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Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Notre Dame football still most popular
 ESPN Sports Poll, a service of TNS Intersearch, asked 6,682 college sports fans to name their favorite college football team. The poll was conducted between July 2001 and June 2002. Even though Notre Dame has not enjoyed great success in recent seasons, the Fighting Irish remain America's favorite college football team according to the recent poll. A total of 5.7% of the respondents named Notre Dame as their favorite, followed by Penn State (4.1%), Ohio State (4.1%), Michigan (3.8%), Florida State (3.8%), Florida (3.6%), Nebraska (3.5%), Wisconsin (2.6%) and Tennessee (2.5%). Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel permalink
Sun Devils get five downs and still lose
 On its final possession against Nebraska, Arizona State got nothing on its first four downs. But on fifth down, the Sun Devils picked up a yard. The error had no impact on the outcome, unlike the famous fifth-down touchdown Colorado used to beat Missouri on the final play in 1990. This one occurred with the Cornhuskers leading 48-10. The crew was from the Mountain West Conference. According to Nebraska officials, the confusion started on third down. Quarterback Andy Goodenough threw an incomplete pass. The down marker didn't change and Goodenough threw another incomplete pass on what should have been fourth down. On fifth down, Goodenough completed a 1-yard pass and the Huskers took over. Source:Kansas City Star permalink
Soccer's not popular because of the Media
 It's Difficult to comprehend why Americans deem soccer boring in a nation where the pastime is baseball. On the brink of a strike, baseball continues to tempt its fate by tarnishing its reputation, chiefly fueled by the media. Marshall McLuhan said that media cause the world to change. With the diminutive coverage soccer receives, sport analysts and media brew an American opinion thick with ignorance. "We have hands for a reason," "There's not enough scoring," and "If athletes like Shaq and Kobe played soccer, we would win the World Cup" are some of my personal favorites. If truth be told, I sense sports analysts would sooner promenade bare-assed through a briar patch than utter something positive about the world's sport. Pose a question concerning soccer to an American and here is what you can anticipate: "Isn't Posh Spice married to that English soccer player? What's his name Beckham, yeah, David Beckham." This American futility is the result of a lack of knowledge of the game, through the poor caliber of media reporting. What the majority of Americans, particularly sport analysts, fail to detect is the grace and difficulty of the game. You can utilize your head, chest, feet, heels, hips, back, knees. Hell, you can use your bum if you desire, but you cannot employ the most dexterous part of your body. What is not beautiful and talented about that? I would like to observe Shaq juggle a ball and master the use of numerous body parts. He's having a hard enough time making free throws. Furthermore, when Americans learn the game, the droning about too little scoring likely will subside. If Major League Soccer can sustain itself for a few more seasons and create more heroes by humanizing the players, the fate of soccer could change. As the younger people who watch and play grow older, a tradition will be created giving soccer the potential to become a mainstream American sport. Perhaps some years down the road, baseball will be under attack for its boredom while the United States economy shuts down to watch a soccer match. What will sports analysts and media be writing then? Source: San Francisco Chronicle Christopher Roner is a midfielder for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer. permalink
Aikman takes shot at McNabb
 As he did during the regular season last year, Fox analyst Troy Aikman criticized Donovan McNabb's accuracy on Friday night's broadcast. After McNabb missed Cecil Martin on a short throw, Aikman said the fourth-year QB has trouble with such passes "and I know it drives Andy Reid crazy." McNabb shrugged off the criticism. "Whenever he comes up, it's always something," McNabb said. "I'm not accurate, I'm not running as much as I used to, I don't look comfortable back there. I haven't heard anything. I haven't heard anything about Andy saying anything. "I'm just going to go out there and and play my game and compete and improve with each game." Source: Philadelphia Inquirer permalink
Fox rips Ravens, Modell rips Fox
 With less than two weeks before the start of the regular season, Ravens executives are already unhappy about some of the shots taken at the team. During the nationally televised game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night, Fox announcers Joe Buck and Cris Collinsworth ripped Ravens coach Brian Billick, questioned the ability of starting quarterback Chris Redman and criticized the team's salary cap-shredded state. It was a harsh analysis for a team that has yet to play a meaningful game. "I was very disappointed in that broadcast," Ravens owner Art Modell said. "I've been in this business a long time, and I ran the television committee for 31, 32 years and negotiated contracts. I know all the media people, all the announcers. I thought their pre-game show on Fox was unprofessional. That's all I'm going to say. I'm not going to single out who or what was said. It's not up to the standards of Fox." The Ravens were on top of the football world after their Super Bowl XXXV win over the New York Giants in January 2001. The team, though, was not embraced from a national perspective, partly because of the perceived arrogance of Billick. The Ravens could be feeling a backlash now. "They want to feed off what they perceive to be the underprivileged," Modell said. "We surprise everybody and win the Super Bowl two years ago, and now they have nothing better to do than pick on us. But I'm not worried about that. I do my answering on the field. Well, not me, but my players will try and answer it." Fox announcers compared Billick to Maxwell Smart from the television show Get Smart, and used graphics to illustrate. The announcers claimed tongue-in-cheek that Billick's use of seven quarterbacks in four years was exactly the way he planned it, similar to how Smart would bumble his way through a mission, only to see it all work out in the end. As for whether he thinks people view Billick as a know-it-all, Modell said, "Compared to [Redskins coach] Steve Spurrier, he's mild. ... You have to be arrogant and proud and confident if you're a coach." Some, though, may think Billick takes that attitude to an extreme, and as the Fox broadcast showed, will now not hesitate to kick the Ravens while they might be down. "I'm certainly not going to take offense to it," Billick said. "If that is what they choose to do, then that's OK. Hopefully, my players won't have to suffer too much for it if that is indeed what it is." permalink
ESPN pulls hillbilly Vols promo
 ESPN has decided not to re-air its College GameDay commercial depicting University of Tennessee fans in a less-than-flattering light. Mike Humes, a spokesman for ESPN, yesterday confirmed that the commercial will not show again on any of its networks. Tennessee opens the season this Saturday against Wyoming at The Coliseum in a game that will be televised on ESPN2. ''This spot was one of many we created for the tongue-in-cheek style College GameDay campaign,'' Humes said. ''We've traditionally had the most fun at our own expense in our promotional spots. It is never our intention to offend anyone, and we are sorry if we did in this case.'' Humes added that the commercial had finished its run in the creative rotation and, given the depth and strength of the overall campaign, there was no need to re-air it. In the commercial, Lee Corso, one of the GameDay analysts, is seen waiting for an elevator. The doors open, and it's full of orange-clad Vols fans. A pig runs out, and an overweight woman holding another pig and wearing a shower cap and robe yells, ''Come here, Rocky Top!'' An elderly man wearing shorts who is hooked up to an IV bottle also can be seen, as can a couple making out in the back of the elevator. A sign referencing UT alumni is also visible. At the end of the commercial, print appears on the screen urging viewers to watch College GameDay. The Tennessee football office was swamped with the calls the past few days from fans angry about the commercial. It was also a hot topic on radio talk shows around the state. Coach Phillip Fulmer had a tape of the commercial on his desk Monday, but said yesterday he had yet to see it. ''I've got a football game to get ready for, but I've heard it's in poor taste.'' Tennessee Athletic Director Doug Dickey said he was informed by ESPN officials yesterday afternoon that the commercial had been shelved. ''They just said they didn't think it was something that needed to stay out there. They said they were sorry if they offended anyone and never intended to offend anyone. They thought it was funny when they cut it, but it didn't go over the way they thought it would.'' The GameDay crew is scheduled to air its show from Tennessee's campus twice this season, Sept. 21 for the Florida game and Nov. 9 for the Miami game. For the most part, the Tennessee players shrugged off the commercial. Some said they had seen it and some had not. ''I thought it was funny,'' said senior offensive tackle Will Ofenheusle, from Martin, Tenn. ''If anybody should be upset, it should be me. I'm from Tennessee, play here and grew up on a pig farm. ''I guess I should be the one upset, but I'm not. I think it's hilarious. Their marketing people have done a good job. When you think about it, they've got everybody in Tennessee glued to ESPN because they want to see this commercial.'' Junior tight end Jason Witten, from Elizabethton, Tenn., said he didn't take the commercial personally. But he added, ''It was pretty low class of them. I know they've offered some apologies, but there's nothing you can do. The damage is done, and you've just got to move on.'' Junior fullback Troy Fleming, from Nashville, said he's used to the stereotype. ''You tell folks you're from Nashville, and they're like, 'Oh you're from the country music place.' Regardless, they think anywhere in Tennessee is country. It's just a stereotype, and some stereotypes are hard to break.'' Source:The Tennessean permalink
Big Ben's Wednesday Rumors & Notes
Baseball Rumors & Notes  As Barry Bonds and Colorado's Larry Walker steam along in their race for the National League batting title, one interested observer gives Bonds credit for withstanding the pitcher-friendly climate of Pacific Bell Park. "I hate hitting in that park, period," Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said. "It's the worst park in the league to hit in. I don't like to hit with the wind blowing in my face." A clearly annoyed Larry Bowa questioned yesterday why the media seem reluctant to acknowledge that his Phillies, though 18 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves and far removed from wild-card contention, have played well since their season-sinking 8-18 start. "All I read last year, and I continue to see it, is the Phillies got off to a great start but they were [lousy] the rest of the year," Bowa said before last night's game with the Montreal Expos at Veterans Stadium. "My comment is, well, we got off to a [lousy] start this year, and we've been pretty good the rest of the year. But I don't read that. When did Chicago hitting coach Jeff Pentland suspect the Cubs might have a problem this season? Try March, before spring training had ended in Arizona. Pentland remembers talking with pitching coach Larry Roths-child about a few key ingredients being absent. He said the Cubs had talent, but they lacked attitude, determination, grit, cohesion and leadership. Even beyond the ballpark, Mo Vaughn needed a little time away. After sitting out a game Sunday for the first time since April 20, Vaughn flew to his home in Columbus, Ohio, before joining the Mets yesterday in Florida. Although Vaughn has not spoken publicly about his unhappiness about a situation with Bobby Valentine from earlier this month, those familiar with his thinking believe the incident has lingered and he was still raw about it over the weekend. Newly acquired Benny Agbayani is scheduled to arrive in town today, but the Red Sox have yet to decide if the outfielder will be immediately added to the major league roster. When a players' strike ended the season in August, 1994, George Steinbrenner paid his manager, coaches and staff. This time, Bud Selig has suggested that clubs might cut expenses during a work stoppage by laying off people who don't have strike-protection clauses in their contracts. When asked whether his three-year, $15 million contract contained such a provision, Torre dodged the issue and refused to comment.  Ernie Harwell won't treat tonight's game as if it is the finale of his broadcast career -- even though it might be. Harwell, 84, will retire after this season, and the rest of the Tigers schedule could be wiped out by the players' strike set to start Friday. "If it's the last game, so be it, and that will be it," Harwell said of tonight's 7:05 game with the Indians. "I can't anticipate that it's going to be the last game, so there will be no good-bye, no farewell speech. I'll just sign off like I always do, with 'the final score is . . .' and fill in the blanks." With the specter of contraction still looming and the possibility that players could strike on Friday if a new labor agreement isn’t reached, some wonder if tonight’s game against the New York Mets will be the last one the Marlins play, not only this season but ever. The answer is not as simple as dwindling attendance and revenue plus no new stadium on the horizon equaling the end of the Marlins.  With baseball players ready to walk off the field Friday, Commissioner Bud Selig plans to go to New York Wednesday to play a more direct role in negotiations with the union. Selig's decision came Tuesday as Bob DuPuy, Selig's top deputy, said in an interview that management negotiators still considered unacceptable a union proposal to phase in revenue sharing over the life of the agreement. "The short answer is we believe a deal like that can't be ratified," DuPuy said.  Sammy Sosa's string of 50-homer seasons and a wild AL West scramble would be put in limbo if a strike happens. The Cardinals have offered Jeff Fassero a second chance on this season. Fassero, obtained Sunday from the Chicago Cubs, offers the Cardinals a second lefthanded reliever. Fassero considered the deal his salvation from a moribund club. The Cardinals are waiting to discover whether they obtained a pitcher damaged by a dysfunctional team or a greybeard in irreversible decline. How bad of a toothache did catcher Pudge Rodriguez have during the weekend series at New York? Bad enough that he arranged for dental work Monday night rather than live with the pain any longer. Rodriguez called his dentist before the team charter flight out of New York to set up a late-night examination. Did you know? Greg Maddux (11-5) needs four more wins to match Cy Young's record for 15 consecutive 15-win seasons. Young's streak ran from 1891 through 1905. Maddux's began with an 18-8 record in 1988, his first full season in the majors. The Miller Park stadium district, trying to find ways to fix the leaks in its radial, retractable roof, has begun gathering and sharing information with three other roofed ballparks that have experienced similar problems. Sportservice Corp., the firm that has the concession and food contract at Miller Park, has informed city and county officials that, if baseball players go on strike on Friday, it will begin laying off as many as 880 workers. The Tigers and Red Wings will participate in a pregame home-run-hitting contest at Comerica Park before Sunday's game, if there is one. The Wings' participants are Sean Avery, Manny Legace, Darren McCarty and Jason Williams, and the Tigers' are Higginson, Fick, Carlos Pena and Simon. Former Tiger Milt Wilcox will be the pitcher. The number of people who consider themselves baseball fans has dipped to less than three in 10, the lowest level since the last strike ended in April 1995, according to a poll. NFL Rumors & Notes  So maybe New England wasn't the right team at the right time for former Falcons running back Jamal Anderson. After agreeing to a one-year deal with the Patriots earlier in the week, Anderson and team officials on Tuesday reached a mutual decision of sorts that he would not sign. Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden wants to make something perfectly clear: There is no quarterback controversy, no competition for the No. 1 job. Brad Johnson is firmly entrenched as Buccaneers' the starter. "I've said it from the start, and I don't know how else to put it -- Brad's our starter," Gruden said after a recent practice. Rob Johnson, who left Buffalo as a free agent and accepted less money from the Bucs than he was offered by the Texans, is competing with Shaun King for the backup spot. If Trung Canidate is miffed about twice being called out by his boss last week, he's not showing it. In fact, he's not even directly addressing it. "I just play the game and let the chips fall where they may," the Rams running back said Tuesday when asked about the harsh remarks from Coach Mike Martz. "Hey, you hear things, you read things, but the bottom line is I just go out and play football." The Titans claimed former Dolphins defensive tackle James Atkins off waivers and released running back Dan Alexander yesterday. Atkins was scheduled to arrive in town last night and take a physical this morning. He could be on the practice field as early as today.  Titans QB Steve McNair, who has an endorsement deal with Nike, hasn't been fined but was caught up in the cap issue this preseason. Once he completed his quarter of work against the Raiders on Aug. 15, McNair went to the sidelines and grabbed a cap — an official, league-sanctioned, Reebok cap. Nike officials contacted the Titans the next day and asked McNair be given the message that, per his deal with Nike, he shouldn't be wearing a Reebok hat. ''The NFL says I can't wear a Nike hat, Nike says I can't wear an NFL hat, so I'm just going to do without,'' McNair said. ''So no more hats.'' The Redskins apparently remain interested in signing veteran offensive lineman John Fina, who was released by Buffalo in June. He would replace Jones as the team's top backup tackle. The Redskins had explored the possibility of signing Jerry Wunsch, a former starter in Tampa Bay who just was released by the Buccaneers. But he signed with Seattle yesterday, according to agent Ralph Cindrich.  Brock Olivo spent four seasons with the Lions. He now plays rhythm guitar and sings lead vocals for local rock band SugarTree. Pat Dye, Jr., the Atlanta-based agent for linebacker Keith Brooking, was at practice and later met with executive vice president and chief administrative officer Ray Anderson to discuss an extension to Brooking's contract. Dye suggested that if a new deal can't be worked out by the start of the season, they'll put off negotiations until the season ends. Four seasons removed from his reign at Halas Hall, Dave Wannstedt reflected on his 40-56 run with the Bears and admitted his first head-coaching job was a learning experience. "When you look at the big picture, it was a very positive experience,'' said Wannstedt, whose Miami Dolphins close out the preseason Thursday against the Bears at Pro Player Stadium. "I do a lot better job now of delegating authority, whether it be in personnel, coaching, whatever it is.'' The agent for Reidel Anthony said the former University of Florida wide receiver will work out for the Jaguars today at Alltel Stadium. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Anthony was released by Washington this week despite his Florida connection to Redskins coach Steve Spurrier. Anthony spent his first five NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now that wide receiver Terry Glenn has missed three exhibition games, the Green Bay Packers' only hope that he will click with his new team for the start of the regular season revolves around his superior athletic ability and vast experience.  Running back Ki-Jana Carter, one of the most disappointing players in the training camp of the Green Bay Packers this summer, was among 15 players waived by the team Tuesday. During the NFL Kickoff Weekend commercial that features Dolphin Jason Taylor standing over Zach Thomas with a Flowbee, no hair actually fell to the cutting-room floor. But some teammates think the footage should have been left there. ''Everybody is kind of killing us, saying it's the worst commercial they've ever seen,'' Thomas said. Darnay Scott likes to keep to himself, which is why he didn't ask around this summer about playing for Tom Coughlin. Boy, was Scott in for a surprise. The former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver expressed admiration for Coughlin yesterday but admitted his relationship with the Jaguars' famously stern coach has been anything but smooth. "I've never dealt with a coach like this," Scott said, his eyes widening. "It's real different to me. My dad was a mean guy, and [Coughlin] is a mean guy, too. He's that military-type person, and it's just something you've got to get used to." Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent won the Republican primary Tuesday in the race to succeed Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who is being forced from office by term limits. Largent, who resigned his House seat after 3 1/2 terms to run for governor, won the nomination easily, taking 87 percent of the vote. Although known as a conservative in Congress, Largent campaigned as a moderate who can work with Democrats. A recent Forbes magazine article estimated that every single NFL team last year showed a profit. After seven years as the Eagles' team doctor, Art Bartolozzi was forced to resign this summer because of what he called "the crisis" - spiraling medical malpractice insurance costs. "It's not just me," Bartolozzi said last night. "Doctors are leaving the state. The young doctors I know are leaving. The older doctors are retiring. It is crazy. I know a neurosurgeon who can't do a procedure he is very good at because it is too risky. This is starting to compromise the quality of our medical care." The Texans claimed defensive end Shawn Worthen off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. The 6-1, 316-pound Worthen played in four games as a rookie last season. Worthen, a three-year starter at TCU, was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. The Texans signed James Allen to be their short-term answer at tailback. It could be shorter than expected. Through four preseason games, Allen has struggled to gain yardage on the ground. For that matter, so has the rest of the Texans' backfield. With one preseason game left until the start of the regular season, coach Dom Capers isn't prepared to designate a starter between the top two contenders -- Allen and rookie Jonathan Wells. NBA Rumors & Notes  The newest 76er, forward Brian Skinner, describes himself as versatile and values all of the Larry Brown staples: tough defense, rebounding, scrapping for the ball. Skinner, who signed as a free agent Monday, said he likes Philadelphia, plays here in the summer, and is eager to join a team he termed "rebuilding" but solid. A king size mattress was not the right fit for former Philadelphia 76ers center Matt Geiger. The 7-foot Geiger, who is building a mansion in East Lake, was too big for a standard king size bed, so he had an 8- by 10-foot mattress custom made for him. "This is the biggest," said Clearwater Mattress president Bill Marginson. "No two ways about it." By comparison, a standard king-sized bed measures 6 feet, 4 inches by 6 feet, 8 inches. College Rumors & Notes  David Greene and D.J. Shockley won't know until Friday night, but Georgia coach Mark Richt says he already has a set plan on how the quarterbacks will rotate in Saturday's opener against Clemson in Sanford Stadium. Florida will run the ball more in Ed Zaunbrecher's offense than it did under Steve Spurrier, and that has the running backs and offensive linemen very happy. And bordering on arrogant. "We're going to run the ball and you've got to stop us now," LG Shannon Snell said yesterday as the Gators prepared for Saturday's season opener against UAB at Florida Field. Even though Notre Dame has not enjoyed great success in recent seasons, the Fighting Irish remain America's favorite college football team. A total of 5.7% of the respondents to a recent poll named Notre Dame as their favorite, followed by Penn State (4.1%), Ohio State (4.1%), Michigan (3.8%), Florida State (3.8%), Florida (3.6%), Nebraska (3.5%), Wisconsin (2.6%) and Tennessee (2.5%).  Neither the oddsmakers nor the college football analysts are very fond of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas this time around. Last year at this time, quarterback Jason Thomas was being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate. UNLV was rated No. 25 by Sports Illustrated and was labeled the team to watch in the Mountain West Conference. Ralph Friedgen is coming soon to a supermarket near you. As part of a sponsorship agreement between Maryland's athletic department and a food manufacturer, the slimmed-down, but still oversized football coach will have his picture in frozen food aisles, pitching Healthy Choice dinners and ice cream.  The road to the Fiesta Bowl begins in earnest Saturday, with the first full weekend of college football. The season culminates Jan. 3 -- 128 days from today -- in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., with the BCS title game. Say what you will about the BCS and its predecessors, it has given us unbeaten and untied champs each of the past five seasons. Texas A&M quarterback Mark Farris, who is battling tendinitis in his right elbow, had a productive practice Tuesday, throwing the ball more than Aggies coach R.C. Slocum believed would be possible. Slocum indicated he expected Farris will be able to play when the Aggies open the season against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night at Kyle Field. After beating Wake Forest in the second-to-last game in 1999, the Duke football team has lost 23 straight, including back-to-back 0-11 seasons. A Sept. 28 matchup with Navy may be all that stands between Duke and breaking Northwestern's record of 34 consecutive losses. Even for a school proud of elite academic standards and comfortable using basketball prowess as consolation, this is not acceptable. The Tennessee football team will unveil its new road uniforms Saturday against Wyoming at the Coliseum in Nashville. But unless something changes, the Vols won't be breaking out their new white shoes. They ordered them and were planning to wear them this season. But the orange trim on the shoes looked more like Clemson orange than Tennessee orange, so the plan now is to stick with the black shoes. Odd Notes & Stuff  Jennifer Capriati bristled at her postmatch news conference when told by a reporter that Williams' father, Richard, was quoted in a tennis magazine saying he thought Capriati should curse less on the court and listen to her father more. "I have nothing to say about what he says. It's just a waste of time. You can see how ignorant that sounds and how disrespectful that sounds," Capriati said. "He should just concentrate on his daughters -- and he's doing a good job. I don't need his advice."  Alexei Kovalev has rejected the Penguins’ initial offer on a long-term contract extension. Kovalev and his agent, Scott Greenspun, are awaiting the Penguins’ next move. “I hope we will have further discussions,” Greenspun said. Penguins general manager Craig Patrick was not available for comment Tuesday. Serena Williams failed to earn style points for her first-round victory Monday against Corina Morariu at the U.S. Open. She did earn them for her skintight outfit. There might have been a few concerns about her tennis form, but her uniform spoke for itself. "This is a cat suit, it's made of Lycra and it's supposed to have the illusion of looking a little bit like leather from a distance,'' she told the media. permalink |
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