ESPN reports that the Oakland Raiders sign former Vikings and Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Culpepper signs with Raiders
ESPN reports that the Oakland Raiders sign former Vikings and Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Bill Walsh - The Real Genius
The San Francisco Chronicle's Tom FitzGerald writes the news story about Bill Walsh...... "A master of using short, precisely timed passes to control the ball in what became known as the West Coast offense, he guided the team to three Super Bowl championships and six NFC West division titles in his 10 years as head coach." ....
The San Francisco Chronicle devotes a tribute page to Walsh.....
The San Francisco Chronicle's Michelle Smith covers the days when Walsh coached at Stanford.... "Walsh spent his final years in Stanford's fold, playing roles of teacher, counselor, fundraiser, cheerleader and administrator." ....
Los Angeles Time
s football reporter Sam Farmer writes how Walsh was a perfectionist.... "Bill Walsh was a perfectionist who refused to be hurried. I learned that the hard way." ..... Marv Levy recalls giving Walsh his first break in football..... "It was 1960, after Levy took over California, when he was looking to fill out his staff and happened upon Walsh by accident." ....
The Oakland Tribune dedicates a page to Walsh.....
Seattle Post Intelligencer's Clare Farnsworth talks with Walsh disciple Mike Holmgren..... "Mike Holmgren admits that Bill Walsh wasn't always easy to like, but the Seahawks coach definitely respected the man who was his first boss in the NFL and eventually became his mentor and friend." ....
The Boston Globe’s Mike Reiss gets a few comments from Bill Belichick about Walsh.... “One of the greatest challenges of my career was coaching defense against Bill Walsh.” ....
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Bryan Burwell writes about his first encounter with Walsh..... “The first time I saw Bill Walsh at work, he was cussing up a storm.” ....
Mike Klis of the Denver Post gets reactions from the Broncos camp about the death of Bill Walsh.... “Indirectly, Walsh had great influence on how Mike Shanahan operates the Broncos.” ....
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King writes how Walsh changed the game of football..... “Walsh's
words: "Football is detail work. It's teaching. People in baseball may disagree, but I think football is the real thinking person's game and I think that's what you'll see in this book. Coaches and players know that today, but that's not how it used to be. I'd like to think that my coaching successes have had some effect in changing the image.” ..... Dennis Green’s son, Jeremy Green of Scouts Inc., writes how Walsh was a master of evaluating talent..... “One of the things I used to love about hanging around the 49ers' facility was the amount of game tape that was available. It was around 1980 that I decided I wanted to work in player personnel. I never wanted to coach. It was evaluating players that I came to love.” ....
ESPN’s Ivan Maisel writes how new Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh got to know Walsh for even a short time..... “Walsh had an office in the Stanford athletic department, and came in as recently as early this month, according to Harbaugh.” ....
Washington Post columnist Mike Wise looks at the various layers of Walsh..... "Joe Gibbes told a story in his office the other day. It started out about Dexter Manley and humility, but it ended up saying more about Bill Walsh, beyond the cerebral professor of the sideline we solely made him out to be." .....
College Football at its Best - Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers is the featured team as the last days of the College Football at its Best series approach....Joel from the blog Rocky Top Talk took some time to respond to the questions.....like me, he is a "geezer" in the blogging world.....he is currently 40-years-old....in 1996, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee College of Law and got bit by the Big Orange bug....Q1. Why does Tennessee hate Steve Spurrier so much? Did you actually miss him when
he coached in the NFL for two seasons?Steve Spurrier is El Diablo. He fell from the heavens of East Tennessee to the lake of fire in Florida, and as a coach in the 1990's, he was a thorn in our flesh more than any other single individual. Not only did he win, but he won badly, needling Tennessee's coach, its teams, and its fans in the process. Spurrier's line "You can't spell Citrus without 'UT,'" a dig on Tennessee's usual consolation prize after losing to the Gators, has become a pop culture reference point.
Spurrier is iconic, as evidenced (1) by the fact that at Rocky Top Talk, when we discuss the South Carolina football team, we simply refer to it as "Steve Spurrier," and (2) the prevalence of Spurrier-related Hail Mary Haikus the week before the game against . . . Steve Spurrier . . . last season.
Did I miss him? Oh, yeah. Like Orson once said, "we like our villains legitimately threatening," and the scarier it is out there, the more fun it is when you win.
Q2. What is the greatest Tennessee football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great.
I'd have to say it was the six overtime game against Arkansas in 2002. It seemed like the game started just after second breakfast and lasted until the wee hours of the next morning. Not much happened the first half, with both teams doing well defensively and Tennessee coming out on top with a 10-3 lead.
The third quarter was more of the same, and we finally started pulling away in the fourth when Jabari Davis had a really nice 58-yard TD run to extend the lead to 17-3. Breathing room, or so we thought.
But then the drama. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Razorbacks scored their first TD. They held us and started their next drive at their own eight yard line. On the first play, one of our defensive backs blew an assignment, and Arkansas QB Matt Jones – who looks like he's moving really slow until you realize that nobody's catching him – threw a 92-yard touchdown pass to some completely wide open receiver. Score tied 17-17. This one's going to OT.
The teams traded field goals for the first overtime. And the second. And in the third OT, disaster struck for both teams. First, Tennessee running back Derrick Tinsley fumbled the ball, giving possession to Arkansas without the Vols even being able to attempt a field goal. The unpardonable sin in overtime. All Arkansas had to do was hit a 38-yard field goal. But . . . wobble, wobble, wobble . . . no good. He missed it, barely. On to OT No. 4.
Matt Jones was the first to score a TD in OT, but he couldn't make good on the required two-point conversion. We then scored our own TD . . . and also missed on our two point conversion. Argh.
In OT No. 5, we scored a TD first, but again couldn't convert on the two-point attempt, and Arkansas followed suit, scoring their own TD. When they threw it into the end zone for the two-point play . . . we intercepted it. No. 6, coming up.
At this time, I was frantically yelling instructions to my wife over my cell phone with one finger jammed into my ear up to the knuckle, trying to get her to understand that she needed to extend the recording time on the VCR. I don't think she got it. In fact, I'm relatively certain that she thought I was calling from an interstate ditch in the throes of death. "AAAAHHHH! NEEEEED MOOOORE TIIIIIIME!" It was loud, okay?
Anyway, Arkansas got the ball first in the 6th overtime, but we backed them up toward mid-field. They did hit a 47-yard field goal before giving us our shot, so, you know, at least they didn't fumble. But on our first play, Casey Clausen hit Jason Witten streaking down the middle of the field for the game-winning score. Once he hit the checkerboard, he stopped, pointed to the sky in jubilation, and was absolutely mobbed by his teammates. The stuff of goose bumps.
But wait. Maybe that wasn't my favorite game. Maybe it was the five overtime game against rival Alabama. Or the 1998 National Championship over Florida State. Or the Rally in the Valley against LSU when Rick Clausen – Nobody's All-American – and Tennessee kicked a team while it was down in full view of its rabid fans and a sympathetic nation
. There are just so many great memories of Tennessee games to choose from. Q3. Who do you consider Tennessee's biggest rival - Florida or Alabama? (explain)
To me, it's Florida. Kyle once observed that the team that a fan generally considers to be its biggest rival often depends on either geography or age, age being the term he used to refer to the formative years of fanhood. In other words, if you were getting beat up by Alabama while you were first becoming a Volunteer fan, you'd most likely say that the Crimson Tide is Tennessee's most bitter rival. But we've mostly had our way with them for the past decade, and since I really started following Tennessee in 1996, I'd have to go with Florida, as they always seem to be between us and our dreams, taunting us mercilessly the entire time. It's evened out a bit over the last several years, including the last couple of years of Spurrier's reign of terror, but neither team has alpha-rolled the other, so it's still a mutual, seething hatred.....
I want to thank Joel for his time.....tomorrow the Florida State Seminoles are the featured program....
Monday, July 30, 2007
Bill Walsh - 1931 - 2007
Bill Walsh
1931 - 2007
Stiles Points will have extra coverage on Tuesday surrounding the death of legendary head coach Bill Walsh. I will have links from all around the country. You will be one click away from reading about the Hall of Fame coach.
College Football at its Best - LSU Tigers
Stiles Points wraps up the series College Football at its Best this week with five straight profiles over the next five days....today, the spotlight goes on the LSU Tigers...the editor of As the Valley Shook took his time to respond to the questions...
Q1. Explain the mystique of night games at Tiger Stadium and the pure noise. Also, why does LSU wear white jerseys at home?
First of all, some background from LSUSports.net: "Since 1960, LSU is 202-59-3 (.771) at night in Tiger Stadium compared to a 19-22-3 (.432) record during the day over that span."
That link is http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&KEY=&ATCLID=177159
So yes, the Tigers tend to perform much better at night than during the day. Maybe it's
the sheer heat during the day that makes the fans a little more muted during the down times of day games, and the lack of that makes the atmosphere electric from start to finish at night. Who knows. But give a bunch of Louisiana folks 10 hours to drink, eat, and drink some more, and you're bound to have a more rabid fanbase by 7pm than you would for the typical 2:30 CBS Prime Time slot.Regarding the white jerseys at home, some would say it's just that the lighter colors help ward off the heat, but it's actually a little more in depth than that. In fact, trusty wikipedia has a good background on it:
"LSU is one of the few college football teams that wears white jerseys for home games. The tradition started in 1958, when
Coach Paul Dietzel decided that LSU would wear white jerseys for the home games. LSU went on to win the national championship that year. Since then, LSU continued to wear white jerseys at home games. Then in 1982, new NCAA rules forbid teams from wearing white jerseys at home. Because of this, LSU wore purple jerseys during home games from 1983 to 1994. In 1995, LSU's new coach, Gerry DiNardo, was determined to restore LSU's tradition of white home jerseys. DiNardo personally met with each member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, lobbying LSU's case. DiNardo was successful, and LSU again began wearing white jerseys at home when the 1995 season began. In LSU's first home game with the white jerseys, unranked LSU staged a stunning 12-6 upset victory over #6 Auburn. In 2000, LSU's new coach, Nick Saban, altered the tradition of the white home jerseys: now LSU only wears white jerseys for the home opener and for home games against SEC opponents. For non-SEC home games other than the home opener, LSU wears purple jerseys at home."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSU_Tigers_football
Q2. What is the greatest LSU football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great.
Greatest in-person Tiger game I've ever seen (and I was at our BCS National Championship victory over Oklahoma) would have to be the win at Arizona State in 2005. It was our first game after H
urricane Katrina, and the game had been moved to Tempe as a result of LSU's campus being used as a staging ground for the National Guard; the campus would not remotely be able to accomdate 92,000 fans for a football game.A boatload of Tiger fans made the trip from South Louisiana (I fortunately only had to hop out from Los Angeles). While it was great just to see the Tigers in action again after eight months off, the game was frustrating for Tiger fans for the first three quarters as we were more or less thoroughly dominated by ASU. All seemed lost when suddenly in the fourth quarter the Tigers special teams blocked a punt and a field goal and returned them both for touchdowns, giving us the lead and instantly making it a contest. The Devils, however, continued shredding our secondary and it was back-and-forth for the rest of the game, until on a 4th down with a minute to go at the Devils' 40 yard line, JaMarcus Russell heaved a pass into the endzone where a falling-out-of-bounds Early Doucet managed to grab it with a foot in, sealing the victory. Just an all-time great emotional high.
Q3. Who are the Tigers most hated rival - Arkansas, Alabama, or Ole Miss?
There's no question now, it's Alabama. Anyone can sum it up in two words: Nick Saban.
Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear an LSU uniform?
Hmm, beyond #1 it's a tough one. I'll go with:
1) Tommy Casanova, 1969-1971 (Safety, 3-time All American)
2) Kevin Faulk 1995-1998 (RB, All American and LSU's all time rushing leader)
3) Charles Alexander 1976-1978 (RB, two-time All American)
4) Bert Jones 1970-1972 (QB, All American)
5) Josh Reed 1999-2001 (WR, All American)
I hate making that list, given I had to leave names off like QB Tommy Hodson (4-year starter, LSU's all-time passing leader), a heap of All American defensive linemen over the past decade (notably Booger McFarland and Chad Lavalais), and guys like LaRon Landry (4-year starter, including as a freshman on our national championship team).
Q5. Make your case why LSU football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?
We aren't the best football program in the country right now, so I won't make that
case (my vote would go to USC). But we are damn close. Since 2000, we have won one national championship (2003), two SEC Championships (2001, 2003), slaughtered two consecutive highly ranked opponents in bowl games (#9 Miami 40-3 in the 2005 Peach Bowl, and #10 Notre Dame 41-14 in the 2007 Sugar Bowl), finishing in the top ten four times in the past six seasons (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006). I don't have time to sort every year right now, but I think the only other schools who can make that claim are USC, Texas, and Ohio State. Maybe Oklahoma, but we've had more recent success ( i.e. consecutive top 5 finishes). Regardless, it's a mere handful of schools with a track record remotely equivalent to ours in the 21st century. It's a very short list, and we're clearly on it. I want to thank And the Valley Shook for his time...tomorrow we stay in the SEC once again and focus on the Tennessee Volunteers...
Here are a few links to stories that I found in Sunday newspapers...
St. Louis Dispatch reporter Joe Holleman writes about co-worker Rick Hummel who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday to the sportswriter wing of the museum... "To beat writers, ballplayers and bartenders, Post-Dispatch baseball scribe Rick Hummel has been an unofficial legend for years. On Sunday, it’s official"....
Pittsburgh Post Gazette columnist Ron Cook writes about former Pitt head coach Johnny Majors who is moving from Pittsburgh back to Tennessee.... "Some people go through life without ever having a real home. Majors, 72, is lucky; he has two." ....
The Pittsburgh Pirates are closing in on being one of the losingest franchises in a sports history....
The New York Times Richard Sandomir writes about Mindy Ellis, the person who sculpts the faces on each Baseball Hall of Fame plaque.... "The spacious first-floor gallery where the plaques bearing the bronzed likenesses of 278 inductees hang here at the National Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame is part mausoleum, part fan’s paradise." ....
(Cleveland) Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises writes about Phil Steele, the independent football guru who produces the football preview magazine.... "Twenty-five years after starting a football betting tip line from the back of his parents' house, the 1979 John Marshall High grad produces one of a handful of major college football preseason magazines." ....
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Sunday Baker's Dozen - Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sunday Fact - Tony Gwynn will be the second San Diego Padre inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame - Dave Winfield is the other.
Ultimately, its not Barry Bonds who hits the ball over the wall, but the bat....The New York Times Jack Curry writes about who makes the bats for Bonds..... "Holman described Bonds as a genius of a hitter and said he expected him to be consumed by every detail about the bats." .....Jack Curry
ESPN's Jayson Stark proves that opposites do attract - just look at who is going to be behind the microphone calling Barry Bonds historic homerun..... "Shouldn't we devote at least one small sector of cyberspace to the man who has made history in the most diametrically opposite way possible?" ....Jayson Stark
As a kid, Dontrelle Willis used to chase after Barry Bonds' homerun balls - now he is pitching to the guy.... "When Bonds met Willis for the first time, he offered the young pitcher one piece of advice: "He told me to just continue to smile," Willis said." ....Lee Jenkins
Another renegade professional football league looms, but this time with a college twist..... "The league, whose planned opening is May 2008, will mostly play in college towns using players who played for the local college teams and did not make an N.F.L. roster." .....Ray Glier
Everyone knows Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn are being inducted into the baseball hall of fame today - but don't forget about Denny Matthews too.... "After careful consideration, he explains his style as "Midwestern, laid-back, tell it like it is," and, now that he thinks about it, that's a pretty good description of his personality, too." ....Sam Mellinger
Newark Star-Ledger's Dave Hutchinson writes that New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is finally feeling healthy.... "Training camp -- and all its trappings, good and bad -- is once again a safe haven for Jets quarterback Chad Pennington." ....Dave Hutchinson
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports columnist Gene Collier writes how the NFL coaching fraternity has changed... "The median career win total for the 32 current NFL coaches is 35. For the moment, four 9-7 seasons would put you in the top half of this either unremarkable if partially untested class." ....Gene Collier
New Orleans Times Picayune reporter John De Shazier writes how Saints wide receiver Marques Colston will let his play on the field do his talking.... "When you have talent, there's no requirement to run your mouth as well as you run routes, and Colston, from all appearances, doesn't have to say a word if he doesn't want to." ....John De Shazier
Kansas City Star reporter Jason King writes that the buzz at Chiefs training camp is the impending arrival of not Larry Johnson, but Priest Holmes.... "Holmes' impending arrival — and even more so, his attempt at a comeback — have been the buzz of training camp thus far." ....Jason King
Why can't an officiating scandal happen in the NFL?....the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss talks with a former NFL official.... "I can't see it happening in football," said Terry Gierke, who served as an NFL official from 1981-2001. "I think it would be awfully, awfully hard for that type of situation where an official deliberately makes calls that went against the grain of the game." ....Mike Reiss
The worst team in the NFL last season starts fresh at training camp.... "And so, football's losingest team arrived in Napa with the mind-set of an undefeated team. At the very least, they arrived spunky and unrepentant." ....Oakland Tribune
Martyball is over in San Diego, and the players are ready for their new coach and his style.... "There was a speech most every day before meetings, during stretching, after practice. His voice rose and fell, even quaking at times. His eyes would often well with tears." .....Kevin Acee
The run for the presidency has now included talk of Hillary's cleavage....Washington Post
Ultimately, its not Barry Bonds who hits the ball over the wall, but the bat....The New York Times Jack Curry writes about who makes the bats for Bonds..... "Holman described Bonds as a genius of a hitter and said he expected him to be consumed by every detail about the bats." .....
ESPN's Jayson Stark proves that opposites do attract - just look at who is going to be behind the microphone calling Barry Bonds historic homerun..... "Shouldn't we devote at least one small sector of cyberspace to the man who has made history in the most diametrically opposite way possible?" ....
As a kid, Dontrelle Willis used to chase after Barry Bonds' homerun balls - now he is pitching to the guy.... "When Bonds met Willis for the first time, he offered the young pitcher one piece of advice: "He told me to just continue to smile," Willis said." ....
Another renegade professional football league looms, but this time with a college twist..... "The league, whose planned opening is May 2008, will mostly play in college towns using players who played for the local college teams and did not make an N.F.L. roster." .....
Everyone knows Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn are being inducted into the baseball hall of fame today - but don't forget about Denny Matthews too.... "After careful consideration, he explains his style as "Midwestern, laid-back, tell it like it is," and, now that he thinks about it, that's a pretty good description of his personality, too." ....
Newark Star-Ledger's Dave Hutchinson writes that New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is finally feeling healthy.... "Training camp -- and all its trappings, good and bad -- is once again a safe haven for Jets quarterback Chad Pennington." ....
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports columnist Gene Collier writes how the NFL coaching fraternity has changed... "The median career win total for the 32 current NFL coaches is 35. For the moment, four 9-7 seasons would put you in the top half of this either unremarkable if partially untested class." ....
New Orleans Times Picayune reporter John De Shazier writes how Saints wide receiver Marques Colston will let his play on the field do his talking.... "When you have talent, there's no requirement to run your mouth as well as you run routes, and Colston, from all appearances, doesn't have to say a word if he doesn't want to." ....
Kansas City Star reporter Jason King writes that the buzz at Chiefs training camp is the impending arrival of not Larry Johnson, but Priest Holmes.... "Holmes' impending arrival — and even more so, his attempt at a comeback — have been the buzz of training camp thus far." ....
Why can't an officiating scandal happen in the NFL?....the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss talks with a former NFL official.... "I can't see it happening in football," said Terry Gierke, who served as an NFL official from 1981-2001. "I think it would be awfully, awfully hard for that type of situation where an official deliberately makes calls that went against the grain of the game." ....
The worst team in the NFL last season starts fresh at training camp.... "And so, football's losingest team arrived in Napa with the mind-set of an undefeated team. At the very least, they arrived spunky and unrepentant." ....
Martyball is over in San Diego, and the players are ready for their new coach and his style.... "There was a speech most every day before meetings, during stretching, after practice. His voice rose and fell, even quaking at times. His eyes would often well with tears." .....
The run for the presidency has now included talk of Hillary's cleavage....
Friday, July 27, 2007
Kenny Lofton traded to Indians
It is being reported that Texas has traded Kenny Lofton to the Cleveland Indians for a minor league prospect....this will be Lofton's third stint with Cleveland....
The Atlanta Falcons "grieve" the loss of a teammate
On Wednesday I wrote my views about the Michael Vick situation so I am not going to rehash it anymore but I think the link to the first story just proves that some people "just don’t get it" and understand the severity of the alleged crime....the Falcons are "grieving" the loss of their teammate????......"grieve"????.....here are some links about Vick appearing in court on Thursday.....
The Atlanta Falcons go through "grieving process" as they mourn the loss of their teammate....
Atlanta Journal Constitution
New head coach Bobby Petrino keeps his team’s focus on football.......
Atlanta Journal Constitution
With Vick out for awhile and Joey Harrington as the quarterback, former Georgia quarterback DJ Shockley moves up the depth chart....
Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Nation of Islam Sports Blog is pleased that the media used the words "not guilty" during Vick’s plea.....
Nation of Islam Sports Blog
Wake Forest men’s basketball coach Skip Prosser died yesterday of an apparent heart attach while jogging.....the Winston-Salem Journal has it covered.....Skip Prosser
The Simpsons movie is out today....and the Associated Press gives their review....The Simpsons
Day 1
The Friday Blog Promotion
Beginning last week, Stiles Points began a five week series in which we promote a fellow blogger every Friday.....this week, the spotlight goes to Complete Sports blog.....Twins15 is a college student studying finance and accounting.....every Thursday, he posts a debate question where you the reader can vote and sound off about the topic.....this past week’s debate focused on who will win the National League West....other past debate questions included "Pedro Martinez or Sandy Koufax?"....."Best Centerfielder Ever".......so I encourage everyone to stop by and visit Complete Sports.....Complete Sports
The Atlanta Falcons go through "grieving process" as they mourn the loss of their teammate....
New head coach Bobby Petrino keeps his team’s focus on football.......
With Vick out for awhile and Joey Harrington as the quarterback, former Georgia quarterback DJ Shockley moves up the depth chart....
The Nation of Islam Sports Blog is pleased that the media used the words "not guilty" during Vick’s plea.....
Wake Forest men’s basketball coach Skip Prosser died yesterday of an apparent heart attach while jogging.....the Winston-Salem Journal has it covered.....
The Simpsons movie is out today....and the Associated Press gives their review....
It’s SEC Media Day for the upcoming football season and The Birmingham News has it covered.....
The Friday Blog Promotion
Beginning last week, Stiles Points began a five week series in which we promote a fellow blogger every Friday.....this week, the spotlight goes to Complete Sports blog.....Twins15 is a college student studying finance and accounting.....every Thursday, he posts a debate question where you the reader can vote and sound off about the topic.....this past week’s debate focused on who will win the National League West....other past debate questions included "Pedro Martinez or Sandy Koufax?"....."Best Centerfielder Ever".......so I encourage everyone to stop by and visit Complete Sports.....
Thursday, July 26, 2007
College Football at its Best Series - Alabama Crimson Tide
Today, Stiles Points features the Alabama Crimson Tide in the series, "College Football at its Best".....Nico from the blog Roll Bama Roll took the time to respond about the Tide....he is a graduate student at the University of Alabama and has been blogging for three years....Q1. How much on a shadow does the legacy of Bear Bryant still cast on Alabama football?
It is larger than most non-Bama fans could possibly comprehend. A plethora of things around Tuscaloosa are named after him: Bryant-Denny Stadium, The Bryant Museum, The Bryant Conference Center,
Bryant Hall, Bryant Drive, Bryant High School, etc...you get the point. Let me give you another example. When offensive lineman Andre Smith, the highest ranked offensive line prospect in the country chose Alabama over the likes of USC and LSU, he put a twist on the 'ol "putting on the hat of the team you're going to sign with" schtick. He didn't put on a Bama ball cap, he put on a Houndstooth hat. This from someone that wasn't even born when Coach Bryant died.It has its plusses and its minuses though. On the plus side you have young recruits like Andre Smith that have a healthy appreciation for Alabama's rich history and tradition and that certainly helps in recruiting (at least in state.) The downside though is that many fans and influential people in the program have totally unrealistic expectations for modern day coaches. Given the greater parity in today's collegiate game, we're not likely to see another coach win six national championships at one school over the course of their career and that's what some are expecting here. Alabama has obviously been very hard on coaches that have followed in Coach Bryant's wake. Counting Mike Price (who never actually coached a game here), we're on our seventh coach since Coach Bryant.
Q2. What is the g
reatest Alabama football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television?I'm going to have to go with the obvious answer here: The 1992 National Championship game where Alabama thrashed Miami. It isn't surprising that Alabama won the game seeing as that 1992 team had one of the greatest collegiate defenses ever assembled, but the ease with which they beat the #1 team in the country was a bit shocking. It was great to out hit, out run, out throw, out hustle and out everything a Miami team that felt like the trophy was a birthright and not something to be earned.
Q3. Why do Crimson Tide fans hate Auburn so much?
Well, lately because they've beaten us five times in a row. The serious answer though would be that it is an in-state rivalry where these two tea
ms are the highest level of athletics the state has to offer. There are a few minor league baseball teams scattered around the state, but no real pro sports to speak of. With Alabama and Auburn being two of the most successful programs in college football history, the state can focus all of its energy on these two teams and the Iron Bowl in particular. It's a 365 day a year topic around here and that is said without an ounce of hyperbole.
Alabama fans have historically looked at Auburn as "little brother" and in some ways are more dismissive than hateful of Auburn...though I guess you could call it a dismissive hate. To put it simply though, Alabama fans hate Auburn (and vice versa) because that's how we are raised from birth. I have a friend that could care less about football but was raised by rabid Alabama fans. He says that despite his apathy towards the sport as a whole that to this day he still finds the color combination of orange and blue to be utterly repugnant and attributes it to his upbringing. That's how ingrained it is in us.
Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear an Alabama uniform and why?
This will be a tough but fun question to answer. There were some giants of the game I left off, but I feel pretty good about my choices. I chose three players whose careers I am familiar with and chose another two based on historical records and how much I still hear people talking about them. In alpha order:
1. Shaun Alexander: This one really doesn't really need much explanation. He's had an amazing NFL career and his collegiate career was just as incredible. When he rushed for 291 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries as freshman at LSU, we all knew we had a special player at Alabam
a. His name is all over Alabama's record books.2. Jay Barker: He may not have the name recognition of Joe Namath or Ken Stabler or Bart Starr, but Jay Barker was a leader that won football games. He was 35-2-1 (.934) as a starter at Alabama. Oh yeah, he won a national championship too. That's an incredible winning percentage and one that trumps the records of a many quarterbacks more famous than Barker.
3. John Hannah (photo): I never saw Hannah play, but considering just how much praise people are still heaping on him 30+ years later, he must've been one heck of an offensive lineman. Sports Illustrated once featured him on the cover with the headline "The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time."
4. Ozzie Newsome: Though I never saw him play, from everything I hear he was a sight to behold. He still owns Alabama's all-time receiving yards record and had a 20.3 yard per catch average over the course of his collegiate career.
5. Derrick Thomas: Thomas had a nose for the ball and a hunger for quarterbacks that was astonishing. He holds the career record at Alabama for sacks (52), tackles for a loss (74) and fumbles caused (10). Thomas was the first player whose skills I wanted for myself. I wasn't big enough to play linebacker (I was a DB), but Derrick Thomas was always my inspiration when I played.
Q5. Make your c
ase why Alabama football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?There's so much I could say to make a case for Alabama as the best football program in the country I almost don't even know where to start. I could list legendary coaches, national championships, the number of All-Americans produced, conference championships and other accomplishments and all of those things would certainly be true and worthy of inclusion in an argument. Those things are in the past though. What makes Alabama great and special today?
I always like to think that our site looks at things a little differently so I want to provide a
different perspective on why Alabama is so great. It is a magnet for talented players and players full of heart. Even coaches that were in over their heads like Mike DuBose and Mike Shula produced 10-win seasons. DuBose even produced a conference championship (and beat Spurrier twice in one season.) Sure, they had losing seasons too but it is the kind of place where talented people want to play and that the talent level can even overcome bad coaching. It has one of the most rabid and devoted fanbases on the planet and the players return that devotion to the fans. When we went on probation during the Franchione era, the players stuck it out. They could've transferred, but they didn't. Others knowingly came to a program on probation even though they had good offers elsewhere because they wanted to play at Alabama. To me, that level of devotion from both fans and players makes it a unique a great place that few can equal.I want to thank Nico for his time....it is much appreciated.....on Monday we stay in the SEC as the LSU Tigers will be featured....
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Former ABC sports announcer Bill Flemming dies
It was announced today that former ABC Sports announcer Bill Flemming died Friday of prostate cancer.....
Bill Flemming
Michael Vick Case - Race is not the issue at hand
Over the last week or so there has been much written about Michael Vick and his alleged connection with dogfighting.....let me say right from the start, Vick should be suspended....I don’t think the NFL has been aggressive in dealing out punishment for Vick because he is one of their marquee players.....if this was some offensive lineman or safety, there is no doubt that player would have already been suspended....
Believe it or not, there are knuckleheads out there who are atually defending Vick and even excusing his alleged involvement.....these people have brought up that hunters kill animals.....I have even read where someone wrote about how butchers kill pigs and cows for the meat that we eat.....to me, these people are just sidestepping the issue at hand about Vick.....
Of course, the biggest excuse that I have read is that the government and media are after Vick because he is African-American.....of course when there is no other excuse, the ole race card is always a good defense.....
This case has nothing to do with Michael Vick being African-American.....this case has everything to do with Michael Vick the person who is allegedly involved in the inhumane, barbaric, cruel, and gruesome treatment of dogs - Nothing Else!!!.....some of the people who are using the race card as a defense are stating that Vick is being singled out because he is a black man playing a position (quarterback) that is traditionally held by white athletes.....I have also read where some idiots are even stating this would not be a big thing if Peyton Manning or Tom Brady were accused of the same charges.....
First off, the fact is, Manning, Brady, or no other NFL player is accused of this despicable act - so stop trying to change the focus of the case....
Second, the morons who are stating the league/government/media is after Vick because he is black do not know sports history......
Let’s look at the history of the NFL and even Major League Baseball.....the NFL does not “go after” black athletes....if that was the case, then why did the league, back in the early 1960s, suspend the Golden Boy, Paul Hornung and Alex Karras for gambling?......Hornung was the All-American athlete who played for Notre Dame, won the Heisman Trophy, and played on those great Lombardi Packer teams....he was also white....and he was also suspended by the league....the league did not "sweep it under the rug"...Karras too was white, and he was suspended by the league.....the NFL did not favor these two just because they were white.....
Let’s also look at baseball.....has anyone ever heard of the name Pete Rose....Rose was the all-time hits leader, Charlie Hustle, Mr. Baseball.....but the league booted him for life for gambling on baseball.....once again, there was no “sweeping it under the rug”......
These idiots who are stating that Vick is being singled out because he is black simply “Don’t Get It”.....there is no doubt that racism is a part of society and even sports....to this day I still believe that race was a reason for the government's poor and inexcusable slow response to the people in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.....it was sickening to see all those people who were suffering......so I do realize that race is still alive in this country.....but, like I wrote earlier, this case has nothing to do with race but everything to do with man-kind and the character of a person no matter race, creed, gender, etc...I thought man-kind and society as a whole evolved and would not condone something so barbaric and inhumane.....but I guess I was wrong....instead of people chastising Vick for this horrid act, there are actually people who think it is funny and are defending him....
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
College Football at its Best - Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies are the featured football program in the series "College Football at its Best"....U-Dub grad Zach from the popular blog The Big Picture gives us his thoughts about the Huskies...I want to thank Zach for his time and encourage everyone to check out his blog....it is one of the best blogs in the country....Q1. What has happened to the Washington football program? The Huskies were always a premier program, can Ty Willingham (photo - right) bring them back to prominence?
Man, good question. For how far the program has fallen, it's hard to pin-point exactly why Washington football has gone to hell. Part of it would be the general chaos in the Athletic Department, dating
back to the Rick Neuheisel scandal and the resignation of former AD Barbara Hedges.Keith Gilbertson -- a great coordinator, but terrible head coach -- taking over after Neuheisel left probably messed things up. He somehow was losing the top in-state recruits to other Pac-10 schools, which is 124% unacceptable. The Huskies' defense with USC's Taylor Mayes and Cal's Anthony Felder -- both from Seattle's O'Dea High School -- would be greatly improved.
Willingham has shown signs of bringing UW back to where it should be. With a fast start last season, there was excitement for Washington football for the first time since probably 2002. Personally, I think he's the wrong guy to turn around a program. He's conservative with the gameplan and, frankly, I don't know why anyone would want to play for him. I think he'd be better off coaching an established team rather than trying to rebuild one.
Q2. What is the greatest Washington football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great.
Wow! There have been some good ones. I'd say the 2003 Apple Cup in Seattle w
as really special. It was the first year when fans started realizing that U-Dub wasn't very good anymore so anything -- like anything -- to juice fans would help.So when the disappointing Huskies upset a then top-10 Washington State team, it was chaos in Husky stadium. Corey Williams, a freshman wide receiver who hadn't done much of anything all year, caught the game-winning touchdown with 1:10 left to help the Dawgs to a 27-19 win.
Q3. Who do you consider Washington's biggest rival - Southern Cal or Washington State?
Washington State is still the biggest. But Oregon would be right up there too. For a long time, Wazzu was garbage, so the best geographical rivalry was the Ducks. When both Oregon and WSU are good, I bet you could poll 100 people and the answer to biggest rival would be a 50-50 split.
Q4. Since 1970
, who are the five greatest players to wear a Washington uniform and why?Man, tough. In no particular order, Mark Brunell, Warren Moon (photo - left), Steve Emtman, Reggie Williams, Napoleon Kaufman.
Q5. Make your case why you are a proud fan of Huskie football?
Well, lately I'm not all that proud. But the tradition is like nothing I've seen. Growing up in the Bay Area as a Cal fan, I didn't know what it meant for people to really live college football.
The UW fans are great and expect a 10-win season every year. When we don't get it, things can turn sour. But that expectation for success that is so hard-wired in UW fans speaks of the program's success, tradition and history. To be part of that -- even if the team hasn't been good in a few years now -- is special....
I want to than Zach for his time - it is much appreciated....on Thursday, the Alabama Crimson Tide will be featured....
Monday, July 23, 2007
College Football at its Best - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Today, Stiles Points features the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the series, "College Football at its Best".....Rob from the blog Rakes of Mallow took time to respond to my questions....he is a 21-year old, senior-to-be student at the University of Notre Dame.....he was born into a Notre Dame family and has been watching the Irish since the early 90's.....his life motto is "Michigan Sucks"....
Q1. First q
uestion - should Notre Dame wear the green jerseys at least once a year or only on very special occasions?This is a topic that is heavily debated among ND fans, but I'm of the opinion that Notre Dame should stick with a color for good. I think the green jerseys are just as sharp as the blue ones, but the speculation before every home game about what color the jerseys will be gets tiresome rather quickly. If I was making the decisions, I'd stay with the blues for good. We'll be wearing the green jerseys for the USC game – mostly as a silly marketing ploy by the athletic department and Adidas to sell more jerseys. What was once a great Notre Dame tradition has turned into gimmicky joke.
Q2. What is the greatest Notre Dame football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great. Q3. Who do you consider Notre Dame's biggest rival - Michigan or Southern Cal? Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear an Notre Dame uniform and why? Q5. Make your case why Notre Dame football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country? I want to thank Rob for his time....it is much appreciated....tomorrow our buddy Zach will write about the Washington Huskies....
As a young lad like myself, I don't think I could pick any other game than the USC-ND
game of 2005. That was one of the best college football games of it's time. There was something special brewing that October day in South Bend and even though ND lost, you can't deny the greatness of that game. The energy and excitement was unbelievable. Even after the fact, I sometimes forget how much of an impact that game had on the entire college football season. If the 'Bush Push' (photo) had never happened, Notre Dame would have likely been 10-1 and in contention with a few other teams for the National Championship game. It still frustrates me today. I have a feeling that 4th and 9 play will be one of the last things I see right before I die.
USC. Next question. But seriously, Southern California is our main rival since the 30's and will always be our biggest rival. We'
ve played USC 78 times since 1926 (currently own a 42-31-5 record against them) versus only 34 times against Michigan (we won't speak of records for this one). We've played Michigan State, Purdue, and Navy more times than we've played Michigan. It's more of a recent rivalry even though the first game between the two schools was played in 1897. There's no scientific explanation about why USC is a bigger rival than Michigan. Notre Dame fans circle both games on their calendars, but USC is always the biggest game of the year. I'd consider USC our rival and Michigan our enemy.
Interesting question and if you were to ask 5 different people their top-5 players, I'm sure you'd get 5 different sets. Keep in mind I'm still a student and lack the complete history of the program, but my list would go:
QB Paul Hornung – The Irish quarterback from 1955-1956 was the only player to win the Heisman from a losing team. In his senior campaign he ranked 2nd in total offense, had 55 tackles as a safety on defense, and even punted and kicked for the team.
WR/KR Raghib (Rocket) Ismail – If you thought Reggie Bush had the ability to change a gam
e, you should re-watch some of the Rocket's film. On offense (as both a running back and wide receiver) and on special teams, opposing coaches dreaded letting him get the ball. It was an absolute crock that he finished 2 nd in the Heisman ballots behind Ty Detmer.
RB George Gipp – Even though I doubt he'd have the same success today as he had in 1917-1920, you can't deny the Gipp's greatness in college football history. Averaging 8.1 ypc in his senior season, the Gipp lead the Irish to 19 consecutive wins and set milestones both running and passing.
QB Johnny Lujack – Notre Dame's Heisman winner in 1947 won 3 National Championships under coach Frank Leahy in his short time at Notre Dame. He was part of the squad that never lost from 1946-1949 and was the centerpiece of Irish greatness in the 1940's.
TE/DE Leon Hart – Hart (photo) was the last defensive lineman to win the Heisman Trophy award and was the last Heisman Trophy winner to be selected #1 in the NFL draft. Hart was a 2-time All-American at defensive end and even averaged over 15 ypc as TE on offense.
While I could make a case for why Notre Dame football is the best program in college fo
otball history (I think many people would agree with that – or at least list them in their top 3), we've still got our work cut out for us if we want to become the best football program in the country right now. I don't think Notre Dame will ever have the most talented team in the country, but there's no reason why we can't have top 5 talent and I do believe we're getting there. It's going to take awhile for us to rebuild after truly one of the worst coaching staffs in college football and I do believe Charlie Weis will win a National Championship before he leaves South Bend. Good things come to those who wait, right?....
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Sunday Baker's Dozen - Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sunday Fact - Despite hitting 755 homeruns. the highest single season homerun output by Hank Aaron ranks 68th all-time.
When Barry Bonds breaks the record, John Yandle should be recognized for his small part in helping Bonds get ready for the last 15 years.... "Yandle has pitched to Bonds for the last 15 years, so he has allowed more home runs to Bonds than anyone." ....New York Times
After just appearing on Larry King Live this past Wednesday, Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner died Friday night of cancer. Sonyia Ellison of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes about Baker's comeback after the 1980s scandal..... "False eyelashes and flashy clothes eventually became her signature. "If you don't like how I look, look the other way," she wrote. "I plan on looking this way till I'm a hundred. I will be buried in my makeup and eyelashes." .....Atlanta Journal Constitution
(Cleveland) Plain Dealer sports columnist Bill Livingston writes how NBA referees will be under the microscope even more after the alleged gambling situation of Tim Donaghy.... "Every close game and every bad call is now suspected of being a fix. Referee Steve Javie ruled a hack in the Rockets-Clippers game this season to be a two-shot foul although Cuttino Mobley was behind the 3-point arc when he launched it. It affected the point spread. Call the Feds!" ....Bill Livingston
Boston Globe basketball columnist Jackie MacMullan writes about the issue of referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated.... "Now that it has happened, you realize with frightening clarity how feasible -- and how damning -- it would be for referees, umpires, or linesmen to be corrupt, and how lucky the four major professional sports leagues in our country have been not to have confronted this issue before." ....Jackie MacMullan
The baseball trading deadline is fast approaching and New York Post columnist Joel Sherman writes which 10 players can be had.... "I told an AL executive I wanted to do a piece on the 10 players most likely to be moved by July 31, and he blurted, "10, you will be lucky to get to five." ...Joel Sherman
Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Alan Judd writes how Michael Vick has always had some type of trouble throughout his career..... "Long before a grand jury indicted him Tuesday in a federal dogfighting case, Vick's performance on the football field often competed for attention with his conduct outside the arena." ....Alan Judd
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette football writer Ed Bouchette writes how the Steelers players are in for an awakening when training camp starts next week.... “Mike Tomlin does not care much if his players do not like his plans for a toughened training camp that starts Monday in Latrobe. He's not trying to make friends.” ....
Ed Bouchette
Boston Globe reporter Christopher Gasper writes how video games are part of the professional athletic culture..... “(Curt) Schilling got hooked on the epic games in the late 1990s as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks to teammate Todd Pratt. Now, when Schilling goes on the road, laptop in tow, one of the ways he stays in touch with his kids is through the games.” ....
Christopher Gasper
Whatever happened to Rich Garces....you remember, El Guapo, the rotund relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.....well the Boston Globe is running a contest called “The El Guapo Experience” in which you can win batting practice with Garces at the Boston Dirt Dogs....
El Guapo
San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ron Kroichick writes about the day in 1992 when the Giants signed Barry Bonds and a rocky marriage was started.... "The Giants and Bonds made for awkward dance partners the past four years, as BALCO fallout clashed with his star power -- his presence helped attract more than 3 million fans season after season, even as San Francisco posted losing records in 2005 and '06." ...Ron Kroichick
Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog is on vacation, but guest blogger Adam Littlefield writes how bloggers in general do not like ESPN..... "This entry was inspired by this week's Blog Show conference call, in which Steinberg gave an impassioned speech about how bloggers are unfairly predisposed to hate ESPN just b/c ESPN is big and powerful and an easy target . . ."D.C. Sports Bog
Yes David Beckham briefly played last night in his U.S. debut....L.A. Times reporter Grahame L. Jones has it coverd..... "Oddly enough, it was John Terry, the man who replaced Beckham as captain of the England team, who scored the game's lone goal . . ."Grahame L. Jones
The Houston Chronicle's John McClain takes you through the NFL beat.....John McClain
When Barry Bonds breaks the record, John Yandle should be recognized for his small part in helping Bonds get ready for the last 15 years.... "Yandle has pitched to Bonds for the last 15 years, so he has allowed more home runs to Bonds than anyone." ....
After just appearing on Larry King Live this past Wednesday, Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner died Friday night of cancer. Sonyia Ellison of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes about Baker's comeback after the 1980s scandal..... "False eyelashes and flashy clothes eventually became her signature. "If you don't like how I look, look the other way," she wrote. "I plan on looking this way till I'm a hundred. I will be buried in my makeup and eyelashes." .....
(Cleveland) Plain Dealer sports columnist Bill Livingston writes how NBA referees will be under the microscope even more after the alleged gambling situation of Tim Donaghy.... "Every close game and every bad call is now suspected of being a fix. Referee Steve Javie ruled a hack in the Rockets-Clippers game this season to be a two-shot foul although Cuttino Mobley was behind the 3-point arc when he launched it. It affected the point spread. Call the Feds!" ....
Boston Globe basketball columnist Jackie MacMullan writes about the issue of referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated.... "Now that it has happened, you realize with frightening clarity how feasible -- and how damning -- it would be for referees, umpires, or linesmen to be corrupt, and how lucky the four major professional sports leagues in our country have been not to have confronted this issue before." ....
The baseball trading deadline is fast approaching and New York Post columnist Joel Sherman writes which 10 players can be had.... "I told an AL executive I wanted to do a piece on the 10 players most likely to be moved by July 31, and he blurted, "10, you will be lucky to get to five." ...
Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Alan Judd writes how Michael Vick has always had some type of trouble throughout his career..... "Long before a grand jury indicted him Tuesday in a federal dogfighting case, Vick's performance on the football field often competed for attention with his conduct outside the arena." ....
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette football writer Ed Bouchette writes how the Steelers players are in for an awakening when training camp starts next week.... “Mike Tomlin does not care much if his players do not like his plans for a toughened training camp that starts Monday in Latrobe. He's not trying to make friends.” ....
Boston Globe reporter Christopher Gasper writes how video games are part of the professional athletic culture..... “(Curt) Schilling got hooked on the epic games in the late 1990s as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks to teammate Todd Pratt. Now, when Schilling goes on the road, laptop in tow, one of the ways he stays in touch with his kids is through the games.” ....
Whatever happened to Rich Garces....you remember, El Guapo, the rotund relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.....well the Boston Globe is running a contest called “The El Guapo Experience” in which you can win batting practice with Garces at the Boston Dirt Dogs....
San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ron Kroichick writes about the day in 1992 when the Giants signed Barry Bonds and a rocky marriage was started.... "The Giants and Bonds made for awkward dance partners the past four years, as BALCO fallout clashed with his star power -- his presence helped attract more than 3 million fans season after season, even as San Francisco posted losing records in 2005 and '06." ...
Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog is on vacation, but guest blogger Adam Littlefield writes how bloggers in general do not like ESPN..... "This entry was inspired by this week's Blog Show conference call, in which Steinberg gave an impassioned speech about how bloggers are unfairly predisposed to hate ESPN just b/c ESPN is big and powerful and an easy target . . ."
Yes David Beckham briefly played last night in his U.S. debut....L.A. Times reporter Grahame L. Jones has it coverd..... "Oddly enough, it was John Terry, the man who replaced Beckham as captain of the England team, who scored the game's lone goal . . ."
The Houston Chronicle's John McClain takes you through the NFL beat.....
Friday, July 20, 2007
Quick Hits - A hole-in-one for my 76-year-old uncle!!!
I want to congratulate my Uncle George from Youngstown, Ohio who got his first hole-in-one on Wednesday at the age of 76-years-old.....he had two hip replacement surgeries a few years back but that hasn't slowed him on the golf course...now that is something to be proud of....
The baseball trading deadline is less than two weeks away and the only thing that seems certain is that the Pirates will be trading longtime shortstop Jack Wilson.....with the Buccos trading for shortstop Cesar Izturis it looks like Jack’s days are numbered....hopefully he gets traded to a team that makes the playoffs.....he deserves that.....
With the Yankees seven games back of Boston, it looks like the Bronx headquarters will not be sellers.....
The Yankees supposedly were trying to trade outfielder Bobby Abreu to Arizona for the Diamondbacks star minor leaguer Carlos Gonzalez.....the D-backs said no....
The Pittsburgh Steelers should trade offensive lineman Alan Faneca.....in yesterday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Faneca said that this will be his last season with the Steelers and that even though he will be in camp on-time, he will not be there with “bells and whistles”.....in other words, he is not a happy camper....with a new first year head coach, the Steelers do not need a possible cancer on the team.....I’d unload him now – even if it means getting a mid-round draft pick.....
More proof that Rosie O’Donnell is a “whack job”.....last week she was at some type of event and drew devil horns and a stache on a picture of former co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck....grow up already Rosie!!!!.....that is something an elementary school brat would do....
Here is a good one – a 20-year-old Syracuse woman left four young girls (the oldest only 6-years-old) who she was watching in order to go pose for nude photos......police say Michelle Rendino was supposed to be watching the girls when she left them alone and went into the woods to have a man take nude photos of her....the oldest girl told police that "Aunt Michelle" went into the woods to take "nasty pictures"......
The Friday Blog Promotion
If you hate Alex Rodriguez, the blog for you is the Pig Pen.....even if you don’t hate A-Rod, the Pig Pen is still a good blog.....this is how the writers at “The Pen” describe their blog - “If you are sick and tired of monotonous, tiresome, repetitive, and just about lifeless sports analysis then you’ve found your haven for sports’ news. Welcome to The Pig Pen. The Sports Truth. We won’t just tell you what’s happening, we’ll give you an expert analysis without the bullshit. Either you’re gonna love us or you’re gonna hate us. But I’ll tell you one thing. If you hate us, it just means we’re that fucking good.”
The Pig Pen
The baseball trading deadline is less than two weeks away and the only thing that seems certain is that the Pirates will be trading longtime shortstop Jack Wilson.....with the Buccos trading for shortstop Cesar Izturis it looks like Jack’s days are numbered....hopefully he gets traded to a team that makes the playoffs.....he deserves that.....
With the Yankees seven games back of Boston, it looks like the Bronx headquarters will not be sellers.....
The Yankees supposedly were trying to trade outfielder Bobby Abreu to Arizona for the Diamondbacks star minor leaguer Carlos Gonzalez.....the D-backs said no....
The Pittsburgh Steelers should trade offensive lineman Alan Faneca.....in yesterday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Faneca said that this will be his last season with the Steelers and that even though he will be in camp on-time, he will not be there with “bells and whistles”.....in other words, he is not a happy camper....with a new first year head coach, the Steelers do not need a possible cancer on the team.....I’d unload him now – even if it means getting a mid-round draft pick.....
More proof that Rosie O’Donnell is a “whack job”.....last week she was at some type of event and drew devil horns and a stache on a picture of former co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck....grow up already Rosie!!!!.....that is something an elementary school brat would do....
Here is a good one – a 20-year-old Syracuse woman left four young girls (the oldest only 6-years-old) who she was watching in order to go pose for nude photos......police say Michelle Rendino was supposed to be watching the girls when she left them alone and went into the woods to have a man take nude photos of her....the oldest girl told police that "Aunt Michelle" went into the woods to take "nasty pictures"......
The Friday Blog Promotion
If you hate Alex Rodriguez, the blog for you is the Pig Pen.....even if you don’t hate A-Rod, the Pig Pen is still a good blog.....this is how the writers at “The Pen” describe their blog - “If you are sick and tired of monotonous, tiresome, repetitive, and just about lifeless sports analysis then you’ve found your haven for sports’ news. Welcome to The Pig Pen. The Sports Truth. We won’t just tell you what’s happening, we’ll give you an expert analysis without the bullshit. Either you’re gonna love us or you’re gonna hate us. But I’ll tell you one thing. If you hate us, it just means we’re that fucking good.”
Thursday, July 19, 2007
College Football at its Best - Texas A&M Aggies
Today Stiles Points features the Texas A&M Aggies as part of the series "College Football at its Best".....Brad from the blog The 12th Man Child was nice enough to respond....he is a 22-year-old senior at Texas A&M....he works as a photographer for the Texas A&M student media and has been blogging for just under a year.....I want to thank Brad for his time....
Q1. What does the 12th Man mean? Please explain what is the meaning
behind it and its importance? 
The 12th Man is unequivocally the greatest tradition in college football today. It started in 1922 when the Aggies were playing #1 ranked Centre College. The game was brutal and due to mounting injuries, the Aggie sideline was getting pretty thin. Looking for replacements, coach Dana X. Bible remembered that E. King Gill, a former football player turned basketball player, was assisting reporters in the press box. Gill was called down to the sideline, suited up, and stood ready for the rest of the game, which A&M eventually won 22-14. According to the official Texas A&M Traditions Council (yes, at A&M there are so many traditions that there is a student organization tasked with the oversight of the many traditions) :
" This gesture was more than enough for the Aggie Team. Although Gill did not play in the game, he had accepted the call to help his team. He came to be known as the "Twelfth Man" because he stood ready for in case the eleven men on the gridiron needed him. That spirit of readiness for service, desire to support, and enthusiasm helped kindle a flame of devotion among the entire student body; a spirit that has grown vigorously throughout the years. The entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting to be called upon if needed."
While students standing and yelling for the entirety of games is nothing special in modern times, there's no other school that alots more seats for students and there's no other school that has coordinated yelling. It's impossible to discuss the 12th Man without explaining what "Yell Leaders" are. Texas A&M does not have cheerleaders, instead there are 5 Yell Leaders positioned throughout the stadium that direct the 12th Man in coordinated yells (not "cheers"). There's nothing quite like being on the field when 80,000 voices yell in unison, it's something no noise machine can duplicate, and no team can truly prepare for. In addition to creating a deafening atmosphere when the Ags are on offense, the 12th Man knows when to be quiet. Broadcasters have often compared Kyle Field to a putting green when the Ags are on offense.
In addition to yelling and supporting the team from the stands, the 12th Man is represented by a special group of students who walk-on to the football team. Each game, one walk-on is selected to wear the sacred #12 and to play on kickoff and punt team. In 2005, Coach Fran brought back the 12th Man Kickoff Team of the 80's in a modified form. While still consisting of all walk-ons, the team only sees the field when the Aggies are comfortably ahead.
In short, Kirk Herbstreit's no fool for calling the 12th Man the greatest student section in all of college sports.
Q2. What is the greatest Texas A&M football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great.
Well, I didn't really 
truly follow the Aggies until the 2003 season, so I can't say the 2000 OU game, where the
To me, a great game has to be close for the entirety of the game, and/or be decided in the final minute or OT.
In 2006, Texas A&M played in 7 great games. While many of those games shouldn't have been close (I'm looking at you, Army), there's nothing like the electricity of a close game with 22 men playing their hearts out. The 2006 Nebraska and OU games were epic, and the raw emotion from the final minutes of those games will stay with me for a long time.
Most will want my answer to be the 12-7 trench warfare that was the Texas game last November, but I'm going with the 34-33(OT) victory over Oklahoma State in Stillwater last October.
As a photographer I had the privilege of being on the sideline, able to see and hear the players and coaches working together, refusing to lose, as they marched down the field in the 4th quarter to tie the game. When Red Bryant blocked the FG in OT, the sideline exploded with jubilation, I remember just holding down the shutter as I jumped around and ran onto the field.
Q3. Why do the Aggies hate the Texas Longhorns so much? (explain the rivalry)
The rivalry between Texas A&M and Texas is much like that of most rivalries between state schools, born more out of politics, proximity, and competition for funds than competition on the field.
I attempted to explain the rivalry using actual sentences and I found myself writing pages upon pages, I give you the short version:
- A&M established first, but UT board of directors tried to have A&M closed. 
- A&M represents blue collar work & military
- UT represents trust funded English degrees (aggies refer to lo
- Austin becomes Berkeley of the South, A&M becomes very tied to Republican politics.
- 1963 Texas A&M integrates and Corps of Cadets participation is no longer mandatory, officialy designated a University. Athletics program is no longer bound and gagged. Record against Texas since 1967 is 18-22.
- The state of Texas enacts the Top 10% rule, guaranteeing admission to any state university if the student graduates in the Top 10% of their HS class. The quantity and quality of students entering both universities explodes. Currently both schools are the flagship of their own university systems, which compete bitterly for funding, yet often form research coops.
In the end though, Aggies don't hate Longhorns, or vise versa. When it comes down to it, we're all Texans (explanation in Q4).
Q4. Explain the tradition of the bonfire before the Texas game?
Burning stuff because of football isn't unique to any school (unless we're talkin couches), but since 1909 Aggies have been building a bonfire like no other.
While Bonfire often comes with the description that it represents A&M's "burning desire to Beat The Hell Outta t.u.", that couldn't be further from the truth. What made the tradition of Bonfire so special and dear to Aggies was the camaraderie built during the semester long period of cutting and stacking the gigantic logs. Students from all parts of campus and student life worked side by side to cut and stack the logs. Grades and trees fell, while the stack and the Spirit of Aggieland grew. The week of the Texas game, 50,000+ would gather at the stack for a Yell Practice and to watch it burn.
In the early morning hours of November 18, 1999 Bonfire collapsed with 58 students working on it. 27 students were injured, 12 died. The rescue effort took 24 hours because the logs were wired together and the logs had to be removed by hand (heavy equipment was ruled out in fear of causing further collapses and killing those trapped inside). The Corps of Cadets and the Aggie football team were called out in the middle of the night to help remove the logs. Getting back why there is no hate between Aggies and Longhorns, in the days after the collapse, Eric Opiela The UT Student VP wrote a letter to various newspapers.
I had the great privilege of attending the memorial service at A&M tonight and was deeply moved by the events I experienced. The A&M student body is truly one of the great treasures of our State.As part of the UT delegation, we sat on the floor of Reed Arena, and immediately following the end of the service, I heard this rustling sound behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw the sight of close to 20,000 students spontaneously putting their arms on their neighbor's shoulders, forming a great circle around the arena.The mass stood there in a pin-drop silence for close to five minutes, then, from somewhere, someone began to hum quietly the hymn "Amazing Grace". Within seconds, the whole arena was singing. I tried too—I choked, I cried. This event brought me to tears. It was one if not the defining moment of my college career. I learned something tonight. For all us Longhorns discount A&M in our neverending rivalry, we need to realize one thing. Aggieland is a special place, with special people. It is infinitely better equipped than us at dealing with a tragedy such as this for one simple reason. It is a family. It is a family that cares for its own, a family that reaches out, a family that is unified in the face of adversity; a family that moved this Longhorn to tears. My heart, my prayers; and the heart of the UT student body go out tonight to Aggies and their family and friends as they, recover, from this great loss. Texas A&M, The Eyes of Texas are Upon You—and they look with sincere sympathy upon a family that has been through so much tragedy this semester.
Complacency and stubborn tradition were to blame, the same technology and techniques that were used in 1909 were still being hazardously applied in 1999. With litigation still pending, Bonfire has not returned to campus at A&M, and most likely never will. Yet, there is an off-campus organization that is keeping the tradition alive, hoping for the day Bonfire returns to polo fields of Texas A&M.
Q5. Make your case why Texas A&M football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?
Winning is everything, and A&M hasn't won enough in recent memory to be considered among the best programs in the country. Our last mythical championship was in 1939, and I don't think we've been anywhere near a BCS bowl. Yet, I will say this, you don't fully know all that is college football until you attend a game at Kyle Field.
While A&M may not be able to claim "best football program in the country" it can easily claim "most unique".
Most schools have one great tradition for football games (Clemson's entrance, Ohio State's Dotting the i, USC's Song Girls), Texas A&M has a handful (12th Man, Midnight Yell, Yell Leaders, etc).
Now if only we could win the big games..
I want to thank Brad once again for his time and great photo of Bonfire....on Monday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be featured....
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Quick Hits - Posh Spice does not own a diamond vibrator
Here are some tidbits from the newspapers that caught my eye....
Posh Spice does not own a $1.8 million diamond encrusted vibrator.....this past week the Los Angeles Times ran a story about David Beckham and his wife Posh Spice....in the article the reporter writes how Becks and Posh give each other lavish gifts.....it went on to state, “While Victoria (Posh) was expecting their third child, Beckham spent $1.8 million for a diamond encrusted sex toy with a matching 16-carat diamond necklace.”......Posh has denied owning a $1.8 million diamond encrusted vibrator....
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield unloaded on New York Yankees manager Joe Torre in an upcoming "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel"....Sheffield claims that Torre discriminates against African-American players while Sheffield was a Yankee.....former Yankees teammate Kenny Lofton has supported Sheffield’s claim.....however, on Sunday night, ESPN’s Peter Gammons reported that former Yankee Tom Gordon, who played with Sheffield and Lofton in New York, said that Torre never discriminated against African-American players.....I have no problem with players speaking their mind, but it is unfair and irresponsible for someone to shoot off their mouth by throwing around the race card if they cannot provide support.....Sheffield may have indeed felt that way while with the Yankees, but he was wrong for making a general statement that Torre discriminated against all African-American players.....maybe Torre did discriminated against Sheffield because “Sheff” is just a plain and simple arrogant jerk...
I have become a big fan of "The Closer" which airs every Monday at 9:00 p.m. on one of the Turner channels....Kyra Sedgwick does an excellent job in her role as a professional yet at times ditzy bright red lipstick wearing deputy police chief....
Is it just me or is the race for the Democratic presidential candidate over.....when it is all said and done, Hillary Clinton will get the nomination.....I think the media is trying to make a race of it among Obama, Edwards, and Clinton.....I do not like Hillary Clinton at all, but I have accepted the fact that she will not just go away and slide back under that rock where she came from in New York.....I mean in D.C......no wait, isn't she from Arkansas......hold up, she is originally from Illinois.....but wait, how could she be from the Windy City with that Southern accent?......hmmmm, but just the other day she was speaking like a New Yorker.....
Sports Illustrated's Peter King reported in his Monday Morning Quarterback report this quote from federal documents detailing the dofights that took place on Michael Vick's property...."The dog fight would last to the end, which would generally involve the death or surrender of the losing dog. At the end of the fight, the losing dog was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution, or some other method.''....Vick has been indicted for his supposed involvement...if he is found guilty, he should be thrown out of the league for life...scum like him should not have the priviledge to play in the NFL....this type of behavior to a dog is barbaric and inhumane....to me, Michael Vick is garbage...
Posh Spice does not own a $1.8 million diamond encrusted vibrator.....this past week the Los Angeles Times ran a story about David Beckham and his wife Posh Spice....in the article the reporter writes how Becks and Posh give each other lavish gifts.....it went on to state, “While Victoria (Posh) was expecting their third child, Beckham spent $1.8 million for a diamond encrusted sex toy with a matching 16-carat diamond necklace.”......Posh has denied owning a $1.8 million diamond encrusted vibrator....
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield unloaded on New York Yankees manager Joe Torre in an upcoming "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel"....Sheffield claims that Torre discriminates against African-American players while Sheffield was a Yankee.....former Yankees teammate Kenny Lofton has supported Sheffield’s claim.....however, on Sunday night, ESPN’s Peter Gammons reported that former Yankee Tom Gordon, who played with Sheffield and Lofton in New York, said that Torre never discriminated against African-American players.....I have no problem with players speaking their mind, but it is unfair and irresponsible for someone to shoot off their mouth by throwing around the race card if they cannot provide support.....Sheffield may have indeed felt that way while with the Yankees, but he was wrong for making a general statement that Torre discriminated against all African-American players.....maybe Torre did discriminated against Sheffield because “Sheff” is just a plain and simple arrogant jerk...
I have become a big fan of "The Closer" which airs every Monday at 9:00 p.m. on one of the Turner channels....Kyra Sedgwick does an excellent job in her role as a professional yet at times ditzy bright red lipstick wearing deputy police chief....
Is it just me or is the race for the Democratic presidential candidate over.....when it is all said and done, Hillary Clinton will get the nomination.....I think the media is trying to make a race of it among Obama, Edwards, and Clinton.....I do not like Hillary Clinton at all, but I have accepted the fact that she will not just go away and slide back under that rock where she came from in New York.....I mean in D.C......no wait, isn't she from Arkansas......hold up, she is originally from Illinois.....but wait, how could she be from the Windy City with that Southern accent?......hmmmm, but just the other day she was speaking like a New Yorker.....
Sports Illustrated's Peter King reported in his Monday Morning Quarterback report this quote from federal documents detailing the dofights that took place on Michael Vick's property...."The dog fight would last to the end, which would generally involve the death or surrender of the losing dog. At the end of the fight, the losing dog was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution, or some other method.''....Vick has been indicted for his supposed involvement...if he is found guilty, he should be thrown out of the league for life...scum like him should not have the priviledge to play in the NFL....this type of behavior to a dog is barbaric and inhumane....to me, Michael Vick is garbage...
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