Start spreading the news: For the first time the New York Yankees and the New York Mets will meet for the World Series. Headline writers everywhere are gearing up with every known New York
cliché and fans in the five boroughs are giddy with excitement. Clemens, Justice, Piazza, Torre, Valentine, Jeter. Does it get any better? For people in New York this really will be a Fall Classic.
BOTTOM OF THE WEEK
THE SUBWAY SERIES
While the World Series may be big news in Gotham, will anybody west of Chelsea care? New York has long been called the biggest small town in America and this Series will prove it. The media, heavily concentrated in the city, will assume the rest of us care about every morsel coming out of the Series. Be prepared to hate New York after 10 days of excess boosterism.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
EX-NFL PLAYER
ADDRESSES HOMOPHOBIA
Former Denver Broncos running back Reggie Rivers, now a columnist and talk show host, wrote a wonderful piece for the Denver Post on Oct. 12, condemning homophobia in society.
``Fifty years from now, we'll look back and be embarrassed about the way we treated gay people, but for now, we're firmly in the grip of our prejudice and can't see beyond it,'' Rivers wrote.
While the column addressed society in general, it was refreshing to see such supportive words come from an athlete. Jocks are not often at the forefront of progressive social change.
Outsports asked readers to write Reggie and voice their support. Some representative examples of comments he received:
From Andre:
``The name "Reggie" is once again a pleasant name for me. Mr. White was a great football player but ruined his reputation with me with his inflammatory and uneducated comments about homosexuals.
I am gay and have been an active athlete all my life (overseas and in the U.S.), and have participated in many different athletics (gay and straight), and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of homophobia in America. Comments that I hear from parents directed towards their children or teammates, such as "You throw like a fagot," or "Sissies can do better than that," infuriate me. Whenever I can, I try to intercept these comments and inform the individuals of the damaging effects their comments potentially have.
More often that not, these individuals have 2 reactions: 1) they are surprised that I am gay, and 2) they apologize once they realize what they have said.
As you stated, in time will society realize the absurd homophobic behaviors it is displaying, behaviors that are very similar to the racist ones of a few years ago (as described in your article). Education is the key, and it will take people such as yourself, to spotlight this serious problem.''
From Rob:
""Despite the certainty that players have gay sons, family members, friends and lovers, how many have had the guts to take a stand similar to yours?
Well there's David Kopay, and then there's you. (Oh yes, and Falcon receiver Terrance Mathis, who stated on an ESPN special that he didn't care whether a teammate was gay, as long as he was a team player and gave his all.)
Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that if the REPUBLICAN vice presidential nominee is fine with his lesbian daughter, there are a 747 full of pro athletes who are fine with their gay friends and family members -- so long as they don't have to get too noisy or public about it --
i.e. take a stand. That might mean getting in some hot water with their golfing buddies, teammates, and business contacts the game of football has so generously dumped into their lap. Not to mention the NFL itself. The day Paul Tagliabue says the word "gay" out loud, is the day Reggie White marches in a gay pride parade. But I digress.
Voices such as yours are all to infrequent. But they are appreciated. No doubt you're taking alot of heat for your stand. Just wanted to contribute my small voice in saying "Well done."
NFL
After six weeks, the season is not turning out exactly as everyone expected. Oh, the Rams are scoring about a million points a week and the Bengals still suck, but beyond that surprises have arisen. A few notable ones:
The Minnesota Vikings, playing with a second-year quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, who had never taken a regular season snap before this year, were projected by many to finish last. But after beating the Bears, 28-16, the Vikes are 6-0 and as large as their 260-pound quarterback. Their defense has been tough when it's counted, while offensive reliables Robert Smith, Randy and Cris Carter continue to shine. The Vikes are for real.
Dan Marino retired and the Miami Dolphins were supposed to be rebuilding. But the league's stingiest defense has lifted the 'Fins to a 5-1 record. Up next Monday night: An AFC East showdown with another surprise 5-1 team, the New York Jets.
The Raiders haven't made the playoffs since 1993 and have choked in recent years harder than someone using a life-size Jeff Stryker dildo. On Sunday, miracle-working QB Rich Gannon engineered his fourth second-half comeback of the year as Oakland beat the Chiefs, 20-17. With a 1 1/2-game division lead and soft schedule the Raiders look like a serious AFC contender.
On the downside, the Bucs at 3-3, Jags at 2-4, Seahawks at 2-5 and Cowboys at 2-4 are four playoff teams from '99 that look to be in varying degrees of trouble. Only the Bucs have the talent and coaching to make a run.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Kansas State showed that it didn't deserve to be ranked #2 in the country. After an early-season schedule that featured creampuffs like Louisiana Tech, Ball State and N. Texas, the Wildcats played someone their own size in #6 Oklahoma. The result? A 41-31 loss at home that saw the 'Cats defense shredded for 374 yards passing. K-State coach Bill Snyder, long accused of making easy schedules, has now played 20 games in his career against Top 10 teams. With the loss Saturday his record in those games is 1-19!
The two best conferences in the country, the Big Ten and Pac-10, continue to beat each other up within their conferences. Consider this: both USC and Michigan State were 3-0 after their first three games--all non-conference teams. They are now both 3-3 and at the bottom of their conferences. The two conferences are a combined 44-20 outside of their conference.