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Just made my morning jaunt over to Deadspin and caught a fascinating video that shows Joe Mauer blatantly tipping pitches to Jason Kubel during the Twins-Tigers series.
Mauer is on second base with Justin Verlander pitching. The cat and mouse game, exquisitely captioned by whoever created the video, is a rare glimpse into the game-within-the-game that can be so often overlooked when watching a baseball game.
For some reason, all I can think about right now is how much I would love to hear Hawk Harrelson announcing this sequence.
Wow, crazy scene in Lexington tonight involving Tim Tebow.
Already feeling the effects of a “respiratory condition” than many were speculating might be the H1N1 virus (aka swine flu), Tebow was knocked out of tonight’s Florida-Kentucky game and taken to the hospital with a possible concussion.
The hit occurred with 12:41 left in the game and he obviously did not return. Before being injured, Tebow threw for 103 yards and a TD, and he also ran for 123 yards plus two scores.
Here is the painful video of the hit by Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham that knocked Tebow out:
Last week, there were two nominees for the NFL Play of the Day from Sunday: Adrian Peterson’s stiff-arm romp against the Browns and Brandon Stokley’s improbable TD catch to lead Denver to victory over Cincinnati.
This week, I think it’s safe to say that there is only one.
While there were certainly plenty of highlights yesterday, as there always are on Sundays, no play was more impressive or important than Ray Lewis’ amazing 4th and 2 stop of Darren Sproles.
The stop sealed the road win for Baltimore over San Diego, which moved Baltimore to 2-0 on the season, and proved that Ray Lewis still has at least a little bit of gas left in the tank.
Something tells me that this was not the look on Philip Rivers’ face as Ray Lewis stuffed the Chargers’ chances of winning.
Follow the link to StubHub for great deals on all 2009 NFL tickets.
The video is below.
Video: Ray Lewis Stuffs Darren Sproles on 4th and 2
Coming in a close second for Play of the Day has to be Jerry Jones, who dug hard but probably did not go deep enough to get what he was looking for (booger or victory, you decide).
Honestly, this video is not really all that big of a deal, and wouldn’t even merit a mention if it weren’t for Jerry Jones. For a guy who is so obsessively consumed with his own image, and that of the Cowboys, I can’t imagine he’ll be happy to see this video floating around.
Add in the fact that it came on perhaps his most important night as an owner — the opening of his immaculate shrine to himself (where the Cowboys will also play their home games) — and the irony makes it funny.
Thanks to our good buddy Robert Littal over at Black Sports Online for sending us the links to the videos below, which I think are easily the two plays of the day so far during the first Sunday of games in the 2009 NFL season.
The first video probably takes the cake as Week 1 Play of the Day, considering it won the game for the Denver Broncos. If you haven’t yet seen it, it’s pretty incredible. Down 7-6, Denver was backed up around its own 20, having under 0:30 to try to get into field goal range.
Brandon Stokley helped them do far better than a field goal.
As the video shows below, Kyle Orton tries to connect with Brandon Marshall, the ball gets tipped up into the air, and Brandon Stokley serendipitously snatches it and runs the length of the field for a touchdown.
What an awful way to lose if you are a Benglas fan.
Of course, the play is made doubly great for football fans because Gus Johnson was assigned to the game. Not that Gus Johnson needs amazing game-winning plays like this to inject some excitement into the proceedings.
Video: Brandon Stokley Game-Winning TD Catch for Broncos over Bengals
The next play is no less impressive from a physical standpoint, but did not have the effect that Stokley’s TD catch had.
And unfortunately it came against my Browns.
Adrian Peterson, simply put, is an absolute beast. Despite having a pretty ho-hum first half, Peterson exploded in the second half, especially during the decisive 3rd quarter. The Vikings imposed their will on the Browns and pounded them into submission with a steady dose of the NFL’s best player.
This run, which includes an impressive stiff arm, and then Peterson actually coming to nearly a complete stop as he jukes a Browns defender before accelerating to the endzone, is all the evidence anyone should need to realize that Adrian Peterson is just on another level.
Video: Adrian Peterson Stiff-Arm and TD Run for Vikings Against Browns
I know that it’s football season, but please allow me to indulge in a little IU basketball talk.
Caught word on Peegs.com this morning that Victor Oladipo has committed to the IU. Oladipo is a 6′4 guard from basketball powerhouse DeMatha and joins 6′6 wing David Williams of Jacksonville, FL as IU’s two commits thus far for 2010.
Browsing various scouting reports about Oladipo, he is currently on the fringe of being a consensus top 100 player in the nation and is rising because of a great summer. Â Oladipo is described as being in constant motion offensively although not yet a great mid-range shooter, is a defensive-minded player, and has obvious hops (see video below). He is also apparently very academic-minded and once beat up a guy at church because he thought the dude looked like Kelvin Sampson.
Okay, so that last part is not true…but how quickly would he endear himself to the IU faithful if it was?
To sum up the Victor Oladipo scouting report, it sounds like he is an athletic jack-of-all-trades who, as of yet, is a master of none. But he fits the Tom Crean profile of a high-energy, high-character guy around which Crean can build his up-tempo, attacking style of basketball.
Anyway, when most people think of Indiana basketball, they think of goofy white guys in really short shorts. Sure, there have been plenty of such players to come through the program, but times have changed. (And for the record, the goofy guy to the right, Brian Evans, was named Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior, so you can stop your snickering…ass.)
Not only do the Hoosiers now wear shorts of a reasonable length, but Tom Crean is putting together what appears to be a pretty athletic roster. Once he arrives at IU Oladipo will join, among others, athletic 2009 freshmen Christian Watford and Maurice Creek, and based on the video below — a dunk-fest featuring Oladipo and long-time friend Creek — there could be some pretty exciting fast breaks in Bloomington in the years to come.
Oladipo, the No. 133 recruit in the nation according to Rivals.com, committed Monday to playing college basketball at IU. His commitment came after a night of prayer and time with his family.
“God had pointed me toward Indiana,†he said. “He was giving me signs. I felt like that was where He wants me to go.â€
Well, all I have to say is that Oladipo is like many IU fans in that respect. Of course, the god who led us to IU basketball is probably not the same one to which young Victor is referring.
Oladipo also said that the relationship he developed with Tom Crean, as well as his longtime relationship with Maurice Creek, influenced his decision.
While I would like to see Crean pluck a few more native Hoosiers from the high school ranks as he completes his 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes, Oladipo appears to be a guy that we can all get excited about. He may not be a superstar blue-chipper, but he could end up being the kind of four-year (*cough…AJ*) player that (*cough…Moye*) consistent winning college teams are built around.
Welcome aboard Victor. I can speak from experience and say that you will love Bloomington. And if reports of your effort, hustle, and character prove true, I can definitely say that Bloomington and the IU faithful will love you right back.
When I used to teach at an alternative high school down in Miami, one of the most often used terms my students would say is “duck.” And being called a “duck” was not a good thing. It meant something along the lines of being cowardly and acting like a wuss. (And I know this because they gave me a vocab test one day in return for all the vocab tests I gave them.)
Well, the definition of “duck” is now crystal clear: Oregon Duck running back LeGarrette Blount.
I woke up this morning excited to hear how the college football games went last night that I didn’t get a chance to see, and all they are talking about on ESPN is the sucker punch that Oregon RB LeGarette Blount landed on Boise State’s Byron Hout.
As you’ll see in the video below, Hout appears to be talking trash and makes contact with Blount (and should be reprimanded by his coaches for it), but it certainly does not excuse what happened next.
If you haven’t seen the punch yet, and then Blount having to be restrained from going into the stands to presumably give the same treatment to fans, here is the unfortunate video:
Video: LeGarrette Blount restrained from attacking fans
And then after the game, Blount offered one of the least sincere apologies I have ever seen. Forgive me for being judgmental — and I realize he’s just a young kid who has some very obvious emotional problems whose head was probably spinning while giving the apology — but hopefully no one at Oregon is fooled by this canned, forced apology like they were fooled earlier this year.
According to the announcers, Mark Jones and Bob Davie, Blount had been suspended earlier this year. He had purportedly learned to control his emotions and was allowed back on the team, at least according to what they were saying while watching everything unfold. Clearly, however, he had learned nothing.
LaGarrette Blount needs help and shouldn’t be allowed back on a football field until he gets it. The Oregon Ducks need to do what is right for him, so he can help turn his life and attitude around, and forget about getting him back on the football field until that is accomplished.
Video: LeGarrette Blount apology after hitting Boise State player
What a terrible way for the college football season to begin.
According to the AP report of the game and Blount’s sucker punch, Blount will most likely not be arrested despite immediate post-game rumors suggesting that he might be. Here is what the two coaches had to say about the incident immediately after the game:
Oregon coach Chip Kelly said he would review the game film before making a decision on Blount’s future.
“I did not see anything. I will see it on tape and make a decision on what we need to do with him,” Kelly said. “There is no place for that. I do not condone that. I will make that decision if that is the case.”
Petersen didn’t want to comment on what happened.
“It’s just unfortunate,” he said.
For the record, Boise State won the game 19-8, their first step towards trying to crash the BCS come January. Â Time will tell what the loss and Blount’s eruption will mean for Oregon.
Found this video in today’s Hot Clicks. KVB, prove that this isn’t you. Otherwise, I’m operating with the knowledge that it is. (Hint: pay attention to the fight song that makes this little Tressel-wannabe start bawling.)
I don’t really care about Ohio State one way or the other. Somehow, though, I always end up watching them on Saturdays and talking about them throughout the week because KVB drank the Columbus Kool-Aid long ago and thinks about nothing else from September through Ohio State’s eventual BCS drubbing in January.
For the record, I disagreed with his assessment that Ohio Stadium is the best football stadium in the Big Ten (my vote goes to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley) and I laughed when GQ named Ohio State one of the 25 douchiest colleges in America. But, I sure as hell like Ohio State more than Michigan.
Why do I tell you all of this? Mainly so that you don’t reject the rest of this post as simply being your typical Buckeye propaganda that gets pushed out this time of year by Ohio State’s throngs of sychofans across the country. (like this guy…I know the domain says purdue.edu, but I bet you he’s a Buckeye fan!)
With that said, I want to commend Ohio State for being proactive in showing support to America’s service academies.
Recently, Ohio State began circulating a video that implores its fans to give the Navy Midshipmen football team a rousing ovation — what they are calling the “Take the Field Tribute” — when Navy takes the field at Ohio Stadium on September 5 (click here for tickets). Ohio State head football lieutenant coach Jim Tressel, agrees with idea, saying “We would hope we would treat every opponent with great respect, but I think it’s even raised a notch when you’re talking about people running out on the field who are pledged to defend you.”
(In related news, there is no truth to the rumor that Tressel also wanted to institute a similar ovation policy for every time a special teams unit trots onto the field.)
According to the Take the Field Tribute video, Ohio State hopes “this tradition starts at Ohio State and spreads to other schools who host US Service Academy teams.” Agreed.
Here is the video in its entirety:
Â
Of course, if Ohio State really wanted to be nice to Navy, they would start Joe Bauserman at QB and not Terrelle Pryor, but that’s beside the point.
The video, as you might expect, is filled with typical Buckeye arrogance, claiming that “even visiting teams respect and appreciate the honor and the tradition of Ohio State…and the opportunity to play football in Ohio Stadium.”
It is also filled with outright lies, like this one: “Buckeyes know there are some things more important than football.”
Oh really? I challenge you to find me a Buckeye fan who believes that anything is more important than football. Honestly Ohio State, I think the idea for a Take the Field Tribute is great, but there is no reason to be disingenuous and say things that everyone knows are false.
Regardless, I think this is a fantastic idea and hope that more schools follow suit if they are not doing this already.
I think a lot of us, regardless of our political leaning, myself included, take for granted the freedoms that we have in this country. And that’s as much of a soapbox as I will get on, because I do not think that too many people would disagree with me. A standing ovation from 100,000+ people would certainly be moving, and I am sure that Navy’s football team, as well as military veterans and officers across the globe, would appreciate it.
Plus, for all of the kids in attendance and watching on TV, it would provide a great opportunity for parents to discuss why the fans are cheering for the opposing team while explaining the importance of the sacrifices that military men and women make.
Doug Lesmerisis has a great article at Cleveland.com discussing the planned Ohio State tribute to Navy, with the most apt statement coming at the end:
A rousing welcome in the largest stadium any of them will ever play in is something most of the Navy players would probably remember forever. But their real dream to return from the locker room to start the third quarter and get booed like crazy — because they’re winning.
So, Ohio State fans, after you take part in the Take the Field Tribute and then watch your Buckeyes gets off to their typical sluggish start in the first game of the season to trail 7-6 at the half, remember to boo too.
The Navy football team represents the reason why we can enjoy college football Saturdays so freely. The least fans can do is temporarily put aside their insatiable appetite for victory to honor the men and women who keep us safe and make our way of life possible.
And Buckeye fans, beware: if you don’t show proper respect by participating in the Take the Field Tribute, Jim Tressel will reciprocate your disrespect with a double bunny ear salute when you least expect it.
* – Jim Tressel bunny ears photo credit: AP Photo/Terry Gilliam via ESPN.com
* – Navy football team photo credit: Saul Loeb / Agence France-Presse via Military Times
Pretty lighthearted, funny moment last night during the Cincinnati-New England preseason game. Chad Ochocinco, who grew up playing both soccer and football until choosing to focus on the American version of the game in high school, kicked an extra point and kicked off last night. (Shayne Graham, the Bengals starting kicker, was out nursing an injury.)
And unlike many of his past antics, this one actually didn’t seem all that ridiculous, mainly because he didn’t look out of place as a kicker.
When you watch the video below, pretend I didn’t tell you who was kicking and just watch the flight of the ball. Looks any other extra point you might see. The kickoff (not in the video) was pretty good too, though a little short. It had nice hangtime but was caught around the 11-12 yardline.
My favorite part is the announcers, who are clearly amused by the whole thing, and at one point say, “He’s going to be hard to live with.” Something tells me they probably said the same thing often last season, but with a decidedly more negative connotation.
Video: Chad Ochocinco Kicks Extra Point in Bengals-Patriots Preseason Game
While watching ESPN this morning they showed Bill Belichick and Marvin Lewis at their respective press conferences. Belichick was his typical droll, stoic self, but did say that Chad Johnson was “the best kicker out there” or something to that effect. Not sure if he was just trying to play a subtle motivational game with his own kicker, but I thought it was pretty interesting.
And Marvin Lewis looked like he loved it. What a change a year makes huh?
I’ve always liked Chad Johnson, but haven’t been too fond of his antics since becoming Ochocinco. Hopefully he can put a lot of the overtly selfish stuff behind him and go back to being one of the most dynamic, exciting, and fun players in the NFL. The last 18 months or so have seen him take it way over the top, but his attitude so far this year, and the video of him kicking the extra point above, seem a lot more like the old Chad Johnson. And that is much better for the NFL and certainly better for the Bengals.
Today’s Link and Video of the day is an unfortunate one.
Some girl that I’ve never heard of before sang “God Bless America” last night at the Dodgers-Cardinals game and, well, it didn’t go so well. Follow the link to Busted Coverage’s account of Erika David failing miserably in her singing of “God Bless America”, and then watch video of said failure below.
And, yes, James Loney’s facial expressions are priceless.
Video: Erika David Fails Singing “God Bless America” at Dodgers-Cardinals Game
And now some other links from around the blogosphere for you:
Monday night in San Francisco, Delwyn Young and Pirates teammate Garrett Jones teamed up for an incredible play. The Giants’ Randy Winn flied to shallow right. The ball hit Jones in the leg, but he was able to kick it up in the air, allowing Young to lay out and make a bare hand snag.Â
It truly was a “did you see that” moment!Â
Unfortunately, the umpires didn’t see it.
They ruled the ball hit the ground.
If you haven’t seen the replay yet, here it is below, found via Detroit4Lyfe.com. (The play happens at the 0:23 mark.)
Video: Incredible Catch by Delwyn Young off Garret Jones’ Leg
What’s that? A replay? Oh yeah, something we have at our disposal but are ignoring. Why are we not using replay again?
Too bad for the Pirates duo. The catch of the year. The blooper of the year. The “oh wait, there’s no instant replay so it’s just another cool play” of the year. Damn. This “highlight to end all highlights” lost some luster just because baseball wants to dip its toes in the replay pool before jumping all the way in.
Currently baseball uses replay to verify home run calls. Plus, it’s up to the umpires to check. On the other end of the replay spectrum is the NFL, the new American pastime. The NFL uses every camera angle available on all sorts of calls. Just get it right, that’s what counts.
Baseball is already too long, you say? How about we go halfway. Don’t add any replay unless a red flag is thrown. Yeah that’s right, a flag. Minnesota skipper Rod Gardenhire wants to borrow a page from the NFL rulebook and give each manager a challenge flag.
Works for me. If we had that in place, maybe the Pirates would have had their one moment in the sun this year (they of course lost the game by the way). Fans just want the call right.
Please comment on the current baseball replay system below.
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Scott Reister is a featured contributor to Midwest Sports Fans. Â He is a Sports Anchor for the NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities and Spokane, WA. To learn more about Scott, visit the Scott Reister bio page on Midwest Sports Fans or check out the Local Sports page on KNDU.com.
A few days after completing the first perfect in the Majors in a half decade, Chicago White Sox lefty ace Mark Buehrle joined David Letterman to deliver last night’s Top 10 List. Watch the video below (found via a link at today’s Hot Clicks), or just skip straight to the list, which I’ve painstakingly taken the liberty of transcribing for you after the video.
And congrats to Josh Fields and Dewayne Wise for their cameo. If you blink you might miss it, but it’s nice to see the two unsung heros of Buehrle’s effort get the credit they deserve.
Video: Mark Buehrle Does David Letterman Show Top 10 List
And here is the list in case you’re at work and can’t watch:
Top 10 Things Going Through Mark Buehrle’s Mind While Throwing His Perfect Game:
10. I did it! I did! Oh wait, it’s only the 4th inning.
9. If this doesn’t get Kate Hudson to notice me, nothing will.
8. Too bad I’m not on my own fantasy team.
7. My brother-in-law bowled a perfect game. (then laughs)
6. We’re going to Disney World (with Josh Fields and Dewayne Wise)…and I’m running for the governor of Alaska.
5. Did I remember to TiVo “So You Think You Can Dance.â€
4. I’m leaving after the 7th inning to beat the traffic.
3. Should I shave my back?
2. Sunflower seed…lodged in my windpipe…get help!
1. Maybe I’ll give up one hit so I don’t have to appear on Letterman.
That man is reserve outfielder Dewayne Wise, and I have been happy to hear that everyone who has discussed Buehrle’s achievement yesterday has quick to point out the amazing catch by Wise that prevented Gabe Kapler from ending the perfection in the first at-bat of the 9th inning.
If you have no seen it, watch the video below of the Dewayne Wise catch that Hawk Harrelson has called one of the greatest catches he has seen, considering the circumstances, in his 50 years of baseball. From now one, I will simply call it “Dewayne’s Rise” and it will be forever etched in my memory as one of the great feats of athleticism and clutch defensive work in the history of the Chicago White Sox.
“Dewayne’s Rise”: Video of Dewayne Wise Catch that Saved Perfect Game by Mark Buehrle
The 2009 season has not gone as Wise had planned. He entered Spring Training in a three-man race for the CF and leadoff slots, and ultimately beat out Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson to begin the year in the starting lineup. But Wise has never found a comfort level at the plate this year and is hitting just .196 through 97 ABs.
Dewayne Wise is a 31-year old journeyman who has played for Toronto, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and the White Sox, never ammassing more than 162 ABs in a season. Many people, including Dewayne himself probably, thought this could be the year in which he finally got 400-500 ABs to prove that he can be an everyday player at the Major League level. It has not happened, and I can only imagine how frustrated he must be.
But very few players have the opportunity to make a play that will forever etch their name and image into the fabric of a franchise. Dewayne Wise may never start consistently for the White Sox, or anyone else for that matter. He may never emerge as more than 4th or 5th outfielder and defensive replacement. He will, however, always be able to pop in a tape of Mark Buehrle’s perfect game and take pride in the fact that he rose to the occasion when his number was called and put a spectacular bow on the 18 most spectacular pitching performances in the history of game.
I’ve been one of many people who have wondered why Ozzie Guillen has stuck with Wise this season. Yesterday, Dewayne proved why he is worthy of a spot on the White Sox roster. It is ironic that one of baseball’s worst defensive teams would have perhaps the most indellible and meaningful defensive play of the season. That it was the unsung and unheralded Dewayne Wise makes it all the most surprising…and rewarding.
But Dewayne Wise will now go down in history right along with Mark Buehrle as the co-authors of yesterday’s perfect game. Congratulations Dewayne on seizing your opportunity to etch your name in White Sox lore.
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I know that it’s football season, but please allow me to indulge in a little IU basketball talk.
Anyway, when most people think of Indiana basketball, they think of goofy white guys in really short shorts. Sure, there have been plenty of such players to come through the program, but times have changed. (And for the record, the goofy guy to the right, Brian Evans, was named Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior, so you can stop your snickering…ass.)
Good lord.
And then after the game, Blount offered one of the least sincere apologies I have ever seen. Forgive me for being judgmental — and I realize he’s just a young kid who has some very obvious emotional problems whose head was probably spinning while giving the apology — but hopefully no one at Oregon is fooled by this canned, forced apology like they were fooled earlier this year.
With that said, I want to commend Ohio State for being proactive in showing support to America’s service academies.
Regardless, I think this is a fantastic idea and hope that more schools follow suit if they are not doing this already.
Pretty lighthearted, funny moment last night during the Cincinnati-New England preseason game. Chad Ochocinco, who grew up playing both soccer and football until choosing to focus on the American version of the game in high school, kicked an extra point and kicked off last night. (Shayne Graham, the Bengals starting kicker, was out nursing an injury.)
Monday night in San Francisco, Delwyn Young and Pirates teammate Garrett Jones teamed up for an incredible play. The Giants’ Randy Winn flied to shallow right. The ball hit Jones in the leg, but he was able to kick it up in the air, allowing Young to lay out and make a bare hand snag. 
After throwing the 
