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Continuing with the perfect season theme, here's a hip-hop tribute to the Patriots that's up to the minute, talking about the AFC championship win over San Diego and the Super Bowl against the Giants.
Sample lyrics:
Since we got Randy, he stole the show
comin' down with anything Tom Brady throws
and finishing with
18-and oh, 18-and-oh
one more to go
Super Bowl, woo-ooh-ooh-ooh
We've heard some lyrical shots taken at the Patriots, so here's the flip side. Using the catchy tune from an old rock 'n roll standard, here's a tribute to the Patriots' undefeated regular season by Tom Doyle.
This is a reprise of a post from earlier in the season of video produced by a talented guy named Ryan Parker from Kentucky who has produced a number of original sports music videos. This tune came out soon after Spygate and predicted that the Patriots were unlikely to continue their successful run without the help of that extra little edge. Obviously, the musically gifted Parker is far better song writer and singer than football prognosticator.
This lampoon of Spygate that weaves the Madden video game into the scenario is produced, fittingly, by the folks at National Lampoon.com.
Sometimes, it's the little things that jump out at you. For instance, in this one, the fictional Patriots coach calling for a New England blitz makes the passing comment that New York Jets offensive guard Adrien Clarke "couldn't block Merv Griffin's corpse." A close look shows that the maligned Clarke isn't the only Jets offensive lineman having problems with the Patriot pass rush, but it is a funny line.
Obviously subscribing to the time-honored value that the family that shills together rakes in even more dough, the Manning family subjected themselves to an Oreo commercial in which Peyton and Eli face off in a goofy cookie contest. The highlight comes at the end when in a background interview Eli declares earnestly, "Oreo licking's our life ... it's what we do, it's what we love."
The owners of Barbaro announced today that the ashes of the colt who became a symbol of courage and perseverance for many will be buried at Churchill Downs, the scene of his 2006 Kentucky Derby win.
Most will recall that two weeks after his 6 1/2-length win in the Derby, Barbaro suffered what would prove to be a fatal lower leg injury in the Preakness. It was during his eight-month battle for survival after surgery that his admirers became legion and he came to be "America's horse."
One of the luckiest assignments I've ever had in this business was being told to check in on Barbaro at his Fair Hills training center in northern Maryland immediately after he returned home from the Kentucky Derby. It was the Monday after the Derby, less than 48 hours after Barbaro had flashed across the finish line.
I made a phone call to Fair Hills before leaving The Sun and was told in no uncertain terms that no one would be allowed to see Barbaro and that his trainer, Michael Matz, would not be available for interviews. It was a nice day so I made the drive anyway.
In the end, about three or four other reporters had taken the same chance I did, as well as a Sun photographer, and the handful of us enjoyed what amounted to a private audience with a horse who would, in tragedy, become one of the most famous thoroughbreds of all-time on what appeared to be one of the most satisfying days of his life.
Barbaro was sassy on his way to the paddock that May day, drawing some gentle words of admonishment from Matz. We all watched quietly as Barbaro grazed and a hawk circled overhead. Later, Matz talked about the quiet peace that Fair Hills afforded Barbaro as he prepared for his chase of the Triple Crown.
The next and last time I saw Barbaro, I was near the finish line at noisy Pimlico. Now, I was one of hundreds of thousands whose attention was riveted on the spirited bay. One of a small army of Sun reporters covering the race, I had picked my perch carefully by joining a group of photographers because they always know where to stand to get a good look.
Down the track to my left, I saw Barbaro's false start, as everyone else did, and then moments later, I heard the crowd roar as the gates opened. For a few moments, my line of sight was blocked. Then there was the collective gasp, the field of horses rushed by minus the yellow No. 6 and when Barbaro finally passed in front of me, it was with that gruesomely awkward gait and Edgar Prado was dismounting and trying to calm him.
A day or so later, I was part of the tag-team of reporters at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania, where Barbaro was treated and I interviewed surgeon Dean Richardson, but I never saw Barbaro again.
Last Jan. 29, after many surgeries and the worsening of a condition known as laminitis, Barbaro was put down.
Since Barbaro's death, other horses have suffered the same fate. A year later on Preakness Day, I witnessed a horse named Mending Fences break down while leading the Dixie Stakes. He was euthanized at Pimlico with far less notice than Barbaro.
Barbaro's death heightened awareness of horse race safety and some believe that synthetic surfaces might prevent similar injuries. But in Southern California at Santa Anita, the synthetic surface has had its problems. Recently, the track hasn't drained properly after heavy rains. Santa Anita has already missed a bunch of race dates and will miss a bunch more as the track is worked on to make it safe for horses and jockeys.
You'd like to be able to say that Barbaro's accident and passing, and all the attention and emotional reaction that followed, has resulted in a major difference for hose racing. And I suppose that medical knowledge was gained by Barbaro's extensive treatment; that money has been raised for research; and there is certainly a heightened awareness of safety issues. But the fact remains that the perfect solution remains elusive and more often than anyone would like, horses and riders still suffer.
Photo credit: George Widman/AP
Brady Anderson is resilient, if nothing else. Resilient as in he still has enough whiff of celebrity about him to be the subject of a TMZ.com video in which he is ridiculed for and/or credited with picking up a woman via text messaging using his rippled abs as a come on. Video here.
As we move closer to the Super Bowl, there will be the obvious discussion of what a fourth Super Bowl victory will do for Tom Brady's legacy.
There is a reasonable argument that Brady has already established himself among the all-time elite at his position -- top 10, top five, approaching even THE BEST -- certainly based on wins and losses, championships and individual statistics.
But there are some some diehards who argue that Brady does not match up to the best quarterbacks of previous generations -- and, in particular, to Johnny Unitas, who Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke calls football's Babe Ruth.
Plaschke makes the argument that in every phase of the game, from calling his own plays to surviving the violence of the pocket to the challenge of throwing to receivers being pummeled downfield, Unitas had more to overcome than Brady, and did so in a fashion that remains memorable nearly a half-century later.
Photo credit: (Unitas, Brady) Associated Press
Ravens fans should be grateful that the coaching situation in Baltimore seems to be settling down in an orderly fashion that offers some optimism. Especially when you consider the insanity rocking Oakland and Washington.
Today's announcement that Rex Ryan will stay on as Ravens defensive coordinator, while being promoted to assistant head coach, creates a good measure of stability among what most observers would agree is the strength of the team. New head coach John Harbaugh is admittedly an unknown in that capacity, but everything that can be known about him after nearly a decade with a respected Eagles program is highly favorable. And signing Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator puts some proven experience on that side of the ball.
Contrast how the Ravens handled their coaching situation with the madness going on in the Raiders and Redskins camps.
Despite what's coming out of the Ministry of Disinformation in Oakland, the Raiders' Al Davis is reportedly doing everything short of having the locks changed to get head coach Lane Kiffin to go away. Among the reports is that Davis reversed Kiffin's attempt to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (Rex's brother) and that the 32-year-old Kiffin might have little or no say in player personnel decisions. San Jose sports writer Tim Kawakami is calling him "Lane Duck."
In Washington, the resignation of Joe Gibbs has set off a wild set of comings and goings there. It's like when the monarchy was overthrown in France and the Reign of Terror swept threw Paris. Cast Dan Snyder as Robespierre. Both of Gibbs' expensive coordinators, DC Gregg Williams and OC Al Saunders, have been fired. A defensive coordinator (Greg Blache) has been promoted and an offensive coordinator put in place from outside the organization (Jim Zorn) even before a head coach has been named. Jim Fassel has been hanging around the Redskins' compound enough to be considered a front-runner but with Washington waiting until after the Super Bowl to chat with Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, you have to think he's a viable candidate as well. That Dan Snyder has once against taken control of the organization now that Gibbs is gone is plenty good news for the rest of the NFC East.
The Roger Clemens situation is going from mind-boggling to mind-numbing.
The Clemens side is now pressing the pitcher's defense, using statistical analysis to disprove the notion that Clemens' alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs can somehow be found in the tea leaves of his numbers. Clemens' detractors say that his performance improved corresponding to alleged PED use.
On a Web site called simply the Roger Clemens Report, Clemens' representatives, Hendricks Sports Management, argue to the contrary. The approach is a convergence of Bill James, Moneyball and the TV detective show Numb3rs, where the brainy sleuth catches the bad guys using mathematics. In this situation, though, the case is being made on behalf of innocence.
You can go through the 45 pages of the report and draw your own conclusions. Honestly, it gives me a headache, but I'm impressed with the effort. In short, the argument seems to be that the flow of Clemens' career follows peaks and valleys that would occur in any exceptional player's career and comparisons are drawn to other outstanding pitchers who have had long careers, including Nolan Ryan, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. You'll see references to an array of pitchers from Dizzy Dean to Sandy Koufax. Be prepared to wade through three dozen or so charts.
In partial conclusion, it is being argued that Clemens' adaptation to a somewhat different pitching style (split-finger fastball) and essentially a careful reduction in workload by contract and careful pitch counts were important factors in his longevity.
Photo credit: Mike Derer/AP
Last week, we alerted readers to Ray Lewis' appearance on FOX Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period as the subject of a lie detector test. Well, depending on your TV service, you may or may not have been able to catch the show, so we made arrangements with the folks at BDSSP to send a clip and they graciously provided it.
To whet your appetite, No. 52 is quizzed on the on the following subjects -- former Ravens coach Brian Billick, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, steroids and the guy who quarterbacked the Ravens to their Super Bowl victory, Trent Dilfer.
Video courtesy of Best Damn Sports Show Period, FSN, FOX Sports.
The Internet has had a lot of unexpected impact on countless ways we live our lives. Among them is what we pay to attend sports events.
The Super Bowl, of course, magnifies everything. The stakes are enormous for the teams and players participating. Drawing and holding an audience is huge for the network broadcasting the game. Advertisers put their creative reputations on the line, vying for who can come up with the most talked-about commercial.
And because it is American sport's biggest stage, the issue of ticket prices is more prominent than for any other event on the sports calendar.
The Associated Press' Vinnee Tong wrote a story talking about how the prices of tickets for the big game have escalated in recent years, and it's clear that the Internet is playing a major role in that phenomena. Obviously, this particular Super Bowl being played in suburban Phoenix is the proverbial perfect storm because of the storyline of New England trying to cap a perfect season and the underdog opponent being from the country's biggest market, New York. But even though those particular circumstances are driving demand, what can't be ignored is that the fluid nature of Internet commerce has made tickets to popular events assets that are incredibly liquid in a marketplace where anyone who has the dough can make the decision to go instantly.
In the AP story, you'll see that some people are paying $10,000 a person for Super Bowl packages that include airfare, hotel and tickets (I laugh when I read that breakfast is included; those must be some croissants). But there is an additional interesting facet to the reselling -- scalping, as it used to be called -- of Super Bowl tickets. Historically, as the game draws closer, the prices for tickets go down. Why? Well, for one thing, the buyer has to get to the site of the game and as you get closer -- four days, three days, two days -- the task of getting transportation and lodging gets more daunting, which exerts a downward pressure on tickets.
Now, let's take the ticking clock down from days to hours to even minutes. I've been fortunate enough to cover five Super Bowls and at just about every one of them, I saw scalpers on game day in the hotel lobby or on the street trying to get rid of tickets at just about face value as the actual kickoff drew closer. Before the San Francisco-Denver Super Bowl in New Orleans 18 years ago, my father-in-law, who had no intention of going to game, bought a ticket from a lady for $25 because she decided at the last minute to stay at the Hyatt near the Superdome and watch the game on TV. The only thing Ned missed was the opening kickoff.
Do I think there will be any $25 tickets available in Glendale this weekend? Probably not. But even a spokesman for Internet ticket middleman StubHub said that time has an effect on ticket prices. After all, it's a product with a very definite expiration. This year, re-sellers will be able to set up shop in a parking lot just a short walk from the new stadium in Phoenix. For those who are willing to eschew the security of knowing that they have a ticket in advance and are willing to engage in some ticket brinkmanship, they may be able to score a tickets at just a little over face value -- maybe even at face value.
Oh, and that would be $700 to $900.
Maryland almost made it two enormous upsets in a row but lost to Duke in game at College Park that was closer than the final, 93-84. The Terrapins led by nine at the half, 51-42, but let that advantage slip away as Duke rallied early in the second half, went on a 22-12 run and built its own nine-point lead with about five minutes left.
Even at that, Maryland (12-8, 2-3) -- which had stunned No. 1 North Carolina in its previous game -- had a chance to knock off another high nationally ranked opponent (Duke is 17-1, 5-0). The Terps sank a couple of three-pointers and closed to within three but their foul shooting was spotty and they failed to get a handful of key rebounds on the defensive side.
* The controversy that surrounded Tiger Woods and the "lynching" remark made by TV golf analyst Kelly Tilghman was eclipsed by Woods' dominant performance in his first start of the PGA season. Woods won the Buick Invitational at San Diego's Torrey Pines by sprinting away from the field and winning by eight shots. Woods turned the final round into more of a victory lap after pulling away with rounds of 67-65-66 over the first three days and then coming in with a 71 yesterday. It was his 62nd tour win, which ties him with Arnold Palmer for fourth on the all-time list. Ben Hogan (64) is within sight. The all-time leaders are Sam Snead (82) and Jack Nicklaus (73).
* Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova were winners at the Australian Open. Djokovic defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga yesterday, a day after Sharapova swept Ana Ivanovic in straight sets. The winners had to battle their way past the top seeds. Djokovic eliminated crowd favorite Roger Federer in the semifinals and Sharapova dispatched the machine-like Justine Henin in the quarterfinals.
As the Super Bowl approaches, our email in-box is receiving a steady stream of messages on the wagering aspects of the game. It seems as though some people actually BET on the Super Bowl. Imagine that!
In fact, some folks inside the gaming industry estimate the financial number for all Super Bowl wagering -- meaning Las Vegas, the Internet, street bookies, office pools -- is as high as $10 billion. That's with a B.
Recently, we received an e-mail from Bodog, the fairly well-known online gambling site with some of its 500 prop bets for the Super Bowl. Prop bets are wagers where you can bet on things that happen within the game, say, whether the Giants will have more field goals or turnovers, or which player will score the first touchdown.
But Bodog's prop bets go well beyond the similar wagers offered in Las Vegas. In fact, Vegas casinos are not permitted to offer a few types that you'll see online, such as events that can be controlled (see the Joe Buck wager below).
I asked the Bodog folks about the quirky prop bets and Richard Gardner, Bodog Sportsbook Manager, e-mailed: "We have a group of sports enthusiasts from a variety of departments within the company who basically take the 'water cooler' chat into a room every week to brainstorm and discuss what’s in the news and sports tabloids. All of them are all borderline obsessed with sports and pretty much talk about it 24-7; it's no wonder we come up with so many creative props. On occasion we actually have competitions as to who can come up with the most unique ideas to keep the ideas coming."
Here are a few that captured my attention.
Sibling rivalry. Who will have the most passing yardage, Eli Manning in this year's Super Bowl or brother Peyton in last year's? Peyton had 247 passing yards last year. In either case, you have to give 11 1/2 to 10 odds (meaning you have to wager 11.50 coconuts shells to win 10 coconut shells or 115 shells to win 100).
Superman vs. Bizarro Superman. Here's another historical proposition. Tom Brady in this year's Super Bowl vs. Tom Brady in the Super Bowl four years ago against Carolina. Brady threw three TDs against the Panthers in 2004. Whether you pick the younger or older Brady, you have to lay 6-to-5, or 120 to win 100. It gets more complicated if you want to bet today's Brady against the real young Brady in the Super Bowl against St. Louis, where he threw just one TD pass. In that case, if you want the current-day Brady, you start out with minus-2 TD passes and lay the 120 to win 100.
Cops vs. Mischief-makers. Will an NFL player get arrested in Phoenix during the week of the Super Bowl (no mention of whether he has to be from a participating team or whether only felonies count). It's a Yes or No bet, minus-120 either way.
Old arrogant guy vs. young arrogant guy. Will Don Shula be on the field to shake Bill Belichick's hand after the game? Yes, plus-150, No minus-200.
Joe Buck vs. your last nerve. This my favorite. How many times will announcer Joe Buck say Peyton (not Eli) Manning's name during the broadcast. The over-under is 5 1/2 and it's minus-125 for the over and minus-115 for the under.
Odds may change by the time you read this.
If your TV service carries FoxSports' Best Damn Sports Show Period, you might want to check it out tonight. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is scheduled as a co-host and a lie detector machine will be in the room. The promo for the show on the FoxSports Web site said that Eric Byrnes will be hooked up to the lie detector, but we're told that Lewis is the guy who will be on the hot seat being asked about Brian Billick and other football stuff. If you find it on the remote, it could be worth staying up late to watch.
The Dana Jacobson controversy at ESPN is not going away quietly. According to the Christian Newswire, the Christian Defense Coalition is planning a noon prayer vigil outside ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn. The group wants Jacobson fired. Reportedly, the ESPN TV personality is suspended. She has issued an apology but some think it is insufficient.
The Jacobson furor started as a result of roast at an Atlantic City casino for Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, the ESPN radio-TV talk duo. Golic is a Notre Dame grad. Much the evening was filled with off-color remarks, according to the Atlantic City Press, which, as far as we can tell, represented the only mainstream media covering and reporting the event.
In Jacobson's case, she allegedly took swigs from a bottle of vodka, and used curse words in association with Notre Dame, the image of Jesus at Notre Dame known commonly as "Touchdown Jesus," and Jesus himself.
While some of what is commonly known about the incident is second-hand information, ESPN has not refuted what is widely considered to be the specific offensive behavior.
Today's Atlantic City Press included another article about the incident. In this article, the journalist who was on the scene, At The Shore Editor Scott Cronick, talks further about what he observed.
The following comes from the Atlantic City Press article written by Regina Schaeffer.
Cronick said he did not hear the Jesus reference, "and neither did some other people I spoke to who were at the roast.
"She was out of control," Cronick said. "When she started slugging vodka straight from the bottle, the whole crowd just groaned. Most people in the audience, including me, felt bad for (Notre Dame head coach) Charlie Weis, because he was sitting right next to the podium and she was just going off on him and Notre Dame. They got her off the stage once, but she somehow found her way back to the stage and just dug her hole deeper."
A documentary about the death of former Maryland basketball player Len Bias is expected to be released sometime this year.
Hard to believe but Bias died more than 20 years ago.
The story, especially around here, is quite familiar. One of the greatest college players of his era, Bias was drafted No. 2 overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA draft. But upon his return to Maryland after a celebratory appearance in Boston, Bias suffered heart failure after a cocaine overdose.
The death of Bias was emotionally wrenching and had many repercussions. The athletic program at Maryland was scrutinized, cast in an unfavorable light and some, including coach Lefty Driesell, were forced to leave the university. And many believe that the Boston Celtics' long decline would have been averted had Bias gone on to play for them.
Sun colleague Kevin Van Valkenburg pointed out the preview of the documentary. Here's a trailer. Looks like riveting stuff.
Photo credit: Associated Press
The men's finals of the Australian Open will feature neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal as both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds were bounced in the semifinals. Nadal was shown the door by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Then, more surprisingly, Federer, who was going for his third consecutive title Down Under, was ambushed by Novak Djokovic in a hard-fought but decisive, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5), outcome . The men's championship is on Sunday. On the women's side, tomorrow's finals are between No. 4 Ana Ivanovic and No. 5 Maria Sharapova.
* The Miami Beat (pun intended) lost its 15th in a row in about as fitting as way as possible to defending champion San Antonio. Miami led, or at least was tied with, the Spurs most of the night and was behind by a single point with three seconds left. It had the ball in the hands of star Dwyane Wade. Wade drove the lane but, on the way up, had his pocket picked by the collapsing Spurs. End of game. The Heat was catching San Antonio at the perfect time because the Spurs were playing their second straight night after outlasting a good Lakers team Wednesday, but Miami couldn't take advantage.
* Tiger Woods opened his 2008 at San Diego's Torrey Pines (The Buick Invitational) with a 5-under 67. That put him in a tie for third. The leader for the time being is Troy Matteson at 65. The Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman returned to the air with a brief apology for her "lynch" remark a few weeks ago. The comment was made in a reference to how other golfers could hope to deal with Woods' domination. Woods has accepted Tilghman's apology.
