Archive for the ‘Blog Rants’ Category
Tiger Rules Augusta
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Raise your hand if you stopped watching the Masters golf tournament at about 5 pm Easter Sunday. That would coincide with Tiger Woods’ finishing his round, teamed with Phil Mickelson. The fact that Woods finished bogey, bogey hardly diminished the roar that followed him on the back nine. When he pulled to within one shot of the lead after a birdie at 16, did you have chills? I did.
I actually believed, just like Jesus did many years earlier, Tiger had risen from the dead. He had begun his round seven shots off the lead, as did Mickelson. Despite Phil owning the front nine, legends are made coming down the stretch at Augusta on Sunday. And Tiger nearly created a new one. Even though Mickelson was right there with him, just one shot behind, no one considered him a threat. The throng that followed the pair was awaiting another Tiger miracle.
What wonderful odds you could have gotten in Vegas as Tiger teed off on 17! Would he finish birdie birdie or birdie par? No one even considered bogey bogey. I certainly didn’t. As is the case with Tiger far too often at Augusta, his driver was his nemesis. An errant tee shot off 17 and an even worse drive on 18 finished the dream comeback. But I ask you this. Wherever you were watching, was everyone glued to the screen when Tiger was within one? You bet they were. And I’ll bet no one even knew who he was trailing. They just knew Tiger was one from the lead and another green jacket.
That he didn’t pull it off was almost secondary. CBS had their ratings and Kenny Perry choked in the playoff. But this tournament ended at about 5 pm local time. That’s when Tiger Woods finished his round and everyone enjoyed their Easter dinner. As the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, the talk of Augusta will be how Tiger nearly did it, not how Angel Cabrera won in a playoff.
No, folks, Tiger really does own Augusta, even when he chokes. There’s a special relationship between him and the ten-deep that were thrilled by his every shot. And, especially at Augusta where tradition rules, it will always be that way. Maybe it was his winning in so dominant a fashion as a young buck. Maybe it was the miraculous chip that made Nike a fortune as the logo on the ball sat still for the cameras before dropping in the cup to win his last green jacket. Maybe it’s just the ghosts of champions past that walk the fairways and greens of this most hallowed venue. Does it really matter? The dude owns the place. Sorry Phil.
Posted in Blog Rants | 55 Comments »
Warner is Hall of Famer
Monday, January 12th, 2009
People continue to wonder if Kurt Warner is deserving of the Hall of Fame. It’s truly a no-brainer. Jim Thomas of the Post Dispatch said on the ITD Morning After show this morning that Warner hadn’t been a starter in more than five seasons. In fact, it’s seven. He then said if Warner gets the Cardinals to the Super Bowl this year he would be a Hall of Famer.
No disrespect to Jim, but how can this be? If he’s not a HOFer because he hasn’t played enough, how in the world can he gain admission by simply winning one more game? Doesn’t make any sense. That’s where I come in.
Warner has been a starter of 10 games or more in seven seasons. In that time span he has much better numbers than Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath and host of other HOFers. His quarterback rating is better than Joe Montana’s. He’s won two MVP awards and was robbed of a third this season. He’s won a Super Bowl and was named the game’s MVP. He’s led the moribund Cardinal franchise into the NFC Championship game for the first time in franchise history. That alone should qualify him for HOF status.
This debate is absurd. It’s my fervent opinion that if Kurt Warner kept his faith a secret you wouldn’t hear these disparaging things said about his career. Even now, his success with the Cardinals is downgraded because, after all, he has Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to throw to. I didn’t see Boldin on the field against Carolina but I did see Warner cooly guide this team to a startling upset, throwing two TD passes along the way. He’s had no running game and no defense until the playoff run.
By the way, I never heard anyone downgrade Montana or Steve Young because they were throwing to Jerry Rice and John Taylor. Or Peyton Manning for throwing to Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokely. Or Bradshaw to Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Give it a rest.
Face it. When the time comes for Kurt Warner to retire, he’ll go into the HOF the first year of his eligibility. If he doesn’t, close the shrine in Canton and I’d be in favor of executing the writers that didn’t vote for him. And when he gives his acceptance speech he’ll praise his savior, Jesus Christ, and give glory to God, just as he’s always done. And because you don’t measure up to Warner as a man, don’t be jealous. Ask yourself how you could live your life better, as he has.
Tags: footbal, hall of fame, kurt warner, warner
Posted in Blog Rants, View All | 6 Comments »
Utah is National Champion
Monday, January 12th, 2009
I’ve heard all of the arguments why the BCS is the best, most feasible way of determining a National Champion. And I reject them all, categorically. The folks at the BCS would have you believe this is a fair system to all. And even if it’s not, the Big Six Conferences deserve what they’ve taken as theirs.
First a little background. Did you know that the BCS consists of ELEVEN conferences? Didn’t think so. Neither did I until I researched the history of this foolhardy exercise. But all 11 aren’t treated as equal partners. This is where the antitrust violation, I believe, comes into play. The Big Six (Pac 10, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Big East) receive $18.5 million per conference per team selected. By contrast the Little Five get about $9 million for one team’s selection and about $4 million for a second school. This money is split evenly among the conference members of the school selected.
In addition, we all know a team from the Little Five will never qualify for the BCS Championship game because they won’t be able to accumulate enough points in the system per strength of schedule. Why? The Big Six won’t schedule them in the regular season unless it’s a home game for the Big Six school. And even then it’s done so rarely it would cure cancer. This is what’s known as unfair competition.
I’m amazed at the power the Bowls carry. Any moron can figure out a way to stage an 8-team playoff using the bowls as game sites and avoid interrupting semester exams. The BCS and bowl people want you to think this is an insurmountable hurdle. The real hurdle is they would have to split any revenues from a playoff evenly. This they won’t do unless it’s at gunpoint. And that’s it in a nutshell.
Therefore, by virtue of the power invested in me by right thinking people, I hereby declare Utah the true National Champion. They took on all comers, pounded the regular season BCS Number One and didn’t lose a single game. They’re the only team in the country that doesn’t have to explain away a loss. They beat six bowl teams, including Oregon State, (which beat So. Cal.). Florida thus becomes champions of only the BCS (and who cares about that).
Until the BCS schools grow a spine and schedule the Boise States and Utahs in a fair home and home series, the BCS is truly meaningless. It’s just another fantasy creation jammed down our throats by money grubbing bureaucrats. We just don’t have to swallow it.
Tags: college football, college football national champion, football
Posted in Blog Rants, College, View All | 4 Comments »
NFL Players Got What They Deserve
Friday, December 5th, 2008
I get a kick out of this story out of the NFL where six players have been suspended by the league for testing positive with regard to a banned substance. The substance in question is a diuretic that can be found in a dietary supplement that is banned by the NFL. End of story, right?
Not quite. Predictably, the players and their lawyers claim the players didn’t “knowingly” ingest any banned substance. Hear that anywhere before? Do they really think we’re as stupid as they are?
In order to believe the players’ story here’s what else you must believe. 1.) The NFL didn’t send a letter in 12/06 to the presidents, GM’s, trainers and NFL Players Association listing the supplement as being banned. The NFL says it sent those letters and can prove it. 2.) You must also believe that six players in three different cities decided on a whim to purchase the exact same supplement. What a coincidence. 3.)You must also believe that none of the six players was aware this supplement contained a diuretic that just happened to mask steroid use during a drug test. Another fantastic coincidence. 4.) You must believe the NFLPA if they decide to admit receiving the letter from the NFL and choosing to say they didn’t distribute it to the players.
Anybody out there believe any of this nonsense? Raise your hand if you do so we can have you committed. This is typical of professional athletes and their sense of entitlement. They all believe they’re above the law and rules of their game. They also think you and I are as dumb as they apparently are. That isn’t the case.
I don’t know about you but I don’t have to have these players admit the truth about what they were up to. Sometimes you just know. And this is one of them. For instance, if I go outside and it’s 25 degrees with a wind chill of -10, no one has to tell me it’s cold. I just know.
I get tired of all the excuse making by these players. Many of them are cheaters and it’s about time the spotlight was placed directly on the NFL with regard to steroid use. How have they and the NBA, for that matter, been given a free pass for so long? Are their lobbyists better than those in baseball? Must be.
It might be naive on my part but I’d long for the day when we can just get back to fair competition. Cheating isn’t the American way. But to an entire generation apparently it is.
Tags: NFL, rants
Posted in Blog Rants, View All | 3 Comments »
Pujols didn’t deserve MVP: Not this year
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
I can’t say that I was shocked to learn Albert Pujols was named National League MVP the other day. After all, baseball writers do the voting. Of all sports, baseball has been stamped with tradition much more than any of the others. And, traditionally, the only numbers of import in determining a field player’s MVP credentials are batting average, home runs and RBI’s. Let’s examine Pujols v. Ryan Howard of the Phillies, who should have won.
It’s true Pujols hit more than 100 points higher than Howard. Advantage Albert. However, it’s also true that Howard hit 11 more homeruns than Pujols and drove in 30 more runs. Those aren’t typos, folks. Actual whole numbers. To recap, in the three major offensive categories, Howard beat Pujols head to head decisively. Pujols beat Howard decisively in just one. No other numbers matter.
Please don’t tell me about OBS or slugging percentage. These are made-up stats created by numbers nerds that don’t mean anything in determining the outcome of a real ballgame. I don’t care if Howard struck out 1000 times. He drove in 30, I said, 30, more runs than Pujols. That’s value. He hit 11 more homers. More value. The fact that Pujols may have drawn an extra walk or two in late innings of games already decided doesn’t mean squat. The fact that Howard may have struck out rather than popped out likewise means nothing.
As if I needed more, it has long been a consideration of voters in MVP races where the player’s respective team finished when the voting is close. Here it’s a no-brainer.
With Pujols and a ton of impact bats around him, i.e., Glaus, Ludwick and Ankiel, the Cardinals finished fourth, ahead of only the incompetent Reds and equally distraught Pirates. Thanks to Howard, the Phillies won their division.
I can hear the argument already. Pujols shouldn’t be penalized because the Cardinals’ bullpen blew saves. Brad Lidge was the perfect closer for the Phillies. Without Howard’s power game, Lidge would have had precious few opportunities to close anything.
In addition, it’s time to ban baseball writers from voting on these post-season awards. Talk about a conflict of interest. People that cover the players all year are voting on awards that could bring players millions of dollars in bonuses. I know the writers aren’t smart enought to figure this out for themselves. So I’m pointing it out for them.
They don’t seem to care about the obvious lack of journalistic integrity involved in this process. Their egos block it out. They, and they alone, are qualified to make these judgements. That is truly how they think. At Pujols’ news conference after he had won, Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel introduced Pujols to the media. I almost fainted. I have a great deal of respect for Rick but I couldn’t believe he didn’t see that blurring the line with respect to impartiality actually obliterates the line. Even the slightest apperance a writer is involved with the team is disgraceful. But in today’s world of sportswriters, they couldn’t spell credibility and couldn’t care less if they have it.
Tags: baseball, cardinals, Pujols, rant
Posted in Blog Rants, View All | 3 Comments »
