornheiser tired of the armchair quarterbacks (and the travel). He thought about not coming back after his first season (ultimately Joe Theismann was forced from the booth after a tension filled 2006 season). He thought about not coming back after the 2007 season. He finally said enough is enough.

I enjoyed Kornheiser on MNF. I know not everyone will agree with me. My old radio partner used to say "I don't want no funny in my football." But, I'll be very sad to see him go. He was refreshing. He wasn't a former coach or former player. He was all of us non-jocks who somehow found his way into the booth. He was Joe Fan. Sure, he sometimes went a little too far in his attempts to make us laugh (we all do at times in this business), but it was part of his charm. There was something funny about a middle aged bald guy with no NFL playing experience doing Monday Night Football.

He reached a broader audience than Ron Jaworski ever could. It's not a knock on Jawz. He's a great analyst. But he's a pure football guy. He isn't the type to appeal to the casual fan that Tony K. did. He's a hardcore football fan's dream.

ESPN should have hired someone along the lines of a Kornheiser to take his place. They should have taken a risk. Instead, they went with the safe choice in Gruden.

Don't take that as a rip at Jon. He's a damn good coach, and if you ever get to meet him, he's a hell of a nice guy. But, he's a safe choice.

The first problem I have with this new MNF trio is that you have two hardcore analysts paired with Mike Tirico. It's going to sound like your average football game. Monday Night Football is supposed to be special. Now, it's just going to sound like your average broadcast.

ESPN would have been better off - if they weren't going to go with a Kornheiser type - to put Paul Maguire back in the booth. Maguire made those Sunday Night Football broadcasts because he didn't take himself so seriously, and he was able to get Theismann to lighten up (not an easy thing to do). Gruden won't be able to do that. It's just not his nature.

I have two other questions about Gruden's addition to the booth. What will he add that Jaworski doesn't already bring to the table? There is likely going to be a lot of times when Gruden and Jaworski will wind up repeating their points. That doesn't do anyone at home any good.

And, finally, how long is Gruden going to stick around? He said not so long ago that he plans on returning to coaching (either the NFL or college). His name is going to be attached to every job that comes open. Will he stick with ESPN or jump back in to a coaching job. And, if he wants to be a coach again, is he going to be honest with his analysis, or is he going to try and sugarcoat things as to not offend anyone who might want to hire him.

The bottom line is that I just don't think this new MNF booth is going to work. It won't be the train wreck that Dennis Miller was earlier this decade, but it has all the potential of being as bad as the Al Michaels/Boomer Esiason/Dan Dierdorf days.

Monday Night Football is supposed to be special. ESPN is turning it into just your average broadcast.

The late Roone Arledge and Howard Cosell are probably turning in their graves right now.

I Was Wrong About The Brewers

2009-05-19T05:25:00.002-05:00

I know that Brewers fans might be a little nervous right now. Nervous because of the news that came late yesterday afternoon. Rickie Weeks, who was off to the best start of his big league career, is done for the season because of a wrist injury that he suffered Sunday against St. Louis. But, I'm here to tell you it isn't time to panic.

Yes, Weeks was one of the reasons the Brewers were playing as well as they were playing. But he wasn't the reason. The Brewers were playing well because a lot of things were going right. The starting pitching is racking up quality start after qulity start. The bullpen has been more than solid since Trevor Hoffman got back fron his oblique injury. And the Brewers have been getting timely hits from a number of different players.

Yes, losing Weeks hurts, but there is no reason to think the Brewers can't win without him. They've done it before. they can do it again. And, if the in house replacements aren't up to the task, the Brewers could go out and get someone. Owner Mark Attanasio said right before the season started that the team had the flexibility in their budget to add a player if they needed to. The organization may have to do just that before it's all said and done.

Again, there is no reason to lose your swagger just yet.

That being said, let's rewind back to February 17th. The NBA was fresh off their All-Star Break. Matt Kenseth had just won a rain shortened Daytona 500, and I wrote that I had a lot of questions about the 2009 Brewers. To say that Brewer Nation wasn't appreciative of what I wrote would be an understatement. I still have the emails. The subject lines I saw were along the lines of 'Terrible Article,' and those were only the ones I could talk about in mixed company if you get my drift.

Well, as it turns out, I have to eat a little bit of crow. The Brewers are 24-14 and in first place in the NL Central (leading the Cubs by two games and the Cardinals by three). This, after starting out 4-9. This after fans were ready to jump off the bandwagon less than two weeks into the season.

So, I come to you today with my tail between my legs. I was wr... I was wro... I was wron.. I was wrong. Wrong about a lot of things. Maybe I should just stop, say I was wrong, and then move on. But I know that wouldn't fly. So let's see what I was wrong about, and how off I was.

* First of all I questioned the starting pitching. I wondered if the Brewers had enough of it. Well, it turns out that the Brewers do.

In February, I wasn't ready to say Yovani Gallardo was a Cy Young candidate because he had yet to pitch a full season in the big leagues. He's 4-1 with an ERA of 3.09. He looks every bit the ace a lot of people thought he was going to be.

Jeff Suppan was downright awful in his first few starts, but ever since Ken Macha pushed him back a day in New York, he has been pretty good. His last start (against the Cardinals on Saturday) was the best he's pitched all season (it might have been his best outing as a Brewer). Suppan won't blow anyone away. But up to this point, he's proven to be reliable.

Manny Parra has battled back from an 0-4 start to win his last three starts. Dave Bush has pitched better than his 2-0 record. Braden Looper has been solid if not spectacular.

* I also wondered whether or not holding on to Weeks was the right thing to do, as opposed to going in a different direction. Despite going down with that season ending wrist surgery Sunday, it looks like I have egg on my face over that one, too. yes, I know he's injured, but I certainly didn't think Weeks would have the kind of start that he got off to (.272, 9 HR's, 24 RBI's, 28 Runs). Not only did his offensive game improve, but his defense wasn't too shabby, either. Yes, he still made errors, but he also made plays this year that he hadn't made in the past. Credit Willie Randolph with the turnaround, but also credit Weeks for maturing into a pretty good player. Based on what I saw in the early part of the season, Weeks still has a chance to develop into what the organization thought he would be when they drafted him. I know this. The Brewers will miss having Weeks out there, though they might have enough depth with Craig Counsell and prospects Hernan Iribarren and Alcides Escobar (who will see some action at second base according to Doug Melvin) to get by.

* There also might have been someone (okay, me) who questioned the makeup of the bullpen (outside of Trevor Hoffman). That was before Mark DiFelice made the most of his opportunity. That was before Mitch Stetter made my mancrush on Brian Shouse as the situational lefty out of the 'pen look foolish. I didn't see Todd Coffey becoming the important piece he has become. Carlos Villanueva had been up and down to start the season, but he has settled down quite nicely. The only reliever I turned out to be right about was Jorge Julio.

* I also wondered how strong the Brewers were at third base. Maybe I shouldn't have worried. Bill Hall may not be hitting for average (and he still struggles against righties), but he doesn't look as bad as he did a year ago. Craig Counsell has also played very well when he has gotten into the lineup, and up until Weeks' injury, was making Macha's decision as to who to start at the hot corner fairly difficult. And now, Matt Gamel is up. He hit his first big league homer in last night's 8-4 win to finish the sweep in St. Louis. Sure, he made an error, but with Weeks out and Counsell shifting over to play second, Gamel could get a chance at some meaningful playing time.

* Ultimately, I questioned whether or not it was appropriate to look at the 2009 Brewers and call them a contender. I thought the Cubs (on paper) had a stronger team. But, as I've said many times before they don't play the games on paper. The Cubs are a good team, but they don't seem to be as strong as I'd thought they would be. The Cardinals had a terrific start, but if the series that they just played against the Brewers is any indication, they are going to have a lot of trouble because of the injuries they are fighting through. Cincinnati got off to a nice start, but I am not sure if they can keep it up. They might be a year away.

Bottom line, to me the NL Central looks (as of now) to be another fight between the Brewers and Cubs. So, yes, the Brewers are contenders.

Of course, the love we're all giving this team could change if the Brewers cool off. But Ned Yost isn't managing this team. Ken Macha is. Macha is the calm influence the team lacked for the last two seasons with Yost in the manager's office.

The Brewers won't be able to play .800 ball for the rest of the season. But I don't see them playing as poorly as they did in early April as well.

I'm riding the wave. And admitting that I was wrong when I questioned this team on February 17th.

Very wrong.

A Sick Day Monday

2009-05-17T09:45:00.002-05:00

I know you all came to the site today looking for something a little more interesting than this, but I have been in bed with a sinus infection all weekend ('m not a doctor and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express, but I've had enough sinus infections to know of what I speak) . I'm taking Monday off and hope to be back Tuesday.

Accountability Is Rare These Days

2009-05-14T19:16:00.003-05:00

Three of the bigger sports stories over the last week involved Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield. Ramirez was suspended a week ago by Major League Baseball for fifty games after he failed a drug test (he actually tested positive for a female fertility drug).

Ramirez isn't the first player to fail an MLB drug test. He's not going to be the last either. The response he gave, though, left most fans scratching their heads.

Fans aren't stupid, yet Ramirez is treating them that way. There are very few reasons for any guy to be taking a female fertility drug. One of those reasons would be to mask the use of performance enhancing drugs. Yet, Ramirez issued a statement saying (basically) that the positive test wasn't his fault. His excuse - that he went to a doctor for a medical problem, and that the medication he was prescribed caused the positive test. Ramirez didn't own the mistake that he obviously made.

Dwight Howard of the Magic threw his coach - Stan Van Gundy - under the bus after Orlando's loss to Boston on Tuesday night. Howard said in no uncertain terms that he should have gotten the ball down the stretch. He wasn't wrong about that, as Van Gundy should have found a way to get the ball to his best player in a big spot. However, while Howard's thought process was correct, he should have kept his thoughts about Van Gundy to himself. If he wanted to air his grievances with Van Gundy behind closed doors, that's fine. I have no problem with that. But he also should have come out and said "I didn't get the job done." Kobe would have demanded the ball. Lebron would have demanded the ball. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson would have demanded the ball. None of those players (okay, maybe Kobe) would have thrown their coach under the bus. They would have shouldered some of the responsibility themselves.

Then there's Mayfield, who failed a NASCAR drug test. Mayfield decided to blame a prescription drug he was taking, combined with an over the counter medication.

The one thing all three have in common is that they blamed someone else for their problems. None of them took responsibility. They all passed the buck.

What ever happened to accountability?

Certainly these three athletes aren't the only ones to try and place blame somewhere else. It's happened many times before, and it will happen again. you can make book on that.

It would have been refreshing if even one of them would have just come out and said "I screwed up. My bad."

Had even one of them done so, they might not be taking all the criticism they've been taking over the last week. You see, fans are very, very forgiving. You don't believe me? Try these examples on for size.

Jason Giambi testified that he used performance enhancing drugs. It might not be a stretch to say that Giambi's entire career has been a product of steroids and HGH. Giambi's big league career began in 1995, and for the first three years he wasn't what you would call a power hitter. Then, starting in 2000, he ran off a number of years where he hit between 35 and 45 home runs. Once he was exposed as a steroid user, he came out and apologized (though he has never said what he was apologizing for). The end result of his apology was forgiveness. Giambi hasn't faced the kind of heat that Roger Clemens has faced.

Speaking of Clemens, his friend Andy Pettitte (who misremembers a lot according to Clemens) was exposed as someone who used HGH in the Mitchell Report. Pettitte could have denied the whole thing, but he was a stand up guy about it. He called a news conference and admitted what he did. There aren't many people who are calling Pettitte a cheater these days.

There are other athletes who have made mistakes and owned up to them. Those athletes have gotten second, third, and even fourth chances.

You and I probably make mistakes every day. I don't know about you, but I don't blame anyone else for my mistakes. I own them. If I screw up, I'm the fist one to admit it.

Passing the buck, or blaming someone else doesn't get you anywhere. Admitting a mistake and promising to do better earns you respect.

It's a lesson that Man Ram, Howard, and Mayfield should learn. Quickly.

Click here for today's podcast!

Government In Sports? I'll Pass!

2009-05-13T19:49:00.003-05:00

As I was taping the Time Warner Sports 32 Roundtable in Milwaukee yesterday, the subject of steroids in Major League Baseball came up. That wasn't a surprise, considering how the news of Manny Ramirez' suspension broke late last week. It also wasn't a surprise given Roger Clemens' recent interview on Mike & Mike (ESPN Radio).

What was a surprise was what the host - veteran Milwaukee television anchor Dennis Krause, asked my co-panelist - Craig Coshun, who is the sideline reporter for Brewers and Bucks games on FS Wisconsin. Krause asked whether or not the governement should get involved (based on a recent column by Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star), considering the lack of success baseball has had in curbing the steroid problem. Coshun said he believed that the government should, indeed, intervene. To say I totally disagreed would be an understatement.

I am not against bigger government. I am also not necessarily for a hands off approach. What I am for is common sense.

To understand where I'm coming from, I think I need to tell you that I consider myself a moderate. On social issues, I tend to side with those on the left. On other issues, you can normally find me on the right side of the aisle. I voted for John McCain, but was not upset to see Barack Obama win the election last November. I believe the President has new and bright ideas which will make us all better off in the long run.

That being said, I don't want the government intervening in sports.

The biggest reason is because the government has more pressing issues. The economy is in bad shape right now. In case you missed it yesterday, retail sales were down in the month of April. The Dow took a bit of a tumble as the result of the news. The numbers that came out yesterday indicate that the recession isn't nearing the bottoming out point that some had talked about previously. Jobs are still being lost in many industries at a staggering rate. The bailouts of banks and automakers hasn't been as successful as the Obama Administration would have liked up to this point. The government needs to get the economy moving in the right direction before it can really think about getting its hands dirty with professional sports.

The last time I checked this country was also involved in a couple of wars. There's the continuing effort in Iraq, which seems to be going better after the surge. And then there's Afghanistan - which is a classic case of taking your eye off the ball. While everyone was concerned with Iraq, things took a turn for the worse in Afghanistan. The Taliban has seemingly made a comeback, and they are making gains in Pakistan as well.

There are things in life called priorities. The economy and two wars seem more important to me than the continued use of performance enhancing drugs in pro sports. The economy and two wars are also more important to me than the issue of a playoff in College Football. In case you missed it, Congress is attempting to get involved in that as well.

Do steroids and the use of other performance enhancing drugs bother me? Absolutely. Does the lack of a true playoff in College Football bother me? You bet it does. Does the government have a right to get involved? Maybe, but now isn't the time.

And let's say the do get involved. Let's just say that the government sinks their teeth into the steroid problem. Is it really going to change anything? I don't think so.

First of all - and we'll keep it in baseball - Major League Baseball has strengthened their steroids policy to the point that most seem happy with the rules that have been instituted. Is it working? Well, it did it's job in the Ramirez case. He got caught and was suspended for fifty games. Bring up Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens all you want, but the steroid use we know about came before MLB instituted their policy. On top of that, since true testing began in 2005, those two haven't been caught with anything illegal in their system.

In fact, the number of players caught over the last couple of years has gone down from where it was a few years ago. Does that mean the sport is clean? No, not by a long shot. MLB still doesn't test for Human Growth Hormone (and the government isn't going to catch up to science because there is no accepted test for HGH right now). I would bet my last dollar that there are plenty of players using HGH. I would also bet that there are newer drugs - more synthetic steroids - that have been invented since the advent of the cream and the clear that players are using. The dug makers, dealers, and players are always going to be a step ahead of the testers. A good example is the cream and the clear, which was being used for years before anyone in a position of authority figured it out.

It's a romantic idea, this thought of the government getting involved in pro sports. But I for one don't see it having a tremendous affect. Athletes will still do anything they can to gain an advantage because there is too much money on the line. Fans have become de-sensitized to the whole thing.

But most importantly, I want my tax dollars going to more pressing issues. I want our men and women overseas to come home soon, and come home in one piece. Selfishly, I want to see this economy turned around. You see, I, like many of you, have been affected by the recession. I've been out of work for almost seven months. The sooner this economy gets turned around, the sooner I might be able to get my life and career back on track.

Again, it's a romantic thought. But I think there are bigger fish to fry.

Click here for today's podcast!

It's All About Roger

2009-05-12T17:24:00.003-05:00

So, I'm on my elliptical machine yesterday morning. I started channel surfing, and listened to the interview Roger Clemens gave to ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike. It was the first interview - in depth interview - that Clemens had given in about a year. The interview also took place on the very same day that the book "American Icon" came out. To say the book wasn't flattering to Clemens would be an understatement.

So here was Clemens, on the air with a national radio show, doing his best imitation of a politician. He had his talking points - ones probably given to him by his new PR people - and he did his best to stick to them. Despite what I thought was a good effort by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, there was nothing - nothing at all - earth shattering that was said. Greenberg and Golic asked most of the questions that needed to be asked. Clemens was deft enough to always go back to his talking points. The Mikes couldn't really get anything new out of him - though again, they did a good job of asking the right questions. Certainly a better job that Peter Gammons did when he sat down with Alex Rodriguez.

Why would Clemens talk now? Why would he talk when others have not?

The answer is pretty simple. Clemens wants to win the media over. He wants to get the writers on his side. He wants the TV and radio people on his side as well.

It's not as if he has to win the fans over at this point. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The fans have long ago gotten over steroid use in big league baseball. The sport was riddled with performance enhancing drugs (and in some ways probably still is). Fans might have been shocked at first, but there is no outrage anymore.

There's no outrage because of the amount of people that were doing steroids and other drugs like HGH. Fans just figure that everyone (in one way or another) is dirty. Once they came to that realization, it then came down to whether or not players - clean or dirty - could help their team win. If they did, hey - it was for the greater good of winning.

Fans have continued to show their support for this game and its players by going out to the park in droves and buying all the pieces of clothing with the logos on it. Again, steroidd use in Major League Baseball might have shocked fans at first, but the shock is gone.

Clemens knows this. He also knows that it is the media that has been banging the drum against him for the better part of a year now. And it's the media will ultimately pass judgment on Clemens. It's the writers that have the votes for the Hall of Fame. Clemens probably figures if he can win the hearts and minds of the writers, then he can go to Cooperstown. Which is all it's about for him right now.

Clemens thinks he has the numbers for the Hall of Fame (and he does, frankly). He also knows that getting into the Hall of Fame would benefit him financially. If an athlete can sign autographs with "Hall of Famer" included, he will earn more money than he could if he wasn't a Hall of Famer.

Certainly, Clemens has seen how the silence of some of his peers has backfired against them. Mark McGwire has become a hermit. He has steadfastly refused to address his suspected (but never proven) steroid use. He also hasn't gotten into the Hall of Fame as of yet. He might never get in, considering the amount of votes he has gotten over the last three years.

Rafael Palmeiro is another player who hasn't been heard from since his positive steroid test four years ago. He made his accusation against Miguel Tejada, and then disappeared. Palmeiro's numbers are certainly Hall worthy, but he's not going to get in. Part of the reason for that is his silence.

Barry Bonds has kept quiet as well. I doubt he will ever do interviews like Clemens did yesterday. But, the voters (media) will have a tougher time keeping him out of Cooperstown because of his numbers. Not only because of all the home runs that he's hit. But, the numbers he put up before he (allegedly) started using performance enhancing drugs in 1998 are Hall worthy as well. Bonds, though, might be the exception, rather than the rule.

My gut tells me we're not done hearing from Clemens. I think he'll do a bunch of interviews when he gets back from the vacation that he referenced on Mike & Mike yesterday. You'll hear him pop up on FOX Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio. You'll see him on ESPN, and probably on FOX News Channel as well.

Keep in mind that he's doing it for one reason and one reason only. To convert the critics (media). To get their support for his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Again, it's all about Roger.

Yankees Pain Is My Gain

2009-05-12T05:04:00.002-05:00

Today is May 12th. It's only three days away from May 15th (I know, real genius, right?) - the date that I start looking at the MLB standings and taking them seriously. But, I decided to take an early peak anyway (what's three days between friends?).

So, as I cruised the internet looking for Yahoo! Sports and their MLB standings page (who reads the paper anymore?), I saw that the New York Yankees were 15-18. Not a horrible record, but certainly not what they had in mind when they spent roughly the GDP of three countries ($423.5M) to sign three players - CC Sabathia (no periods, please) A.J. Burnett (please add the periods), and Mark Teixeira (no periods necessary).

Then I noticed that the Yankees were in third place in the AL East, five and a half games behind the Toronto Blue Jays (against whom they start a three game series tonight). My smile was starting to get bigger.

Then I decided to take a look at some individual numbers. Teixeira, the 180 Million Dollar Man, is currently hitting .198 with seven homers and seventeen RBI's. Sabathia, a notoriously slow starter (who probably can't afford his normal slow start considering the $161M he signed for), is 2-3 with an ERA of 3.94 (those are respectable numbers but not what the Yankees thought they'd get for their money). Burnett, who signed for $82.5M is 2-0, but his ERA is an ugly 5.26. My smile was getting wider by the second.

After that, I thought about the pictures I've seen of Yankee Stadium. You know, the new palace built to replace The House That Ruth Built. I saw lots of empty seats in those pictures. Sure, the 'cheap' seats are sold out, but when you watch on television and see the seats closest to the action empty, you have to chuckle. Actually, I was laughing hysterically. My smile was so wide that Joan Rivers tapped me on the shoulder and asked how many facelifts I'd had.

And, I haven't even mentioned the exploits of one Alex Rodriguez!

Here's the bottom line. I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that the Yankees are struggling. And, I think most of you are, too.

First of all, the Yankees are an organization that is pretty easy to dislike (the kind work of course). They are the Dallas Cowboys of Major League Baseball. They are the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. They are the Jeff Gordon of NASCAR. They have been so good - they've had so much success (with their 26 World Series titles) - that you can't help but kick 'em while they are down.

The Yankees have been on top for so long that their struggles make me happy. It's like when the Bulls went from being six-time NBA champions to being worse than the Los Angeles Clippers. It's like when the Dallas Cowboys went from being three-time Super Bowl champs in the 1990's to having Quincy Carter at quarterback and Dave Campo as head coach.

It's pile on time, and that's what I'm doing (admittedly knowing that I may not be able to in a month or so).

Look, I have nothing against the three free agents they signed to big money contracts this winter. All three made business deals. All three will now be able to take care of their families for a very long time. Which one of us wouldn't have taken the money? I would have, and I'm pretty sure most of you would have, too.

I don't know Teixeira or Burnett. I've never talked to them. I've never covered their previous teams. I do know Sabathia (a little bit). He was always good to me whenever I talked to him - whether it was in the locker room or on the radio. The bottom line is if someone is stupid enough to throw that kind of money around, you have to take it - even if it isn't necessarily where you want to be.

My problem is with the organization itself. When they were making their run in the 1990's (after struggling mightily in the 1980's I might add), they did it primarily with home grown talent. Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera - they were the backbone of those title teams, and they were all developed in the Yankee minor league system. Sure, the Yankees threw some seasoned veterans from other teams into the mix, but they weren't prima dona types like A-Rod. They were guys like Paul O'Neill and Scott Brosius - grinders who didn't have success right off the bat.

But something changed. The organization was embarrassed when they lost the 2001 World Series to Arizona in seven games. They decided they would never lose again. They would do everything in their power to buy championships. That's when you saw guys like Jason Giambi, A-Rod, Carl Pavano, Johnny Damon, and others come to New York for big money (admittedly Mike Mussina did as well, but there is no way you could ever consider him a prima dona).

The Yankees thought they could buy their world championships. Well, they are still looking for World Series #27. They've been close, but Florida beat them in the World Series in 2003. Boston came back from being on death's door to beat them in the 2004 ALCS. They haven't been that close in five years. But, they still think that throwing their money around is the best way to win in big league baseball.

In the meantime, teams like the Brewers, who don't have the resources the Yankees do, have to go about their business differently. Instead of throwing money around, they have to develop a winning tradition from the ground up. Teams like the Yankees look down on teams like the Brewers. So, when the Yankees fail to accomplish their stated goals, it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

The Yankee fans need to be taught a lesson as well. Around here, Cub fans are not regarded very highly (I am being kind). But they are tame compared to Yankee fans. They don't think that winning the World Series is their birthright. Yankee fans do. Sure, it's fun to watch when Cub fans are dealt blow after blow after blow (Steve Bartman, the 2007 NLDS, and the 2008 NLDS). But, to me at least, it's a hell of a lot better to watch Yankee fans talk trash from December through September, only to have to see them eat crow in October.

Again, I know I might not get to do this all season. My bet is the Yankees, one way or another, will right the ship and start winning. But right now they are 15-18. They are in third place in the AL East. They are five and a half games behind Toronto (and almost no one had Toronto starting out like this).

So, yes, I'm taking pleasure in watching this Yankee team struggle this year.

And I imagine most of you are as well.

Click here for today's podcast!

The Weekend That Was

2009-05-11T05:36:00.002-05:00

As always, it was a busy weekend. In case you missed it, here are the hilites.

Celts Win; Lakers Lose: Let's start with Boston. He's not Kevin Garnett. Glenn Davis (aka Big Baby) makes fun of the comparisons with The Big Ticket, calling himself The Ticket Stub. But he was a PTP'er (sorry Dick Vitale) yesterday when his buzzer beater gave the Celtics a 95-94 win over Orlando to tie their series at two games apiece.

If you believed the so-called experts, the Celtics had no chance against the Magic and Dwight Howard. They were old. The Bulls had just pushed them to the seven game limit. But what the experts didn't take into account is the heart that the Celtics obviously have.

I'm still nervous about their chances against Orlando. But I'm not going to flip flop and pick against them now. They were my pick to win The Eastern Conference when the playoffs started. They remain my pick right now. They are undermanned, but they have heart. Something that has been helping them out so far. Something that could help them as we continue down the road to the finals (and yes, even against Cleveland).

As far as the Lakers go, the Rockets - minus Yao Ming - gave The Lake Show a beatdown yesterday afternoon. That series is tied at two games apiece as well.

Give it up to Aaron Brooks. Give it up to Rick Adelman, who figured out a way to keep this team motivated despite them not having Yao and Tracy McGrady.

That being said, Houston hasn't done anything yet. They beat the Lakers twice, and that is an accomplishment. However, you don't move on by winning two games. You move on by winning four games.

The Rockets were running on adrenaline. I doubt they'll be able to keep it going for much longer given the injuries they have suffered. it's a nice story right now, but I don't see it having a good ending.

The NBA Comes Clean: There are a lot of people who believe in the NBA Conspiracy Theory. You know what that theory is. That the league wants certain teams from certain markets with certain superstars to do well. To win, in fact. Those people are having a field day following Saturday night's game between Dallas and Denver.

In case you missed it, Antoine Wright of the Mavericks (who were holding the lead at the time), thought he had a foul to give and basically tried to assault Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets. I mean you could have seen that as a foul from anywhere. The only problem is, the refs didn't see it (or didn't want to). Anthony wriggled free, hit the trifecta to give Denver a one point win and a 3-0 lead in the series.

The story doesn't end there, though. Sure, you had the expected complaining from the Dallas locker room (though Mark Cuban managed to keep his cool). But, the NBA also weighed in, saying the refs screwed up - that Wright should have been whistled for the foul.

It's nice that the NBA is admitting its mistake. However, it doesn't do anything for the Mavs or their fans. They don't get those last few seconds back. They still lost the game. They are still in a 3-0 hole.

If the NBA was truly in the business of trying to convince a suspicious public that things are on the up and up, then my remedy is simple. Declare the game suspended with Dallas up (as they were before the Anthony three). Then play the last few seconds (before the start of game four). That's the only way (in my mind) to write the wrong.

It's not a practical solution, and I know it will never happen. But if the NBA wants everyone to believe in and support their product (especially in this economy), then, as Oscar Rodgers said on SNL - "FIX IT!"

Tiger Struggles Again: After the third round at the TPC Saturday, many of the 'experts' were singing a familiar song. "Here Comes Tiger" was all you read and heard on Saturday night and Sunday, before the final round at Sawgrass got underway. But, as has been the case the last few weeks, Tiger's swing betrayed him, and he failed to make the charge up the leaderboard that many thought he would.

This has led to the critics having a field day. it's also led to some honest criticism about what's gone wrong (if top ten finishes and a win are 'wrong') with Tiger's game.

Is there something wrong with Woods' game? Look, I'm not a golf savant, but it stands to reason that after eight months of inactivity, there is going to be some things that aren't perfect. It stands to reason that Tiger's swing probably isn't what it was when he gutted out a win over Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open last June. I'm not sure how it could be, considering the fact he was sidelined after having major reconstructive knee surgery.

The fact that Woods has had top ten finishes this year is a bonus. The fact that he even won a tournament has to be considered amazing. He will get the swing fixed (remember, the bulk of his rehab work - when it game to golf - was on his short game). It's going to take time. The man is 33 years old. despite how he's portrayed by the media (i.e. The Worldwide Leader), he is human.

He might struggle for the rest of the season. He also might win a major. And if he does, while he's still not nearly at the top of his game, then I hope the critics give him the credit he'll deserve.

I admit I'm a Tiger fan. I also admit I get emotional when it comes to sports. I can be quick to take someone to task. But I'm not stupid either. The best golfer in the world blew out his knee last year. He wasn't going to come back and pick up where he left off. If you expected him to, you were going to be wrong.

A Legend Leaves: Chuck Daly, the former coach of the Detroit Pistons, passed away Saturday morning at the age of 78 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Even though he coached the Bad Boy teams in Detroit, there might not have been a nicer guy around the league. Daly never big timed anyone. He knew who he was and what he had done. He just didn't make himself out to be bigger than anyone else. As a member of the media, he was a refreshing guy to cover. He was genuine, which is a quality a lot of people in the sports world lack.

I've been thinking about what Daly did in his career. I've been trying to figure out (in my mind) what his biggest accomplishment was. Some people say it was coaching The Dream Team to gold in 1992. I say it was leading the Pistons to titles in 1989 and 1990.

No offense, but a lot of people could have coached The Dream Team to a gold medal. But, it took someone special to coach those Pistons teams to championships. First of all, they had to get by Larry Bird's Celtics and Michael Jordan's Bulls just to get to the Finals. Then they had to get by a Magic Johnson led Lakers squad. They had to beat an underrated Portland team, too.

Daly also has to manage some pretty diverse personalities. Bill Laimbeer was never Mr. Warm and Fuzzy. Dennis Rodman spent a lot of time on his own planet. Then there was Isiah Thomas, John Salley, Joe Dumars, and Vinny Johnson. Daly got them all to work together, which wasn't an easy thing to do.

Click here for today's podcast!

One Down; Two To Go

2009-05-09T09:01:00.002-05:00

Ryan Braun took care of business at Miller Park last night. So, the Brewers take game one of their weekend set with the Cubs and move closer to the Cardinals in the NL Central standings.

I can't wait for the second game tonight - Yovani Gallardo v. Ryan Dempster should be cool. I'll be in the press box tonight and tomorrow!

On a sad note, my sympathies to the family of Chuck Daly. He was a great coach (obviously), and a great man as well. Coach Daly was always a pleasure to deal with. He'll be missed.

The Anti-Favres

2009-05-07T14:54:00.003-05:00

There's been a lot of talk about the 'R' word this week. Retirement. There's a certain NFL quarterback who was playing with the idea of coming out of retirement.. again. A lot of people - including me - have weighed in. There has been a lot of talk as to whether or not Brett Favre should have returned this. There had been some who went as far as to say they'd turn back on Favre if he joined one of Green Bay's biggest rivals. It's been Favre this and Favre that all week long.

Rather than talk about Brett again, what I'd like to do today is focus on athletes who left their sport too soon. Men (and women) who retired before they either hung around too lung or were forced out.

Here's my list of ten athletes who shocked us be seemingly retiring before they were done. This list is in no particular order.

* Barry Sanders: In case you forgot, this summer will mark ten years since the former Lions great announced his retirement at the age of thirty. There was no teary eyed news conference. Just a fax to Sanders' hometown newspaper. Sanders was on pace to break the record for most rushing yards all time but left in part due to what he saw as the incompetent way his team was being run.

Rumors that Sanders would come out of retirement lingered for years, but he never did come back.

* Jim Brown: The great running back of the Cleveland Browns left the NFL in the summer of 1966 to pursue a career as an actor (and activist). I never saw him play (I was born in 1971), but everyone I know that did said he could have played for about five more years.

*Bjorn Borg: I'm going to admit something here. I used to watch tennis religiously. I covered the U.S. Open in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 (one of my favorite events to cover). I grew up in the middle of the Jimmy Connors-John McEnroe-Bjorn Borg Era. Borg was seemingly unbeatable until the early eighties. Two years after winning his last major (the 1981 French Open), Borg retired - at the age of twenty-six. His retirement stunned the tennis world. No one could believe Borg would walk away when he wasn't so far removed from being at the top of his game.

Borg eventually attempted a comeback in the early 1990's, but he could never recapture what he had in the late 70's and early 80's.

If you want to know when the popularity of tennis (specifically men's tennis) really began, it was when Borg and McEnroe retired. they not only had game. they had personality. Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, and Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi (who was more style than personality) could never match up.

* Phil Simms: The CBS analyst had a good (if not great) career that started in 1979 and ended after the 1993 season. Simms struggled to make it in his early career, and didn't really break through until 1984. Once he did break through, he became one of the most beloved players in New York Giants history.

Simms led the Giants to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance in the '93 season. he had shoulder surgery after the season ended, and was told he would be back at full strength. The Giants thought he was done, though - and released him (a move that didn't sit well with Giants fans). Most observers felt Simms could have continued on for a few more years, but he decided to retire rather than play anywhere else.

* Justine Henin: She wasn't Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, or Monica Seles, but she dominated women's tennis for a few years. She didn't have the personality of either Williams sister. She didn't seem to have many interests outside of tennis (unlike Martina Hingis). She didn't necessarily have the fans on her side the way Jennifer Capriati did when she came back from personal problems. All she did was play tennis. All she did was win.

Then, a year ago, at the age of 25 and ranked #1 in the world at the time, she just got up and walked away.

* John Elway: I know he was 38 years old when he left (and the Broncos still haven't replaced him. But, I always got the feeling that he had a couple of more good years left in him. To Elway's credit, he left on top of the football world, having won back to back Super Bowls. But, he also left fans wanting more. To me, that screams of a guy leaving too soon.

* Rocky Marciano: The former heavyweight champ retired in 1956 (after defending his title against Archie Moore) with a 49-0 record. He is the one boxer that retired and stayed retired.

* Sandy Koufax: The legendary former Dodger retired in 1966 - after posting 27 wins! His retirement stunned the baseball world. Koufax, though, was suffering from arthritis, and was in pain every time he went out to pitch. He might have been able to continue, but no one knows if he would have been as effective as he'd been in the past

* Jackie Robinson: Yes, he was 37 when he left baseball. But the Giants thought he had more left in the tank and traded for him after the 1956 season. The trade was never completed, as Robinson walked away to work in the private sector. He died in 1972, just sixteen years later.

* Robert Smith: The former Vikings running back was in his prime when he walked away after the 2000 season. He said he was retiring to pursue a career in medicine. He has done a lot of television work since he left the league, and was regarded as a guy who walked to the beat of his own drummer.

There's my list. Feel free to comment, email me at saundersonsports@yahoo.com, or add to the list.

Click here for today's podcast!

Et Tu, Manny?

2009-05-07T12:34:00.004-05:00

Another huge name has been linked to performance enhancing drugs. Manny Ramirez (Man Ram or Man-Roid) has been suspended fifty games for violating MLB's drug policy.

My reaction isn't one of shock. After A-Rod, how could it be?

I don't buy Ramirez' excuse either. Again, after A-Rod, how could I?

I'll have more in my podcast tomorrow.

Another TV Appearance

2009-05-07T06:56:00.004-05:00

I got the call again yesterday. For those of you that just can't get enough of me I will be on the Time Warner Sports 32 Roundtable next Wednesday and Thursday. Dennis Krause will host - as usual. FS Wisconsin's Craig Coshun will be my co-panelist. You can expect a lot of Brewers talk, with NBA Playoffs, Bucks, and Brett Favre thrown in!

The Side Of The Favre Story That Isn't Being Talked About

2009-05-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

The Brett Favre Comeback Part II (as the movie will be titled) is close. The former Packer and Jet is going to meet with Vikings coach Brad Childress. I love how ESPN is making it seem that favre has to convince the Vikes that he's coming back for the right reasons. Nothing could be further from the truth. My gut tells me the meeting is more to dot the i's and cross the t's. Favre knows the Vikings braintrust (Childress and Offensive Co-ordiantor Darrel Bevell - who worked with Favre in Green Bay as his QB Coach/Gopher). He knows the team - having played against them for years. He knows the system they run (Childress comes from the Andy Reid school and Reid used to work with Favre in Green Bay once upon a time).There isn't much mystery here.

Now, I will admit something. I have been guilty as much as anyone else of talking about this and coming down on Favre for what he's doing. There is another side to the story, believe it or not. One that really hasn't been talked about yet. One that deserves to be.

It's the Minnesota side of the story. Why would they make a move like this? Does it make them a Super Bowl contender? Why would they cozy up to someone (Favre) who has tormented them for years?

The Vikings are exploring the Favre possibility for a number of reasons. The simple reason is that their quarterbacks aren't all that great. Tarvaris Jackson has a lot of talent, but he hasn't turned that talent into production. The window of time in which a quarterback has to develop in the NFL is a lot shorter than it used to be. Jackson has been at it now for three years. The Vikings are obviously eager to move on.

That's why they made the trade for Sage Rosenfels. Rosenfels has had his moments. But, he is nothing more than a game manager. He won't lose any games for you, but he won't win any for you either. He's better suited for the backup role which he has filled for most of his career.

But the Vikings are exploring the Favre possibility for another reason. They need to play catch-up in the division. The Bears are seemingly stronger now that they've picked up Jay Cutler. The Packers should be better than they were last year considering they are implementing a new, more aggressive defense. Green Bay will also get key contributors back from injury (Nick Barnett, Cullen Jenkins, Atari Bigby). They should be much better than the 6-10 record they put up last year. The Lions are starting over, but fans are excited in Detroit now that Matt Millen is gone and Matt Stafford is in as the latest savior of this woebegone franchise.

The Vikings are getting left in everyone else's dust. Their fan base is very, very fickle. Despite their success, they don't always sell the Metrodome out. That means games are blacked out in the Minnesota area. Signing Favre would take care of that. Seats would be sold. Games will be viewed.

Signing Favre would also immediately make Minnesota one of the favorites to go to the Super Bowl. Minnesota has some of the ingredients of a contender. Favre makes them a lot better. The Vikes already have a good defense. Sure, they have weaknesses in the secondary, but a high octane offense would minimize that weakness.

Minnesota already has a great running game with Adrian Peterson. They have competent receivers in Bernard Berrian, Bobby Wade and Visanthe Shiancoe. Adding Favre to that mix makes those receivers more dangerous. Favre has shown that he can elevate the games of his wdeouts. I have no doubt he'll be able to do it again. Berrian's deep speed would mix well with Favre. The Vikings will be able to get more out of him with Favre under center than they would with either Jackson or Rosenfels. Shiancoe is a nice security blanket as a tight end, and Favre loves to throw to his tight end. Always has.

Bringing in Favre, who has beaten Minnesota more time than Vikes fans would care to count, strikes at the heart of their biggest rivals. Favre reportedly has told friends he hates Green Bay. Not dislike. Hate. There's an old saying - "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." As long as Ted Thompson is the GM of the Packers, Favre will never reconcile with Green Bay. Those two just don't like each other, plain and simple.They never have, and they never will. Favre also doesn't have a whole lot of love for Packers coach Mike McCarthy, even though McCarthy helped Favre have one of his best seasons in 2007. Favre would love nothing more than to be a thorn in the side of the two people he feels ran him out of Green Bay. The Vikings want to put the final nail in the coffin of their most hated rivals.

They might not be getting 'married' for the right reasons, but it is a marriage that I think will work.

And it is the side of the story in this soap opera that isn't getting the attention it deserves.

Clearing Something Up

2009-05-05T19:46:00.005-05:00

It's been six months (okay, almost seven, but who's counting) since I was laid off by WSSP. I think it's time I set the record straight on what happened.

Normally, I wouldn't have done this. But a couple of things have led me to this point.

One - I still get emails wondering where I've been (even though my layoff was covered by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on two occasions).

Two - there seems to be a misconception about why I'm not at 'SSP anymore. There are people who seem to take pleasure in what happened to me because they disagree with my opinions. Those people (who never sign their real names by the way) love sending me emails telling me they're glad 1250 "took out the garbage."

That misconception (the one that says I got let go because of performance) is just not true. That was not the case by any stretch. I've been let go by radio stations before (and I guarantee I'll get let go again - it's the nature of the business). What I never had happen to me was the way I was let go by 1250. I had never been fired and praised at the same time.

The reason I got let go is that WSSP's parent company (like the other major broadcasting companies) was hit hard by the recession. Entercom Communications let go of about one-hundred people the day they laid me off (though layoff is really a bad way to describe it since none of us have gotten our jobs back). The layoffs came exactly one day after Entercom's CEO announced they would no longer match contributions to their 401K funds.

My firing had everything to do with the bad economy. It had nothing to do with performance (and the numbers show I had a pretty big impact in the six weeks I had been doing middays; certainly they were very good in the two years I co-hosted afternoon drive).

Let me also clear up another misconception. I was not let go because of any argument I might have had with my former PM Drive co-host, Gary Ellerson. Did we get into it from time to time? Absolutely. Anyone who does a team show is going to have arguments with their co-host. It's pretty simple. You aren't going to see eye to eye with the people you share the microphone with all the time. In my case, I spent more time with Gary than I did with my wife. He spent more time with me than he did with his wife and kids. We both wanted to do great shows. We both wanted to succeed in the ratings. Sometimes, we had different opinions about how to do that. Sometimes we had arguments. Big deal. Who doesn't fight with their brother? That's how I looked at Gary and I know that's how he looked at me.

Is it hard not being on the air? You bet it is. You have to understand. Radio is all I've done since college. I still look at the headlines every day and think of the ways I'd handle those headlines and stories on the air. But, I'm not going to complain about the hand I've been dealt.

Why? Well, first of all, complaining doesn't do anyone any good. it isn't going to change the situation. I'm still out of a job. Moaning and groaning about it isn't going to result in my getting another gig.

Secondly, there isn't anyone to blame for what happened to me. Just like former FOX Sports Radio host Ben Maller has no one to blame. The same could be said for Dan McNeil (formerly of ESPN 1000 in Chicago). I could list dozens of names - just in the Sports Radio format. We were all the victims of circumstance. The economy went into the tank. It's still there. We didn't cause the recession (if you want to call it a depression go ahead, by the way). We were (okay, are) the victims of the recession.

The thing about down economies is they don't last forever. It goes in cycles. Things will get better. Will the economy rebound as strongly as it did after the recession in the early 90's? Will it rebound as strongly as it did after the recession earlier this decade? That I can't tell you. I'm not an expert on the economy. I'll leave that to the experts.

All I can do is hope that things get better. And once they do I think we'll all look back on this period of time and breathe a sigh of relief that it is over.

Until then, complaining is just counter productive. So, I do my blog, do my podcast, and keep knocking on doors, hoping (knowing actually) that eventually someone in this business is going to let me in.

I've worked with guys in this business who've been let go and complained about it. Complained about it long, hard, and loud. It didn't get them anywhere, and it didn't help them get a new (or better) job.

I'm also not going to point to what the ratings were when I left and what they are now. Anyone can look at the numbers (and believe me they have) and come to their own conclusion as to why the numbers are what they are now as opposed to what they were six months ago.

But doing that isn't going to do any good either. Ratings - like the economy - are cyclical. What they are now will probably change in six months. So, how much can you really read into them?

It's important to remember that I left WSSP on good terms. I still talk to Doug Russell regularly - we've known each other for over ten years. I still keep in touch with Steve Fifer, Gary Ellerson, some of the sales guys, and the station's GM - Alan Kirshbom. I wish them nothing but success. Nothing that happened was their fault. Nothing that happened was my fault. It just happened.

In the meantime, I'll keep doing what I'm doing until that next opportunity comes. One of the benefits of my 'time off' (and believe me this isn't a vacation) is that I've gotten the chance to listen to a lot of sports radio over the last six months. Some of it has been good. Some of it hasn't. It's actually been educational. There are things that I've learned over the last six months that I'm going to put into practice when I get that next job.

For instance, I'm not going to rely on phones as much as I did before. I've come to the conclusion (better late than never) that calls can be a crutch. Just because the lines are full every day doesn't mean the show is any good, especially if the same people are calling you every day. Jim Rome says it best (though it is very harsh) - "More of me and less of you is better for the show." I'll still take calls (obviously) but I now realize that Joe in the car isn't listening for what John on the phone has to say. Joe is more interested in what the host has to say.

I've also learned that while benchmarks are good they can be a crutch as well. Just because something works doesn't mean you have to do it every week. I'm going to ask myself if the benchmark is really the best way to fill the segment before I do it. I'm going to challenge myself to come up with something better. Doing a benchmark segment once a week can be good, but it also can get old very quickly. Once a month makes the benchmark more of an event. It makes the benchmark more special. Doing it once a week can become old hat (and it might actually be lazy).

Another thing I'll do from here on out is have more topics ready to go. Not that I'll use everything I have prepared. But, it will allow me to be a little less structured. Sometimes hosts go with topics for two segments when it's clear the topic loses steam after one. Sticking with something too long can force the listener to tune out.

I could go on and on, but I know you don't have all day. And I don't want to get too far away from what my goal was. That goal was simply (and for the first time I might add) to get my side of what happened to me out there.

I hope I've cleared everything up. If I haven't, email me at saundersonsports@yahoo.com and feel free to ask me anything you want. I've got nothing to hide.

Click here for today's podcast!

I Can't Handle Another Summer Of Brett

2009-05-05T04:51:00.002-05:00

While the newest Green Bay Packers - B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews were taking their first snaps in Green and Gold, one of the oldest Packers was athis Mississippi compound, probably contemplating his next move. To come back, or not to come back is the question racing through the mind of thirty-nine year old quarterback Brett Favre.

In case you missed it, and these days it's pretty tough to (because ESPN reports it everytime Brett takes a breath), the Jets released Favre from his contract last week. With the addition of Mark Sanchez, they added a new face to the franchise, and decided they didn't want to go through what the Packers went through last season. They also felt that Favre was sincere (this time) when he announced his retirement at the end of last season, and thought he wouldn't resurface somewhere else.

But, as soon as his release was official, the speculation began. You see, now that the Jets have released him, Brett can go and play for whoever he wants to play for. That would include Minnesota, where he wanted to play for last season. When the Packers traded him to the Jets they put a poison pill into the trade penalizing the Jets if New York turned around and traded him to the Vikings. That poison pill is now null and void.

The speculation kept on going throughout the weekend (despite denials by Brett and agent James 'Bus' Cook that he was coming back). Vikes coach Brad Childress said he and his staff would discuss Favre (as they discuss "everything"). A Minneapolis columnist reported that Favre hired a personal trainer (why would he need one if he wasn't thinking about playing?).

Everyone has an opinion on what Brett's going to do. I think he's going to come back. But, that's not what we're here to talk about today. Nope, what I want to know is when this roller coaster ride that Brett has put us all on is going to come to a stop.

I'm probably in the minority here. And I probably will get a lot of email saying that I'm a Brett-Basher, yada yada yada. But, I have tired of Brett's act. I have tired of the news conferences/conference calls announcing his retirement, only to watch him change his mind months later.

Here's the bottom line. The man was a great quarterback. He is still an effective quarterback. On the field has never been the problem. Off the field it's been a different story. I don't know if his problem is that he can't make up his mind. But, these last two seasons haven't been the first time Brett's played the game with us, right?

Maybe it's not his fault. Maybe the Packers and Jets should have known better. Maybe they shouldn't have asked Brett for an answer early on in the off-season (even though it would be difficult to conduct said off-season without knowing if the quarterback had plans to play). But, my thinking is this. Knowing how easily Favre could change his mind, maybe showing more patience with him would have been the prudent thing to do. I didn't feel that way last year, but with hindsight being 20/20, showing Favre more patience probably would have saved a lot of heartache.

When I say that I've tired of Brett's act, I am not talking about his on the field stuff. I'm talking about his off the field stuff. If the man wants to play (and is physically able to), then he should be allowed to continue his career. I was one of the few that wouldn't have had a problem with him going to Minnesota last year.

Which leads to the reason - the true reason - that I feel the way I do right now. I don't want to go through last summer again. I just don't. I watched a fan base that I have always considered to be the best in the NFL become fractured. Split right down the middle. It was no longer about the uniform, the logo, or the colors. It became about the player. Fans either were with Brett or with the team. I had never seen anything like that happen to a fan base in sports before. I doubt I'll ever see anything like that happen again.

It might not have sounded that way on the radio (and I was accused of fanning the flames because we talked about it every day), but I was tired of talking about Favre-gate two weeks before he was finally traded to the Jets. I wasn't the only radio guy that was tired of it, but I might be the only one to admit it in a public forum. I would go in to work and wonder (out loud) if we really had to continue to address it. But, as each new detail leaked out of either Green Bay, Mississippi, or New York, there was something else that had to be talked about. In the radio business, there's a saying. It's called 'Feed the Beast.'. There was a demand for Favre related talk, and we gave it to the public. But make no mistake. The Favre talk became (for me at least) tedious and repetitive. It overshadowed other things that deserved more attention (like the Brewers).

That's why I am so tired of Brett's act. If he wants to play, then fine - play. I don't care where he plays. I'm not even sure I care how he plays anymore. I just don't want to go through what I went through last summer again. I may not be on the radio right now, but I blog Monday thru Friday. I podcast Monday through Friday. I don't know that I can handle another summer like last summer. I don't know if fans can handle another summer like last summer.

That's why I just want Brett to come out and say soemthing definitive. No more of this 'at this time' stuff. Either say you're retired 100% or that you're coming back. Don't drag it out again.

None of us can handle it.

Click here for today's podcast!

The Weekend That Was

2009-05-03T18:07:00.004-05:00

This was one of the busiest weekends we've had in sports. I'll do my best to recap it for you...

Celtics Move On: It wasn't the blowout I expected (and hoped for I might add). But, the Boston Celtics were pushed to the brink by the Bulls and survived to open a second round series against the Orlando Magic.

I will give the Bulls a lot of credit. They got further than I thought they would. Maybe GM John Paxson had a real plan in place when he made his mid-season makeover in Chicago. But I also think the makeover will be wasted if they fail to bring back Ben Gordon next season.

Gordon is a pure scorer, and the Celtics had a lot of trouble containing him. As good as Derek Rose is. As good as John Salmons can be. With all the talent Chicago has compiled, they need Gordon. He provides instant offense for them. But, unlike Vinnie Johnson, the former Piston from the 80's and 90's that was nicknamed 'The Microwave,' Gordon doesn't just impact the game in four or five minute stretches. Gordon can impact a game for much longer periods of time. The Bulls wouldn't be the same without him. They need to find a way to keep him in Chicago.

As for the Celtics, well, Boston was my pick to win the Eastern Conference before the playoffs started. I'm stubborn and will stick with that pick. But I won't like - Orlando scares me. I'm a big Dwight Howard guy and I think he could dominate this series.

Boston doesn't seem the same without Kevin Garnett (and I still think he might come back if the Celtics make a deep run). Ray Allen has stepped up, but does Paul Pierce look like the same guy we saw dominate the Lakers last June? No he doesn't - and he needs to be that guy with KG wearing suits on the bench. Rajon Rondo can be spectacular at times, but he cal look bad at times as well. Granted those bad games don't come as often as they used to, but they are still a problem.

If the Celtics are going to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, they better figure out how to make Pierce play like it was June of last year. Allen needs to play big every game, and Rondo can't have any of his off games.

I'm sticking with my Boston pick, but I;d be lying if I said I was confident.

Uh, Which Horse Won The Derby?: Raise your hand if you had Mine That Bird winning the Run for the Roses on Saturday. Okay, now put your hands down - you're lying.

This 50-1 shot thrilled the crowd at Churchill downs by coming from behind to win convincingly. But you couldn't really appreciate with jockey Calvin Borel did with this horse until you saw the overhead angle that ESPN gave you on Sportscenter. Look at how far back this horse was at one point. Look at the way he wound up winning. How he weaved in and out of traffic on a muddy track. It was an incredible effort.

Can this horse make a run at The Triple Crown? I'll leave that to the experts at The Daily Racing Form. What I'll tell you is this. After what happened a year ago with Eight Belles; after what happened to Barbaro a couple of years ago, I hope Mine That Bird can make a run at the Triple Crown. Horse racing needs a story like this. A good story. Something that doesn't involve death, protesters, and declining television ratings.

Smarty Jones captivated this country when he went for the Triple Crown a few years ago. The horse was the talk of water coolers across the country. People made plans to watch The Belmont Stakes with the Triple Crown on the line. Casual fans who had never before paid attention to the sport of kings were now paying attention.

Will a Triple Crown winner elevate horse racing to the status it enjoyed in the 1970's? Probably not, but at least we would have a positive story to talk about and not death or protesters. Horse racing is a sport in desperate need of some positive press.

Pac Man Chews Up and Spits Hatton Out: I predicted that Manny Pacquiao would knock Ricky Hatton out in five rounds last week. I was wrong. The Pac Man took care of Hatton in just two rounds. I'll talk more about Pacquiao in a second.

Let's deal with Hatton first. After this loss, it's clear that the Englishman is nothing more than a brawler who can punch. Put him in with someone who has skill, and he looks like a guy who should be fighting on the undercard of a PPV, not the main event. He talked (okay, trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. did) about being a different fighter - one who had some boxing skills. But, when a guy like Pacquiao hits you, it's tough to put the new skills you might have learned into practice. Hatton reverted to his basic instincts. And those instincts were no match for Pacquiao.

This is now the second time that Hatton has gotten a bite of the PPV apple. It might be the last. Oh, he'll still be a guy that HBO showcases once in a while. But he's not at the level they made him out to be.

As far as Pacquiao goes, there is only one way for him to go. And that's to a meeting with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is going to come back agaiunst Juan Manuel Marquez after a two year hiatus. If Mayweather shows that there isn't any ring rust (and I think he'll be just fine), then interest in a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight at either 140 or 147 pounds is going to run at a fever pitch.

It's a fight I want to see. A fight that will be very tough to predict. A fight that will help boxing.

The experts thought that Mayweather's fight with Oscar De La Hoya was the one that would save boxing from a death at the hands of MMA. It didn't. This fight could. Two fighters at the top of their game. Two fighters who can claim they are the best - pound for pound - in the business.

It's a fight that wouldn't be just a fight. It would be an event. The way Muhammad Ali's fights used to be. The way Mike Tyson's fights used to be.

It's a fight that needs to happen.

Click here for today's podcast!

Uh Oh! We're Now On Favre Watch

2009-05-02T14:30:00.002-05:00

The Brett Favre story has just taken another twist. According to a report in Minnesota, Lord Favre has hired a personal trainer. Could it be we might be seeing this picture become reality sooner rather than later???

Had To Post This

2009-05-02T06:25:00.002-05:00

Denise Richards might be hot, but please DON'T EVER ask her to sing. If I were her kid and she tried to sing me to sleep, I'd cry all night.

But, at least she's hot.

Have a good weekend!

Cliff

Friday Quick Takes

2009-05-01T05:21:00.002-05:00

It's Friday and here are some thoughts to get you going as we hit the weekend.

Seventh Heaven For Who?: That was one hell of a game last night between the Celtics and Bulls. I'll be honest. I was rooting for Boston (tough for a Knicks fan to admit). I just hated the way Chicago moaned and groaned after Game Five. But I'll give the Bulls credit for playing their asses off and coming up with a win in triple overtime in a game that will go down as one an instant classic.

Now we'll have a seventh and deciding game tomorrow. Please underestimate the Celtics. I want all the naysayers who said Boston couldn't win without Kevin Garnett to stick to their guns. I want all the critics who said the Celtics were too old to keep riding the Bulls bandwagon. Why? because I just don't see the Bulls winning tomorrow.

First of all the game is in Boston. If it was in Chicago I'd give the Bulls more of a chance. But it's in Boston.

The Celtics might not have KG, but they still have Pail Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. Pierce has come up big in these kind of situations before (anyone remember last year's NBA Finals?). Rondo has blossomed into a star in his own right. And Allen - well let's just say the 51 he scored last night should have put everyone on notice. He is still a force to be reckoned with in this league.

And then there is the fact that I still don't like how the Bulls acted after Game Five. Whining and crying. Moaning and groaning. The players (Brad Miller, Ben Gordon) did it. Vinny Del Negro (the coach) did it. I don't want to see them rewarded by moving on to round two of the playoffs.

As much as it might pain me to say... GO BOSTON!

A-Rod Might Have Used Juice In High School: The New York Daily News released an excerpt of the forthcoming Alex Rodriguez biography. According to the book, A-Rod is suspected of having used performance enhancing drugs as far back as his high school days. The book also alleges that his steroid use might not have ended in 2003, despite his claims.

To me this isn't really big news. At first, I bought Rodriguez' story. I wanted to buy his story. But I guess I have been proven wrong. It's not the first time I've been wrong and it won't be the last time either.

Why don't I think these revelations are a big deal? It's actually fairly simple. At this point, does anyone really believe A-Rod only started using in 2001? Especially when you consider that the mid to late nineties was a free for all? And why shouldn't he have used the juice in high school? It had to start somewhere, and why not with impressionable teenagers?

I don't doubt the credibility of Selena Roberts, who is writing this book. I have known her for a long time. I know how good of a reporter she is. But, so far there doesn't seem to be much in the way of new facts as far as this book is concerned.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton: I'm a boxing guy. Maybe I'm not as into the sports as I was years ago, but I still get excited for big fights.

There is a fight coming up Saturday night between pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. HBO is doing their best to hype this fight. That's why you're seeing another edition of their series "24/7." The fight is going to be on HBO PPV. They have to do everything they can to get people to spend money to watch it.

The bottom line is I'm not going to spend a dime on this fight. I'll wait a week and watch it when HBO airs it. I don't think this is going to be competitive at all. In fact, I wouldn't be stunned if Hatton gets flattened within five rounds.

Pacquiao can punch. He also has some damn good boxing skills. He proved it when he knocked out Oscar De La Hoya in his last fight.

Hatton is a brawler. An entertaining brawler, but a brawler nonetheless. He might have changed trainers (to the flamboyant Floyd Mayweather Sr.), but he's still the same guy he's always been. He can punch, but that's really about it. When Pacquiao stuns him - and he will - Hatton will take everything his new trainer taught him and ignore it. His instincts will tell him to brawl. And that's not the way to beat Pacquiao. Only a complete fighter will have success against Pac Man, and Hatton is far from a complete fighter.

Besides, you have to question Hatton's jaw. Floyd 'Pretty Boy' Mayweather knocked him out when those two got together a couple of years ago. The younger Mayweather is a great fighter, but he will never be confused with a guy who can knock you out.

Actually, the fight I want to see is Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. Now that fight would be worth my PPV money.

The Derby: One of my favorite sporting events of the year is going to take place tomorrow. The Kentucky Derby is one of the three times I actually watch horse racing every year.

Why do I look forward to this race as opposed to the thousands of others that are run every year? I think it's kind of cool to watch the celebrities that come out of the woodwork to attend. I remember one year calling Bo Derek and Kid Rock in their hotel rooms and getting them to come on as guests at Sporting News Radio. If you're into celebrity watching, the Derby is one of the places to go.

And, if you ever have the chance to go to Churchill Downs, I suggest you take it. Don't sit in the stands. Watch from the infield. It can get VERY wild. I'm talking Mardi Gras wild. I've never seen it in person, but I know people who have. I've seen the pictures. It's a blast.

As far as my Derby pick is concerned, I'm not a horse racing aficionado. I pick my horse by name and which jockey is on board. So, I like Hold Me Back. I like the name. The jockey - Kent Desormeaux - knows a thing about winning big races. Hold Me Back gets my two bucks. (If you're looking for a trifecta, go Hold Me Back, Dinkirk, and I Want Revenge).

Click here for today's podcast!

Please, Brett - Don't Do It (Again)

2009-04-30T06:27:00.001-05:00

The headline might have gotten lost in the shuffle, but it didn't get past a lot of sports fans in Wisconsin. That's because it set a lot of alarms off in my head. I'm sure that I'm not the only one.

The Jets, who made a splash last year when they acquired Brett Favre from the Green Bay Packers and who just drafted their future when they moved up in the draft to select Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez, released the future Hall of Famer. That means that if the thirty-nine year old quarterback decides he wants to play again, he can go to any team he wants.

Now, Favre made sure to issue a statement that downplayed the release. "Nothing has changed," Favre said . "At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football."

The alarm bells started ringing even louder.

Then there was the denial issued by Favre agent James 'Bus Cook. Cook also indicated that Fare wants to retire as a Packer (even though that will probably not happen as long as GM Ted Thompson is in charge).

Those bells I mentioned a minute ago? They're going off like crazy as we speak.

You have to understand what Packer Nation went through last year during Favre-gate. You have to understand it was a fan base divided. You have to understand that the media chose one side (the Packers side) while the fans chose the other (the player). How did it all start?

With rumor and speculation.

Favre retired in a tear filled news conference in March of last year. It wasn't too long before reports started circulating that Favre was getting the itch to play again. At first, the media downplayed the speculation, especially here in Wisconsin. But we all know how it played out.

Favre did, indeed, want to play again. There was a he said-he said battle that raged throughout the summer. There were accusations of tampering leveled against Green Bay's division rival - the Minnesota Vikings. There was Favre's circus like arrival and departure at Packers training camp.

Then there was the trade and constant comparisons with his successor, Aaron Rodgers. For a while it looked like Favre was going to go out with a final playoff appearance, but injuries and age conspired against him. Finally, after his New York teammates took some shots at him in the media, there was a conference call to announce he was retired again.

This time, the prevailing thought was, there would be no comeback. This time the legendary gunslinger was done for good. And then came the news of his release.

Now the speculation has started again (thanks in part to ESPN Radio's Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic). Is Favre over the shoulder problem that plagued him late last season? Does he want to play again? And if he does, was he trying to manipulate the process so he could play for the Vikings - the team he wanted to go to last season before the Jets made the move to get him? (The Packers put a poison pill in the trade which is now no longer applicable since he announced his retirement earlier this off-season.)

I think there might be some legs to the speculation. The obstacles that were put in front of Favre as he tried to get to Minnesota last year have been removed (and let's face it, the Vikings would welcome him given their current quarterbacks are Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels). There was the non-denial denial that Favre issued. Favre didn't rule it out completely. He just said he's retired "at this time."

Favre is also a warrior, and a proud one at that. I am positive last season left him with a bitter taste in his mouth. He didn't go out with a playoff appearance. He went out with a whimper. He left a locker room that had turned against him (somewhat). He left a city whose media didn't give him the pass he was afforded in Wisconsin.

It's conceivable that he wants one... more (final?).. shot at glory. And it might very well be with the Vikings, who (presumably) would view him as the final piece to a championship puzzle.

I hope I'm wrong about this. I really do. Brett needs to stay retired.

For the first time in his career, there's a question (and a valid one) as to whether or not Favre can do it physically. Favre ended last season with a shoulder that was hurt. Will it be able to stand up to the rigors of a sixteen game season?

Favre - if he returns - would have a lot to prove, especially to the fifty-two other players he would be sharing the locker room with. He would not get the pass from his peers that he used to, especially if he doesn't make a connection with his new teammates (there were rumblings that he was a lone wolf in that locker room last season).

And then, there's the question of his legacy. If he stays retired, then there's no problem. If he comes back he runs the risk of being looked at as a guy who didn't know when to quit. The NFL sends a clear message to players it thinks are done. Those signals started to be transmitted towards Favre last season.

Again, I know it's only speculation at this point. But I've seen this movie before. I hope I'm not about to see it again.

Click here for today's podcast!

The State Of Sports Radio 2009

2009-04-28T14:32:00.003-05:00

The idea of talking sports on the radio twenty-four hours a day was met with a lot of skepticism when New York City's WFAN signed on in August of 1987. The prevailing thought at the time was that it would never work. The naysayers thought that people would get tired of it very quickly. Sports was looked at as the toy department of life and that people would listen at first because it was a novelty, but would eventually gravitate back to other formats - whether it be News/Talk or music.

Twenty-two years later, it's clear that those who doubted the format would succeed were wrong. Do a google search for sports radio stations, and you'll find hundreds of stations across the country that are doing the format, and doing it successfully. You'll find three national sports radio networks. While Sports Radio usually isn't a big ratings winner, it has traditionally been a hit with advertisers.

The format has survived a number of changes over the years. When the format first came on the scene, it was fairly basic. It was pure sports talk. But then the internet exploded, and the format had to adjust.

The internet made it hard for stations to succeed doing classic sports talk. You couldn't talk statistics anymore, because the numbers were available everywhere. You couldn't do trivia anymore because the answers were available everywhere. That led to the first change in the format. The advent of Guy Talk.

WIP in Philadelphia was the first station to embrace the change. Instead of doing classic sports talk, WIP morphed into what is now considered Guy Talk. In simpler terms, the station - while clinging to the base format as its claim to fame, was mixing in topics that were usually reserved for the Howard Sterns of the world.

The change was successful, and many stations, like The Ticket in Dallas, soon followed suit and reaped the benefits. The Guy Talk format brought more casual fans into the fold. No longer was Sports Radio a niche format. It was now attracting more than just the hardcore fan.

But, the switch to Guy Talk wasn't the first change the format has undergone. Thanks to the success of Pardon The Interruption, stations started looking at local sports columnists as sports radio hosts. Many sports writers who didn't have a lot of use for the format before were now taking jobs (second jobs) as radio hosts. Among them - Jay Mariotti, Mike Lupica, Jason Whitlock, and others.

Stations gambled that there were more people reading these columnists on a daily basis than there were people listening top their radio stations. The gamble paid off, as many readers followed their columnists to the radio side as well. It might not have done anything for the radio guys who were trying to make it in the format, but it certainly helped stations make money. Advertisers were ready to invest their hard earned money in names that they knew as opposed to names they didn't.

But, eventually, the writers (and television guys, too) started getting out of the radio business. For one reason or another, writers were leaving radio to concentrate on their writing jobs. Some left because the workload was too much. Others left because of ratings. Still others left because they wanted to go into television (thanks to programs like PTI and Around The Horn). That led to another change in the format.

That change - hiring former athletes to do radio shows. Radio programmers (and their superiors, who are more concerned with the bottom line) figured that ex-athletes would bring even more listeners to the party. Advertisers were excited to get behind the players they watched who were now making a living talking on the radio.

Some athletes - like ESPN's Mike Golic - worked hard and were able to make the transition. They became well versed in other sports (besides the ones they played). They worked hard to learn the formatics of the format. They were the exception to the rule. Unfortunately, and for many reasons which you can probably figure out on your own, the ex-athlete by and large had trouble making the transition. Yet, because of their name value, many are still employed by their respective stations, even if they aren't successful in terms of ratings.

And they remain employed because stations hope the advertisers will continue to back them with their money. The one thing station operators did not see coming is the one thing that has put the format on life support (which is where I firmly believe it is right now). The recession.

Let me give you a look at what's been going on behind the scenes in radio for the last couple of years. The bottom line rules. The recession might have only hit the headlines last fall, but the radio business saw it coming a good year before it actually became the huge problem it is right now. That's why cost cutting (and not just in the Sports Radio format, by the way) began a good year before the economy really tanked.

And when it tanked, it hit all of radio very hard. Many successful music DJ's who put in years and years of service started finding themselves without jobs. Budgets were being cut and programmers were being forced to make do with less.

That has had a devastating effect on Sports Radio. Even before the recession hit, sports radio stations were cutting local shows because they cost too much. It was cheaper to run a national show during the overnight hours than stick with the local show that listeners really enjoyed. Why pay a host and producer/update anchor to work when you can have a computer run a national show for free?

But when the recession hit in September, stations found they had to cut local shows in other dayparts as well. Shows that were doing well in the ratings. Shows that had large followings. They might not have wanted to make those cuts, but they made them because of the economy. The cuts began in earnest last fall, and continued with the first round of layoffs at Clear Channel on January 20th. The second round of layoofs at Clear Channel came yesterday.

That's what happened to me at WSSP in Milwaukee. It is cheaper to run The Dan Patrick Show than it was to keep me on the air. WSSP's management did not want to let me go (I've been fired before but never fired and praised at the same time). They had to.

Certainly I wasn't the only host affected by the bad economy. There are many others - good people who are out of work just like I am. Here are just two examples of how the economy has affected the format.

One of the more successful stations in the format was Detroit's WDFN. Sure, it had struggled in the ratings for a couple of years, but it was still a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately Clear Channel, who owns the station, decided the money they were spending on local programming wasn't worth the return they were getting on their investment (ratings and advertising were down). So what did they do? They got rid of all local shows. WDFN is now airing FOX Sports Radio 24//7 (admittedly they still do local updates but no local shows). The move to national programming saves Clear Channel a lot of money.

The format also has been affected at the national level. FSR, which was seen as the #2 radio network in the format (behind ESPN but ahead of Sporting News Radio), made major changes in January. All those changes were made with the bottom line in mind. FSR got rid of three successful shows, merged with its Los Angeles affiliate, and put the L.A. shows on the air as part of the merger. FSR also added Dan Patrick's show to their daily lineup in a deal that was struck with the company that put DP on the air, The Content Factory.

The recession has led to another change in the Sports Radio business. We are now starting to see sports radio stations pop up on the internet. Chicago has one. So does Denver. These new outlets have some big names working for them, names that are well known in their markets. Whether they wind up succeeding is a question that no one has an answer for. These internet stations face a major challenge in that you can't listen to them in your car (as of yet). These internet stations are not owned by the corporate giants that own the majority of sports radio stations you and I normally listen to. Bringing in advertisers is going to be an issue. They might not survive very long if they can't sell advertising, which will wind up putting more good people out of work.

Sports Radio used to serve their local communities. Some feel that radio, specifically sports radio, has lost its way. That there is a demand for local content that isn't being met. That is partially true.

At the end of the day, programmers would rather air local shows over national shows. But until this economy improves, we are going to see more local shows go away in favor of national shows. I firmly believe that we will see this trend reversed when the economy improves. When the economy improves we will see more programmers take gambles on local shows. Right now no one wants to take risks because if those risks fail it is the decision makers that will wind up out of a job.When they have more money to play with, you will see the current trend reversed. But it all depends on how long the recession lasts.

What will it take? It will take patience. Radio isn't getting a federal bailout. Taxpayers don't have the stomach for it, especially after the first two haven't worked up to this point. These things (historically) have run in cycles. There have always been bad times, but they have always been followed by good times.

We're in a bad time right now. My hope is that the good times that are coming will come sooner rather than later. When they do, everyone will benefit. The listeners. The advertisers. And, most importantly, the people whose lives have been dramatically affected by the worst economy we've seen since The Great Depression.

But, like I said, it's going to take patience.

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