08.06.07
Monday Headlines
A little bit of this, a little bit of that…
I have comments on some sports Headlines from this morning and over the weekend.
Can anyone tell me why this is a national story? The kid was picked 22nd in the draft and is the lowest first round draft pick that is unsigned. Now I understand, Darrelle Revis is a Cornerback, and that position is much less difficult (and lower profile) to learn and therefore, Revis missing camp is not as big a deal, but what about the NUMBER ONE pick Jamarcus Russell? Has the fact that he’s still holding out escaped everyone’s minds? Even Greeny on Mike & Mike in the morning commented to the effect of, “usually the big story would be the number one pick in the draft not signing, but not in this case.” Why? What is it about Brady Quinn that makes him “a pretty big deal?” Does he have many leather-bound books? Does his new home smell of rich mahogany? I don’t know, but any headline that degrades Cleveland is a winner apparently.
2. Tiger Woods Silences Rory Sabbatini
The fact that Rory even made a comment like, “He’s looks as beatable as ever” shows just how great Tiger Woods is. That comment is derogatory? It’s not like he said, “Tiger is terrible. He’s lost it.” This is simply saying that Tiger is slumping and it MIGHT give someone else a chance. This whole situation is a matter of media spinning some off the cuff comment in order to try and create a story where there is none. Tiger self-motivates as well as, if not better than, any other athlete in the world, that’s why he’s a great as he is. Come on now, saying he’s as beatable as ever when he’s been dominant all along? That’s like saying Roger Clemens stuff isn’t as sharp as it was 5 years ago in his first outing back this year. No kidding! It’s called rust, and as we’ve seen, it can be washed off.
3. Spurrier Upset Over Denial of Recruits’ Admission
This article shows everything that is wrong in the world of college athletics. These kids are Student-Athletes. Student comes first. So when Spurrier signed two kids who had bad grades last winter to athletic scholarships, maybe the first thing he should have said to them was, “Get your damn grades up.” He didn’t, apparently, and they didn’t, obviously, and now they are stuck scrambling for somewhere else to play (and maybe attend class). Spurrier has no one to blame for the rejection of the two recruits but the two recruits. I applaud South Carolina for not giving potential football players preferential treatment. The second that school lowers their standards is the second the institution slips. Remember, Coach, without the institution, you have no team to coach anyway. Tell your kids to get their grades up and this won’t be a problem. Come on, it’s not like high school is brain surgery. Do your homework and worst case scenario you end up with low C’s. Tip of the Cap to the Admissions Department at the University of South Carolina; Wag of the Finger to Steve Spurrier.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron with his 755th home run in San Diego the other night, and from the looks of it, was about half an inch from breaking that record in his very next at bat. No, not half an inch in ball travel, half an inch in bat on ball. He took a hellacious cut at a fast ball over the middle and just got under it enough that he fouled it back. The boo birds were out as Barry stepped to the plate for each appearance, then gave him a standing ovation (and deservedly so. Praise now, chastise later) after 755 and boo’d there own pitcher after each walk. Double Standard? Hmm.
A-Rod hits 500 and it’s just about as big a deal as the other “500″ was this year (Frank Thomas), which is to say, it wasn’t. Now no offense to the Big Hurt, but this 500 is significant because it’s probably the precursor to 757 (or whatever that number will be when Bonds retires), and for that, we will praise A-Rod. Unless Jose Canseco intervenes, and he says he will. Sore loser.
Tom Glavine gets win number 300 and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy. This was the best moment of the weekend and I’m sorry I fell asleep before the game ended. Congrats to the third best pitcher for the Atlanta Braves during their 1990’s domination (Maddux, Smoltz), you deserve it.
I won’t spoil this for you, but let me just say, unequivocally and loudly, “Not Surprised!”
Congratulations also to John Clayton for being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s a testament to all of his hard work over the years. Now, if we can just get him some Rogaine…
Be well.