Aug 21 2009
Trip Down Memory Lane
Here are links to 20 of my favorite articles from the past year at Sports 2000. I hope you enjoy reading them this weekend.
LPGA’s English-Only Policy Misguided
The Ladies’ Professional Golfers Association announced today a new policy, to be fully effective by the end of the 2009 season, that tour players must pass an oral examination in English by the end of their second year on tour. Those women who fail the test will face a membership suspension.
An Open Letter to Sporting Fans
Fans want to be entertained but even they have their limits. Players can understand the fans having their limits with players. They sure have my limits with fans. Sometimes they think the fans are too patient. Fans love sports and that love is used against them at every turn. Owners use them to fill their stadiums, their TV contracts and their coffers. Players use them to satisfy their egos and boost their endorsement deals. Media outlets use them to boost ratings and subscriptions.
Amanda Beard: 2008 Olympic Non-Story
No mention in the essay was made about the similar tactic used during the 2006 Olympics between figure skating medalist Sasha Cohen and snowboarding champion Shaun White. Bob Costas, NBC’s lead anchor then and now, asked White who he’d most like to meet. White answered with Cohen’s name. There was an insinuation that White had a crush on Cohen but that was never confirmed. Cohen agreed to meet White. By all accounts, there was a friendly exchange, albeit a non-romantic one. Both people were asked more about their fictional budding romance than about their performance the rest of the Olympics.
Sportsmanship Overrated; Winning All-Important
Have you seen some poor officiating during the college football games today? if you watched one contest, you probably saw a few questionable decisions. I’m sure the players know–deep down–if the officials were right. If there were playing tennis or golf, I’d be obligated to announce the mistake and correct it.
Americans Want the Best in Sport
In a nutshell, Americans want to watch the best. It’s not enough to try hard or compete fairly or even win consistently. A team must win championships and do so in a crowd-pleasing way. There are exceptions, diehards who follow sports or teams no matter what. There aren’t enough of those to support a league though. Fans do not want to make political statements; they want to be entertained.
The fans spend a lot of money; there’s no doubt about that. However, they simply couldn’t—and wouldn’t—pay the ticket prices necessary to support player salaries, without the help of television contracts. Not that I blame them. I wouldn’t pay that much either. That’s why I watch the games on TV.
LPGA Drops English-Only; Irish Need More Fight
Notre Dame is not a good team this year. The Fighting Irish trailed San Diego State in the fourth quarter. Had a replay decision gone the Aztecs’ way, Notre Dame would have been losing by two touchdowns with 10 minutes to play. I’m not sure Jimmy Clausen is a good enough quarterback to rally his team without the threat of a running game. That said, a fumble was called and Notre Dame took advantage of the second chance to win, 21-13.
In NFL, Offense Breeds Dynasties
One popular sporting adage is “offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.” That cliche may be true on a year-by-year basis. However, to consistently, a team needs a superior offense.
Division of Labor Extends to Pitching Staffs
The days of one man pitching nine innings regularly are over. Hall of Famers like Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Warren Spahn and Steve Carlton used to pitch 20 complete games in an average season. Most current-day pitchers haven’t thrown half that many in their careers.
Choice Between Bat and Mound Comes Early
I think pitchers like being in the American League so they don’t have to bat. I think they don’t like being in the American League because the other pitcher doesn’t have to bat. Instead, they have to face a designated hitter like David Ortiz or Jim Thome who bats .310 with 35 home runs.
Don’t Impersonate Athletes in Hopes of Getting Dates
I like cheerleaders. They play an important function in rallying fans to support the home team. I’m not a cheerleader though. Here’s something new. Have you seen those dancing girls in the bikinis who shoot t-shirts into the crowd with an air gun stationed along the baselines. I think they started in the NBA.
Athletes’ Power Comes From Legs
Strong legs are underrated in boxing. Fans often rave about a promising fighter’s punching power. Purists, however, will notice a boxer’s legs. If his legs are slow, a fighter will have trouble staying out of range of his opponent’s punches.
Consistency Key to Solid Baseball
Whenever one team scores, the opposition will try to get back the runs immediately. It’s human nature to try to recover any advantage that was lost as soon as possible. It’s supposed to be a big psychologist boost to the Tigers if they keep the Royals off the scoreboard the next inning.
Thunder Rolls into Oklahoma City
I don’t follow exhibition games. I wait for the regular season to begin. For instance, I’m paying attention to football and baseball while basketball and hockey go through their training camps.
Five Ways to Know Which Games to Watch
Anyone can get ready for the playoffs. Fans need to know how to best utilize their regular-season sport watching time. The NHL season is a few weeks old. NBA action started tonight. The NFL is reaching mid-season.
Peter Eastgate became the youngest-ever World Series of Poker Main Event winner early Tuesday morning at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Phil Hellmuth was 24 when he won the 1989 Main Event. Eastgate is 22. Players must be at least 21 to enter.
BCS Game Projections for Dec. 6
Oklahoma, Florida, USC and Virginia Tech earned places in the BCS with wins today. The four teams join Penn State and Cincinnati as major-conference champions. In addition, Utah’s undefeated campaign is certainly enough to earn a berth. Texas’s number-three rating will garner an automatic at-large position, although not a spot in the championship tilt.
What’s Worse: A-Choke or A-Roid?
Alex Rodriguez spent this week hearing about Joe Torre’s new book, in which the former New York manager claimed Yankee players referred to Rodriguez as “A-Choke.” Nicknamed “A-Rod,” Rodriguez has a lifetime sub-.200 postseason batting average.
Elway Hypocritical After Cutler Trade
John Elway said today he was disappointed that the Denver Broncos and Jay Cutler, their Pro Bowl quarterback, couldn’t resolve their differences. Cutler never got over Denver’s new coach, Josh McDaniels, wanting to trade for Matt Cassel, who eventually was traded from New England to Kansas City.
The three-day All-Star break in mid-July is the time sports fans can reintroduce themselves to family members they’ve been neglecting. Perhaps spend some extra hours at the office or handle some long-ignored household chores.
I’ll resume writing about topical sports news Saturday. Also be looking for my preseason BCS projections next week.
