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A Sad Day For The Sport Of Kings |
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Tuesday, 30 January 2007 11:47 |
It was a day even the most optimistic among us knew was likely going to come at some point. As much as we followed the progress and hoped for a miracle, there was always the nagging sense that it would all catch up with him; that the many obstacles standing in the way of full recovery would do what no other racehorse was able to - conquer Barbaro.
The laminitis in his left rear hoof that had hampered him had now spread into both of his front feet. He was in obvious and severe pain. And so Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and his doctor, Dean Richardson, were forced to come to the only real conclusion. The colt was simply in too much pain. And so around 10:30 am Barbaro was given a heavy dose of tranquilizer and an overdose of an anesthetic and was laid to rest.
Thus ended an eight month saga of hope and despair that captivated the entire country. The depth of sincerity from Barbaro's well-wishers was astounding. Thousands of flower bouquets, emails, hand-made cards, gifts, and even religious paraphernalia as well as countless emails flooded the hospital.
Some find it hard, even impossible, to understand the affection the country showed this racehorse. Surely with the lagging popularity of horse racing they could not all have been fans of the sport. And they most likely weren't. But it didn't matter. Barbaro had become more than just a horse, albeit one of the most promising in history. Through his exceptional talent we humanized him and in his struggle we saw that of any athlete we love. After his injury he was no different than the running back who blows out his knee, or the basketball player who breaks his leg. And more than that, as we watched this magnificent beast struggle to stay alive, we saw the hope and optimism that so many families around the country deal with every day with sick loved ones. Barbaro had become a source of inspiration.
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I will never forget the day it happened. It was my birthday. The Yankees had given me a wonderful early afternoon gift with a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Mets in which they scored all five runs in the ninth inning. And before I was to meet the boys for dinner and subsequent spirits, it was first time for Barbaro to come one step closer to history. On that day he was to win the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, with only the formality of Belmont left to become the first horse since 1978 to win the Crown.
It didn't matter that no horse had done it in 28 years because, well, this was no ordinary horse. He was undefeated, unchallenged. He had won the Kentucky Derby so convincingly (his was the largest margin of victory since 1946) that we were starting to hear the phrase "Superhorse" used to describe him. This was Tiger Woods and Roger Federer on four legs. This was the horse that was finally going to save the sport of kings.
As the minutes passed and race time drew near you could honestly feel the excitement in the air at Pimlico through the television. This crowd knew it was going to witness history. Little did they know how right they were. Only a few seconds into the race, the single worst fear in horse racing was realized; Barbaro's right rear ankle shattered. At that moment sickness hit my stomach like a cannonball. In one fleeting moment, Barbaro went from Triple Crown hopeful to intensive care patient.
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When a human athlete is injured on the field of play, very few times are we worried for that person's life. That is the difference with an injury to a horse. This wasn't just a case of Barbaro going through six months of rehab and coming back next year to win the Crown. He was now faced with a struggle to stay alive; to endure surgeries and battle through devastating infections. But as we watched in those hours and days after the injury we all knew that if any horse could do it, it would surely be Barbaro the Superhorse.
And for eight long months that is exactly what he did. With the love and support of the Jacksons and the near miracle-working of Dr. Richardson, there were many times it was thought he was going to make it. But in the end it was the doctor's biggest fear, the disease laminitis, that would be too much for Barbaro to overcome. And rather than let the horse suffer with no real chance at recovery, the decision was made to let him go.
It was Barbaro's struggle that will define him as much as his success on the racetrack; his unwillingness to give in to what would have killed so many other horses. His struggle would come to symbolize the essence of America - the underdog, faced with seemingly impossible odds, fighting his way to victory. Unfortunately Barbaro was not able to achieve that victory, but that will never diminish the inspiration he became during the fight.
Roy and Gretchen Jackson started the Barbaro Fund to raise money for needed equipment at the hospital where Barbaro rehabbed after his surgeries. Since its inception the fund has raised more than $1.2 million dollars. To find out more or to make a donation, please visit:
http://www.vet.upenn.edu/giving/giving_ways.html
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 14:37 )
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A Pair Of Beat-Downs Down Under |
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Sunday, 28 January 2007 09:03 |
One of the outcomes at the Australian Open was rather easy to predict. The other one was not. Roger Federer won yet another major tournament last night (or was it tonight?), sweeping Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 for this third consecutive grand slam and tenth overall. On the women's side, unseeded Serena Williams made a strong case that she is ready to retake control of the tennis world by winning her eighth grand slam with a 6-1, 6-2 throttling of top-seeded Maria Sharapova.
At the beginning of this fortnight in Melbourne Serena looked as large and out-of-shape as any athlete I'd ever seen, aside from NFL linemen and some baseball players. Her first couple matches were shaky and I just did not believe that she could possibly beat better competition as the tournament progressed. Boy was I wrong. The Serena I watched on Friday night was a snapshot of the one who dominated women's tennis throughout 2002 and much of 2003. She struck the ball with the ferocity of most men and utterly dominated Sharapova, who will still be ranked #1 in the world despite the loss.
But to anyone who watched this match it was clear who the better player is. Sharapova is only 19 years old and it still coming to grips with the expectations and fame of being the world's top player. She did not play all that well throughout the tournament but got by on superior strength and skill. Unfortunately for her that was not the case against Williams. It seemed her only points came on Williams' unforced errors. She looked overwhelmed from the start, losing the first set in only 26 minutes and never getting into the match. Sharapova sent countless shots into the net as she simply could not withstand the power and relentlessness of Williams. If the women's tennis world thought they were rid of Serena Williams, they'd better think again.
And then there were the men. Or should I say, the man. Because more than any other sport in this world, even golf, where Tiger Woods is set to win his seventh consecutive tournament later this afternoon in beautiful La Jolla, CA, Roger Federer dominates his like none other. He now has won 36 straight matches including three grand slams. And instead of the field getting closer to topping Federer, they are getting further. The greatest stat of this whole tournament: Federer did not lose a single set. Not one. The last time that happened in a grand slam was in 1980 when Bjorn Borg ran over the field at the French Open.
Andy Roddick actually had the nerve to suggest he had closed the gap between he and Federer. That was before Federer beat him in 85 minutes, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 on Wednesday. (Quick word of advice to the most over-hyped, underachieving athlete in recent memory- you may want to wait until after you play to make comments like that, thus you will not look as stupid as you do now) No, this guy is still getting better and that should be enough for any man who plays professional tennis to seriously reconsider his profession.
At age 26 he is now only four grand slams away from the most all-time, a record held by Pete Sampras. There is no reason to believe he will not blow past that mark. Aside from playing Rafael Nadal on the clay at Roland Garros, is there any real chance of Federer losing? Is there anyone out there who can seriously challenge him on a hardcourt or grass? I certainly don't see anyone. This guy is the closest thing you will see to a robot and the fact that he is now consistently put in the same breath as Tiger Woods speaks volumes.
So we leave the 2007 Australian Open with one champion everyone expected and one no one expected. Both matches were won in straight sets. Both champions won in dominating style. And both look to be primed to continue the trend through the summer. All I can say to the rest of the tennis world is...good luck. I think you're going to need it.
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The Phoenix Suns won their 17th consecutive game today against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the most exciting, fun-to-watch team I can remember. And those people who don't think Steve Nash should be considered for MVP just because he has one the previous two are total morons. The simple fact is that he is as important to his team as Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird were to theirs.
As previously mentioned, Tiger Woods is likely going to win another Buick Invitational. This will be his third in a row, and seventh consecutive PGA Tour win overall. I wonder if the fans of southern California are as sick of watching this as I am?
The Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies are apparently discussing a trade that would send Todd Helton to Boston. Sure Helton has been a great hitter over his career and has put up gaudy numbers. But no, I am not biting my nails as a Yankee fan as Neil Everett suggested I should be last night on Sports Center.
Sean White is once again dominating the Winter X Games in Aspen, CO. If anyone cared about his sport White would be in the Federer/Woods conversation, too.
For me, listening to talk about Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy rather than the greatness of Bill Belichick is the best thing about this year's Super Bowl.
Is there anyone you can think of who lives in an alternate universe more than Dick Cheney?
I cannot believe that guy is Jack Bauer's brother.
My favorite 24 line from last week is when Jack is choking his brother to try and get information out of him, mentioning that he will hurt him if he doesn't talk. His brother says he already is hurting him. Jack then replies, matter-of-factly, "trust me, I'm not."
When I argued in favor of Bill Parcells not returning to coach the Cowboys, I assumed there was some sort of plan in place for his replacement. Oops.
And finally, it looks like Bernie Williams' days are numbered as a New York Yankee. Though it will be one of more difficult good-byes for Yankee fans, it is tough to argue that the time has come. But that in no way diminishes his greatness and the impact he had while wearing the stripes. He is and will always be a Yankee, and someday his number 51 will sit beside all the Yankee greats in left field.
Bern, baby, Bern.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 14:28 )
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Grudges, Guns, and the State Of The Union |
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Sports
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Written by Andy Woitkoski
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Tuesday, 23 January 2007 11:31 |
We're going to have to make today's post short and sweet as there is Indiana basketball on my plate tonight. Yes, my Hoosiers finally seemed to have turned the corner under first year coach Kelvin Sampson. Though there is a lot of room for improvement on this team, especially on offense, its nice to see them back with a national ranking and at the top end of the Big Ten.
And tonight's game adds a bit of controversy as Indiana travels to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini of Illinois. Mmm...recruiting controversy. The tale goes as such- Eric Gordon, the #1 player in Indiana, supposedly had a verbal commitment to Illinois and then was "stolen" by Sampson. Well, there are always multiple sides to these kinds of stories but I'm just glad IU was on the winning end of this one. It will be rocking tonight at Assembly Hall as the Illinois faithful let Kelvin and Co. hear about it. But there is one very simple way to neutralize a raucous crowd, and that is with an early lead...and a big win.
The lead story on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption tonight was Jerry Jones' open coveting of Bears' coach Lovie Smith. Smith grew up in Texas as a big Cowboys fan and Jones has never held back in his praise of Lovie's coaching ability. With Smith and the Bears heading toward a possible contract dispute after the Super Bowl, keep your eyes on this one. Oh what a steal this would be for Big D.
Speaking of Big D, Hall of Fame scumbag Terrell Owens is at it again. This time TO had some parting shots for Bill Parcells, stating that Parcells did not maximize the Cowboys talent and he is pretty much glad he retired. Now, I believe someone else made the same argument in this space only 5 days ago, but Sports Center did not lead their 6:00 show with my news. It just goes to show, once again, the utter lack of class with which Owens' carries himself and just how small a man he is, regardless of his physical stature. He had the entire season to say it to Parcells' face but said nothing. Then he kills Parcells the first minute he leaves. You stay classy, TO.
The Raiders finally have a head football coach. After offering the job to every man ever associated with the NFL or college football, USC Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin was the choice. At the ripe young age of 31 Kiffin will be the youngest coach in league history after serving as Southern Cal's coordinator for only two seasons. Two seasons in college and now he must try and lead the biggest laughing-stock in the league. Good luck Lane. Though something tells me you will need more than luck.
Another Cincinnati Bengal has been arrested. That makes nine in the last nine months. This team should have its own reality show.
Finally, President Bush will make his second-to-last State of the Union address tonight amid the usual pomp and circumstance. Of course Ol' Dubya has not had to give one of these to such a hostile country, or a Democratic Congress. It should be interesting to see how Georgy Boy does having finally tasted a bit of humility over the worsening situation in Iraq. But the one thing I will not be able to get out of my head as I watch President Cowboy is...thank the good lord this clown will be gone in two years.
That's all for tonight, its time for some Indiana basketball.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 November 2008 10:10 )
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Sports
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Written by Andy Woitkoski
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Sunday, 21 January 2007 06:55 |
I apologize for the rather predictable topic of today's post but there is just no getting around the fact that it is the biggest deal in sports. There is nothing we love more than rivalries and today's is one of the best in recent memory. Its the tortoise and the hare. Its Belichick and Dungy, Brady and Manning. Its the Patriots and the Colts for the AFC Championship.
Much has been said (too much, actually) about what this game means. What it means for Manning and Dungy, who despite ridiculous success in Indianapolis, have failed to conquer their New England foes. How this win would finally wipe away all the prior failures and validate what they have done with the Colts. How Manning can finally stop answering the questions about what it means to be great but not the best. How Dungy can finally stop hearing about how great a guy he is but not how great a coach he is in his biggest games.
And the opposite goes for the Patriots. A win today would further the claim (one to which I vehemently object) that Brady and Belichick are the best Quarterback-Coach tandem in NFL history. (If you ask me its either Montana-Walsh or Bradshaw-Noll). This team was not supposed to be one win away from Miami. Yet here they are.
Here they are against a familiar rival, in a familiar setting- deep into the playoffs. Of course it is different this time. We all remember the 2003 AFC title game, when the Pats picked-off Manning four times and stymied the Colts' offense in a snowy 24-14 win. And we all remember the domination the following year in the Patriots' 20-3 victory. But the Patriots not only had weather on their side in those two games; they also had better teams. That may not be the case anymore. The Colts have now won the last two meetings, albeit regular season meetings, and you would be hard pressed to find a pundit who thinks New England is actually the better team.
Another factor is the RCA Dome. Despite winning in Foxboro this fall, Manning and the Colts have not had much success at New England. In fact its been a graveyard for them. Manning lost his first six games in Foxboro before finally getting the last two. Now he is in the comfort of his home field, his dome, and the only snow that will matter is that which the fans will have to travel through it to get to the game.
And of course, there is also the small matter of Adam Vinatieri. In what now looks like the most important free agent pick-up of the 2006 offseason, the greatest playoff kicker in NFL history is now on the other sideline. In their two previous playoff losses to the Patriots, a better kicker would not have mattered. This time it might. At the very least Manning and Dungy will feel a helluva lot better sending Vinatieri out to kick a game-winner than they would Mike Vanderjagt. And could there be any better poetic justice than Vinatieri beating the team who treated him so unfairly, who told him to get lost when it came time for him to be paid for his past efforts?
It really does feel like the stars have aligned for the Colts this year. They finally have the game at home. They finally seemed to have figured out how to play defense. The Patriots finally seem to have clear weaknesses. But then again, this is still New England and Indianapolis. I have to see the Colts win to believe it could ever happen. And though nothing in the entire world would make me happier than seeing just that, I have a bad feeling in my stomach. The same one I had all last week during the Patriots win in San Diego. Only this week I won't have 24 to take my mind off of it.
Yes it seems like its finally the Colts' year. Only thing is I thought it was last year. And the year before. I'm getting tired of that feeling. I am not a Colts fan but I do want to see Manning get over this hump; to finally exercise these demons. And not just because of my unbridled hatred of the Patriots, but for Manning and Dungy themselves.
I just have a bad feeling that it isn't gonna happen. I just cannot see the Patriots losing this game. My prediction: Patriots 27-17.
I have no idea what to expect for the NFC Championship. Has there ever been a 14-3 team as hard to predict as the Chicago Bears? Have you ever seen more pundits and fans pick against a 14-3 team playing at home for the conference championship? That's Rex for ya.
I think this prevailing sentiment is a good thing for the Bears. I think they will come out ready to play and, with the help of mother nature, will contain the Saints' offense. As we saw twice before with the Patriots and Colts, its hard for a dome team to go to a cold weather city and win in January. Its cold and miserable in Chicago today and I think that works for the home team. My prediction: Bears 21-14.
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For any of you who care about tennis, keep your eyes on the Australian Open. As we head into the second week it looks like the first major of the year will not be short on big names or excitement. The prospect of a James Blake/Rafael Nadal Quarterfinal match is as good as it gets.
The quality of basketball being played in Dallas and Phoenix is simply unbelievable. These two teams seem like they are on a collision-course for the Western Conference championship, and I only hope that is where they end up. Because these are the two most entertaining teams since Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers of the 1980s.
The Phillies gave second baseman Chase Utley a seven-year, $85 million extension yesterday. Get used to this name people, you will be hearing it a lot in the next half-dozen years.
Republican opposition to President Bush's new "plan" for Iraq is growing. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) will co-sponsor a non-binding resolution with Democrats Joe Biden (DE) and Carl Levin (MI) which will put their, and others', dissent on record.
On CBSs Face the Nation this morning, Senator Hagel called Vice President Cheney's remarks that such a resolution will undermine the troops "nonsense." Its about time someone started calling out these fools.
24 is far and away the most exciting television ever. And now that Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip returns to NBC at 10:00, Monday is now my favorite day of the week.
Finally, a Chicago woman induced pregnancy Friday, two days before her due date, so her husband could attend today's NFC Championship. Now that is love.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 November 2008 10:13 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Thursday, 18 January 2007 11:49 |
Oh, Bill, you're doing it again.
Why does every off-season with Bill Parcells have to be this way? Is this man physically incapable of making this decision in less than a month? I know, I know. Last year only took five days. But this is this year, and its already been longer.
He pulled this in New York, Foxboro, New York, and now in Dallas. He treats his decision to come back for a year (one which he would make $5.5 million) like LBJ must have treated the decision not to run in ‘68. Its not like he's a player with aching body parts all over. Though with the way the Cowboys season ended I wouldn't be surprised if he did have a lingering sensation of unreached potential and feelings of self-doubt.
The funny thing is I think he thinks people still give a shit. This is my team and I sure don't care. Well that is not entirely true- I want him to go. Seriously, what has he done with the Cowboys that suggests he still has what it takes? 34-32, 0-2 in the playoffs in four years. I think Jerry Jones could have done that well coaching with the personnel this team has had.
I whole-heartedly believe that Parcells' best days are behind him; that this 65 year-old man has simply lost the ability to motivate and relate to men ranging from 21-30+ years of age. Nothing against the seniors, but its apparent throughout the league. How's Joe Gibbs, another first ballot Hall of Fame coach, done since coming back? Tom Coughlin hasn't exactly lit it up since his success in Jacksonville, either.
And I'm not one who buys into the Parcells as overrated argument. Well, at least not until Dallas. Sure he had ridiculous talent with the Giants, but he won twice in five years. He took a horrible New England team, totally crafted it into his image, and made a Super Bowl. And no shame in losing that one because Green Bay was a significantly better team than the Patriots. But I think his best job was with the Jets from 1997-99. That was another pathetic football team when he got there. And within three years he had the Greenbacks fighting admirably against the defending-champion Broncos in the AFC Championship.
Now, though, it is becoming increasingly clear that the game has passed him by. I don't mean that he's lost his knowledge of the game; just that he has lost his ability to communicate it. And I'm not sure that at this point in his career he can get it back. I don't know if anyone who watched the Cowboys closely this season could say that the coaching staff did a good or even average job. I am hard pressed to find a team, other than the dreadful NY Giants, that underachieved the way Dallas did. Just when we thought they turned the corner they lost 4 of their last 5, including one of the more memorable playoff choke-jobs ever.
Good teams; well coached teams, do not finish that poorly. Because good coaches do not let it happen. That's why it didn't happen with the Giants for so long in the 1980's, or the Patriots of the mid 1990's, or the Jets in 1998. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Tuna's reign in Dallas.
So Bill, just make a decision. We're all sick and tired of your annual show. Those paying attention, anyway. If there's anything I can do to help you decide to go, you just let me know.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 14:02 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Tuesday, 16 January 2007 12:13 |
NASCAR legend Benny Parsons, known simply as "BP," passed away this morning at the age of 65 after losing his fight with lung cancer. Parsons was a fixture of the sport for over 35 years and had long since become one of the sport's all time icons.
A masterful driver on the circuit from 1964 to 1988 (full-time starting in 1970), Parsons resume ranks among NASCAR's best. He was the 1973 Winston Cup Champion and winner of the 1975 Daytona 500. He finished his career with an astounding 283 top-ten finishes and from 1972 to 1980 never finished lower than fifth in points. Parsons was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
It was BP's folksy nature that endeared him to his competitors and fans while on the track for over 20 years, and it was that same personality that made him such a success when he moved into the broadcast booth. His unparalleled enthusiasm for and knowledge of racing helped him become one of sports best color commentators and he was rewarded for this with a Cable ACE award in his first season as a broadcaster. In 1995, Parsons was inducted into the
National Motorsports Press Association's Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.
I never got to see Benny race, but I feel privileged to have spent many summer Sundays watching him on NBC; his southern drawl explaining like none other what exactly was happening on the track. BP's greatest asset as a color man was that he could explain the sport so clearly and easily to fans like me; fans who don't know the first thing about the technical nature of the cars. He was able to bring that part of the sport to thousands of fans, and he did it like he did everything else- sincerely and with a smile.
Benny Parsons was, is, and always will be a NASCAR giant. Death cannot take that honor away from him. Nor can it take away the countless memories that he gave his family, friends, colleagues, and his fans. Because Benny Parsons gave this sport too much to ever forget.
So long, BP, we will all miss you.
*UPDATE* 1/20/07: Parsons' funeral service was held yesterday in Cornelius, NC. To read some of the stories Benny's friends shared, click here.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 13:57 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Sunday, 14 January 2007 07:39 |
The wait is almost over. The time has finally come.
After nearly seven months of waiting, the greatest television series of all-time, 24, begins its sixth season tonight at 8:00 on FOX. To say this series is eagerly anticipated by its fans is to say there is some doubt about President Bush's newest plan for Iraq.
Two hours tonight, two more hours tomorrow. There is simply nothing more exciting than the prospect of 4 hours of Jack Bauer over a 24 hour (real life) span. I only hope the Chargers have put the Patriots away by 7:30 so I can mentally prepare myself for what is assured to be non-stop, heart-racing action.
Welcome back, Jack. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see you again.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 14 January 2007 07:40 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Sunday, 14 January 2007 07:21 |
There is an old NFL Films clip from Super Bowl XIX where a San Francisco offensive lineman comes to the bench after a 49er touchdown, looks at the camera and says, "They came to see an offense and the wrong one showed up." He was referring to the fact that the 49ers opponents, the Miami Dolphins, led by NFL MVP Dan Marino, owned the league's top offense and were thought to be too explosive to stop.
I couldn't help but be reminded of that clip yesterday while watching the Colts newfound defense lead them to victory over the favored Baltimore Ravens, 15-6. Because for all the talk about (and by) Baltimore's top-ranked defense, it was the Colts' supposed Achilles' Heel who won them this game. Not Peyton Manning. Not Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne. It was the defense.
Two weeks ago no one would have thought that the Colts would have been able to win two playoff games. Many thought they would be lucky to get one. In losing three of their final five games the defense looked completely overmatched. They were giving up 100 yard rushing games to everyone, including the Texans' Ron Dayne, who lit them up for 153 on Christmas Eve. It was Dayne's first 100 yard game in five years.
So when the Colts were matched up in the first round against the Kansas City Chiefs and the league's second leading rusher, Larry Johnson, it was assumed by many that the Colts' 2006 season would end in much the same disappointing manner as the previous six; without a trip to the Super Bowl. But sometimes its easy to forget that the defense who never stopped hearing about how bad they were are human beings. They are grown men with pride. And it was evident in their play against Kansas City that they had simply heard enough. They had heard enough of how they were going to keep Manning from his shot at the Super Bowl; heard enough about how they couldn't stop anyone.
So all they did last week was hold Johnson to 32 yards on 13 carries. They kept the Chiefs out of the end zone until there were only 8 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. And it's a good thing they did because Manning, despite completing 30 of 38 passes, did throw three interceptions. Its sometimes risky to say that one good performance is enough to wipe away two months of ineptitude, but at the same time it was easy to see that the Colts defense had regained some swagger. And again, it's a good thing they did because next up was a trip to Baltimore where the Ravens top-ranked defense awaited.
This time, though, they were on the road, away from the comfort of the RCA Dome. This time they were in the most hostile of venues- their former home. Its been twenty-three years since the Colts packed up and left Baltimore in the dead of night to head for their new home in Indianapolis. But to say the wounds have not fully healed is quite an understatement. (Manning said after the game, "We saw a lot of middle fingers on the bus ride over." There was also a poster in the parking lot of the Ravens mascot urinating on the grave of the Colts late owner, Robert Irsay. Stay classy, Baltimore.)
Add a vehemently hostile crowd with the league's best defense and a power rushing attack, and the end result did not look good for the Colts. But after 60 minutes of football it was clear that the best defense on the field this day belonged to the guests. The Colts forced four turnovers, including two huge McNair interceptions, and held the Ravens to 83 rushing yards. They flustered and frustrated the Ravens offense and once again were the reason the Colts get to keep playing.
If you had told me before kickoff that Peyton Manning's passer rating for the day would be 39.6, I would have winced at the thought of another year of listening to how the Colts and Manning keep coming up short in the playoffs. Maybe this is the year all of that changes. For years we have heard the Colts are too offensive minded and too "soft;" that they cannot play the physical style of football required to win in the playoffs. Yet after two games in this year's second season, the Colts have only given up a total of 127 rushing yards, after allowing an average of 173 during the regular season. Now they have a chance to host the AFC Championship.
No one will argue that this is Peyton Manning's team. But it just may be the defense that finally gets him to the Super Bowl.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 14 January 2007 07:30 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Wednesday, 10 January 2007 11:47 |
It is that time of year again. The time of year when baseball writers across the land get to have the proverbial last word and show how incredibly ignorant they truly are. Of course I'm talking about the annual Hall of Fame voting. Nowhere else is hypocrisy and irony so prevalent in sports than when a group of men who couldn't make their high school varsity baseball team decide which players are given a spot in the most hallowed of sports halls. (Of course it should be noted that I couldn't make my varsity baseball team and now I'm going to critique those who do the critiquing, but that is the advantage of writing for a blog whose only readers are family and friends)
I know I may surprise some when I say I'm not talking about Mark McGuire. Well, not just Mark McGuire. Truth be told, while I would cast a vote for Big Mac if I had one, I feel absolutely no sympathy that the voters are making him the current scapegoat for the steroid era (I'm assuming that neither does Barry Bonds). He could have nipped this in the bud by giving ¼ of a better testimony to Congress in their little Dog and Pony Show back in March 2005. But he didn't and now he is paying the price.
But the fact remains that he did not take anything that was illegal under the rules of Major League Baseball during those years. And those who stood two feet away from him at his locker in 1998 and stuck microphones in his face when he had jars of now illegal supplements in plain site are the worst hypocrites out there. These guys who knew exactly what was going on (along with the other players, management, and owners) but never said anything and now want to demonize these players in an uncanny show of self-righteousness and regret-turned-outward are simply laughable. Yeah that's right Lupica, I'm talking about you. How much money did you make on Summer of ‘98? You wrote a whole book on McGuire and Sosa but weren't smart enough to notice their biceps made guys in the WWF look small?
But enough about Mac; as I said he made his bed now he can sleep in it. I want to talk about guys who didn't do drugs and still get hosed by these writers. I want to talk about Goose Gossage, Jim Rice, and Andre Dawson. Problem is, I already made this argument last year (you can find this by scrolling down the page and finding the 1/12/06 post titled "Baseball Writers of America: What is Your Problem?" and quite frankly, I'm sick of making it.
The very bottom line is this- these three men, especially Gossage now that Bruce Sutter has been inducted, deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Their stats speak for themselves. You'd think that this army of men who are now acting as the Morality Police when it comes to steroids would embrace these players who never used performance enhancing drugs, but that is not the case. Instead they sit in a largely unscrutinized position and perform the ultimate scrutiny; keeping some men from earning the greatest honor there is to earn in the profession of major league baseball. It is an irony I wonder if they can really appreciate.
Whether they do or not one thing is clear- in an attempt to protect the historical integrity of a game they could never play, baseball writers continue to rob deserving men of their chance at immortality. And what a shame that truly is.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 13:56 )
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Politics
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Written by Adrock
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Wednesday, 10 January 2007 02:00 |
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Not happy that the President is about to escalate an unwinnable conflict? Me too! So how about instead we read about the man who is the inspiration for this site, one Mr. Benjamin Franklin. Here you can read all about the history of the most famous founding father. Fun tip, search for "Dogood" to see where we screwed up... Here is a collection of famous quotes by the esteemed gentleman. Here is my favorite: "There never was a good war or a bad peace."Here you can read actual works by Franklin, naturally all now in the public domain. I can't wait to side aside some time to read them all. Well, there you have it. Thanks to the wikiman, you can read all you need to know about Ben Franklin. Did you know he even invented Daylight Savings Time?
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 November 2008 10:14 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Tuesday, 09 January 2007 12:56 |
Well hello everyone, and welcome back. It has been nearly six months since I have visited this space and its good to be back. Though that is considerable time to be away, I hope to return with full enthusiasm and the fervor you'd expect from Whojhouse. And from this point on I hope to do it without ever again speaking in the third person.
There has certainly been a lot of goings-on in the sports world since I last found the motivation to make commentary. The baseball playoffs came and went and the NFL had a helluva regular season and a wild first weekend in which a certain team from Dallas tried to kill me. College basketball had a fairly low-key start, and the NBA tipped off amid much controversy over King David and his, uh, balls. And of course, college football ended their 2006-07 season last night in Glendale, AZ with a drubbing no one could have imagined.
The Florida Gators, champions of the SEC, came into University of Phoenix Stadium and utterly dominated the favored, top-ranked, and previously undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes, 41-14. The win gave Florida its second championship since 1996-97 and coach Urban Meyer his first in only his second year in Gainesville.
It was not just that Florida won a game many thought they had no chance to win. No, it was the way in which they won. Florida outgained OSU 370-82 and held the ball for nearly 41 of 60 minutes. OSU had only 8 first downs to Florida's 21. The Gators converted 10 of 19 third downs, compared to Ohio State's 1 of 9. Much maligned Florida Quarterback Chris Leak completed 25 of 36 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown while his counterpart, Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, was a dreadful 4 of 14 for only 38 yards. This, as my brother pointed out, was easily the worst Heisman Trophy performance since Miami's Gino Torretta led Alabama to a national title in the 1993 Sugar Bowl.
Let this be a lesson to all coaches - schedule games through the first weekend of December! Though the BCS did its best to make this game feel like it was its own season, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel made a catastrophic error in scheduling. OSU had not played a game since its November 18 win against Michigan. That was 51 days prior to the championship. Nearly two months. How can any team expect to be game ready when it hasn't played in two months? You simply cannot step onto the field against a team as fast and talented as Florida without playing contact football for 51 days. In that time Florida played twice; both essentially elimination games against bitter rival Florida State and a very talented Arkansas team in the SEC Championship.
Probably it was that Coach Sweater Vest thought his team was so good it wouldn't matter. He probably figured his team was so far-and-away the best in the nation that they could take three months off and beat whomever stood before the mighty Buckeyes. He was wrong. Of course it probably didn't hurt that for the last four weeks Florida has had to listen to how great Ohio State is and how they would get blown off the field. Some even said they didn't even deserve to be in the game; that Michigan (yes, the same team who was rolled by USC in the Rose Bowl), despite having already lost to Ohio State on November 18, deserved another shot at the Buckeyes. I think Florida made their point quite convincingly. Although those critics were probably right; Ohio State and Michigan probably would have been a better game than we saw last night.
From the moment Ted Ginn, Jr. crossed the goal line after returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Urban Meyer and the Gators dominated every single facet of the game. It was a fairly remarkable beat down, actually. And if it seems that I am taking a bit of pleasure in the annihilation of Ohio State, that is because I am. As a Miami fan I will never forgot how the worst Back Judge in the history of college football officiating literally took the title out of Miami's hands in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl and gave it to Ohio State. No, I'm not still bitter. Well, maybe I am just a little.
Nevertheless, congratulations to the Gators on a memorable performance and the 2006 National Championship.
And now I would like someone to please tell me why college football does not adopt this simple and practical playoff format immediately.
End of the year, the top 4 teams in the BCS standings make the "tournament."
year 1:
teams 1 and 4 play in Fiesta; 2 and 3 play in Orange Jan 1
losers play in "runners-up" game in Sugar Jan 7; winners play for championship in Rose Jan 8
year 2:
teams 1 and 4 play in Rose; 2 and 3 play in Sugar Jan 1
losers play in Fiesta, winners play in Orange
year 3:
teams 1 and 4 play in Orange; 2 and 3 play in Fiesta
losers play in Rose, winners play in Sugar
year 4:
teams 1 and 4 play in Sugar; 2 and 3 play in Rose
losers play in Orange, winners play in Fiesta.
There is nothing different about Bowl scheduling, the standings during the year, and no Bowl loses relevance because they rotate in the exact same manner they have for the past 6 years. This is a great injustice being perpetrated on the American people, and something needs to be done.
Its good to be back. Stay tuned for more.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 13:39 )
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Politics
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Written by Adrock
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Friday, 10 November 2006 05:19 |
With the news that Ken Mehlman is stepping down, rumor is that '06 Senate Loser (with a capital 'L'!) Michael Steele might be taking his place. Who is this, you ask? Read some of the articles here. Yes, just the man to whip those morally corrupt Republicans back in shape!
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 November 2006 05:19 )
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Politics
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Written by Fenlon
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Thursday, 09 November 2006 10:29 |
It just keeps getting better. Webb wins in Virginia, which is an amazing feat by itself, and the Senate goes to the Dems. A few thoughts... First, George Allen (VA) and Rick Santorum (PA) losing in the same election is just remarkable. Two HUGE stars of the right. Unreal. Second, Webb's campaign and Allen's mistakes, the changing demographics of NoVa, and the national political climate made for a once in a lifetime victory. Last, Allen had/has presidential aspirations, I wonder if this hurts or helps him launch a successful campaign? ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** And the icing on the cake -- Donald F***ing Rumsfeld 'resigned'. Umm, wow. W-ww-why? Err, why now? I suppose they could've wanted to wait until Democratic control was official and then save them all the embarrassment of a hostile Congress with subpoena power. But that's truly unfortunate, because despite how maddeningly frustrating and brilliant Rumsfeld's press conferences were, I think Americans deserved to finally get some answers out of Rumsfeld. Is it possible that President Bush is actually recognizing the collective will of the people? A message was sent, loud and clear...maybe the President recognized that an axe had to fall. Maybe. Was this a tactical error, though? What if the announcement had come before the election, could that have mollified voters' dissatisfaction with the course of the war and kept those critical few seats in the Red? Not so sure it would've made a difference; it may have even added fuel to the fire. An amazing couple of days. What will tomorrow bring?
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 November 2006 03:48 )
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Americans Hate Their Government, Except When We Need It. |
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Politics
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Written by Adrock
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Thursday, 09 November 2006 08:50 |
Seriously, read this.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 November 2006 10:06 )
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Politics
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Written by Fenlon
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Wednesday, 08 November 2006 02:11 |
So much to say, so little time. I guess I might as well start with the quote of the day from The Tool Formerly Known As The Hammer:
"The Democrats didn't win, the Republicans lost"
--Tom "Irrelevant" DeLay
Despite the gloomy weather here in New York, it is a beautiful day. The mere notion that there will be an opposition party in Washington with subpoena power and committee control for the first time in 6 years is enough for me.
At this moment, Nancy Pelosi is in line to become Speaker of the House (the first woman to hold that position), and will be half a pretzel and a fifth heart attack away from the White House. And, the Democrats needed to take over 6 Senate seeks to take control over there--they won four (RI, PA, OH, MO) last night and the last two are too close to call (MT, VA) but both counts have the Dem ahead. Phenomenal.
Big cheers out to Rahm Emmanuel, Chuck Schumer and Howard Dean for orchestrating this epic election season.
Now all we have to worry about is keeping Hillary from ruining her career and running for President. There, I said it.
UPDATE: In a race of particular local interest for me, longtime scumbag (although this is just funny, I'll admit) R-John Sweeney was upset by Kirsten Gillibrand in a race that featured some priceless ads, including David Strathairn reprising his role as Edward R. Murrow.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 November 2006 02:36 )
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Politics
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Written by Adrock
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Wednesday, 11 October 2006 01:23 |
Here are some suggestions I put together if anyone is feeling generous. Visit the candidates websites to see if they are the type of Democrat you want to represent the country as a whole, or your state if you happen to be from there.
OH Senate - Sherrod Brown Leading in the polls, but his opponent has much more cash heading into the homestretch.
CT Senate - Ned Lamont I admit Lamont may not be the brightest bulb in the pack, but he's better than Loser McSellout (aka Joe Lieberman.) Lamont is currently losing, by a pretty decent margin, so I don't want to recommend you give to a losing cause. But give it a thought. If CT voters give this one backto Loserman, I guess we'll have to expel CT from our liberal club.
PN Senate - Bob Casey He is going up against one of the worse Senators known today, do anything to please conservative christians Rick Santorum. Even if we don't take back a majority in the Senate, getting Santorum out ought to be a high goal for progressives.
VI House - Judy Feder I can't find any polling, but I heard she has a shot against a 13 term Republican incumbent and is a pretty big health care wonk.
Secretary of State Project
- The SoS is in charge of voting practices and counting. The SoSP is a
group that helps elect candidates to this position "who will protect
voter rights in 2008."
The Werewolf's Candidates - Neil the Ethical Werewolf has a knack for picking obscure candidates that can make a difference in progressive causes. He also finds some pretty cheap races were a little money can go a long way.
(Full Disclosure: I've donated a little to Sherrod Brown because I think winning OH is important for '08 and I also donated to Ned Lamont because I depise Lieberman with my very being.)
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Politics
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Written by Adrock
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Wednesday, 27 September 2006 04:24 |
We know its been a long time since we rapped at ya, but its been a busy time for all of us Dogwood writers personally the past 6 months. However, despite that, its worth nothing that, yes, a busy and important election season is upon us. Many states have already had their primaries, so its a little late for a call to vote for your favorite Democrat over all others. But the big ones are coming up in November and now is the time to vote for the Democrat in the race. If your are tired of the same old same old for your government, donate to your local race, or more importantly, to races in other states that are on the verge of leaning our way. Hopefully we'll have some suggestions for you in the coming weeks.
Until then, visit TPMMuckRaker for some interesting gossip on winning back Ohio, how the War in Iraq is negatively affecting the War on Terrorism, and various other pro-liberal stories. Get excited folks! Instead of running around like a turkey with its head cut off, we have a real chance to take back some of our government and start making some real change!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 September 2006 04:29 )
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Sometimes You Just Have to Shake Your Head and Laugh |
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Monday, 31 July 2006 14:38 |
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Big Papi, let me just say this. You're one hell of an adversary. I decided tonight that David Ortiz has officially entered the company of Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy...just to name a few. What is the connection? These are all men who I have rooted against with unimaginable fervor, but for whom I have too much respect to actually dislike. Because sometimes you just have to tip your hat and try again tomorrow.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 July 2006 14:44 )
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Sports
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Written by Guest
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Wednesday, 19 July 2006 13:27 |
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President Bush today showed once again that he truly leads the most regressive, backwards administration in this nation's history. Bush's veto of a stem cell research bill, his first veto as President, may be his most disappointing act yet. And considering the amount of incompetence, duplicity, and downright scumbaggery this man has spewn from the world's greatest office, that is quite an accomplishment. I cannot go into much analysis of this decision because quite frankly, thinking about it too much literally makes me sick. That a President could actually veto a bill with so much potential to help not only Americans but all of mankind trashes everything I have ever been proud to feel about the Office of the President of the United States. If I keep going I will inevitably say something that should not be in print. My loathing of this man has never, ever been more intense. But I will say these two things. First, I can only hope tonight that those people who voted for this Disgrace and have family members with Alzheimers, Parkinsons, ALS, or any disease that stem cell research could someday help, think long and hard about the choice they made in November 2004. They should think about the man they voted for and what he stands for and ask themselves if this is really what they wanted out of their leader. My Grandfather had Alzheimers and though he passed away over a decade ago and any cure of that disease probably would not have kept him alive any longer, I sure would like to know that my President supported researach that could help stop that crippling disease. Emotionally crippling, that is. And secondly...it must really be great to either be rich or an evangelical in the USA today.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 July 2006 14:17 )
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Legislators Duck Gay Marriage Question |
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Politics
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 13 July 2006 07:24 |
Legislators knew this was the only matter before the convention in which voters had any interest.
You're kidding, right? If this was the only matter, MA residents have a big problem...ignorance.
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