Super Bowl Full
Of Interesting Factoids
Like anything that has gone on for more than 40 years, the Super Bowl brings with it a variety of interesting facts, trivia and information. The heroes, great games and last minute finishes are well entrenched in the history books, but some other things which are equally as interesting have faded away with time.
For many that is the case with the name Mike Lodish. True fans of the game, as well as those of the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, might know him as a 270-pound defensive lineman. Real Super Bowl experts know he has the distinction of taking part in more Super Bowl losses than any player in history. He participated in a total of six Super Bowls and lost all of them.
There is at least one player who had to issue an all points bulletin for their helmet. Apparently it took an anonymous caller with a hot tip for police in order for Emmitt Smith to find one of his Cowboy helmets worn in the Super Bowl.
It seems like Smith isn’t the only Cowboy with a rather dubious claim to Super Bowl fame. The most famous Cowboy of my generation, Roger Staubach, holds the record for most turnovers in a game after he gave the ball back five times in one game.
Even with that performance, the Buffalo Bills saved the Cowboys by fumbling seven times as a team to hold the record for most give-aways in one game.
The Cowboys as a whole hold the record for most penalties in a game, receiving a whopping 12 penalties in one four-quarter period.
The San Francisco 49ers have faltered somewhat in recent years but at the current time they hold several distinctions in Super Bowl history. The 49ers have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy five times in their history.
The 49ers’ most famous quarterback, Joe Montana, held the previous record with five touchdowns in a Super Bowl game before Steve Young, another San Francisco signal-caller, threw for six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX.
In one unofficial observation, I would say Montana is the best Super Bowl quarterback I have seen. Ironically, Jim Kelly, who lost four big games as a Bill, comes to my mind as the second best quarterback I have seen in the championshipgame. Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien holds a record definitely not held by anyone else. He is the only Super Bowl most valuable player born in Canada.
Like players, there are dozens of coaches who have made their way into the Super Bowl record book for a variety of reasons. One of the most interesting records is one held by three coaches, Denver Broncos Coach Dan Reaves, Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka and Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy. They are the only three men who have won Super Bowls as a coach, assistant coach and player.
And an exercise in Super Bowl trivia wouldn’t be complete without mention of those of us who do nothing more than watch the game, stuffing our mouths the whole time. According to statistics, five percent of us will watch the game by ourselves. The average Super Bowl party size is 17 people. In one recent year, people took in more than eight million pounds of guacamole as they watched the big game.
Again, it’s just useless information, but it’s part of the Super Bowl fun. This year we have the Pro Bowl before the big game, but it won’t matter. There’s nothing like the countdown to Super Bowl kickoff and the fun it creates. Now there is just over one week left.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Phil does just fine
Typically the greatest golfer in the game makes his debut for the season at Torrey Pines, and if you want to get technical about it this year is no different. As Tiger Woods at least temporarily removed himself from pro golf, Phil MIckelson is , hands down, the best out there and he is making his first appearance this week. Golf fans would be wise to take notice.
Maybe golf can make a statement about ethics in the game with its Tiger in a cage. Maybe the man known for carrying a pager around Pinehurst in 1999 to keep up with the birth of his first child, should be recognized for his family values.
Tiger's escapades sell more papers and are much funnier to late night comedians but Phil's are much more credible. The fact he is not the subject of Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, who ever else is on NBC is a good thing for his image.
Not to many would argue he is not second to Tiger when it comes to morality. That might have been questionable a year ago but since Thanksgiving night it is laughable
On the course his skills aren't quite up to par with Tiger's but that is the case with everyone else in the world also. There is no shame in second place and Phil is first where it really matters. It would be nice to see him get some credit for it.
In the mean time it is a good chance to him to cement his legacy without anyone wearing red on Sunday afternoons threatening his place in the history books.
Maybe golf can make a statement about ethics in the game with its Tiger in a cage. Maybe the man known for carrying a pager around Pinehurst in 1999 to keep up with the birth of his first child, should be recognized for his family values.
Tiger's escapades sell more papers and are much funnier to late night comedians but Phil's are much more credible. The fact he is not the subject of Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, who ever else is on NBC is a good thing for his image.
Not to many would argue he is not second to Tiger when it comes to morality. That might have been questionable a year ago but since Thanksgiving night it is laughable
On the course his skills aren't quite up to par with Tiger's but that is the case with everyone else in the world also. There is no shame in second place and Phil is first where it really matters. It would be nice to see him get some credit for it.
In the mean time it is a good chance to him to cement his legacy without anyone wearing red on Sunday afternoons threatening his place in the history books.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Super Bowl memories
It is that time of year again, when we await what is called the greatest football game of the year. Though other sporting events have caught more of my attention I do have special memories of the NFL championship game.
My first memories of the big day involve teams wearing black. I first remember my brother, who didn't even like football, wearing that ugly number 32 jersey of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He likely didn't know it was the number of Franco Harris, his motive was being a thorn in my side.
It worked. I countered with that deep purple number ten jersey of the Minnesota Vikings. Fran Tarkenton never won the big game but he was alway a personal favorite.
I remember crying as a small child when Philadelphia lost to the Raiders in the game. Don't ask me why but I just didn't like those black and silver colors and the players that wore them.
As a college student I used language my mother wouldn't be proud of when I lost some money as Cincinatti lost to the 49ers in the big game. I respected Joe Montana but I didn't have to like him. I am still disappointed when I hear the name Boomer Esiason.
In recent years my love to hate attitude switched to the Patriots. Tom Brady and particularly Bill Belichek continue to get under my skin.
I could make a list a mile long of Super Bowl heroes but a few stick in the mind. Tarkenton was one. The performance of Steve Smith for the Carolina Panthers comes to mind. Who could forget other greats like Bradshaw, Warner, Starr, Rice and others.
The bottom line on the Super Bowl is that it is just that Super. This year won't disappoint but you heard it in The Corner first, Indianpolis 20 New Orleans 10.
My first memories of the big day involve teams wearing black. I first remember my brother, who didn't even like football, wearing that ugly number 32 jersey of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He likely didn't know it was the number of Franco Harris, his motive was being a thorn in my side.
It worked. I countered with that deep purple number ten jersey of the Minnesota Vikings. Fran Tarkenton never won the big game but he was alway a personal favorite.
I remember crying as a small child when Philadelphia lost to the Raiders in the game. Don't ask me why but I just didn't like those black and silver colors and the players that wore them.
As a college student I used language my mother wouldn't be proud of when I lost some money as Cincinatti lost to the 49ers in the big game. I respected Joe Montana but I didn't have to like him. I am still disappointed when I hear the name Boomer Esiason.
In recent years my love to hate attitude switched to the Patriots. Tom Brady and particularly Bill Belichek continue to get under my skin.
I could make a list a mile long of Super Bowl heroes but a few stick in the mind. Tarkenton was one. The performance of Steve Smith for the Carolina Panthers comes to mind. Who could forget other greats like Bradshaw, Warner, Starr, Rice and others.
The bottom line on the Super Bowl is that it is just that Super. This year won't disappoint but you heard it in The Corner first, Indianpolis 20 New Orleans 10.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
There are four teams in the big four
For years my older brother has complained about the treatment of his alma mater in the Triangle area press. His argument has been that N.C. State is not treated equally in the media compared to UNC and Duke. I realized in the past week he is right. Sidney Lowe is making it clear there are four teams in what has always been known as "The Big Four" and the local press need to realize and report on it.
A prime example is that there hasn't been much press about a rare statistic this season. There are only two teams in the ACC without a road win as of Saturday night, and both of them wear blue.
Duke and Carolina may be the higest ranked teams in the area but State is showing signs of improving an image that has been on the downswing in different years.
State fans need to be patient. Lowe is only now playing with all of his own recruits. There are a lot of reasons why that is important.
Highest on that list is that until this year some of the players had a part of them dedicated to Herb Sendek. Coaches begin a relationship during the recruiting effort that is difficult to change when a new coach comes in. The players now on the team have that kind of relationship with Lowe. They are naturally going to play harder for him.
There are already rumblings about Lowe's future in west Raleigh but they will soon be quieted. If not this season, next year the Pack will begin an annual pilgramage to the NCAA tournament. The local media needs to realize that the fourth team in the big four is on the way back up.
A prime example is that there hasn't been much press about a rare statistic this season. There are only two teams in the ACC without a road win as of Saturday night, and both of them wear blue.
Duke and Carolina may be the higest ranked teams in the area but State is showing signs of improving an image that has been on the downswing in different years.
State fans need to be patient. Lowe is only now playing with all of his own recruits. There are a lot of reasons why that is important.
Highest on that list is that until this year some of the players had a part of them dedicated to Herb Sendek. Coaches begin a relationship during the recruiting effort that is difficult to change when a new coach comes in. The players now on the team have that kind of relationship with Lowe. They are naturally going to play harder for him.
There are already rumblings about Lowe's future in west Raleigh but they will soon be quieted. If not this season, next year the Pack will begin an annual pilgramage to the NCAA tournament. The local media needs to realize that the fourth team in the big four is on the way back up.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Favre's loyalties run deep
Laugh of the day, a headline I read that stated “Favre is still a Saint’s fan.”
Favre, from nearby Mississippi, was a fan of the team often called the Aint’s in the 1980s. His Vikings will face off against the Saints, notice the S is back, this weekend so I am not thinking he is a fan, for the moment
The teams of Favre's childhood disappointed a lot of people in the Mississippi delta region but the Saints of 2010 are a different story.
Here’s a prediction, Favre won’t be a Saint’s fan this weekend but he will pull hard for his favorite team once again in the Super Bowl. He has had a great season but his Vikings will run into a New Orleans machine. This time next week Favre will be deciding whether or not he going to retire, again, or, or again or which team he will return to next year.
He is going to become a Saint’s fan once again when he hangs up his jersey for good but for one day this weekend he won't be disappointed if they go back to the Big Easy with their hands hanging.
Favre, from nearby Mississippi, was a fan of the team often called the Aint’s in the 1980s. His Vikings will face off against the Saints, notice the S is back, this weekend so I am not thinking he is a fan, for the moment
The teams of Favre's childhood disappointed a lot of people in the Mississippi delta region but the Saints of 2010 are a different story.
Here’s a prediction, Favre won’t be a Saint’s fan this weekend but he will pull hard for his favorite team once again in the Super Bowl. He has had a great season but his Vikings will run into a New Orleans machine. This time next week Favre will be deciding whether or not he going to retire, again, or, or again or which team he will return to next year.
He is going to become a Saint’s fan once again when he hangs up his jersey for good but for one day this weekend he won't be disappointed if they go back to the Big Easy with their hands hanging.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Hall of Fame difficult this year
Hall of fame choices hard to make
Baseball writers have once again chosen their inductee, in this case it is one player, into the hall of fame and once again their choice is questionable in the minds of some. Andre Dawson was this year’s selection. He is a borderline pick. He is lucky because at least 75 percent of this year’s voters thought his record was good enough to give him a pass to Cooperstown.
Dawson, who starred in right field first with the Montreal Expos and then the Cubs carried a .279 batting average over the course of his career with 1,591 runs batted in and 314 stolen bases.
It may be that last number that pushed the man known as “The Hawk,” through the doors of the hall of fame.
It was that number that separates Dawson from the perennial black ball of sports writers, Dale Murphy. The man we loved to call Murph batted .265 and had 1,266 runs batted in but stole only 161 bases in his career. His 398 home runs should give him serious consideration but he gets only a handful of votes each year.
There is once again a long list of players who joined Murphy on the thanks but no thanks list. Bert Blyleven fell five votes short. Roberto Alomar received the highest amount of votes ever for a player appearing on the ballot for the first time.
Many don’t agree with different votes but one must remember five percent of writers didn’t vote for Babe Ruth his first time on the ballot, seven percent ignored Willie Mays and 13 percent voted against Sandy Koufax.
Those who cast ballots have the right to do so for who ever they want. The ones who turned in blank ballots should have their rights taken away. Sports writers across the country, including this one, would love the opportunity that a group of writers through away.
There were quality names that were overlooked. Some of those they overlooked, in addition to the ones listed above, included Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Mark McGuire and Don Mattingly. Considering the events of this month the third of those four listed should be removed.
Smith would get my vote. He made more of an impact than any other player on the list. He is one of the top two or three closers of all time.
I still say Murphy needs some consideration. He put together his numbers on some of the worst teams in the last 30 years of baseball.
Outside of those two I don’t see hall of fame material. I see great players, just not ones who should have their plaque on that sacred wall.
Hats off to all those who voted, regardless of who they voted for. It is fun to debate the merits of individual players, and disgraceful not to choose anyone.
Baseball writers have once again chosen their inductee, in this case it is one player, into the hall of fame and once again their choice is questionable in the minds of some. Andre Dawson was this year’s selection. He is a borderline pick. He is lucky because at least 75 percent of this year’s voters thought his record was good enough to give him a pass to Cooperstown.
Dawson, who starred in right field first with the Montreal Expos and then the Cubs carried a .279 batting average over the course of his career with 1,591 runs batted in and 314 stolen bases.
It may be that last number that pushed the man known as “The Hawk,” through the doors of the hall of fame.
It was that number that separates Dawson from the perennial black ball of sports writers, Dale Murphy. The man we loved to call Murph batted .265 and had 1,266 runs batted in but stole only 161 bases in his career. His 398 home runs should give him serious consideration but he gets only a handful of votes each year.
There is once again a long list of players who joined Murphy on the thanks but no thanks list. Bert Blyleven fell five votes short. Roberto Alomar received the highest amount of votes ever for a player appearing on the ballot for the first time.
Many don’t agree with different votes but one must remember five percent of writers didn’t vote for Babe Ruth his first time on the ballot, seven percent ignored Willie Mays and 13 percent voted against Sandy Koufax.
Those who cast ballots have the right to do so for who ever they want. The ones who turned in blank ballots should have their rights taken away. Sports writers across the country, including this one, would love the opportunity that a group of writers through away.
There were quality names that were overlooked. Some of those they overlooked, in addition to the ones listed above, included Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Mark McGuire and Don Mattingly. Considering the events of this month the third of those four listed should be removed.
Smith would get my vote. He made more of an impact than any other player on the list. He is one of the top two or three closers of all time.
I still say Murphy needs some consideration. He put together his numbers on some of the worst teams in the last 30 years of baseball.
Outside of those two I don’t see hall of fame material. I see great players, just not ones who should have their plaque on that sacred wall.
Hats off to all those who voted, regardless of who they voted for. It is fun to debate the merits of individual players, and disgraceful not to choose anyone.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Indianapolis wins
The Colts were the pick of the Corner last week to win it all. Vote again to see if opinions have changed after the weekend.
Brett showing age is not a factor
The Old man is still getting it done
OK. I heard a good one yesterday during the Vikings and Cowboys game. Somebody said forty year old Brett Favre is proving 40 is the new 30. Not sure what that means but I am sure of one thing and that is that age doesn’t matter when it comes to NFL quarterbacks this year. The oldest one in the league is also one of the best. One that is about to join him in whatever quarterbacks do in retirement, may well have been the second best
It wasn’t very many years ago, about 20 now, that Jeff Charles, voice of the East Carolina Pirates, proclaimed in a game against Southern Mississippi that Brett Favre had the potential to be one of the great ones. He showed that much talent leading a team that lacked the talent overall to make a statement on the national level.
Soon there after Favre walked the sidelines as a backup for the Atlanta Falcons. That is what players drafted late in the second round usually do. His first year in the league he played in two games. It wasn’t until he went to Green Bay he began a career that included eleven trips to the pro bowl, so far. No one said he is done yet.
Favre isn’t the only “senior citizen” who made an impact this year. Kurt Warner, leader of the Cardinals, is 38. To bad the two couldn’t make it to the Super Bowl. It now looks like Warner, who has the best name in the league, may retire but there is no official word yet.
Bottom line is age is literally in the mind for both of these two and a handful of others. Throughout his career Favre has been pounded by three hundred pound lineman and made every start. Many of those games were in unthinkable conditions of Green Bay winters. His mind got him past many injuries. When it is 20 below there is automatically a certain element of mind over matter to get ready to lead a football team.
It is that same mind that is leading the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl this year. It is also the same one that will bring him back next year, if that is what he wants. One thing for sure is nothing is going to stop him from making his best effort as long as the Vikings stay in the playoff hunt. It should be fun to watch. Here’s to the old man holding up the Lombardi trophy in a few weeks.
Friday, January 15, 2010
To late
By the time yesterday's post got up and running the announcement about Skip Holtz leaving ECU was public. Gods speed and good health.
It is now up to Terry Holland and his staff to bring in a coach who is going to move the program forward based on the foundation that is in place. Going backwards is not an option (remember the Chris Thompson experiment!)
South Florida will now be one of the up and coming programs in the country under Skip's leadership.
It is unfortunate for the Pirates but there is no need to be bitter. No one can be blamed for doing what is best for their family. We may not like it but have no right to place blame on the Holtz family.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Say it Ain't so Skip
Pirates on Skip Watch
There are a lot of East Carolina football fans sitting on pins and needles this week. Once again Coach Skip Holtz is the target of schools with coaching openings. The difference is this time he has expressed interest in a job at South Florida. It appears he may be packing up his moving van.
If Skip was a visitor to The Corner I would get down on bended knees, begging him to stay For the first time in the nearly 20 years I have watched East Carolina gridiron action there is a program in Greenville. Before there were just teams who came together on Saturdays.
It is no wonder Skip draws interest every year. He has built a team that now has national recognition at a school that has difficulty establishing an identity.
He likely realizes his growth potential is limited because East Carolina has never gotten what it has so obviously deserved. When the Atlantic Coast Conference expanded they ignored the most obvious candidate and chose teams requiring long travel trips to Miami and Boston, with a very limited fan base. They ignored a team that would bring thousands of purple and gold clad fans out each time there was a game.
The Pirates have long been the "red headed step child" of college football in North Carolina. That may well be what costs them one of the best coaches in the country. We can only hope the draw of Greenville keeps him around a little longer. Losing him will be a major step back for the Pirate program. It will happen sooner or later, the later the better.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
McGuire used steroids?
Sports quote of the Day. 91 year old pitching legend Bob Feller, " Mark McGuire will not get in the hall of fame in my life time."
Anyone who claims to be a baseball fan should hope not, and not in the life span of anyone else living today. It is bad enough and not surprising, that McGuire used steroids. In the minds of most he, and his former Oakland A's teammate Jose Canseco, and of course the other Bay area Bomber Barry Bonds were the poster children of what McGuire termed the "era of steroids."
What is even worse is the way McGuire came clean, with a speech of more excuses than substance.
McGuire insisted in his remarks that he took steroids for his health, not to hit more home runs. He said he would have still hit the same number of home runs without them.
He is right about one thing, hitting home runs takes a certain amount of natural ability. Most normal men couldn't do it with all the steroids in the world
He is wrong about another, and that has to do with the way he remembers his high school physics lesson.
Stronger arms make bats move faster. A faster moving bat obviously makes the smaller baseball travel further when hit squarely. To even suggest some of his home runs were not due to abnormal strength is absurd.
McGuire said he wished he had never played baseball during the era of the steroid. Fans of the 1980s would agree. We would also agree Nolan Ryan did OK replacing steroids with workouts and sweat.
Dale Murphy was known to hit opposite field home runs, a feat that takes strength. He didn't need injections or pills to do it. The list could go on. Dozens of players played at the same time as McGuire, they were just more concerned with the integrity of the game than getting an illegal edge.
In a statement the day after his admission McGuire said his steroid use was a secret to his wife and his parents. Funny thing, because it wasn't to the rest of the world.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Bowden Shot Pretty Straight
When Florida State football Coach Bobby Bowden retired last week he closed a big door behind him. It is unfortunate he went out the way he did but it may have been the right time. College football will never be the same.
Coach Bowden made the comment that he wished his teams had kicked a few more of them a little straighter along the way. It was his way of lamenting a poor performance this year. His teams kicked them as straight as any in modern history.
He nor anyone else should judge his career based on this last year, or the last five. Coach Bowden’s career is simply best summarized by looking at the numbers.
The most glaring number is the 75 percent of total games coached that were wins. When only including his time at Florida State that number goes up to 77 percent. Bowden won a total of 773 games in his career.
One of the greatest indicators of Bowden’s success may never be officially documented. That is the number of former players who showed up at his last game. They showed they carried the lessons of Florida State with them throughout their lives.
For many the passage of decades has occurred since they wore the burgundy and gold. They still took time to remember their coach. There is no doubt Coach Bowden will go down as one of the greatest coaches, if not the greatest, in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. When his team entered the conference they were almost unbeatable. Forecasters spent most of their time predicting who was going to finish in second most years before the latest round of expansions. When Florida State finally lost a conference game it made national sports newscasts.
It became a given that the Seminoles would win the conference until the likes of Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College found their way into the conference.
Coach Bowden coached one of the best teams I have seen in person, back in the era of Deion Sanders in the 1980s. I actually saw the Seminoles fall behind East Carolina 3-0. For a brief moment there was bedlam in Greenville with the prospect of a momentous upset on the horizon. The 44-3 final score, in favor of Coach Bowden’s squad, took that hope away and kept his reputation in place. I have seen many Florida State games over the years on television and in almost all of those the outcome was never in doubt. When Florida State played under Coach Bowden, fans expected them to win.
Penn State’s Joe Paterno now gets the spotlight of the college football world. Fans now wait to see if and when he is going to hang up his coaches whistle for the last time. He can only hope he is treated better than Bowden was in his final days. Florida State did not give Coach Bowden the respect he deserves. He will always be remembered as one of the greats, regardless of the way he was treated in the school he helped so much.
When Florida State football Coach Bobby Bowden retired last week he closed a big door behind him. It is unfortunate he went out the way he did but it may have been the right time. College football will never be the same.
Coach Bowden made the comment that he wished his teams had kicked a few more of them a little straighter along the way. It was his way of lamenting a poor performance this year. His teams kicked them as straight as any in modern history.
He nor anyone else should judge his career based on this last year, or the last five. Coach Bowden’s career is simply best summarized by looking at the numbers.
The most glaring number is the 75 percent of total games coached that were wins. When only including his time at Florida State that number goes up to 77 percent. Bowden won a total of 773 games in his career.
One of the greatest indicators of Bowden’s success may never be officially documented. That is the number of former players who showed up at his last game. They showed they carried the lessons of Florida State with them throughout their lives.
For many the passage of decades has occurred since they wore the burgundy and gold. They still took time to remember their coach. There is no doubt Coach Bowden will go down as one of the greatest coaches, if not the greatest, in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. When his team entered the conference they were almost unbeatable. Forecasters spent most of their time predicting who was going to finish in second most years before the latest round of expansions. When Florida State finally lost a conference game it made national sports newscasts.
It became a given that the Seminoles would win the conference until the likes of Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College found their way into the conference.
Coach Bowden coached one of the best teams I have seen in person, back in the era of Deion Sanders in the 1980s. I actually saw the Seminoles fall behind East Carolina 3-0. For a brief moment there was bedlam in Greenville with the prospect of a momentous upset on the horizon. The 44-3 final score, in favor of Coach Bowden’s squad, took that hope away and kept his reputation in place. I have seen many Florida State games over the years on television and in almost all of those the outcome was never in doubt. When Florida State played under Coach Bowden, fans expected them to win.
Penn State’s Joe Paterno now gets the spotlight of the college football world. Fans now wait to see if and when he is going to hang up his coaches whistle for the last time. He can only hope he is treated better than Bowden was in his final days. Florida State did not give Coach Bowden the respect he deserves. He will always be remembered as one of the greats, regardless of the way he was treated in the school he helped so much.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Stern does it again
I have to give it to NBA Commissioner David Stern. In dealing with the unbelievable situation of players bringing guns into the locker room he is showing why he is the best leader in sports.
It just adds to a legacy of which he should be very proud. It shows why he has hung around so long in a very difficult job.
When athletes were found with guns in the locker room Stern suspended them indefinitely. Anything else would have been unacceptable. Permanent removal from the game should even be considered.
Once again I am reminded why I watch almost no NBA games. More than any other sports, the overpaid athletes of the NBA seem to let celebrity status get to their heads. The league is more known for the thugs that lace up their shoes each night than their playing skills.
Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kareen Abdul Jabaar, Magic Johnson should be disappointed. The league they put on the map is not what it was when they left the game.
Today's stars, mostly Kobe and Shaq, seem more interested in their personal careers than the teams they play for. Jordan, Bird and Johnson played for only one team in their careers. Shaq is now on at least his third. That alone is a statement about the game.
David Stern has a difficult job managing the thugs that seem to arise in the NBA. When guns showed up in the locker room he once again adjusted. He should be commended for his efforts.
It just adds to a legacy of which he should be very proud. It shows why he has hung around so long in a very difficult job.
When athletes were found with guns in the locker room Stern suspended them indefinitely. Anything else would have been unacceptable. Permanent removal from the game should even be considered.
Once again I am reminded why I watch almost no NBA games. More than any other sports, the overpaid athletes of the NBA seem to let celebrity status get to their heads. The league is more known for the thugs that lace up their shoes each night than their playing skills.
Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kareen Abdul Jabaar, Magic Johnson should be disappointed. The league they put on the map is not what it was when they left the game.
Today's stars, mostly Kobe and Shaq, seem more interested in their personal careers than the teams they play for. Jordan, Bird and Johnson played for only one team in their careers. Shaq is now on at least his third. That alone is a statement about the game.
David Stern has a difficult job managing the thugs that seem to arise in the NBA. When guns showed up in the locker room he once again adjusted. He should be commended for his efforts.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Should Twitter be banned during sports games
Welcome Tyler Lambert as the first guest writer in The Corner. Tyler is a high school senior, aspiring sports writer, and unashamed Duke Blue Devil fan
Bleep Tweet: Should Twitter Be Banned In Pro Sports During Games?
by Tyler Lambert
The Lakers-Cavs game has two seconds left until halftime: Shaq gets hurt and is escorted off the court while they're down by 20.
Cavalier fans everywhere are upset because their team is down big and Shaq could be out for awhile.
But if you want to know how serious the injury is, don't look to the sideline report or team trainer for an answer; just check out Shaq's latest Tweet:
"Guys, I'm down and out four the rest of this game n maybe longer. Hurt my foot, pain is killing me. Likely sprained my ankle, but could be worse. Oh yeah, you better watch out Bynum, no one messes with the Big Diesel."
As we all know, Twitter is one of the fastest-growing websites on the planet and has become even more popular in the sports world.
Follow your favorite player, check your profile every so often, and see what's going on in that athlete's life. It's too bad, however, that some athletes have abused the privilege of sending feedback out to fans by sending "Tweets" during games.
This selfish action takes away from the game itself, distracting players and giving them less time to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Thus, I say that Twitter should be banned during games.
Why?
Because sports are not all about the athletes; they are also about the game itself.
Tell me, would you rather read Kobe Bryant's Twitter feed or watch the final minutes of a Lakers' game?
How about check up on Serena Williams' "Tweets" during a changeover instead of watching the entire match itself?
The answer is simple: "The athletes don't make the sport; the sport makes the athlete."
Would Tiger Woods have ever been successful in golf had he never picked up a golf club? What about Alex Rodriguez—would he be able to hit a home run without ever lifting a baseball bat? Probably not.
What I am trying to say is that each athletes respected sport is sacred—it has history and the athletes have its honor to uphold. If an athlete uses Twitter during a game, do you think that would uphold the standards of that respected sport? I think not.
Could you ever see Michael Jordan "Tweet" during games?
"Haha, I dropped 50 on tha Celtics tonight. Someone needs to teach them boys how two play defense. I'm unstoppable baby, UNSTOPPABLE!"
Don't get me wrong, Twitter is an outstanding site for athletes to interact with fans, express their true feelings, and let their voice be heard outside of the interviews and press conferences.
The time and place, however, are two crucial thoughts to keep in mind when you decide to "tweet."
Twitter is not made for expressing thoughts during games, but after.
Remember that piece of advice and I'm sure you won't be fined by David Stern for using Twitter to criticize the referees during a Mavericks' game (cough-cough—Mark Cuban).
Bleep Tweet: Should Twitter Be Banned In Pro Sports During Games?
by Tyler Lambert
The Lakers-Cavs game has two seconds left until halftime: Shaq gets hurt and is escorted off the court while they're down by 20.
Cavalier fans everywhere are upset because their team is down big and Shaq could be out for awhile.
But if you want to know how serious the injury is, don't look to the sideline report or team trainer for an answer; just check out Shaq's latest Tweet:
"Guys, I'm down and out four the rest of this game n maybe longer. Hurt my foot, pain is killing me. Likely sprained my ankle, but could be worse. Oh yeah, you better watch out Bynum, no one messes with the Big Diesel."
As we all know, Twitter is one of the fastest-growing websites on the planet and has become even more popular in the sports world.
Follow your favorite player, check your profile every so often, and see what's going on in that athlete's life. It's too bad, however, that some athletes have abused the privilege of sending feedback out to fans by sending "Tweets" during games.
This selfish action takes away from the game itself, distracting players and giving them less time to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Thus, I say that Twitter should be banned during games.
Why?
Because sports are not all about the athletes; they are also about the game itself.
Tell me, would you rather read Kobe Bryant's Twitter feed or watch the final minutes of a Lakers' game?
How about check up on Serena Williams' "Tweets" during a changeover instead of watching the entire match itself?
The answer is simple: "The athletes don't make the sport; the sport makes the athlete."
Would Tiger Woods have ever been successful in golf had he never picked up a golf club? What about Alex Rodriguez—would he be able to hit a home run without ever lifting a baseball bat? Probably not.
What I am trying to say is that each athletes respected sport is sacred—it has history and the athletes have its honor to uphold. If an athlete uses Twitter during a game, do you think that would uphold the standards of that respected sport? I think not.
Could you ever see Michael Jordan "Tweet" during games?
"Haha, I dropped 50 on tha Celtics tonight. Someone needs to teach them boys how two play defense. I'm unstoppable baby, UNSTOPPABLE!"
Don't get me wrong, Twitter is an outstanding site for athletes to interact with fans, express their true feelings, and let their voice be heard outside of the interviews and press conferences.
The time and place, however, are two crucial thoughts to keep in mind when you decide to "tweet."
Twitter is not made for expressing thoughts during games, but after.
Remember that piece of advice and I'm sure you won't be fined by David Stern for using Twitter to criticize the referees during a Mavericks' game (cough-cough—Mark Cuban).
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
NFL should let coaches coach
Apparently the powers that be in the National Football League don't think they have enough powers. If they did they wouldn't be trying to turn into coaches by influencing decisions made on the field. There is enough for league officials to do without trying to force feed strategy decisions.
League officials want to initiate changes based on the Indianapolis Colts recent decision to bench starters during a regular season that had no impact on their post season. Though perhaps not directly, league officials want to tell head coaches when and how to make decisions about who they put on the playing field and it is just wrong.
The irony is that the Colts were willing to give up their perfect season by putting in their second teamers. The coaching staff realized winning the Super Bowl is a bigger goal than simply taking home one victory.
It was a matter of simple strategy. Peyton Manning and his fellow starters weren't likely to get hurt watching the game from the sidelines. If Manning was dodging 300 pound lineman all day there was a chance he wouldn't be available for the games that really matter. Any of the other players who didn't play are of equal value and would be missed nearly as much if they were injured. A playoff team without its starters will likely not be a playoff team very long.
It is wrong of the league to try to force coaches to play their stars in situations where they might otherwise sit them, trying to save them for when they are really needed.
The cries calling for such league action are likely from those who aren't in the playoff hunt or others who would have benefited from a Colts win. The league needs to let coaches do what is best for their own team, not the rest of the league. It is part of what makes coaching in the NFL so challenging. If more useless regulation is put in place it is only going to make the difficult job of managing professional athletes even harder.
League officials want to initiate changes based on the Indianapolis Colts recent decision to bench starters during a regular season that had no impact on their post season. Though perhaps not directly, league officials want to tell head coaches when and how to make decisions about who they put on the playing field and it is just wrong.
The irony is that the Colts were willing to give up their perfect season by putting in their second teamers. The coaching staff realized winning the Super Bowl is a bigger goal than simply taking home one victory.
It was a matter of simple strategy. Peyton Manning and his fellow starters weren't likely to get hurt watching the game from the sidelines. If Manning was dodging 300 pound lineman all day there was a chance he wouldn't be available for the games that really matter. Any of the other players who didn't play are of equal value and would be missed nearly as much if they were injured. A playoff team without its starters will likely not be a playoff team very long.
It is wrong of the league to try to force coaches to play their stars in situations where they might otherwise sit them, trying to save them for when they are really needed.
The cries calling for such league action are likely from those who aren't in the playoff hunt or others who would have benefited from a Colts win. The league needs to let coaches do what is best for their own team, not the rest of the league. It is part of what makes coaching in the NFL so challenging. If more useless regulation is put in place it is only going to make the difficult job of managing professional athletes even harder.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Miracle finish
Did I just see, what I just saw?
I just watched about three seconds of the North Carolina State and Florida basketball game. That was more than enough. A missed foul shot followed by a 70 foot shot sent the Pack faithful home disappointed and shocked. I have watched a lot of basketball in my day but I don't know if I have ever seen anything quite like that.
N.C. State Coach Sidney Lowe looked like he had seen a ghost as the ball stripped through the net. Seeing that ghost is almost as likely as one of those shots going in. It is a worthwhile venture to look up the end of the game on You Tube or somewhere else.
Today is another example that things are not well in Wolfpack land. The football bowl season has come and gone with no appearance of the Pack. Basketball appears to be another year of being sandwiched between better teams in Durham and Chapel Hill. Another tiresome appearance in the NIT may be on the horizon.
So now we have hockey at Fenway, ECU missing three field goals in a matter of minutes to lose the Liberty Bowl and this miraculous finish, and 2010 is only three days old. Makes you want to get up tommorow to see what is next. This is the best place on the web to get the next headline.
I just watched about three seconds of the North Carolina State and Florida basketball game. That was more than enough. A missed foul shot followed by a 70 foot shot sent the Pack faithful home disappointed and shocked. I have watched a lot of basketball in my day but I don't know if I have ever seen anything quite like that.
N.C. State Coach Sidney Lowe looked like he had seen a ghost as the ball stripped through the net. Seeing that ghost is almost as likely as one of those shots going in. It is a worthwhile venture to look up the end of the game on You Tube or somewhere else.
Today is another example that things are not well in Wolfpack land. The football bowl season has come and gone with no appearance of the Pack. Basketball appears to be another year of being sandwiched between better teams in Durham and Chapel Hill. Another tiresome appearance in the NIT may be on the horizon.
So now we have hockey at Fenway, ECU missing three field goals in a matter of minutes to lose the Liberty Bowl and this miraculous finish, and 2010 is only three days old. Makes you want to get up tommorow to see what is next. This is the best place on the web to get the next headline.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Hockey at Fenway?
If the first day of the new year is an indication what is to come, 2010 will be a great show, and a blogger's paradise. If the 364 days left in the year are anything like the first one, watch out. There is going to be plenty to write about.
A public relations genious in Boston held a hockey game at Fenway yesterday.
Thats right, sports fans, center ice was almost exactly where second base usually is. The words Bruins and Flyers were on the classic manual scoreboard on the Green Monster. There was a whole different view from the bleacher seats. Bobby Orr threw out the first pitch, or puck, or something.
It just seems weird. What is next? Are they going to play football at Wrigley? It has likely happened in the past but it is still odd. Are they going to play baseball in the Superdome? One can only imagine the power alleys in that old building.
Kudos from the Corner for creativity in the world of sports public relations. Ice on the outfield grass was a brilliant way to use one of most of the storied venues in all of history during the off season.
Can't wait to see what day number three brings tomorrow
A public relations genious in Boston held a hockey game at Fenway yesterday.
Thats right, sports fans, center ice was almost exactly where second base usually is. The words Bruins and Flyers were on the classic manual scoreboard on the Green Monster. There was a whole different view from the bleacher seats. Bobby Orr threw out the first pitch, or puck, or something.
It just seems weird. What is next? Are they going to play football at Wrigley? It has likely happened in the past but it is still odd. Are they going to play baseball in the Superdome? One can only imagine the power alleys in that old building.
Kudos from the Corner for creativity in the world of sports public relations. Ice on the outfield grass was a brilliant way to use one of most of the storied venues in all of history during the off season.
Can't wait to see what day number three brings tomorrow
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