It's been a busy week for me. But between writing columns for a newspaper and stories for two different magazines -- along with interviewing for full-time jobs -- I have still found the time to keep up with the latest goings on in the world of sports.
And here's my take on a few of them, starting with Steve Smith.
As I watched him catch his only pass of the game in Saturday's exhibition opener against Indianapolis, I couldn't help but get the feeling that this might be one of the final times we see the All-Pro wide receiver playing in a Carolina Panthers uniform. Here are two separate blog items that suggest that the volatile star might be on the trading block because of his recent fight with teammate Ken Lucas as practice:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Are-the-Panthers-considering-trading-Steve-Smith?urn=nfl,98454
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfceast/0-2-22/Smith-to-the-Cowboys-.html
Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to move Smith unless the Panthers can get a suitable replacement at WR for him, which is highly unlikely this close to the start of the season. But I can't say that I blame team management if they do decide to deal him. This is, after all, not the first time Smith has come to blows with a member of his own team.
Granted, the earlier instance happened six years ago and Smith has -- by all accounts -- been a model citizen since then. But even though No. 89 has behaved himself since that first dust up, when he was charged with misdemeanor assault for breaking teammate Anthony Bright's nose in 2002, he has remained a moody, high-maintenance player and team owner Jerry Richardson doesn't mess around when it comes to character issues.
My guess is that Richardson had more to say about Smith's suspension for the first two games of the regular season than coach John Fox, because it's Fox's job that's on the line this season. Not having an explosive game-breaker like Smith in the lineup against San Diego and Chicago can potentially put the Panthers -- and Fox -- in the position of having to play catch-up for the rest of the season.
We all saw how that worked out last season when Smith missed the first two games with a hamstring injury.
Moving on to the Olympics ....
It never ceases to amaze me the crap we Americans will watch once every four years just because it's played under a flag with five interlocking rings on it. And I'm as guilty as anyone.
In the last three days, I have willingly watched women's sword fighting, water polo, volleyball (both beach and indoor) , syncronized diving and rowing. Any other time, I wouldn't even be curious enough to stop if I saw those sports while channel surfing.
Of course, the reason we do is it is national pride. You know: USA! USA! USA! and all that. But watching the Olympics just doesn't seem to be as much fun as it used to be when the Soviet Union was around to be as our intense rival. Then it dawned on me. Everyone else seems to be enjoying the Olympics more than ever these days. Why? Because given the climate of world events, we have become to other countries what the Ruskies were to us -- the Evil Empire everybody else loves to hate and root against.
Just a couple more random Olympic thoughts:
# There's no way at least half of those Chinese "women" gymnasts meet the sport's minimum age requirement of 16 years old. Just look at their faces and body shapes and compare them to everyone else in the field -- especially the Americans. Better yet, since NBC is already over in Bejing televising the Olympics, maybe they can put Chris Hansen on the case to root out the truth. He seems to have a knack for rooting out the truth when it comes to underage girls.
# I know this is going to sound insensitive, but that's one of the advantages of not working full-time for a daily newspaper anymore. Watching the rowing competition, I was surprised when the Cuban boat finished last. You'd think that given all the rowing those guys do trying to get off the island to the U.S., they'd be better at the sport than they are.
# And finally -- going back to the everybody hates the U.S. theme -- does anybody out there really think the Star Spangled snafu at Michael Phelps' first medal ceremony was an accident? If the roles had been reversed and that had happened in the U.S., it would have been an international incident.
One last thing that came to mind Sunday while watching Sergio Garcia gag away yet another major championship: By winning the PGA Championship for his second straight major title, Padraig Harrington has become golf's version of Hakeem Olajuwon and the 1990s Houston Rockets.
Just as the Rockets took advantage of Michael Jordan's two-year absence on the baseball field, Harrington is the fortunate opportunist who made the most of Tiger Woods' current surgical sabatical. But hey, like I always say after one of my sliced approach shots hits a tree and bounces back onto the green, they don't ask how, just how many.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
So long, Skip
I have this annyoying bottle opener that plays the call from the final out of the 1995 World Series. "The Atlanta Braves have given you a championship!" it calls out every time you use it.
The voice is a familiar one I grew up with. Chances are if you're from the Southeast or watched a lot of baseball on SuperStation TBS during the past 2 1/2 decades, you did, too.
It's the voice of Skip Caray.
Nasally, enthusiastic and usually full of sarcasm, it was hardly the classic radio voice of a Mel Allen, Vin Scully or Jon Miller. But that didn't matter. Along with Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Wieren, Skip helped get a lot of Braves fans through a lot of forgettable summer nights in the 1970s and 80s. He then provided the joyous soundtrack for my favorite team's remarkable 14-season stretch of division championships, highlighted by that World Series triumph in '95.
Like his legendary father Harry Caray, Skip became a broadcasting legend with calls such as "Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!" and by assigning an imaginary home town to everyone who caught a foul ball in the Turner Field stands ("And that souvenir goes to a fan from Dunwoody," he'd say).
Saturday night, after calling the Braves' 9-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Caray's distinctive voice was suddenly silenced when he died in his sleep. He was 68. Though slowed by an illness that limited him to calling only home games and adversely affected his grasp of the facts, he remained an Atlanta icon until the end.
I am so glad that my wife let me tune in to the final innings of Thursday night's game as we drove to Florida for the weekend. At least I got to hear Caray's voice live one final time. It's a voice that will live forever in the memories of Braves fans everywhere -- even if they don't have an annoying bottle opener.
So long, Skip.
The voice is a familiar one I grew up with. Chances are if you're from the Southeast or watched a lot of baseball on SuperStation TBS during the past 2 1/2 decades, you did, too.
It's the voice of Skip Caray.
Nasally, enthusiastic and usually full of sarcasm, it was hardly the classic radio voice of a Mel Allen, Vin Scully or Jon Miller. But that didn't matter. Along with Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Wieren, Skip helped get a lot of Braves fans through a lot of forgettable summer nights in the 1970s and 80s. He then provided the joyous soundtrack for my favorite team's remarkable 14-season stretch of division championships, highlighted by that World Series triumph in '95.
Like his legendary father Harry Caray, Skip became a broadcasting legend with calls such as "Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!" and by assigning an imaginary home town to everyone who caught a foul ball in the Turner Field stands ("And that souvenir goes to a fan from Dunwoody," he'd say).
Saturday night, after calling the Braves' 9-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Caray's distinctive voice was suddenly silenced when he died in his sleep. He was 68. Though slowed by an illness that limited him to calling only home games and adversely affected his grasp of the facts, he remained an Atlanta icon until the end.
I am so glad that my wife let me tune in to the final innings of Thursday night's game as we drove to Florida for the weekend. At least I got to hear Caray's voice live one final time. It's a voice that will live forever in the memories of Braves fans everywhere -- even if they don't have an annoying bottle opener.
So long, Skip.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Remembering Ron Miller
Like everyone else in the Cumberland County sports community, I was shocked by the news earlier this week of Ron Miller's death. Although he had suffered heart problems in the past, he seemed healthy and vibrant. I know he was looking forward to coaching the Fayetteville Academy varsity team next season.
My deepest sympathies go out to his family and everyone who loves sports in this area, because in addition to being a Hall of Fame coach, Ron Miller was a genuinely good guy with a deep passion for sports -- especially basketball -- and for helping youngsters improve themselves and giving them opportunities to succeed in life. Just a few days before his death, he was in the stands supporting his local Hope Mills team at a Dixie Youth baseball tournament game.
The last time I saw him, he was coaching a team of ACC senior all-stars in an exhibition game at Terry Sanford High. Even though he didn't have to do much actual coaching, he was relaxed, happy and completely in his element. There was nothing he loved more than talking about his favorite sport. I, for one, will miss hearing him do it.
In the world of competitive athletics, we have a tendency to overuse terms like "greatness" and "legendary," but in this case, both are appropriate. The loss of Ron Miller is a big one for our local sports scene. He was truly larger than life -- and not just because a 15-foot reproduction of his face was once featured on a Robeson Street billboard.
My deepest sympathies go out to his family and everyone who loves sports in this area, because in addition to being a Hall of Fame coach, Ron Miller was a genuinely good guy with a deep passion for sports -- especially basketball -- and for helping youngsters improve themselves and giving them opportunities to succeed in life. Just a few days before his death, he was in the stands supporting his local Hope Mills team at a Dixie Youth baseball tournament game.
The last time I saw him, he was coaching a team of ACC senior all-stars in an exhibition game at Terry Sanford High. Even though he didn't have to do much actual coaching, he was relaxed, happy and completely in his element. There was nothing he loved more than talking about his favorite sport. I, for one, will miss hearing him do it.
In the world of competitive athletics, we have a tendency to overuse terms like "greatness" and "legendary," but in this case, both are appropriate. The loss of Ron Miller is a big one for our local sports scene. He was truly larger than life -- and not just because a 15-foot reproduction of his face was once featured on a Robeson Street billboard.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Army does an about face on Caleb Campbell
One day before he was to join the Detroit Lions for the first day of preseason training camp, the Army changed its mind about Lt. Caleb Campbell and decided to send him directly into active duty, rather than allowing him the opportunity to make the NFL team's roster.
Here's the link to the AP story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-campbell&prov=ap&type=lgns
Needless to say, Campbell wasn't happy about the decision. "Oh yeah, I cried, because I wanted a shot,” Campbell, a seventh-round draft pick of the Lions, told The Oakland Press of Pontiac for a story published Thursday.
I'm sure he is upset. Wouldn't you be? I mean, there's a big difference between earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to play football and getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan and having somebody shoot at you.
While I don't particularly care for the timing of the the about face, those of you who read this blog regularly know that I think it was the right thing to do -- especially in light of a ruling that denied a recent Naval Academy graduate the same chance to play pro baseball after getting drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
I'm not sure if the inconsistencies between the Army and Navy policies had anything to do with the reversal on Campbell, a defensive back who was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round this spring. But unless all service academy athletes are afforded the same benefit, it was the only fair thing to do.
Here's the link to the AP story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-campbell&prov=ap&type=lgns
Needless to say, Campbell wasn't happy about the decision. "Oh yeah, I cried, because I wanted a shot,” Campbell, a seventh-round draft pick of the Lions, told The Oakland Press of Pontiac for a story published Thursday.
I'm sure he is upset. Wouldn't you be? I mean, there's a big difference between earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to play football and getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan and having somebody shoot at you.
While I don't particularly care for the timing of the the about face, those of you who read this blog regularly know that I think it was the right thing to do -- especially in light of a ruling that denied a recent Naval Academy graduate the same chance to play pro baseball after getting drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
I'm not sure if the inconsistencies between the Army and Navy policies had anything to do with the reversal on Campbell, a defensive back who was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round this spring. But unless all service academy athletes are afforded the same benefit, it was the only fair thing to do.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
What's up with these girls?
So much for women being the fairer sex -- at least, when it comes to sports.
I'm not sure what's gotten into these girls lately, but within the last week, we've seen them engage in two highly publicized physical confrontations in the heat of battle. Maybe they've finally realized that nobody out there is watching and they had to do something -- other than showing their sports bras to celebrate big victories -- to get some attention.
Whatever it is, here's the video of the WNBA brawl between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4s3C93Ex4.
And the pit road towel toss between Danica Patrick and some other women driver named Mika Duno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUd6n1Vti8.
At the rate things are going, it's only a matter of time before the Williams sisters go tag team to kick the daylights out of the next tennis opponents that beat them in doubles or instead of having the winner dive into the pond to celebrate victory at LPGA's Dinah Shore, Michelle Wie decides to push her in.
I'm not sure what's gotten into these girls lately, but within the last week, we've seen them engage in two highly publicized physical confrontations in the heat of battle. Maybe they've finally realized that nobody out there is watching and they had to do something -- other than showing their sports bras to celebrate big victories -- to get some attention.
Whatever it is, here's the video of the WNBA brawl between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4s3C93Ex4.
And the pit road towel toss between Danica Patrick and some other women driver named Mika Duno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUd6n1Vti8.
At the rate things are going, it's only a matter of time before the Williams sisters go tag team to kick the daylights out of the next tennis opponents that beat them in doubles or instead of having the winner dive into the pond to celebrate victory at LPGA's Dinah Shore, Michelle Wie decides to push her in.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Unfortunately, I think we all know how this story is probably going to end
Having recently turned 50 and facing a situation that calls for me to make a new start in life, I find myself identifying with Greg Norman tonight. And I'm rooting like crazy for the Great Gray Shark to hold it together for 18 more holes and become the oldest player ever to win one of golf's major championships.
Unfortunately, Norman's age, his lack of recent success and his career history will all be working against him in Sunday's final round of the British Open. Even in his prime, 53-year-old Australian probably wouldn't have been a good bet to take home the Claret Jug.
He is the antithesis of Tiger Woods, perhaps the worst front-runner in the history of major championship golf. His two-shot lead at Royal Birkdale marks the ninth time in his career that he has been atop the leader board after 54 holes at the Masters, U.S. and British Open or the PGA and only once, did he take advantage of the situation to win the title. So while I'm hoping the law of averages finally catches up with him and produces a victory for the ages (or should that be the aged), I'm fully expecting defending champion Padraig Harrington, Korean K.J. Choi or somebody else to break Norman's heart one last time.
Of course, if Norman does win, what a statement it will make about today's young players.
This is, after all, one of the two chances they're going to get for the foreseeable future to win a major without having Tiger to contend with. You know, the golden ticket to make a name for themselves and solidify their legacies. So what does Sergio, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Anthony Kim and other young hotshots like them do? They sit around complaining about the dismal conditions while a guy with an AARP card comes out of moth balls to steal away the precious opportunity.
Forget about "the best player never to win a major." If one of them doesn't step forward and get the job done at the PGA next month, we might have to start talking about "the best generation of players never to win a major." No matter how Norman does on Sunday.
Unfortunately, Norman's age, his lack of recent success and his career history will all be working against him in Sunday's final round of the British Open. Even in his prime, 53-year-old Australian probably wouldn't have been a good bet to take home the Claret Jug.
He is the antithesis of Tiger Woods, perhaps the worst front-runner in the history of major championship golf. His two-shot lead at Royal Birkdale marks the ninth time in his career that he has been atop the leader board after 54 holes at the Masters, U.S. and British Open or the PGA and only once, did he take advantage of the situation to win the title. So while I'm hoping the law of averages finally catches up with him and produces a victory for the ages (or should that be the aged), I'm fully expecting defending champion Padraig Harrington, Korean K.J. Choi or somebody else to break Norman's heart one last time.
Of course, if Norman does win, what a statement it will make about today's young players.
This is, after all, one of the two chances they're going to get for the foreseeable future to win a major without having Tiger to contend with. You know, the golden ticket to make a name for themselves and solidify their legacies. So what does Sergio, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Anthony Kim and other young hotshots like them do? They sit around complaining about the dismal conditions while a guy with an AARP card comes out of moth balls to steal away the precious opportunity.
Forget about "the best player never to win a major." If one of them doesn't step forward and get the job done at the PGA next month, we might have to start talking about "the best generation of players never to win a major." No matter how Norman does on Sunday.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Yes, he's annoying, but Billy shouldn't have been sent Pack-ing
It's been almost a week since the news came down and while I've been kind of busy the last couple of days and haven't had the chance to post, I didn't want to let Billy Packer's dismissal by CBS come and go without commenting on it.
First, let me say that I've never been a fan of Packer. He is to college basketball what Tim McCarver is to baseball -- a pompous, long-winded know-it-all who thinks he's bigger than the game and smarter than both his audience and the coaches he's constantly second-guessing. But having said that, he didn't deserve what CBS did to him on Monday. That's when the network announced it was replacing the 68-year-old Packer with Clark Kellogg as the lead analyst on its college basketball telecasts, effectively ending Packer's streak of 34 consecutive Final Four broadcasts.
The reason for his ouster?
Officially, it's because CBS officials thought the time was right for a change and that Kellogg deserved a chance to work with Jim Nantz on the lead announcing team. In reality, Packer's ouster likely came as the result of his committing the cardinal sin of broadcasting. He said something over the air that his bosses believed cost them money.
He did it by telling viewers that last April's national semifinal game between UNC and Kansas "was over" after the Jayhawks sprinted out to a 38-12 lead midway through the first half. Never mind that the game really was over, even though the Tar Heels eventually rallied back to make it interesting in the second half, or that Packer's job description was and always has been to tell it as he sees it. All the suits in New York heard was that someone on their payroll was telling people all across America to pick up their remotes and change the channel. And he paid for it with his job.
While the result of the decision is that CBS's college basketball coverage will be eminently more watchable in the future it doesn't make what the network did to Packer on Monday any less unfair.
First, let me say that I've never been a fan of Packer. He is to college basketball what Tim McCarver is to baseball -- a pompous, long-winded know-it-all who thinks he's bigger than the game and smarter than both his audience and the coaches he's constantly second-guessing. But having said that, he didn't deserve what CBS did to him on Monday. That's when the network announced it was replacing the 68-year-old Packer with Clark Kellogg as the lead analyst on its college basketball telecasts, effectively ending Packer's streak of 34 consecutive Final Four broadcasts.
The reason for his ouster?
Officially, it's because CBS officials thought the time was right for a change and that Kellogg deserved a chance to work with Jim Nantz on the lead announcing team. In reality, Packer's ouster likely came as the result of his committing the cardinal sin of broadcasting. He said something over the air that his bosses believed cost them money.
He did it by telling viewers that last April's national semifinal game between UNC and Kansas "was over" after the Jayhawks sprinted out to a 38-12 lead midway through the first half. Never mind that the game really was over, even though the Tar Heels eventually rallied back to make it interesting in the second half, or that Packer's job description was and always has been to tell it as he sees it. All the suits in New York heard was that someone on their payroll was telling people all across America to pick up their remotes and change the channel. And he paid for it with his job.
While the result of the decision is that CBS's college basketball coverage will be eminently more watchable in the future it doesn't make what the network did to Packer on Monday any less unfair.
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