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7.31.2003
Rookie Outduels The Unit: When rookie pitching sensation Dontrelle Willis took the mound against Arizona ace Randy Johnson, the Florida Marlins experienced something unique: a crowd.
The Marlins had their largest turnout in more than two years (37,735) as Willis, the 21-year-old with the odd-looking delivery, bested Johnson and the D'Backs, 3-1, on an errant throw that allowed in two runs. Florida, a definite playoff contender, won its sixth game in a row.
Higher Education: Another black eye for a university athletic department, this time San Diego State. ?An investigation into San Diego State's athletic department found alcohol in the equipment room and a Polaroid photo of the school's equipment manager and two student assistants with a topless dancer,? according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The newspaper received details of the investigation, that included this letter from a onetime student equipment manager, John Spriet:
"My first three years I was not 21," Spriet wrote. "Every trip we traveled on the road we would visit a gentleman's club. I attended most of these activities. It was in the presence of [equipment manager Steve] Bartel and many boosters. ? [The] boosters and Bartel would sneak us in or talk our way in ... If not in a gentleman's club, it was in a bar in which we were provided with large amounts of alcohol. Most of the people including myself were not of age."
7.30.2003
A Grand Night: Bill Mueller of the Boston Red Sox did something Tuesday night never before accomplished: He became the first player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a game. In total, Mueller had three home runs as the Red Sox doubled the Texas Rangers, 14-7.
?You never come to the ballpark thinking you're going to do anything like this,'' Mueller said. ``It didn't turn out like an ordinary night. I'm very humbled by this.'' Before his explosion, Mueller had only 10 home runs this season.
7.29.2003
Sehorn on the Shelf: Defensive back and 2Xist model Jason Sehorn will be sidelined for 10 weeks after undergoing surgery for a broken foot. This will leave Sehorn on the bench for the St. Louis Rams for the first five or six games of the NFL season. Sehorn, signed by the Rams after being released by the New York Giants, was expected to earn a starting spot at safety.
7.28.2003
One for the Thumb: It may be old hat, but Lance Armstrong?s fifth consecutive Tour de France win makes him one of the special athletes of all time. Put aside his courageous comeback from cancer; winning the Tour once is a grand feat. Winning it five times in a row is mythic and he becomes only the second man to do it.
Armstrong struggled more than in the past, but he was still able to overcome all the obstacles and hold off a spirited challenge from Jan Ullrich. "I feel like I dodged a lot of bullets," said Armstrongr. "This Tour took a lot out of me. I was not on top of my game. Sometimes you have to survive in order to win, and I was able to do that." Bravo.
15 and Counting: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay started the season 0-2. After Sunday?s 10-1 win over Baltimore, Halladay has now won 15 games in a row. The major league record is 19 wins in a row, last set in 1912.
7.27.2003
Two Bodies Found: Two bodies found in Texas and California marked chapters in the cases ofthe passing of two young athletes.
In Waco, Texas, the family of missing Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy is awaiting the identification of a body found at a rock quarry Friday night. The body was too decomposed to immediately identify if it is indeed Dennehy, who disappeared six weeks ago. His former teammate, Carlton Dotson, has been charged with his murder.
In Huntington Beach, Calif., the body of 18-year-old Drean Rucker, a prep All-American linebacker who was headed to USC this fall, was found in the surfline early Saturday morning. Drean was last seen charging into the water when a lifeguard was not on duty.
7.26.2003
New Pool Shark: American Michael Phelps has managed to steal the swimming spotlight from Australian Ian Thorpe, not as easy thing to do.
Phelps, 18, did something at the world championships in Barcelona on Friday that was unprecedented for a male swimmer--he broke two world records on the same day in different individual events. He accomplished this in the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly (51.47 seconds) and then in the final of the 200 individual medley (1:56.04). He beat Thorpe in the latter race.
Phelps now holds the world record in four events--100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 and 400 individual medley. Only Mark Spitz and Michael Gross have accomplished this feat.
Millen Is Fined: In will be a while before an NFL team fails to interview a minority candidate for a head coaching job. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined Detroit Lions President Matt Millen $200,000 for failing to interview such candidates. The Lions hired Steve Mariucci, who is white. Under NFL rules, Millen?not the Lions?must pay the fine.
Kellen Winslow, the Hall of Fame tight end who serves as the head of a group formed to ensure more minority hiring in the league, applauded the fine.
?We?re happy that the league has decided to put some bite into? its policy, Winslow told the Washington Post. ?I don?t care how much money you make ? $200,000 is a lot of money.?
7.25.2003
Bonds Market Strong: No matter what one thinks of Barry Bonds as a person, there?s no denying his abilities as a baseball player. This was borne out Thursday as Bonds made two plays that led the San Francisco Giants over Arizona, 3-2, for their eighth straight win.
In the top of the ninth, Bonds threw out the D?Backs? Craig Counsell at home. Then, Bonds led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his 646th career home run to give the Giants the win. It was his 33rd home run of the season and came on his 39th birthday. A repeat visit to the World Series for the Giants is definitely a possibility.
7.24.2003
Zito and Sex Before a Game: In the age of cookie-cutter jocks, Oakland A?s pitcher Barry Zito, 24, stands out. An iconoclast, he doesn?t fit the mold of most ballplayers. He?s not into hunting or fishing and would rather hang out with musicians, skaters and stoners. He?s also not afraid to say what?s on his mind. In an interview with Playboy, Zito discusses his pregame sexual ritual.
Playboy: What?s your stance on the age-old question about sex before a game--yes or no?
Barry Zito: I never have sex before the game -- at least not with another person. It would weaken my legs and my hips tend to get tight following sex. The release is key for me preceding performance, because I have to be as relaxed as possible. The competition is very intense and it is good to be as mellow as possible.
PB: So quality time with yourself is OK before a game?
BZ: Yeah, it relaxes anyone as much as sex would. It's a release.
He also says that ?I never even got laid in high school.? How many jocks would admit to that?
7.23.2003
Gay Day at the Races: Brighton race course in Britain will target its Wednesday race meeting to gays and lesbians, gay.com reports. ?Half the entrance fee will be directed towards the cost of staging the annual Gay Pride Festival in August, an event which attracted 60,000 people last year,? the Web site reported.
This is a cool idea as it?s hard to imagine any of the four-legged athletes having a problem with gay fans.
Swimmers Shine: Seems we got a nice duel going on in men?s swimming between Ian Thorpe, the king of the water, and his latest challenge, 18-year-old Michael Phelps from the U.S.
Tuesday at the World Championships in Barcelona, the Aussie Thorpe won his second gold on the event, in the 200-meter freestyle. But an hour later, Phelps shattered his own mark in the 200 butterfly, shaving an amazing 0.65 off the previous record. Phelps, a threat to win seven golds next year in Athens, was motivated by a comment by a former Australian coach who said any comparison between the American and Thorpe was ?utter nonsense.? Replied Phelps: ?When he said that, that put a lot of fire in me. That really got me more motivated than I already was. Having that in mind is going to hopefully get me through these championships pretty well."
7.22.2003
Grit Under Pressure: Lance Armstrong came through in the clutch and has taken a huge step toward his fifth straight Tour de France win.
Armstrong, battling Jan Ullrich for the lead, was accidentally knocked down by a spectator ("It was my fault for riding too close on the right side of the road," the American said). Bruised but unbowed, he got back on the bike and blew by Ullrich to win the stage. ? 'Lance, if you'd like to win the Tour de France, it's today.'? Armstrong said he told himself after he picked himself up. He now leads his biggest rival by 67 seconds, up from 15 a day earlier. The race ends Sunday in Paris and Ullrich is not finished yet, but Monday?s heroics give Armstrong a nice cushion.
7.21.2003
From No. 396 to No. 1: Ben Curtis, a 26-year-old golfer ranked No. 396 in the world won the British Open on Sunday, beating such luminaries as Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Davis Love III. It was an improbable a win as we?ve seen in sports in a long time and is akin to a No. 16 seed winning the NCAA basketball title.
Here is how the New York Times put it in perspective: ?Curtis had never won on the PGA Tour in 15 tournaments. He had never even managed a top-10 finish. He nearly failed to qualify for this tournament, making the 156-player field only two weeks ago with a tie for 13th place at the Western Open in suburban Chicago.?
The big loser was Thomas Bjorn, who lost a three-stroke lead with four holes to play. How do you say ?choke? in Danish?
Get the Broom: We had two improbable sweeps this weekend in baseball. The Oakland A?s lost four in a row to the Minnesota Twins, as A?s aces Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson all lost. And the World Series champion And the Anaheim Angels, who thought they had turned their season around, were swept by the mediocre Baltimore Orioles. It was the first four-game sweep by Baltimore over the Angels since 1965.
7.20.2003
Arena Football Player Dies: After blocking a field goal attempt in the first quarter of his Arena Football game against the Wichita Stealth on Saturday, Bakersfield Blitz linebacker Julian Yearwood, 31, was pronounced dead at a hospital in Wichita. The cause of death is presently unknown. The game was called off once Yearwood collapsed; it was tied, 7-7 still in the first quarter.
Maybe The Clippers Aren't Willing to Just Go Away: After watching nearly every potential star on the Los Angeles Clippers seek employment elsewhere, management obviously decided they'd had enough. The Clippers on Saturday matched an offer sheet from the Miami Heat which will reportedly give All-star forward Elton Brand $82.2 million over six years.
7.19.2003
Bryant Faces Serious Charge: Kobe Bryant, the LA Lakers superstar with the squeaky-clean image, is facing a felony sexual assault charge in Colorado, for allegedly forcing a 19-year-old female spa worker to have sex with him.
Bryant?s defense: He had sex, but it was consensual. "I did not assault the woman who is accusing me. I made the mistake of adultery," Bryant said in a statement. Bryant is married and has a child. If convicted, he could face prison time.
Bryant is innocent of the charge until proven guilty, but his reputation is already seriously tarnished. By admitting to adultery, Bryant has public relations and domestic problems and it will be hard for many fans to look at him the same way again, even if acquitted of the charge. If he is acquitted, expect a round of ?Kobe Is Sorry for What This Did to His Family? TV interviews with his wife at his side, ala Bill and Hillary Clinton in the 1992 primaries..
7.18.2003
Griffey Out Again: Once the greatest player in the game, Ken Griffey Jr. continued to rack up injuries as a Cincinnati Red when his ruptured tendon on Thursday put him on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Griffey's fourth season with Cincinnati is also his fourth straight injury-riddled season. He spent part of April and May on the DL with a shoulder injury and now this. The 33-year-old hit just 13 home runs this year, bringing his career total to 481.
7.17.2003
Man Plays Pro Ball in Seventh Decade: Most never get to play professional baseball in one decade. Minnie Minoso has played in seven of them. The former Negro League player who spent 16 years in the Majors took the field with the St. Paul Saints Wednesday night to become the first man to play pro baseball in seven decades. Minoso, 77, had last played for the Saints in 1993 after a 13-year lay-off since his last stint with the Chicago White Sox: two at bats in 1980.
Lots of Serena at the ESPY's: Whether it was Jamie Foxx drooling over a picture of her in her catsuit, or the reigning champion of three Majors handing out an award to the guys, Serena Williams was everywhere at the ESPYs on Wednesday night. She even accepted two awards for herself: Best Female Athlete and Best Female Tennis Player.
Pat (left) and Kevin Tillman won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for their choice to leave professional sports and join the military. A stirring tribute left many in the audience with a teary eye. And, with the shots of the two hot brothers, left women and gay men swooning.
7.16.2003
Gay Rugby World Cup in the Works: In the hopes of broadening the reach of the sport of rugby, Robert Hormer, the new president of the Rugby Football Union has announced that he will be focusing on building a gay rugby world cup.
"There remains a perception that rugby union in this country is a middle class elitist sport," Hormer said. "We must work hard to widen the appeal of the game."
There is presently a gay rugby world cup, but it does not have the recognition or support of the RFU.
Now That it Means Something . . . The American League garnered home field advantage in the World Series by downing the National League, 7-6, in the 74th annual All-Star game held Tuesday night in Chicago. Garrett Anderson, who the day before was the surprise winner of the homerun derby, was named the MVP of the game.
7.15.2003
Zito Out, Clemens In: Barry Zito flew from Oakland to Chicago to pitch in tonight?s baseball All-Star Game. So imagine his surprise when he was told by reporters that he had been replaced on the mound by Roger Clemens of the New York Yankees.
"It's like you're with a girl and, all of a sudden, her friend comes up and tells you that she doesn't want to date you anymore," Zito said. "You're like, "Why didn't you just tell me yourself?' "
According to the Oakland A?s, Zito?s team, General Manager Billy Beane told the club?s vice president Sandy Alderson that Zito would not pitch in the All-Star Game since he had thrown 106 pitches on Sunday. The only problem was that nobody told Zito. "The best interests of Barry's health and the Oakland A's going forward were better served by having Barry not throw in the game after his performance yesterday,'' Beane told the Associated Press.
Power Sweep Right: ESPN announced that conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was hired to doing football commentary on its Sunday "NFL Countdown" program. In the interests of balance, may we suggest that CBS hire Noam Comsky.
7.14.2003
Baseball at the All-Star Break: As baseball hits its annual All-Star break, competitive playoff races are the rule. In the American League, the Yankees, Royals, Mariners and Red Sox would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. But there are at least five other teams that are in contention (the Blue Jays, White Sox, Twins,A's and Angels).
In the National League, the Braves, Astros, Giants and Phillies would be in the playoffs now, but there nine teams that have a good to fair shot at earning a spot. Who do we like to make the World Series? Not like we're going out on a limb or anything, but Yankees-Braves sounds about right.
7.12.2003
Title IX Status Quo: The Bush Administration has decided not to change Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender in collegiate athletics.
Despite meetings and fact-finding hearings, the Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights decided against changes in the law. The department will lead an education campaign to help schools understand the compliance requirements, but the bottom line is that the law will not be changed.
Advocates for female athletes have contended that Title IX is vital to ensuring equal access for women in sports. But many advocates of ?minor? men?s sports such as gymnastics and wrestling contended the law amounted to nothing more than mandated quotas which caused these sports to be eliminated. As is often the case, both sides had a point.
Peter Roby, director of Northeastern University?s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, told the Washington Post that the administration came to realize there was more support for Title IX than they had imagined. ?That was a political hot potato that they really didn?t want to get into,? he said. ?Just because there weren?t a lot of people holding signs saying, `We support Title IX,? didn?t mean there weren?t people out there who didn?t care about it.?
Kidd Stays a Net: The New Jersey Nets became the favorite to win their third NBA East title in a row when standout guard Jason Kidd agreed to re-sign with the team for a six-year, $99 million contract. The Nets also strengthened themselves by signing free agent center Alonzo Mourning, who has battled health problems in recent years, but can still be a force. Nets-Lakers will be the early betting for the 2004 Finals.
7.11.2003
Mailman Delivered to Lakers: There?s no doubt that the Los Angeles Lakers will be the overwhelming choice to win next year?s NBA title. Two days after signing standout guard Gary Payton, the Lakers announced they have reached an agreement with future Hall of Famer Karl Malone. Both Malone and Payton settled for far less money to sign with the Lakers, saying winning a championship was more important. It will be interesting to see how these two egotistical players fit in with a team already populated by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O?Neal. There may not be enough balls to satisfy everyone.
Fine for Hitting Sausage: Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Randall Simon was cited by the Milwaukee sheriff?s department for disorderly conduct and fined $432 for knocking over a woman in a sausage costume with a bat (see July 10 Jock Talk).
?I thought at the moment they were trying to play with us,? a contrite Simon said Thursday. ?They were running right next to the players. I?m a fun player, and I?ve never hurt anyone in my life.?
The woman, 19-year-old Mandy Block, was not injured and she seemed to take it in stride. ?It just seems ridiculous ? it?s like a big sausage getting hit by a bat causes all this controversy. It just seems kind of funny to me,? Block told WTMJ-TV. ?It wasn?t that big of a blow.?
7.10.2003
BEATING THE MEAT: Some things you just can?t make up: Pittsburgh first baseman Randall Simon was booked for misdemeanor battery for hitting one of the Milwaukee Brewers' popular racing sausages with a bat during Wednesday night's game, AP reports.
Simon took a two-hand chop with the bat and knocked over a 20-year-old woman wearing a sausage suit. The swing also knocked down a person in a hot dog costume. Neither was injured.
"They were doing the sausage race. He hit her with the baseball bat,'' said Deputy Inspector Sherry Warichak of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, told AP. "When he hit her, that other character fell.'' Ryan Borghoff, 16, who wore the bratwurst costume in the race, called the incident "unbelievable." Simon was booked for misdemeanor battery and the district attorney is debating how to proceed.
7.9.2003
Retooling: Two championship teams that got knocked off defending their titles this season made moves to get back on top.
First, the NBA?s Los Angeles Lakers have agreed in principle to sign guard Gary Payton of Seattle. Teamed with Kobe Bryant (assuming his legal case gets settled) and Shaquille O?Neal, Payton would be a nifty addition to a team in need of a guard. The signing signals that the Lakers have every intent of winning their fourth title in five years in 2004.
In hockey, the NHL?s Detroit Red Wings will get goalie Dominik Hasek back after a one-year retirement. Hasek is a proven winner who should help the Wings as they try to win back the Stanley Cup.
One-Hitter for Rookie: Cleveland Indians rookie Billy Traber pitched like he had a bus to catch. Nearly flawless, Traber needed only 2 hours and 12 minutes to one-hit the New York Yankees, 4-0. The only hit off Traber came in the third inning.
7.8.2003
Tour de Idiot: Sometimes it?s embarrassing to be an American. Case in point, an Ugly American column on the Tour de France by Mike Celizic, a regular contributor to MSNBC.com. Celizic?s July 3 column. asked Americans to pay attention to the Tour de France because American Lance Armstrong was favored to win again and it would drive the French nuts.
?What better way to tweak the noses of the people we saved from the Germans--twice--than to win the sport they invented?? he writes. No problem with that; it?s fair commentary, even if you think his point is absurd. But then Celizic shows his ignorance and strays into homophobic territory by making fun of cyclists and the uniforms they wear.
?I know it's hard for red-blooded American men to get excited about cycling,? he writes. ?Real athletes, after all, don't wear Spandex shorts with padded butts--at least not if they're male athletes. Back in my old neighborhood, no self-respecting mother would let her boy out of the house dressed like that. ?
?One of the jerseys, I think, is pink, and people actually try to win it, even though it means the winner has to spend the next day wearing a pink shirt with his Spandex shorts with the padded butt. No wonder the French like it.?
In Celizic land, real athletes must be terrific physical specimens like David Wells or Warren Sapp who wear manly uniforms with pinstripes or pirate logos. They must also play ?real? sports like football, where the object is to physically dominate your opponent or baseball, filled with its bench-clearing brawls, brushback pitches and snuff-chewers. Yee-haw! (Jim Buzinski)
7.7.2003
Take Me Out to Shea Stadium: Hopefully they can sing as good as they look naked in the shower (scene). The cast of the Tony Award-winning Broadway play, Take Me Out, will be singing the National Anthem at Shea Stadium on Monday, July 7. The game - featuring the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves, begins at 7:10 PM (ET).
Take Me Out won three 2003 Tonys including Best Play.
Federer Gets First Major Win: Mark Philippoussis could not even win a set toward a first Major Championship in Sunday's Wimbledon final while losing to a man who could. Roger Federer, seeded fourth, beat unseeded Philippoussis in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3). Federer was the first Swiss male player to win a singles title at Wimbledon, and is the seventh different man to win in the last seven Major tournaments.
7.6.2003
Serena Again: Serena Williams won her fifth Grand Slam title in six tries Saturday as the beat her sister, Venus, for her second Wimbledon Championship, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. It was Serena's sixth straight victory over her older sister, Venus' last victory over Serena coming in the finals of the 2001 U.S. Open. In those six victories over her sister, Serena has lost only two sets.
7.5.2003
Billie Jean King Looking Bad: Openly gay tennis legend Billie Jean King is getting a bit out of hand. The captain of the United States Fed Cup team, King's latest absurdity was telling Lindsay Davenport that she couldn't compete for the United States because Davenport decided to be with her mother during knee surgery instead of practicing with her Fed Cup team. King even went so far as to suggesting that Davenport's mother should have scheduled the surgery around her daughter's Fed Cup practice.
The San Jose Mercury News called King "nutty" in a column on Monday. They weren't far off.
7.4.2003
Williams Again in Finals: Venus and Serena Williams will face one another for the fifth time in the last six Major finals after each winning their semifinal matches at Wimbledon. Serena took care of Justine Henin-Hardenne in the first semifinal, 6-3, 6-2, to avenge her loss in the French Open.
Venus willing showed her resolve by overcoming an injury to her stomach muscles, and a loss in the first set, to take control of her semifinal match. She won, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, after winning 10 of the final 12 games in her match.
7.3.2003
Vancouver to Host 2010 Games: Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics, the IOC announced on Wednesday. They beat out Pyeongchang, South Korea and Salzbur, Austria for the right to host the Games. This is only the second time that Canada will play host to the Winter Olympics; the first was Calgary in 1988.
Those hoping that New York City or another American city will win the right to host the 2012 Summer Olympics just got a little more nervous. The Summer Olympics is rarely held in the same continent as its corresponding Winter Olympics. It was done in 1992, with Barcelona and Albertville. Before that, you have to go back to 1952 to find them held on the same continent, when they were in Helsinki (summer) and Oslo (winter).
7.2.2003
U.S. Versus Belgium in Women's Semis: The two women's semifinal matches at Wimbledon will both feature American players taking on Belgian players. Serena Williams will get a rematch against Justine Henin-Hardenne, who knocked Serena out of the French Open. Venus Williams will take on Kim Clijsters, who lost to Henin-Hardenne in the French Open finals.
Tennis Seedings Suck: These Wimbledon semifinals are the prime example of how off-base the brackets are in tennis. While in any other sport the #1 seed (S. Williams) would be taking on the #4 seed (V. Williams) in the semis, in tennis, it's random. Sometimes the #1 seed takes on the third-seed; sometimes, she takes on the fourth-seed. Their argument is that the same players would keep playing each other. But, rankings change on a weekly basis. At the French Open, the #1 seed did play the #4 seed - with the same semifinal matchu-up as Wimbledon (Serena vs. Justine). Makes no sense.
Gay Slurs Commentary in USA Today: A good friend of gay athletes, and of this Web site, Bob Lipsyte penned a column for USA Today that appeared Tuesday titled, "For sake of straight kids, quit tyrannizing gay sports stars." It is a great recounting of his experiences as a straight kid and how gay slurs put things in his head that didn't need to be there. With quotes from Outsports regulars Dan Woog and Dave Lohse, this is a must read.
7.1.2003
Agassi Runs Out of Gas: Mark Philippoussis tied a Wimbledon record with 46 aces en route to an unlikely comeback against second-seeded Andre Agassi in the round of 16 on Monday, 6-3, 2-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4. Once ranked as high as eighth in the world, Philippoussis' career has taken a hit in the last few years due to injuries. Now, still with that booming serve, he looks poised to make a serious run at a Major title.
Soap Opera off the Court: The story surrounding missing Baylor University basketball player Patrick Dennehy is getting even more strange. An informant has come forward and recounted a story that spans from Texas to Maryland of Dennehy and former teammate Carlton Dotson at a shooting range in Waco, Texas, Dotson firing on Dennehy, then fleeing the state. The police are already treating this missing persons case as a homicide.
6.30.2003
Diamondbacks Making Fools: In early May, many baseball "experts" declared the Arizona Diamondbacks done. Bobby Valentine said that they had no chance of contending for a playoff spot. It made some sense. On May 2, they were 12-18 and were losing the arms of their two best pitchers, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.
It has not proven to be prophetic. With their 5-3 victory at Detroit on Sunday, the D'Backs have won 11 straight games and sit only one game out of the Wild Card spot. In those 11 games, they have outscored their opponents, 65-35.
So much for the "experts."
6.29.2003
Case In Point: The WNBA Just Doesn't Have It: It'd be great if the WNBA could be as exciting as the NBA. But, it just can't. Just take a look at some of the thrilling scores from Saturday's games: Comets 64, Silver Stars 49; Sting 69, Sun 55; and you gotta love this doozy from last Saturday: Sparks 54, Mercury 48. After the complaining that went on when the NBA Finals scores were in the 70s and 80s a couple games, you've got to wonder who isn't just going to WNBA games out of charity.
Speaking of the NBA Finals: We never got the chance to say how very happy we were that the Lakers didn't win the NBA Championship. It was great to see that a team can't just walk through the first 60 games of the schedule and win a championship. Plus, it's been nice here in L.A. to see the fans and press eat a little humble pie. They needed it.
6.28.2003
Why I Hate Pro Baseball: The last week has offered the great contrast of why I hate professional baseball. On the one hand, you have the College World Series. Classic games, guys trying as hard as they can, laying it all out on the line. Pro baseball has what happened Friday night.
The Boston Red Sox set a record for the most runs scored before having a batter retired: it was 10-1 before the Florida Marlins blinked. Then, in the seventh inning, what should have been a great day for the Red Sox to remember became an embarrassment for the League.
In the seventh inning, Boston's Todd Walker hit a line drive that hit Marlins pitcher Kevin Olsen in the head. Olsen went down and everyone in attendance stood up, aghast. Olsen was carted off the field and taken to a hospital. Accidents happen, and this was just one of those accidents.
In the eighth inning, the Marlins "retaliated" by having Blaine Neal pitch a ball at David Ortiz that hit him, sending him to the ground. Retaliation for an ACCIDENT. Are we back in third grade?
Then, in the ninth inning, Boston retaliated for the retaliation by having Hector Almonte throw a pitch behind Andy Fox. Almonte was immediately ejected, the benches cleared, and off we went.
All because of a freak accident.
Then, after the game, Marlins manager Jack McKeon whined to the press that Boston was running up the score by continuing to manufacture runs in the seventh, up 21-5. And here we thought the whole POINT of a team at bat was to score runs. Instead of getting his guys to play harder and stop the run, his Marlins allowed four more runs to score after their 16-point deficit.
Dan Woog and I have talked in the past about the lack of education in the Major Leagues (guys skipping college and going right in from high school) and how that leads ot a less educated class of men in baseball than any other sport.
They were on display Friday. - CZ
6.27.2003
Notes from the Draft: The NBA draft took place in Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Here is some of what we saw . . .
Best Dressed: LeBron James. CNNSI gave him their "worst dressed" award. But, what do straight guys know about dressing well? His outfit was perfect for the occasion. He has been dubbed the white knight who will lead the NBA back to the promised land of success. An all-white suit fit him perfectly.
Worst Dressed: Carmelo Anthony. Maybe it was more his hair than his clothes, but the grey-on-tan just wasn't working for him.
Biggest Bust: First they lose Jay Williams, then the Chicago Bulls throw away a draft pick on Kirk Heinrich (guard, Kansas). The kid may have had some moves, but anybody can learn the moves he pulled. Nothing stands out about him except that, as a point guard at Kansas, he played with exceptional talent around him and choked in the National Championship game against aforementioned Carmelo Anthony.
The 'Go Away' Award: Michael Jordan. He just had to pull something on a night that had nothing to do with him, "leaking" that he had a deal to buy the Milwaukee Bucks just an hour before selection time. Classless.
Soccer Player Dies Mid-Game: He's being remembered as "an extraordinary man" by those against whom he played. But, Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe has played his last game, collapsing in the heat 71 minutes into his team's Confederations Cup semifinal against Colombia on Thursday. Foe was 28-years-old.
6.26.2003
ACC to Grow By Only Two? The ACC has voted to invite two Big East Schools - Miami and Virginia Tech - to join their conference. It has been rumored for months now that the ACC was looking to expand by including as many as four schools from the Big East. By inviting the Hurricanes and the Hokies, the ACC instantly becomes a powerhouse football conference (with these two new additions plus perennial contender Florida State), leaving the Big East to focus more on their remaining schools which favor men's basketball.
Meltdown at Wimbeldon: Greg Rusedski last year ousted Andy Roddick from the Wimbeldon Championships. This year, Roddick returned the favor, winning in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5. After leading the third set, 5-2, Rusedski stopped playing a point when a fan called a shot out - Rusedski thinking it was an umpire. When the chair umpire let the point stand, instead of having it replayed, Rusedski argued using expletives. He never won another game.
6.25.2003
Taking a Pro-Gay Stance in English Football: In what may be a first in professional team sports, the English Football Association will tell clubs to be more accepting of homosexual players, according to an article in the London Daily Telegraph.
?In a campaign to begin in September,? the paper said, ?the FA will say that anti-homosexual attitudes on the pitch and in the stands must be stamped out to make the sport ?inclusive? for gay players. It will also give warning that players, officials and fans who abuse, bully or assault homosexuals could be suspended, fined or even banned from the game.?
Only one British soccer player, Justin Fashanu, has ever come out while playing and he was ?notoriously bullied? by the club?s manager, the paper said. Fasanu committed suicide in 1998.
The paper continued: Lucy Faulkner, the FA's ethics and sports equity manager, said that, in future, those guilty of abuse would be disciplined. "What we want to have in football is a situation where anybody should feel comfortable, regardless of their sexual orientation, ethnic background or their sex.
"There are a number of things we can do apart from suspending people. We can ban people from football, and there are fines as well. If there's foul and abusive language - and it includes comments alluding to sexual orientation - then any sanction is automatically doubled, and trebled for the next offense. The obvious examples would be name-calling, offensive language, things like calling someone a 'poof'.
We doubt that the FA?s action will spur players to come out, but it?s a tremendous first step in recognizing the issue does exist. Fines and suspensions are great attention getters. The FA is to be commended.
6.24.2003
Top Seed Falls at Wimbledon:Day One of Wimbledon provided a shocker for the ages. Top seed and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt was upset by Ivo Karlovic, a 6-10 Croatian ranked 203rd in the world. Karloivc is so obscure as a player that Wimbledon?s official Web site has no photo of him and a bio that simply lists his name, country and that he plays men?s singles.
Hewitt?s loss marked only the second time since 1877 that a defending Wimbledon men?s champ lost his first match. After winning the first set, Hewitt was routed, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-4. The Croat dominated Hewitt with his serve and AP writer Howard Fendrich made the perfect analogy: ?Hewitt, who's a foot shorter, is a gifted returner, but he looked like a baseball batter who couldn't handle Randy Johnson's fastballs coming down at him.?
Rice Is NiceThe Rice Owls, a university known more for its academics than athletics, won the College World Series on Monday with a 14-2 drubbing of Stanford. It was the Houston school?s first national championship in any sport. Stanford is certainly no slouch when it comes to brain power and it was nice to see two schools who value learning also excelling on the field.
