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11.30.2005
?Guns? on TV: Most NFL referees are anonymous souls, generally less than athletic sorts who look out of place among the toned, muscular men they officiate. Then there?s Ed Hochuli.
We call Hochuli ?Guns? in honor of his impressive biceps and we?re not the only ones. Virtually every NFL announcer mentions the Guns? great physique as he makes a call. Hochuli, a Phoenix attorney, is rightly proud of his bod, writing to one website, ?I have never used steroids, growth hormones, or anything like them. I work very hard at maintaining my physique.?
Even the NFL Channel, the official network of the league, has taken note and will feature Hochuli this week in their ?Six Days to Sunday? segment (first airing Thursday, Dec. 1, 8:30 p.m. EST). In his blog
for NFL.com, network host Rich Eisen could barely contain himself at Hochuli?s upcoming appearance:
America's favorite shredded ref Ed Hochuli followed by a camera crew for an entire week! C'mon, talk about giving thanks! Of course, knowing you people like I've gotten to know you over the course of this now 12-week old blog, I had your back in this one. Immediately, I fired [manager of programming Tom Brady] a one-sentence e-mail in return:
"Please tell me we follow Ed Hochuli into the gym." To which, it took Tom all of three minutes to reply: "If we don't, we're doing something wrong."
Oh, baby. Is the NFL Network programming department on top of its game or what? Set your TiVos now and rip the knob off. Personally, I can't wait to see how many plates Ed can put up. And I know you feel the same. While we're on the subject, here's a funny story about the hunky Hochuli that I can't believe I've buried to this point:
Every preseason, each and every broadcast crew meets with a group of officials to review any rule changes that come into being during the offseason. You know, to make sure those who "Watch This!" get it right when close calls occur. At any rate, a few years back, when the Monday Night Football crew included the vivacious Melissa Stark and brilliant Dennis Miller, Ed Hochuli found himself part of the referee contingent on hand to explain the new rulings. From what I heard, during a break in the proceedings, Ed strolled up to Melissa and, within earshot of Miller, innocently told her "I really enjoy your work." To which Miller responded, and you're required to read the following in his voice: "Ed Hochuli! A referee ... AND a player." How great is that?
See, it?s not just the gays who love Ed. He?s a uniter, not a divider. We're also proud that if you type in "Ed Hochuli" into Google, you get Outsports at the top.--Jim Buzinski
11.29.2005
Michael Irvin Back on Crack? Former Dallas Cowboy and Hall of Fame candidate Michael Irvin was arrested on Friday for not only failing to pay a traffic ticket, but also for possessing drug paraphernalia. Irvin has spent much of the last 36 hours telling the media that the item - a crack pipe - was taken from a friend of his when the friend brought it to Irvin's house. Irvin has said he then put it in his car so his kids wouldn't find it.
Instead, the cops found it. According to reports in The Dallas Morning News, Irvin told them it was his brother's, which contradicts his statements to the media that it was a friend's crack pipe. Irvin said he has known the friend for 17 years. His youngest sibling is 30. Unless his brother was missing for the first 13 years of his life, Irvin has lots of explaining to do.
But, forget all that. This is the same Michael Irvin who has had drug problems himself since he was a player with the Cowboys. When he talked to Stuart Scott on Monday Night Countdown, I got the feeling that this was a guilty man who was trying to figure out a way to get out of it. Chances are, though, someone will find a way to dismiss the charges and all will be forgotten. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
Colts Stay Perfect: With their impressive 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, the Indianapolis Colts went to 11-0, the sixth NFL team to do this since 1970. The previous six all made the Super Bowl and five won it.
The Steelers' three previous defeats were by a combined 12 points, yet the Colts put the hurt on them. Edgerrin James ran for 124 yards against a Steelers defense that hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in the previous 22 games. Can the Colts go 16-0? They have three games left against teams with winning records (Jacksonville, Seattle and San Diego), but the Colts have met every challenge thrown their way. --Jim Buzinski
What An unnamed Philadelphia Eagles fan was arrested Sunday for running onto Lincoln field during the Packers-Eagles game and spreading his mother's ashes on the field. As he ran onto the field, he emptied a plastic bag apparently holding the ashes. He went to midfield and dropped to his knees, then dropped to his stomach, spread-eagle, before being arrested. It's not known if the man is a season ticket holder or if the Eagles plan to take any action against the man.
Apparently, he did it because his mother never got to go to an Eagles game while she was alive. Seems odd that, if she was such a diehard Eagles fan, she would have never made it to a game. Since they just built the Linc, chances are she'll be there for Eagles games for years to come. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.28.2005
T.O. to finally wear a star? Just when you thought the Terrell Owens drama had quieted, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has added fuel to the proverbial fire; and the Philadelphia Eagles aren't happy about it.
Jones said on a radio show that he has his eyes on the crazy Pro Bowl wideout who once taunted the Cowboys by stomping on the star in the middle of the field when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.
"In general, I am a risk-taker. We've gone down that road," Jones told the radio host when asked if the Cowboys might be interested in Owens. "I probably have a propensity to try and make things work. ... A top receiver could flourish with Drew Bledsoe. That's always appealing."
The Associated Press is reporting that the Eagles have filed a complaint against the Cowboys because they believe that Jones' comments constitute tampering. Since Owens is still an employee of the Eagles, Jones' comments could be interpreted as trying to recruit Owens to play for Dallas.
Just imagine Keyshawn Johnson and Owens on the same team. The Eagles should be THRILLED that one of their archrivals wants to take their biggest headache off their hands. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
NFL Week 12: Check out our news and notes and hotties from Week 12 in the NFL.
11.26.2005
College hoops: The Duke Blue Devils were the overwhelming pre-season choice for the #1 slot in the men?s basketball rankings and after a terrific game on Friday, they showed why. In the NIT final in New York?s Madison Square Garden, Duke held off an excellent Memphis Tigers team 70-67 to go to 5-0 on the season. Shelden Williams scored 30 points and the gorgeous J.J. Redick scored 15 as Duke continues to roll. Earlier in the NIT, they lost starting guard DeMarcus Nelson to a hairline fracture of his ankle and had to rely on some of their younger players to come through. They did and Duke had their third NIT title in the bag. It?s a long season and Duke doesn?t figure to go undefeated in the tough ACC -- they start two freshman and they?ll need a more balanced scoring attack ? but they?re fun to watch.
With the baseball season over, I?ve been watching a lot of college basketball and in flipping around the dial, one team I was impressed with was the #3 Connecticut Huskies. They?re tough on defense and can wear teams down, as they did on Wednesday against Gonzaga. They beat the Zags 65-63 to win the Maui Invitational tournament in Hawaii. The Maui Invitational was fun to watch. The teams play in a small gym and the coaches wear Hawaiian shirts on the sidelines in place of their usual expensive suits, so it?s a little looser than the usual college basketball tournament.
Another team that was interesting to watch in Maui was #12 ranked Michigan State. They were ranked #4 going in to the season, but they got schooled by that perennial college basketball powerhouse ? not ? Hawaii by 22 points in the opener of the Maui tournament. They then lost a fantastic triple overtime game against Gonzaga and looked to be dead in the water. However, they beat a very good Arizona Wildcats team in overtime, 74-71, to salvage something out of their trip to Hawaii. Despite the losses, they have a stud center, Paul Davis, and lot of other excellent players, so they should do well in the Big 10 this year. Now, if UCLA can keep playing decent ball, it should be a fun college basketball season to watch. --Jim Allen
11.25.2005
Turkey day NFL: For as long as I can remember, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have hosted games on Thanksgiving. This year, the Lions hosted the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit looked like a team in serious disarray. The Lions used three quarterbacks ? hottie Joey Harrington, Jeff Garcia and rookie Dan Orlovsky ? and none of them looked very good. It?s hard to tell whether Joey Harrington really isn?t very good or whether the poor Lions receiving corps are to blame, but the passing game is not happening for Detroit right now. Neither is the rushing game; it?s a bad day when your leading rusher only has 32 yards. On the other hand, the Falcons felt so comfortable with their 27-0 lead at the end of the third quarter that they sat quarterback Michael Vick for all of the fourth quarter. "It's always nice when you get an opportunity in the fourth quarter to sit down, enjoy the moment and the victory" said Vick.
The second game of the day was a much better one, as the Denver Broncos beat the Cowboys in overtime, 27-24. Ron Dayne ripped off a great 55 yard run down to the Cowboys six yard line and reliable Jason Elam had no trouble with the winning 24 yard field goal on the next play. Dallas can?t be happy with their kicker, Billy Cundiff, as he hit a very makeable 34 yard field goal try wide left with 7:46 to play that would have given the ?boys a 24-21 lead. The look on Dallas coach Bill Parcells? face after Cundiff?s miss was priceless: a mix of disbelief, disgust and anger.
Jim B. and I disagree about how the NFL structures its overtimes. He prefers the college way, where both teams are guaranteed at least one series. I like it how it is now, with a coinflip and sudden death. For the first time in ages, I sort of agreed with Jim B. about this, because the Cowboys basically got steamrolled by Ron Dayne?s great run. Oh well, if their defensive line hadn?t been blown off the ball so completely on the play, maybe Dallas could have given their offense a chance to win the game. --Jim Allen
11.24.2005
No more drama - T.O. loses his case: It is a sign that there is justice in the world. Terrell Owens, the obnoxious superstar wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, has lost his grievance against the Eagles on every count, and arbitrator Richard Bloch has upheld Owens' four-game suspension and given the Eagles the freedom to keep Owens deactivated for the rest of the season.
Kudos to Bloch for doing the right thing. Stories had been coming out Wednesday morning that, after the 14-hour hearing last Friday, he was going to overturn some of the Eagles' actions. Owens was a distraction to the team, he was counterproductive to a positive work environment and no employer should ever have to put up with an employee calling them "classless," picking fistfights with teammates and saying disparaging things about his coworkers.
I actually heard some people defend Owens in recent days. They said that the Eagles should have known what they were getting in T.O. People forget that all he and the rest of the players in the NFL, NBA, NHL and other leagues are are employees. They're well-known employees, to be sure. But, a sports team is a business and that business should never have to put up with the bullshit that this knucklehead threw at them in the last six months.
So now, Owen's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has everything he wanted. Rosenhaus was hired by Owens after Owens signed his deal with the Eagles. Now that Owens will surely be released or traded, Rosenhaus will get a big fat payday when he negotiates a new deal for his most visible client.
It's hard to tell who's worse: Owens or Rosenhaus. My pick would be the latter; Owens was crazy before he hired his new agent, but he wasn't particularly self-destructive. Now with Rosenhaus pulling the strings, Owens has a one-year history of doing and saying things that are destroying his reputation to the point of possibly never getting a longterm deal from another team.
As for the Eagles, they'll be fine. Owens was certainliy a huge asset on the field, but they don't need him to win. This is a solid franchise, and the sooner they are able to get over one of the most bizarre midseason catfights in memory, the better off they'll be. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.23.2005
Lacrosse players wear g-strings, too: Shippensburg University is a small little school in Pennsylvania. Marquette is a small school in Wisconsin. But, their lacrosse teams are making headlines - and turning heads - for photos that are popping up all over the Web showing hazing incidents involving g-strings and bongs.
Hazing has long been a tradition in uber-masculine arenas of sports and fraternities. It's also been illegal for quite some time. Now, both programs are facing major sanctions for sponsoring hazing exercises that force new players to be nude, drink alcohol and suck things off the floor. And they say gay men don't play sports. Hah! -Cyd Zeigler jr.
EW's sorry excuse for a top-30 list of sports movies: All you really have to do to completely dismiss Entertainment Weekly's top-30 list of gay sports movie DVDs is to examine #27: "Better Off Dead." The biggest problem: it's as much of a sports movie as "Lord of the Rings" is a romantic comedy.
But, that's not the most egregious error on the list. I'm not quite sure what group of bozos put the list together, or what uppity film critic they asked to consult on the projecct, but anyone who calls "Field of Dreams" "overrated" has got to go. The genius baseball movie is considered by many to be the quintissential sports movie. However, Entertainment Weekly ranks it #17 behind the likes of the disastroulsy boring "Friday Night Lights" (#9) and the far overrated "Bull Durham" (#5). In fact, they lump "Chariots of Fire" with the Kostner masterpiece as the most overrated sports movies. Why do people have to make these lists "interesting" by throwing in bad ideas, instead of just trying to truly come up with the best list they can?
I'll give them props for this, though: their #30 selection. "Bend It Like Beckham" is one of the most entertaining, most satisfying movies - about sports or otherwise - that I can remember seeing. But, because it's about a girl who loves soccer, it would surely miss the list of many. Kudos to EW for this pick, and for actually picking the best sports movie ever, "Raging Bull," as the top movie. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.22.2005
Give the punter a break: I'm as patriotic as anybody else, but St. Louis Rams punter Bryan Barker shouldn't need to be apologizing to anybody. But, that's what he spent part of Monday doing: apologizing for interupting a halftime salute to the troops during his game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Barker came out of the halftime break to find yet another rah rah patriotic display. This one was dubbed a "Veteran's Day Salute" (by the way, Veteran's Day was 10 days ago - maybe the event planners should be apologizing for missing the holiday). He started doing his weekly post-halftime routine to prepare to play and he started sending a couple balls sailing over the heads of bands and color guards.
"We have a short time to prepare for the second half and I was only following my regular routine in getting warmed up," Barker said. "I apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions."
I love patriotic displays. I get all teary-eyed when I see heartfelt flag-waving and hear the national anthem. But, if anyone was offended by that Cardinals-Rams halftime, it should have been the players whose ability to perform was compromised by the celebration that had nothing to do with football or the game at hand. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.21.2005
East Coast Bias: Fans of West Coast college teams have complained for years about the Pro-East-Coast bias in sports. I witnessed it firsthand Saturday night. With No. 16 Fresno State visiting No. 1 and two-time defending national champion USC, the game was nowhere to be found on TV sets in Manhattan.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I had to weed through the ABC, CBS and ESPN games featuring Alabama, Florida, Syrcause, Penn State and the rest of the ?elite? teams from East of the Rockies. Yet, with the nation?s top team playing another Top 25 team, the same East Coast programming executives that force-feed the West Coast with SEC games couldn?t bring themselves to show a game featuring the Pac-10?s best team and the WAC?s best team to the good ole boys of Manhattan.
It turned out to be the game of the day, with USC staying on its unbelievable winning streak by topping Fresno State in the final quarter, 50-42. Jim Buzinski, in Los Angeles, told me that the game was allegedly shown on some Fox Sports channel. The only possibility is Fox College Sports-Pacific, which is channel 454 on Time Warner Cable. In L.A., Miami and Virginia Tech play on channels 2, 7 and, sometimes, channels in the mid 20s. On the East Coast, USC plays on channel 454.
What that means is poll voters couldn't watch the game unless they were willing to tolerate drunk straight guys screaming about busty cheerleaders at a bar with DirectTV.
And who says there?s an East Coast bias?
NFL Week 11: Check out our news and notes and hotties from Week 11 in the NFL.
11.19.2005
Vlade: safe: To follow up on Cyd?s Vlade Divac post on the 17th, Divac will not face any legal trouble in his native Serbia & Montenegro's due to not serving in the military. "We checked everything that we got from the military office and there is no reason to suspect that Divac committed any crime, so no charges will be filed" was the announcement from prosecutors in Belgrade. Reading between the lines of the statement, it should have read "Divac is the biggest sports start we?ve ever produced and it would be bad publicity to prosecute him", but I think they wiggled around that by the provision that the obligation can be fulfilled with nine months of non-military service to the country. Since he played for the national team and won medals, such as at the 2002 World Championships, I think that was counted in his favor.
T.O.: no decision: Even after a staggering 13 hour meeting (!!) on Friday, the fate of Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens remains undecided. An arbitration meeting was held in Philadelphia to decide whether the team violated the collective bargaining agreement by promising to deactivate Owens after his suspension is over; Owens wants to play in Philly the rest of the year, the Eagles brass don?t want him back. The decision will be made by arbiter Richard Bloch and a decision is expected by Tuesday. Even if Owens is reinstated, it might not be enough to save the Eagles season, but since the NFC is so weak this year, he could be the difference between making the playoffs or an early off-season for Philadelphia. --Jim Allen
11.18.2005
Baseball toughens up stereoid policy: When baseball announced their anti-steroids policy before last season, the penalty phase of it was a joke: 10 days for a first offense, 30 for a second and so on until finally, a fifth positive test would result in a lifetime ban. The "days" thing was also kind of lame, as days off counted in the penalty. On Thursday, major league owners voted unanimously to toughen up the penalties for getting caught using a banned substance and they really are tough: 50 games ? not days ? for a first offense, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third positive test. The policy has to be finalized by the players union, but that?s seen as a formality. During spring training this year, players that suddenly lost some of their bulk in the offseason were suspected of getting off the juice; I suspect the new penalties will cause players to be under even more scrutiny when camps open up in February.
One of the most significant parts of new agreement is the section on amphetamines. I remember reading about baseball players taking them in Jim Bouton?s great book Ball Four in the early 70?s; they?ve been around baseball for much longer, of course. They?re used to combat fatigue over the long baseball season and are used in conjunction with things like Red Bull. For the first time, however, amphetamines, or "greenies" or "beans" as the players call them, will be tested for during drug tests. The penalties, as they should be, are less harsh than for steroids ? being wired on speed won?t help you hit the ball farther ? with the first positive test triggering a mandatory testing regime. A second positive test will result in a 25 game suspension, a third for 80. It?ll be fun to note which players complain about being tired in July next season, though I liked San Diego Padres second baseman Mark Loretta?s recommendation for those that use greenies: go to bed earlier. --Jim Allen
11.17.2005
Not even Randy wants T.O.: After two months of radio silence, Oakland Raiders bad-ass receiver Randy Moss has given his first media interview, with ESPN. With the "Terrell Owens lottery" already starting, Moss decided to weigh in on whether it would be a good idea to team the two up in Oakland.
"I mean, T.O. could be good here with the Raiders but I don't think with his baggage and everything he's been through, and my baggage and what I've been through, I don't think that would work."
What's too bad is that the two of them at receiver for the same team would be an incredibly formidable challenge for any defense. But, the personalities of 14-year-olds combined with the crotchety attitudes of 80-year-olds is too much for the Raiders management to contend with. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
The military is calling for Vlade: Serbia-Montenegro's military is saying that former NBA center Vlade Divac could face a one-year jail term if he doesn't report to his mandatory military duty soon. The 37-year-old, who is best-known for his days as a Laker and a King, had until his 35th birthday to serve a mandatory six-month military service.
Divac won't have to serve any of the jail time as long as he never steps foot in Serbia-Montenegro again. But, as a European scout for the Lakers, and with so much basketball talent in S-M, the former flopper is in a legal pickle that could give him more of a headache than Shaq ever dealt him. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.16.2005
Giants lose second co-owner in three weeks: Just three weeks after New York Giants co-owner Wellington Mara died, the team's other co-owner, Robert Tisch, died Tuesday of brain cancer. He was 79.
Tisch was active with the Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York City. He served on the group's board of directors, and a sizable donation made the organization's home a possibility. In fact, the building that GMHC calls its home is called the Tisch Building.
Tish bought 50 percent of the Giants in 1991 from Mara's nephew, shortly after the Giants beat the Bills in the Super Bowl.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, who is still very active with GMHC, and his three children. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
MLB has its MVPs: Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez won their respective league MVP awards this week. Pujols beat out Atlanta Braves Andruw Jones by a narrow margin, 378-351, securing a first- or second-place vote on all 32 ballots. National League Champion Houston placed a player, Morgan Ensberg, in fourth place overall.
In the AL, it was the 12th time since 1931 that a New York Yankee and a Boston Red Sox player finished 1-2 in the league MVP voting. A-Rod beat out Boston's David Ortiz in the voting, and justifiably so. Ortiz is only a batter, the designated hitter for the Red Sox, and Rodriguez takes the field each day. Yes, defense has been meaningless in MVP votes past; but, in this vote, it obviously mattered. The right man won. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.15.2005
Cowboys Rally to Stun Eagles: The Philadelphia Eagles were cruising, 20-7, over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night with less than four minutes to go, then the roof caved in. A quick four-play drive, capped by a beautiful 20-yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to Terry Glenn got the Cowboys to within 20-14 with 3:04 remaining, but the Cowboys still needed to get the ball back.
Dallas? prayers were answered (for Eagle fans it was like hell) when Donovan McNabb threw a breathtakingly horrible pass that Roy Williams intercepted and ran back 46 yards for a touchdown with 2:40 left to give the Cowboys a 21-20 win and all but sink Philly?s season.
It is baffling why Eagles coach Andy Reid called a sideline pass on second-and-7 when trying to run some time off; those are always passes that if thrown improperly can lead to a long return. It is even more baffling why McNabb threw the ball since there was no receiver within 10 yards of the ball; Williams looked like the intended receiver. To add injury to insult, McNabb reinjured his groin and backup Mike McMahon came in for the final drive that resulted in David Akers being short on a last-gasp 61-yard field goal.
Akers should have been trying a 35-yarder, but Eagles rookie receiver Reggie Brown dropped a pass at the Cowboys 18. Without Terrell Owens, the Eagles have no receiver that strikes fear in anyone. At 4-5, Philly is two games behind Dallas and New York in the NFC East, but has already been swept by the Cowboys. A playoff berth looks like a longshot, especially if McNabb is out for any length of time.
No surprise, but some Eagle fans booed an obviously injured McNabb as he misfired on his final three passes before giving way to McMahon. The guy has been playing his ass off despite an injury that would lay up any of these fans from their jobs; you think they would show a little more tact.--Jim Buzinski
Copy Editor's Lesbian Joke Gets Him Pushed 'Out': A now-former copy editor at the Danbury News-Times is looking for a new job after a "humorous" photo caption accidentally went live on the newspaper's Web site.
The picture is of a girls' soccer team celebrating a goal scored in a championship-clinching win Nov. 5. The newspaper's website published the photograph, but the caption said it was celebrating a teammate's decision to "come out of the closet as a lesbian."
Dumb. Very dumb.
Truth be told, this kind of thing happens regularly: copy editors, bored with reading text for hours upon hours upon hours, go a little stir crazy and start coming up with "funny" captions. The hope, of course, is that it doesn't go live. This one did.
The paper fired the copy editor and apologized on the Web site and in the print edition of the paper (with a circulation of 33,000). But, I don't think the girls in the picture - some of whom have surely heard the "lesbian" accusation more than once - thought it was so funny. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.14.2005
O's axe Sammy & Raphy: All Orioles Executive Vice President Mike Flanagan would say was, "At this point, we are heading in a different direction." But, this much is clear: Sammy Sosa and Raphael Palmeiro, two men who have been the center of controversy - and suspension - in their playing days will not be wearing Baltimore Orioles uniforms next season.
Sosa was suspended while with the Chicago Cubs for using a corked bat in a game. Palmeiro was suspended this past season for testing positive for illegal substances after swearing to Congress that he never touched steroids.
Neither men had a great season in 2005. But, you have to wonder what exactly the team means when it says it's moving in "a different direction." I'd like to think it means they're no longer going to tolerate players who cheat. Now, if only the rest of the league would follow suit. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
NFL Week 10: Check out our news and notes and hotties from Week 10 in the NFL.
11.12.2005
Chief Illiniwek lives, for now: The upcoming NCAA college basketball season is going to be fun if for no other reason than seeing how the ruling about team nicknames plays out. Recap: the NCAA banned the use of nicknames and mascots that could potentially be offensive to Native American tribes, starting in February, 2006. What was absurd is that the NCAA allowed an appeal process, a process that the University of Illinois Fighting Illini availed themselves of this week. The NCAA ruled that the Illini can keep their nicknames but are banned from hosting any post-season events. In the category of "mixed signals" is the statement from the NCAA that the Illini mascot, Chief Illiniwek, "remains a hostile and abusive image of American Indians" but as long as the University of Illinois keeps him as a mascot, they won?t be eligible for lucrative postseason revenue. Let the season-long soap opera begin.
A Tale of Two Teams: It?s still early days in the NBA season, but it?s funny to see the fate of two teams so far. The New York Knicks hired coach Larry Brown after he left the Detroit Pistons following last season and it?s been rough going for him and the hapless Knicks so far: they?re 0-5 to start the season after a tough loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday. On the other hand, the Pistons, under new coach Flip Saunders, are 5-0 after winning in Portland against the Trail Blazers. A lot of media attention is spent on coaches/managers in the various team sports and I sometimes think that attention is overblown. Sure, a great coach can meld a so-so team in to a winner, but if you have the right players, as the Pistons do, you can almost plug in any competent coach in and they?ll win. Jim B. and I often marvel at how often coaches are recycled (Brown: too many times to mention; Saunders from the Minnesota Timberwolves); it sometimes seems that the biggest hurdle to a coaching career is just getting your foot in the coaching door. I?m giving Larry Brown about another two weeks before the New York media start braying for his firing. --Jim Allen
11.11.2005
NFL to LA: maybe: Ever since the Rams and then Raiders bolted from the Los Angeles area in the 1990?s, leaving the second largest media market in the country without a team, the National Football League has been trying to get a team planted here. It?s become a joke among local sports fan as proposal after proposal for a stadium has fallen through -- including one in the Dodger Stadium parking lot -- and every team that?s trying to extort a new stadium from their current city has threatened to move here before getting what they wanted (see: Indianapolis). For the first time since scumbag Al Davis took the Raiders back to their ancestral home in 1995, it looks like there?s real movement about getting a team in Los Angeles.
One of the biggest things that have prevented a deal so far is that the Los Angeles City Council has been unbending about refusing to use public funds to help build a stadium. A potential deal with billionaire Philip Anschutz (owner of the Kings hockey team) to build a stadium near Staples Center fell apart over just such financing details, for example. The NFL finally got it through their thick heads that they, or whoever wanted to move here, were going to have to build a stadium themselves. On Thursday, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that a preliminary agreement has been reached with the city to rebuild the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from the ground up. The likely scenario is that the NFL would finance the $500 million reconstruction and bill whichever owner either gets an expansion team or moves an existing one here.
Of course, this being the NFL, they?re still keeping their options open: negotiations with the city of Anaheim to build a stadium in the parking lot of Angels Stadium are ongoing. It?s typical business stuff, of course, playing one city off of the other, but I get the feeling that Anaheim is just the bait in this scenario. There?s still a lot to be settled before an NFL team plays in Los Angeles again -- if the Coliseum is to be rebuilt, what becomes of the only current tenant, the USC Trojans, for example ? but Tagliabue?s announcement is a real step in the right direction. --Jim Allen
11.10.2005
Gay Northwestern fan loves his hot players: A gay Northwestern Wildcats fan has started a blog under the name of his favorite player - and he's catching some flack for it.
As he says in the About Us section of the site: "The Ross Lane Fan Club is comprised of sexy straight women and hot gay guys (but mostly hot gay guys) with an arguably unhealthy obsession with Northwestern University football and basketball. We are particularly smitten with NU redshirt freshman wide receiver Ross Lane, hence the name."
Of course, some homophobic fans have already found the site that just went up this way; and at least one of them sent the site an email proclaiming: "I
don't think you faggots are funny at all."
We do and wish the Ross Lane Fan Club the best of luck. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
More bullshit from Rafael Palmeiro: The walking hypocrisy himself, Baltimore Oriole Rafael Palmeiro, has decided to take some responsibility for testing positive for steroids - but in the same breath is offering a lame excuse for it.
The man who railed before Congress against steroid users, then tested positive for them a couple months later, said that he may have unknowingly taken steroids that were accidentally put in a B-12 vitamin shot he got from a teammate last April.
"Nobody is more frustrated and disappointed in me than I am," Palmeiro said. I don't know about that - I know I'm getting frustrated with the excuses he keeps offering and I'm sure there are plenty of other fans out there who feel the same way. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.9.2005
Owens tries to call Eagles' bluff - again: A day after the Philadelphia Eagles announced that Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens would not return to the team, Owens stood in front of his house Tuesday with his tail between his legs apologizing to the Eagles and asking for his job back.
"The mentality that I have, my greatest strength can also be my greatest weakness," Owens said. "I'm a fighter. I've always been and I'll always be. I fight for what I think is right. In doing so, I alienated a lot of my fans and my teammates."
"This is very painful for me to be in this position," he said. "I know in my heart that I can help the team win the Super Bowl and not only be a dominant player, but also be a team player. I can bring that."
Will the Eagles bite and bring Owens back? No. And he doesn't deserve a fourth chance. It wouldn't be a second or third chance - it would be his fourth chance. No one deserves that many opportunities to screw their team. Owens is lucky he played a single down this season; if I was in charge of the Eagles, he wouldn't have.
The Eagles told him that he had to apologize by Saturday if he wanted to play with the team. He declined to apologize. He called their bluff over the weekend and they weren't bluffing. He's hoping they're bluffing again; they aren't.
It's too little, too late from Owens. Much too little. You can't disrupt a team for nine months and expect one apology to make up for all of that. It doesn't. I hope the Eagles get part of his signing bonus back. I hope he has to pay for this for years to come. I'm tired of his bullshit, the people of Philadelphia are tired of his bullshit; and I think finally Owens himself may be tired of it. But, he won't be able to help himself and the Eagles know that. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.8.2005
Colts finally solve Patriots: The Indianapolis Colts have been the best team in the AFC over the last four years, except for the fact that they just couldn't beat the New England Patriots. Now at 8-0, they've finally gotten over "the hump," beating the Patriots in Foxboro, 40-21, Monday night and getting quarterback Peyton Manning his first career win in eight tries in New England.
The talk can now officially begin that anoints the Colts as this year's installment of the 1972 Dolphins, the only team in the modern NFL to go undefeated and the only team ever to finish a season, including the playoffs, 17-0. While the Colts were already the last undefeated team standing this season, they had done it by beating mostly cupcakes like San Francisco, Cleveland and Houston. This win gives them their best victory of the season. They also seem to be clicking on all cylinders: running the ball, passing, defense and special teams.
The Colts have a brutal schedule ahead of themselves. While up to now they've only played two winning teams, they get five of them in their final eight games. They have their sights set on the No. 1-one seed in the AFC; but, if they're not careful, Cincinnati, whom they play on Nov. 20, is just waiting to make its move. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
Finally, Terrell Owens is done: It seems everyone was rejoicing Monday afternoon at the news that T.O. was done for the season. Everyone, that is except fantasy football players who have Owens on their team and Michael Irvin.
The list of reasons that Owens has been suspended is almost too long to fit on this page. But, it includes just about everything he did in San Francisco - calling out his team, his coach and his quarterback - in addition to getting into what some called a "WWE brawl" with a teammate.
Owens was informed Monday that he was suspended for four games and that, when that suspension was over, he would not return to the playing field. It's a move that has taken too long to come, with Owens making himself a nuisance to the team since they lost the Super Bowl to New England last February.
Owens' biggest apologist, Irvin, has quickly come to the pain in the butt's defense, which really sheds a terrible light on the former-Cowboy-receiver-turned-obnoxious-ESPN-commentator. It's bad enough that Michael Irvin is the number-one reason to not watch ESPN. But to come to the defense of a guy whom the rest of the public sees clearly as detrimental to his team is the ultimate in cronyism that gives so many sports reporters a bad name.
Luckily for the rest of us, the Eagles were thinking of the team when making their decision. Unfortunately, the NFL Players Association is going to file a grievance about the dismissal. I guess they think even the guilty deserve a seventh chance. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.7.2005
Lesbian Panther Cheerleaders? The cats were away - and the cheerleaders decided to play. According to news reports out of Tampa, two Carolina Panthers cheerleaders were arrested Sunday for an altercation that occurred after the two women were allegedly having sex the bathroom of a local bar. The Panthers were in town to play the Buccaneers Sunday. Carolina won the game, 34-14.
According to records, police arrested Kristen Lanier Owen, 22, and Angela Ellen Keathley, 26, the names of two Carolina Panthers TopCats. Owen could also face obstructin of justice charges, as she allegedly gave police false identification or a false name upon arrest.
The bar manager told 6News in Tampa that patrons complained to him that the women were refusing to leave the stall. Witnesses say they saw the women having sex. Witnesses allege that when the two women did finally come out of the stall, they started throwing punches.
Officers told 6News that Keathley was so drunk she could barely stand. The two women spent the night in Hillsborough County jail and were released on bond Sunday morning.
Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa Bay, voted earlier this year to not allow gay-pride events. I guess they consider two lesbians in a bathroom stall a parade. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
NFL Week 9: Check out our news and notes and hotties from Week 8 in the NFL, including Phil Simms? latest homoerotic comment.
11.5.2005
Friday quick hits: It?s early in the NBA season but like the birds returning to Capistrano or the gourndhog Punxsutawney Phil, it?s a yearly event: Shaquille O?Neill is out injured early in the NBA season. It was a regular feature from his days as a Los Angeles Laker, but it?s nice to see the Miami Heat, his current team, aren?t being shortchanged. For the record, it?s a sprained ankle and he?ll be out for 2-4 weeks.
* Frank Thomas was a mainstay of the Chicago White Sox for years. The Big Hurt was a powerful hitter and a decent first baseman. However, as the White Sox advanced their way to their first World Series title since 1917, he was mostly a spectator as he only played 34 games due to a bum ankle that required surgery. On Friday, the White Sox bought out his contract for $3.5 million, making Thomas a free agent. He?d like to end his career with the Sox, and they could re-sign him as a free agent, but he?d likely have to take a big cut in pay to do so. It?s was kind of sad to see him hobbling around during the White Sox 11-1 playoff run, but unless he can prove he?s physically able to withstand a full season again, he might be done as a player.
* Speaking of teams that just eat a players contract, when are the Philadelphia Eagles admit they made a mistake in signing Terrell Owens? Sure, he?s a very good receiver, but he?s almost the definition of a lockeroom toxin. After blasting the Eagles organization for not recognizing his 100th career touchdown, he claimed that the Eagles would be undefeated if they had Brett Favre of Green Bay as their quarterback. Owens obviously didn?t see how awful Favre was last weekend, but nevermind, it was just another swipe at Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. Owens did the predictible apology and claim that he was misquoted, but it?s almost like a soap opera in Philadelphia these days and it?ll be interesting to see how long it lasts. The NFC is awful this year and the Eagles should be romping but instead they?ve been overshadowed early in the season by the New York football Giants and Washington Redskins. --Jim Allen
11.4.2005
Anti gay slur campaign: In 1999, I paid an obscene amount of money to a scalper to get a ticket to a Manchester United v. Chelsea FA Cup match in Manchester, England. Walking into the stadium was something I?ll never forget: the sound of 65,000 people chanting and singing, the bright color of the pitch, the excitement in the air. The scalper was right: it was a great ticket, twelve rows up at the center line. All my excitement turned a bit sour, however, a few minutes in to the match. Graham Le Seux was a fullback for Chelsea and every time he touched the ball ? every. single. time. ? the United fans around me would start shouting "Poof! Shirtlifter! Bumboy!" and other charming British equivalents of "faggot". I later found out that Le Seux was thought to be gay because (and this isn?t a joke) he read a left-wing newspaper, The Guardian, and liked to collect expensive art. All the anti-gay taunting put a damper on an otherwise great afternoon.
Six years later, the Football Association, English football?s governing body, has announced a campaign to stamp out homophobic abuse of players and opposing fans. It?s modeled on their high-profile Kick Racism Out campaign, which has had a positive effect on the reception black players get at matches (sadly, there?s not many black fans). Match officals ? referees and linesmen ? will be instructed to be on the lookout for homophobic abuse, with the power to dish out yellow/red cards to players. The hotline that was set up to report racist abuse amongst fans will now take complaints of anti-gay slurs as well. It?s another small, but welcomed, step towards making homophobic comments a thing of the past at sporting events, something I wish was a thing of the past six years ago. [Hat tip to Towleroad for the link] --Jim Allen
11.3.2005
More pro athletes on gay players: When asked by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer how he'd feel if one of his teammates was gay, journeyman forward Danny Fortson, now with the Seattle Supersonics, his fifth team in eight years, couldn't have been more unsupportive.
"I wouldn't want to be on that team. It wouldn't be a good idea," Fortson said. "As athletes, we still have a grade-school mentality where we pick on people a little bit. It's not going to work with us. I don't think it's very acceptable behavior for men as far as I'm concerned."
My sister is friends with Fortson. When I called her Wednesday night to ask her about it, she was incredibly angry. He is homophobic, she said, but a TRUE homoPHOBE: he's scared of gay people. It's less of a hatred than a fear, she said.
We say it over and over again, and I can't help but say it again. Can you imagine if he was white and said, "I don't want to play with Black people"? Yet, he gets away with this incredibly hateful speech that builds an incredibly negative work environment.
Fortson's teammate, Nick Collison, was more supportive but still painted a very negative picture. "I've never had a teammate I've known was openly gay," Collison told the Post-Intelligencer. "I don't have a problem with homosexuality. I'm not here to judge people (but) I don't think (he) would be accepted with open arms, I can tell you that. I don't think it's right, but that's the reality of it."
Across town with the Seattle Seahawks, there was a slightly more enlightened tone in the comments the Post-Intelligencer reported.
"Obviously, right now if you go around the corner, there are 20 guys in the shower, and there are only 15 shower heads," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "It's a little uncomfortable right now for heterosexuals. ... It's a tough one.
"It would depend. If someone is professional about their job and is choosing to have the same focus you're focused on -- winning football games -- (then) great."
Center Robbie Tobeck, who played with Esera Tuaolo for the Atlanta Falcons, said he didn't "think it would have changed anything" if he had known Tuaolo was gay while they played together. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.2.2005
Celtics voice concern over gay NBA player: No one will ever come out of the closet in the NBA, if many of the Boston Celtics have their way. In a story in the Boston Herald on Tuesday, several members of the organization voice their concerns over the idea of having a gay player in the league.
?I probably wouldn?t want to guard him,? Paul Pierce told the Herald, seemingly only half-joking.
?It?s a lot different in the WNBA,? Pierce said. ?A lot of the girls there are (gay) anyway. I didn?t know that (Swoopes) was gay, but I?m not really surprised. I?ve seen a few of them out together, and you just know.
?But professional basketball would be tough for a guy. You?re talking about only 12 guys in the locker room. It?s personal. It would be tough out in public, too. Our faces are seen more than baseball, where they have a hat, or football with helmets.?
The questions were a direct result of WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes' announcement last week that she is gay.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers told the Boston Herald that he thinks it would be incredibly rough for an openly gay player in the NBA.
?The jabs wouldn?t stop,? Rivers said. ?And the guy would have to take it. He?d have to understand that it wasn?t personal. The great thing about team sports are the ways these guys can get on each other in the locker room and on the bus rides, and it?s brutal. These guys leave no rocks unturned, and the great thing about it is that the guy who?s the target laughs along with it.
?If a guy came out and said he was gay, for a day no one would say anything, but then right after that they would kill him. And it would be in a team way. That?s all that I hope would happen.?
Former Celtic Robert Parish, who now works for the team, was surprised about Swoopes' news. Interestingly, he predicted bad things ahead for her.
?I?m just as surprised as anyone else, but I do admire her,? Parish said. ?It shows that she?s very courageous, to step forward like that. It could turn out to be a very negative thing for her, career-wise. It could alienate family and friends.?
What is most interesting to me in these comments is that they all predict doomsday for an openly gay player; yet, it's precisely these people who will determine whether it's good or bad. It's just too bad that these guys - these Black men - can get away with saying these things.
Speaking of basketball, the NBA season tipped off Tuesday night and started up where it left off: with a Spurs victory. San Antonio beat the Denver Nuggets, a popular choice to contend for the title, 102-91. Ho-hum. I hear the seasom ends sometime three years from now. Wake me up when the playoffs start.-Cyd Zeigler jr.
11.1.2005
Steelers Win a Close One: The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a late field goal from Jeff Reed to nip the Baltimore Ravens, 20-19, on Monday Night Football. The Ravens had one last drive to get into position for a last-second field goal but could not get inside the 50. The Ravens faced a fourth-and-six on what turned out to be their final play and quarterback Anthony Wright threw a 3-yard pass to Chester Taylor that was dropped; even had Taylor caught it there was no way he would have gotten the first down. Throwing short on fourth down is one of those great NFL mysteries.
What isn?t a mystery is that the Steelers almost always win when Ben Roethlisberger is their quarterback. In two seasons he is 20-2 as a starter with both losses coming to New England. He?s seldom flashy (only 187 yards passing on Monday) but just finds a way to get the job done. He gets my vote for midseason MVP.
Epstein Out in Boston: Theo Epstein, 31, who was the general manager for the Boston Red Sox when they won their first World Series in 86 years in 2004 abruptly resigned on Monday. News reports cite irreconcilable differences with Red Sox president Larry Lucchino.
Leave it to the Red Sox to be in a state of turmoil so soon after winning the title; I think their fans are never more happy than when they?re angst-ridden. Sox pitcher Curt Schilling was not happy, telling the AP: ''You don't get better losing a guy like Theo. It's obviously going to be an incredibly unpopular decision with the players. But we'll show up in spring training and get ready for the season and try to win another World Series. It's not like we're going to have a sit-down.''
At such a young age, the now ex-GM will have no trouble getting a quality job in baseball. --Jim Buzinski
10.31.2005
Comeback Time: This weekend?s college football action was most notable for three great comebacks that preserved unbeaten seasons.
The biggest came from #7 UCLA, which found itself down to Stanford, 24-3, it the fourth quarter. The Bruins scored two touchdowns to get to within 24-17, then converted a do-or-die fourth down play with under a minute left on the drive that tied the game. Then in overtime Brandon Breazell caught a 23-yard TD pass from Drew Olson to give UCLA a 30-27 win and an 8-0 record. "My heart hurts right now. I'm emotionally drained,? Bruins tight end Marcedes Lewis said after.
In Stillwater, Okla., No. 2 Texas fell behind 28-9 to the awful Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-5) before QB Vince Young and friends turned it on for a 47-28 win. Young refused to admit what everyone else saw -- the Longhorns took the Cowboys lightly. ''We did not even start off flat,'' Young said. ''If you watch film, we were playing our game. It was because they were pumped and they were excited, especially being at home in front of their fans.''
The final comeback came from Miami, which scored 27 unanswered points to beat North Carolina, 34-16. It was understandable why Miami started slowly; the team was still dealing with the effects from Hurricane Wilma earlier in the week.--Jim Buzinski
NFL Week 8: Check out our news and notes and hotties from Week 8 in the NFL, including Phil Simms? latest homoerotic comment.
10.29.2005
Golf gender wars: Until this week, Jean van de Velde known mainly for one thing: one of the biggest choke jobs in one of the four major men?s golf tournaments. Leading the 1999 British Open by three strokes as he teed off at the 18th hole of the final round, he somehow managed to shoot a 7 on the par 4 hole, ended up in a playoff and lost. While the British were ecstatic to see the Frenchman implode like that, some are not happy with a stance he took this week. Earlier this month, the Royal and Ancient Club, which runs the British Open, announced that any women that finished in the top five of the major women?s tournaments will be allowed to enter a qualifying tournament for next years Open. Just as Vijay Singh spoke out against Annika Sorenstam entering a men?s tournament last season, van de Velde spoke out against the rule change.
"It don't hear any woman saying they can win the [men?s British] Open, so why would you want to enter a tournament you don't feel you can win"? Mr. van de Velde said that he would send for an application to play at the women?s British Open next year and if he?s rejected, he might seek legal representation. That seems a rather drastic step to make a point, but not as drastic as promising to shave his legs and wear a kilt if he?s accepted, handsome though he is.
One problem for his potential solicitors (attorneys) to contemplate: the Ladies Golf Union, which runs the women?s British Open, has a gender policy that states "It shall be a condition of any competition organised by the Ladies' Golf Union that players must be of the female gender". While I?m a firm believer in equality for women, I don?t think that putting women athletes in situations where men?s overall size and strength superiority mean that the women are at a disadvantage from the get-go is good for either side of the debate. A more reasoned solution would be that the women?s game is promoted better, with better prize money for the participants. I understand why women would want to test their game against men, but if by some miracle Jean van de Velde plays in the women?s British Open next year, he will be playing on a course that is about 30 yards shorter than the men?s setup, giving him even more of an advantage. Can?t we all get along? --Jim Allen
10.28.2005
*Sigh*: Major league baseball is over until next year. For me, this means that the sports calendar is now pretty damn dull until April, the only exceptions being English football and college basketball. However, if the World Series TV ratings are to be believed, mine is definitely a minority view. As expected, the Chicago White Sox sweep of the Houston Astros was the lowest rated World Series ever, displacing the previous holder of that dubious title, the Angels of Wherever vs. San Francisco Giants 7 game series in 2002. What?s somewhat odd is that all four games this year were still the highest rated programs that night, but I guess that?s not good enough for Fox.
Considering how freaking awful their coverage was, they should consider themselves lucky. This was baseball coverage for the ADD generation. Between every pitch was about 15 different shots; to be fair, some of them were of really cute guys in the stands, but by about the 5th inning of Game 1, I was sick to death of closeups of fans looking tense, no matter how cute they were. Plus, the Fox habit of cutting back from commercials about .1 second before the pitcher wound up to throw the first pitch of the inning drove me nuts ? it allowed no time to make the transition from crappy commericals back in to the feel of the game. Luckily, I mute the sound when I?m at home watching sports on TV anymore (I play CD?s instead) so I was able to avoid the appallingly bad Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Thank Goddess for small favors.
Not buying it: I?m afraid I?m going to have to be a dissenting voice about the Cheryl Swoopes coming out story. I think the impact of her action is going to be small outside of the cult following for women?s basketball (where it *will* have a major impact). While it was a gutsy thing to do in today?s climate, the impact of it will be neutralized by two things:
1. She?s a female athlete admitting a same-sex attraction. Translated, that means it?s about as shocking to the average sports fan as the sun rising every morning is for human beings in general. Since a good percentage of fans (and non-fans) suspect that all female athletes are dykes, I think for most this will be a big "Duh!" moment. Of course, for straight guys that get off on chick-on-chick action, it?s a bonanza.
2. It?s the WNBA. I freely admit my bias because I think women?s basketball (and women?s soccer too) are about as exciting as watching paint dry in comparison to their male counterparts. Most male sports fans couldn?t care less about the WNBA and that simply dilutes the impact of Swoopes action.
To be blunt, until a major league baseball, NFL or NBA player who is currently playing comes out on his own ? not from being arrested in a cruising area or a fight in a gay bar or something ? 50 active female athletes could come out and it would barely create a ripple in the wider sports world. --Jim Allen
10.27.2005
A Sox Sweep: The Chicago White Sox ended 88 years of futility when they beat the Houston Astros, 1-0, in Game 4 to sweep the World Series. It ended a run that saw the Sox go 11-1 in the postseason.
A run-scoring single by Jermaine Dye gave Chicago the only run they needed in the 8th inning and in the 9th, two amazing defensive plays by Juan Uribe led to the final two outs. The Astros went the final 15 innings of the last two games without scoring a run.
In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918, and this year Chicago got it?s first since 1917. The champions of futility remain the Chicago Cubs, who have not won since 1908. For this year, at least, the South Side of Chicago gets the last laugh. --Jim Buzinski
10.26.2005
White Sox Win a Marathon: The 14-inning 7-5 win by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the World Series demonstrated a lot that was wrong about baseball these days. Far from being dramatic, the contest was the game that would not end. ?This is like swimming through syrup,? Tim McCarver said in the 12th inning. In the 14th, he said: ?From the time it took to play this game, you could fly from Baltimore to Iceland.? McCarver is the Fox analyst, and if he?s bored, you can imagine how the rest of us felt.
It tied for the longest game in World Series history by innings and was the longest by time at 5 hours and 40 minutes. There were more than 400 pitches and it seemed as if every batter went to a 3-2 count. The last bit of drama before Chicago took the lead on a solo Geoff Blum home run in the top of the 14th came in the bottom of the eighth when the Astros tied the game at 5-5. The game ended at 1:20 a.m. Houston time, 2:20 a.m. on the East Coast and 11:20 p.m. out West; an entire generation of young fans was long asleep.
The first two games of the Series produced the lowest TV ratings in history despite two terrific contests. With Chicago now leading 3-0, expect Game 4 to be even lower. These ratings signify that baseball is a regional sport and that its premier event is nothing all that special (save for an anomaly like the Red Sox winning a year ago). Only a diehard Houston or Chicago fan, a masochist or Outsports? Jock Talk writer bothered to stay with Game 3 until the bitter end. --Jim Buzinski
10.25.2005
MLB hates milk: Major League Baseball is upset because of a "Got Milk?" ad that the California Milk Processor Board is now running. The ad features a pro baseball player getting busted for a performance-enhancing substance. That substance: milk.
According to CNNSI.com, Tim Brosnan, EVP for business for Major League Baseball, had this pearl of wisdom: "There is nothing humorous about steroid abuse. I would think that the California Milk Processor Board and their advertising agency would know better regarding an issue that threatens America's youth."
What is offensive to my intelligence is how baseball has handled their own banned-substance problem. It has taken years of media coverage, the BALCO scandal, hearings before Congress and a former future Hall of Famer to get busted for MLB to take the issue of banned substances seriously. Even now, baseball's approach to the problem is to slap the perpetrator's wrists twice, then give them detention.
What baseball should do is realize what a joke their sport could become if these drugs continue to make headlines and actually start testing every athlete and enforcing heavy penalties. Maybe then they'll get a sense of humor. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
10.24.2005
Sox Do It Again: Go figure. Scott Podsednik went 507 at-bats during the regular season for the Chicago White Sox without hitting a home run. On Sunday, in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 2 of the World Series he was facing Houston Astros ace reliever Brad Lidge with the score tied 6-6 and one out. The Sox would have been happy with a single or walk. But the World Series is known for producing heroes out of nowhere and fate tapped Podsednik on the shoulder.
The 29-year-old outfielder slammed a 2-1 Lidge pitch to right-center field and it kept going until landing over the fence for a dramatic home run that gave Chicago the 7-6 win and a 2-0 Series lead.
''I don't think anyone in the ballpark was thinking about me hitting the ball out of the ballpark,'' Podsednik said. Certainly not his teammates. Fox had a great reaction shot of the White Sox dugout as the ball left Podsednik?s bat. One teammate said ?Oh, my God!? ?No, no way!? another replied as they watched in disbelief as the home run was called and Comiskey Park erupted. It was the second post-season home run for Podsednik this year and the second straight game-winner Lidge has served up (he allowed Albert Pujols? ninth-inning home run in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series in the pitcher?s last appearance before Sunday).
Podsednik?s dramatics capped a wild Game 2, that saw the White Sox grab a 6-4 lead on Paul Konerko?s grand slam in the seventh and the Astros tie it on a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth. The Series resumes in Houston on Sunday. --Jim Buzinski
NFL Week 7: Check out our news and notes and hotties from Week 7 in the NFL, including our favorite celebration dance of the week.
