Long On Talent, Short On Diplomacy
The BCS Championship Game is irresistible on so many levels. Both teams have ridiculous talent. Both teams have cocksure coaches with a flair for high-end recruiting.
And both programs are where sportsmanship goes to die, as ESPN.com’s Pat Forde observed:
“Which will hold sway, Big 12 offense or SEC defense? Which Heisman Trophy quarterback will shine brightest, Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford? Which is the better sideline look, Bob Stoops‘ visor or Urban Meyer’s hair gel?
“But one thing about this game is indisputable: Running up the score pays off. Sooners and Gators alike can agree on that after watching their teams pile on the style points late in games to influence poll voters.
“In today’s college football, sportsmanship is hazardous to your BCS health. Greed is good.”
Of course, coaching this way does ruffle feathers. Texas A&M fans filmed attack ads mocking Stoops and OU.
Also, SEC fans celebrate big Florida losses.
For wounded Mizzou fans, this year-old clip ought to brighten your day:
Big 12 fans could only hope that rumors linking Stoops to the Denver Broncos job were true. Apparently, they were not.
“Obviously, I’m not a candidate and I’m sure somebody might have told me about that other than you guys,” Stoops told reporters. “That’s not something I’m concerned about whatsoever. It’s a great organization but I’m not a candidate for it.”
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while wondering what Mike Anderson’s pesky basketball team will do in Big 12 play:
- Won’t it be fun watching irritable Cubs skipper Lou Piniella manage the mercurial Milton Bradley?
- Is Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel OK with getting the “franchise” tag in New England – and the $14 million salary that will come with it?
- Upon further review, why didn’t Utah get more love from BCS voters?
- And did Ohio State restore some pride by not getting slaughtered by Texas?
RIPPING BRETT FAVRE
Boxing trainer Teddy Atlas is pals with deposed Jets coach Eric Mangini. He even had a title of “special assistant” in the organization.
So he is not a fan of the Jets’ ’08 quarterback.
“I think Brett Favre basically is a selfish guy,” Atlas told the New York Post. “Brett Favre goes out there with his gray hair, his Wranglers and gets up when he gets hit. I understand why people like that. But there’s another side. He’s a selfish guy.”
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Glad to see Orlando’s Terry Bowden finally get back into coaching, although I thought he would land a much better job than Division II North Alabama. Do college athletic directors realize Terry still has the highest winning percentage of any coach in Auburn history? I wonder if the Bowden name that used to open so many doors is now starting to close them?”
Norman Chad, syndicated columnist, on the Gridbirds: “Nobody beats the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Nobody. Speaking of which, does an online university have online cheerleaders?”
Dwight Perry, Seattle Times: “World timekeepers added a second to the last day of 2008 on atomic clocks last week to match the earth’s slowing spin on its axis. Which, no doubt, some Einstein at the NFL combine will blame for his 5.3-second 40 time.”
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, reflecting on 2008: “Jacques Rogge, head of the International Olympic Committee, now there’s a no-nonsense sports leader. At the Olympics in Beijing, hammer throwers and weight lifters were doping, horses were doping and underage Chinese gymnasts were winning gold medals, so Rogge sprung into action: He chastised Usain Bolt for being a hot dog. Rogge seemed deathly afraid of offending the Chinese hosts, whose theme song was ‘It’s our party and we’ll lie if we want to.’”
John Henderson, Denver Post, on the Florida-Oklahoma showdown in the BCS title game: “It’s a matchup anyone with a flat screen and a round head figures will go down as one of the greatest college football games ever.”
Steve Rosenbloom, ChicagoTribune.com, on a Bears coaching move: “I just can’t wait to see how great the Bears will become when they bring in the guy who coached the worst team in NFL history. Oh, and Rod Marinelli has overseen the worst defense in the league. For the last two years. This ought to be a hoot.”
MEGAPHONE
“You have your trademark play, and that’s one of my plays. It kind of looks like a travel because it’s slow, and it’s kind of a high-step, but it’s a one-two just as fluent as any other one-two in this league. I got the wrong end of it, but I think they need to look at it — and they need to understand that’s not a travel. It’s a perfectly legal play, something I’ve always done.”
Incredulous Cavaliers star LeBron James, after getting whistled for a late-game travel call.
A little advise to Dollar Bill – if your going to use the economy as the excuse for payroll, make sure you don’t raise ticket prices either. Once again you show your true colors.
I hate to do this but you have to give the Cubs credit. They are identifying the players that they want and signing them while not waiting for “low hanging fruit”. While the joke of a local team signs a left handed relief “specialist” with an ERA of 8.50. Really? Well at least he will fit right in with the other wonderful acquisitions:
1. Washed up 35 year old LH RP who has shoulder problems. The Cardinals just can’t help themselves, can they?
2. LH RP from the Japanese League who also has arm problems and an ERA over 5. Is he even worth the plane ticket to Spring Training?
Does anyone really think this team is any better now than at the end of 2008? Didn’t think so. I’m glad the Cardinals have finally shown us what their definition of aggressive - 4th place here they come.