Headlined “The Simplest Way I Can Tell To Judge Championship Potential,” you would be forgiven for assuming that this article by Ian Thomsen would include a heavy dose of number of actual games won tempered by a nod to strength of schedule and consideration of the team’s injury situation. You would be forgiven because, well, that way of judging championship potential actually makes sense.
Instead, we get this:
In honor of the extended holiday, here is an extended look at the simplest way I know to gauge NBA championship potential. Search the roster of any team for an MVP-level talent with the leadership and drive of Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon or (to cite the newest example) Kevin Garnett.
Tell the Minnesota Timberwolves that KG was all that was needed to be a championship contender. Or the Detroit Pistons that you need a singular MVP-level talent. Wait? What’s that? You reference the Pistons in your next sentence?
Well more than half of the NBA teams are absent this kind of star, which means you can essentially write them off as championship contenders (unless they are the Detroit Pistons of a few years ago, as you'll see below).
I can see that this method of evaluation is not going to be so simple after all.
In fact, if you bother to read the article because you are, like me, desperately interested in learning a simple way to determine championship contenders, you get a two-page list of awesome basketball players since the 80s and the following lessons:
2. Awesome players help teams win championships
1. You need luck to get those players on your team
1a. Coaches are less likely than players to earn an NBA championship ring because only one coach gets to win every year compared to a whole team of players
Not only simple, but totally useful for determining who might be in pole position to win this season!
Thank you Mr Thomsen for being totally uninformative in a most uninteresting way and still hitting your editor-mandated word count for the week. You, truly, are among the reasons that traditional media readership has fallen off a cliff.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Yankees: Hate-able Even Before Yesterday
I usually try to stay away from reading sub-par news outlets because if you think the writing by ‘the big boys’ is bad, it is many time worse as you go further down the totem pole.
Like this gem from Newsday writer Ken Davidoff.
Yankees president Randy Levine, on live television yesterday from the old Yankee Stadium, announced, "Today, we reaffirm the Steinbrenners' commitment to Yankees' fans."
For the rest of the world, of course, it meant just the opposite: Time to hate the Yankees again.
Except that it doesn’t, for two reasons:
1. It logically follows that a team owner, any team owner, who spends $243.5 million on players is emphatically reaffirming a commitment to the fans. What I would give for Carl Pohlad to spend like that (actually, glad you asked, it would include my born-again virginity, my luck Twins hat, visiting rights to my dog three days a week and a perpetual 10% tithe payable directly to the Minnesota Twins at 34 Kirby Puckett Way, Minneapolis, MN).
2. Hating the Yankees never went out of style. It never does. Seriously, it just doesn’t. It’s a classic. Like the little black dress, Charlie Brown’s Christmas and a college football national title game that nobody’s really happy with.
There existed, this past year, the tiniest window in which the Yankees made it difficult to loathe them. But they utilized the power left arm of CC Sabathia and the power right arm of A.J. Burnett to slam that window shut.
This is the first time in fourteen years that the Yankees missed the playoffs. Sorry if I am unable to feel the depths of sorrow for the abject failure as I am for, say, the Royals, Reds or Rangers.
And you know what, even in the 80s I still hated the Yankees…even when they are not a good baseball team they are still the richest and most successful sporting team ever in America. Also, their fans are New Yorkers and assorted other bandwagon hangers-on across the country.
The Yankees could play Al Qaeda and I will still be rooting against the Yankees.
So no, one bad season didn’t make it difficult to dislike the Yankees. If anything, it primed me for extra dislike when they inevitably waved their huge checkbook around to the best players in the Major Leagues.
Yankees bashing is back en vogue.
Again, unlike corduroy or hippie hair, it never went out of style.
Spending $243.5 million on two pitchers, at a time when our country is drowning financially, will create some bad will out there.
Though I may have been subtle in communicating this, the Yankees are not my favorite team. But it is hard to fault them for spending money since, you know, they make a lot of money and, you may have heard, they spent their money on good players who will help them win games and, research shows, winning attracts the fans that make teams profitable. So, like most people, and this might hit you like a striper wrapped in yesterday’s Post, I don’t care that they are spending a lot of money as long as they are NOT asking my elected representatives to steal money from me to give it to them and their business.
I may fervently hope that Sabathia and Burnett turn out like Tartabull and Johnson, but I am not angry that they spent their money to buy players. It’s called the free market.
Oh, and it’s what I wish the Twins would do, too.
Like this gem from Newsday writer Ken Davidoff.
Yankees president Randy Levine, on live television yesterday from the old Yankee Stadium, announced, "Today, we reaffirm the Steinbrenners' commitment to Yankees' fans."
For the rest of the world, of course, it meant just the opposite: Time to hate the Yankees again.
Except that it doesn’t, for two reasons:
1. It logically follows that a team owner, any team owner, who spends $243.5 million on players is emphatically reaffirming a commitment to the fans. What I would give for Carl Pohlad to spend like that (actually, glad you asked, it would include my born-again virginity, my luck Twins hat, visiting rights to my dog three days a week and a perpetual 10% tithe payable directly to the Minnesota Twins at 34 Kirby Puckett Way, Minneapolis, MN).
2. Hating the Yankees never went out of style. It never does. Seriously, it just doesn’t. It’s a classic. Like the little black dress, Charlie Brown’s Christmas and a college football national title game that nobody’s really happy with.
There existed, this past year, the tiniest window in which the Yankees made it difficult to loathe them. But they utilized the power left arm of CC Sabathia and the power right arm of A.J. Burnett to slam that window shut.
This is the first time in fourteen years that the Yankees missed the playoffs. Sorry if I am unable to feel the depths of sorrow for the abject failure as I am for, say, the Royals, Reds or Rangers.
And you know what, even in the 80s I still hated the Yankees…even when they are not a good baseball team they are still the richest and most successful sporting team ever in America. Also, their fans are New Yorkers and assorted other bandwagon hangers-on across the country.
The Yankees could play Al Qaeda and I will still be rooting against the Yankees.
So no, one bad season didn’t make it difficult to dislike the Yankees. If anything, it primed me for extra dislike when they inevitably waved their huge checkbook around to the best players in the Major Leagues.
Yankees bashing is back en vogue.
Again, unlike corduroy or hippie hair, it never went out of style.
Spending $243.5 million on two pitchers, at a time when our country is drowning financially, will create some bad will out there.
Though I may have been subtle in communicating this, the Yankees are not my favorite team. But it is hard to fault them for spending money since, you know, they make a lot of money and, you may have heard, they spent their money on good players who will help them win games and, research shows, winning attracts the fans that make teams profitable. So, like most people, and this might hit you like a striper wrapped in yesterday’s Post, I don’t care that they are spending a lot of money as long as they are NOT asking my elected representatives to steal money from me to give it to them and their business.
I may fervently hope that Sabathia and Burnett turn out like Tartabull and Johnson, but I am not angry that they spent their money to buy players. It’s called the free market.
Oh, and it’s what I wish the Twins would do, too.
Peyton Manning -- Next Up: Curing Cancer
I don't have a problem with IndyStar's Bob Kravitz and his high praise for Peyton Manning after last night's undeniably awesome performance. But he was approaching "gushing" territory, which made for a marginally humorous read.
Manning wasn't great Thursday night; he was sublime. He was as close to perfection as a quarterback can be....
[Peyton's new nickname? The Asymptote.]
Receivers caught balls, but too, balls caught receivers.
[It that how those mysterious K-Balls work?]
There was one ball thrown to Dallas Clark in the seam deep over the middle that was so perfect, so deftly thrown, Clark had no choice but to bring it in.
[Wrong. Peyton need look no further than his own brother to dispel this one. Remember this play two weeks ago?]
They have flaws, but they have something -- someone -- nobody else has: They have Manning, at long last, back at the top of his game. MVP, anybody?
[Hey, no argument here. I will vote for him every year until someone tops his United Way spoof. And, by the way, he'll kill a snitch. Not saying he has; not saying he hasn't....]
Manning wasn't great Thursday night; he was sublime. He was as close to perfection as a quarterback can be....
[Peyton's new nickname? The Asymptote.]
Receivers caught balls, but too, balls caught receivers.
[It that how those mysterious K-Balls work?]
There was one ball thrown to Dallas Clark in the seam deep over the middle that was so perfect, so deftly thrown, Clark had no choice but to bring it in.
[Wrong. Peyton need look no further than his own brother to dispel this one. Remember this play two weeks ago?]
They have flaws, but they have something -- someone -- nobody else has: They have Manning, at long last, back at the top of his game. MVP, anybody?
[Hey, no argument here. I will vote for him every year until someone tops his United Way spoof. And, by the way, he'll kill a snitch. Not saying he has; not saying he hasn't....]
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Quick Hits from the World of Sports
The world of sports is wide, which is a certifiable fact - ABC says so, or at least used to - and that makes it difficult to stay up on all the latest stories. Or at least what passes for stories. They're more like sports-themed filler, kind of like how those convenience store pies are filled with apple-like filler substance that kind of tastes like apple but mainly just takes up the space where you expect something to be.
Yep, these stories are like that.
Furcal spurns Braves, choose Dodgers and their $30 million offer.
"From our perspective, we reached an agreement Monday night," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "They asked for a term sheet for us to sign on Tuesday morning, and we sent over the signed termed sheet. It was then that his agent [Paul Kinzer] informed us that [Kinzer's] partner had been in contact with the Dodgers.
While trying to decide whether to use a Federal bailout joke on the Braves (tortured, but had potential) or on the agent (spot on, but making fun of the avarice of agents is expected), I re-read the story. Yep, the Dodgers are giving a big contract to an over-30, injury-prone ballplayer whose OPS+ is just under the league average and whose OBP is .352.
Don't worry though, it's the Dodgers. They're usually good about who they give big contracts to.
Hansbrough sets UNC scoring mark
The 6-foot-9 senior needed nine points in the top-ranked Tar Heels' game against Evansville on Thursday night to pass Phil Ford for the record. He tied Ford on a jumper from the left wing with 14:05 left, then set the mark by banking in a turnaround shot with 7:41 left in the first half.
Duly noted and filed under "he's still going to be crap in the NBA." Next.
Sabathia says Yankees Best Place to Try to Win a Title
"I think this is the best place for me to try to win a championship," Sabathia said Thursday, on his way to the news conference where he was formally introduced, along with right-hander A.J. Burnett.
Forget about loser teams like the Phillies or the Red Sox. The Yankees are the team where winning championships is most likely. Of course, they are also the team most likely to give him a seven-year $161 million deal. But it's really about winning.
"Everybody had speculated about me staying in California. I had always talked about winning a championship, and you look at the Yankees, it's something they contend for" just about every year.
Judicious use of "just about" since, you know, last year was one of those years they weren't contending for a championship.
Sabathia was phoned twice during his negotiations by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter -- recruiting calls -- and Jeter told him about how much fun it was playing in New York.
It's all fun and games until you're mercilessly booed beginning in the second for hanging a slider to Dustin Pedroia with men on base and you have to spend the next five days with the papers questioning if you're cut out for New York, yahoo radio talk show hosts saying that you'll never be a real Yankee and enraged callers to those radio shows threatening to put you in the foundation of whatever stadium has the remains of Jimmy Hoffa and Carl Pavano.
The day after he reached his agreement with the Yankees, he called Jeter, and the friends talked again about what it would be like to play together.
Jeter: "It will be better than Cleveland or Milwaukee."
Sabathia: "Gotta be honest, D, I need more than that."
Jeter: "You'll make $161 million dollars."
Sabathia: "Can't wait to play with you. Can you introduce me to Mariah?"
Yep, these stories are like that.
Furcal spurns Braves, choose Dodgers and their $30 million offer.
"From our perspective, we reached an agreement Monday night," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "They asked for a term sheet for us to sign on Tuesday morning, and we sent over the signed termed sheet. It was then that his agent [Paul Kinzer] informed us that [Kinzer's] partner had been in contact with the Dodgers.
While trying to decide whether to use a Federal bailout joke on the Braves (tortured, but had potential) or on the agent (spot on, but making fun of the avarice of agents is expected), I re-read the story. Yep, the Dodgers are giving a big contract to an over-30, injury-prone ballplayer whose OPS+ is just under the league average and whose OBP is .352.
Don't worry though, it's the Dodgers. They're usually good about who they give big contracts to.
Hansbrough sets UNC scoring mark
The 6-foot-9 senior needed nine points in the top-ranked Tar Heels' game against Evansville on Thursday night to pass Phil Ford for the record. He tied Ford on a jumper from the left wing with 14:05 left, then set the mark by banking in a turnaround shot with 7:41 left in the first half.
Duly noted and filed under "he's still going to be crap in the NBA." Next.
Sabathia says Yankees Best Place to Try to Win a Title
"I think this is the best place for me to try to win a championship," Sabathia said Thursday, on his way to the news conference where he was formally introduced, along with right-hander A.J. Burnett.
Forget about loser teams like the Phillies or the Red Sox. The Yankees are the team where winning championships is most likely. Of course, they are also the team most likely to give him a seven-year $161 million deal. But it's really about winning.
"Everybody had speculated about me staying in California. I had always talked about winning a championship, and you look at the Yankees, it's something they contend for" just about every year.
Judicious use of "just about" since, you know, last year was one of those years they weren't contending for a championship.
Sabathia was phoned twice during his negotiations by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter -- recruiting calls -- and Jeter told him about how much fun it was playing in New York.
It's all fun and games until you're mercilessly booed beginning in the second for hanging a slider to Dustin Pedroia with men on base and you have to spend the next five days with the papers questioning if you're cut out for New York, yahoo radio talk show hosts saying that you'll never be a real Yankee and enraged callers to those radio shows threatening to put you in the foundation of whatever stadium has the remains of Jimmy Hoffa and Carl Pavano.
The day after he reached his agreement with the Yankees, he called Jeter, and the friends talked again about what it would be like to play together.
Jeter: "It will be better than Cleveland or Milwaukee."
Sabathia: "Gotta be honest, D, I need more than that."
Jeter: "You'll make $161 million dollars."
Sabathia: "Can't wait to play with you. Can you introduce me to Mariah?"
Seth Davis and the Time-Space Continuum
Polls are obviously flawed, and to a certain extent (especially in basketball) utterly pointless. But if I were one of the voters, I would still attempt to fill out my poll with some semblance of rational thought. Seth Davis? Not so much.
As for Soham's question [Why Davis omitted Ohio State from his top 25], I don't mean to sound like your dad, but the simple answer is, "Because I said so."
[I'm pretty sure that's not love.... But keep going.]
As an AP voter, I tend to be more subjective early in the season and then let results dictate my ballot as time goes on.
[Because these so-called "games" that teams "play" in November and December, yeah, they don't actually count. I bet all of you at home thought they did, didn't you? Ha. Suckers.]
In the case of the Buckeyes, I see a team that could very well be good enough to win the Big Ten. However, I also see a team that lost three starters from a squad that failed to reach the NCAA tournament.
[2008-09 Buckeyes = Good. 2007-08 Buckeyes = Bad. Result = 2008-09 Buckeyes ranked as if they are bad. QED.]
Looking at some other teams on my ballot, why would I rank Villanova at No. 21? Because they were a Sweet 16 last year....
[Davis also thinks that "There Will Be Blood" will take home the "Best Picture" award at this year's Oscars.]
As for Soham's question [Why Davis omitted Ohio State from his top 25], I don't mean to sound like your dad, but the simple answer is, "Because I said so."
[I'm pretty sure that's not love.... But keep going.]
As an AP voter, I tend to be more subjective early in the season and then let results dictate my ballot as time goes on.
[Because these so-called "games" that teams "play" in November and December, yeah, they don't actually count. I bet all of you at home thought they did, didn't you? Ha. Suckers.]
In the case of the Buckeyes, I see a team that could very well be good enough to win the Big Ten. However, I also see a team that lost three starters from a squad that failed to reach the NCAA tournament.
[2008-09 Buckeyes = Good. 2007-08 Buckeyes = Bad. Result = 2008-09 Buckeyes ranked as if they are bad. QED.]
Looking at some other teams on my ballot, why would I rank Villanova at No. 21? Because they were a Sweet 16 last year....
[Davis also thinks that "There Will Be Blood" will take home the "Best Picture" award at this year's Oscars.]
CC = Good Guy = Yankee Championship
Here's an almost completely useless piece in the NY Times about what CC Sabathia *really* brings to the Yankees, courtesy of William Rhoden.
Which team made the best deal for itself on the pitching front? My vote goes to the Yankees.
[Agreed. With respect to PITCHING, Sabathia clearly has more value than K-Rod. He'll give you many more quality innings, he's a lefty pitching in Yankee Stadium, his stats don't look exactly the same as Scott Downs', etc. Rhoden has lots of good reasons to choose from here.]
While the Mets plugged an embarrassing hole in their bullpen, the Yankees plugged an even larger hole — a hole in their soul.
[Or he could go that route. To quote my Friend Who Knows Things, "Brutal."]
Sabathia represents a potential breath of fresh air in a stale, cliché-ridden Yankees clubhouse, one with little personality and even less passion, and no recent championships to compensate for those deficiencies.
[In fact, did you know that the Yankees won 114 games in 1998 largely because of Paul O'Neill's love-hate relationship with the dugout water coolers?]
In 2007, for example, Sabathia complained about the lack of African-American players in the majors. He even pointed a finger at Major League Baseball for not doing all that it could to increase the numbers.
[2009 World Series trophy, please!]
He said later: “I think Major League Baseball should do something about it. I don’t know exactly what they could be doing, but I know it’s not enough.”
[The Yankees clubhouse hasn't had this kind of problem-identification skills in years. Hope you enjoyed your brief stint atop the standings, Tampa!]
Finally a Yankee with an opinion.
[Ha, I know! No one associated with the Yankees EVER has opinions to share! Put your hand down, Hank! Not now!]
Gary Sheffield was the last great truth teller in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
[Great point. My favorite Sheffield "truth" was his proclamation that Jeter "ain't all the way black," and that Joe Torre treated black players differently from white players. I'm surprised that the Yanks didn't go undefeated that year.]
Before that, the passion was generated by the Paul O’Neill Yankees, who played with a verve that has been missing. It’s no coincidence that the championships have been missing as well.
[Two things: (1) Sheffield was definitely not on any of the championship teams; and (2) Why is O'Neill only ever credited for his "verve" as opposed to the fact that he was actually quite good at baseball. Career OPS+ of 120, one batting title, 5 all-star appearances, over 2,100 career hits. Dude could play. Pretty sure it was probably that fact, and not his temper tantrums, that helped the Yanks win titles.]
“That team can play, but something’s missing,” [Kevin Millar] said. “When you play against them and you look over there — other than they didn’t pitch very well — something was missing.” The something was chemistry.
[NO! No, it wasn't! It was pitching! He even just said that! OK, you know what? Forget it. Done.]
Which team made the best deal for itself on the pitching front? My vote goes to the Yankees.
[Agreed. With respect to PITCHING, Sabathia clearly has more value than K-Rod. He'll give you many more quality innings, he's a lefty pitching in Yankee Stadium, his stats don't look exactly the same as Scott Downs', etc. Rhoden has lots of good reasons to choose from here.]
While the Mets plugged an embarrassing hole in their bullpen, the Yankees plugged an even larger hole — a hole in their soul.
[Or he could go that route. To quote my Friend Who Knows Things, "Brutal."]
Sabathia represents a potential breath of fresh air in a stale, cliché-ridden Yankees clubhouse, one with little personality and even less passion, and no recent championships to compensate for those deficiencies.
[In fact, did you know that the Yankees won 114 games in 1998 largely because of Paul O'Neill's love-hate relationship with the dugout water coolers?]
In 2007, for example, Sabathia complained about the lack of African-American players in the majors. He even pointed a finger at Major League Baseball for not doing all that it could to increase the numbers.
[2009 World Series trophy, please!]
He said later: “I think Major League Baseball should do something about it. I don’t know exactly what they could be doing, but I know it’s not enough.”
[The Yankees clubhouse hasn't had this kind of problem-identification skills in years. Hope you enjoyed your brief stint atop the standings, Tampa!]
Finally a Yankee with an opinion.
[Ha, I know! No one associated with the Yankees EVER has opinions to share! Put your hand down, Hank! Not now!]
Gary Sheffield was the last great truth teller in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
[Great point. My favorite Sheffield "truth" was his proclamation that Jeter "ain't all the way black," and that Joe Torre treated black players differently from white players. I'm surprised that the Yanks didn't go undefeated that year.]
Before that, the passion was generated by the Paul O’Neill Yankees, who played with a verve that has been missing. It’s no coincidence that the championships have been missing as well.
[Two things: (1) Sheffield was definitely not on any of the championship teams; and (2) Why is O'Neill only ever credited for his "verve" as opposed to the fact that he was actually quite good at baseball. Career OPS+ of 120, one batting title, 5 all-star appearances, over 2,100 career hits. Dude could play. Pretty sure it was probably that fact, and not his temper tantrums, that helped the Yanks win titles.]
“That team can play, but something’s missing,” [Kevin Millar] said. “When you play against them and you look over there — other than they didn’t pitch very well — something was missing.” The something was chemistry.
[NO! No, it wasn't! It was pitching! He even just said that! OK, you know what? Forget it. Done.]
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Lake-Show is in trouble
Despite touting a robust 21-3 record, Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times thinks the Lakers are missing something. Something magical.
The Lakers have lost that spark.
[21-3]
What happened?
[They win a lot?]
I found Kobe. I found Fish. I found the schedule. I found the kids.
[OK?]
I also found a guy who thinks this is all poppycock.
[So did I! I think that guy might be on to something...]
Here's what I found. Kobe Bryant Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.
[Seriously! If Kobe had be "pushing" them, they would probably be 22-2 right now!]
This is a team whose pulse can be directly measured by Bryant's heart rate....
[I'm pretty sure that only KOBE'S pulse can be directly measure by Bryant's heart rate. But keep going.]
Derek Fisher's and Jordan Farmar's Defense Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.
[What's with all the pushing?]
The Schedule Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.
[Yeah, c'mon schedule! Get more difficult so the Lakers will lose a few games and I will look like a genius for writing this "Lakers lack a spark" article.]
Teams get lazy at home and tough on the road.
[Lakers home record: 14-1. Lakers road record: 7-2. Sooo lazy.]
The Lakers are a sultry, splendid 21-3. Now if they'd only act like it.
[I vote that Kobe be the first Laker to start acting "sultry."]
The Lakers have lost that spark.
[21-3]
What happened?
[They win a lot?]
I found Kobe. I found Fish. I found the schedule. I found the kids.
[OK?]
I also found a guy who thinks this is all poppycock.
[So did I! I think that guy might be on to something...]
Here's what I found. Kobe Bryant Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.
[Seriously! If Kobe had be "pushing" them, they would probably be 22-2 right now!]
This is a team whose pulse can be directly measured by Bryant's heart rate....
[I'm pretty sure that only KOBE'S pulse can be directly measure by Bryant's heart rate. But keep going.]
Derek Fisher's and Jordan Farmar's Defense Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.
[What's with all the pushing?]
The Schedule Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.
[Yeah, c'mon schedule! Get more difficult so the Lakers will lose a few games and I will look like a genius for writing this "Lakers lack a spark" article.]
Teams get lazy at home and tough on the road.
[Lakers home record: 14-1. Lakers road record: 7-2. Sooo lazy.]
The Lakers are a sultry, splendid 21-3. Now if they'd only act like it.
[I vote that Kobe be the first Laker to start acting "sultry."]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Peter King: Vol. 11
Tell me that this isn't a weird exchange between Pete and one of his readers:
From Scott, of Providence: "I'm amazed at how little attention Matt Cassel's performace in the wake of his father's passing received on a national level. When Brett Favre had a similiar performance in Oakland, albeit on Monday night, the national media went nuts, he was this great warrior, etc. Yet, today, Cassel gets a small note in the middle of a webpage. Not that Cassel's performance needs to be the lead story for the day, but the disparity is ridiculous. Another great day in the National Favre League."
Pete:
Favre was a legendary quarterback when his tragedy happened, Cassel a first-year starter. Favre's father was a relatively known character; Big Irv coached him in high school and was around him for much of his pro life. Favre's father died 26 hours before the Packers took the field in Oakland, and there was some real question in coach Mike Sherman's mind if Favre would play in the game. In the Cassel case, the dad died six days before the game, Cassel flew to southern California to be with the family when it happened and returned to the team to practice, and we never saw Cassel struggling with the kind of emotion Favre struggled with either before or after the game.
[So to summarize, in order for the death of your father to garner sympathy from Pete and the sports media at large, the following conditions must be met:
- You have to be "legendary," preferably as a quarterback (as opposed to the "Wilt Chamberlain" sense of the word). One lonely MVP award will not cut it.
- Your father had to have had a folksy nickname.
- Your father had to have died within 26 hours of your next game.
- You have to struggle with some "kind of emotion" before AND after the game.]
Stay classy, Pete.
From Scott, of Providence: "I'm amazed at how little attention Matt Cassel's performace in the wake of his father's passing received on a national level. When Brett Favre had a similiar performance in Oakland, albeit on Monday night, the national media went nuts, he was this great warrior, etc. Yet, today, Cassel gets a small note in the middle of a webpage. Not that Cassel's performance needs to be the lead story for the day, but the disparity is ridiculous. Another great day in the National Favre League."
Pete:
Favre was a legendary quarterback when his tragedy happened, Cassel a first-year starter. Favre's father was a relatively known character; Big Irv coached him in high school and was around him for much of his pro life. Favre's father died 26 hours before the Packers took the field in Oakland, and there was some real question in coach Mike Sherman's mind if Favre would play in the game. In the Cassel case, the dad died six days before the game, Cassel flew to southern California to be with the family when it happened and returned to the team to practice, and we never saw Cassel struggling with the kind of emotion Favre struggled with either before or after the game.
[So to summarize, in order for the death of your father to garner sympathy from Pete and the sports media at large, the following conditions must be met:
- You have to be "legendary," preferably as a quarterback (as opposed to the "Wilt Chamberlain" sense of the word). One lonely MVP award will not cut it.
- Your father had to have had a folksy nickname.
- Your father had to have died within 26 hours of your next game.
- You have to struggle with some "kind of emotion" before AND after the game.]
Stay classy, Pete.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Peter King: Vol. 10
Busy weekend in the NFL. Let's check Pete's take.
Regarding the controversial replay decision in the Steelers-Ravens Game:
I saw Holmes catching the ball, and at the moment of the catch, the absolute moment, it appears the ball is piercing the plane by inches.
[OK, so the ball crossed the plane. Touchdown was the correct call.]
But is it a lock that the ball crossed the line?
[You kind of just said it did, soooooo yes.]
No.
[Why do I even bother?]
I see the likelihood of the ball breaking the plane. I do not see the certainty.
[Maybe it's just me, but how can you SEE a likelihood? Right?? Am I crazy??]
This is the continuing problem with the replay system. I think officials need to realize what "indisputable" means.
[Ring the Irony Bell!]
The excessive reverence for the Heisman Trophy by ESPN had me wretching up my pork chop Saturday night. Did Jesus win the Heisman?
[No. Tebow technically finished third.]
Did an exclusive interview with Marv Albert last night about his coffee habits. Turns out he likes three double-tall cappuccinos a day, and doesn't mind drinking them at room temperature.
[Professional journalism: Interviewing any random person about what kind of coffee they like to drink. Oh, and then claiming the scoop as an "exclusive."]
Brutal.
Regarding the controversial replay decision in the Steelers-Ravens Game:
I saw Holmes catching the ball, and at the moment of the catch, the absolute moment, it appears the ball is piercing the plane by inches.
[OK, so the ball crossed the plane. Touchdown was the correct call.]
But is it a lock that the ball crossed the line?
[You kind of just said it did, soooooo yes.]
No.
[Why do I even bother?]
I see the likelihood of the ball breaking the plane. I do not see the certainty.
[Maybe it's just me, but how can you SEE a likelihood? Right?? Am I crazy??]
This is the continuing problem with the replay system. I think officials need to realize what "indisputable" means.
[Ring the Irony Bell!]
The excessive reverence for the Heisman Trophy by ESPN had me wretching up my pork chop Saturday night. Did Jesus win the Heisman?
[No. Tebow technically finished third.]
Did an exclusive interview with Marv Albert last night about his coffee habits. Turns out he likes three double-tall cappuccinos a day, and doesn't mind drinking them at room temperature.
[Professional journalism: Interviewing any random person about what kind of coffee they like to drink. Oh, and then claiming the scoop as an "exclusive."]
Brutal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
