Owner: Sports Chatter URL:http://sportschatter1.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:59:51 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Thoughts, ideas and questions regarding the teams, people and places in sports by a former sports writer and editor. Your comments are welcome. Site statistics:Click here
WEEKENDER: Great Day in Cooperstown 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In "A Great
Day in Cooperstown," veteran sports journalist Jim Reisler chronicles the painful birthing process of what has become the world's most prestigious sports memorial - the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which opened in 1939 after years of preparation.
Using an iconic photo of the Hall's original inductees — including Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Honus Wagner, and Connie Mack — Reisler delivers Read more:Great Day
, WEEKENDER
THURSDAY THOUGHTS: Who's the AL MVP? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Every year, it seems this questoin, for the National League, too, is hard to answer.
I'll be honest. Last year, I couldn't root for David Ortiz to win because he's a Red Sox player. That doesn't mean I think Alex Rodriguez should have won, although he had an excellent year.
This season, I'm biased (although I do think he should win). It has to be Derek Jeter. He's meant too much to the Yankees,
THURSDAY THOUGHT: 'Defense, that's what we do' Huh? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Temple beat Rutgers last night, 77-54, to drop the Scarlet Knights to 1-5 and 0-5 against Division 1 teams. Coach Fred Hill's team let the Owls shoot 55.1 percent from the field and 63.2 percent from 3-point range. '
Here are two quotes in a NJ.com story:
"Defense
, that's what we do," said sophomore JR Inman, who led the Knights with 12 points and nine rebounds... "Whenever you shy away from
WEEKENDER: It's tough 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'm coaching girls basketball for the third year. The first two years I was a part of a Parks & Rec clinic program, during which, in only six sessions each year, we tried to build a fundamental foundation. We did not play any games, although once or twice, we did scrimamge amongst ourselves.
I'm learning a lot about the difference between boys and girls when it comes to sports. Even at ages 8 Read more:WEEKENDER
MONDAY MATTERS: Andy Pettitte 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Andy Pettitte is back in Yankee pinstripes. He never should have been allowed to leave.
There were happy fans this weekend, and some annoyed fans at the news that New York had signed Andy Pettitte for $16 million for the 2007 season, and possibly 2008 if he wishes to come back.
He's just a mercenary, said some, forgetting the saga that led to Andy's leaving. Pettitte waited all season for the
FRIDAY FANATICS: Fantasy Baseball 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've never played fantasy baseball before, aside from a home run derby and a runs for the week pool. Those games present challenges for fans, yes, but not like full-blown, head-to-head action with real players on a roster.
What I've learned is that fantasy baseball has changed the way I watch, listen and react to games. There's nothing like having a key player on your fantasy team face your a Read more:FANATICS
, Fantasy Baseball
WEEKENDER: What's the story? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I turned on the TV at 8:15 p.m. and just missed the report about why Chris Simms ws in the hospital.
Bob Costas and company talked five more minutes and never repeated any information regarding the cause of his hosptialization - other than the fact that he was hit hard a few times in Tampa Bay's game with Carolina.
How can three network people report on the same story
that poorly? Read more:WEEKENDER
THURSDAY THOUGHT: Barry Bonds 1970-01-01 00:59:59 There was a big story on the front of the USA Today sports section yesterday about BarryBonds
, and how the end of this year is full of ifs for him. Will he play? Where will he play? Will he take a pay cut?
Answer me this: why do we care?
Barry Bonds
is a cheater and a liar. He's made a mockery of the record books - like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. We should be wondering this year if the
WEDNESDAY WHINE: Chris Simms 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You read stories about coaches at the youth sports level being happy when the school that they work for hires an athletic trainer. The coaches state that it takes a load off their minds of having to decide whether or not a player can go back in the game.
Based on that, and maybe this is too simplistic an approach, but where were the trainers at the Tampa Bay/Carolina game Sunday?
Don't the Read more:Chris
, WHINE
, Simms
TUESDAY TEASE: Rutgers Football 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Scarlet Knights are ranked for the first time since 1976. Dare we get excited?
With South Florida coming up on the road Saturday, this week has letdown written all over it - especially with a quarterback that's done absolutely nothing.
How can a one dimensional team survive a whole season in good enough shape to make a bowl game? Anyone know? Read more:Football
, Rutgers
MONDAY MATTERS: Detroit Tigers 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So it's been a while since the Tigers
made the playoffs. But celebrating with champagne just for clinching a wildcard spot? Look at them. You'd think they just won the World Series. There are a couple of veterans on the team who should have known better.
I don't get it. Who's idea was it, anyway? Why didn't somebody pull the plug on this amateurish stuff and say it wasn't going to happen? Read more:Detroit
TUESDAY TEASE: Greg Schiano to Miami 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Here's what I don't understand about the sports world.
1) A player signs a megadeal contract to play for the team that big the highest while that player was a free agent. The player always says: "It has been my dream to play for this team." What a cliche. We know those statements are not true.
2) A college coach says he is going to stay where he is, despite all the talk that he's moving on to Read more:Miami
MONDAY MATTERS: Texas Bowl Travesty 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I had promised myself I wouldn't be a complainer when it came to the bowl selections for college football - no matter where Rutgers ended up. But the inaugural Texas
Bowl?
I'm breaking my promise. I'm offended.
The Scarlet Knights are ranked 16th in the country, have a defense ranked in the top 10 in many categories and yet they are playing Dec. 28 in a bowl with absolutely no tradition. Well, Read more:Travesty
MONDAY MATTERS: Give Me a Break, LT 1970-01-01 00:59:59 By Hoss Aultman from Jets Confidential: RB LaDainian Tomlinson was livid over the Patriots celebrating in front of the Chargers' bench when Nate Kaeding missed a 54-yard field goal in the final seconds. The Patriots imitated Shawne Merriman's lights out dance and clutched their throats in the Chargers' eye sight. "I was upset, very upset," Tomlinson said after rushing for 123 yards and two scores Read more:Break
THURSDAY THOUGHTS: Nick Saban 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A few weeks ago, I posted a comment about Rutgers coach Greg Schiano visiting the University of Miami after stating for weeks he had the job he wanted.
Luckily for the Scarlet Knights, with relation to the Miami job, Schiano spoke the truth and is returning as RU coach. But the fact that Schiano went to Miami to talk was disturbhing in itself. Why go at all?
My thoughts then also focused on the Read more:Saban
THURSDAY THOUGHTS: Baseball Hall of Fame 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Congratulations to Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn for their election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. They are worthy players deserving of entry in their firstyear of eligibility.
I've seen enough of Gwynn playing for the San Diego Padres to know that he was an incredible hitter. But being an American League fan, the time I spent watching him was limited.
Although I wished the day would
WEDNESDAY WHINE: Bill Belichick 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I know Bill Belichick has three Super Bowl wins. I understand that he has demonstrated his coaching ability as a defesnive coordinator and as a head coach. But can a guy be more of a jerk than he is?
Did anyone notice his conduct after the Indianapolis Colts beat the New England Patriots Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl?
The cameras followed Peyton Manning, the Colts QB, as he searched for Read more:WHINE
WEEKENDER: Bowl Games 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Anyone else remember when New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were the days to watch college football bowl games? Remember when the biggest games were played on New Year's Day and that was it?
Granted, I liked watching the games Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I was disappointed when none were on on Friday. But you know what? I don't about Ohio State and Florida. I'm not going to watch Read more:Games
, WEEKENDER
WEDNESDAY WHINE: Oh, Mike! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I can help it. I feel bad for Mike Tyson, a mega-star so screwed up it's beyond belief.
Go ahead, ask it. Why? He's just a street hood who is living the way he would have lived had Cus D'Amato not discovered him and become his legal guardian in 1984. He was in plenty of trouble up to that time. We would have never heard of Mike Tyson had it not been for D'Amato and we wouldn't be talking about Read more:WHINE
WEDNESDAY WHINE: Allen Iverson 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I saved this for whine day because that's what AllenIverson
is doing.
The Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers are not winning, and Iverson, the prima donna and thug that he is, wants out - despite his contract to play for the Sixers. That is apparently what you do when you are making millions of dollars a year and things aren't going right.
But here's the best part...the Sixers have told Iverson not to Read more:WHINE
, Allen Iverson
TUESDAY TEASE: Imagine-classy athletes 1970-01-01 00:59:59 From seattlepi.com: "I lost all respect for the guy [Terrell Owens]," (DeAngelo) Hall said. "That's the No. 1 thing in the National Football League. You don't spit in another grown man's face. Hopefully, the NFL can see it and go back and watch the film right just before the first punt. On third down, we were kind of walking face to face, walking back to the huddle and he just hauled off and Read more:Imagine
MONDAY MATTERS: The Sad and Lowly Knicks 1970-01-01 00:59:59 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports: "The NBA has another ugly scene to recover from. This one involved its leading scorer and happened in its most famous arena. Denver's Carmelo Anthony and the other nine players on the court at the time were ejected for fighting during a wild brawl between the Nuggets and Knicks
, triggered in part by a New York team that felt it was being shown up on its home floor
FRIDAY FANATICS: Way to go, RU! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Rutgers 37, Kansas State 10
To me, the score says it all. Rutgers should have been playing later in this bowl season, and not on a day after which 40 teams have still to play. Today's AP story noted that the players were disappointed having to play in the Texas Bowl. They should have been. They deserved better - having the 7th-ranked defense in the country and two of the nation's best running Read more:FANATICS
MONDAY MATTERS: This is Disturbing 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This little news tidbit was tossed around a bit last week, but not enough. It's a story that clearly sends the wrong message to the regular "joes" in society and is an example of how there are always exceptions to the rules when you have money and talent.
From NFL.com Wire Reports: "Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson will play in the Super Bowl -- with court approval and a warning from
MONDAY MATTERS: All Hail Peyton 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This is the obligatory discussion of Peyton Manning leading the Indiapolis Colts to the Super Bowl XLI championship over the Chicago Bears, 29-17, last night.
One of the greatest players to ever don a football uniform now has the title he needs to cement his place in history. No longer will there be questions about why he cannot win the big game. He won two in three weeks, overcoming the New
WEDNESDAY WHINE: What is Kathleen Parker Talking About? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In her Feb. 1 newspaper column, which I actually read in the Waterbury Republican-American Feb.5, KathleenParker
writes of how Barbaro captured the imagination of the public as he battled to recover from a bad leg break suffered in the Preakness Stakes race in 2006.
She discusses how everyone has some connection to a horse, and that this Barbaro may have been "right horse at the right time" as Read more:WHINE
, Talking
THURSDAY THOUGHTS: BeliefNet's Top Sports Miracles 1970-01-01 00:59:59 According to BeliefNet, here are the biggest sports miracles. It's a pretty good list, despite its inaccuracies. Several of these things I actually saw, so that makes it that much more fun.
I included only the moments, which end with the one most of you probably would have picked as No. 1. Read all the details on BeliefNet.
10. Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard Round the World (1951)
9. NC State Beats Read more:Sports
FRIDAY FANATICS: Winning Begets Winning Begets Top Players 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano announced Wednesday that 21 high school standouts have signed National Letters of Intent to play football for the Scarlet Knights beginning in the fall of 2007.
The recruiting class, ranked by several recruiting services in the nation's top 30, included five offensive linemen, four defensive ends, three defensive backs, two defensive linemen, two Read more:FANATICS
, Winning
, Players
Weekender: An Athlete's Prayer 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In church a few Super Bowl Sundays ago, a young teenager asked the pastor during "The Church at Prayer
" if we as a congregation would pray that the New England Patriots would win later tht night.
The congregation chuckled, some shocked that a 13-yer-old would make a mockery of our prayer time. The pastor handled it, praying for everyone who was invoved in the event and that the game came off Read more:Athlete
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