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October 31, 2007

When love turns to hate

Ravens fans can identify with the We-Hate-T.O. club because of the obvious -- Terrell Owens snubbed Baltimore a few years back in order to be with his then-pal Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia. But no one has more animosity for Owens these days than those spurned Eagles fans, who wrote the book on grudges.

There are some great games this weekend besides the Super Powers battle between New England and Indianapolis, among them Baltimore-Pittsburgh. And, in Philly, Cowboys-Eagles. And that means another return of T.O. to the City of Brotherly Love.  Here's a great quote from Philadelphia cornerback Lito Sheppard about the Eagles' fans' intense feelings for the Dallas receiver.

"I think that relationship is kind of like when you have a girlfriend you used to love in the past, maybe high school," Lito Sheppard told sports writer Ashley Fox, "and you loved her so much, but you hate her so bad now. But you can't stop talking about it."

Hmm, that Sheppard is a real student of human nature.

Photo credit:  Associated Press

 

Rockies as Super Mario -- still lose to the Red Sox

The fellow who runs the Red Sox Monster Web site, Dan Lamothe, sends us items from time to time, and he passed along this one that, as far as I can tell, first appeared on boston.com under Eric Wilbur's byline. In the Internet environment, it can be darn near impossible to track down the origins of something.

Having said that, here's a whimsical look at the Colorado Rockies (as Super Mario) marching through the playoffs -- I'm sure you'll recognize the little characters who represent the Pardres, Phillies and Diamondbacks -- until they get to the big, ol' scary Red Sox. It goes fast so you may have to play it a few times to get the full effect. Cute stuff.

About last night, dear

There are facts and then there are developing facts, otherwise known as rumors.

The fact is that Grady Little has resigned as manager of the Dodgers. Says it has nothing to do with bad feelings between himself and GM Ned Colletti. Says it has nothing to do with the notion that the baseball universe believes that it's a foregone conclusion that Joe Torre will be moving into the Dodgers' manager's office any day now.

But it's obviously the necessary step to clear the way for that to happen. Moving on to the developing facts -- so, Torre becomes manager of the Dodgers and brings Don Mattingly with him.  And certainly that helps the Dodgers' standing in the Alex Rodriguez sweepstakes.

I was watching one of those round-table sports discussions where the speculation was about A-Rod's next team and, in my opinion, former football player-turned-radio guy Garry Cobb had an interesting take on that. While everyone else was offering sports wonk points of view, such as who could afford A-Rod, who was in a position to contend for a World Series, who could best accommodate him in their lineup, Cobb talked about the human element here.

It's not entirely (although partly) about the money because all the leading candidates will pretty much come up with the same amount of cash -- plus, Rodriguez has enough money for his great-great grandchildren. It's not even about winning a World Series (although partly) because if it were ALL about being on a winning team, A-Rod would have stayed with the Yankees -- because who else is in a better position year-in and year-out to contend for a world championship.

At the end of the day, A-Rod has had it with the intense scrutiny that comes with playing on an East Coast team (so scratch off the Red Sox), Cobb opined. So the best fit, in A-Rod's world view (speculatively speaking), would be either the Dodgers or the Angels. Both are contenders. Both should be able to afford him (although the Dodgers seem to be more of a mind to open the vault).  And A-Rod is several thousand miles away from those hectoring East Coast media types who refused to buy into the hero worship and picked at the scab of his playoff problems, and the pesky tabloids that made life miserable for him and wife, Cynthia. And, of course, now there will be Torre.

*  The NBA season opened last night. Of course, you felt the earth move, didn't you? No? Oh, well.  It did -- meaning the NBA started, not the earth moving. The Lakers lost at home to Houston by two points. Kobe Bryant is still playing in L.A. (and that's one more reason for A-Rod to wind up in Los Angeles, to fill that impending celeb vacuum when Bryant moves along). San Antonio picked up where it left off last year, picked up its championship rings and clobbered Portland. Wake us up when the playoffs start.

October 30, 2007

Jeff George lobbies for comeback shot

I was waiting for something like this to happen.

Jeff George has gone public with "Hey, I can play as good as these guys!" or words to that effect.

George, who hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2001, contacted the Minnesota Vikings' play-by-play announcer to take the temperature of coach Brad Childress concerning possible interest in George. The Vikes' first-stringer, Tarvaris Jackson, is hurt and even when he was playing, wasn't all that hot. Backup Kelly Holcomb was horrible on Sunday against Philadelphia but then he got knocked silly. The third-stringer is Brooks Bollinger, who did a little better. 

But George is obviously looking around and seeing guys like Vinny Testaverde, who's four years older than George, playing for Carolina and he thinks, "What the heck!"

Considering Testaverde got up from the Barcalounger and won his first outing of the season against Arizona a few weeks ago, I don't blame Jeff George for feeling the way he does. Of course, the problem with George is that even in his prime, when he was supposed to be good -- he wasn't all that good.

Dancing with the stars .. and the second string ... and the third string

George football coach Mark Richt has apologized to the Southeastern Conference and the University of Florida for his team's mega-celebration after the Bulldogs scored their first touchdown in a 42-30 win over the Gators on Saturday.

Richt had told the players he'd be upset if they didn't get a penalty for celebrating the TD because he wanted to fire up his squad. He says he meant just the 11 guys on the field and not the entire bench. So here it is. There are a couple of parts that are reminiscent of the jail cell Electric Slide dance scene in Replacements.

Lunchtime musical interlude: Losing perspective

As you read this, they're supposed to be having a parade in Boston to celebrate the Red Sox World Series victory. Good for them. Here's a sincere wish that they have a joyful and, just as importantly, safe afternoon.

Three years ago, when the Red Sox came back from three games-to-zero to beat the Yankees in the ALCS and, of course, went on to win the Series, there was also a celebration. That one turned increasingly unpleasant, even violent, and tragically a college student, a young woman, was struck and killed by a plastic pepper spray projectile fired by police as they tried to disperse a crowd.

Most of the music videos we post here are fun clips, sometimes amusing, sometimes sentimental. This one, that shows scenes from a portion of the '04 Red Sox ALCS celebration, is different. There is a genuine sense of irony here, a bitterness. And we don't present this as a criticism of any particular city or its fans. Actually, I think it stands as a proxy for all those instances when something that should be a truly happy communal event, a city's sports team winning a championship, is sullied by the behavior of just a few who confuse partisan fervor with boorishness.

Belichick may be putting target on Brady's back

The buzz about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady being at-risk in those New England blowouts is getting louder and you have to wonder whether Bill Belichick is putting a bull's-eye on the only irreplaceable player on the roster with these over-the-top scores and the play-calling.

The out-loud grumbling has been somewhat muted so far. We heard from Redskins linebacker Randall Godfrey, who  called out Belichick for showing no class by continuing to throw late in the 52-7 game. Joe Gibbs, for the record, said he had no problems with what the Patriots did (like throwing on fourth down with the score, 38-0). But his sideline expression and his frosty post-game meeting with Belichick said otherwise.

And here's where this can get ugly. Let's face it, there is probably only one way to stop the Patriots. And that's if they don't have Brady. Now, the same could be said of the Colts and Peyton Manning. And Brett Favre and the Packers. And maybe most other winning teams. And no one would suggest that Manning or Favre, through their respective careers, has ever been especially targeted by the opposition.

But here's the difference. There is, around the league, an obvious level of respect for those quarterbacks and those organizations that certainly discourages the opposition from deliberately gunning for those star quarterbacks.

By all accounts and my limited first-hand experience, Brady is the same. Super good guy. Respected by the opposition and respectful of them as well. But unlike Manning and Favre, he's playing in game after game where the score is getting out of hand. He plays for a coach who is aggravating lots of people in the NFL fraternity. There's frustration building on the other side late in these games and Brady is the guy following the orders coming into his helmet. 

In 1990, I saw the Eagles knock out SIX quarterbacks, including Troy Aikman (Dallas), Chris Miller (Atlanta), Steve Grogan (New England), Anthony Dilweg (Green Bay), Stan Humphries (Washington) and Jeff Rutledge (Washington). The last two in the same game -- the infamous "Body Bag Game." And they were hardly the only ones in the Philadelphia "Gang Green" era of Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Jerome Brown, Seth Joyner, Andre Waters and the rest. Once, that defense turned a game with the Giants completely around by knocking out Phil Simms and terrorizing his backup. Their technique was often deceivingly simple. A defensive player would wrap up a quarterback, pin his arms to his sides and fall on the guy, driving a shoulder into the ground. Hello, Brian Mitchell (that's who wound up playing QB for the 'Skins that one day).

You don't see much of that stuff anymore. And that's a good thing. Life is plenty dangerous enough in the pocket -- just look at the list of quarterbacks already hurt this season. But with these New England beatdowns mounting, it just takes one guy on the other side who feels he's had enough.

Photo credit:  John Makely/Sun

Hand over that game, I have a Blackberry here

Getting around to Alex Rodriguez. If you're wondering how the A-Rod "You couldn't get me to stay in New York for $72 million" announcement came about during the World Series clincher Sunday night, the answer is simple. 

Rodriguez' agent, Scott Boras (below), sent an e-mail to reporters during the game.

That move essentially stole the World Series telecast's attention from the actual game for several minutes as Fox announcers, including former Sun sports reporter Ken Rosenthal, were forced to deal with the "development."

Not everyone was amused, as evidence by this note from MLB president Bob DuPuy that appeared in a New York Times story today.

DuPuy said  he was "appalled at the lack of respect shown the game by the selfish and self-centered announcement of Scott Boras (Sunday) evening."

"The announcement appeared to be a deliberate attempt to take attention from the preeminent baseball event of the year, the World Series, and showed a significant disregard for the core principle that baseball is a team game and not an individual sport."

The Times story said that Boras later apologized. Profusely, I'm sure.

Photo credit: Branimir Kvartuc/AP

Girardi move makes Yanks even more loathsome

So, it looks as if Joe Girardi is going to be the manager up in the Bronx.

As I mentioned a week or so ago, this makes it all the more interesting from our point of view here in Baltimore. Assuming Girardi and the Yankees come to an agreement  --and wouldn't that be a fine mess if they didn't, considering the Don Mattingly bridge has been blown to smithereens -- when the Bombers come to town, the guy in the dugout will be the fellow who stiff-armed the Orioles this past summer, mumbling something about family considerations. 

Sort of embarrassed the Baltimore organization and new team president Andy MacPhail, didn't he? Dissed the fans here in Charm City a bit, dontcha think? Kind of sets up an intriguing little morality play, what say?  And why am I beginning to sound like Stewie Griffin on the Family Guy?

Anyway, here's what this really tells us. The Yankees, despite their claims that they wanted Joe Torre back, were doing exactly what we said they were doing all along -- making Torre an offer he couldn't possibly accept because, bottom-line, Steinbrenner & Sons believe that the team needs a big ol' cleat in the rump. And Torre was too much of a "player's manager," in their opinion. And Mattingly, considered a Torre clone, had the same fatal flaw, again from management's POV. So what we have here is a premeditated personality make-over going on up there in the Bronx and any characterization to the contrary by Yankee management is utterly disingenuous.

One more thing.

Did you catch that hissy-fit that King George threw when A-Rod walked away from the $72 million to tear up his Yankee contract?  Steinbrenner basically accused him of treason and Steinbrenner's  son has said the Yankees wouldn't negotiate with free-agent Alex Rodriguez because if you don't want to wear the Yankee pinstripes proudly then yada-yada-yada. 

So where was that vaunted Yankee loyalty when it came time to hire a manager and they cut loose Mr. Yankee, Don Mattingly?  Seems that loyalty business is a one-way street up there in New York, n'est pas?

Photo credit: Kathy Willens/AP

About last night, dear

It's tough staying up for those Monday Night Football games so if you missed it, Brett Favre was, well, he was Brett Favre. The Packers scored just two touchdowns in their 19-13 OT win over the Broncos in Denver but they were 79- and 82-yard strikes from Favre. And these weren't your cutesy little West Coast Offense eight-yard slants with 70 yards of YAC.

The first was a big-time 50-yard or so strike to James Jones in the first quarter and the second was an over-the-top, spot-on, left-sideline rainbow to Greg Jennings on the first play from scrimmage in overtime. At 38 years old, Favre is still capable of putting up Hall of Fame numbers (21-for-27, 331 yards) and making the spectacular throw. 

And if you stayed up for the telecast, you heard Favre's wife, Deanna, who has just written a book, as the MNF interview guest. What a pleasant relief that was after the likes of Jimmie Kimmel and Russell Crowe the last few weeks. 

And finally, another HOF-caliber player, Denver kicker Jason Elam made a great field goal to tie the game in regulation. It wasn't long, just 21 yards, but the Broncos -- with no timeouts left -- were in fire-drill mode, dashing onto the field so that Elam could take a swat at the ball with time running out.

* And admittedly, we don't do a lot of hockey here until the playoffs -- just not our thing in Baltimore. But the Rangers' Jaromir Jagr showed that hockey players are still hockey players.  Jagr took a puck right in the kisser, went over to the bench, spit out a half box of Chicklets, which I believe were his bridge, some original enamel and blood -- and then scored what turned out to be the winning goal in a 3-1 win over Tampa Bay.

After the game, Jagr said, "I didn't see myself yet. It's Halloween tomorrow. I don't have to buy a mask."

As if we needed to be reminded, those guys are tough dudes.

October 29, 2007

You have to see this miracle play by Trinity

In case you missed it, Division III Trinity defeated Millsaps, 28-24, on Saturday in an ending that is possibly the most bizarre in the history of organized football. It may not have had the dramatic flourish of Cal-Stanford because it's tough to beat smashing into a tuba player but there are so many laterals -- 15 seems to be the count -- that the Millsaps guys are just sort of standing around by the end of it. The play covered 60 yards and began with two seconds remaining.





Redemption against the point spread

Ol' Coach tells you not to get too high during the good times and not to get down on yourself  when things don't go your way.

Well, last week, we went 0-4 against the spread and it was a confidence-rattling setback. But we tried not to lose faith in our prognostication skills. We just stuck with the game plan, worked hard, stayed focused, believed in our coaches and our teammates ...

Oops, sorry, just lapsed into a Brian Billick moment there.

Where was I? Oh yeah, the point spread picks. We kicked butt this week, 4-0. The easiest pick was the Colts over the Panthers. Carolina QB Vinny Testaverde scared me a little because you never know what those old guys are capable of but an ankle took him out of the game.

The Eagles (against the Vikings) and Browns (against the Rams) fell behind early but made up ground quickly.

The only one I had to sweat was the over in the Patriots-Redskins game. The number was 48 and I was getting ZERO help from Washington, which is exactly what I was worried about. But then the Pats' backup QB, obviously trying not to slip to No. 3 on the depth chart, ran for the last New England touchdown and the Patriots covered the over-number all by themselves (bless their merciless little hearts). The season mark here against the line is 14-11-2.

A-Rod legend (celebrated?) in song

Imagine being able to walk away from $72 million. Obviously, Alex Rodriguez is in a position to do exactly that.

Now, his agent, Scott Boras, said this is really about what the Yankees will look like in 2008. Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada all might leave, Boras said, and A-Rod kinda wanted to know if they'd be back and blah-blah-blah.

C'mon. If all three of those guys wind up leaving the zoo, is there any doubt that the Yanks would spend whatever it took to replace them? And exactly how many teams in any given year are better situated than the Yankees come spring training to be in the hunt for a world title? It's not as if the Yankees are going to become the Pittsburgh Pirates overnight. And A-Rod obviously knows that.

So when an athlete walks away from $72 mil, it really has to come down to one thing: He thinks he can more elsewhere.

Yankee fans have had a love-hate relationship with Rodriguez, who has been astounding in the regular season and frustrating in October. And this, my friends, is a perfect example (we hope someone is keeping a close eye on this lad)

About last night, dear -- Red Sox vs. Patriots

I don't think I'm being Paul Revere here in bringing you news of the Red Sox' World Series sweep of Colorado or the undefeated Patriots' 52-7 trouncing of Washington. In fact, Boston's outrageously successful teams have been so good, there may only be one meaningful sports debate -- which is the better team, the Bosox or the Pats (we'll, worry about the Colts' game later).

The team numbers

Red Sox: Tied for the major league's best regular-season record but had the best run differential, outscoring the opposition by 210 runs. In the Series, they led the Rockies for 30 of 36 innings.

Patriots: A perfect 8-0 so far, best in the NFL, and have outscored the opposition, 331-127, and out of 480 minutes of playing time, have trailed for just 18 minutes.

Advantage: Red Sox (only because there's a World Series involved).

Best arm

Red Sox: Josh Beckett (right). Regular season -- 20-7.  Postseason -- 4-0, ERA 1.20.

Patriots: Tom Brady. 30 touchdown passes, 2,431 yards, 74.2 percent completion rate.

Advantage: Patriots' Brady. NO ONE has ever had a season like this.

Big hitter

Red Sox: David Ortiz. .332 in regular season, 35 HRs, 117 RBIs. .370 postseason, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs postseason.

Patriots: Mike Vrabel (left). 7 1/2 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 TD receptions.

Advantage: Patriots (big hitter is more versatile)

Ball chaser

Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury. Ninth-inning catch kept potential tying run off base last night. Also won America a free taco with second-game stolen base.

Patriots: Randy Moss. 47 catches, 11 TDs.

Advantage: On sheer numbers, it would be the Patriots but we're giving it to Red Sox for taco giveaway.

Old guy who can still bring it

Red Sox: Curt Schilling. 40 years old. Only 9-8 in regular season but 3-0 in postseason.

Patriots:  Junior Seau.  38 years old. 33 tackles, 3 interceptions, also plays offense on goal line.

Advantage:  Tough call ... both probably going to Hall of Fame. Slight edge to Red Sox because of postseason and bloody sock history.

Celebration dance

Red Sox: Jon Papelbon. Riverdance.

Patriots: No one. NFL has legislated joy into oblivion.

Advantage:  Red Sox, by default.

Button pusher

Red Sox: Terry Francona. Two World Series titles for a team that hadn't won one since the Armistice.

Patriots:  Bill Belichick. Three Super Bowls.

Advantage:  Tie. Numbers may go to Pats but Red Sox button-pusher eminently more likable.

Photo credit: (Vrabel), Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; (Beckett), Associated Press

October 26, 2007

Chargers get to go home

After a week of turmoil, the San Diego Chargers will play their game on Sunday against the Houston Texans at home in Qualcomm Stadium as scheduled.

The Southern California wildfires had chased the Chargers to Phoenix, where they practiced at the Arizona Cardinals' facility in Tempe while thousands of people who had been forced from their homes because of the threat from the fires used Qualcomm as an evacuation center.

The San Diego mayor's office said last night that if the Chargers and NFL chose to play the game in San Diego Sunday afternoon that the stadium would be ready.

Dozens of members of the Chargers' organization, including coach Norv Turner, quarterback Philip Rivers and linebacker Shane Merriman, were among the hundreds of thousands who had homes in affected areas.

Free Food courtesy of Bosox

Since we brought it up a few days ago, we didn't want you to miss it.

When Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury stole second base last night -- without a throw, mind you -- he earned everyone in America a free taco. You can pick it up at a Taco Bell on Oct. 30, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Taking the game across the Big Pond

This Sunday, the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside North America will be held at London's Wembley Stadium between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins.

Although the contest is a milestone, the notion of NFL football being played in foreign countries is old hat. For more than 20 years, there have been games in England, Mexico, Japan, Germany, Spain, Australia and Canada -- the vast majority of those preseason, naturally. But back in 1989, when I was fortunate enough to cover an Eagles-Browns game at Wembley, it was still a novelty. And for many of the players, it was their first time outside the country.

I remember one Eagle, safety Wes Hopkins, I think it was, nearly being run down on a London Street like a frog in the old video game because of the confusing practice of cars approaching from the opposite direction from where you would normally expect. But it was the late Eagles defensive tackle, Jerome Brown, who had the most endearing childlike reaction to being in a foreign place.

Brown (left), who was raised in Florida and preferred familiar, down-home cooking, was a little suspicious of the fare in England and sought out burger joints whenever possible. But even that could be perplexing. He came across one place that sort of looked like a typical stateside fast-food burger joint -- American Burger, it may have been called. But it still gave Jerome pause.

"How come it has Burger King colors outside," a skeptical Brown wanted to know, "but they're serving Big Macs inside?"

*  And then there was this story from Philadelphia Daily News columnist Rich Hofmann, who was part of our little band of sportswriters. Hoffman was taking a cab from the airport to downtown London when the driver engaged him about his visit. Rich told the man he was in town for the American football game.

"That's the game where the players wear helmets and all that padding," the driver said.

"Well, yes," Rich answered.

After a moment, the driver, obviously a rugby fan, mused, "Bit of nancy boys, aren't they?"

Photo credit: From Wikipedia

Lunchtime musical interlude: Who knew? The King is a Bears fan

Notwithstanding their come-from-behind win over Philadelphia last Sunday, this has been a tough season for the defending NFC champion Chicago Bears. True to the curse of the Super Bowl runner-up, the Bears have been struggling. They're 3-4 and trail the Packers and Lions in the NFC North. But they still have one of the best fight songs ever, and here's one of the more interesting renditions of that gridiron classic, Bear down, Chicago Bears.

Picking against the spread

This is the week when there will be talk of so-called "trap" games for New England and Indianapolis, although the term, in its strictest sense, doesn't really apply in either case.

With the NFL's elite teams a week away from playing each other in this year's biggest regular-season showdown, Indianapolis plays at Carolina, and New England is at Foxboro against Washington. Both the Panthers and Redskins are 4-2, so neither should be overlooked. 

Because of the wildfires in Southern California and the uncertainty over where the Texans-Chargers game will be played, that matchup has been taken off the board by many Internet sites, at least for now.

The record here at O, by the Way, as we approach the midpoint of the season, is 10-11-2 after a lousy 0-4 last week.

Cleveland at St. Louis (-3). The Rams have been absolutely miserable for a month but they get star running back Steven Jackson back this week from a groin injury. The Browns' Jamal Lewis has been having foot problems, but he practiced, and tight end Kellen Winslow has been nursing both a sore shoulder and knee. Cleveland is coming off a bye week, though, so they're as fresh as any team can be at this time of year. This pick is based on Cleveland beginning to find itself and the Rams continuing to unravel. Pick:  Cleveland, giving 3.

Indianapolis at Carolina (6 1/2). Both of these teams are solid against the spread, but the Colts rise to the occasion against teams with winning records. The Panthers' quarterback situation has been up in the air all week. David Carr has been practicing, but he's still bothered by a back injury. That means that Vinny Testaverde could wind up starting against a Colts defense that's ranked No. 3 overall in the NFL. Of course, then there's Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis offense. Pick:  Indianapolis, giving 6 1/2.

Philadelphia at Minnesota (Pick). Andy Reid goes against his former offensive coordinator, Brad Childress. The 2-4 Eagles coughed up what looked like a sure win against the Bears last week when they allowed Chicago to go 97 yards for the winning touchdown drive. The 2-4 Vikings have their own problems with QB Tavaris Jackson struggling through his first year as a starter. Now, Jackson has a finger injury that may put Kelly Holcomb behind center against Philadelphia. Reid seems to be able to rally the troops when they have their backs against the wall, and there are some guys on that Philadelphia roster who remember how to win. Pick: Philadelphia, even.

Washington at New England (48, over-under). The Patriots have been simply incredible. They are 7-0 in the standings and 7-0 against the spread. They are 16- to 17-point favorites again this week. It's just unfathomable that they can continue to cover these lines. The problem this week is the same that's always been. They could have a three-touchdown lead and surrender a give-away TD at the end, and that would bust the line. However, they are averaging nearly 40 points a game and they've shown little inclination to back off on offense no matter what the score is. The Redskins have a terrific defense, but I don't think it matters against the Pats. I just hope Washington can keep up its end of the scoring. Pick:  Over, 48.