Chicago Cubs: Looking Ahead to 2009 Part I – Players Who Will Improve

January 20, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Chicago Cubs 2009 OutlookThe wake-up from the Cubs convention is now upon us as we were able to party over the weekend, now we have to see what type of damage has been done and see how bad the hangover is.

The expectations of a team coming off a 97-win season, team MVP being your rookie catcher, and a giant payroll are typically reserved for realists becoming idealists all becoming optimists. Following the Cubs, optimism leads to heartbreak and after an 0-6 stretch in the post-season, there is more pessimism than anything else.

The NL Central is a miserable division as Milwaukee has regressed from a playoff contender with a legit #1 starter in Sabathia and an oft-injured but extremely effective Sheets (as of now), and STL won 86 games in what was likely LaRussa’s best coaching job in his HoF career only to be stalled by a GM/ownership unwilling to make a big splash. Pittsburgh and Cincy are rebuilding and Houston, even with two of the 3 best players in the division in Oswalt and Berkman, are stuck in mediocrity given Houston’s inability to develop from within as well overspending again on veteran FAs.

The pieces are still in place for the Cubs to win the division for a 3rd straight year but from winning, the huge expectations and bitterness are magnified when disappointment occurs. The mindset of a Cubs fan has changed and this is a positive effect of success, although I disagree with fans booing, throwing garbage on the field, racial slurs, and all the other stuff we’ve seen since 2003.

Realistically, the Cubs have the 2nd most talented team in the NL behind the Phillies, despite an off-season that is dependent on another team that will determine whether or not the Cubs will improve or regress into next year because of inflated and back-loaded contracts that have strangled the ‘09 roster.

Players I expect to improve:

Fukudome: (I expect him to hit around .270/.360/.440) 15HRs 35DBs which will suffice in a platoon role in CF.

Hart: I doubt he will end up as the #5 starter as there are several more qualified and talented pitchers ahead of him, but he was awful last year and if they don’t yo-yo him, he can carve out a role as in long-relief and save the back-end of the pen from additional usage.

Gaudin: Another reliever like Hart that will improve from his Cubs’ numbers of last year. One of Lou’s greatest strengths is maximizing bullpen production and given the Cubs’ marginal talent in half of the pen, it will be tested again. Like Hart, they both have the command that will allow them to avoid stChicago Cubs 2009 Outlook - Carlos Zambranoaying in Lou’s doghouse for any significant period of time

Zambrano: I expect a slight improvement and obviously more IP given that he remains healthy. I doubt we’ll see the same production of 3 years ago when he was a legit #1, and given the wear and tear at such a young age, he should be able to be around 15-16 game winner, 190-200 IP, 3.7ERA. There is a great concern from me that he doesn’t have the stuff to miss as many bats as he once did and maybe would be better off going the Webb or Lowe type of route and revert back to being mainly a heavy FB/sinker type of pitcher first with the breaking ball/splitter as something to keep hitters off-balance rather than an out-pitch.

Tomorrow, I will address which players I feel are likely to repeat what they did in 2008 as well as those who are likely to regress.

P.S. I have more likely to regress next year than improve.


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB, Uncategorized Tagged With: carlos zambrano, chicago cubs, kosuke fukudome, lou piniella

Chicago Mayor Wants Another NFL Team – What if the Roster Was Comprised of Sox and Cubs Players?

January 20, 2009 By 3 Comments
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Chicago Mayor Wants Second NFL TeamAccording to an article at ChicagoTribune.com, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley thinks that there should be a second NFL team in the Windy City:

“We should have a second NFL team in Chicago. If San Francisco has two, New York has two, Florida has three teams … and when you take Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, they have three teams there in that region, we could easily support a second pro football team,” Daley recently reiterated to Mike North and Dan Jiggetts on Comcast SportsNet’s “Monsters in the Morning.”

“The population is here, the business community is here. … [The NFL] should really look at Chicago.”

Chicago once had two professional football teams, when the now-Arizona Cardinals played their games at Comiskey Park. In the 1980s, the notion of bringing a second professional football team back to Chicago was discussed at the NFL owners meetings.

So how realistic is the possibility of another NFL team coming to Chicago? As Mike Florio points out at Pro Football Talk, two key factors would likely prevent the move:

  1. There is still no team in L.A., a market that the NFL is desperate to get back into.
  2. The Bears won’t want to share the Chicago market.

However, let’s just assume the hypothetical for a moment. Let’s say that the NFL does, in fact, bring a second team to Chicago. What would it look like? Well, it depends on whether or not an already established team made the move. If a current team moved, obviously all of the players would stay the same.Art Modell Sucks

(Side note: I’m sure the demon horns on Art Modell’s head stood up at attention at the mere mention of a team in Chicago. Rumors are that he is already packing up the Baltimore offices for a potential move if he can make more money in Chitown.)

On the other hand, if the NFL decided to add an expansion team, it would have two options. The first option would be the established expansion model that we have seen teams like the Browns and Texans, among others, follow. A second option, which is highly unlikely but that would certainly be much more entertaining, would be to give the new Chicago team the option of forging its roster from the rosters of Chicago’s two baseball teams.

Such a team might be much more competitive than you’d think. Here is a hypothetical roster for the Chicago Bighurts (named, of course, after former stud Auburn tight end, and a halfway decent hitter for the Sox, Frank Thomas).

Offense

QB – Josh Fields, White Sox – 6-1, 220
Backup QB – Clayton Richard, White Sox – 6-5, 240
RB – Joey Gathright, Cubs – 5-10, 185
FB – Paul Konerko, White Sox – 6-2, 220
WR – Jeff Samardzija, Cubs – 6-5, 220
WR- Jerry Owens, White Sox – 6-3, 195
WR – Aaron Miles, Cubs – 5-8, 185
TE – Derrek Lee, Cubs – 6-5, 245
LT – Jose Contreras, White Sox – 6-4, 255
LG – Bobby Jenks, White Sox – 6-3, 275
C – Jim Thome, White Sox – 6-3, 255
RG – Mark Buehrle, White Sox – 6-2, 230
RT – Adam Russell, White Sox – 6-8, 250
K – Ryan Theriot, Cubs – 5-11, 175

Josh Fields - Football - Oklahoma StateQuarterbacks: Josh Fields was an outstanding quarterback at Oklahoma State, who owns the career record for touchdown passes with 55. he once threw 7 in a game, and had a 357-yard, 4-TD, 0-INT performance in an upset over #3 Oklahoma. He would give the Bighurts a solid field general. Backing him up would be Clayton Richard, who went to Michigan after a stellar high school football career in Indiana. He has the prototypical size for an NFL QB and fits the “classic drop-back passer” mold. Either way, the Bighurts would have a better QB situation than the Bears.

Backfield: We all know about Joey Gathright’s blazing speed. What you may not know is that he did not play baseball during his senior year of high school; he played only football and ran track. Gathright would provide a Brian Westbrook-type weapon in the backfield. The Bighurts would not be built for smash-mouth football, considering their undersized O-line, and Gathright would be the perfect back for the system. With a tough, physical fullback in Paul Konerko, the Bighurts would not be out of luck in short-yardage situations.

Wide Receivers/Tight End: This might be the strength of the Bighurts offense. Jeff Samardzija was an All-American WR at Notre Dame and could have been a first round draft pick. Speedy Jerry Oweff Samardzija - Football - Notre Dameens, who played football with Kyler Boller in high school would play opposite Samardzija. Aaron Miles could fulfill a Wes Welker-type role as a tough, possession receiver out of the slot. And Derrek Lee, who was offered a basketball scholarship to North Carolina out of high school, could become the next Antonio Gates. Basketball players have a successful history of becoming good tight ends, and Lee has all of the athletic ability to dominate the middle of the field as a receiver.

Offensive Line: The Bighurts would definitely want to take all White Sox players for their O-Line to ensure a tough, physical unit. The left side of the line is bigger with Contreras and Jenks, and would clearly be the side to run towards in short-yardage situations. This unit would have to make up for its lack of size with speed, quickness, and might be best utilized in a Broncos-style zone blocking scheme.

Kicker: The Bighurts may want to see if any of the Latin players on the White Sox or Cubs have soccer experience. Otherwise, they should just stick Ryan Theriot back there with a bare foot and a single bar facemask — it would be funnier.

Defense

DE – Jermaine Dye, White Sox – 6-5, 245
DE – Kevin Gregg, Cubs – 6-6, 240
DT – Carlos Zambrano, Cubs – 6-5, 255
DT – Bartolo Colon, White Sox – 5-11, 245
LB – AJ Pierzynski, White Sox – 6-4, 240
LB – Milton Bradley, Cubs – 6-0, 225
LB – Geovanny Soto, Cubs – 6-1, 224
CB – DeWayne Wise, White Sox – 6-1, 195
CB – Alexei Ramirez, White Sox – 6-3, 185
S – Carlos Quentin, White Sox – 6-2, 220
S – Alfonso Soriano, White Sox – 6-1, 180
Token Backup White Safety – Brian Anderson, White Sox – 6-2, 220
P- Rich Hill, Cubs – 6-5, 205Chicago Mayor Wants Second NFL Team - Carlos Zambrano

Defensive Line: The strength of the D-Line would be up the middle. Carlos Zambrano is an absolute beast and would demand double teams. Bartolo Colon makes up for a lack of mobility with much-needed girth to stop the run. On the ends, Jermaine Dye could be a Jason Taylor-lake pass rush specialist — although, with his current speed, he might be more like Willie McGinest. Kevin Gregg would try to be like Jared Allen, but would be the obvious weak link on the defense.

Linebackers: Smarts and tenacity reign here. Milton Bradley would be like a Jonathan Vilma in the middle — he’s a little undersized, but a complete badass. As long as the coaches play clips of announcers talking bad about him in the locker room, Bradley would be in a frenzy by game time. AJ Pierzynski and Geovanny Soto would be solid run stuffers who might struggle in pass coverage. And AJ, of course, would be the one pinching guys’ packages and twisting ankles in the pile. His mind games could help to rattle opposing QBs though.

Defensive Backs: This unit might be able to start in the NFL right now. DeWayne Wise was an excellent football player in high school, and could be a physical Ty Law-type corner on one side. Alexei Ramirez probably did not know what American football was until last year, but with his athletic ability, who cares? The Cuban Missle could change his last name to Cromartie and hold his own as a tall, lanky, athletic ball-hawking corner.

Chicago Mayor Wants Second NFL TeamAt the safety spots, Carlos Quentin would be a Troy Polamalu- or Bob Sanders-style badass. Quentin was named defensive player of the year as a football player in high school, and has the toughness, athletic ability, and athletic instincts to be successful on the gridiron. Alfonso Soriano is tall and fast, and while he would probably miss assignments and get beat deep every now and then, he’d also come up with interceptions and be a threat to take each one to the house. Providing depth would be Brian Anderson, the Bighurts answer to Nick Sorensen and an homage to white backup safeties everywhere.

Punter: Only one choice here. Rich Hill has been punting on his potential throughout his baseball career; might as well let him be the actual punter. Single-bar facemask and oversized wristwatch mandatory.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach – Ozzie Guillen
Offensive Coordinator – Ken Williams
Defensive Coordinator – Lou Piniella
Cord Boy – Kosuke FukudomeChicago Mayor Wants Second NFL Team - Ozzie Guillen and Ken Williams

Ozzie Guillen would not have a clue about any of the Xs and Os. But can you imagine a current baseball manager who would be better at inspiring a football team to play physical, tough football than Ozzie? Ken Williams is an intense, methodical, meticulous GM, and would be able to fit the pieces of the offense together in surprisingly effective ways. Lou Piniella would be a combination of Buddy Ryan’s craziness and Jim Johnson’s all-out blitz mentality. With such a strong secondary, Piniella would probably bring 7 or 8 on every play.

And carrying Ozzie Guillen’s cords would be Kosuke Fukudome, who would otherwise be pretty much useless like he is on a baseball field. Can you imagine the comedy if Ozzie ever tripped over his cords and then had to try and communicate with Fukudome?

So there you have it, your 2009 Chicago Bighurts. They would have to figure out how to handle the overlap between the baseball season and the playoffs, but otherwise this might very well be the perfect solution. Come to think of it, one way around the conflict would be to have the Cubs players report to NFL training camp on time, because their World Series hopes will be over by then anyway.


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB, NFL Tagged With: chicago cubs, Chicago White Sox, NFL

Chicago White Sox 2009 Schedule, News and Notes

January 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Chicago White Sox 2009 ScheduleCollege football is over, the NFL is down to its last game, and I am an IU fan — which means that the college basketball season was over in November this year. And as we near the end of January, and the calendar gets ready to be flipped to February, anticipation builds for the first true sign of Spring:

Pitchers and catchers reporting.

As of this exact moment, and I know this thanks to Chisox.com, there are 26 days, 4 hours, and 20 minutes until pitchers and catchers report. The White Sox first Spring Training game is on March 2 against the Seattle Mariners in their Spring Training home of Glendale, Arizona. The White Sox then play all the way through March until the regular season begins on April 2.

Update 2/24/09: Here are a couple quick links of interest:

First, the White Sox 2009 National TV Schedule, including games on WGN.

And, if you are considering heading out the ball park for any games this year, here is a quick resource to help you secure the best prices on tickets:

Chicago White Sox Tickets

And now, here is a quick breakdown of the Chicago White Sox 2009 Schedule:




2009 Chicago White Sox Schedule

Date(s) Opponent (games)
April 2 at Milwaukee Brewers (1)
April 3-4 at Arizona Diamondbacks (2)
April 6-9 vs Kansas City Royals (3)
April 10-12 vs Minnesota Twins (3)
April 13-15 at Detroit Tigers (3)
April 16-19 at Tampa Bay Rays (4)
April 21-23 at Baltimore Orioles (3)
April 24-26 vs Toronto Blue Jays (3)
April 27-29 vs Seattle Mariners (3)
May 1-3 at Texas Rangers (3)
May 4-5 at Kansas City Royals (2)
May 6-7 vs Detroit Tigers (2)
May 8-10 vs Texas Rangers (3)
May 11-13 at Cleveland Indians (3)
May 15-17 at Toronto Blue Jays (4)
May 19-21 vs Minnesota Twins (3)
May 22-24 vs Pittsburgh Pirates (3)
May 25-27 at Los Angeles Angels (3)
May 29-31 at Kansas City Royals (3)
June 1-4 vs Oakland A's (4)
June 5-7 vs Cleveland Indians (3)
June 8-11 vs Detroit Tigers (4)
June 12-14 at Milwaukee Brewers (3)
June 16-18 at Chicago Cubs (3)
June 19-21 at Cincinnati Reds (3)
June 23-25 vs Los Angeles Dodgers (3)
June 26-28 vs Chicago Cubs (3)
June 29-July 1 at Cleveland Indians (3)
July 2-5 at Kansas City Royals (4)
July 7-9 vs Cleveland Indians (3)
July 10-12 at Minnesota Twins (3)
July 13-16 All Star Break
July 17-19 vs Baltimore Orioles (3)
July 20-23 vs Tampa Bay Rays (4)
July 24-26 at Detroit Tigers (3)
July 27-29 at Minnesota Twins (3)
July 30-August 2 vs New York Yankees (4)
August 4-6 vs Los Angeles Angels (3)
August 7-9 vs Cleveland Indians (3)
August 10-12 at Seattle Mariners (3)
August 14-16 at Oakland A's (3)
August 17-19 vs Kansas City Royals (3)
August 21-23 vs Baltimore Orioles (3)
August 24-27 at Boston Red Sox (4)
August 28-30 at New York Yankees (3)
August 31-September 1 at Minnesota Twins (3)
September 4-7 vs Boston Red Sox (4)
September 8-9 vs Oakland A's (2)
September 11-13 at Los Angeles Angels (3)
September 15-17 at Seattle Mariners (3)
September 18-20 vs Kansas City Royals (3)
September 21-23 vs Minnesota Twins (3)
September 25-27 vs Detroit Tigers (3)
September 28-30 at Cleveland Indians (3)
October 2-4 at Detroit Tigers (3)
October TBD 1st Round Playoffs (3)
October TBD ALCS (4)
October TBD World Series (4)

And a few quick recent notes about the White Sox:

South Siders ready to hail the Chief

Bobby Jenks signs one-year deal

White Sox have plenty of candidates for World Baseball Classic

Jose Contreras’ rehab is ahead of schedule


Filed Under: MLB, Uncategorized Tagged With: Chicago White Sox

Chicago Cubs Trade Felix Pie to Orioles for Garrett Olson and Hank Williamson

January 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Chicago Cubs Trade Felix Pie to Baltimore Orioles for Garrett Olson and Hank WilliamsonThe Chicago Cubs announced today that they have finalized a trade to send former phenom Felix Pie to the Baltimore Orioles for two pitchers, Garrett Olson and Hank Williamson. This is an obvious move more geared towards roster flexibility and stockpiling arms moreso than trading for players who will immediately impact the 25 man roster.

To go along with Pie, you will likely see Rich Hill and Ronny Cedeno, who are also out of options, likely to be traded in the near future. Once Cedeno is traded, then you’ll see the Cubs sign Rich Aurilia to be that clubhouse leader and provide more pop from the powerless bench as well as someone who can play 1B and 3B. Even with Aurilia, the Cubs’ bench will be sub-par, and given the recent injury history of both Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley, it could be stretched thin. Luckily, it seems that the leg problems that plagued Aramis Ramirez early in his career (likely from lack of conditioning) have gone away as Ramirez looks to be more dedicated in the weight room compared to 5 years ago.

Scouting Reports

Hank Williamson:

RHP So. R-R 6-5 205 San Jacinto JC Houston (Lamar

Williamson attended Rice as a freshman and did not pitch, but got everyone’s attention with a solid mid-90s fastball during fall practice after he transferred to San Jac. He became the ace on a talent-laden Gators pitching staff, going 7-3, 2.68 with 68 strikeouts in 89 innings. He’s been more steady at 89-93 mph this spring. His secondary pitches are a split-finger, which shows quality life at times, and a developing slider. Scouts still consider Williamson projectable and a work-in-progress, and would like to see a better breaking ball. He’s signed to go to Lamar next year, where he could blossom.

Garrett Olson:

3 pitches:

88-91FB

78-81SL

80-83CH

http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/olsonga01.shtml (major league numbers)

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=25645 (minor league numbers

As you can see, he appears to be a little gun shy when pitching in the majors, which plagued him at times in the minors. He was trying to pitch perfectly rather than allowing the hitter to get himself which led to the high BB totals in the majors. His slider is probably his best pitch but his FB doesn’t have the command, movement, or velocity to improve his slider and more importantly the 3rd pitch he’ll need (change-up).

Despite good numbers in the minors as well as two average pitches with his FB and slider, I don’t see him making it on the Cubs as a starter. Olson will likely play the role of Marshall last year as the swing/long-relief reliever or hopefully be part of the Peavy trade. Honestly, I don’t see why the trade for Peavy would possibly sway on whether or not Olson is included in the trade as he appears to be a marginal player especially compared to potential stars like Vitters.

Hank Williamson looks to be a minor league reliever throughout his pro career given an inconsistent splitter and no real breaking ball. However, he did put up better numbers than his ERA would indicate likely caused by relievers coming in after him who are minor league fillers and gave up the inherited runs.

Back to Felix Pie. I drool over the tools he possess, especially defensively with outstanding range and a plus arm both in accuracy and strength. He just wasn’t showing enough progress with the bat to merit putting him on the roster even over a marginal player like Joey Gathright. Gathright is more likely to come up with an occasional pinch-hit and play similar defensively as a defensive replacement without further stunting Pie’s growth by rotting on the bench.

Plus, there appeared to be some issues with Pie and Piniella as far as Pie’s work ethic or dedication to the game. Pie has too long of a swing for someone with average bat speed, marginal to average power, and an inability to hit even an average breaking ball from both LH’ers and RH’ers. The hole on his inner half as well as the poor strike zone judgment always put him two strike counts that someone with his abilities at the plate can’t hit out of as much as he was in that count.

There are already rumors in Baltimore of putting Pie in LF, Adam Jones in CF, and Nick Markakis in RF, which would likely compete with Cleveland as the defensive OF in baseball, but I don’t think Pie can hit well enough for a starting CF’er or a 4th OF’er at this stage, let alone a starting LF’er.


Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: chicago cubs, hot stove, MLB

Super Bowl 43 Early Analysis: Two Key Questions That Will Decide the Winner

January 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Super Bowl 43 Early Analysis - Two Key Questions to Decide WinnerThe questions are running through every football junkie’s mind as we speak. Who will win, will they cover, blah, blah, blah! I already have my answer as to who is going to cover the spread, but the outcome will be decided by two questions.

1. Which Arizona team will show up?

Will it be the Arizona Cardinals team who not only knows how to torch the field offensively, but has a formidable defense as well? I call this the “Playoff Cardinals.”

Or will we see the Arizona team who knew how to score, but gave up points with the same ease? These are the “Regular Season Cardinals.”

Not that it is possible to match the weather, with the game in sunny Tampa, but could we see the “Cold Weather Cardinals?” You know exactly what I am talking about, I can feel your brains thinking back to week 16. That’s right, the 47-7 beat down the “Cold Weather Cardinals” were fed by the New England Patriots. This team would not stand a chance in Super Bowl 43.

2. Will the Pittsburgh Steelers Secondary be exposed or exonerated?

For as long as I can remember, the Steelers’ front 7 have always been monsters, and had a dominating run defense. Their secondary on the other hand, had been exactly opposite. When career backup Kelly Holcomb can saute their secondary for 400 plus yards in a playoff game, that tells you all you needed to know about the Steelers secondary. The Steelers have always carried a question mark in regards to their secondary and ability to defend the pass, until this year. Although the Steelers’ secondary unit has looked fantastic all year long, they have not seen or had to defend an offense of this caliber.

I hear the Steelers fans yelling already, what about the Colts? Well, you lost, and they were nowhere near the Colts offense that we are accustomed to seeing. What about the Cowboys? What about ‘em? Tony Romo played like garbage and the Cowboys offense was never the same after the Brad Johnson era began and ended due to Romo’s injury.

There is no other argument you can make for a pass heavy offense that the Steelers had to face. So this will be an enormous test. Can they defend Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston all while stopping a highly motivated Edgerrin James (which is another story in itself)?

These two questions will decide the outcome of Super Bowl 43. I have my prediction set already, but the sub-factors have not washed out yet. I will not make a prediction this far away from the game itself due to the intangibles that are associated with the NFL.

What intangibles you ask?

The off the field intangibles that can greatly affect a teams focus. Who is going to shoot themselves this week, or, who is going to get picked off by the cops for a DUI? Will Santonio Holmes roll around with more blunts in his car? Those intangibles.

As soon as the dust clears, look for my prediction article.

Kurt Fraschetti

fraschetti[at]midwestsportsfans.com


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: arizona cardinals, NFL, pittsburgh steelers, super bowl 43

Quick Preview of Super Bowl 43: Pittsburgh Steelers v Arizona Cardinals

January 19, 2009 By 2 Comments
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Super Bowl 43 Date, Time, Location, TV, Annoucers, Point SpreadThe Arizona Cardinals are going to Super Bowl 43.

The Arizona Cardinals are going to Super Bowl 43.

The Arizona FREAKING Cardinals are going to Super Bowl 43.

No matter how many times I type that out, it still is not registering as the truth. The Cardinals appearance in Super Bowl 43 will not be anywhere as shocking as, say, a Cubs’ appearance in the World Series would be — but it’s pretty damn close. For as long as I have been alive the Cardinals have been one of the most hapless organizations in all of sports. But they have caught lightning in a bottle this season, have a quarterback with experience who is playing at the top of his game, and have one of the five best players in the entire league in the sublime Larry Fitzgerald.

And now for a quick reality check: the Cardinals, as good as Warner and Fitzgerald are and have been, now have to go up against a defense that is playing awesome. I am not writing out the official preview or giving a prediction yet, but my early gut feeling says Pittsburgh wins this by a touchdown.


Here is your quick preview for the game as you prepare to make all of your Super Bowl 43 plans:

Super Bowl 43

Pittsburgh Steelers v Arizona Cardinals

The point spread and over-under (provided above by BetUs.com) are obviously subject to change as there are still two weeks before the game. But that at least gives you an idea that the experts in Vegas agree that the Steelers seem like about a touchdown favorite for Super Bowl 43.

We will obviously be providing a lot more coverage of the game as the next two weeks go along. I know that this is not the game anyone expected, and neither my Browns nor the Dolphins came anywhere close to making it, but I’m pretty excited about this game. It will be an intriguing contrast of styles and should be a hell of a matchup.

Someone else who is obviously excited for the game, and for all of the festivities and nightlife going on in Tampa this week, is Vinny Tresselini of Flash Sports Tonight, who checked in which his always entertaining report in the latest Flash Report from our friends at FST:

What’s your prediction?

Who do you think will win Super Bowl 43?

View Results

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Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: arizona cardinals, NFL, pittsburgh steelers, super bowl 43

Willis McGahee Involved in Another Nasty Hit in a Big Game

January 19, 2009 By 10 Comments
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Willis McGahee Injury | Ryan Clark Hit on Willis McGahee | Video

(Update: Willis McGahee was able to leave the hospital yesterday and fly back to Baltimore. He said his neck “hurt like hell,” but he is expected to make a full recovery and suffer no lasting effects of the hit he received from Ryan Clark in the AFC Championship game.)

Last night, Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee was involved in yet another nasty and cringe-inducing hit in a big game on a national stage.

During the 4th quarter of the Steelers-Ravens AFC Championship game, which ended with the Steelers advancing to the Super Bowl after a 23-14 victory, Willis McGahee and Ryan Clark were involved in a vicious collision that left both men laying temporarily motionless on the ground. Medical staff, coaches, and players all immediately ran onto field — in greater mass and quicker than I ever remember seeing — and McGahee was ultimately taken off the field on a stretcher. Ryan Clark was able to get up and walk off the field, though he certainly had the dazed look of a heavyweight who had just taken an uppercut to the face.


If you have not seen the collision, here is video of the Ryan Clark hit on Willis McGahee, courtesy of Robert over at Black Sports Online:

As you can see in the video, Willis McGahee fumbles the ball after the hit, which sealed the deal for the Steelers. The latest update on McGahee is that he has a concussion, but is “okay.”

As many of football fans remember, Willis McGahee was involved in a hit that looked even worse than the one last night. Back in the NCAA championship game between Ohio State and Miami, Willis McGahee took a shot to his knee that absolutely shattered it. Here is the video of that hit on McGahee. 99% of you probably know what is coming, so you can decide for yourself if your eyes can handle it. If you somehow haven’t seen this hit, you may want to think twice before viewing it. It is that nasty.

But back to last night. There are a couple of things that were running through my head while watching McGahee lay on the ground, with some many of his Ravens teammates and the Steelers looking on with obvious concern — knowing it just as easily could be them laying there.

First, what the hell is wrong with the Steelers PA people? Did you hear the music? CCR and Santana were playing while McGahee was laying there. I’ve already seen a couple of other websites discussing this, so I know I wasn’t the only one thinking it. The music just did not capture the mood of the moment at all, and actually seemed quite disrespectful to the reality on the field. Do NFL stadiums really have to be entertaining fans every single second? How about some silence while the medical professionals attended to McGahee? I don’t know, maybe this didn’t rub others the wrong way like it did me. I just thought the music was completely unnecessary.

Second, I oscillated back and forth on whether or not Ryan Clark should be fined/suspended. From one angle, it looked like he led with his helmet. From another, it looked like he led more with his shoulder but because of McGahee’s body lead their heads collided. Last night’s game was just a tough, physical game; and Clark’s hit certainly was not alone in being vicious. WR Limas Sweed had a vicious block on Baltimore’s Corey Ivey as well:

My apologies if that video gets taken down later. The NFL was removing video of the McGahee hit last night, so who knows if they’ll take down the Sweed block too (the McGahee hit is shown at the end). I think if Clark is fined/suspended then Sweed probably should be too. Sweed definitely lowers his head into IWillis McGahee Injury | McGahee Hit Videovey.

Personally, I bet Ryan Clark will have to pay a fine, but won’t be suspended for next week’s Super Bowl.

I’ll update McGahee’s injury if any other news becomes available. There is no question he is going to have one massive headache, and that could be the type of hit that he feels for the rest of his life. After that hit last night, and what he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, how Willis McGahee could get back on a football field and subject himself to more potential punishment I will never know. But that’s part of the American obsession with football: watching men who play fearlessly and risk their bodies for victory. It is truly incredible.


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: Baltimore Ravens, NFL, pittsburgh steelers, willis mcgahee

UFC 93: Short Review for Lame Event

January 18, 2009 By 1 Comment
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UFC 93 Review and RecapIt’s my opinion UFC 93 doesn’t warrant it’s own article space, but it’s my job so here are a few notes on the evenings main events.

The PPV was the first UFC event I can remember that made me fell it was a wast of money. I am sure others feel differently, but I just cant handle so many judges decisions (3) and the just plan sloppy fights (Coleman Rua).

Hendo won a solid fight against Rich Franklin. It was one of the nights judges decisions (split decision) and it saw a Henderson headbutt open a gash on Franklin’s noggin then, with about 35 seconds left in the fight, Hendo poked Franklin in the eye. It wasn’t a bad fight but it wasn’t as good as I had expected. Final note on this fight, Franklin completely wore down Henderson. That is no small feat, Henderson is used to fighting in Pride where the first round was 10 minutes. Franklin may not be the best conditioned fighter in all of the UFC.

Now, on the opposite side of conditioning we have Coleman and Rua. In my preview article I picked Coleman to win by KO. I said Rua’s conditioning would come into play and I thought Coleman would land a KO blow or get a ground and pound victory. The match played out %99 the way I said it would, that final %1 I missed was Rua’s TKO on Coleman. For the record Coleman should not fight again, he was just as gassed as Rua.

My record since joining this site continues to suck. I went 1-1 on my picks bringing me to a combined 2-4 so far and 0-2 on my upset picks (Lytle was my upset pick. I don’t think I made that clear). At least I was right that Lytle and “The Irish Hand Grenade” won the fight of the night.

Here is to hoping that UFC 94 is a better event.


Filed Under: Featured Column, MMA Tagged With: MMA, ufc

Steve Spagnuolo – not Jason Garrett – is the Pick for Rams Head Coach

January 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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spags

On Friday night, there were indications that Jason Garrett could be the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

After all, he was in town with his wife and checking out the Rams’ facilities, with a garment bag in tow. He was the only one of the finalists believed to be in town at the time.

Rams Choose Steve Spagnuolo to be Next Head CoachBut the Rams perfectly pulled off an end around. Steve Spagnuolo is now the new coach of the Rams. The Post-Dispatched reported that the New York Giants defensive coordinator agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth close to $12 million.

It bears noting that Spagnuolo has known Rams general manager Billy Devaney for some time. Spagnuolo was an intern with Washington when Devaney was there during the Redskins’ Super Bowl runs. Spagnuolo was also a scout in San Diego when Devaney was working in the personnel department.

Spagnuolo, 49, was a defensive coordinator for two seasons with the Giants after a seven-year run as an assistant at Philadelphia from 1999-2006, where he worked under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. This is the first head coaching position for Spagnuolo at any level.

The pulse of Rams fans is positive with news of Spagnuolo’s hiring. The masses were up in arms when word came down that Garrett was in town and considered to be a front-runner for the position vacated by Scott Linehan and now Jim Haslett, the team’s interim head coach for the last 12 games of the season.

Spagnuolo is now pressed with assembling a staff quickly. The Senior Bowl activities start next week in Mobile, Ala. and its likely that Spagnuolo will be able to network with some prospective assistant coaches down in Alabama. In a perfect world, the Rams would have loved to have their coaching staff in place and on the same page as the scouting department in time for Senior Bowl week.

One coach to keep an eye on is Sean McDermott, the Eagles’ secondary coach and one of Johnson’s prized pupils. Spagnuolo and McDermott worked together in Philadelphia. McDermott has served in a variety of capacities with the Eagles since 1998 and it is only a matter of time before he becomes a defensive coordinator.

Another possibility for defensive coordinator is Giants secondary coach Peter Giunta. He’s a coach that Rams fans are familiar with as Giunta was on Dick Vermeil’s staff from 1997-2000 and was co-defensive coordinator at one time here.

It’s hard to gauge what type of offensive philosophies Spagnuolo has or who he might want to bring along to flesh out his offensive staff in St. Louis. It’s unknown if he will keep offensive coordinator Al Saunders, quarterbacks coach Terry Shea or offensive line coach Steve Loney, all of whom have contracts for 2009. Spagnuolo was a collegiate wide receiver at Springfield (Mass.) College from 1978-1981.

Spagnuolo won’t have the benefit of players like Justin Tuck, Antonio Pierce or Osi Umenyiora to work with in St. Louis. Much rebuilding has to be done, especially on the defensive side of the ball. There are also several issues on offense, where Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Orlando Pace appear to be on the downside of their careers.


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: coaching carousel, St. Louis Rams, steve spagnuolo

Herm or no Herm? That is the Question for Scott Pioli and the Chiefs

January 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Herman Edwards

Candice CrawfordIn the first From the Sideline, I broke down the three major decisions that Scott Pioli will have to make as the Kansas City Chiefs’ new General Manager, starting with whether or not to keep or fire head coach Herm Edwards.

Herm once said, “You play to win the game,” but somehow those words haven’t translated well with the Kansas City Chiefs, who started the 2008 season losing 11 out of their first 12 games and finishing with a 2-14 record. But is this so surprising? He had only mild success with the Jets before he made his way to the Midwest and was fought over as though he held all the answers for the Chiefs.

ESPN reported last week that Scott Pioli’s decision to keep or release Herm Edwards, would be final by the end of this week. Herm Edwards is a good coach and has had some success in the NFL, but somehow he has not been able to execute with the prosperity that he and Kansas City had hoped he would have.

Scott Pioli is going to have to decide whether or not Edwards had lost the team’s, for lack of a better word, “respect.” I believe that his players respect him as a coach and as a person, but there is only so much defeat you can take emotionally and mentally as an athlete. I would know, I played sports my entire life; and from experience, when it comes to a point where you and your team are accustomed to losing, you don’t care if you like the coach or not, you just want something to change, something that brings enthusiasm back to the game. If Herm Edwards is to come back next year are they going to have enthusiasm to come out every Sunday and “Play to win the game?” It’s hard to compartmentalize a 2-14 season.

The Cowboys are going through a similar stint with Wade Philips. Philips has no control anymore of his team and his softened persona gives players, Tony Romo in particular, the freedom to laugh and smile on the sidelines like they are up 44-6 with two minutes left…except wait, that was the Eagles who were up 44-6. Herman Edwards - Will He Be Fired by Chiefs?

And while I’m on the subject, the fashion shows that Romo has during the press conferences are creating quite a lot of animosity among the fans. Someone needs to tell him that after yet another loss, coming out in a beret only shifts the focus from how you completely lost the game to how you have completely lost your mind. The Cowboys went from Bill Parcells the General to Wade Phillips the Grandpa and it’s not working.

Pioli is going to have to decide for himself whether or not the Chiefs have a Wade Philips on their hands or if Edwards can be the man to turn the team around like Bill Cowher did with the Steelers in 1992, taking them from a 7-9 record the previous season to an 11-5 record and winning home advantage in the AFC.

If Scott Pioli believes in miracles and keeps Edwards around, I think it would be only because he might have more hiring options at the end of the 2009 season. Who knows — Tony Dungy might be restless after a year of retirement.

I think Pioli is going to look to greener pastures A) because that is what most GM’s do, they like to bring in their own people; they want to be responsible for the success or failure of the team they are running, and B) because the Chiefs need a fresh start. They are getting a new GM, a newly remodeled stadium and need a new head coach to go with the equation.

But then who does Pioli hire? Would he dare try to hire Mike Shanahan, the ex-head coach of the Chiefs’ arch-rival, Denver Broncos? That could be an excellent fit, as Mike Shanahan is known for producing thousand yaMike Shanahan to the Chiefs?rd backs and if they keep Larry Johnson, which they should, those two together could be detrimental to their opponents in the 2009 season. Not to mention the tutelage Shanahan could provide to the Chiefs’ young and undersized offensive line, a staple of Shanahan’s zone blocking schemes.

The Chiefs also have a quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, whose mobility and arm strength bear resemblance to current Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, and Shanahan-favorite, Tony Romo. Just think about it: Shanahan’s offensive success was based around John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Shannon Sharpe, and the Chiefs have those pieces in place with Tyler Thigpen, Larry Johnson, and Tony Gonzalez.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Herm Edwards is great person, a well respected coach and has done all he can for the Chiefs; but I think we can all agree that it is time for a new beginning for the Chiefs and that their fans deserve it.

———-

Candice Crawford is a Featured Author for Midwest Sports Fans and regularly provides her unique perspective into the sports world in her column “From the Sideline.” A native of Dallas, Texas, Candice will graduate from the University of Missouri in May of 2009 with a degree in journalism. You can email Candice with questions or comments about her “From the Sideline” features at candice@midwestsportsfans.com.


Filed Under: Featured Column, From the Sideline, NFL, Uncategorized Tagged With: coaching carousel, herm edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, mike shanahn, scott pioli

Gruden out at Tampa Bay, likes Notre Dame Victory March

January 17, 2009 By 3 Comments
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jon-gruden

Jon Gruden Fired by Tampa Bay - to Notre Dame?Jon Gruden was hit from his blindside Friday when the Glazer family gave him the pink slip as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It’s too early to determine what precipitated this stunning development, weeks after the conclusion of the regular season, although the fact that the Buccaneers faded drastically down the stretch and fumbled away a wild card berth they seemingly had in their grasp a few weeks earlier might have had something to do with it. But this has “power struggle” written all over it.

Also being shown the door was general manager Bruce Allen, the son of the legendary George Allen. Allen and Gruden worked together in Oakland and after Gruden was “traded” to Tampa Bay, he suggested to the Glazers that they hire Allen as the Bucs’ GM after the 2003 season.

Gruden won a Super Bowl during his first season at the helm in Tampa Bay and that made him the youngest coach ever to win the Super Bowl. Gruden’s Bucs beat his former team, the Raiders, in San Diego in that game.

What’s next for Gruden? Radio personalities and chat rooms in St. Louis are already clamoring for Rams GM Billy Devaney to inquire about Gruden as the team’s next head coach.

If Devaney were to pick up the phone and call up Gruden’s agent Bob LaMonte (who also happens to represent Steve Spagnuolo, a finalist in St. Louis), I have a hunch that Gruden and LaMonte might say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Why? I have two words for you.

Notre Dame.Jon Gruden Fired - Could Go to Notre Dame

If the Fighting Irish don’t improve drastically under Charlie Weis’ watch in 2009, you can bet Gruden’s name comes up as a candidate, so it makes sense for Gruden to take a year off. Gruden’s father Jim was an assistant coach under Dan Devine at Notre Dame in the 1970s and Jon Gruden is fond of his formative years spent in South Bend, Ind.

Gruden once told Playboy magazine in an 2003 interview: “I lost my virginity to the Notre Dame fight song,” he said. Playboy asked, “There was a band?” Gruden replied, “No, not even music. But it was in my mind.”

As for Gruden’s replacement in Tampa? The Glazer family must have someone in mind to make this drastic of a move this late in the game. Raheem Morris, only 32 years of age and recently elevated to defensive coordinator, is thought to be a rising star in the coaching ranks and could be tabbed to keep some continuity.

Another possibility is Mike Shanahan. Since Allen was also fired, the Bucs could also give Shanahan the final say in all football matters and allow him to bring in his own general manager or personnel man.


Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: coaching carousel, jon gruden, NFL, notre dame fighting irish

TwinsFest 2009 Schedule and Preview

January 17, 2009 By 2 Comments
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TwinsFest 2009 Schedule and PreviewTwinsFest, one of the largest community fundraisers in all of baseball, is set to begin this upcoming Friday. Over 50 current and former Minnesota Twins greats will be in attendance to meet fans and sign some autographs. Fans can tour the clubhouse, visit the press box, and participate in a variety of auctions. This is the penultimate event for any die-hard Twins fan. You can buy your tickets here or at the door for a small markup. If you are seeking autographs, make sure you arrive to the queue fairly early as the lines may be long. Also, bring something to sign as you won’t be provided with anything.

The autograph and photo schedules are listed below, but here are a few other good reads on TwinsFest:

Official Website of Twins Fest – The complete and official source of TwinsFest.

Silent Auction Items – Full list of Silent Auction Items

Live Auction Items – Full list of Live Auction Items

MLB.com Message Board Post on TwinsFest – A few extra pointers when attending TwinsFest

The Future of TwinsFest – Looks into new venues for TwinsFest as an open air stadium may not be suitable in January.

Player Autograph Schedule

Friday, January 23
Future (Free) Current/Alumni ($5) Current ($10) Current ($15) Current ($15) Legend/HOF ($15-$25) Legend/HOF ($15-$25)
5:45 – 7:00pm
Drew Butera
Toby Gardenhire
Kevin Mulvey
Anthony Slama
Nata Hanson		 Ron Coomer
Denard Span
Bobby Korecky
Rick Anderson		 Nick Blackburnr
Jesse Crain
Brendan Harris
Nick Punto		 Michael Cuddyer
Ron Gardenhire		 Harmon Killebrew Rod Carew
7:00 – 8:15pm
Cole DeVries
Brian Duensing
Ben Revere
Andrew Schmiesing
Steven Tolleson		 Brian Buscher
Philip Humber
Matt Macri
Jose Morales		 Scott Baker
Mike Redmond
Alexi Casilla
Matt Guerrier		 Joe Mauer
Justin Morneau		 Jack Morris
Dan Gladden		 Kent Hrbek
Tony Oliva
8:15 – 9:30pm
B.J. Hermsen
Trevor Plouffe
Anthony Swarzak
Eli Tintor
Danny Valencia		 “Mudcat” Grant
Jason Pridie
Joe Vavra		 Boof Bonser
Craig Breslow
Carlos Gomez
Glen Perkins
Kevin Slowey		 Jason Kubel
Joe Nathan
Delmon Young		 Paul Molitor Bert Blyleven
Saturday, January 24
Future (Free) Current/Alumni ($5) Current ($10) Current ($15) Current ($15) Legend/HOF ($15-$25) Legend/HOF ($15-$25)
9:15 – 10:45am
Brian Duensing
Anthony Slama		 Scott Baker
Kevin Slowey		 Joe Mauer Harmon Killebrew
11:00am – 12:30pm
Drew Butera
B.J. Hermsen
Danny Valencia		 Rick Anderson
Dan Gladden
Brian Raabe
Dick Stigman		 Nick Blackburn
Mike Redmond
Denard Span		 Justin Morneau Rod Carew
12:45 – 2:15pm
Cole DeVries
Kevin Mulvey
Trevor Plouffe		 John Castino
Philip Humber
Roy Smalley		 Boof Bonser
Carlos Gomez
Glen Perkins		 Jason Kubel
Delmon Young		 Bert Blyleven
2:30 – 4:00pm
Toby Gardenhire
Ben Revere
Andrew Schmiesing
Steven Tolleson		 Dave Goltz
Matt Macri
Jason Pridie
Bobby Korecky		 Brian Buscher
Alexi Casilla
Craig Breslow		 Ron Gardenhire
Jesse Crain		 Tony Oliva
4:15 – 5:45pm
Anthony Swarzak
Eli Tintor
Nate Hanson		 “Mudcat” Grant
Scott Leius
Tom Johnson
Jose Morales		 Matt Guerrier
Brendan Harris
Nick Punto		 Michael Cuddyer
Joe Nathan
Sunday, January 25
Future (Free) Current/Alumni ($5) Current ($10) Current ($15) Current ($15) Legend/HOF ($15-$25) Legend/HOF ($15-$25)
9:15 – 10:45am
Drew Butera
Kevin Mulvey
Steve Tolleson		 Bobby Korecky
Brian Buscher
Frank Quilici		 Boof Bonser
Nick Punto		 Ron Gardenhire
Tom Kelly		 Rod Carew
11:00am – 12:30pm
Brian Duensing
Ben Revere
Anthony Swarzak
Danny Valencia		 Dan Gladden
Mudcat Grant
Philip Humber
Corey Koskie		 Scott Baker
Matt Guerrier
Denard Span		 Joe Mauer Harmon Killebrew
12:45 – 2:15pm
Toby Gardenhire
Trevor Plouffe
Anthony Slama
Eli Tintor		 Juan Berenguer
Terry Steinbech
Jose Morales
Jason Pridie		 Nick Blackburn
Craig Breslow
Brendan Harris		 Jason Kubel
Delmon Young		 Bert Blyleven
2:30 – 4:00pm
Cole DeVries
B.J. Hermsen
Anthony Schmiesing
Nate Hanson		 Joe Vavra
Tom Quinlan
Roy Smalley
Matt Macri		 Glen Perkins
Kevin Slowey
Jesse Crain		 Michael Cuddyer
Joe Nathan		 Tony Oliva

Please note that Legend/Hall of Fame autograph pricing varies within the range specified.

Player Photo Schedule
Friday, January 23 Saturday, January 24 Sunday, January 25
Time Player Time Player Time Player
6:00 – 6:30 pm
6:45 – 7:15 pm
7:30 – 8:00 pm
8:15 – 8:45 pm
9:00 – 9:30 pm		 Kent Hrbek
Carlos Gomez
Ron Gardenhire
Justin Morneau
Alexi Casilla		 10:15 – 10:45 am
11:00 – 11:30 am
11:45am – 12:15 pm
12:30 – 1:00 pm
1:15 – 1:45 pm
2:00 – 2:30 pm
2:45 – 3:15 pm
3:30 – 4:00 pm
4:15 – 4:45 pm		 Denard Span
Bert Blyleven
Delmon Young
Nick Blackburn
Tony Oliva
Brian Buscher
Boof Bonser
Nick Punto
Jesse Crain		 10:15 – 10:45 am
11:00 – 11:30 am
11:45am – 12:15 pm
12:30 – 1:00 pm
1:15 – 1:45 pm
2:00 – 2:30 pm		 “Mudcat” Grant
Rod Carew
Joe Nathan
Scott Baker
Michael Cuddyer
Kevin Slowey


Filed Under: Featured Column, MLB, Uncategorized Tagged With: Metrodome, minnesota twins, MLB, Twins Fest 2009

Minnesota Basketball: Tubby Smith has a whole team running towards tourney

January 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Minnesota basketball is enjoying unseen success, since the addition of Tubby Smith. The team has exploded out of the gate to 11-0 and entered the nation’s top 20. They are sitting at 16-1, now, with their only loss coming to a seriously tough Michigan State team. They notched another gutsy win in Wisconsin last night, and I’m trying to find out what’s responsible for this team’s performance on the court, the inspiration seems to be on the bench, though.

Virtually identical, I couldn’t find any serious differences in numbers and percentages while I scoped the official Minnesota Wisconsin box score from last night. I read up on the game, watched the highlights and still couldn’t find a serious statistic or problem that would point to how Wisconsin fell to the Gophers at home, after taking an 11 point lead before the half. It had to exist in the intangibles, and it does.

Since he left Kentucky, the SEC has suffered, but the Big Ten has added one of college basketball’s best minds to match Tom Izzo. There’s a reason that he will be in the Hall of Fame one day. Tubby Smith knows how to create a team that wins. He has done that in Minnesota and we can look towards the Wisconsin game for why.

Every good coach has to “sell his system”, when the W’s come, the troops get on board. Tubby Smith has his entire team on board with his system. Not just his assistants, not just starters, not just the sixth man; I mean the whole team. That’s because everyone is involved.

Bo Ryan worked a rotation of primarily 7 players, maxing out starters with each one close to 40 minutes for the Badgers last night. While some of the best squads in the country are primarily looking at 7 player rotations – Duke, Wake Forest, Michigan State, UConn. The minutes lean heavily on 5 starters and two players coming off the bench, for the most part.

7 players came off the bench last night for Tubby Smith. That means 12 players got minutes in a hard fought, OT battle, in the heat of conference play. 9 players saw more than 15 minutes in the game. The whole team got a win. Not just 7 guys and there’s value in a having a long bench in college basketball and it extends beyond conventional sports thinking

Putting guys on the floor, and having a deep bench doesn’t just keep legs fresh and defense active, it createsTubby Smith Minnesota Golden Gophers Basketballl intangibles. It creates a new definition for team game. Tubby Smith has 9 players averaging 15 minutes, more than 5 points and 2 rebounds. No those numbers aren’t staggering but at the minimum everyone is contributing, positively. To have accountability and 9 players that you can trust on the floor isn’t something every coach in the country has or wants to risk.

That’s a decision by the coach, to get every member of his squad on board, to get every man minutes, to create a culture of belief around your program. Taking risks on young players in college, at the peak of their development breeds confidence and hunger in a team and a locker room. When virtually every player on Minnesota’s team has contributed something to their start, players are all in. It shows, too. They’ve won 16 games and they are 4 wins away from the magic 20 and gaining that invitation to dance in March.

We all know that college basketball is an emotional game. One that champions a team game played with commitment, toughness, and a never-die attitude. The Gophers showed that last night overcoming a huge second half deficit. They showed swagger and depth on the road. They showed that their record is not a fluke, and that they have the moxie to challenge Tom Izzo’s team for the Big Ten title. (By the way, Feb. 4 is the date when the two see each other again in East Lansing.) All this, thanks to a new face on the sidelines. Tubby Smith has created a team in the Barn that is enjoying unseen success, and challenging the hockey team for headlines due to selling his brand of team basketball.

Far-fetched? Maybe, if you’re a numbers guy, or one that just believes in talent. Though, for those who have been part of a scrappy locker room, jumped around in warm-ups as part of confident bench, or get a little choked up during “Rudy”, it makes sense. When your coach calls your number more often than not, you’re that much more willing to fight for that team, that fight will win games in college basketball.


Filed Under: Big Ten Basketball, CBB, Featured Column Tagged With: basketball, Big Ten, Gophers, Minnesota, ncaa, Tubby Smith

Browns Banter: Horrible Weekend Ahead and Lerner Continues Pursuit of Kokinis

January 16, 2009 By 2 Comments
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Browns BanterWhile Browns owner Randy Lerner frantically searches for a general manager for his rumpled, crumpled Cleveland team, the idea has not been lost on him that the team’s major rivals are fighting for a shot at the Super Bowl.

Another un-Pleasant Allegheny Valley Sunday in Pittsburgh., Pa., the land of the coal black and gold.

For Browns fans, it is another Sunday of holding our noses while watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Benedict Arnold/Art Modell’s Baltimore Ratbirds go to war. The winner of the defensive battle will face off against the victor in the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Arizona Cardinals for the chance to play in the Super Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

With the Browns last championship season in 1964, beating the Baltimore Colts, 27-0, Cleveland has never even set foot upon the hallowed ground of the biggest sporting match of the year.

Once again, choosing the lesser of two evil empires, I will be rooting for Piss-burgh while I wipe tears away with my own terrible towel. I don’t want to remind folks again that Art Modell, the most hated man in Cleveland, sold millions of loyal fans out by moving the Browns to Baltimore in 1995. So really it should be Browns vs. Steelers on Sunday.

That’s why I nearly choked on breakfast the other day while listening to ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning show. Guest sports analyst Mel Kiper Jr., a Baltimore shill, extolled the virtues of Joe Flacco’s big arm and the grand schemes coming from Coach John Harbaugh’s big head.

Then Kiper decided to rewrite history.

“Baltimore has the greatest fans in the world,” Kuiper crowed. “For 13 years Baltimore kept getting passed over by the NFL while other teams were granted permission for expansion teams.

“Finally, Art Modell arrived in Baltimore and gave us our team.”

No, Mel. Actually Modell gave you our team, the Browns, and simply renamed them after the black bird in the Edgar Allen Poe poem.

In the early 1980s, Baltimore fans were rightfully upset when Robert Irsay and his Mayflower moving vans left Baltimore in the middle of night and dumped the Colts cargo in Indianapolis.

Despite having their guts and hearts pulled out by Irsay and Indianapolis, Baltimore accepted the stolen goods that represented the proud franchise of the Cleveland Browns, and never looked back.

Modell got his 30 pieces of silver, a new stadium, the love and adoration from fans that he craved – and a Super Bowl ring.
Randy Lerner - Browns Owner
Here is hoping Ben Roethlisberger has the greatest game of his life.

Lerner might not even watch the game. He will probably still be trying to nail down a general manager.

Lerner moved fast in hiring Eric Mangini to replace Romeo Crennel as the Browns head coach.

And while The Plain Dealer has reported Lerner is still interested in Baltimore pro personnel director George Kokinis to replace fired GM Phil Savage, Kokinis is not showing his cards.

It also comes to no surprise that Scott Pioli, Lerner’s first choice for GM, took the Kansas City Chiefs job. The Achilles heal of the Pioli hire was that he would insist on making Kirk Ferentz his head coach. The Cleveland media ran with that, but no one actually bothered checking the rumor out.

Now we hear that Ferentz has no desire to coach in the NFL, and he will stay put in Iowa, thank you.

So Cleveland would not have had to take a college coach with the deal, after all. But no way was Pioli going to work in the same city as Mangini, a former buddy who uncovered Spygate, tattling on Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and by association, top man Pioli. While Mangini may have taken some satisfaction in watching Belichick’s non-apology, he ended up losing very powerful friends in New England.

The word was, others on Lerner’s GM short list, such as the Atlanta Falcons’ Rich McKay and Eagles’ Tom Heckert, dropped out of contention after Mangini was hired.

Former Denver Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist has reached out to the Browns about interviewing for the general manager position, but as of Thursday, no interviews had been scheduled, according to The Plain Dealer..

If I was Lerner, I’d forget about watching the game on Sunday. I’d be on the phone finding someone to come to Cleveland and help make this the winning franchise it once was.

Who knows, may some Sunday in January of 2111 (I mean 2011), we could be watching the Browns in the Super Bowl.

It could happen. Couldn’t it?


Filed Under: NFL Tagged With: browns banter, Cleveland Browns, george kokinis, randy lerner

From the Sideline: Can Scott Pioli Turn the Chiefs Around Without Bill Belichick?

January 16, 2009 By 1 Comment
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photo-9

Editor’s Note: I am pleased to welcome Candice Crawford to Midwest Sports Fans as our newest Featured Author. Candice will graduate this May with a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri and she has extensive experience as both a sports reporter and sports anchor at KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. Candice will be writing a regular feature entitled “From the Sideline” and offering further proof that women are smarter and more insightful than men, even when it comes to sports.

——————–

Candice Crawford - From the Sideline - Midwest Sports FansWho is Scott Pioli?

He is a big name to those who follow the NFL and especially to those in New England. But going from the East coast to the Midwest, you may hear him use the phrase “I’m not in New England anymore.”

That’s right Scotty you’re not. You’re in Kansas City now.

You have entered into a franchise of heartbroken fans, exhausted from the never-ending disappointments; a team that hasn’t seen the Super Bowl since 1970 or a playoff appearance since 2004. You are, however, getting to work with $32 million under the cap and the number three draft-pick.

Scott Pioli is leaving the Patriots after seven seasons, three Super Bowl titles and five division titles. He must be looking for a bigger challenge; three Super Bowl wins is old news. And obviously his successes provide the Chiefs’ fans with the hope that they too will see their team at least make it to one Super Bowl after almost 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

Before you go out and buy your season tickets, however, remember that someone is missing from this equation: Bill Belichick.

Scott Pioli’s successes with the Patriots have been alongside his pal Coach Belichick. Belichick hired him as pro personnel assistant while coaching for the Cleveland Browns, but after Belichick got fired and the Browns moved to Baltimore, Pioli stayed with the team and left his man Belichick to fend for himself. The separation only lasted a year until Pioli reunited with Belichick in New England in 2000, when Belichick got the head coaching job. Together they became the architects of the New England Patriots’ dynScott Pioli and Bill Belichick | Kansas City Chiefs GMasty.

So the question is, can Pioli turn this franchise around on his own? Without his boy and pal Bill Belichick?

A quick side note for those wondering about Scott Pioli’s turnaround pedigree: Pioli is the son-in-law of turnaround specialist Bill Parcells. We don’t need to go into the history and successes of Bill Parcells, but I will mention the fact that as an executive, he brought the Miami Dolphins from a 1-15 2007 season to a successful 2008 season in which the Dolphins bested even the great Bill Belichick to win the AFC East.

If Pioli gets in a bind, he can call up his good ’ol father-in-law for a little advice. (I wonder if he calls him the “Big Tuna” or just Bill?) Needless to say, Scott Pioli looks good on paper and is exactly what the Chiefs need.

But only time will tell if Pioli will get the job done, and he has some important decisions to make immediately as the Chiefs new General Manager; three major decisions to be exact.

  1. He has to decide if Herm Edwards can do the job, or if he has lost the reigns of the Chiefs players entirely.
  2. Pioli has a pretty large salary cap to work with going into this 2009 season and has room to replace and rebuild to where he sees fit.
  3. The Chiefs have the 3rd pick in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft and Pioli will have to decide which player offers the most value and fills the biggest need for the Chiefs. I’m thinking QB if you ask me.

So once Pioli gets those three things squared away, we will hopefully be able to watch the Chiefs this 2009 season without wanting to go punch our walls or whoever is closest in proximity.

Candice Crawford is a Featured Author for Midwest Sports Fans and regularly provides her unique perspective into the sports world in her column “From the Sideline.” A native of Dallas, Texas, Candice will graduate from the University of Missouri in May of 2009 with a degree in journalism. You can email Candice with questions or comments about her “From the Sideline” features at candice@midwestsportsfans.com.


Filed Under: Featured Column, From the Sideline, NFL Tagged With: bill belichick, candice crawford, From the Sideline, Kansas City Chiefs, scott pioli
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