#2 Michigan State Faces Gonzaga in an Early Season Test

[Editor's note: This post was submitted before the Spartans and Zags took the floor last night. I just didn't have a chance to edit and publish it. But as you can see, our man J-Dools had the game pretty well pegged, so I'm posted this anyway.]

Excitement is building in East Lansing as the Spartans prepare to face their first real challenge of the season against Gonzaga, at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

The Spartans will showcase their talented line up that is gathering more and more comparisons to the 2000 championship team. Coach Tom Izzo is among those making such comparisons.

In an interview with ESPN.com Izzo was asked if he would ever coach someone like Mateen Cleaves again. Izzo answered saying that he may be doing that right now. The player Izzo is talking about is junior point guard Kalin Lucas.

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ESPN’s Pro Football Talk Reads A Lot Like Pro Football Talk’s Pro Football Talk

I just caught a really interesting post by Florio over at Pro Football Talk about how their content had been plagiarized by “someone in the journalism business” other than a “small, no-name blog site.”

I was going to copy/paste it here for you to read, but then I thought to myself, “who in the hell do I think I am? ESPN?”

Thus, I shall do what the rest of us small, no-name blog sites are required to do: provide a short excerpt to the story and a link for attribution:

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Review of ESPN 30 for 30 Film Without Bias: Len Bias Saved Lives by Losing His

“From my perspective, he saved a lot of our lives. Plain and simple.”

These were the final words of Without Bias, ESPN’s latest documentary in its superb 30 for 30 series. It is impossible to know for how many people specifically that lines applies, but to put it in the hundreds of thousands probably would not be an overstatement.

The hour long film, which premiered tonight and was directed by Kirk Fraser, chronicles the life and death of Len Bias, who passed away 23 years ago when I was only four years old, but whose legacy lives on in perpetuity…today and beyond.

There were some aspects of the story that I did not know before watching it tonight, most notably that Bias had done cocaine before the night he died and that his brother Jay died four years later. Despite these surprises, the familiar feeling and lessons of the Bias story remained true and as strong as ever:

1. You never know which seconds will be your last.
2. Never underestimate the cruel power of drugs.

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Hoosier Hysteria Beckons

Words cannot express how excited I am for the upcoming IU basketball season.

Actually, I take that back. Certain words can express my excitement, such as the ones written by Dana O’Neil (thanks @ryancorazza) a few days back at ESPN.com.

Since I don’t have much time today for writing, I will give you an excerpt, a link to her story, and then some other intriguing Friday afternoon links.

I love the NFL and the MLB playoffs, but I will always be a college basketball fan at heart. I’m ready for Year Two of the Tom Crean Era (i.e. The Purge Kelvin Sampson From the Memories of All IU Fans Era) and it cannot get here soon enough.

So why bother? Why sign on with a program that is just laying the first bricks of rebuilding?

“We’re going to hang banners and win awards before we leave here,” Elston said. “But we’re also going to change the program. We’re going to be the team people talk about for a long time, the ones that brought Indiana back. That’s something a lot of people don’t get the chance to do.”

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MSF Podcast: Deadspin Editor AJ Daulerio on Sex at ESPN and the Decision to Name Names

Though some reasonable people feel that it isn’t a story worthy of discussion, Deadspin’s decision to publish stories about the sexual exploits of certain ESPN employees has been one of the hottest stories in the sports blogosphere over the past 24 hours.

If you’re late to the party, here’s a recap and then some examples of the ensuing reaction to get you up to speed.

We have withheld published judgment to this point, but have been very interested observers at the many angles of this story. One of those angles is what motivated Deadspin editor AJ Daulerio to go ahead with the posting of these stories.

AJ was kind enough to join us on the podcast this afternoon and to provide his answers to some of the criticism Deadspin has received in the wake of yesterday’s events, as well as some of the general criticism he has received since taking over for Will Leitch as editor.

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Strong Reactions on Deadspin’s Decision to Post ESPN Rumors

In what should be a surprise to no one, there are strong reactions popping up across the blogosphere this morning regarding Deadspin’s decision to post various rumors about ESPN employees that it has received over the years.

In case you’re just now becoming aware of this story, the posts by Deadspin editor AJ Daulerio, written in the immediate wake of the breaking story of Steve Phillips’ affair and subsequent leave of absence, detailed explicit rumors of sexual depravity and quid pro quo at the World Wide Leader.

I am using this space to provide my own judgments and opinions right now, as I have a pending interview request with AJ for later this morning and would like to speak with him first (so stay tuned for that).

But others have made their feelings known, with some in the sports blogging community decidedly not in Deadspin’s favor on this one.

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Thursday WYNTR: The Baseball Playoffs Get Infinitely More Interesting After a Bad Day for ESPN

The biggest on-field news in the sports world yesterday obviously revolves around the Philadelphia Phillies beating the LA Dodgers to reach the World Series.

The biggest off-field news in the sports world yesterday involved ESPN, Deadspin, and some pretty lurid tales of sex, ego, and quid pro quo. We discussed this as it was happening, but there have also been new developments in the “ESPN Horndog Dossier” since we signed off yesterday.

But that was yesterday. It’s now Thursday, and we already have the most important news of today and it’s not even 6:30 CT yet: Ozzie Guillen will be working for Fox as a studio analyst during this year’s World Series. Yep, this is going to be great.

And now the rest of What You Need To Read for Thursday, October 22nd, brought to you by…Kate Beckinsale.

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Steve Phillips Just the Tip of a Large, Sordid ESPN Iceberg? (Updated)

If I were an ESPN exec or employee, and I read the latest post by Daulerio over at Deadspin, I’d be shaking in my boots a little right now. Excerpt after the jump.

I just emailed Daulerio to ask if they were really going to be emptying the vault of all the tips and accusations they received regarding sexual craziness at ESPN. His response: “Stay tuned…”

Will do.

My, my, my Steve Phillips. Looks like you may have directly and indirectly screwed up a whole lot of peoples’ lives.

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Nebraska-Missouri Preview: Tigers, ‘Huskers Kick off “Show-Me” Week in College Football

This week is most definitely the “Show-Me” week in college football.

We’ve come to the point in the schedule where everybody has entered, or is entering, conference play. Several teams, including the Missouri and Nebraska, are out to earn a little respect by taking on ranked conference foes.

Tomorrow night, the Tigers and Cornhuskers will do just that when they face off in Columbia on ESPN’s Thursday Night Football.

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Memo To Ohio State: Please End This Matt Barkley Nonsense on Saturday

Matt Barkley, the pretty boy SoCal freshman who started for USC this past Saturday, is only one game into his collegiate football career.

And after one game, I am already sick and damn tired of him.

Oh come on Jerod, you might say. He’s just a freshman, just a kid, you’ll retort. Why such palpable vitriol for a kid ten years your junior? Are you jealous? Jealous that he has already achieved more athletically than you ever came close to? Jealous that because he’s the starting QB for USC, as opposed to some chubby Midwestern blogger, he will —  to paraphrase Nate Dogg — get more ass than a toilet seat?

No.

I’m sick and damn tired of him because he’s a cocky kid who has achieved nothing — to this point — as a collegian and yet the Pete Carroll sycophants at ESPN are already discussing his Heisman chances…for this year. 

Here is an excerpt from the latest ESPN drivel, which is entitled “The Heisman Predictor: Week One” but should be titled “This Article Is Worse Than Mark May’s Tie.”

In fact, a win over Ohio State could put Barkley right up there with Tebow and McCoy. Sure, it would be unprecedented for a freshman to win the Heisman, but it would hardly be unprecedented for a much-hyped Trojan quarterback to walk away with the hardware. Ohio State could prove to be USC’s toughest opponent this season, meaning a win on Saturday would put the Trojans on pace for an undefeated season. If Barkley puts on a show (300+ yards, 3+ touchdowns) against the Buckeyes, he will immediately become a legitimate Heisman candidate.

So let me get this straight. If Matt Barkley has a good game against Ohio State, the same Buckeye team that — sorry Buckeye fans — allowed Navy’s QB to go 9-13 and 2 TDs, then he’ll be “right up there” with two of the most consistently successful QBs in college football this decade?

You have got to be f’ing kidding me.

(Note: Beano Cook could not be reached for official comment, but sources tell us that had Barkley had gone to Notre Dame, Cook believes he would have trumped Ron Powlus’ three Heisman Trophies by at least one…maybe more.)

I know that Barkley is the quarterback for USC, which gives you automatic inclusion into every Heisman Watch list whether you deserve it or not, but shouldn’t any plaudits for Trojan players be squarely and solely in the direction of Joe McKnight? To be fair, the article does mention McKnight (who popped for 145 yards and 2 TDs on 14 carries in Saturday’s win) but the fact that Barkley’s name is even there is ridiculous.

Barkley went 15-19 for 223 yards and a TD on Saturday. These are good numbers for sure, and certainly an auspicious beginning for a kid who obviously has serious some talent. But he wasn’t even named the starter until just a few weeks ago, and his backup Aaron Corp actually went 4-4 for 45 yards and a TD of his own.

Really says a lot about that vaunted San Jose State defense that USC was playing, huh?

And from the accounts of those who watched the game, it’s not like Barkley was lighting SJS up with a downfield aerial assault. This from Sports By Brooks:

In a first-and-only cram session before his ‘Shoe debut, Barkley oversaw an offense one could generously ascribe as ‘basic’ in the Trojans’ trucking of embarrassingly undermanned San Jose St.

…

Dude has played one home game. Against San Jose State. Running three different pass plays over three quarters.

The LA Daily News echoed this assessment:

In reality, USC relied heavily on its running game and asked Barkley to roll out or keep the ball on the perimeter to avoid interceptions. That interception-proof plan worked flawlessly against the hapless Spartans.

Despite the pathetic competition, Barkley actually played better than some observers expected.  As Brooks noted last week, Barkley strugged as a high school senior (throwing 18 INTs despite being last year’s version The Greatest Quarterback Prospect EVER) and then struggled in the USC spring game. Still, he won out over the “more polished” Corp.

But giving a freshman QB a vanilla game plan against a weak team in hopes that he will minimize mistakes and build confidence is not a bad thing. It’s good coaching. What is annoying is that Barkley apparently thought he and his USC teammates had carved out their yardage against the ‘85 Bears and that playing in The Horseshoe would be only a little more difficult than practice.

“We can play in Alaska in the snow, that’s how confident I am in this offense,” Barkley said. “There can be 500,000 rooting against me (next week).”

And Brooks quotes Barkley as adding:

“I don’t think that (Ohio Stadium crowd) will make a difference. The atmosphere will be nuts. I probably don’t even know how it will be. But that won’t faze me.”

Taken in a vacuum, perhaps we could just chalk these quotes up to a little bit of youthful exuberance coming on the heels of a kid’s first college win. But add the following to the list and we realize that Matt Barkley is an 18-year old kid with no college skins on the wall who is way too full of himself already:

From the LA Times (via CFT):

“That this is fun. This is easy. This is what I was made to do,” Barkley said.

I asked Barkley if there was anything that was difficult.

“The run up the tunnel at halftime,” he said. “That was brutal.”

That kind of brash cockiness is probably what endeared Barkley to Carroll, and will make him a Trojan legend if he backs it up with a career befitting such bravado. But for an outside observer like me, and one who respects and appreciates humility in his athletes, I think Barkley just sounds like the immature kid that he is.

Which is why I hope the Ohio State defense plays much better than it did this past Saturday and knocks some humility into Barkley while simultaneously putting this ridiculous Heisman talk to rest. To paraphrase Brooks, who is far more in tune with the USC landscape than I am, it will probably be the best thing that could happen to him.

Oh, and if I haven’t made enough of a case for why you should be rooting for the Buckeyes to demolish Matt Barkley this coming Saturday, he has apparently inspired the orgasmic delight of our favorite FanHouse BLOGGER Jay Mariotti (via Deadspin):

The afternoon sun was orgasmic, framing the Memorial Coliseum in a California daydream as the USC band played its triumphant post-game march. Yet nothing was more radiant than Matt Barkley’s smile. He was standing at midfield after his debut, engulfed by media wondering if an 18-year-old true freshman can be worthy ofcollege football’s answer to a Hollywood processional: Carson Palmer to Matt Leinart to John David Booty to Mark Sanchez to…

While reading Mariotti’s Ode to Matt Barkley, I couldn’t help but wonder whether I should write this post or take the liberty of registering him for NAMBLA.

To be fair, Mariotti does make a valid point in the midst of his contribution to the unnecessary Barkley hype:

The dream, of course, quickly could turn ugly. This Saturday night, the Trojans abandon L.A.’s creature comforts and enter a hostile Horseshoe in Columbus, where Ohio State awaits in a colossal early-season test of two top-5 teams.

Exactly. And let’s hope the Buckeyes are ready, because I know of at least one non-OSU fan who will be decidedly in their corner Saturday night: me, hoping they put a stop to this Matt Barkley nonsense. Of course, if the kid plays well and USC dominates, I will have to eat my words. But I will have no problem doing so. At least then Barkley will have one legit accomplishment on which to base his seemingly endless arrogance.

As of right now, he’s just an 18-year old freshman who is coming off of an 18-INT season as a high school senior, an underwhelming performance in the USC spring game based on expectations, and a solid but unspectacular outing as a game manager against mighty San Jose State. 

Best of luck in the Horseshoe this Saturday Matt. Something tells me it will be a little more difficult than you think.

Otherwise, it may not be long before Barkley is doing this after a touchdown pass.

**********

* – Matt Barkley photo credit: Bobak Ha’Eri via Wikipedia

LOTD: Erin Andrews, Ben Roethlisberger Coverage Choices Has ESPN Under the Microscope

To be more apt, the title of this post should probably say “non-Coverage” choices, since the WWL has basically refused to cover the Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault story, and has understandably been very brief in its comments and coverage regarding the secret video that was shot of Erin Andrews.

There have been a lot of interesting perspectives about ESPN regarding these stories, and I am beginning to think that is morphing into a quasi-defining moment for the moment, especially with respect to Roethlisberger.  Are they truly holding firm to an internal principle regarding civil lawsuits, or just being hypocritical and trying to protect a star so they can maintain access?  I am beginning to think the latter, and it is not increasing my respect for a network that, for the most part, I obviously love.  

Anyway, I find this story interesting, and hopefully you do too.  If so, here are some good links for you to check out and then some other non-related links that are still worthwhile:

Erin Andrews Coverage

• Is ESPN Going to Cover the Erin Andrews Story? — (The Sports Bank)
• Erin Andrews and Guilt: Imagined or Otherwise — (Will Leitch at Deadspin)
• CBS takes the low-class approach to covering the Erin Andrews story — (Tommy Craggs at Deadspin)
• USA Today’s Christine Brennan has choice words for EA — (The Big Lead)
• NY Post keeps its Erin Andrews coverage classy (not) — (The Big Lead)
• Memo to NY Post Numbnuts: Erin Andrews Peephole Videos Uploaded in February — (Busted Coverage)

Ben Roethlisberger Sexual Assault Coverage

• ESPN Ignoring Biggest Stories of the Day — (Deadspin)
• Is ESPN ignoring the Ben Roethlisberger story? — (Awful Announcing)
• ESPN will not report Roethlisberger story — (Fang’s Bites)
• ESPN issues “do not report” memo on Roethlisberger story — (Pro Football Talk)
• Last word on ESPN’s civil suit policy — (Pro Football Talk)

Update: Can’t forget our good friend John Gonzalez (for the record, I’m not being facetious or sarcastic) at the Philly.com who has a great take on ESPN’s lack of coverage regarding the Roethlisberger story:

• Roethlisberger’s Pass — (John Gonzalez)

Other Links:

• Why Your Team Sucks: Detroit Lions — (Blog Down, Chicago Bears)
• Michael Jackson in the Year 2000 — (Zoner Sports)
• This Week in Chicago Sports Quotes — (Not Qualified to Comment)
• Larry Rothschild Doesn’t Think You Should Be Calling His Phone, And He Definitely Isn’t Interested In Your Opinion — (Not Qualified to Comment)
• 10 Funniest Deceased Comedians of All-Time — (Hail Mary Jane)
• 9 Stand-Up Comedians Who Should be Stars — (Screen Junkies)
• Lil’ Buddy Drills other Lil’ Buddy with a Louisville Chugger — (Straight Pinkie)
• Happy Birthday, Nina Moric — (MoonDog)
• I’m retiring douchebag, new word is dingleberry — (MoonDog)
• A Quick Guide to the Cuban-Perot Lawsuit — (Dallas Sports Fans)
• Should the Browns go after Matt Jones? — (Cleveland Frowns)
• Interview with college football analyst Tony Barnhardt — (Sparty and Friends)
• 2009 College Football Preview — (Major League Jerk)
• Top 10 NFL Training Camp Locations — (My Sports Rumors)

 

ESPN’s Current Top 10 Fantasy Football Players: Over or Under

Yes, not long now before every fantasy football nut is tearing apart the Internet and those extremely overpriced magazines to help them decide who to draft, when, where, why and how!  This year I am at a disadvantage, as I am passing on my knowledge to all of you.  My competition in the Midwest Sports Fans Fantasy Football League will be able to gain insight into my strategies and opinions, which for the most part are nails, and use that against me. 

Oh well, it is what it is, and you will still see me in the Super Bowl.

[Editor's Note: Kurt's trash talk has been left in, unedited, because...well...we all need a good laugh every now and then.]

Onto ESPN’s current Fantasy Football Top 10 players based on their projected 2009 stats through their point scoring system, and whether or not I think each player will over- or under-perform the projections.

T-1.  Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (288 Points)  OVER!!!  Even though I think that New England will run more this year than any of their previous three years, you have to have faith in the quarterback with the most prolific statistical passing year ever, which was only two years ago.  Brady has more weapons now than he did then, including a better running game then ever before.  The Patriots will, however, run more for two reasons.  First, to keep the defense honest and avoid heavy blitzes intended to either make Brady a non-factor, or remove him all together from the game.  Secondly, to remove some pressure from the offensive line in having to protect the greatest quarterback ever 40 to 50 times a game.  If healthy, Brady will have another 300 plus point season.  He is my number 1 overall pick.

T-1.  Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (288 Points)  Rodgers tied with Brady?  Under, but not by much.  Compare Rodgers’ weapons with Brady’s… that’s right, you can’t.  There should be no tie here.  Although Rodgers finished second among QB’s last year with 286 ESPN fantasy football points, the Packers will have to establish the run this year to win games.  Establishing the run is not only a quarterback’s best friend, but the defense’s as well.  Ground and pound eats minutes off of the clock, allowing the defensive personnel time to recover in between possessions.  There are several other QB’s that I would take over Rodgers this year.

3.  Drew Brees, QB, Saints (287 Points)  Over, and over Rodgers in my opinion.  Brees was the #1 QB last year with 311 fantasy points.  I don’t see him beating last year’s numbers, but Brees has been an owner’s best friend since landing in N.O.  I do, however, have a somewhat bad feeling on Brees this year.  Look back on all of the previous fantasy gods who posted incredible numbers over the past few years.  Brady, Peyton Manning, Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Kurt Warner and on and on.  What do they all have in common?  After posting god-like statistical years, they came back and posted subpar years, if they played at all.  All of these players suffered from injuries or reduced effectivness the year following their epic years.  He should still be very, very good…but will Brees be added to the aforementioned list as a 2009 letdown?

4.  Peyton Manning, QB, Colts (277 Points) Under!  I may eat my words on this one, but there are too many intangibles that make me see it this way.  Manning finished sixth among QB’s last year with 253 points.  You cannot tell me that he will have a better year than last after losing Tony Dungy as his head coach and losing Marvin Harrison, his record setting wide receiver for over a decade.  Not to mention, the loss of Harrison will place more pressure on Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.  Wayne often made double team attempts look stupid last year, but Gonzalez’s stats suffered when he was not burning slow safties out of the slot position.  And will Joseph Addai return to his 2007 form?  He must improve upon last year’s numbers to help Manning.  Peyton Manning is the smartest quarterback in the league, but is he smart enough to make up for all of these key losses?  Time will tell.

5.  Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (272 Points)  Push.  Peterson, even with injuries, finished third among RBs last year with 237 points.  Their offense will be more productive this year regardless who is at QB. Farve, Jackson or Rosenfels will be able to produce in this offense, which will open up the door for A Pete.  I take Peterson after Brady and Brees.

6.  Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars (252 Points) Under.  There are questions surrounding MJD now that he has no Fred Taylor to spell him.  They formed a great 1-2 punch, and Jones-Drew has flourished in his role as a change-of-pace back.  Also, will David Garrard return to 2007 form?  If the box is stacked on MJD, he will not be successful.  Will he still be on special teams?  If so, the physical toll could hurt him offensively as the season goes along.  I would take several backs over MJD, starting with Michael Turner.

7.  Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (250 Points)  Under.  Warner had 265 fantasy points last year.  At 38 years old, can he repeat that this year?  I think not.  At some point, Matt Lienhart will have to see the field become an actual NFL QB (he already has the salary and ego) and earn his ridiculous paycheck.  More importantly, can Warner stay healthy for a full season?  Will Arizona ever figure out how to run the ball?  Edgerrin James looked incredible on the ground in the playoffs, but that was to prove a point.  Without him on the roster, will they ever get more than .2 yards per carry out of touchdown monster Tim Hightower?  I avoid Kurt Warner in the first three rounds this year for these reasons.

8.  Matt Cassel, QB, Cheifs (247 points)  UNDER, UNDER, UNDER.  Have you lost your minds?  He scored 238 points last year with more weapons than a naval ship…more nukes than North Korea!  How can anyone possibly score more points on what has been a dismal Kansas City offense?  Cassell will make them better, and Dwayne Bowe’s stock goes way up with his addition, but New England’s offensive talent versus Kansas City’s talent, not to mention offensive line comparisons, is like comparing….well, never mind.  You get the picture.

T-9.  LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers (246 Points)  Push.  I take several players over LT, including the other two that ESPN had him tied with, just because they both have a greater upside than LT.  I do think he will benefit from Sproles getting more carries, as this combo could mirror the one-two punch that the Titans and Jaguars displayed last year.  LT only had 216 fantasy points last year, and even though his best years are behind him, if healthy, LT is still a top-5 running back.

T-9.  Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys (246 Points)  Over.  Romo had 208 fantasy points last year while missing 4 games.  Romo lost a migraine when T.O. landed in Buffalo, and still his a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball.  Romo is in my top 10, and much higher than number 9.  Romo rebounds after the Terrell Owens brick!

T-9.  Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (246 Points)  Push.  Rivers had 279 points last year, and benefited greatly from the Chargers’ inability to run the ball.  This will not be the case this year, and ESPN adjusted his numbers accordingly.  Rivers is still a no brainer though if available in the first round.

There was ESPN’s top 10 (11).  I am lost as to how Michael Turner and Jay Cutler were left off of this list.  And more importantly, how ESPN has David Garrard at #17.  There are at least 60 players I would take over Garrard.  I will say this about Garrard: he must produce this year to save his head coach’s job, now two years removed from his punting on long time starter Byron Leftwich.  Jack Del Rio may be sent packing if the Jags do not find themselves playing in late January. 

Getting back on track, Michael Turner is an absolute beast, and is arguably the best back in the NFL going into this season.  And Jay Cutler is going to play with such a large chip on his shoulder, he will only make those around him better, and has something he did not have in Denver: talented tight ends!

Want more info to follow heading into and throughout the season, I am now on facebook and twitter.

http://twitter.com/fraschettik

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profootball.insight

Kurt Fraschetti

Senior Fantasy Football Writer-MidwestSportsFans.com

LOTD: NFL Network Coverage of 2009 NFL Draft Has Been Informative, Entertaining, Outstanding

At 3:00 yesterday afternoon I faced a very important decision: which channel would I set the TV on to guide me through the 2009 NFL Draft. Both ESPN and the NFL Network featured live, all-day coverage of the draft and I had the option of both in HD.

Obviously, the ESPN coverage is the one I am most familiar with, as it was the only option before the NFL Network came along. However, I decided to give the NFL Network a try, trusting that Rich Eisen would not lead me astray.

I think it was a great decision.

Obviously I cannot specifically compare the NFLN coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft to that of ESPN, because I have had the TV tuned to NFLN for 99% of the draft (switching over only at a few commercials to see if I was missing anything). But based on experience, I cannot imagine ESPN coming anywhere close to being as informative, entertaining, and simply put, as outstanding, as the NFLN has been.

Rich Eisen is outstanding as the host, letting his panel of experts be the star of the show rather than himself. Not sure you could ever suggest such a thing about Chris Berman. Plus, Mike Mayock is my favorite of the draft scout talking heads. I trust his opinions far more than Tood McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., and I never get a sense that Mayock’s ego is talking; rather, he always seems to provide measured, balanced, and informed analysis of each player and pick that comes through. I have no idea how the Todd McShay-Mel Kiper dynamic has worked this year, but I do know that I’m excited not to know. I don’t trust the opinions of either one as much as I trust Mike Mayock and Charley Casserly.

As for the other guys on the NFLN – Jon Gruden, Jamie Dukes, Marshall Faulk, and Charles Davis (plus Steve Marriucci on Saturday) – I think they provided a productive balance of insight, contradiction, and interaction that was very compelling. By contrast, I never get the feeling that Keyshawn Johnson has spent more than five minutes preparing for a show. With the NFLN team, while they are not perfect by any means, I felt much more comfortable that the content of their statements was just as important, if not moreso, than the style.

And that’s my main source of appreciation for the NFLN over ESPN: the NFLN has a great balance of style and substance; ESPN always seems to come off as more style, less substance, in my opinion.

Now let’s get to today’s Link of the Day, a perfect manifestation of the NFLN’s ability to balance style and substance.

One of the fun, gimmicky features of the NFLN’s coverage is their use of camera trickery to give their analysts oddly shaped heads. It is one of those juvenile, sophomoric features that doesn’t sound particularly great in theory; in practice, however, it’s hilarious and a terrific addition as a periodic comedic break in an otherwise long, serious, and analytical weekend.

Mike Florio and ProFootballTalk obviously agrees, and we link out to PFT for today’s Link of the Day, plus offer Florio the credit for doing what I failed to do: be resourceful enough to bust out the camera phone and take picks of the humorous head enlargement interlude. Rich Eisen’s big head moment is pictured to the right. Click through to PFT to see the equally hilarious pictures of Jon Gruden, Jamie Dukes, and Marshall Faulk.

LOTD: A New Kind of Fathead — (Pro Football Talk)

The folks at NFLN, perhaps recognizing that the lengthy draft process benefits from some periodic comic relief, have been using from time to time a camera distortion trick that creates the impression that a guy’s head is incredibly large.

(They do it at ESPN when Trent Dilfer or Mel Kiper are on the screen, but without any technical gimmickery.)

I’ve had the TV tuned to the NFL Network non-stop since 3:00 yesterday afternoon. As far as I’m concerned, they get an A from me for their overall coverage and analysis of the 2009 NFL Draft.

And if Jon Gruden does not go back into coaching, he needs to become a consistent presence on pregame shows or in the booth as a color announcer. Of all the guys on the NFLN coverage, Gruden seemed to be least comprehensively prepared in terms of analyzing specific players, but he was the most compelling panelist member because of his personality, humor, and general ability to provide relevant NFL insight.

Kudos to the NFL Network. As long as they are covering the NFL Draft live at the level they did this weekend, my TV will not be tuned to ESPN again.

And some other links for you on a windy, overcast Sunday here in Dallas:

• NFL Draft Grades: Day 1 Report Card — (NFL Fanhouse)
• Mangini not welcome in Lubbock — (Matt Barrows, 49ers Blog)
• NFL Draft: Eric Mangini and George Kokinis Speak About Dat 1 — (Waiting For Next Year)
• 2009 NFL Draft Paparazzi — (Sparty and Friends)
• Three-Sub Saturday: White Sox’ Secret Weapon — (South Side Sox)
• The Wizard of Oz: What Will Ozzie Newsome Do Next? — (Foot Basket)
• HHR & Yardbarker at NFL Draft Classic — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)
• Zach Greinke and Johan Santana: Two For the Ages — (Josh Q. Public)
• Kiper, McShay, or Mayock? — (Shutdown Corner)

Chicago White Sox 2009 National TV Schedule: WGN, ESPN, FOX

As a displaced White Sox fanatic living in Dallas, I do not have the daily joy of being able to flip on Fox Sports Chicago or WCIU and listening to the wonderful sounds of Hawk Harrelson calling White Sox games. No, I must suffer through GameCasting the majority of the White Sox season until I can afford to splurge on the MLB package. I am hoping that this is my last season to be without it.

Because of this incredible hardship that I must endure, the first time I look through the White Sox schedule I am always on the lookout for three very important acronyms: WGN, ESPN, and FOX. These are my precious National TV opportunities to watch the White Sox play, and I do everything in my power never to miss one of them.

I just took inventory of the White Sox 2009 National TV Schedule and decided that I’d throw a quick post together for any other White Sox fans out there for whom this is necessary information. A few key things to remember:

• All times are Central
• This is as of February 24, so is always subject to change
• A lot of the FOX games are subject to regional coverage (those bastards)
• The current dearth of games over the final two weeks of the season leads me to believe that FOX and ESPN hold out to schedule these games to see what races are hot. I assume that the AL Central will be hotly contested this year, and that the White Sox will be in the thick of it, so I anticipate some of these late-season games being moved to national TV.
• Chicago White Sox Complete 2009 Schedule

For those of you lucky enough to live in Chicago, or to live in a town where the White Sox are visiting this season (May 1-3! White Sox at Rangers! I’ll be there…) here is a quick resource where you can buy tickets if you want to take in an afternoon at the ballpark:

Chicago White Sox Tickets at StubHub

And now, onto the 2009 National TV schedule for your defending AL Central champion Chicago White Sox:

Did ARod Save Face Today? An Analysis of the Alex Rodriguez-Peter Gammons ESPN Interview

By now I think everyone knows that Alex Rodriguez has admitted to using banned substances between 2001 and 2003 when he was a member of the Texas Rangers.

I would assume that most people have probably seen the interview with Peter Gammons as well, so a complete summary is not necessary.

Before I get into my analysis, I do want to point out the hilarity of the picture to the left. This was taken on my phone while watching the interview on ESPNews.

Apparently the people at ESPN really wanted everyone to know that ARod had admitted to using steroids. As if watching and listening to the interview wasn’t enough, we have three separate windows on the screen informing us of the breaking news.

ESPN sure knows how to do overkill better than any other network, don’t they?

Anyway, after watching the full length of the interview and reviewing the full transcript at ESPN.com, there are a few excerpts that I don’t think are getting enough attention. Here they are, with my analysis below.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #1:

PETER GAMMONS: ESPN surveyed a number of doctors and experts in this field, and they said the Primobolan could never be prescribed by a doctor. But it was accessible?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: First of all, I want to see these tests because I haven’t seen them … I am saying I’m guilty of being naive and not having all the information and being negligent. But I would love to see the tests before I start answering questions that I’ve never even heard before, probably yesterday for the first time.

So, again, I am guilty of being very naive, and I’m deeply sorry for that.

I think it is important to note that Alex Rodriguez never explicitly admits to using “steroids” or even performance-enhancing drugs” during the course of the interview. All he says is that he experimented and was negligent in using “banned substances” that are now against baseball rules. I’ve seen this pointed out on other blogs, and obviously it is a product of ARod being coached up by his lawyers and/or agent before the interview not to admit to anything specific. As a fan, I appreciate his willingness to face the music on national TV with Peter Gammons, but he is most certainly not completely forthright in terms of discussing specifics.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #2:

PETER GAMMONS: Now, you mentioned the Katie Couric interview. You were asked if you ever used steroids, human growth hormones or other performance-enhancing substances. You said no, flat-out no. In your mind, that wasn’t a lie?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: At the time, Peter, I wasn’t even being truthful with myself. How am I going to be truthful with Katie or CBS? Today, I’m here to tell the truth, and I feel good about that. I think my fans deserve that. I’m ready to put everything behind me and go play baseball. You know, we have a great team this year. I couldn’t be more excited about the guys that we’ve brought in, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett … It’s an important time in my life to turn the page and focus on what’s next.

PETER GAMMONS: So from 2004 on, you have been completely clean?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Yes.

I am glad that he addressed the Couric interview, because he told a bald-faced lie to the nation. Whether or not he knew that he had failed a test, he certainly knew at the time that he had taken PEDs, and he wisely realized there was no way of wriggling out of that one.

The irony of the next question from Gammons though, coming on the heels of explaining his lie to Katie Couric, is just delicious. I really want to believe Alex Rodriguez in today’s interview, and give him the benefit of the doubt, but how do we know that he’s being truthful with himself, and us, now?

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #3:

PETER GAMMONS: You were tested during the WBC [World Baseball Classic] in 2006, is that correct?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Correct. I got tested in 2006. And also this year when I go down to Puerto Rico, I’m sure I’ll get tested again in 2009.

Prior to Texas, I really had — at that time in Seattle, I had never even heard of a player taking a substance, a steroid of any kind in my Seattle days. I mean, I know this lady from Sports Illustrated, Selena Roberts, is trying to throw things out there that in high school I tried steroids. I mean, that’s the biggest bunch of baloney I’ve ever heard in my life.

I mean, what makes me upset is that Sports Illustrated pays this lady, Selena Roberts, to stalk me. This lady has been thrown out of my apartment in New York City. This lady has five days ago just been thrown out of the University of Miami police for trespassing. And four days ago she tried to break into my house where my girls are up there sleeping, and got cited by the Miami Beach police. I have the paper here. This lady is coming out with all these allegations, all these lies because she’s writing an article for Sports Illustrated and she’s coming out with a book in May.

Really respectable journalists are following this lady off the cliff and following her lead. And that, to me, is unfortunate.

This excerpt is one of the most compelling in the entire interview. First, continuing with the irony, ARod says that Selena Roberts’ purported claims that he took steroids in high school is the “biggest bunch of baloney” he’s ever heard. Hmm…it seems to me like ARod’s outright lie to Katie Couric on national television was just as big a bunch of baloney, if not moreso, seeing as how we have no way of knowing whether he did in fact take steroids in high school or not.

Then he totally catches me, and probably most everybody else, completely off guard with his accusations against Selena Roberts. I can’t wait to hear her and SI’s response to this. If true, it’s pretty salacious; and you have to reasonably assume it’s true or else ARod has completely lost his mind. I’m not sure if this was the right forum to present these accusations, and divert the attention from apologizing for his own mistakes, but these claims certainly need to be vetted out in public and will provide even more layers of intrigue to a pretty outrageous story all around.

(Update: Selena Roberts has released a statement categorically denying ARod’s claims that she stalked him, which you can view over at FanHouse, and which I can link you to because Jay Mariotti did not write the article. The FanHouse article also includes some details about the upcoming book that Selena Roberts is writing about ARod — yet another layer to the escalating feud between the two. Thanks to Tim over at MLBTradeRumors for tipping me off to the fact that Roberts had issued a statement.)

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #4:

PETER GAMMONS: A lot has been said about the fact that the union did not get those samples destroyed, which involves over a hundred players. Are you bitter at all that the union didn’t get those tests destroyed?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: No, I mean, God has done this for a reason. There’s a reason why. I can care less about what the union did. I could care less about what Selena Roberts did. This has to come out. This is very important.

The most important thing for me in my career is to be honest and forthright, to go into my ‘09 season as part of the greatest organization in the world, as one of the guys to go out and try to reach our goal.

And when you have that monkey on your back, it’s really hard to be the person that you know you can be. It’s hard to fulfill your potential that way.

I’m not sure God really cares one way or another whether ARod got outed for steroids, but I’ll let him go with it if it makes him sleep better at night. His statement here that honesty and integrity are the most important things in his career is downright laughable.

He has been lying, either implicitly or explicitly, for the last six years. Now, when the story goes public and he is backed into a corner, he decides that honesty is the only way. I can’t even take him seriously listening to that statement.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #5:

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: [at the end of his response to a question about what he learned from watching Andy Pettitte handle a similar situation by publicly coming clean and apologizing]

…You know, one thing I’m learning as I get older, and hopefully a little wiser, is that honesty, the truth will set you free. I’m just proud that I’m here sharing my story. Regardless of what the union — this is no one’s fault. This is my fault. I’m responsible for this. And I’m deeply sorry for that.

ARod does deserve some credit for continuously saying that it is no one’s fault but his, and not throwing the Players Union under the bus for screwing up by not destroying the samples. I’m sure that inside he’s pissed about it, and he probably should not have gone on and on about all the pressure he felt – single mothers raising multiple kids might like to argue about who deals with more pressure – but he didn’t blame anyone else when given the chance, only the circumstances and environment.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #6:

PETER GAMMONS: Everyone cares about what other people think.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Uh-huh.

PETER GAMMONS: This weekend, there was a quote — there was an unnamed Yankee front-office official who said his legacy is now gone. There’s a column in the New York Daily News that started out, now it appears he really is A-Fraud, Alex Rodriguez can forget about have been his run at Barry Bonds’ all-time home run record taken seriously and can probably forget about the Hall of Fame, too. What do you say about that?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: I’m sorry if Bill feels that way. He’s one of the respected journalist I respect in New York. And, again, you know, I feel that — I hope that people don’t follow this Selena Roberts lady and take their lead. I hope they look at this and give it time and realize that this was three years that I’m not proud of, it’s three years I’m going out there, but to really judge me on, you know, prior Texas and post Texas. And that’s all I want.

Also, I have nine years remaining in my career where I can still do some pretty special things, I think.

This excerpt is just curious on many levels. Peter Gammons never names either the Yankee front office official or the New York Daily News writer by name, but ARod starts off by saying he’s sorry “if Bill feels that way.” Perhaps someone can enlighten me: who is Bill? Maybe I missed something, but ARod certainly didn’t. He either knew who the front office official was or had read the Daily News article. Please leave a note in the comments if I am misinterpreting this.

(Update: Thanks again to Tim over at MLBTradeRumors.com, the best MLB blog out there in my humble opinion, who kindly informed me that the “Bill” in question is Bill Madden of the New York Daily News.)

And what was he getting at by, again, throwing Selena Roberts under the bus? He hopes people don’t follow her lead? I guess if he means trying to break into his house, as he alluded to earlier, I understand. But if he means investigating the truth and reporting it, then he’s talking out of both sides of his mouth. I thought honesty and integrity where the most important things to his career? That’s what he said. He seems to be waffling here.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #7:

PETER GAMMONS: Are you worried at all what it’s going to be like those nine years in New York?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Look, I think New Yorkers like honesty. I think they like people that say the truth. I also think they like great players that know how to win. And I think winning’s the ultimate medicine we can take here. If we can win a championship, if we can play well, if we can play well down the stretch, I think New Yorkers love to forgive you.

And right now, I made a mistake. I was stupid. I was an idiot, all these things. And I think New Yorkers can probably relate with that every once in a while. And I think they want to see me, now that I’ve come forward, continue and, like with Andy Pettitte, be a great player again.

This is by far my favorite excerpt in the interview, and it’s even better if you play it live and can see his facial expressions and tone. He describes himself as making a mistake, being stupid, and being an idiot, and then says that “New Yorkers can probably relate with that every once in a while”. And in the interview footage, he kind of smirks as if to say that New Yorkers can relate to being stupid and idiotic because they are too –- every once in a while of course.

I’m not sure how this line will play in New York, but something tells me that tongue-in-cheek digs at the people from the city in which he currently plays, many of whom are ready to boo him at the drop of a hat, is not the best way to garner support from the home fans and rebuild his New York reputation.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #8:

PETER GAMMONS: Now, Jose Canseco talked a lot in his books about you. He claimed in his last book that he hooked you up with a guy that was very well acquainted with performance-enhancing drugs here in Miami. Is that true?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: That couldn’t be more false. That’s a hundred percent not true. And, you know, it’s kind of interesting how “SportsCenter” and ESPN still quote this guy. No, it’s a hundred percent false.

Well sadly ARod, Jose Canseco actually has a little more credibility than you do right now. Say what you will about Canseco’s career and the train wreck that is his personal life, but every new steroid revelation seems to vindicate him more and more. That’s why people keep quoting him, and they will as long as his credibility, which respect to steroids at least, remains as strong as it is.

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #9:

PETER GAMMONS: When some young player or some player comes up to you and says, ‘All right, you knew that what you were taking was illegal. Why did you do it?’ How do you answer that?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Well, I’ve answered that. I mean, I think it comes back to the culture was much different. It had a lot to do with me being stupid and selfish and naive and just, you know, I got caught up in this ‘everybody’s doing it’ era. So, you know, why not experiment with X, Y or Z?

You know, there’s absolutely no excuses, and I feel deep regret for that.

This excerpt contains perhaps the greatest instance of Freudian truth in the entire interview. ARod says that there are no excuses, and that he feels deep regret “for that”. Deep regret for what ARod? That you cheated and took PEDs or that there are no more excuses, you were outed, and had to come clean? Seeing as how he straight up lied to Katie Couric, and did not come forward until he had no other choice for the sake of his reputation, I think while he probably does legitimately feel bad for cheating, the honest truth is that his biggest regret is that he didn’t get away with it. Call me a pessimist I guess, but if his biggest regret really was that he cheated, why would he wait until now to come forward?

Alex Rodriguez ESPN Interview Transcript Excerpt #10:

PETER GAMMONS: Did you learn anything from the congressional hearings and some of the players with comments who have been in staunch denial? Did you learn from them?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: You know, again, I don’t like to focus on anybody else but my situation. I think there’s always something to be learned. There’s a lesson to be learned in every situation.

I just know that for me, you know, putting everything out there and being honest was the most important thing.

PETER GAMMONS: Are you concerned that over the next few months this will hurt baseball?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Maybe over the next few months it will hurt baseball, but in the long run, I think it will help. I think any time you put the truth out there, I think it’s very painful in the beginning, but I think at the end of the tunnel, there will be light. And, you know, I think the more of that that happens, the more light will be revealed at the end of the tunnel for the game of baseball as well.

This is another point on which I take exception with how ARod conducted his apology.

Throughout the interview he seems to shine of spotlight of altruism on himself like he is making this grand gesture by coming forward. Am I mistaken? Did he have this come-clean interview with Peter Gammons already scheduled before the SI story broke?

No, he didn’t.

Selena Roberts and SI are the ones who brought this story to light, and ARod is doing nothing more than trying to keep his sorry ass a little further away from the fire. His reputation and Hall of Fame candidacy are already sinking, and he’s just doing damage control to keep it from sinking further.

If he really believes the “bunch of baloney” that he’s spouting about the glory of putting the truth out there and the light at the end of the tunnel, and blah blah blah, then he wouldn’t also be saying, “I hope that people don’t follow this Selena Roberts lady and take their lead” (from the excerpt above).

Selena Roberts, while apparently overzealous if ARod’s accusations are to be believed, is the one who brought the truth to light. If he were really being genuine about how great it feels to be honest, then I would think he’d stop implying that he is doing some great service to kids and the game of baseball by coming forward. He would instead be commending Selena Roberts for compelling him to do the right thing.

Instead, of course, he spent a good part of the interview disparaging her.

Final Impression

As you can probably tell from the tone of my analysis, I do not consider this interview a “victory” for ARod. Earlier today, Tyler posted some nice commentary regarding what ARod needs to do to “save face” moving forward. I agreed with most of what Tyler said, and personally I don’t think that Alex Rodriguez did or said enough in today’s interview to save any face.

I give him credit for taking questions (albeit pretty softball questions) in front of a national audience, but he made too many excuses, offered up too little detail, and was completely dismissive of the work done by Selena Roberts in finding out the truth. I think that from a damage control perspective, the interview served its basic purpose; but it could have done so much more.

Was anyone else left with a nagging feeling that Alex Rodriguez was not being completely forthright, but just saying the bare minimum to get him through the interview? Yet, he kept saying how good it felt to get the truth out there. I realize there are probably legal concerns and implications, so maybe he was hamstrung by those. Still, after watching that video of him lying to Katie Couric, it’s hard to know whether he should be believed now.

At the end of the day, as I said in my post yesterday, I’ve always had great respect for ARod’s amazing baseball talent but little else. The SI allegations certainly lessened his greatness in my eyes, and today’s interview did nothing to repair my broken view of him as a person or player.

How did Alex Rodiguez's interview with Peter Gammons on ESPN affect your opinion of ARod?

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Once again, the biggest storyline heading into this baseball season will be the ARod soap opera in New York. We can only hope that he, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and the rest of the Yankees flop so that they aren’t a major story come September.