The Bearister Report

USA Soccer

2006-06-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hope you have not been holding your breath waiting for my next post. I have been having too much fun reading the Random Thoughts to post my own original ideas. That said, I am compelled today to write my thoughts on the plight of the US soccer team in the World Cup.

Why did the US team fail to advance? Let's review...

For one, I think that some of the players were not put in a position where they are most capable of being effective. For example, against the Czech Republic Landon Donovan was placed as a striker. However, Landon's strength is to carry the ball and run at players rather than to receive long passes over the top. Landon should always be in an advanced midfield position so he is more likely to have the ball at his feet.

Two, Arena relied too much on veterans who did play up to their potential. Claudio Reyna may be the second most overrated player in US Soccer history (Alexi Lalas). He shows no creativity in organizing the offense and is slow with the ball at his feet. Brian McBride's role is largely reliant on other players serving good balls to him, but when this strategy proved ineffective Arena should have gone with Eddie Johnson or Josh Wolff who can provide more speed and dribbling ability.

Three - no chemistry. The US Team touted its three-game pre-World Cup tour as its big preparation for the competition. You know what, I don't know any team that has developed any chemistry and common instincts after just three games. Perhaps the MLS has to follow the example of the Euro leagues and move the season so that the national team players are available more to prepare for big international competitions. Whatever we do, the US team must spend more time with a set lineup so that it can develop team chemistry and be able to play more instinctually and without so much deliberation.

In summary, the reasons for the US's failure are both strategic and institutional. Clearly, it is easier to adjust the strategic decisions (including personnel choices). Whether or not this means that Arena should be replaced will be determined by his willingness to adjust his style and learn from his mistakes.

Sean&Steve or Sal&Rosey or Bury&Bloom or

2006-05-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

Let's start with the premise that I really like Sean Salisbury. I like his passion and his personality. When he did some extensive guest host duties on ESPN1000 several months ago I thought it would be a terrific idea for him to continue on a more regular basis. Hence, when I heard that he was going to be the regular co-host for the new mid-day show from 9-12, with Steve Rosenbloom, I was pretty geeked about it. Today was their first day and I was all ready to listen.

Then came the first 20 minutes of the show. Sean was his usual bombastic self, only he committed possibly one of the worst crimes for a sports radio host - an unfamiliarity with the local market. Look, in order to have any credibility with a Chicago sports fan you have to at least understand what it means when your co-host refers in shorthand to the "2003 Choke." I'll admit, you had to be listening fairly closely to catch it, since he covered it up fairly well and then changed the course of the argument somewhat crudely.

Since I like Salisbury's style and delivery, I am willing to give him another chance (it is better to be interesting and dumb than boring and dumb, just ask the former tenant of the mid-day show). However, he is on a very short leash if he is going to continue to demonstrate a lack of knowledge about Chicago sports.

Best of luck Sean!

Be Still My Heart

2006-05-08T06:28:00.000-07:00

Could it be true? Have my wishes finally come to fruition?

This morning the Chicago sports world is abuzz with the rumor that Dusty Baker may be headed out of Chicago with his tail between his legs. I wonder if his "Book of Managing", the one to which he refers for all his strategic decisions, has any rules for dealing with this scenario. The natives in the South America are celebrating since several acres of rainforest will be preserved now that Dusty will not need to chew on his silly sticks for a while.

Before you get the idea that I blame all of the Cubs' woes on Dusty, that is not my intent. Quite frankly, I think the laid back attitude which reportedly permeates their lockerroom is ridiculous in light of the latest performances on the field. Heck, they should all be forced to watch the previous day's game. Players need to be responsible for themseves, but sometimes someone has to hold them accountable.

But, Dusty is a "players' coach." Well, if a players' coach is a manager who does not make a player responsible for his own mental errors and lack of focus, then Dusty is definitely a players' coach. Ultimately, the manager is responsible for the attitude and preparation of the team, and Dusty clearly has allowed the ship to steer itself into the reef.

My early vote for the next manager of the Chicago National League Ball Club: Lou Piniella.

Please send in your suggestions for the Cubs' next manager.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback

2006-05-04T12:19:00.000-07:00

This post is simply a referral to a column on Page 2 of ESPN.com. Several years ago a columnist named Gregg Easterbrook penned a weekly column - Tuesday Morning Quarterback - during the football season where he shed his unique perspective on the world of football (and anything else he found unusual or uncommon). Well, ESPN has finally welcomed him back! His first two return columns each relate to the NFL draft, but his regular feature will return in the fall. Anyway, I have added a link to his archive in case you want to sample some of his goodies (of course, only after you read the Random Thoughts!).

Bears Draft Recap

2006-05-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well, as we sit at our desk's on the Monday after the draft the question in most people's minds, I imagine, is when did Danny Manning start playing football?

In all seriousness, I am interested in comparing the Bears' draft with the forecast I posted last week at this time. Before I begin, though, let me explain why this draft in particular will be very difficult to grade for several years. The pundits and fans like to assign grades to a draft based on the perception of how well as team helped itself - either by addressing a need or adding an explosive, "can't-miss" prospect. Well, how in the world do you do that if you don't believe any of the players the Bears selected will be a starter for at least 1-3 years? For the first time in my memory the Bears will not be plugging any of their draft picks into the regular rotation at any position (special teams excluded). So, as a result, I am placing my vote on a grade of "none of the above", but only because I cannot in good faith pass judgment without waiting 2-3 years to see what becomes of these young players.

Without further delay, here is my substantive recap....

Last week I said the Bears' biggest need was at safety and cornerback. Well, the Bears' appear to have agreed with me, only they are a little more confident in the status quo than I am. Hopefully, Mike Brown and Chris Harris will be healthy this year, but it does not seem likely that we will get a full season from Brown, who is hurt more frequently than Grossman but does not get half the flak. The Bears are unlikely to have Brandon McGowan at full speed until at least October and I have previously stated my reservations with relying on Todd Johnson.

Danieal Manning (pronounced Dan-yell) is supposed to have outstanding physical tools, but he is used to playing against sub-par competition. Devin Hester does not know which position he will end up playing. According to reports from the "U", he has such special speed that he is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. I guess he could develop into a 2-way player in the mold of Deion, but that is asking way too much from him right now. In any event, I believe the Bears have indicated that he is going to principally be a back-up CB this year rather than a WR. I don't know, but if he is that much of a threat, I would want the ball in his hand more often than when the other team makes a mistake. All the same, he should at least help the Bears defend the faster receivers in the league (read: Steve Smith) once he develops more. So, the Bears did address their biggest need, but possibly will not see a return on their investment until next year.

The middle tier of my forecast identified 3 positions for which the Bears needed to add depth and one where they could plug in a starter if the right player was available. Well, consider the depth goal to have been met. The Bears selected a backup linebacker (4th Round) and offensive lineman (6th). Since both of these positions seem to be deep on this team, I am happy to give these players time to develop under veteran tutelage. Devin Hester, as I stated above, may even see some time at WR if he is given a chance to learn how to run routes accurately (a streak pattern is pretty easy to run I think). Unfortunately, the Bears still have not addressed the questions about their tight ends. This still seems to be a position which is crying out for more consistency and production.

Finally, the Bears addressed my lowest priorities by dedicating two of their picks to the defensive line. Well, at least it is consistent with my mantra that you have to build your team from the inside out. However, this is one area where I think the Bears missed an opportunity to fill a position that was more of a need. Maybe Dusty Dvoracek has stopped drinking and will eventually supplant the 3 veterans in front of him on the depth chart, but I do not find it very likely that he will see as much playing time as a new TE. When the Bears selected Dvoracek, Dominique Byrd (USC) and Dave Thomas (Texas) were still available. Even more frustrating, however, is that fact that Leonard Pope was picked with the immediately preceding pick. I would have happily forfeited one of our 6th round picks to move up one or two spots to be in a position to have selected Pope.

Overall, I am partially satisfied with the Bears draft. I do think they addressed some of their needs adequately. However, there is an old saying that holds if you stop getting better you must be getting worse. I am thrilled the Bears' were able to add depth at DB, LB, OL and DL, but I have a nagging feeling that they should have gotten some players who are more prepared to step in immediately to provide at least some competition for the regulars.

Note on Special Teams: It seems like the Bears placed a premium on their first two players because of their ability to contribute immediately on special teams. It sure is nice that neither will be dead weight on the depth chart while they continue to develop. However, special teams is a team-oriented part of the game which requires all of the players on each unit to be successful at their role for the team to reap rewards. It is very difficult for just one person to make an extraordinary difference if the blockers in front of him are bad or mistake prone. With the Bears' style of play emphasizing field position, I just hope that these guys deliver part of what their promise holds for them so that these picks appear to be wise ones next January.

Bears Draft Preview

2006-04-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

What's that you say, the Cubs have lost Derrek Lee for 8-10 weeks? The Bulls are in the playoffs? The White Sox have a chance to win 120 games?

So what! It's NFL Draft week.

Like the old phrase goes, hope springs eternal every year. Come April in NFL Land, every team's players and fans have the opportunity to dream about adding that one player who can carry the team over the top to the Super Bowl (or if you are the Cardinals, to a .500 record). David Carr can dream about offensive linemen (not likely).....Rex Grossman can dream about receivers (possibly).....and J-E-T-S fans can dream about quarterbacks (at least according to Mike Greenberg).

So, as I promised, here is my assessment of the Bears' priorities in this week's annual cattle call.

High Priority:

Defensive Back (Safety and CB)

Medium Priority:

Tight End (starter)
Linebacker (depth)
Offensive Line (depth)
Wide Receiver (depth/starter)

Low Priority:

Defensive Line (depth)
Quarterback (depth)
Running Back (depth)

So, do I think the Bears will pick a defensive back in the first round of the draft? Maybe. If you believe the reports from Halas Hall, the Bears will select the best available player who fits their perceived needs. In my opinion, that player should be a safety. Chris Harris is an up and comer who will only improve during his second year in the league. Mike Brown is considered by some to be the heart of the defense. That's fine, but he has a problem the other parts of his body, like his knee, ankle, ribs, etc. Todd Johnson is fine hitter, but he is slow in coverage and thus a liability in a Cover 2. At least the Bears no longer have to call Mike Green's name anymore. Ricky Manning, Jr. is most likely going to be either the starting CB opposite Nathan Vasher or the starting nickel back. The bottom line, in the defense the Bears play the team needs more talent and depth at the safety position.

Who is likely to be available to the Bears at safety? The two most likely players are Jason Allen (Tennessee) and Donte Whitner (Ohio St.). Look for their names on draft day. If both of them are available when the Bears select, look for them to trade down to add the pick they forfeited by signing Manning.

What else am I looking at?

The media has created the perception that WR is a position the Bears need to address via the draft. Are the Bears' WR's great? NO! Are they serviceable? Sure, you bet. Muhsin is getting older, but I cannot see him getting any worse than last year. Mark Bradley should be completely healthy coming off his knee injury and he was starting to have some break out games last year. Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage are entering their 3rd and 4th year in the league. Most experts believe that a WR's 3rd or 4th year is a make or break year. Many WR's see huge jumps between their 2nd and 3rd year once they learn how to run routes correctly and play against bigger, more physical DBs. Plus, we apparently have the world's fastest man returning from injury in the form of Airese Currie. In other words, if we can get a WR that is an immediate starter that would be great, but we have stronger needs in other positions and we do not need another #2 receiver.

As for TE, due to the Bears style of play they have historically undervalued the TE in the passing game (with the obvious exception of Da Coach). However, to make their passing offense less predictable (slant right, WR screen left, repeat) they need another threat to spread the defense. At the end of last year you saw LB and S jumping the Bears' routes since they had seen them so frequently. A TE with speed and good hands would definitely help combat that problem. Marcedes Lewis from UCLA is an attractive option for the Bears in the 2nd round. Trivia - in what 80's movie was a character named after a Mercedes?

Linebacker and O-line are similar positions from a needs perspective. If everyone stays healthy, we should have no problems for 2006. However, both positions lack a reliable back up at key positions and none of the stalwarts is getting any younger. Plus, I am a big fan of building a team from the inside-out, so having good O-linemen in the developmental pipeline is crucial. If the Bears can resolve the Briggs contract this week it will move this position down slightly, but they could still use some quality depth.

As for the final 3 positions, I am fairly confident in the Bears' rotation at D-line, RB and QB. We have 6 quality defensive linemen who found a terrific rhythm last year in their rotation. The RB position has widely publicized depth with all 3 of the "major" contributors returning from last year. Finally, the Bears seem committed to the 3 QBs they will bring to camp in July. I can only see them selecting one if they thing he can replace Orton, which is unlikely given his success last year. Of course, there is always room on the practice squad/NFL Europe to develop a young player who is a borderline talent but possibly worth the risk.

Let me know if you agree or disagree with my assessment of the Bears' needs and strengths.

I Refuse to Rule Out Broccoli

2006-04-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Alright folks, time to exercise the legal/political side of the brain and offer a political tangent today rather than focus on the potentially dire news about Derrek Lee's wrist......

In my on-going disgust with the mass media I would like to offer a critique of the Washington press which has created its own news story out of some non-news. In light of Iran's declaration that it intends to enrich uranium, a member of the press asked the President if he intends to invade or bomb Iran. In response, Bush said that every option is on the table. The press picked this up and ran with it. It was a lead story on news broadcasts and was on the front page of many national papers. My question is - so what!

This is not news. Excuse me, but if Bush is going to start negotiating against himself by voluntarily and publicly removing any leverage we have then he is even dumber than I think he is. I am not one to support him, but you would have to be pretty stupid to make a public declaration of your foreign policy strategy in this context. Next thing you know the press will ask him if he has directed the White House chef to avoid serving any vegetables. I can see the headline now, "Bush Refuses to Rule out Broccoli!"

Guilty Until Proven Innocent (and then you're still guilty!)

2006-04-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Two Duke University men's lacrosse players, Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty, have been indicted for various forms of sexual assault against a young women which allegedly occured at some form of house party. Pop quiz! Does anyone notice the name of one young man who is notable absent from the indictment????

That's right, Ryan McFayden. He is the lacrosse team member who has a terrible sense of humor (at best) whom sent an e-mail describing how he intended to kill some strippers or prostitutes. Well, when the subject e-mail came to light the whole world was ready to convict him without any further inquiry. Duke University went into full spin mode and immediately suspended Mr. McFayden for an indefinite period of time. The administration did everything possible to distance the University from Ryan and basically smeared his name to anyone who would bother to ask.

Now, I do not know enough about the facts of the case to make an informed decision. However, I do know that the press clippings are by definition incomplete and motivated as much by the goal to increase circulation as the search for the truth. I also know that in order to gain an indictment the grand jury gets to hear only one side of the case - the prosecution. The defense has no opportunity to provide reasonable doubt. Heck, the standard for obtaining an indictment is not even as high as that required to gain a conviction. In any event, it is a completely one-sided affair.

What's my point? Let's not be in a rush to judgment. I would be the last person to defend someone who actually did commit the crimes which have been alleged. But one young man's life has already been irreversibly stained by the stigma arising from these allegations - perhaps erroneously. Is there any means to cure that kind of injury? Is there any way to remove the lingering suspicion that will follow Mr. McFayden even if he ends up being exonerated? I hardly believe that Duke University will issue a public retraction and fully reinstate Mr. McFayden if there never exists any other evidence even remotely tying him to the alleged crime. No, instead Duke will continue to spin as long as it is necessary to try and remove the stain that this episode has placed on the University's reputation and public standing. Likewise, the press will continue to publish rumor and speculation as a substitute for facts just so that it can compete in the 24/7 news cycle.

Do you have any comments? I welcome a healthy debate on this topic.

Of the Bulls and the Playoffs

2006-04-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Alright, I did not think this was in the best interest of the team, but I am willing to drop that debate since we cannot undo what has been done - the Bulls have clinched a playoff birth. Quite impressively, actually. They beat the Heat, the #2 seed in the East, by 24 points. So what if Shaq only played 20 minutes (partly as a result of fouls), this game has to give the Bulls confidence that they can make a series against the Heat if they end up as the #7 seed. Heck, the Bulls match up well with both the Heat and the Nets (#3) based on recent results. In fact, the two teams who have given the Bulls the most trouble are the Pistons (#1) and Cavs (#4). As it stands now, the Bulls are in a 3 way tie for the 6th seed (Indy & Milw) and are one game removed from the 5 seed (Wash). I am not sure who holds the tie breakers, but the Bulls have a pretty good chance, based on their remaining schedule, to remain as high as #6. Just pray they do not end up the 8th seed, since that would almost certainly doom this team to a short playoff ride and very little to learn from for next year.

Looking towards next year (the Bulls aren't going to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy anyway), I will give me 2 cents towards the biggest debate surrounding the Bulls: to trade Ben Gordon or not. For me, I am against it. Yes, he is undersized. Yes, he is seemingly unable to put 3 20-point games in a row. However, if the Bulls do what everyone expects and get a strong post presence either through free agency or the draft, Gordons size will be less an issue. A team with a strong post defender and which plays good team defense can sacrifice size on the perimeter. Gordon is improving his footwork on defense and shows the potential to at least be competitive on this end of the floor. A strong post offensive threat will also take some of the pressure off the Bulls backcourt and create more open shots. Right now, every team plays tight perimeter defense against the Bulls since they know the Bulls have no one to provide a consistent inside threat. If Gordon continues to display the work ethic he has demonstrated and is the beneficiary of an A-list post player, I think he can be very valuable to this team.

Draft Clock: 13 days!!! I will post my preferences for the Bears' selections in a forthcoming article later this week.

And now, for Random Thoughts fans, this weeks gratuitous photo of Jessica Alba:

You're welcome!

Subscribe to The Bearister Report!

2006-04-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Good news Bearister Fans!

You can now subscribe to The Bearister Report absolutely free - all you have to do is click on the link in the right column and select the newsreader you use. Then, everytime I update the blog you will automatically be notified. Lucky you!

Kirby, Barry, D-Lee & Jessica

2006-03-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

Kirby: First, I will admit that I am not a huge Kirby Puckett fan. From not being a huge baseball fan and, quite frankly, not following the Twins, most of what I know about Kirby I know from word of mouth. Based on that, I am willing to make what amounts to an enormous statement (at least in my opinion). People who knew Kirby are saying largely the same things about him as people said about Walter Payton when he passed away after 45 years. If a majority of what they say is true, then Kirby Puckett should be celebrated and honored for a life well-lived.

Barry: Who cares. I have had enough of this story. IF he used steroids, and I think he did, it was not prohibited under MLB rules at the time he did it. Is it dishonest - Yes. Is it a shortcut- Yes. Was it against the rules - NO. Let the IRS or FDA deal with him if the facts match the proof required to convict him under their laws. Otherwise, let it go.

D-Lee: Cubs fans may be happy to see that D-Lee is back in form this Spring, bashing the USA team to a 1-0 lead in their game against Mexico yesterday in World Baseball Classic. What? I am watching the WBC? Yes, I find it pretty cool. Of course, I think the World Cup in soccer is among the most amazing sporting events and so anything that replicates that type of emotion and drama is cool in my book.

Jessica Alba: For our male friends, here is a picture of the starlette who is currently threatening to sue Playboy for calling her the Sex Star of 2006 - no wonder!

Have a good day!

A Touch of March

2006-02-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post on college basketball.....

Teams that are somewhat under the radar which I really like: Tennessee and Ohio State. Both have proven that they can win on the road against high quality opponents. This bodes well for the tournament.

Oh, and I am so salivating for the Kansas-Texas game on Saturday night. This game should be a terrific barometere of the maturity and preparedness of Kansas' young team heading into March. Quite frankly, I think the result of this game could make the difference between 2 seed lines. If they win, the committee sees that they are for real and on a roll. If they lose, doubts start to creep in that they have just been feasting off the bottom two-thirds of the Big 12. Obviously, there will still be 2 more weeks left, but Kansas will not have any more opportunities (except possibly in the Big 12 Tourney) to make this kind of statement. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! KU!

Randle El

2006-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

Will someone please explain to me why Antwaan Randle El is suddenly the best and brightest football player than money can buy?

Look, Randle El made a spectacular pass during the Super Bowl and he is great at gadget tricks since he is a multi-tool player, but he simply is not that great of a WR. To quote our friends at Random Thoughts:

Quick, somebody tell me what the following three players have in common...Brian Finneran, Kevin Curtis and Randle El's teammate Cedrick Wilson. And what do the following three players have in common...Shaun McDonald, Jabar Gaffney, and Scott Vines? Finally, how about the following three...D.J. Hackett, Devery Henderson and, yes, Justin Gage.The answers? The first group had more receiving yards last year than Antwaan's 558. The second had more catches than Antwaan's 35. And the third had more TDs than Randle El's one.

The spectacular receivers on the foregoing list do not even include Reggie Wayne, he of the Indianapolis Colts. Wayne is a terrific wide receiver who had over 80 catches last year and has emerged as a reliable and strong receiver upon whom Peyton Manning can rely. And you know what, Reggie Wayne is also a free agent this year!

Why have sportswriters in Chicago fallen in love with Randle El in favor of the more accomplished (individually) Wayne? Please tell me there is more to their infatuation than the fact that Randle El is a hometown product. We are creating a football team here, not a class reunion committee.

I know there is a chance that Reggie Wayne could become the next Peerless Price or Alvin Harper. But I think the odds of that happening with Wayne are significantly less than with Randle El. I would hate to spend a huge signing bonus and millions of dollars on a special teams standout who catches the occasional pass and is good a gadget tricks - the Bears are too vanilla to pull them off anyway.

Do the Bears need a kick returner? No. Bernard Berrian has proven that he has the focus and speed to be successful at this role. Do the Bears need a new legit wide receive? Probably. Mark Bradley was beginning to emerge as a consistent receiver before injuring his knee. The aforementioned Berrian can stretch the field as well as anyone. Muhammad is a pretty good possession receiver. Justin Gage is inconsistent.

Overall, I think the debate is silly since the Bears are in greater need of an impact tight end and depth in the secondary. Heck, I would rather spend money on more depth at offensive line than to sign Randle El for the amount he is expected to receive.

So Jerry Angelo, if you are listening out there, please show me that you have not lost your mind in a myopic dash to sign an average wide receiver. If you have to throw money at that position, Reggie Wayne would be a much better catch.

Whither the Medals?

2006-02-20T06:41:00.000-08:00

Is it me, or does this crop of American Olympians simply stink?

Perhaps it is because most of the high profile American athletes have choked (or celebrated) their way out of a medal, but it seems like the US Team is getting pushed around right and left. Heck, even in the events which were invented for the Americans like freestyle mogul skiing we are not having success.

Apolo Anton Ohno - 1 bronze.
Bode Miller - ZIP! 0-4. He has been DQ'd on more runs than he has finished it seems.
Men's Hockey - 1-2-1 (We need help to guarantee that we make the medal round)
Jeremy Bloom - 6th place.
Women's Hockey - We give up the equivalent of the 1980 Miracle on Ice by losing to Sweden.

Then we come to the story of Lindsey Jacobellis, who was arguably 100 yards ahead during another one of the new events invented for the Americans - snowboard cross. Think of a combination between motocross and chinese downhill. Seriously, it is one of the events that I consider a real sport since it is measured solely by who crosses the finish line first. Unlike most of the other new "alpine" sports like halfpipe and freestyle, there are no style points. Unfortunately for Ms. Jacobellis, she forgot this important point during the gold medal race.

Partly as a result of her dominance and partly because 1/2 her competitors had suffered serious crashes, she was holding a seemingly insurmountable lead. Then, on the penultimate jump she decides to showboat (I cannot remember the name of the trick, but is is something like a rodeo or loopey or grabby) to celebrate her imminent victory. Funny thing happened on the way to the medal stand - Lindsey fell when she lost her footing while landing this trick. Miraculously, the only other snowboarder still upright passes her for the victory.

Well, I am sure that I do not have to tell you what the post-race situation looked like. The winner, from Switzerland, looked like a 9 year old on Christmas morning. On the other hand, Ms. Jacobellis looked like someone just told her that her grandmother passed away. To borrow from one of the other major sporting events this weekend, the best analogy I can draw to this fiasco is if Jimmie Johnson had run out of gas on the final lap of the Daytona 500. Perhaps the understatement of the year is that Ms. Jacobellis will not ever live this down. In my opinion, if she lives until 2106 she should not be permitted to forget this embarrassing display of bravado.

At least college basketball is providing quality counterprogramming!

Gate This

2006-02-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, rant time!

Today Mike and Mike spent nearly half their show discussing what you hate about sports. Well, it got me thinking, and I have come up with one of my all-time favorite pet peeves:

Adding the syllable "gate" to the end of any word to represent a controversy.

By no means is this phenomenon limited in any way to sports, but sportswriters are particularly prone to fall prey to this problem due to the defective pun-gene each has indelibly written into their genetic code.

Look people, Watergate was a place. It is the location of a crime which eventually brought down a president (Richard Milhouse Nixon, for you younger readers). Besides for referring to this geographical and historical nugget, using "gate" is the most overdone, unoriginal and lazy way to describe any uproar. Besides, is every maesltrom that is kicked up by some unpolitically correct comment worthy of being compared to the impeachment of a president? Can we please use some restraint and an ounce of brain power to come up with an original metaphor?

So, let's make an agreement. Unless any other controversy occurs either on, near, around, over or through a gate, P-L-E-A-S-E stop using "gate" to represent turmoil. It is done!

There are the Olympics...and then there are Sports

2006-02-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

(Yawn) Another Olympics has come this year. I used to get more excited about the Olympics when I was younger. It may be the result of my jaded perspective that has developed with age or the introduction of professionals that has dimished the innocence and purity of the competition. Upon reflection, however, I think it is because the Olympics have become so diluted with newfound events that are strictly designed to increase ratings and appeal to those who are younger and hipper than me. I think the word "event" is the proper moniker for many of these Olympic contests. Why? Because so much of the competition is over events that are not "Sports."

What is a Sport, you ask? I have developed a very short and direct test of what is a Sport and what is not. A Sport is any form of competition involving physical exertion which is governed by prescribed rules of conduct the results of which can be measured objectively.

I have considered this defintion long and heard and, believe me, I am aware of the consequences of applying it to some of the most popular Olympic events. Figure Skating - not a sport. Speed Skating - Sport. Freestyle snowboarding - not a sport. Downhill skiing - Sport.

You may ask, what about those sports that need referees to enforce the rules - such as football, hockey, baseball, etc. Officials mess up so much that it can hardly be called objective? I think you can live with human frailty in the enforcement of rules so long as the athletes end up having the ultimate say in the outcome of the contest. You certainly do not see the Miami Heat losing a game because a referee does not like Shaq's free throw shooting form, but the Heat may lose if Shaq clangs one of the back of the rim.

Please understand, I am not saying that any of the non-Sports are easy or necessarily uninteresting. This is not a value statement - just a categorization. I personally find less satisfaction from watching them since the results are ultimately not determined entirely by the athletes themselves.

So that is my theory and I'm sticking to it. Feel free to let me know your thoughts.

P.S. Michele Kwan deserves credit for giving Emily Hughes her spot back on the Olympic figure skating team - I just won't be watching her.

Role Models

2006-02-13T06:23:00.000-08:00

For the last two weeks the columnists in the Chicago sports pages have been scraping the barrell to find fodder. The most recent victims of their scorn are Ozzie Guillen, Scott Podsednik and Tadahito Iguchi, three members of the 2005 World Champion White Sox. You see, the Sox are scheduled to visit the White House today to fulfill their part in the long tradition of giving the President a nice photo op, but Oz, Pods and Guch are missing the affair. Now, it is definitely an honor to be invited to the White House. And I have a tremendous amount of respect for the office of the President. However, I can also imagine there are as many reasons not to visit the White House as there are to go.

Some writers have speculated that Ozzie Guillen, originally from Venezuela but recently naturalized a U.S. citizen, is boycotting the visit to the White House at the behest of rogue Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Besides for the fact that many of these writers seem to be appealing to Hollywood to write a pilot for the sequal to X-Files, if this were the case, what is all the hullabaloo about? We constantly hear from sportswriters that they wish more of our athletes were role models for our youth. Heck, Michael Jordan heard for years that he was not political ENOUGH in the fight for equality for African-Americans. So now someone makes up a story that the outspoken manager of the White Sox MIGHT have a political motive for missing the teams trip to the White House (If that is the case, he is doing a very poor job making a political statement by remaining quiet about it).

Whether I agree or disagree with someone's political view is not important. What is important is that someone has a political view. Too many people in this country are apathetic about politics because they feel disconnected and powerless. If a high profile athlete wants to exploit his position to make a political statement (think Mexico City, 1968), terrific! That is really being a role model.

So the press wants a role model, but then wants to judge the manner in which a player or coach chooses to express his political beliefs. Your damned if you do and damned if you don't. But heck, this is not the first time the press could be accused of being duplicitous.

Professionals Gambling

2006-02-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

From time to time the topic of professional athletes gambling on sports comes to the fore. This week, we have learned that the Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach, Rick Tocchet, has financed a multi-million dollar gambling ring. Intitial reports indicate that none of the betting was on hockey. (Of course, based on subsequent reports, he may have been running the ring almost solely for the benefit of his boss's wife, Janet Jones-Gretzky - but that is another story) The question which has been debated on sports talk radio as a result is, "Do you care?"

There are 2 generally accepted sides to this debate. First, if the athlete can afford it, who cares as long as he is not gambling on his own sport or team. The second argument is the slippery slope theory that gambling is insidious and there is no way to guarantee that any gambler will not succumb to outside forces which may potentially influence his performance - even if he is not directly gambling on his own team or sport.

As for me, I tend to subscribe more to the latter argument, but with some exceptions. I thought that the University of Washington overreacted when it discovered that their football coach ran a private, high stakes March Madness pool. That seems like more of an isolated incident that is only among friends. In contrast, if an athlete begins to gamble with a local "bookie", there are well documented risks that must be acknowledged and guarded against. I do not think we want our professional athletes shaving points. Further, providing inside information (what some poeple may consider a lesser crime) may create an unfair imbalance.

The problem I have is how to separate the harmless betting from the "risky" betting. Perhaps the professional leagues should just acknowledge that the athletes' competitive nature which led them to become professionals naturally leads to gambling. If that is the case, is there a maximum amount which an athlete should be allowed to gamble on other sports? Would you include non-sports gambling, such as poker? Obviously, gambling is pervasive in our culture and it has not caused a huge problem for the big sports leagues except for the infrequent, isolated event like the one reported this week. On the other hand, once you let gambling in is it really possible to regulate and limit the amounts spent?

All of these questions, and others, make this a very difficult topic to address. For this reason, I think the best policy is to be risk averse so that the public's confidence in professional sports is not broken by allegations tied to gambling and influence peddling related to it.

Parity

2006-02-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

Parity defines college basketball right now. Why do I say that? Well, in the last week or two there have been a number of examples where teams holding double digit leads either lost or ended up falling behind before winning. Two examples include the Kansas comeback against a more experienced Oklahoma team and UNC's comeback against a similarly veteran Duke team. The bottom line is that no team is invinceable - far from it. There simply is not enough depth and experience on any one team to make them a prohibitive favorite.

This is not necessarily a condemnation of college basketball. Just the opposite, it holds the potential for a particularly nerve-wracking March. I sure would not want my team to be on the bubble the first week of March since who knows how many upsets there will be in conference tournaments. And, of course, this year's tournament holds especially high hopes for those low-seeded teams that get on a roll. (Is it low-seeded or high-seeded, I never could figure it out since the higher the number the lower the seed, I think.)

Anyway, I am looking forward to the remainder of the college hoops season to see what unexpected things are unveiled.

Of Comcast and the Bulls

2006-02-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

I decided to watch the 4th quarter of the Bulls game last night instead of banging my head against the wall - I could not decide which would be more painful. Anyway, with approximately 1 minute to play and the Bulls fighting back from a 6 point deficit (to eventually tie the game), Comcast Sports Net went black for at least 2 minutes. (I changed the channel to make sure it was not DirecTV.) How in the world can a huge conglomerate like Comcast still manage to make such fundamental and blatant engineering mistakes after being on the air for over 1 year. Do I really need another reason to hate Comcast?

Anyway, back to the Bulls. Not only did they blow an 11 point lead in regulation (a 17 point turnaround by the time they were 6 down), but they also lost a 7 point lead in overtime! I have never seen a team switch from hot to cold so quickly. To borrow the assessment of our friends at Random Thoughts, this team is not going to make the playoffs. And if they actually do - so what? Who cares if they eeke into the playoffs only to get swept by the Pistons? This teams need to address some major issues - offensive post play, defense, a go-to player and - coaching. I am starting to come around to the idea that Scott Skiles is a great motivator but not such a great strategist. How else can this team be so inconsistent? They are not as young as they were last year - they have no rookies at all. Most of the core players have been in the system for over a year now. Perhaps next summer when they try to spend all of their free agency money they can lure a more seasoned coach as well.

Chief Illiniwek

2006-02-01T06:27:00.000-08:00

My interest and participation in the Chief Illiniwek debate is in some respects peripheral, especially since no one in my family is an alumnus from the University of Illinois (thank goodness!). However, my interest was piqued several years ago by a series of Eric Zorn columns in the Chicago Tribune. It was formerly my understanding that the Chief was an accurate depiction of a locally significant native american tribe which gave due respect to the state's historic inhabitants. Thanks to Mr. Zorn and his extensive research staff, I have come to learn that the Illini were not one tribe, but a group of tribes, none of which were particularly aggressive and who definitely were not good at fighting (reportedly, they lost every battle they ever fought with their more aggressive neighbors on the Great Plains). Moreover, the gear worn by the Chief during his performance is contributed to the University by a tribe that is not even native to Illinois. Consequently, my opinion about the use of Chief Illiniwek has come around to be against its continuation. While Chief Illiniwek is arguably more accurate than Chief Wahoo (Indians) or the generic logo of the Washington Redskins, it still amounts to an idealized characterization based on a stereotype.

This issue has returned to the news this week as a result of the University filing a second appeal of the NCAA's decision to ban the University of Illinois from hosting any postseason events so long as the Chief is continued to be used. It is interesting to note that the arguments the University has presented in its second appeal appear to have abandoned any attempt to justify the use of the mascot or buffet the school's relationship with some native tribe. Rather, the appeal targets the underlying authority of the NCAA to regulate this matter. From a legal perspective, this would be considered a facial challenge, where the first appeal was a challenge to how the rule was applied. In essence, the University is now trying to have the entire rule thrown out so it cannot be applied to any school - no matter how reasonable it may be in certain cases.

Quite frankly, I think the best thing that can happen to the University's Board of Regents is for the NCAA to deny this appeal too. This allows the Board to save face by diligently pursuing appeal after appeal, and then complying with a reasonable fall back position that they have been "compelled" to do. No one likes the NCAA anyway, so it doesn't matter that the a good portion of the State of Illinois holds a grudge against it too.

It is time for the University to finally be intellectually honest and consistent with its educational mission. No more would the University continue to teach a class premised on half truths and rumor than it should continue to mislead the students, alumni and citizens of this State by propogating a false stereotype of the ancestral residents of this part of the world.

Quick Hits...

2006-01-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, no long diatribe today, just some quick nuggets.

The 40-Year Old Virgin is a hysterical movie - much better than I expected. I have not laughed that hard in a while. Highly recommended.

Paul Pierce will not help the Bulls in the long run. He may be a quick patch, but it will hurt the Bulls in their long range plan to acquire a player which almost solely plays offense and no defense. What reason does Jim Paxson have to believe that Pierce will change this late in his career? How will this hurt the chemistry of a team which is used to having each of its players treated equally, regardless of his importance to the team? Of course, if the Bulls trade for Pierce and LaFrentz (as reported by Sam Smith of the Tribune, 1/30/06), perhaps they can get Roy Williams to leave UNC and come coach the Bulls, who will have 3 former Jayhawks on the roster.

Is Jerome Bettis going home this week? If so, does he have to sleep in the same twin size bed that he slept in for the first 18 years of his life under this parent's roof? If s0, this is an underanalyzed underbelly of this story due to its potential impact on Bettis' health for the game. Maybe ESPN can do a 3-part story on this Wednesday - Friday this week as a follow up to their interview with Bettis' mom.

Will NBC ask all of their Olympic hosts to pronounce Italian names in a butchered Italian-American translation? Please, if you live and work in the US, the Olympics are being played in "Turin", not "Torino".

Thanks for reading.

Pagan to Save Cubs from Goat Curse

2006-01-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

AP, 1/26/06: The Cubs purchased the contract of minor league outfielder Angel Pagan from the New York Mets on Wednesday and added him to their 40-man roster.

Finally, Cubs' brass figured out that you needed a pagan to purge a goat curse. Next thing they will try is one of the Halliwell sisters - my vote is for Alyssa Milano. Mmmmm, Milano!

Random Thoughts

2006-01-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

If you look to your right, you will see that one of the links I have suggested is to a page called "Random Thoughts." You may ask yourself, "What in the world is Random Thoughts? Is it a dot.com startup company that will have a Super Bowl commercial?" Well, not quite.

Random Thoughts is another Blog that I highly recommend to anyone who has an interest in insightful and timely sports commentary with a healthy dose of humor and pop culture references. Think of it this way - it is Sportscenter without the fake street cred. Plus you do not have to wade through the annoying EOE movies (Let's remember that this is a sports channel people!).

Anyway, please feel free to follow the link to Random Thoughts, and pass the word on to your friends.

What if MLB owned all the numbers?

2006-01-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

Did you hear the story about how MLB is trying to “sell” its statistics so that it can obtain a piece of the muli-million dollar fantasy league market?

My favorite quote from this story is this: “Last year, MLB bought the rights to the statistics from the Major League Players' Association.” I am not sure if the MLBPA even knew that the statistics could be bought or sold, but I give Don Fehr credit for keeping a straight face when Bud asked him how much he wanted.

Talk about stupidity! Perhaps MLB will confiscate all fans’ scorecards at the conclusion of ballgames so that fans cannot sell the statistics on the rotisserie black market. Heck, why stop there? Why not just confiscate all pens and pencils so that we will have to memorize the statistics from the day’s game so we can write them down at home? (Players don't give autographs anymore anyway!) The rights’ fees for MLB games will multiply just so the networks will have the right to show batting averages and ERA’s on the screen beside a player’s height, weight and alma mater. Newspapers would have to add a nickel to the cost of any subscription that still wants the sports page to include box scores.

Does anyone really wonder why the NFL has passed baseball as America’s favorite sport?