Tuesday, August 30, 2011

College Football Picks: Week 1

Enough with the preseason press conferences, it’s time to get on the field. College football season is finally here. That means, for better or for worse, my picks are back. I did it for the past two years on another site, and now I’m moving it over here. For those new to the program: I put my already questionable reputation on the line by picking ten games every week from the local (in Oklahoma) to the big national games to the totally obscure, all the while providing links (some informative, some humorous) to enhance your blog-reading experience. Let’s go!
 
The locals
Tulsa at # 1 Oklahoma
I didn't like TU's chances WITH Damaris Johnson.
Without him, Tulsa could be in for a beating in Norman.
Oh, Damaris Johnson, what have you (allegedly) done? He hasn’t been charged with anything yet, but it appears that he helped his girlfriend steal about $3,000 worth of good from Macy’s. TU head coach Bill Blankenship had no choice but to suspend his do-everything star until the investigation is completed. While Johnson’s crime may not be the dumbest decision in sports history, it’s up there. In just a couple ill-conceived moves, he may have thrown away his senior season, a chance at conference title, a shot at being a first team All-American, an outside run at being in the Heisman discussion, and he’s probably hurt his NFL stock as well.
I didn’t like TU’s chances in Norman before Johnson’s suspension. Now? Oh, boy. The hope coming in was that Johnson might be able to give G.J. Kinne some short fields with his return abilities, spread out the defense to help the running game and maybe break a big play or two. Now, Kinne has to rely on a lot of inexperienced receivers, and Norman is not the place to break in some new blood. It could get ugly, folks.
The pick: OU 56-10.

Louisiana at #9 Oklahoma State
Look for Weeden and Blackmon to put on a show Saturday.
They would prefer to be known as the University of Louisiana, but you and I will always call them UL-Lafayette. In Stillwater, they’ll probably just be known as the first win. OSU came out sloppy in Lafayette last season and actually trailed at the half, 21-17, before blowing out the Cajuns 54-28. Expectations are sky high in Stillwater, and it sounds like the focus has been there throughout fall camp. The Cowboys look ready to get into the BCS. Whether they do or not remains to be seen, but I expect this team to be fully focused from the opening kick and take care of business in the opener.
The pick: OSU 51-17
 
Opening Night
Villanova vs Temple at Lincoln Financial Field
I suppose I should pick one game from opening night on Thursday, and this one is as good as any. If it were a basketball game, we’d call it a Big 5 match-up. It’s not, so we call it the Mayor’s Cup. Despite the fact Villanova is FCS and Temple is FBS, they’ve split their meetings in 2009 and 2010. Villanova is consistently one of the top teams in FCS, and rumors of the Wildcats stepping up to join the Big East have been floated out there for a while now.
As for this game, Villanova is breaking in a young quarterback, and Temple returns several key starters on defense. Temple wins with turnovers.
The pick: Temple 28-17

Friday Night Lights
#14 TCU at Baylor
Is Casey Pachall ready to lead
the Frogs? He better be.
I want to pick a Friday game, and where better to go for a Friday night contest than Texas? The Horned Frogs are looking to build off their Rose Bowl championship and get back into the BCS, but they are breaking in a new quarterback in Casey Pachall (pronounced PAW-haw). On the other side, Baylor returns an experienced playmaker at QB in Robert Griffin III. I saw a little of both of these guys during my days covering high schools in Texas, and the gap back then between Pachall (at Brownwood) and Griffin (at Copperas Cove) wasn’t as big as you might think. Pachall was highly recruited and is capable of making plays with his arms or his legs. He’s obviously not as fast as Griffin, who has world-class speed, but I am curious how Pachall’s game translates to college. Having a more experienced quarterback and being at home is normally enough to get my pick, but not in this case. TCU returns a lot of talent on defense and a very deep collection of running backs. I think there’s just a little more overall talent on the TCU roster.
The pick: TCU 27-21

Shaping the national title picture
#4 LSU vs #3 Oregon at Cowboys Stadium
I like the experience of Darron Thomas and LaMichael James
to lead the Ducks past LSU in this week's marquee match-up.
I said last week that this is one of my most anticipated games of 2011, and it still is. The messy situation at LSU, however, has certainly cast a bit of a shadow on this game, but not enough to completely take the excitement out of it. It’s still a top-five showdown that will give the winner a leg up in the national championship hunt.
The suspension of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson isn’t as devastating as it sounds. I’m not 100 percent sure starting Jarrett Lee over Jefferson is a downgrade. Losing a playmaker like Russell Shepard at wide receiver, however, hurts a little more. LSU’s defense, on the other hand, is still loaded and will give the Ducks fits, much like Auburn’s defense did in last season’s national title game.
The Ducks aren't without suspensions either. They'll be without All-American corner Cliff Harris, who also contributes a lot on special teams. Oregon, though, returns an experienced quarterback and a Heisman contender at running back. So, to recap: Oregon is missing a corner and punt returner. LSU is missing a quarterback and receiver. I have to go with the team that has the Heisman contender and is more confident in its starting quarterback. The Ducks want to return to the national title game, and this is a critical step.
The pick: Oregon 20-17

The Big 12 present… past?... future???
SMU at #8 Texas A&M
The Aggies want out of the Big 12, and that could become official any second now. SMU wants in the Big 12, and we’ll just have to see how that plays out. While one game certainly won’t persuade the Big 12 presidents one way or the other, June Jones and his Mustangs would love to make a statement by pulling a stunning upset in College Station. While I think A&M may be ranked a tad high at number eight, they do have a lot more talent, especially on defense and in the running game. SMU should be able to score some points, but A&M will get turnovers to pull away in the second half.
The pick: Texas A&M 38-21

The Holtz Bowl
South Florida at #16 Notre Dame
Putting my reputation out there a little with this one, but
I think Crist has NFL potential. We'll see if he shows it.
Former Notre Dame walk-on and assistant coach Skip Holtz returns to South Bend, a place he would probably love to finish his career as a head coach if he ever gets that opportunity. As usual, Notre Dame enters the season with BCS hopes, hopes that (as usual) may or may not be realistic. The Irish should be very concerned about USF quarterback B.J. Daniels, who has the skills to have a Denard Robinson-type day against Notre Dame.
That said, I think Irish quarterback Dayne Crist is finally ready for a breakout season. After last season’s crushing loss to Tulsa, Notre Dame showed steady improvement by knocking off Utah, USC, and Miami down the stretch. They did that with Tommy Rees at quarterback. Rees played well, but I don’t think he has the NFL pedigree that Crist does. Yes, I think Crist can be an NFL quarterback. I’m not saying first round (yet), but I’m saying he has the skill set: big arm, accurate, mobile, good size. I think the Irish are headed in the right direction under Brian Kelly. Daniels may cause some problems for the Irish defense, but I think Notre Dame will find a way to squeak out a win at home against a USF team that could compete for the Big East title.
The pick: Notre Dame 31-27

Battle for respect
#5 Boise State at #19 Georgia
This game was also on my list of most-anticipated games for 2011 because it’s a measuring stick for both teams. Boise State can do what it did last season: go on the road to a semi-neutral location and knock off a BCS opponent to beef up its computer numbers. Last season, you may recall the Broncos defeating eventual ACC champion Virginia Tech in Baltimore. This year, they meet Georgia in Atlanta.
Of returning college quarterbacks, the signal caller with the highest rating in 2010 was Boise State’s Kellen Moore. Number five on that list? Surprise: Georgia’s Aaron Murray. The Bulldogs may be more desperate for respect than Boise State, especially with some calls for Mark Richt to be fired. While going against Boise State has proved foolish in the past, I like the Bulldogs’ talent and home-state advantage.
The pick: Georgia 33-28

Independence Day
BYU at Mississippi
BYU begins life as an independent football program in SEC country. It seems like quite a challenge, but the Cougars actually are a slight favorite in this game. BYU sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps will look to build off an impressive freshman season while Ole Miss will be breaking in a new quarterback after the graduation of Jeremiah Masoli. This might be my toughest call of the week, because I’m not totally sure what either team will bring to the table, but I’ll go with the more experienced offense.
The pick: BYU 24-20

On the hot seat
UCLA at Houston
Yes, Case Keenum is still in college.
Bruin fans want to see their program finally make a leap forward under Rick Neuheisel, who is just 15-22 in his first three seasons. A road trip to Houston might not be the best place to get a “save my job” campaign started. Houston should be a top contender in Conference USA, and Case Keenum is entering his 17 season… okay, it’s only his sixth, but the 23-year old has experience. After missing most of 2010 with a torn ACL, the Houston quarterback is poised to make a run at a conference title and maybe an outside shot at a Heisman. He flourishes in Houston’s spread offense, and I expect big numbers from him in this game and all season.
The pick: Houston 38-27

I’d like to conclude by thanking colleagues Chris Singleton and Morrell Carter for a blurb about me in a recent feature about Morrell in the Houma Courier. It was cool to hear I’m still remembered down on the bayous of Louisiana.

Enjoy the first week of games, and come back next week to check how I did.

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Big 12 Needs to Lower Expectations

While it's nice that the Big 12 is shooting for the stars trying to improve the conference, they need to lower their expectations.

There are reports that the Big 12 presidents are discussing adding Notre Dame, BYU, and Arkansas.

Minka's available!
In related news, I'm discussing dating Minka Kelly, Stacy Keibler, or Hope Solo... in my opinion, those are all just about as likely to happen as any of those three teams joining the Big 12. I'm almost as tired of the Notre Dame/BYU/Arkansas discussions than I am the Lebron James/Michael Jordan comparisons.

I'll lay it out so all the rumor starters can understand it: Notre Dame has absolutely no reason to join a conference. As long as the Irish have their TV deal with NBC and their special rules that get them into the BCS, they gain absolutely nothing by joining a conference. If they join a conference, they will lose at least some of their annual rivalry games (USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford), and they will have to start sharing their bowl money. Besides, as I've said before, IF Notre Dame ever joins a conference in football, the Big Ten makes way more sense. The Big Ten is a much more stable league, and it has three rivals Notre Dame would want to continue playing.

Big 12 games here? Never.
If the Big 12 wants Notre Dame, it will have to give the Irish some kind of deal that makes them more money, meaning they would get a sweeter deal than Texas has. We've seen how well that's worked out, as the Longhorn Network started a firestorm that has contributed to Texas A&M leaving the conference. Notre Dame to the Big 12 will not happen. Ever.

BYU? The Cougars are just starting to try out the independent thing. There is no way they give up on it immediately. If two or three years down the road, BYU is struggling as an independent, perhaps it will consider joining a conference. If BYU does join a conference, the Pac-12 probably makes more sense. It's a more stable league, and BYU can join the same league as rival Utah. The right situation down the road may entice BYU to join the Big 12, so I'll at least grant it's possible one day, but not right now.

Notice how I've mentioned stability a couple times already? I'm going to do it again with Arkansas. Tell me why the Hogs would leave the powerful SEC for the unstable Big 12. I can't think of a single logical reason to leave a strong, stable conference for a league that could fold any day now. Arkansas is only slightly less likely than Notre Dame to join the Big 12 in my opinion. If for some unfathomable reason, the SEC kicked Arkansas out of the SEC, then, sure, the Big 12 is on the table. But that won't happen, so I fully expect Arkansas to remain an SEC member for as long as possible.

So, what's realistic?

I've talked about this before, but the Big 12 needs to look at more realistic options. Granted, none of them are glamorous. However, they are possible and may bring something to the table, although nothing on the dreamy levels of Notre Dame or BYU.

Spread out in Texas
There are a handful of teams in Texas that would welcome a chance to join the Big 12 and get to play teams like Texas and Texas Tech regularly. Adding all of these schools probably still wouldn't replace the influence of Texas A&M, but they would add several smaller fan bases throughout the Lone Star State.
TCU - Yes, the Horned Frogs are already on their way to the Big East, but the Big 12 may be intriguing if Dan Beebe could put together a deal that solidifies the conference for the foreseeable future.
SMU - The Mustangs are very open about their interest in the Big 12. Like TCU, they are in the DFW market but don't carry the market. The Big 12 already has a stranglehold on the Metroplex because of all the Texas and OU fans there. Adding TCU and/or SMU doesn't bring much market-wise. One thing to consider, though: adding TCU and/or SMU would mean several games would actually be played in the Metroplex. Instead of just the one OU/Texas game, the Big 12 would have the Sooners, Longhorns, Cowboys, and Red Raiders regularly visiting DFW, which may increase Big 12 interest there. That's something to think about.
Houston - The Cougars make the most sense. They are the biggest school in Texas that is not in a BCS conference. Most logical people assume the Big 12 will consider Houston, and it should.
UTEP - If Texas Tech and the Lubbock market are important, is the El Paso market really that much of a step down? It's something.
Rice - Hey, it's in Texas. Great academics count for something, right?
UT-San Antonio - It won't happen now, but Larry Coker is just starting the program there. If five or ten years down the road, UTSA is a legit, competitive program in the WAC, they may be someone the Big 12 considers far, far down the road. Keep an eye on them.

I could show a picture of these football programs, but
the previously mentioned  Stacy is much easier on the eyes.
Raid Conference USA or the Mountain West
I'll remind you that I said none of these options are glamorous, but they are realistic.
Memphis - Terrible football that would make Big 12 fans groan, but the Tigers do add a TV market and (for what it's worth) a solid basketball following.
Tulsa - The Golden Hurricane would love to be in a conference with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Unfortunately, they are in a situation similar to TCU and SMU: they have a small fan base and do not add a TV market to the conference. Tulsa is one of the smallest institutions in the bowl subdivision.
Boise State - Do you want a good football program or not? At least the Broncos have that.
Air Force - Maybe not outstanding football, but a well-respected program that does consistently get to bowl games. Air Force also helps in the state of Colorado, a market the Big 12 lost. Plus, military academies do have at least some national appeal.
Colorado State - See: Memphis... minus the great basketball.
UNLV - When you think about it, UNLV would be a great addition. It adds a television market, the football is competitive, and the basketball has a strong following as well. Plus, if we have media functions and conference championship games in Vegas every year, well that would be just fine with me! Viva Las Vegas!
San Diego State - It gets you into California. So, there's that.


I know the options I've presented don't add much excitement, but they are at least possible, unlike Notre Dame and BYU. When you're considering options for the Big 12, ask yourself this: does this university gain anything by joining a shaky conference? All of my suggestions do have something to gain: access to an automatic BCS bid, the only thing the Big 12 has to offer. Notre Dame, BYU, and Arkansas are all already in better situations. I've said it on Twitter before:  if the Big 12 wants those three schools, it might as well go after the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.

Lower your expectations. Know where you rank, and then maybe you'll get somewhere.

Now, excuse me while I go try to contact Minka Kelly and see if Hope Solo has returned any of my calls.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Predicting the 2011 Chiefs

The NFL is tough to predict. There are always surprising teams that rock the boat and toss all the preseason predictions out the window. Although, if you follow the teams, you can get a ballpark idea of whether a team is closer to the Super Bowl or to the top pick in the draft.

Can Haley follow up a breakthrough 2010 with another
playoff appearance? The schedule will be much tougher.
Right now, the Kansas City Chiefs look closer to the latter than the former. They have not looked good in the preseason. The Chiefs are 0-3, and (more importantly) the first string has yet to find the endzone. Coming off a 10-6 season and a playoff appearance, there is hope in KC that Todd Haley has helped the team turn a corner. He has said he's not concerned about the preseason record and is just focusing on getting his team to the regular season healthy. Hopefully, this team does look much different when the games matter. We'll see. While I never take preseason records seriously, there is no denying the team has not looked good at all.

That said, I think the Chiefs' defense should be pretty solid this year with the talent it has returning, but I'm a bit concerned about the offense with the rebuilt offensive line and Charlie Weis's departure. Plus, the schedule is much tougher this year, which is my biggest reason for concern.

So, to set some expectations for myself, here are my week-by-week predictions for the Chiefs in 2011:

Week 1 - Buffalo - Win
The Bills are still rebuilding. I'm not sure they have a decent quarterback, and it's at home. I feel pretty good about the year starting with a W.
If Stafford is healthy, watch out for
the Lions. Seriously!
Week 2 - @ Detroit - Loss
The Lions are much improved, and Matthew Stafford probably won't be injured yet.
Week 3 - @ San Diego - Loss
The Chargers are the class of the AFC West, and it's a road game.
Week 4 - Minnesota - Win
A home game against a team with either an aging Donovan McNabb or a rookie at quarterback.
Week 5 - @ Indianapolis - Loss
Peyton Manning should be back by this game.
Week 7 - @ Oakland - Win
Coming off a bye week, the Chiefs figure some things out against a team that's always trying to figure things out.
Week 8 - San Diego - Win
Last year, the Chiefs beat the Chargers on a Monday night at Arrowhead. Let's do it again.
Week 9 - Miami - Win
Are you noticing that I'm consistently picking wins at home against teams with questionable QB situations?
Week 10 - Denver - Win
See Week 9
A trip to New England in
Week 11 could get ugly.
Week 11 - @ New England - Loss
On the road against a preseason Super Bowl favorite? Not just a loss. An embarrassment.
Week 12 - Pittsburgh - Loss
The Chiefs are tough at home, but Big Ben and the Steelers get stronger as the season moves along.
Week 13 - @ Chicago - Win
The Chiefs D frustrates and confuses Jay Cutler enough to steal one in the Windy City.
Week 14 - @ NY Jets - Loss
I don't like KC's chances on the road against Rex Ryan's defense.
Week 15 - Green Bay - Loss
They're the defending Super Bowl champs. They'll win.
Week 16 - Oakland - Win
If my predictions hold up, the Chiefs will be in the playoff hunt but desperate for a win. They'll get it at home.
Week 17 - @ Denver - Loss
As much of a mess as I think the Broncos are, I can't deny that the Chiefs always struggle in Denver.

Final record prediction: 8-8, probably second in the AFC West and out of the playoff picture. Hopefully, I'm a little off and they steal a couple more wins and get back into the playoffs. But my expectations are lowered a bit due to the schedule and the question marks on offense.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

My Most Anticipated College Football Games of 2011

Everyone else is posting their "games to look forward to," so I might as well post my own. The list is always subject to change, as overrated teams get exposed and underrated teams climb the polls as the season goes along. Still, it's fun to anticipate what might happen. Here are the games I am most looking forward to for various reasons.

How legit are the Irish?
We may find out early.
10. Notre Dame vs Michigan State, Sept. 17
It's my list, and I'm curious about the Irish, so this game leads off for me. Is Notre Dame really as good as the preseason hype? We may find out when they take on their first ranked opponent. Of course, we may get the answer earlier than that if the Irish come up short against South Florida and/or Michigan. Being optimistic though, the Irish feel confident they have a team that can get in the BCS. We'll get a glimpse of what they're made of this week. They'll still have USC and Stanford on the schedule later, but we'll know if we can take the Irish seriously after the Michigan State game.

9. Texas vs Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Oct. 8
Why does this make the list? Because I'm curious if the sky is really falling in Austin like some people seem to think it is. The Longhorns had a bad season last year, but I don't think it's spiraling out of control. The roster is still loaded with blue chip talent that poured into Austin during and after the Colt McCoy era. This game makes the list because it's a measuring stick for Texas. Like Notre Dame, the Longhorns could get exposed and the bottom could fall out before we even get to this game (BYU and a trip to UCLA are on the slate before this). However, if Texas can get to this game 4-0, the Red River Rivalry game will have my attention because I want to see if Texas has truly rebounded or if I'm wrong and Mack Brown really has lost control in Austin.

It's really too bad this will be the only season TCU and
Boise State are both in the Mountain West.
8. TCU at Boise State, Nov. 12 
There are few teams more polarizing than Boise State, always ripped for playing in a soft conference and taking the easy road to the BCS. Well, they're in a (slightly) stronger conference this season as they join the Mountain West. TCU, another team that draws some criticism for being in a non-AQ league, won a lot of respect last season by winning the Rose Bowl, and the Frogs certainly want to win the Mountain West one more time before heading to the Big East in 2012. In the past, these two teams battled without playing each other for an at-large BCS bid. This season, they get to settle it on the field. Teams in BCS conferences love this because it likely means that at least one of these two will be knocked out of BCS contention after this game.

7. Oklahoma at Florida State, Sept. 17
Bob Stoops is not afraid to challenge his team out of conference. This is a perfect example. The Sooners travel to Tallahassee in September for a top-five showdown with the Seminoles. The winner gets a big time quality win to put on its BCS resume. The loser won't be completely out of the national title picture, but will definitely have to shift its focus to conference play and learning from mistakes made in this game.

6. Nebraska at Wisconsin, Oct. 1
Yes, I'll admit I'm curious to see Nebraska's debut in the Big Ten. On top of that, both of these teams are ranked close to the top ten preseason, so this game could establish an early favorite in the new league. For those keeping score, Nebraska is in the "Legends" division while Wisconsin is in the "Leaders," so it's possible these two teams could meet again in the Big Ten championship game. As for the regular season showdown, there will be a LOT of red at Camp Randall that weekend, more than normal, which seems impossible. Husker fans, though, travel well and they'll find a way to invade Madison, but the Badgers have great fans and the place will be rocking for this prime time showdown. "Jump Around" may register on the Richter scale that night.

Can the Broncos beat an SEC team? I'm anxious to find out.
5. Boise State at Georgia
at the Georgia Dome, Sept. 3

Yes, Boise State makes my list twice. We'll get a real glimpse of how legit the Broncos are on opening weekend. Georgia may not be a top ten team (yet), but they are an SEC team playing at home (well, close to home anyway in the Georgia Dome).  Boise State made a big statement last season by going to Baltimore and knocking off Virginia Tech in a great game. They can win a lot of support this year by going into SEC country and knocking off the Bulldogs. Georgia, however, may be more desperate for respect. Mark Richt's seat has gotten a little warm lately. He could definitely cool it off by knocking Boise State out of the BCS picture early and vaulting his team up in the rankings.

4. Oregon at Stanford, Nov. 12
Stanford blew a big second half lead last season against the Ducks, and that was the only thing that kept the Cardinal out of the national championship game. Heisman contender Andrew Luck will be judged largely on how he performs in this game. If he takes over this game and leads Stanford to a win, he can probably start making some space on his mantle for a trophy. Also, don't forget the Pac-12 has divisions this year. The winner of this game is likely to have the inside track in the Pac-12 North (man, that sounds funny), which means a trip to the Pac-12 championship game.

If Miles the Tigers can shake their offseason troubles
and beat Oregon and Alabama, they'll be in the title game.
3. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 5
A lot of SEC pride will be on the line in early November. With Alabama ranked second and LSU fourth in the preseason, there is a decent chance this game could determine who wins the SEC West, the first step in these teams' quests to the national title. Arkansas and Mississippi State certainly could shake up the SEC West race, but the Tigers and Crimson Tide appear to the be class of that division right now.

2. Oregon vs LSU at Cowboys Stadium, Sept. 3
I love when top 10 programs schedule each other out of conference early in the season. It's a medium-risk, high-reward situation, and it's great for the fans, too. If you win, you have a high quality victory that could be the difference in the final BCS standings. If you lose, yes, you have that loss, but there's still plenty of time to climb back up in the polls if you really are a legit contender. Either the Ducks or Tigers will have a leg up on the BCS competition after this one. Kudos to both of these teams for challenging themselves early in the season. I can't wait to see what they have.

Can Weeden lead the Cowboys
past the Sooners and into the BCS?
1. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, Dec. 3
If I didn't live in Oklahoma, this certainly wouldn't be at the top of the list. But I am, so it is. The anticipation on both sides of Bedlam is as high as it's ever been. The Sooners smell another national championship, and the Cowboys believe they finally have the formula to not only beat OU, but get into the BCS for the first time. The stakes were high in last year's Bedlam game, which was a great one. They could be even higher this year if all goes according to plan (which it rarely does, but let's play along, shall we?). Hopefully both of these teams reach this game still in the top 10 in the polls. If that's the case, this could have the feel of a Big 12 championship game, if not a national semifinal.

Once we get into November, this list could change drastically. I just hope the BCS works out so that all of the BCS games, including the championship, top all ten of these games when it's all said and done.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Bravo Blog: In Wren They Trust

Frank Wren knows what he's doing.
Frank Wren is a smart man. He knows his organization. He knows your organization, and he knows which players to keep, which ones to acquire and which ones to get rid of. The Braves aren't working on the same kind of free-spending budget they had when Ted Turner owned the team in the '90's. Granted, they do spend more than most. They aren't exactly the Florida Marlins or Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Braves do have to be smarter with their money than a lot of contenders, and Frank Wren is the perfect guy to lead the charge.

A perfect example was during this year's trading deadline. Several people (myself included to an extent) were begging him to trade one or two of his four prized pitching prospects to get a big bat like Hunter Pence, Carlos Quentin, or Carlos Beltran. Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, Arodys Vizcaino, and Mike Minor are all hot starting pitching prospects that opposing teams covet. Even though his Major League rotation appears set, Wren refused to give up any of the young guns, saying they were all "untouchable."

Delgado, Minor, Teheran, and Vizcaino: The Untouchables
Frank Wren (wisely) refused to trade them, and they all
have a shot to help the Braves now and in the future.
Now, Braves fans are understanding why. That vaunted Major League rotation suddenly has some dings. Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson are both struggling with injuries, and Derek Lowe rarely gets past the sixth inning anymore.

Mike Minor has stepped in and gotten two wins in August, and Delgado took a no-hitter into the seventh last week. Meanwhile, Vizcaino, who was moved to the bullpen to cut down on his innings, has instantly provided a lift to the exhausted Atlanta bullpen.

The reason Wren didn't trade the "Untouchables" was because he needs them both now and in the future. Wren would love to lock up Jurrjens and Hanson long-term, but he knows Scott Boras is their agent. Boras clients always go to free agency, and it's possible both Jurrjens and Hanson will get huge deals somewhere else when the time comes (not for a couple years, though). Plus, those young arms are making their cases to be a part of the Braves' postseason rotation if they lock up the wild card. The way Jurrjens, Hanson, and Lowe have struggled, none of them are guaranteed spots in an October rotation. Don't be surprised if Minor, Delgado, or even Teheran gets an October start. Plus, it is fairly likely in my opinon that Vizcaino will make the Braves' postseason roster as a power right-handed arm in the bullpen. He's the strong righty the Braves hoped Scott Proctor would be, but he never got it together.

Bourn: The most recent example of Wren's wisdom.
If the Untouchables do help the Braves win in October, it'll be another credit to Wren, who held out for the best deal: getting Michael Bourn. Bourn has been the spark plug that Atlanta hasn't seen since Rafael Furcal owned that lead-off spot in the early 2000's. Wren didn't give up much to get him, and the Braves' offense is suddenly clicking with him at the top.

Was Bourn the guy everybody wanted? Not exactly. Although, in the end, he was exactly who Frank Wren wanted. He was the perfect player at the perfect price.

If you look closely at Wren's record in Atlanta, you won't find many mistakes. The only deal I think Wren would really like back would be Kenshin Kawakami, a move the Braves made when they were desperate for pitching before the 2009 season. Now, Kawakami is wasting away in AA making six million dollars. Thankfully, that contract comes off the books after this season.

Overall, though, you will be hard-pressed to find a Frank Wren trade that really burned the franchise. You may find several moves that were questioned at the time but worked out very well in the end. Some examples:

Trading Edgar Renteria to Detroit for Jair Jurrjens: This was the first big move Wren made after getting the general manager job. Renteria had done a solid job in Atlanta, but was aging with Yunel Escobar ready to take over behind him. Escobar held down the shortstop position just fine, and Jurrjens has turned into an All-Star.

Signing Derek Lowe: Did Wren give Lowe a little too much at four years and 60 million? Maybe. However, at the time, there were only two notable pitchers left in free agency. The alternative was giving Oliver Perez about the same money. Whew! Dodged a bullet there.

Releasing Tom Glavine: Sure, it wasn't popular, even though Glavine was aging and struggling to stay healthy. Why was this a smart move? It made room in the Major League rotation for Tommy Hanson. Hanson instantly gave the rotation a lift and has the potential to be top-of-the-rotation guy very soon.

What Wren pulled off with Vazquez is pretty close to magic.
The Javier Vazquez situation: You can call this one luck. Maybe it's a little scouting skill, perhaps a little of both. But Frank Wren managed to get Vazquez for one year, the best year of his career, and then shipped him away before he lost it. When all the dust settled, Wren came out smelling like a rose.

Starved for pitching in 2009, Wren got Vazquez from Chicago for a modest price (catching prospect Tyler Flowers being the prize of the deal). Vazquez, who was 12-16 with a 4.87 ERA in 2008, was in the ace of the Atlanta staff in 2009 with a 2.87 ERA and a miniscule 1.03 WHIP. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting.

Previously desperate for arms, Wren suddenly found himself overloaded with pitching after Tim Hudson successfully returned from Tommy John surgery while Jurrjens, Hanson, and Kris Medlen exceeded expectations. So, Wren flipped Vazquez to the Yankees for the previously mentioned Vizcaino, outfielder Melky Cabrera, and reliever Mike Dunn. Vazquez reverted to his 2008 form as he sported a 5.32 ERA and lost his spot in the rotation by the end of 2010.

Oh, by the way, Mike Dunn was later included in a deal to acquire Dan Uggla, who after a ridiculously slow start, is finally playing like an MVP.

Frank Wren knows what he's doing, and Braves fans should trust he'll make all the right moves to get this team to October on a regular basis.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Can the Big 12 be saved?

No... end of blog.

Okay, that's not the end of the blog. It certainly doesn't look good for the Big 12, though. Texas A&M reportedly leaving is another sign of the lack of confidence some have with the new Big 12 plus the resentment many feel towards the Longhorn Network.
We thought the Big 12 would be okay,
but now Texas A&M has everyone in a panic.


While A&M leaving might not signal the end,  most people (myself included) do think it's the first domino. The big domino, of course, would be Texas deciding to go independent with its own network, which would force Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to go elsewhere. Then the Big East and Pac-12 will fight for the scraps of what's left.

However, we were all pretty sure the Big 12 was collapsing last summer, then Dan Beebe pulled a miracle out of his you-know-what and kept the league together. So, for the eternal optimists, let's look at some possibilities for keeping the Big 12 around.

If Texas and Oklahoma decide to stay, the league can survive with just nine teams. The Big East only has eight football schools at the moment (with TCU being the ninth next season and Villanova considering becoming the tenth). So, that's one option. Just play eight league games with four non-conference games, and I'm sure schools like Texas A&M and Nebraska would be good options for non-conference opponents.

What about expansion? Even though Texas A&M does not have the broad appeal of Texas, there is no denying the Aggies have a huge fan base that the Big 12 would sorely miss. Adding some fans and markets might benefit the Big 12 if the league chooses carefully.

First of all, the rumors about Notre Dame? Ridiculous. Why not go after the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, too? The Irish are stubborn and proud about being independent, and that won't change.

BYU is just starting to try out the independent thing. I doubt they give up soon. Maybe down the road, however, if they are finding it to be more challenging than they originally thought, the Big 12 should stay in touch. Don't hold your breath on that one, either.

The problem about adding teams is the teams have to make sense financially more than they do geographically. The existing conference schools don't want to share their revenue with schools that don't bring much to the table. TCU, Houston, and Tulsa all make sense geographically, but how much do they add as far as television markets? Not much. The Big 12 already has a stranglehold on the Tulsa market with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Ditto with Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston due to the Longhorns.

Would TCU walk away from the Big East for the Big 12?
It would take a sweet deal, but I wouldn't rule it out.
However, A&M leaving certainly hurts those Lone Star State markets. Adding Houston and TCU wouldn't totally replace the influence of Texas A&M, but they might help. And yes, I could absolutely see TCU backing out of the Big East agreement, because being in the Big 12 would make a lot more sense for them. The Horned Frogs would love to grow rivalries with the Longhorns, Baylor, and Texas Tech. They would only back out of a deal with the Big East, however, if Dan Beebe made some sort of proposal that made everyone confident the Big 12 would stick around for a long, long time. Otherwise, it would be foolish for TCU to roll the dice and join the Big 12 only to suddenly find itself without a league in two years.

So, let's say, for the sake of argument, the Big 12 adds Houston and TCU. That's 11 teams. Why not go for 12 so the Big 12 actually has 12 teams again? Sorry, Tulsa, I don't see one of the smallest FBS universities getting an invite. Adding a television market makes sense here, and I don't think the Big 12 can steal from the other big conferences. So, while Arkansas and Louisville would be great, I don't see either leaving their current situations.

Memphis wouldn't add a great football team, but the Tigers
would bring a new TV market and a nice hoops program.
How about Memphis? The Tigers have tried to get into a BCS conference for years (hasn't everyone?), and would jump at the chance. They add a nice television market, and while their quality of football isn't great, it's not about that. It's about adding television money. Plus, the Tigers would add a great basketball program, not that hoops has any leverage, but I think a program as well-supported as Memphis has to count for something. I probably think about basketball more than most, but I think a hoops league with Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Texas, and Memphis would be pretty cool. Again, though, conference realignment is about two things: football and money. Memphis doesn't have great football, but the Tigers would add a brand new television market, something that TCU, Houston, and Tulsa can't boast.

If the Big 12 added these three teams (TCU, Houston, and Memphis), it gets the bonus of having a Big 12 Championship game again because it would have twelve teams. Jerry Jones would be quite happy about that news, as he could again bid to host the Big 12 Championship game at Cowboys Stadium.

Taking the financial part out of it, I personally think it would be cool to also add UTEP and SMU. Then the Big 12 could have a Lone Star division (Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, SMU, Baylor, UTEP, Houston) and a North division with everyone else (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State, Memphis).

That's a total pipe dream, however. It's only something I'd try on a video game. Unfortunately, I think we may all be saying that about the Big 12 in the very near future.

Bravo Blog: Can't Stand Constanza?

I'm seeing a lot of tweets from Braves fans upset about Jose Constanza starting in place of Jason Heyward. Are these fans watching the games?

I get where they're coming from: Jason Heyward is (hopefully) a future face of the franchise. He came into the league last year and set the NL on fire and made the All-Star team. Constanza is a minor league journeyman without any power. By reputation, it seems ridiculous to bench a future phenom in favor of a guy who's been in AAA for a long time.

However, look at the results. The numbers alone should tell the story.

Constanza (in a small sample of 13 games):
.408 avg, .431 on-base percentage, 1.023 OPS
Heyward (90 games):
.218 average, .313 on-base percentage, .709 OPS


Maybe it's luck. Maybe it's skill. Maybe it's because he
licks his bats. Whatever it is, Constanza is playing well.
But the stats don't do it justice. Constanza's detractors say he's getting lucky, just getting bloop hits and hitting balls that are misplayed by the defense. There are two things they're missing. First, there's nothing wrong with just slapping the ball the other way and getting on base. It's better than striking out, popping up, and hitting into double plays, three things Heyward tends to do. What would you rather have: a guy who consistently gets "cheap" hits or a guy who is still trying to figure out how to make good contact?

Going the other way with two strikes is an art form. It's called being a professional hitter, as is just making contact and seeing what happens. That's the other thing people are missing: speed never slumps. Constanza's blazing speed causes problems for the defense. Routine grounders are challenging. Infielders have to hurry to get "Georgie," as his teammates call him, at first.

Face it: Constanza is making things happen one way or another. He's even popped two home runs in his two weeks of playing time. That's only one less than the powerful Heyward has since the All-Star break.

Heyward is still a future face of the franchise,
but he's not hitting, and Gonzalez has to adjust.
I don't dislike Heyward. I'm just resigned to the fact he's in a sophomore slump that isn't going to be fixed this year. The book is out on how to pitch him, and every team in the NL has read the book, maybe even seen the movie.

Although he is slumping, I'm still not giving up on Heyward. Nobody should. And trust me, Fredi Gonzalez and Frank Wren definitely haven't quit on Heyward. He's not Jeff Francoeur, who never got it in Atlanta and was horribly impatient at the plate. Heyward is working hard with the coaches to fix the holes in his swing, and he'll get straightened out. He just might not get it this season. They won't send Heyward to AAA, either. When Constanza inevitably cools, they'll want Heyward back in there because of his upside. Whether it's off the bench or eventually getting his starting job back, Heyward will be a part of the Braves' pennant chase.

The calls to fire Fredi Gonzalez for starting Constanza over Heyward are ludicrous. The Braves are winning, aren't they? Fredi is simply playing the hot hand. If/when Constanza cools down, he'll go the bench and Heyward will be back in there. Constanza was in AAA all these years for a reason. He's not perfect. He's bound to cool off, but it's smart for Fredi to keep playing him until he does.

Some people have pointed out that Gonzalez stuck with Dan Uggla when he was struggling horribly, and he should do the same with Heyward. Believe me, if Diory Hernandez or someone was coming off the bench hitting .400 like Constanza is, Gonzalez would have found a way to get that guy in the lineup every day, and Fredi did give Uggla one or two games off a week to give guys like Hernandez and Brooks Conrad a chance to provide a spark. Unfortunately, no one really stepped up to make Fredi have to choose him over Uggla. So, Fredi just stuck with the slugger and hoped he'd get it going. (And wow, he has in a big way, but that's a topic for another blog.)

With Heyward, there is a better option: ride the pesky Constanza until his luck runs out. Enjoy it, Braves fans. Constanza is helping the team win. The sooner you acknowledge that, the happier you'll be.

If Heyward heats up, he'll see more playing time. Next spring, he'll still be the Braves starting right fielder. Right now, though, the Braves are in a pennant chase, and they have to go with the lineup that's going to help them win. Right now, that lineup is one with Jose Constanza in it.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Worst Decisions in Sports History

The Tulsa Shock is not a good basketball team. Tulsa is 1-20 with no relief in sight. The team is a mess. A Chicago broadcaster called the Shock a “train wreck” earlier this season. Teresa Edwards, the interim coach, said herself that it might not get any better this season. She said it’s going to be a learning experience every time out. It’s a young roster without a superstar. I don’t blame the players, because I know they’re doing their best. I blame ownership and the WNBA for thinking a team could succeed here.

When it was announced that Tulsa was getting a WNBA team, I know I’m not the only person in town who thought, “Seriously? A WNBA team here?”

It can't surprise too many people that the Shock has
struggled in its first two seasons in Tulsa.
Like many people who follow sports in this area, I bit my tongue and decided not to rain on Tulsa’s parade, because the city was proud to get its first top-level pro sports team (as opposed to the Drillers and Oilers, who are minor league teams). I would have been fine with being wrong, but I didn’t like the Shock’s chances of finding success in Tulsa. I, along with several others, thought that this struggling league would find it tough succeed in the 61st biggest market in the country. The talk at the press conference about filling the BOK Center with 10,000 people a night raised my eyebrows. They get 5,000 on a good night.

Hope isn’t completely lost, but the Shock has to draft extremely well, because it will always be tough to draw top free agents to Tulsa. Getting a superstar like Diana Taurasi or Maya Moore to come to Tulsa as a free agent would be really, really difficult. When the team moved from Detroit, some of the top players refused to come to Tulsa, which contributed to the franchise's early struggles in the Sooner State. It may be a tad early to call the Shock a total failure, but the deck will always be stacked against this team because of the smaller market.

This got me to thinking: what are worst decisions in sports history? There have been several much worse than the Tulsa Shock. In constructing this list, I made one stipulation: take hindsight out of it. In other words, to make the list, millions of fans had to think it was a bad decision the day it was made, and we all turned out to be right.

If I used hindsight, decisions like the Raiders drafting JaMarcus Russell first overall, the Detroit Tigers trading a prospect named John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander, and the Trail Blazers taking Sam Bowie ahead of Michael Jordan would all make the list. Those decisions were not criticized half as much the day they were made as they were five or ten years later.

The decisions that made my list, however, instantly made people all over the country say, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Sticking with Pedro cost Grady Little his job in 2003.
10. Grady Little sticks with Pedro Martinez
While Red Sox fans would vote for this as number one, it’s a tougher call for me as an objective fan. I’ll explain after I set the stage.
In Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez was mowing down Yankee hitters and had a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning. He had allowed just six hits while striking out eight through seven innings, and he got the leadoff batter in the eighth to pop out. The Sox were five outs away from their first World Series since 1986 and a chance to snap the legendary Curse of the Bambino. Martinez, though, was tiring. Derek Jeter doubled, then Bernie Williams singled in Jeter. It was 5-3.
Grady Little came out to talk to his ace while hard-throwing lefty Alan Embree was warming in the bullpen. Surprisingly, Little left Martinez in the game. After a Hideki Matsui double and a Jorge Posada two-run single, the game was tied. Three innings later, we know how it ended. The Yankees won the game, and Little was fired in the offseason.
Why is this a tough call for me? Pedro Martinez was one of the most dominant forces in the game. When Little walked off that mound, I was a little surprised, but I still thought Pedro was going to be the guy to get the Red Sox to the World Series. I thought, “Risky move, Little, but I don’t disagree.”
Those critical of the move at the time were quick to cite the pitch count. Even though statistics showed Martinez’s productivity dropped after 100 pitches, I subscribe to the old school theory that a pitcher should be judged on how he’s throwing and not what the pitch count is. I don’t fault Little for sticking with one of the most dominant pitchers in the game for one batter. I do, however, fault him for sticking with him for two. If the hits by Jeter and Williams weren’t enough clues to pull Martinez, the double by Matsui should have been the red flag. Pedro should have never faced Posada. That’s why Grady Little bats leadoff for me on this list of bad sports decisions.

Flutie led the Bills to 10 wins, but that wasn't
enough for Phillips to start him in the playoffs.
9. Wade Phillips goes with Rob Johnson over Doug Flutie
There was a quite a quarterback controversy in Buffalo in 1999: the promising youngster, Rob Johnson against the savvy veteran, Doug Flutie. Flutie won the job in training camp and led the Bills to a 10-5 record. Phillips rested Flutie in the meaningless regular season finale, when Johnson played and led the Bills to a 31-6 win. Phillips was impressed by Johnson and decided to start him in the Bills’ playoff game the following week against Tennessee. In other words, Phillips benched the man who had led the team to 10 wins in favor of the guy who lost the starting job and played well in the meaningless regular season finale. Flutie was completely healthy, but was going to watch the playoff game after leading Buffalo to 10 of its 11 wins.
While it did take the famous Music City Miracle for the Titans to pull out the win, the Bills did lose the game without Flutie. While many Bills fans would have rather seen Flutie start the game, they never really blamed that loss on Johnson, but they did pin the next two seasons on him. Phillips stuck with Johnson again in the 2000 season, when the Bills struggled to an 8-8 finish, with half of those wins coming at the hands of Flutie while Johnson was injured (Flutie went 4-1  with the Bills in 2000). Phillips was fired after the 2000 season, Flutie left as a free agent, and Johnson struggled again in 2001 before losing the starting job to Alex Van Pelt. The Bills have yet to return to the playoffs. While Johnson may have been a “miracle” away from making Phillips look like a genius, the miracle still happened and the Bills still lost. The difference between genius and insanity is measured only by success. In the end, Phillips picked the wrong guy, and everybody knew it.

Solo was openly critical of Ryan for benching her in 2007.
8. Greg Ryan benches Hope Solo
In 2007, the U.S. women’s soccer team was heading into its World Cup semifinal match against Brazil on a 51-match undefeated streak, and goalkeeper Hope Solo was a rising star who had a large hand in that. Head coach Greg Ryan, though, decided to bench her against Brazil and instead go with the experienced Briana Scurry, who had led the United States to the 1999 World Cup, but had not played in three months. The U.S. lost 4-0.
Solo didn’t hold back. She criticized Ryan in interviews after the game. She said it was the wrong decision. She may have been out of line to say that publicly, but she wasn’t wrong. While there is no guarantee that Solo would have won the game, she couldn’t have done much worse. Ryan’s decision coupled with Solo’s outburst divided the team and ultimately led to his contract not being renewed. In five matches against Brazil since, Solo hasn’t lost and has given up a total of just two goals, both of which came this summer in the World Cup quarterfinal win.

7. The 1980 Ali-Holmes fight
Everyone involved in organizing this fight should have been arrested for cashing in at the expense of the well-being of an American legend. Fight promoters threw a lot of money at the retired yet proud 38-year old Muhammad Ali to fight Larry Holmes, the 30-year old champ. Ali had clearly slowed down after a long career. He was moving and speaking slower. Everyone in the Ali camp could see this, but they went ahead with the fight anyway. It’s not about the fact Ali lost, it’s about the health risks involved.
Holmes didn’t want to beat up his friend, but he had to because he obviously didn’t want to lose his title. Ali wouldn’t quit of course, and Holmes dominated the legend. He won every round easily. It was a sad sight: the greatest champion boxing had ever seen was taking the beating of his life. Everyone watching was just begging for it to stop, and it finally was after ten rounds. While it’s a little extreme to blame Ali’s later development of Parkinson’s disease on this beating, the punishment his brain and body took unquestionably furthered the damage he had already taken during his career.

6. Notre Dame hires Gerry Faust
Giving the most prestigious job in college sports (at the time, anyway) to a high school coach seemed like a risk. It was. Faust went 30-26-1 with the Irish, who became known for late-game and late-season collapses during his tenure. He became the first Notre Dame coach to lose to Air Force, and he did it four times. His career ended with a humiliating 58-7 loss to Jimmy Johnson’s Miami Hurricanes.

Yes. This happened.
5. The White Sox wear shorts
Seriously. A Major League Baseball team wore shorts. In a game that involves sliding in dirt, the White Sox took the field in August of 1976 looking like they were about to play a pickup basketball game. The idea was that of then-owner Bill Veeck and his wife, Mary Frances. Their explanation: it gets hot the summer.
The shorts actually debuted for the first game of a doubleheader against Kansas City. Royals’ star John Mayberry famously said to one of the Sox players, “You guys are the sweetest team we’ve seen yet.”
Despite getting the win in game one, the Sox went back to wearing pants for game two. They wore shorts two more times that summer (mainly as publicity stunt for a struggling team), but never again.

4. The USFL sues the NFL, attempts to move to the fall
This decision was documented very well by the ESPN 30 for 30 film, Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? From 1983 through 1985, the USFL was a very successful spring football league that had recruited several future NFL stars like Herschel Walker, Steve Young, Reggie White, and Jim Kelly to play in the league. While it wasn’t as popular as the NFL, it was close. It was a fun league that fans and players enjoyed.
The USFL was working until the owners, led by Trump,
decided to sue the NFL and attempt to move to the fall.
Donald Trump, the owner of the New Jersey Generals, wanted to expand. Always the aggressive businessman, Trump led the charge to move the league from the spring to the fall after the 1985 season. He also led an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL to help finance the league as it made the fall transition. The good news: the USFL won the suit. The bad news: they were awarded exactly one dollar in damages (it was later tripled to three dollars). Obviously, a buck was not enough to keep the league afloat. The owners were out of money, and they knew they couldn’t compete with the NFL. The league ceased operations in 1986 and never restarted.

3. Gene Mauch shuffles his rotation
The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies pulled off one the most epic collapses in sports history, blowing a six-and-a-half game lead with 12 games to go. It probably wouldn’t have happened, though, if their manager hadn’t gotten cute with their rotation.
Mauch, noted as a great baseball strategist, decided to start his two aces, Jim Bunning and Chris Short, a total of seven times over the last ten games. Six of those starts were on two days rest. The Phillies lost all of them. Philadelphia lost ten straight before salvaging the last two of the season. By then, the St. Louis Cardinals had overtaken them to win the pennant. Why Mauch decided to push his best pitchers when he had such a comfortable lead still boggles the mind. This catastrophic collapse is known in Philadelphia as “The Phold.”
Eighteen years later, Mauch clearly hadn’t learned from his mistake. Leading the Milwaukee Brewers two games to none in the best-of-five ALCS, Mauch started Tommy John and Bruce Kison on three days rest in Games 4 and 5 to become the first manager to lose an ALCS after leading 2-0.
While that collapse isn’t quite as bad as what happened in 1964, it does help to illustrate why Mauch is the winningest manager without a pennant. Phillies’ fans still can’t understand why he wore out his pitching staff to let that big lead slip away.
As my late grandfather, a big Phillies’ fan, once said about Mauch, “There goes the strategic genius who never won anything!”

My grandfather didn’t say “anything.” I censored that for my family-oriented blog.

This is everything you need to know about the XFL.
2. The XFL
Vince McMahon’s ill-conceived idea to mix the game of football with the theatrics of professional wrestling was bad enough. However, he made the same mistake the USFL made: he tried to compete with the NFL. Instead of marketing his league as a supplement to the NFL, he marketed it as competition, and America never bought it. The players were predictably less talented, and the product was not half as good as Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura talked it up to be. One Saturday night, NBC was forced to stick with an XFL game that went into overtime. This forced a much-anticipated episode of Saturday Night Live with Jennifer Lopez to be delayed. It was pretty clear that NBC was off the XFL bandwagon at that point. The product was lousy, and it was hurting NBC’s more popular shows. Although we can always thank the XFL for the laughs we got from He Hate Me, nobody was surprised when the league folded after one season.

What could have been in Boston.
1. The Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees
In the words of Lee Corso, this isn’t a second guess. It’s a first guess.
This isn’t about hindsight. It’s about having the dominant player in the game and selling him. Whatever financial issues Red Sox owner Harry Frazee may or may not have been having at the time, they clearly could have been cured by investing in a valuable asset like Ruth.
At the time the Boston sold Ruth to the Yankees, he was the most popular, most dominant player in the game. Ruth had just made the transition from pitcher to outfielder and had set what (at the time) was the single-season home run record at 29. Ruth was an established star in 1919 and was clearly on his way to becoming a legend.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Characters at the Gym

As a follow-up to my most-read blog, the Characters of a Sports Press Conference, I decided I was overdue for another blog that stereotypes people.

So, I present to you: the characters at the gym. Most people at the gyms I've been to know what they're doing. Nine out of ten of my fellow gym-goers keep to themselves and go about their business. There are a few characters, however, that tend to pop up and bring down the workout experience.

The Chatter
As my friend Laura pointed out in her recent blog, some people just don't get the hint that you're at the gym to work out and not to socialize. The Chatter will look at you and tap his ear to indicate "lose the headphones because I have something to say." Inevitably, this person has nothing interesting to say. I made the mistake once of humoring a chatter by telling him I work in the sports department at a television station. Now, I know every time I see him, he wants to talk Sooners and Cowboys with me. Your iPod is no barrier to what the Chatter wants to talk about, and there is no obvious hint that can be given to get said Chatter to go away. You have to be the jerk and say, "I have to go."

The Chatter can also be found sitting next to you on an airplane, bus, or subway.

Scream Guy
Screaming at the Olympics? Fine. At a local gym? Stop it.
This guy is lifting a lot of weight, and he wants everybody to know about it. Every rep brings about another yell that either indicates success or pain... or both. You're not sure. His nonstop yelps can be heard everywhere: the bench next to him, the treadmills, the locker rooms, the parking lot, the deli across the street. Everywhere. You're not sure whether to call for help or invest in some noise-canceling headphones.

The couple that needs to get a room
They're both in great shape. They're both hot, and they are so happy to be at the gym together. They kiss each other before they go their separate ways to do their individual workouts, as if there's a chance one might not come back. We get it, folks: you're together. I promise I won't look at your girlfriend if you'll just stop massaging each other in front of my treadmill.

The person who needs your machine right now
He or she stands just a few feet away, watching you during your set. Then this person will chime in with "how many more you got?"
I don't mind this person during peak hours when it's really crowded and not many machines are available. I do, however, mind this person when I go in the mornings, when there are about 20 people in the gym and 100 available machines. You need this one this second? You can't do something else and come back in five minutes? I get having a routine, but you can't shuffle it a little? Maybe I'm just too polite, maybe I just don't have a great gym routine (the latter more possible than the former), but I don't mind altering my routine slightly if someone is on the machine I want. I'll just do something else and come back. This person, though, absolutely cannot wait another minute. Get off the machine.

The Squatter
The opposite of "the person who needs your machine right now" and a variation of the Chatter, the Squatter is just sitting on a machine or bench talking to friends. A minute or so isn't a big deal. Most of us are patient enough to wait a bit while someone else uses a machine we want. The Squatter, however, tests that patience.

Tip Guy
This guy is in great shape. He works out seven days a week. He watches Fit TV. He reads Men's Health, and wants to help you out. He watches what you do, and decides to give you some unsolicited advice on how to do it differently and also a tip on a great new routine he's been trying.
Thanks for the tips, Coach; but if I want advice, I'll hire a personal trainer.


The guy in the locker room who is way too comfortable naked
I'm just going to assume this is only a problem in the men's locker room.
We all get that it's a locker room, and guys need to change and shower. Unfortunately, there's always at least one guy who is way too comfortable with his body, and he's normally about 60 years old. Being naked to change clothes or before walking to the shower? Fine. Standing in front of the mirror naked to shave or brush your teeth, going to the urinal naked, and just standing there naked with a leg up on the bench talking to people? Not necessary. And yes, I've unfortunately seen all of those. Grab a towel, dude.

Despite the quirky characters, I still go the gym. If you've never noticed any of these characters, you might be one of them. Either that, or you go to a gym I should probably switch to.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Bush League?

Sunday's Tigers/Angels game brought up baseball's ridiculous list of unwritten rules. The term "bush league" was thrown around. What exactly is bush league?

That is actually an old baseball term that refers to minor league baseball teams in small towns. These teams were so poorly financed that their outfields did not have fences or walls. They had bushes surrounding the field. Thus, the poor quality of the field became a metaphor for the poor quality of the teams in the leagues, the bush leagues. Thus, anything low class or low quality came to be known as bush league.

Dropping a bunt to break up a no-hitter?
I not only approve it, I encourage it.
On Sunday, the term was thrown out at Angels shorstop Erick Aybar, who attempted to break up Justin Verlander's no-hitter in the eighth inning by bunting for a hit. This is considered to be a violation of baseball etiquette. Those who subscribe to this school of thinking believe that bunting is not allowed during a no-hitter and that Aybar should have swung away to try and get a "real hit."

I think that is absolute garbage, and I have no problem with what Aybar did. In the immortal words of Herm Edwards, you play to win the game.

When Aybar dropped that bunt, his team was only trailing 3-0. It wasn't a blowout, and he did what he is paid to do: whatever he can to help the Angels win a ballgame. He didn't get a hit, but he reached on a Verlander throwing error, which threw the big right-hander off his rhythm. He would later surrender a hit and two runs in the inning. So, by breaking that ridiculous unwritten rule, Aybar helped his team pull within a run of the Tigers, thus giving his team a better chance to win.

That's what Aybar is paid to do: help the Angels win. Nowhere in his contract does it say, "when an opposing pitcher is six outs away from a no-hitter, you should take it easy and let him have the final outs."

To Verlander and Jim Leyland's credit, they both said they understood what Aybar did. Verlander did chuckle as he said the move could be considered bush league, but he acknowledged that Aybar was just trying to help his team. Leyland echoed those thoughts, as he said he has absolutely no problem with Aybar trying to get his team going.

Besides, Aybar is a quick player who doesn't hit for much power. Bunting for hits is part of his game. Maybe if the score was 10-0 and there was a big power hitter up there trying to bunt for a hit, the term bush league might apply a little bit. Even so, there is one thing about baseball that separates it from other sports with regards to "calling off the dogs" late in a game: baseball has no clock. Even if the score is 15-0 in the 9th, the other team still has a shot to string together hits and win the game.

Other sports have unwritten rules about taking it easy in a blowout, and I agree with them to an extent. If a basketball team is up 20 points with a minute to go, yes, it's over. A hockey or soccer team up four goals with a minute left? Sure, call off the dogs. A football team up five touchdowns late in the fourth quarter? Yeah, it's probably time to take out your first string and stop throwing deep.

On the other hand, as former Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson once said, "It's not my fault your team sucks." In other words, if you don't like us scoring, stop us. While I think Johnson may have taken that a bit too far sometimes, the logic isn't flawed. It certainly applies to baseball, the game with no clock, which means there is always time for a late rally. In my opinion, that always leaves some leeway for things like stealing bases and bunting for hits in lopsided games. So, I really don't hold a grudge against a team that still tries to score runs in a blowout. It's not bush league.

Guillen's glaring at Weaver at Sunday was
over the top. Act like a professional.
What was bush league on Sunday, however, was how Carlos Guillen showed up Jered Weaver on his seventh-inning homer. While I don't know all of what was said between the two teams, it seems like Guillen's actions were retaliation from earlier.

Pitchers hate to get shown up. Magglio Ordonez appeared to watch his third-inning home run off Weaver, but a closer look showed that Ordonez was looking to see if it was fair or foul. That's what Ordonez said after the game, and I believe him. Weaver didn't. He had some words with Ordonez after his next at-bat. So, Guillen decided to send a message by glaring at Weaver as his homer sailed into the right field seats.

There's no place in the game for that, even if Weaver was acting like a jerk. All Guillen did was put Alex Avila, the following hitter, in danger. Predictably, Weaver sailed a pitch right at his head and got ejected. Avila ducked out of the way and wasn't injured, but Guillen should probably wear body armor the next time he sees Weaver.

While throwing 90+ mph fastballs at hitters' heads is beyond bush league (it's obviously extremely dangerous), I think chucking a pitch at a deserving hitter's back or backside is within baseball etiquette. Guillen has one of those coming his way for certain. Showing up a pitcher and sparking violence between two teams like that? That's definitely bush league.

Dropping a bunt to break up a pitcher's rhythm and give your team a chance to win? Not bush league. That's called not giving up and playing to win.