Good Sunday morning everyone! After I put the finishing touches on this post, I am headed to the Lakefront to take in the NFL’s oldest rivalry. As a result, I am operating with a bit of a one track mind at the moment, hence the title for this morning’s post. I hope you enjoy these links almost as much as I want the Bears to win today.
1) In an interview which aired this morning on BBC, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair said he would have invaded Iraq even without the WMD faux-intelligence. Let that be a lesson to you children. If the truth presents a difficult situation, feel free to lie.
2) Yesterday, the fourth ranked Kentucky Wildcats (10-0) beat the Indiana Hoosiers 90-73, their first victory in Bloomington since 1981. Summary- John Wall can dunk, Eric Bledsoe can shoot, Patrick Patterson is good, and Demarcus Cousins is strong.
3) A week after kicking the door open to the national stage, the good people at Kentucky Sports Radio compiled a photo montage of John Wall’s greatness. Take a look. Part II. Part III.
5) Alabama running back Mark Ingram won the Heisman trophy last night, becoming the first Crimson Tide player to win the award. Prepare for a month of hearing how Reggie Bush won the Heisman just to lose to Texas in the BCS title game.
6) Many are wondering how the PGA tour will cope with life without Tiger Woods. I’ll take lower ratings and attendance for $1,600 Alex.
Going to the most hyped player in football for 75 years
Good Saturday morning evening readers. Today is the biggest awards ceremony in all of American sports- the presentation of the Heisman Trophy. Annually awarded to college football’s “top player,” the award is really more of a reflection of effective marketing than dominance on the gridiron (i.e. the reason Nebraska’s monster nose tackle Ndamukong Suh will not win). While you await the announcement, here are some links to enjoy-
1) Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly slammed Law and Order for a character on the show calling him “a cancer.” Interesting that Bill did not elect to stand up for Fox co-worker Glenn Beck.
3) Keeping the Windy City winter sports consistent, the first place Blackhawks fell to a mediocre Buffalo Sabres team 2-1 in Upstate New York. Gotta believe we won’t have many nights where 40 shots only lead to one goal.
4) After losing head coach Brian Kelly on Friday, the Cincinnati Bearcats football team received more bad news when Houston coach Kevin Sumlin refused an interview with the school. Come on Nancy Zimpher, do not screw this up.
5) Although Alabama running back Mark Ingram is the prohibitive favorite entering tonight’s Heisman announcement, Nebraska nose tackle Ndamukong Suh should win the award after dominating every game he’s played this year. Position biases for the win!
6) The Big Ten will likely spend this football offseason seeking to add a 12th team. Because the name “Big Ten” will no longer make sense, they should feel free to call themselves the “slow unathletic 12,” as Big XII is already taken.
In case you are bored today here is some television to enjoy (times Central)-
11:00- (4) Kentucky v. Indiana (CBS)- Great college basketball rivalry staring the game’s best player
2:30- Army v. Nacy (CBS)- Oldest rivalry in college football still has its mystique
7:00- Heisman Trophy Presentation (ESPN)- The most famous award in sports is always worth the show
9:00- Los Angeles Lakers v. Utah Jazz (Fox Sports)- Two top Western Conference teams starting to hit their stride.
Good Friday morning everyone! Today is the first night of Hanukkah and therefore one of the most sacred evenings in the Western calendar. I am not Jewish, but I do consider myself rather well rounded and generally knowledgeable, which is why I was somewhat disappointed that I frankly knew very little about this high Jewish holiday prior to researching today’s post. Of course, I was aware of Hanukkah’s general premise- the celebration of God’s greatness for miraculously providing the temple oil to light candles for eight nights when there was only enough for a single evening. However, the specifics were rather vague. For those of you who are well aware of the story, feel free to skip to the news, otherwise I encourage you to keep reading. Hanukkah finds its roots in rededication. More specifically, on the 25th day of Kislev (a Judaic calendar month) those of the faith celebrate the second century BC rededication of the temple at Jerusalem after the Hebrew army overcame the Syrians. This victory marked a return of power to the Jews- who were effectively eradicated by anti-Semitic Syrian laws. Despite the triumph, the Maccabees, who led the revolt, had a scarce ration of oil to keep the temple’s eternal flame alight. They prayed and through a divine miracle, the light sustained life for eight evenings- hence the use of eight candles on the traditional Menorah. Of course the full celebration of Hanukkah involves numerous other rituals that require more space to adequately explain, but for those who were ignorant of the holiday’s general premise (like myself) that should serve as a introductory lesson. So to those who believe, Happy Hanukkah! May you have a safe and joyous celebration.
Now for your news fix-
1) This morning, Tiger Woods announced he will take an indefinite break from professional golf to resolve the mountain of personal crises that dominated the recent news cycle. I, for one, am disappointed in Tiger’s behavior, in his decision to take a leave from golf, and in how the media have covered the story. First of all, Woods’s transgressions are his own business. Tiger Woods is a golfer, albeit a incredible one, but that should not serve as a license to display his social misdeeds in every major newspaper. That is the reason I have not written about the matter and that is why I will not go into the details of his alleged actions. Suffice it to say, I am disappointed in a man who should serve as an idol to generations. Second, I am sad to hear Tiger will not play. This point is completely selfish, as Woods is without question the most exciting player to watch in his sport and one of the most electrifying athletes to ever live. Shuld he miss the Masters in April (and I would understand if he did), that weekend will not be the same. Finally, I am repulsed by the media’s reaction to this story. Rather than research first, consider the issues ethically, and report after examination, every major outlet in the world has leeched onto Woods’s character flaws. If Michael Sim (the 50th ranked golfer in the world) endured the same personal problems plaguing Woods, nobody would notice. Unlike faux-celebrities, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, Tiger did not become famous for his social misdemeanors and he did nothing to put his social life in the public eye. Woods has always been a private individual- one of his drawbacks from a publicity standpoint- but in this instance, that should serve as notice to “journalists” that he wishes to be left alone. The legal term for behavior like Paris Hilton’s is “opening the door” and once it is open everything of that subject matter is fair game. Tiger never even cracked the door, this all came to light because of the papparazi behavior displayed by the so called “real media”’s reaction to a car accident. If a person obtains fame for bad behavior, fine, that individual’s character is fair game, but when the New York Times and CNN run minutes and pages of supermarket tabloid style coverage of Woods’s unconfirmed social relations you have to question not only the ethics, but the professionalism of the people who report the news. No wonder print journalism is dying (sorry, Dad). Tiger Woods is an incredible golfer and that does not excuse his despicable behavior. However, his public notoriety should not permit the scum of society to prey on his misdeeds and the exhibition of this poor excuse for journalism to profit from it.
2) Much to my alma mater’s disappointment, Notre Dame introduced former Cincinnati Bearcats headman Brian Kelly as the Fighting Irish’s football coach this afternoon. I understand Kelly’s desire to lead the Golden Domers back to the promise land, but his behavior leading up to the decision leaves a great deal to be desired. Before the most important game in the program’s history, Cincinnati players had to fend off questions about the Notre Dame job; often responding that their coach promised them he would not meet with Irish officials until after the season, if at all. Heading to the program’s season ending banquet, reporters intercepted the team to notify them that their coach not only interviewed in South Bend prior to the Pittsburgh game, but accepted the job. Think about that. A group of 18-22 year old young men were confronted with the news that their leader lied to them and would be departing by a group of faceless strangers. Kelly did not even have the courtesy to tell his team prior to accepting the job- he allowed the press to do his dirty work. No wonder star players Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike were so vocally angry with their coach when they met with reporters today. As a result of the decision, the Bearcats’ offensive coordinator will lead the team against Florida in the Sugar Bowl while Kelly gets comfortable in his South Bend office. Many observers feel that the emotional toll of the coaching change will submarine Cincinnati’s chances at pulling an upset over the Gators, but consider this: in 2007 the West Virginia Mountaineers endured a similar personnel earthquake when Rich Rodriguez left Morgantown for the University of Michigan. The Mountaineers responded by hammering the heavily favored Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl. As a Cincinnati alum, I am slightly bitter about Kelly’s decision, but I am more upset with how he handled the move. I was on the other side of such a coaching change when Kentucky hired John Calipari in April, so I understand the Irish fanbase’s elation. However, Coach Cal did not leave until the season was over and notified his players before informing UK athletics director, Mitch Barnhardt of his decision. In his recently published book, the Kentucky coach noted that those two steps were the most difficult of his life, but he knew they had to be done. Cal was wrong. As Kelly clearly illustrates, confronting tough situations is not necessary in life- especially when some anonymous person can do it for you.
Jerk
3) Yesterday, baseball’s winter meetings concluded in Indianapolis and to the surprise of many Cubs fans, Milton Bradley is still on the team. Bradley, of course, was the salary eating grumpy outfielder who torpedoed the North Siders’ hopes of a playoff run last season by destroying the clubhouse chemistry. After being suspended for the final two weeks of the year, the assumption was that the Cubs would trade him and move on with Tom Ricketts’s plan to “win the World Series within three years.” While it may be too early to panic, the situation is no longer as rosy as it appeared in late October. Despite six weeks of trying, it seems that nobody else is stupid enough to be suckered into the mind-altertingly terrible contract the Cubbies offered Bradley last offseason. Therefore, Jim Hendry will likely have to allow his ego to take a beating and trade the disgruntled outfielder for almost nothing. I cannot understate how critical eliminating Bradley from the roster is for this team. His teammates hated him, Lou Piniella could not be in the same room as him, and more importantly, he cost the team wins. Additionally, the rest of the team’s offseason plans hinge on shipping Bradley elsewhere. If the Cubs cannot move Milton within the next few weeks, you could see key free agent targets sign elsewhere- leaving the 2010 Chicago Cubs thinner and weaker than the heavily flawed 2009 rendition. Hopefully, this issue is taken care of before Christmas so all of us can get on with life.
I'd prefer those birds to play right field than Bradley
4) In the most recent of a series of offseason rule changes, Formula One’s governing body- the FIA- announced yesterday a change in how points will be awarded to drivers. In an effort to place greater emphasis on race wins, the new scheme provides 25 points for a race win, 20 points for second place, 15 for third, and 10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2, and 1 point for the next seven finishers. This allows two more drivers to score per round than the old system (10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the top eight finishers respectively) and achieves the FIA’s goal of providing greater separation between the race winner and lower finishers. Basically, the scheme will make it more likely for a driver who wins or crashes out to take home the title than someone who consistently finishes third or fourth, with a few wins sprinkled in. The typical concern when a system change occurs is that it would have the effect of undercutting past champion’s results. Although the alterations are not retroactive, the measuring stick is typically whether past seasons would change based on the new scoring. If this system were in effect for the past 25 seasons, three champions would be different: Alain Prost would have beaten Ayrton Senna in 1988; Damon Hill would be 1994 champion over Michael Schumacher (on the back of 100 unanswered points during Schumi’s suspension); Michael Schumacher would have clinched the 1997 World Title with one round remaining, instead of falling to Jacques Villeneuve in the finale. Of course, Alain Prost did score more points than Senna in the system used in the 1980s, but only the best 11 races counted- prompting a 1991 rule revision. Additionally, the 1994 and 1997 titles would have changed if the 2003-2009 point system were used rather than the one in place at the time. Therefore, you could really say the rule change has no historical impact vis-a-vie the 2009 scale. With that in mind, the only real effect of the change is to undermine the records for points in a single season or points in a career (both held by Michael Schumacher), something which I hate to see. Perhaps that will prompt Schumi to get back in the cockpit (as he is rumored to seriously consider) and we will all benefit in 2010.
Good Thursday morning evening readers. I apologize for the late post, once again electronic issues precluded an earlier upload. On this day in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Born in New York, Teddy served as a model of masculinity at the turn of the twentieth century. As a member of one of the Empire State’s wealthiest families, Roosevelt enjoyed a life of privilege- enrolling in Harvard despite noticeable educational limitations. Despite holding an Ivy League education and soaring to political notoriety at the age of 25, the future President’s early life was dominated by loss- first his father and less than a decade later, his wife. As a result, Teddy “retired” to North Dakota where he molded his hyper-masculine image. After two years of living in the wilderness, Roosevelt returned to New York where he re-entered the political arena. While serving as President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners, his direct leadership style and strong will caught the eye of President William McKinley. In 1897, McKinley appointed Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, a post that made Teddy a national hero for his unyielding directives which ensured an American victory in the Spanish-American War. Riding a wave of popularity, Roosevelt successfully ran for governor of New York- only to answer McKinley’s call once again, this time serving as Vice President. Tragically, President McKinley was shot and killed only six months into his second term and Teddy Roosevelt became the 26th Commander in Chief. A progressive republican (a term is a modern political oxymoron), Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize for his environmental work and remains one of the most popular Presidents in history. More than a century later, the man who was shot in the chest during a campaign speech-only to disregard the need for medical attention and finish the oratory- is idolized by Democrats and republicans alike. Interestingly, today the current President, Barack Obama, was awarded the same prize TR won 103 years ago, forever linking the two in the tomes of history.
Now for your daily news-
1) In a week-long special on Fox News, former Vice President Dick Cheney sat down with conservative blowhard commentator Sean Hannity to discuss a wide range of topics how much they each hate Barack Obama. Although each segment presented many factual inaccuracies and logical pitfalls, perhaps the most mind-numbing exchange involved the Vice President’s thoughts on the impending trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. During the segment, Cheney rehashed the tripe Hannity produced over the last month- asserting that Obama’s decision to try Mohammed in federal court in Manhattan will make the terrorist a sort of hero. There are a few issues with that statement. First of all, the fact that Mohammed is in American custody- a fact that the Bush administration released with Cheney’s approval- ensures that he is idolized in that radical faction of social scum. Consider the 1993 World Trade Center attack- an event perpetuated to gain approval from Omar Abdel Rahman, a blind Muslim cleric in federal custody. Mohammed’s mere incarceration will make him a hero to some and if Cheney was concerned with that, perhaps he should not have proudly announced the terrorist’s capture. Second, the decision to try Mohammed in New York City was not solely on Barack Obama’s shoulders. Of course, the President did endorse Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision, but the Chief Judge of the Second Circuit Court (federal court) encouraged the decision, the Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York (federal court) concurred, and the New York state Attorney General agreed as well. The pair of aforementioned members of the judiciary were Bush 43 appointees and are members of the federal court that has jurisdiction over the criminal trial. If Cheney claims that Obama is a radical for this decision, if must follow that the jurists he vetted are also radicals- something I doubt the former Veep believes. Finally, am I the only person who noticed that the man who was mysteriously absent from the public eye between Bush’s victory in November 2004 and Obama’s inauguration just over four years later may as well co-host Sean Hannity’s hour of anger? I am not saying that Dick spent the second term acting in some unimaginably evil manner, but if Barack Obama is a “threatening radical” for giving a terrorist a criminal trial, I would like to know what title to provide a man who ordered the infinite detainment and perpetual torture of American citizens without notification of charges against them.
I'll give you a hint- it rhymes with "basshole"
2) Last night in basketball’s most famous arena, the fourth ranked Kentucky Wildcats (9-0) knocked off the Connecticut Huskies 64-61 in one of the best college basketball games of this young season. The Cats blew the doors off Madison Square Garden early, jumping out to a 12-0 lead after only 93 seconds. Then questionable calls piled up, Kentucky became too infatuated with difficult, but flashy plays and UConn looked like they may pull the game out. Led by super-freshmen John Wall and Demarcus Cousins, John Calipari’s team overcame a six point halftime deficit and seemed to have the game in hand, leading by seven with five minutes remaining. But the ball did not bounce the Cats’ way. The Huskies roared back to take a 61-60 lead with only 40 seconds on the clock. At the point in the game where stars shine and impostors fade, John Wall blinded basketball fans around the nation. Blowing by a trio of Connecticut defenders, the indescribable guard from Raleigh withstood a hard foul to give the Cats a lead they would never relinquish. While Dick Vitale was still loudly oohing and ahhing over Wall’s athleticism, the freshman connected on the freethrow for his 25th and final point of the evening. After a Ramon Harris foulshot and missed UConn three pointer, the Cats celebrated the program’s first ever victory over the Huskies on the world’s most famous basketball stage.
3) While Kentucky invaded the Garden, the hockey team who calls that arena home found themselves in the Windy City to face the first place Chicago Blackhawks. In a matchup of Original Six teams, the Hawks proved once again that they are on another level at the United Center, beating the Rangers 2-1 in overtime. Despite outshooting the New Yorkers 35-16 through 55 minutes of hockey, the Rangers clung to a tenuous 1-0 lead and appeared set for maximum points. But this is a game of averages and after dominating the game in every facet except the score, the Hawks finally broke through with a Jonathan Toews connection with less than four minutes remaining. In the extra period, Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist stifled Chicago efforts time and again and shootout against a red hot keeper looked to be in the cards. But as the old saying goes, the 41st time was the charm for the Hawks. Forward Dustin Byfuglein converted a point blank attempt in the final minute of overtime to send the good guys out winners.
Don't look too excited Buff
4) The Chicago Bulls played again last night and I use the term “played” fairly liberally. Whether it was the fact that they cannot win on the same night as the Hawks or that they were on the road on the back end of a two day swing against a playoff team, all signs pointed to a loss for Derrick Rose’s squad. Those signs were correct. On the heels of a two point loss to an awful New Jersey team, the Bulls reached a new level of painful embarrassment, falling 118-83 to the Atlanta Hawks. Sadly, the game was not as close as the score indicates. At halftime, Chicago faced a 30 point deficit with the Hawks converting on only four of seventeen three point attempts- well below their team average. Imagine the disaster that would have ensued had Atlanta had a good shooting night. Regardless things are not looking good for Vinny Del Negro, who at press time is still the Bulls head coach. Vinny rushed Kirk Hinrich back from injury, just to see the streaky shooter suffer through an 0-9 night. Derrick Rose seems to have digressed in all aspects of the game, which is normally reflective of bad head coaching as point guards typically excel during their sophomore season. The fact is that the writing is on the wall. Bulls players are making off-the-record statements questioning VDN’s coaching and it is only a matter of time before Vinny gets the axe. As I said yesterday, I feel for the guy, but I enjoy winning more. Kentucky played on ESPN immediately after the Bulls-Atlanta game, prompting many law school friends who tuned in early to see the Cats to text me that “[my] Bulls suck.” Right now, they are right and unless something changes quickly with this team’s psyche they run the risk of falling into irrelevancy (i.e. the lottery). And after watching both games back-to-back, I have little doubt that if John Calipari’s Wildcats played the Bulls ten times, right now the Cats would win 15 times.
Good Wednesday morning readers! After a week long Internet-free West Coast detour, the blog is back and better than ever. Today we send out happy 67th birthday wishes to perhaps the most terrifying linebacker of all time, former Chicago Bear Dick Butkus. Born in the Windy City, Butkus began his football career as a linebacker and center at the University of Illinois. During his three year career in Champaign, he was twice unanimously picked to the All-American team, won the 1964 Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and finished sixth in that year’s Heisman balloting- the highest ever for a linebacker. As a result of his stellar college career, ESPN selected Butkus as the 19th best NCAA football player ever and the Orlando Athletic Club annually presents the best linebacker in college football with an award bearing the Illini great’s name. In 1965, the Chicago Bears drafted Butkus with the third overall pick and the selection paid immediate dividends. During his eight year career in the Second City, the linebacker was named to the Pro Bowl team and All-Pro team every season. In 1969 and 1970, Butkus won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award- leading to the Sports Illustrated headline featured above. After the 1973 season, the Chicago native was forced into retirement after a series of knee injuries prevented him from continuing his playing career. Although the injuries and the Bears’ failure to advise Butkus of his options caused a rift between the two for over a decade, the sides have mended their relationship over the past quarter century- with the famed linebacker serving as one of Chicago’s most active football ambassadors. Despite his relatively short career, the Windy City native cemented a legacy of great play at the linebacker position that has endured through the generation; including players such as Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. Happy Birthday Dick and in case I ever have the fantastic opportunity to meet you, do not be offended when I look terrified.
On to the news-
1) Last night in Washington, the United States Senate voted down a republican attempt to stiffen abortion restrictions in the current version of President Obama’s health care bill. The result comes as a bit of a surprise, especially considering Fox’s premature celebration of the bill’s defeat as a result of the abortion issues. So to that end, I am glad to see the measure carried. That said, I do not agree with the substantive result of last night’s vote. Even as a pro choice deep blue Democrat, I do not believe federal funds should go toward providing abortions. While I can already hear my hardline conservative extended family cheering, they would be well suited to examine my rationale. The Establishment Clause in the Constitution prohibits the use of federal funds to further or detract from religious practices/beliefs. Put another way, any government action effecting religion must be benefit neutral or have a secular basis. Given that rule of law, my belief is not legally sound; abortion is itself a faith neutral grounds for such an enactment. But law and policy are not always good bedfellows. To many on the Christian right, the anti-abortion movement is one of the primary tenants of their faith, the secular categorization notwithstanding. Just as I would not want my tax dollars devoted to building a Southern Baptist churches- as I am not Baptist- I do not feel it is fair to ear mark taxes paid by those who detest abortion for that exact cause. Of course other alternatives exist, but I must adhere to my self imposed word limit and save those for another day.
Applicable? No. Comical? Yes.
2) On Monday, University of Alabama officials announced that the school would cancel classes for three days surrounding the BCS Championship victory game in Pasadena, California. After some initial jealousy that neither my undergraduate institution or law school ever had a team that warranted canceling classes sacrificed three days of school for athletics, I came to the conclusion that this is really the best idea. According to the school’s official calendar, the decision amounts to no more than extending the Holiday break. This allows those who have no interest in going to the game or spending the next morning in a alcohol induced celebratory stupor more time at home with their families. Second, the aforementioned stupor would likely result in a substantial drop in attendance the morning after the Crimson Tide’s BCS triumph- directly correlating to a financial loss for heating empty classrooms, paying for work days, etc. Finally, the University should take some time to enjoy their success. For all of the negative stereotypes, Alabama is a very good school and the game on January 7 is an opportunity to display that on a national stage. The institution has a great deal financially invested in Nick $aban and the once-proud football program has finally returned to glory. I am a big proponent of civic pride and for institutions of higher learning there are few showcases as grand as the pinnacle of NCAA athletics. As for the game itself, Alabama may win by 50 and provide the SEC (better known as your conference’s daddy) with its fourth consecutive BCS crown.
Nick Saban may be greedy, but he's also better than your coach
3) Last night in Chicago, head coach Vinny Del Negro may have seen his last home game on the Bulls sidelines as the home team fell 103-101 to the awful New Jersey Nets. To an extent, I feel bad for Vinny. He is not a very good coach, he does not seem to connect with the players, and he is not showing any signs of developing a winning game plan. That said, he is a nice enough guy who is in over his head, and for that I pity him. Hopefully, Bulls management recognizes the need to make some sort of positive splash (cough cough Byron Scott cough) in order to land the free agent this summer that will define the team’s direction over the next five years. The game itself was a bit of a mixed bag. On the positive side, Derrick Rose is finally showing signs that he is healthy- which is nice, but is not leading to wins. As you can tell from the tone, the negatives vastly outweighed the positives. The Nets played with more energy throughout the ball game, Joakim Noah was dominated on the inside by Brooks Lopez, and John Salmons continues to make inexplicable decisions in crunch time- culminating with a contested three point shot in the waning seconds on a possession where Derrick Rose did not touch the basketball. The Bulls are in Atlanta tonight to take on the red hot Hawks in what could be the final game before what seems like an inevitable coaching change.
I feel bad for Vinny, but I enjoy winning more
4) Major League Baseball’s winter meetings kicked off Monday and thus far the Chicago Cubs have played things close to the chest. Of course, that is not to say that they have been idle. On Monday, the North Siders announced that Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will manage the AAA affiliate Iowa Cubs next season- leading to speculation that he will succeed Lou Piniella as the Cubs skipper in 2011. Additionally, Jim Hendry traded blog favorite Jake Fox and all-around bust Aaron Miles to the Oakland Athletics for prospects. However, the big news thus far is the trade that has not been made. Entering the third day of the meetings, the Cubs have yet to find a partner who is willing to take whiny clubhouse cancer outfielder Milton Bradley. That does not mean that the least popular player on the roster will be in the opening day lineup in April, however it does confirm that the only people in baseball who did not know Bradley was an enormous douche bag were Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella. Hopefully, Hendry gets the deal finalized today so the organization can move on because at the moment I am having a difficult time discerning the team’s direction. True, the offseason is still young, but as of today the Cubs are thinner at the corner infield positions, in the starting rotation, and in the bullpen than the 2009 team that was not deep enough to withstand even a minor injury. I have a lot of faith (perhaps inexplicably) in Jim Hendry, but at the moment I am having a hard time comprehending what the front office is doing.
Let's try to get back to moves like this to actually HELP the team
Good Sunday morning readers! I apologize for being out of the loop for a few days during my cross country endeavor. Despite offering two additional free nights in Las Vegas, the Luxor Hotel and Casino did not feel the need to provide free wireless Internet. Now that I have departed Sin City and settled in cloudy San Diego- home of moustached fictional newscaster/ladies’ man/jazz floutist Ron Burgundy- I can update my neglected blog. Hopefully this post will adhere to Mr. Burgundy’s classy example.
7) Once again, the Chicago Bulls lost on a night the Hawks won- this time 110-78 to the Toronto Raptors. Starting to lean toward the “we suck” bandwagon.
10) In the most boring BCS altering game in history, the Texas Longhorns beat Nebraska 13-12 on a last second field goal to secure a spot in the National Championship game. Choke is now spelled C-O-R-N-H-U-S-K-E-R-S.
Now in the theme of the opening links, your moment of zen:
Good Thursday morning evening readers. Today, I highlight New Mexico governor Bill Richardson not for any special anniversary or recent act of importance, but rather because I had the pleasure of spending 13 hours on his state’s highway system- most of which during moderate to heavy snowfall. As I am sure many of you can understand, the trip has left me road weary and as a result, today’s “highlight” is limited to the foregoing picture and the following advice: if you come to New Mexico (and you should), do so during the summer months as the state painfully undersalts snow and ice covered roads.
If you add snow, this would be a picture of my afternoon
On to the news-
I apologize for only posting links this evening, but I am exhausted and sleep is more tempting than authoring a cogent analysis of news stories that are now a day old. Tomorrow should be better.
3) Tiger Woods reportedly offered his wife $60 million to remain married after discovering he was unfaithful. Can someone explain how homosexuals are the ones ruining this “sacred union”?
4) The Chicago Bulls returned home and welcomed former playoff hero Bull, Ben Gordon, back with a 92-85 win over the Detroit Pistons. Yay, a team that sucks more than us!
5) This afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks officially signed stars Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith to long term extensions. That collective scream you heard was from Red Wings season ticket holders.
I promise tomorrow’s post will return to the normal format. Until then, enjoy this moment of zen-
For the past month, each week of football began with a promise of improved play and a renewed chance at a playoff berth, just to conclude with a disappointing loss symptomatic of the preceding weeks. This week was no different. Facing yet another must win game, the Chicago Bears (4-7) were embarrassed yet again- this time by the NFC North leading Minnesota Vikings (10-1). A few notes-
1) At some point, Lovie Smith has to recognize the fact that the cover two scheme is not working. For the past three years, Bears fans have endured the head coach’s weekly explanations that we have to force teams to beat us through the air and doing so is a recipe for success. During that time, Chicago has a less than stellar 20-23 record and have surrendered more 300 yard passing games than any other team in the NFL. Simply put, the cover two scheme is a failure with this particular personnel package. To properly operate in Lovie’s outdated scheme, the Bears need pass rushers who get to the quarterback and defensive backs who can blanket receivers- the have neither. The dominant front four from the opening quarter of the season have disappeared and the corners and safeties are what we expected- a collection of mediocre overpaid has beens. To compensate for these deficiencies, Lovie could use the linebackers to blitz- thereby providing some pressure on the passer- but that did not happen once during Sunday’s game. Do the Bears have a defense comprised exclusively of bad players? Of course not, but after hearing Chicago radio voice Jeff Joniak perpetually say “Favre passes to a wide open receiver,” you have to wonder about why Lovie continues to push the same broken game plan on a weekly basis.
2) After yet another awful offensive showing, it is clear that Ron Turner is the worst offensive coordinator in the NFL. During a first half that saw Jay Cutler lead the team on three extended drives through the air, the Bears seemed ready to match the Vikings yard for yard. But deep down, we all knew that this brief offensive outburst would be short lived. In the second half, Chicago posted only two yards of total offense and Cutler threw the ball only three times. As the Bears trailed by 17 at the half, such a game plan is utterly inexplicable. Despite the recent interception issues, Jay Cutler represents this team’s best opportunity to score and failure to utilize his ability will ensure the Bears do not win another game. To say the least, Ron Turner’s plan Sunday was a failure in every sense of the word. However, one specific series is worth special attention. Following a 77 yard kickoff return to the Vikings eight yard line, Turner called for a run up the middle, run off tackle, and a pass play that led to a sack- netting a loss of 13 yards and forcing a field goal attempt. This is the exact same sequence the Bears have used in seven similar situations this season and it failed on each previous occasion. I have no doubt that Turner is a lame duck and if that is the case, he should be fired now so the team can move on without him.
3) Once again, Ron Turner’s idiocy led to another game where Jay Cutler was inefficiently utilized. After a series of short passes proved effective in the first quarter, the Bears allowed Jay to run a bootleg- a pass play that involved moving out of the pocket. Of course had anyone on the Chicago coaching staff watched tape from the past two years, they would know that Cutler effectively ran that type of play on a weekly basis. However, that assumes the Bears staff adequately prepares, but I digress. Culter completed the play for a 21 yard gain- the first such call this season- before being intercepted his next attempt. Despite the picks, Jay moved the ball well in the first two stanzas, but was inexplicably handcuffed during the second half. If the Bears want to win another game this season (and I sincerely want them to beat Green Bay, because I will be in attendance), they have to find a way to use their former All-Pro more effectively. Does that mean using a moving pocket, running bootlegs, or exclusively using the shotgun? Maybe, but they have to figure out something because the dink-and-dunk Ron Turner scheme has not worked at all during the first eleven games.
4) Finally, a note on the interceptions. Jay Cutler threw two picks on Sunday, which raised his season total to 20- two more than his previous career high. After complaining that it seemed like every tipped ball ended up as an interception and chalking it up to bad luck, my fiancee had one of the most astute observations I have heard this season- Cutler’s interceptions have a great deal to do with the offensive scheme. To be clear, not all of Jay’s picks have to do with the scheme. For example, his underthrown pass to Johnny Knox was his own fault. However, twelve of Cutler’s picks have come via the tipped pass and because Ron Turner refuses to spread the offense vertically or horizontally, there is necessarily a greater concentration of defenders near the line of scrimmage. As a result, tipped throws are more often in the vicinity of a defensive back- leading to these kind of interception. This is why you have seen Jay Cutler’s tips picked off and Peyton Manning’s fall to the turf. Of course, the scheme does not excuse some of Cutler’s bad throws, but it does leave the Chicago quarterback a substantially smaller window for error.
The Bears are not going to the playoffs. That is not some hyperbolic frustration, it is a fact. Since 1995, only two teams have won a Wild Card spot with seven wins or more and as the Bears are mathematically eliminated from winning the NFC North, that is all they can pray for. With that in mind, the team would be best served using the rest of the year to experiment with the young players to see how to properly move forward during the offseason. Next week would be the perfect game for the development to begin as the woeful St. Louis Rams (1-10) come to Chicago for what could be one of the most unwatchable games in football history.
Keep your head up Jay, we'll have a real OC next year
Good Wednesday morning everyone! Today marks the 186th anniversary of one of the most significant pieces of American foreign policy- the Monroe Doctrine. Conceived as part of President James Monroe’s 1823 State of the Union address and later presented to Congress, the primary tenant of the doctrine was that any European colonization in the Americas would be viewed as an act of aggression necessitating intervention from the United States government. Simply put, unauthorized territorial transgressions in the Western Hemisphere would not be tolerated. The effect of this policy was to codify the manifest destiny mentality held by many early nineteenth century Americans- the view that it was the nation’s duty to expand until the sea prevented it. Perhaps more importantly, this strong willed policy had the deterrent effect of limiting European expansion, thereby negating any threat of outside invasion. In the generations since this significant governmental act, subsequent Presidents have shown great reverence for the underlying logic while middle school students have detested its sheer existence as yet another “unnecessary fact.” However without it, the United States would be drastically different today. As the Monroe Doctrine came into being before the wonder that is digital video, I have nothing on that front this morning, so enjoy this gem:
Now for your midweek news-
1) Yesterday evening, President Obama finally addressed the pressing troop situation in Afghanistan and announced his decision to send an additional 30,000 soldiers to the region before beginning cutbacks in mid 2011. Additional aspects of the plan included increasing expectations on the sitting government and limiting Taliban gains. However, the most important issue in the entire outline is the complete absence of nation building- something with which the United States cannot become involved. Expectedly, Obama’s speech drew criticism from both sides of the aisle. The far left raised concerns that any kind of troop surge will only further deteriorate American standing in the Middle East and will cost more American lives with little to show as a result. The right took issue with Obama’s stated deadline- arguing that such a strategy allows the Taliban to just wait out the American presence. The liberal concerns have some merit- primarily of the political nature- but they ignore the reality that a surge is probably necessary. Some on the left are concerned that sending more troops will cause younger Democratic voters to shun the party in national elections, which ignores the reality that voters under 30 make their decisions based on (1) other issues and (2) the fact that Dems are less hawkish than the gop. Regarding the conservative concerns- “waiting out” the American presence would completely contradict the Taliban culture and had the President not specified a withdrawal date, the gop would have attacked him for engaging in an open ended war. So in the words of a man who is now worth roughly $1,200 an ounce- “there is just no pleasing you.”
Parody spy movie quote for the win!
2) Led by Kris Versteeg and Jonathan Toews, the first place Chicago Blackhawks returned home last night and downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in a shootout. Playing in his first home game as a member of the Hawks, Marian Hossa tallied a pair of assists to aid what seemed like a perpetually one goal rally. After Kris Versteeg gave Chicago an early 1-0 advantage on a shorthanded goal, the Fighting Suit Coats answered with a pair of their own. Late in the second period, the Patrick Sharp found the back of the net for the tie off of a beautiful set up from my favorite cabby puncher Patrick Kane. The third period followed a familiar script- with the Hawks playing to the level of an inferior team, falling behind, before Jonathan Toews came to the rescue with a 65-foot power play snipe. Over the final eight minutes and five minutes of overtime, the teams engaged in what amounted to a starting contest, before Brent Seabrook netted the game winner in the eleventh round of a goalie intensive shootout.
3) Yesterday marked the unofficial beginning to baseball free agency with each of the 30 Major League teams passing the deadline to file for player arbitration. As was expected, the Chicago Cubs declined arbitration on Rich Harden, Reed Johnson, Kevin Gregg, and Chad Fox (he’s still on the roster?!?!?!). Like in legal arbitration, the baseball process is essentially a chance for teams to have an early jump on players who are restricted free agents. If the team and player cannot, or do not, agree to a contract, the team can file and if the player refuses to take the amount offered from the third party, then the team will receive draft picks from whatever franchise later signs the player. In this case, the Cubs did not offer arbitration to any of the quartet of players out of fear that each may accept the arbitrator’s amount. Despite his glass arm and chicken legs, Rich Harden posted All-Star caliber numbers over the past four years, that is when he was healthy enough to pitch. Based on those statistics alone, an arbitration amount would exponentially surpass the Canadian’s value on the free agent market. The same goes for Kevin Gregg, who was a high level closer until his brain melted down when he was traded to Chicago. Chad Fox’s career is over after arm surgery and Reed Johnson may give the Cubs a hometown discount. As you can see, none of these players (Johnson perhaps notwithstanding) figured into the North Siders’ future plans and the chance of a pair of low round picks did not outweigh the fear that any of the players would take the money and run. This begs the question of why I am writing about a story that amounts to “Chicago Cubs do what we knew they would.” The answer- because it is my blog and I like baseball.
Who knew Reed Johnson (left) was once on the cover of SI
4) As I noted yesterday in my Kentucky-Tennessee emotional meltdown recap, it appears that for the third time in four years, the Kentucky Wildcats football team are headed to Nashville and the third tier Music City Bowl. Initially, this upset me a great deal because it seemed like the Cats were destined to play in a New Year’s Day bowl or the historic Chik Fil-a (Peach) Bowl, but after some thought, I like the idea of returning to the Country Music Capital of the world. For me, bowl game enjoyment is derived from your opponent’s identity (as well as winning), and following Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden’s retirement it looks like the Music City Bowl will provide a bigger “name” competitor. Consider this- had Kentucky gone to the Outback Bowl, as I had originally hoped, they would face a mediocre Big Ten opponent- likely Wisconsin or Northwestern. Likewise, a New Year’s Eve date in Atlanta’s Peach Bowl would pit the Cats against Clemson (or Georgia Tech if the Tigers pull an upset in Saturday’s ACC title game). But with Bowden’s retirement (and desire to play a bowl game in the Sunshine State), it looks like Kentucky will draw either Butch Davis’s North Carolina Tar Heels or (the team I want) the titans of NCAA football lore- the Miami Hurricanes. Both of these teams present greater brand recognition than any other potential opponent (no disrespect to Clemson, Wisconsin, or Northwestern) and beating such a team lends itself well to developing the overall football program. So bring on the ‘Canes and GO BIG BLUE!
You wouldn't believe it, but this is an upset reaction
This one was supposed to be different. After 24 consecutive losses at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers (7-5), the Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) were finally prepared to snap what is now known as “The Streak.” Despite a fantastic first half, questionable play calling down the stretch and mental mistakes doomed the Cats, who are once again ticketed for a third tier bowl game. Some thoughts-
1) There is no way around it- Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips cost Kentucky the game. In the waning minutes, the Cats forced a recovered a fumble on the UT 40 yard line and seemed destined to provide a dramatic end to the two decades of losing. The Cats then rode Randall Cobb’s hard rushing down to the 13 yard line. In short, nobody on the field could stop the sophomore yardage magician. So two men off the field elected to shackle the All-SEC wideout. When the Cats faced a first down and ten, just over a dozen yards for a historic win, Joker Phillips made the mind altering decision to not run a single play for Cobb. Even worse, on third down Joker called for a quarterback sweep with the substantially slower Morgan Newton. The Vols stuffed the rush, Kentucky kicked a field goal to tie the game, and after not giving Cobb the ball once in overtime and failing to score, the Vols won on the third play of their possession. There is no doubt that had Cobb run the sweep play, he gets the first down and possibly scores. This inexplicable decision was apparently based on Brooks’s and Joker’s determination that “the Vols were expecting Cobb to get the ball.” Of course they were! At the end of a close game you want your best player to have a chance to win the game. That is why opposing coaches say they want to force weaker players to make game deciding plays. Seriously. Do you really think Phil Jackson ever told Michael Jordan “hey, they’re expecting you to get the ball, so let’s run a game winning play for Luc Longley.” Of course not. Unfortunately Tennessee did not have to force someone besides Cobb to win the game- our own coaching staff decided to do so. If this were the first time it happened, that would be one thing, but consider some earlier close games. In nail biting wins over Auburn and Georgia, Phillips dealt opposing defenses a heavy amount of Randall Cobb in the fourth quarter. Conversely, in close losses to South Carolina and Mississippi State, Cobb barely touched the ball late. You would think this trend would direct the coaching staff to leave the ball in Randall Cobb’s hands. They did not and the Cats lost.
2) Had the sophomore from Knoxville had a subpar game, I would understand the decision, but once again Randall Cobb had a fabulous night. For the eleventh time this year, Kentucky’s Mr. Everything accounted for over 100 total yards- 217 yards to be exact. A threat in every facet of the game, Cobb had a gutty end around touchdown run that led me to tell my fiance that I “really [thought] this [would be] the year.” Unfortunately, Cobb did not have a perfect evening- his fumble inside the Kentucky 30 yardline led to a Tennessee field goal that ended up forcing the game into overtime- but there is little room to complain about his effort or desire. Hopefully, the coaching staff will keep that in mind when preparing for what should be a competitive bowl game.
3) Although much of the focus has been on Joker Phillips’s mind numbing playcalling, defensive coordinator Steve Brown should really have a hotter flame under his seat than Joker. The defense had an up and down game, but seemed overmatched for most of the night. The positive notes were incredibly apparent- Sam Maxwell’s 56 yard interception returned for a touchdown and Ashton Cobb’s critical fourth quarter forced fumble kept the Cats in the game. However, surrendering 446 total yards- 220 from the rushing game- is not a recipe for success at any level of competitive football. Once again, Brown’s unit allowed a running back to knife through the defensive backfield without substantial resistance. To be fair, Micah Johnson and company stopped the Vols without allowing a first down on seven of sixteen possessions. But when it rained it poured; when the Cats failed to silence the offense on the first set of downs a prolonged (often scoring) drive followed. Even more frustrating is that Tennessee did not remotely disguise their scheme- they showed run and then blew past the Kentucky defense. As we saw earlier this year, talent is not the problem with this defense- it comes down to coaching, which is one of the Cats’ primary deficiencies at this point.
4) I will conclude the analysis where it began. Right now, the coaching at Kentucky is not very good. This is not to say that Rich Brooks is a terrible head coach- he is not. Rather, the problem on the Wildcat sideline is inconsistency. For every excellent game this coaching staff turns in (i.e. Auburn), they drop a pair of turds in the punch bowl (South Carolina and Tennessee). If this were a young staff, I would understand, but Joker and Steve Brown have a combined 30 years experience at the college level and Rich Brooks actually pulled Moses out of the reeds on his way to a football practice. Better stated, this staff has absolutely no excuse to make errors that are symptomatic of immaturity. There is no need to rehash the “no touches for Cobb” issue, but consider the different approaches taken by the each staff at the end of regulation. Rich Brooks elected to take the ball out of his best player’s hands late in the game, had a chance to allow his team to make a big play (on fourth down) to seal the program’s biggest bowl game in a decade, and went the conservative route. On the other hand, Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin pushed his team to continue to make plays- leading to the game ending touchdown in overtime. Essentially, Kiffin asked his guys to win the game while Brooks hoped his team did not lose. As Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari says, conservative play conserves losses and prevent style prevents winning. Too bad Rich Brooks does not listen to Coach Cal.
Now comes the most exciting part of the college football calendar- bowl season. Although I am severely disappointed that the Cats are likely returning to the mediocre Music City Bowl for the third time in four years, the prospect of playing Miami (Fl.) or North Carolina is an exciting one. But more importantly, from a long term perspective, bowl eligibility means an additional four weeks of practice and additional development for the young players. Clearly, I am unhappy with how Rich Brooks handled the game I wanted to win more than any football game in my entire life (Super Bowl XLI, notwithstanding), but the postseason will be enjoyable nonetheless and I look forward to seeing Morgan Newton after a month of pressure free preparation. GO BIG BLUE!!!
You are the future Mr. Newton, let's see what you have
