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LeBatard: Ready for disappointment
MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (morning): "LeBron James is going to disappoint us. He isn't going to live up to his unprecedented hype. He isn't 'can't miss.' He is the new generation's first 'can't win' kid. James isn't going to be a Ryan Leaf bust, mind you. Problem is with the expectations, he isn't allowed to be merely Peyton Manning, either. He'll always be a very good player who is never good enough. There is one standard for him to reach -- Michael Jordan -- and anything less than that will be a failure. All James has to do is become, ho hum, just about the greatest thing we've ever seen. Jordan. Tiger. That's where the bar has been set. James isn't allowed to merely become Jamal Mashburn. Not at these prices. And James isn't even the best player in his own draft, by the way. Carmelo Anthony will be better immediately and forevermore. Anthony gets to swoop in under the radar while every guy in the NBA, every single one, tries to break James' young confidence. There are lazy NBA players who mail it in plenty of nights. None of them, not one, will be guarding James this season."
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (afternoon): "Let us for once focus our golf jones on someone who represents the exact opposite of the singularly focused Tiger Woods -- Bruce Lietzke. Sunday at Inverness, Lietzke finally won his first major championship -- the U.S. Senior Open -- but winning a major was never really Lietzke's burning passion. Topping the life list for Bruce ever since 1983: being a Little League coach, among others. Lietzke's first child was born that year, and he made a decision to be a stay-at-home dad first. In other words, when the kids were out of school, Lietzke was not traipsing the globe playing golf. He last played in the U.S. Open in 1986 and rarely, if ever, played in more than 20 events on Tour. Golf was a job. Being a father and husband was his passion. True story: One year in September he told his caddy he was done for the year and wouldn't even touch his clubs until March. His caddy didn't believe him and stuck a banana peel under one of his head covers. When Bruce took the clubs out in March, the stench was so strong he had to get rid of the clubs. The man's true to his word. Family first -- that is one 'Bruce Almighty.'"
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "The sign outside Busch Stadium may only say 'San Francisco Giants - tonight at 7 o'clock,' but that leaves an incomplete impression. If you want to get down to marquee names, it doesn't get much better than a superstar of today against a superstar of tomorrow. I'm talking about Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols. With Bonds, you don't need a whole lot of buildup, what with his five MVP awards, his 73-homer season of two years ago and his 635 career home runs. Very quietly this year, Bonds has been hitting .304 with 22 homers and 46 RBI. More important, he and the Giants remain three games up on the Dodgers in the NL West. Meanwhile, there's Pujols, easily the major leagues' best hitter with an average of .391. We might even be talking Triple Crown here, since Pujols also has a league-leading 72 RBI, and his home-run total of 23 is only two off the pace. Folks, I'm just guessing you didn't know Florida's Mike Lowell has the NL lead at 25 homers. I'm also just guessing Lowell won't be holding that lead at the end of the year. Oh, one more thing about Pujols: He and the Cardinals are locked in baseball's tightest race. They lead the Cubs by one game, Houston by 1½ and Cincinnati by five. Come to think of it, with both the Giants and Cards holding the lead in tight divisional races, maybe that marquee outside Busch Stadium is just fine the way it is.
"OK, so she finished in a tie for 52nd this weekend, but 13-year-old Michelle Wie is clearly set to become the next superstar of golf. Not just the LPGA Tour, but golf itself. She may be too young to get her license, but she's already driving with the best of them, and her hopes are far more ambitious than Annika Sorenstam's. For one, Michelle plans to compete at the Bay Mills Open in August on the Canadian tour. That's the Canadian men's tour. For another, she aspires to play in The Masters. For anyone hoping that Hootie and the good ol' boys are gone by the time that happens, don't be so sure. Michelle Wie may be ready sooner than we all think." Davis: Unwritten rules should be broken
SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2003
Extra Point -- Rece Davis (morning): "Marlins manager Jack McKeon said his team would remember this: A 25-8 bludgeoning by the Red Sox, tagging up on short flyballs, aggressively trying to score. Shocking. Jack should hope his pitchers remember how to get somebody out. McKeon had time to change pitchers twice, retire and make yet another comeback before the Marlins got anyone out in Boston Friday night. Ten runs before an ump yelled, 'You're out.' McKeon was probably just trying to rouse his team by complaining that the Sox ran up the score. Don't drag out that 'unwritten rule' stuff. You want an unwritten rule? Here's one: It's not written anywhere that you have to stop scoring because the other guy is stinking it up. The Sox had a shot at becoming the first team since 1900 to score 30 runs. The way baseball treasures records, a guy ought to tag up on a popup to short if he thinks he can score, and in my book, that's one rule you're free to write in indelible ink." Smith: Rush tale
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2003
Extra Point -- Shelley Smith (morning): "This morning, while everyone focuses how their team fared in the NBA Draft or if they can pronounce any of the new names, dozens of young men take a big step into the future that has been decided for them. Granted, they'll arrive in whatever city with a fat bank account and an entourage of new-found, distant cousins, but most of them will be moving to a city they've probably never seen, to live among people they've never met and into a life off the court they're most likely not prepared for. I remember last year when Kareem Rush was drafted by Toronto. He had never worked out for Toronto, had never talked to anyone from Toronto, and suddenly, the young kid from Kansas City was faced with starting a new life in a place he'd barely heard of. Kareem left Madison Square Garden that night right after being selected and for two hours walked the streets of New York confused and mad. 'How am I supposed to move to Toronto?' he kept asking himself. Two hours later he went back to his hotel to learn that the Raptors traded him to the Lakers. Two hours after that he was on plane to Los Angeles, a place he knew a little something about and to a team he knew a lot about. Others today aren't as lucky."
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "The range of emotion, insensitivity, and irony in the ACC-Big East fiasco rivals that of any story ever in sports. The college athletic landscape changes with each passing day as one round of backstabbing leads to the next. You could take the mismanagement of this affair, chronicle it and use it as a guideline in teaching business majors how not to run whatever business they wind up in. It's the ironies, so many of them that make this such a spellbinder. Take Boston College, for example. They are reportedly in despair today, shattered at being left out in the final cut by the ACC. Now here are the poor old 'Bald Eagles,' hats in hand, skulking into the Big East boardroom, trying to help find a way to save a conference they were more than willing to destroy five minutes ago. How is athletic director Gene DiFillipo, who campaigned to get in the ACC, going to face his contemporaries? Answer: He shouldn't have to. He should be fired. So should a lot of people."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "If I were to ask you which baseball team has the most players on the disabled list, who would you say? The Mets? The Indians? The Cardinals? Close on all counts, but the team that takes the medical cake is the Arizona Diamondbacks. As of late this week, the D-Backs had nine players on the DL, including franchise aces Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. These are the same Diamondbacks, left largely with rookies and youngsters, who have won eight games in a row and 13 of their last 16. Don't look now, but while the Giants and Dodgers have been beating up on one another, Arizona has pulled within five games of the lead in the NL West. This weekend, while the Giants are hosting playoff-hungry Oakland, and while the Dodgers are visiting the world-champion Angels, the Diamondbacks will be visiting the hapless Detroit Tigers. Tell you what, folks. Schilling is back with the team playing catch on the side, and Johnson gets a rehab start in Tucson next week. This may yet be a three-team race in the NL West.
"Intracity rivalries like Yankees-Mets and Cubs-White Sox will get the headlines, but the best interleague series this weekend may well take place at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City. Yes, the St. Louis Cardinals are hurting, and yes, the Kansas City Royals are a small-market team, but both are locked in neck-and-neck battles in their respective division races. You probably figured the Cardinals had the depth to cure what ails them, but what about the Royals? After jumping off to a 20-9 start, they went into a 7-18 tailspin that was accompanied by a chorus of 'I told you so's.' But the Royals have shown themselves to be resilient, never dropping below .500. In the past three weeks they've won 5 of 6 series, including last weekend's 2 of 3 games at St. Louis. Their heroes have been many -- Beltran, Sweeney, even the long, lost José Lima. Tony Peña is a front-runner for American League Manager of the Year, and if he keeps this ship on course, you might actually see the Royals looking to get a hired gun instead of giving one away come July 31." Moore: Let's see some ID, kid
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris Moore (morning): "The flip side of fame is on display again this week as one of my favorites -- Little League -- has new regulations regarding eligibility proof for this year's tournament. I guess -- no, check that -- I know that we here at the Worldwide Leader helped create this monster called the Little League tournament, but I have to say I'm disappointed that carrying proof that you are under 12 and live within the boundaries of your Little League district are now necessary. This is about the parents, as we know -- not the kids -- as so much of youth sport is now. The emphasis on fame and television is no doubt the fuel for the cheaters, and so temptation to get around the system -- to use older kids or kids from other towns -- well, it is just too much for the misguided parents and coaches to pass up. As you watch, though, try and watch as an optimist. Don't look at the first big kid you see and say, 'No way that kid's 12,' because the good news is most of the kids just want to play baseball."
Extra Point -- Bob Picozzi (afternoon): "Question: When you are in a restaurant, and the folks in the kitchen are slow in preparing your dinner, do you take it out on the waitress when it's time to determine her tip? OK, where am I heading? If you are a Big East fan, will you take it out on the Syracuse and Boston College athletes and boo them because you are upset at what those schools' administrators tried to do? So now the ACC wants Miami and Virginia Tech but not Syracuse or Boston College. What possible sort of reception can the Orangemen and Eagles expect now that they are forced to head back to the Big East with their tails firmly tucked between their legs? What do they say? 'Oops, we made a mistake. We are sorry. We never really wanted to leave'? Then there's Virginia Tech. Every team needs a good transition offense; the Hokies are no exception. Now that they go from a plaintiff in the Big East suit against the ACC to a defendant, I guess their outrage has subsided."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "LeBron James has his night tonight when the Cleveland Cavaliers make him the first pick in the NBA Draft. But how many more nights will be his? More important, how many more nights will he make Cavaliers management look good? If history is any indication, the odds could be long, depending on how high you set the bar. If you go back 18 years, when the New York Knicks won the very first lottery and picked Patrick Ewing, only two number-one picks led the team that chose them to the championship. You notice I said 'team,' because those two players were David Robinson and Tim Duncan of San Antonio. Sure, Shaquille O'Neal has won rings, but not a one with the team that picked him -- the Orlando Magic. For every 'Admiral,' there's a 'Big Dog,' and we'll offer a few reminders -- both past and present -- in a minute.
"Of the 18 top picks in the NBA's lottery era, six stand out as true gems, especially since they're the only six who ever have been named to the All-NBA First Team. We've already mentioned three of them. Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal are all champions and all headed to the Hall of Fame. Then there's Allen Iverson, Chris Webber and Patrick Ewing. Yes, they all have blemishes on their records, but overall, they proved themselves worthy of being chosen number one. There are certainly those who did not, including Glenn Robinson, Derrick Coleman, Joe Smith and the biggest of all the lottery era busts, Pervis Ellison. Just last year, the top five picks were Yao Ming, Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Drew Gooden and Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Only one of those five made it to the playoffs, and Gooden did it not with the Memphis Grizzlies, who chose him number four, but with Orlando. In other words, it's still a long shot for LeBron James to make the Cavaliers a playoff team in 2004. Simply put, the draft is overhyped. Where Jason Kidd lands this off-season is far more important than anyone who's picked tonight. By the way, did you remember Kidd was a number-two pick behind Glenn Robinson? Who do you think Milwaukee would like to have now?" Wilson: In this win, we all lose
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2003
Extra Point -- Chuck Wilson (morning): "What does it mean to give your word? What constitutes a promise? Where is the line between cheating and gaining an edge? Is there such a thing as a gentlemen's agreement? As sport mirrors society, the fun and games department is seeing plenty of discussion of integrity issues. On the college scene we have the lawsuit by some Big East Conference schools against potential defectors to the ACC. In auto racing this past weekend we had another example when driver Robby Gordon passed teammate Kevin Harvick under a yellow flag. NASCAR said it was perfectly legal, but second-place finisher Jeff Gordon said Robby's move broke a gentlemen's agreement among the drivers not to pass under a caution flag for safety reasons. Harvick agreed, but the reality is that right and wrong seldom seems to enter the equation. The emphasis is on winning in our society and in our sports -- almost to the exclusion of everything else. Cheating is viewed as wrong only if you get caught. Winning with integrity has been replaced by Winning any way you can, and that's sad."
Extra Point -- Jay Mariotti (afternoon): "We want to believe Jay Williams will rise again. We cling to hope that a fractured pelvis will heal, nerve damage in his left leg will mend and shredded knee ligaments won't slow him. We think of true miracles in sports and root for one here. But more likely, Williams has played his last basketball game after his grisly motorcycle crash of last week. Numb as we are, sad as we are, it remains a mind-blowing mystery why he would gamble his fledgling NBA career on an 'Easy Rider' whim. Not to preach, but a pro athlete must know better. He has an enormous responsibility to his franchise, and to himself, to avoid high-risk endeavors that could shut down a mega-dollar investment. The standard NBA contract prohibits a player from using a motorcycle without a team's consent, and while the Chicago Bulls aren't discussing details yet, it's assumed Williams didn't have permission to ride. So why did he? It's hard to believe he didn't know at least something about exhibit A, paragraph 12, which bars a player from participating in 'pro boxing, wrestling, motorcycling, auto racing, moped riding, sky diving and hang gliding, and exhibitions of basketball, football, baseball, hockey and lacrosse.' Obviously, the Bulls are thrilled Williams is alive and aren't examining the legal fine print. But let the mangled bike serve as a lesson to all athletes: Wait until your career is over before playing the daredevil."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Amid all the questions about his slump, about the fact he hasn't won a tournament since March, about his absence of current championships in a major, Tiger Woods has pointed an accusatory finger. He's not aiming at anyone in particular, but make no mistake. He says there's some cheating going on on the PGA Tour. Rest assured, folks; this one ain't going away. Tiger claims there are illegal drivers out there. Without getting too complicated here, these clubs have ultra-thin faces where the club meets the ball. They're so thin, they create a trampoline effect. The USGA actually came up with a scientific way to determine whether clubs are legal. Tiger wants the PGA Tour to check everybody's driver before each tournament, much the same way NASCAR checks engines. But let's get down to the heart of this issue, and that's the PGA's statistics on driving distance. After finishing sixth in that category last year, Tiger is at a career-low 29th on the PGA Tour. Do I think 28 guys ahead of him are cheating on the PGA Tour? No. Do I think a good many of those 28 guys can legitimately outdrive Tiger? You bet. The top five drivers on Tour include names like Phil Mickelson -- the same Phil Mickelson who questioned Tiger's Nike equipment not so long ago. Maybe he was right. In the meantime, you want to talk about a trampoline effect? Just check out the drive this controversy has as we get closer to the British Open. Sammy Sosa had nothing on Tiger's inferior clubs.
"Just when it seemed the San Francisco Giants had a lead weight tied to them as they sunk closer to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they go and win the first two games of the latest showdown with their arch rivals. They go for the sweep tonight at Pac Bell Park, where you'll find a brand new telephone in the visitor's dugout after closer Eric Gagné took out his frustration the other night. Folks, the Dodgers were billed $500. $500? What's that phone made of anyway, gold?" McKendry: Wheezer slugs through it
TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris McKendry (morning): "Lennox Lewis is not the last great heavyweight champion that he proclaims to be. I watched Saturday night as he wheezed his way through six rounds against Vitali Klitschko. Lewis was at the heaviest weight of his career. He looked out of shape and fought like it, throwing 162 fewer punches than his opponent. When the fight was stopped because of a cut to Klitschko's eye, Lewis was trailing on all three judges' cards. Lewis had played down to his opponent's level; that's something great champions in any sport never do. Now there will be a rematch, a high-priced, pay-per-view event and a big payday for Lewis. He will show up in shape, win easily and talk nonsense. I know this because he's followed the same formula against Hasim Rahman, Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall. Well, this time I'm not buying any of it. What's to see? No matter how good Lewis fights, he'll never be great. He lost his claim to 'great' Saturday night."
Extra Point -- Stuart Scott (afternoon): "Lleyton Hewitt made a mistake. He won Wimbledon last year, which set him up to make history, because never before in the open era had a defending champion at Wimbledon lost in the first round. The guy who beat him? I'm not sure, but I think it was Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson. No? It wasn't? Wasn't the guy 6-foot, 10-inches tall? Wasn't he overbearing at times? Hadn't he won four Cy Youngs in a row? No, Ivo Karlovich hadn't won any Cy Youngs. In fact, he was ranked 203rd in the world -- had failed in 10 previous attempts to even qualify for a Grand Slam event -- so in beating down the top-seed, defending champion, Ivo finally made men's tennis interesting again. Yup, that's what it takes -- the favorite to lose -- but here's why: Because the truth is no one cared who was seeded No. 1. No one cares about men's tennis if it's not Roddick, Agassi or Sampras -- until now. Six-foot, 10-inch common people rejoice; Ivo Karlovich is our man."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Day in and day out, you can count on three things -- death, taxes, and the San Francisco Giants' being in first place. It's been a precarious hold lately, but the Giants held off the Dodgers last night in Game 1 of their series at Pacific Bell Park to regain a one-game lead over their rivals. The showdown out West continues tonight with Jason Schmidt taking the mound for San Francisco against the Dodgers' Odalis Pérez. The last time Schmidt met the Dodgers was last week, when he kept L.A. from sweeping away the Giants at Dodger Stadium with his major-league-leading third shutout of the season. Meanwhile, when do we stop being amazed at the exploits of Barry Bonds? He continues to reach unprecedented heights. Last night he stole the 500th base of his career, making him the only man to clear the 500 mark in both homers and steals. Not bad for a guy who turns 39 one month from today.
"It was supposed to be a one-team race in the American League East -- the New York Yankees, then everyone else. But Boss George's team looks downright human this year, and 'Big Stein' is getting crankier by the tabloid headline. So that's opened the door. A two-team race with Boston, right? Not so fast, my friends. We're talking about three teams now. The Toronto Blue Jays are a bona-fide contender, going neck-and-neck with Boston for the number-two spot in the standings. While the Yankees are at Tampa Bay and the Red Sox are hosting Detroit, the Jays are home tonight to meet the Baltimore Orioles. Right now when you think about Toronto, you might well be looking at the leading contender for the American League MVP award, and that's Carlos Delgado. He's hitting over .300, and he's long since passed the 20-home-run, 75-RBI plateau that others are chasing. But he's not alone. The Blue Jays are right at the top of the American League in just about every offensive statistic that counts. If Toronto can add an arm when the deadline hits next month, this will be the kind of dogfight we haven't seen in the AL East since the days you'd never heard of Derek Jeter." Le Batard: Splendor in flourescent packaging
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (morning): "Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis is fresh and funky in every way that matters, right down to the poetry that is his first name. He's got the smile, the charisma, the storyline, the fastball, the buzz and the goods -- a rare assortment of splendor wrapped in fluorescent packaging. And he's different, too. Different in the way he carries himself with just the right combination of awe without fear. Different because of a delivery that makes it look like that 94 mph fastball is as likely to end up in the first-base dugout as it is on the inside corner. And different because of the color of his skin. You might not have noticed, but there aren't a lot of African-American pitchers in the majors anymore, and Willis is the most interesting young one since Dwight Gooden broke in two decades ago. Why is this relevant? Because being different, in any way, attracts buzz. And this franchise needs buzz like very few in sports do."
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (afternoon): "I keep looking up the definition of the word 'slump,' and I'm trying to figure out why pundits and beat writers continually use this term when talking about Tiger Woods in 2003. 'They' will tell you he's now gone four whole majors without winning -- and not even contending in the U.S. Open on the weekend -- but let's be realistic here, shall we? The great Jack Nicklaus once went 12 straight majors in his prime without winning one. When Tiger does that, then he's in a slump. A slump is what David Duval is going through, making four cuts in 14 starts. Tiger's already got three wins on Tour. Phil Mickelson has gone almost a year without a win. Tiger's not in a slump; he's just not playing at the unbelievable level he's been on the last three years. There's a difference between slumping and not being your absolute best. When Tiger misses a cut, something that hasn't happened in five years, then he's in a slump. The only thing slumping right now: TV ratings. The U.S. Open in 2003 -- 40 percent lower than last year, when Tiger won. Now that's a slump, and people should be smart enough to know the difference."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "It's the first time we can remember the green grass outlasting the top seed at Wimbledon. Before they could even start wearing out the lawn at Centre Court of the All England Club, Lleyton Hewitt was gone -- in only four sets. It's the first time the gentlemen's one-seed has been bounced this fast since the open era of tennis began 35 years ago. How amazing was this? Consider the man who vanquished Hewitt. He's Ivo Karlovic, a 24-year-old from Croatia who is 6 feet, 10 inches tall. It marked the first time he had ever played in a Grand Slam match. Folks, Hewitt's loss is most certainly Andre Agassi's gain. The second-seeded Agassi doesn't play his opener until tomorrow, and without Hewitt, he becomes the biggest men's star at the All England Club. While we're very aware of his eight titles in Grand Slam events, what you may not know is that Agassi has given seemingly endless hours to charities in his hometown of Las Vegas. At one time, Andre's flashy commercial said image is everything. In real life, that image is one of generosity and modesty. Here's hoping that doesn't get lost over the next couple weeks at Wimbledon.
"Were you yelling for the fight to be stopped? You certainly got your way when the doctor stepped in Saturday night in L.A. Vitali Klitschko was ahead on points, but because the left side of his face was so disfigured, they had to give the fight to the champ -- Lennox Lewis. For once, the public can demand a rematch for reasons other than a bad decision by the judges. For another, the heavyweight division has something to keep its mind off Mike Tyson, who spent the weekend being baited into a unsanctioned fight at a Brooklyn hotel. Maybe now the media will get its mind off a guy who has absolutely no credentials to be a contender anymore. In fact, I'm wondering why this guy is still a celebrity. It's like watching Zsa Zsa Gabor or the Hilton sisters. You have to ask how they got to be so famous. You can have the Mike Tysons of the world. Just give me a sequel to Lewis and Klitschko." Davis: Hokies natural location
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2003
Extra Point -- Rece Davis (morning): "All for one, and one for all, 'til lawsuit result does us part -- or until a better offer comes along. Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson could go Splitsville, and we expect Virginia Tech to stay loyal to its lawsuit against the ACC. Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal said he'd be shocked if Virginia Tech entertained an overture from the ACC. Guess what, Richard? Afraid you can't beat 'em? 'Ask 'em to join' is apparently the ACC's new motto. Virginia Tech should've been considered from the beginning. It's hard to blame the Hokies for their ACC jones. As much as big TV markets, a conference needs some geographic integrity. Integrity. Might be a loose use of the term 'integrity.' Conference alignment and litigious consolidation aren't blood oaths; they're marriages of convenience. It's a hurt-or-be-hurt game. Relationships are never simple. Just ask Kid Rock; the ACC might be close to getting more than it can handle, too." Cohn: Taking time to applaud NFL
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003
Extra Point -- Linda Cohn (morning): "We're always so quick to criticize in this day and age. The media does it. So does the average sports fan. We're all quick to rip a player when he does something we don't agree with or when a coach calls a play we don't like or a GM makes a trade that is laughable or a league puts on a playoff game way too late so our kids can't watch. All of this and more bugs us -- it's natural -- but when I heard what's in the works for next year's Super Bowl, I can only stop and applaud the NFL. It's not a big thing, but it's a good thing. As you may or may not know, the Super Bowl will be in Houston, not only the home of the Texans but the home of our country's space program and its astronauts. The Super Bowl game is taking place on the one-year anniversary of a tragedy, when seven astronauts died aboard the shuttle Columbia. The NFL plans to temper its festivities out of respect for the shuttle crew's families. Special ceremonies will be held in honor of these fallen heroes. The NFL has made the right call."
Extra Point -- Shelley Smith (afternoon): "Somebody needs to tell Rick Neuheisel he's not the coach at Washington anymore, and somebody needs to tell Tennessee's Phil Fulmer he's not the Knoxville district attorney. Neuheisel was fired last week but wants to come to the UW/Rick Neuheisel summer camp anyway. Fulmer and his personal attorney decided to interview a 17-year-old girl who says she witnessed a sexual assault by one of his football players. Who does Philip think he is -- Tom Osborne? Osborne was one of the first, you remember, to interview the coed who was assaulted by Lawrence Phillips back in the early '90s. Osborne also retrieved the gun used by one of his players in a shooting and kept it in his file cabinet long before turning it over to police. What kind of pedestal do college football coaches think they're standing on? 'Hmmm, let's see. I'm above firing, and I'm above the law.' Maybe it's the million-dollar contracts, maybe it's the hundreds of thousands of fat-cat alums sucking up to 'Coach' on a daily basis -- when he's winning, that is -- or maybe it's the belief that if you can win, you can fix sin. Hmmm, maybe that's what Mike Price was doing after all."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "If it's time for more interleague baseball, that must mean it's time for the critics to come out. They say they couldn't care less about Tampa Bay at Florida or Cleveland at Pittsburgh. Folks, my answer to that is a question. Would you rather see Tampa Bay at Detroit or Milwaukee at Florida? No matter how you cut up the schedule, there'll be some zircons to go with all the diamonds. As a fan jumping in and out of baseball throughout the spring and summer, I really look forward to Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox, Dodgers-Angels, Astros-Rangers and Giants-A's. To all the critics, I have this reminder: These guys aren't playing games for the media. This isn't about making purists happy. It's about selling tickets. If you're a family trying to have an enjoyable weekend, and if you can afford to go to maybe one or two games a year, why not circle the Angels and Dodgers or the Cubs and White Sox? Nobody in today's universe can follow a team for all 162 games. Since Cal Ripken isn't playing anymore, everyone gets a day off from time to time. So why not have a break from league play? You know, we could take this to the next degree. Why not put America vs. the World in the All-Star Game. Hey, if the World wins, they could play the seventh game of the World Series in the Dominican Republic. OK, back to reality. Just from the viewpoint of the standings, there are two interleague series this weekend that jump off the page as important. One won't surprise you, and that's San Francisco at Oakland. While the Giants have been struggling lately, Oakland has been doing quite well. Even though the A's don't look like they'll catch Seattle at the top of the AL West, they are right at the top of a wild-card fight with the likes of Boston and Toronto. The other big matchup, believe it or not, has Kansas City visiting Saint Louis -- not one but two teams involved in air-tight, Central Division races. Just a reminder to interleague critics that you never know where you'll find the next diamond in the rough."g purists happy. It's about selling tickets. If you're a family trying to have an enjoyable weekend, and if you can afford to go to maybe one or two games a year, why not circle the Angels and Dodgers or the Cubs and White Sox? Nobody in today's universe can follow a team for all 162 games. Since Cal Ripken isn't playing anymore, everyone gets a day off from time to time. So why not have a break from league play? You know, we could take this to the next degree. Why not put America vs. the World in the All-Star Game. Hey, if the World wins, they could play the seventh game of the World Series in the Dominican Republic. OK, back to reality. Just from the viewpoint of the standings, there are two interleague series this weekend that jump off the page as important. One won't surprise you, and that's San Francisco at Oakland. While the Giants have been struggling lately, Oakland has been doing quite well. Even though the A's don't look like they'll catch Seattle at the top of the AL West, they are right at the top of a wild-card fight with the likes of Boston and Toronto. The other big matchup, believe it or not, has Kansas City visiting Saint Louis -- not one but two teams involved in air-tight, Central Division races. Just a reminder to interleague critics that you never know where you'll find the next diamond in the rough." Moore: Patience matters
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris Moore (morning): "Patience. Not the kind that are in the hospital. No, I mean the ability to wait, to be patient. We've lost it, and in the sports world it's becoming more and more noticeable. Case in point: Ratings. You've heard that all the major sports events on television are rating lower than ever. You know why? We don't have time or take the time to watch anything that runs that long. And why are the Europeans quickly turning the NBA Draft into a pronunciation challenge for the Americans? Because our kids and coaches don't learn the game as kids anymore. They want to win -- tonight -- in the league for 8-year-olds. We don't develop skilled players. We develop kids that want to win now -- and always. I mean maybe they would read a book, but they'd be mighty disappointed to know you have to learn your ABCs first. In fact, if you gave them the option, they'd choose not to learn the ABCs and just go to video games. From USA Today to ESPN's Bottom Line, we don't have to wait anymore -- and we don't."
Extra Point -- John Anderson (afternoon): "Chuck Young is going to have to be one tough man. Tuesday the father of two became a widower -- his wife, Stacy, just 30 years old, taken off life support at hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., following a beating she took left her brain dead. Stacy Young suffered her fatal injuries during a 'Tough Man' contest. Local police have started a criminal investigation. On a whim, because she thought it's be fun, Young put down $50, signed a liability waiver and stepped into the ring. Headgear, 16-ounce gloves, three one-minute rounds. She nearly went the distance, and then she went, leaving behind a devastated husband and two kids struggling to understand their new single-parent family. It's the fourth death connected with 'Tough Man' contests in the last 10 months. Because of a loophole in the laws, 'Tough Man' contests, which are illegal in a number of states, can be held in Florida as long as there's no cash prize money at stake. Dead for nothing. Winner got a trophy -- and enough baggage that she'll need a bellhop for the rest of her life, which at least she still has. Long as we're walking upright, it might be time to outlaw the brawls everywhere. You know, just to further distinguish ourselves from the other animals."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "If you've been watching TV closely this week, you may have seen a report proclaiming the Dodgers-Giants rivalry ain't what it used to be. Maybe 'Los Angeles versus San Francisco' doesn't seem so big on the East Coast or in the Heartland, but trust me. This remains a huge, bitter rivalry in California. Folks, nothing is better than a Dodgers-Giants pennant race, and with the two teams now in a flat-footed tie for first place as we close in on the halfway point, it looks like they're going to have an old-fashioned donnybrook. When it comes to the National League West, fans in L.A. and San Francisco tend to sit around and ask who invited the Diamondbacks and Rockies and Padres to the party in the first place? Let's put it this way: If the Dodgers and Giants are still at each other's throats come September, we'll be reminded nationwide just what a rivalry this is. No matter how good or bad the teams happen to be, the three rivalries in baseball that will always stand the test of time are Yankees-Red Sox, Cardinals-Cubs and Dodgers-Giants, whether the rest of the nation likes it or not. At one point in May, the Dodgers found themselves seven games behind the streaking Giants in the NL West. In fact, the Giants have held or shared the division lead every day this season, but that could change tonight. While San Francisco has been fading, the Dodgers have been winning eight in a row. They go for a sweep of the Giants tonight at Dodger Stadium. So how do you figure this L.A. team that has the National League's second-worst team batting average and ranks dead-last in runs, homers and on-base percentage? Well, it's the same old Dodgers. Whether it's Koufax and Drysdale or Sutton or Fernando, the answer is always pitching. Kevin Brown is back with a record of 10-1 and a microscopic, 1.97 ERA. He's not alone. The staff leads the majors in ERA, and with Eric Gagné turning out the lights with a big-league high of 27 saves, you have to figure the Dodgers will be in this fight for the long haul." Schaap: Spend it like Beckham
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2003
Extra Point -- Jeremy Schaap (morning): "If you're a fan of the Montréal Expos, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers or any other small- to medium-market team, you probably spend a lot of time saying, 'Poor me. My team won't spend the big bucks to retain or acquire great players. The greedy Yankees and Red Sox and Dodgers gobble up all the stars, and we're left with the dregs.' Well, consider yourself lucky. You could be a fan of Atlético Madrid or Barcelona or La Coruña, which are all teams in Spain's premier soccer league. Fans of those teams really have a right to complain. Why? Because Real Madrid -- the Yankees of international soccer who already feature in their lineup Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, arguably the three greatest players in the world -- just acquired the Englishman David Beckham, who is probably one of the ten greatest players in the world. Now that's not fair."
Extra Point -- Jay Mariotti (afternoon): "Silly me. I thought Sammy Sosa might break down, 'fess up and tell us what really happened at 'The Friendly Corkfines.' He owes that much to the fans, especially those who have adored him through the years and expect clean, honest performances. Instead, Sosa has damaged his credibility even more. He is playing the race card now, turning an integrity issue involving a corked bat into a dangerous racial issue. Considering he has avoided every other question about the incident, it would have been easy to dismiss this question Tuesday: Does he agree with Pedro Martínez and Gary Sheffield when they say race is a factor in how Sosa's episode has been treated by fans and media? Amazing how Sammy bit right into that one. Never mind he was voted baseball's most-popular player in a May fan poll. Never mind that I've been among his biggest supporters, viewing his power ride as premium sports entertainment. Never mind that Mark McGwire, a Caucasian from California, would have been subjected to the same intense storm. I must be a racist. Because I don't believe a shred of his story, this pap about accidentally choosing a batting practice bat. What I need to hear is the answer he refuses to provide. When so many hitters say it's impossible not to know which bat they're using in a game, how can we believe he didn't intend to choose the corked bat from his elaborate clubhouse collection? The odds of such a fluke pick-up were 77-1 that night, too long a shot unless you also believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Anna Nicole Smith."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Now that our NBA work is at an end 'til next fall, let's zero in on a baseball issue that's been eating at me all spring. We're fast approaching the All-Star Game, and the powers-that-be have decided that the league that wins it will have the home-field advantage in the World Series. What an awful idea. Even if they actually play the game to a conclusion for a change, it is still nothing more than an exhibition. Is that how baseball wants to peg a seventh game in the World Series, where millions and millions of dollars are at stake? Why can't the team with the best record have the home-field advantage in the World Series? What's so hard about that? This winter's supposed solution was a hysterical overreaction to last year's All-Star Game, which was nothing more than a historical quirk.
"Do you remember when the NFC East was the bellwether for the NFL? In the 14 seasons from 1982 to 1995, eight Super Bowl champs came from the NFC East. Since, only the New York Giants have been back to the big game, only to be humbled by Baltimore. As the 2003 season approaches, so may a revival of the NFC East. While conventional wisdom says the Philadelphia Eagles are a lock to win the division title, I'm here to tell you that is not the case. The Eagles allowed too many defensive starters and special-teams stars to walk away this spring, and that left the door ajar for the Giants and the Redskins. The Redskins spent a fortune in signing half the Jets away from New York as free agents, but you've got to hesitate in singing the praises of a hired team. You just don't know how those personalities will mesh under Steve Spurrier. That leaves the Giants, and they could make a major run this season. Jim Fassel simplified the attack for Kerry Collins and began using monster tight end Jeremy Shockey as the 'X' factor in a big-play offense. Even with Donovan McNabb healthy in Philly, the Giants have a heck of a shot to win the NFC East and be battle-tested for a significant playoff run come next January." McKendry: The hitch of hope
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris McKendry (morning): "Why is everyone so bitter? Three big championships have been won in the past week, yet all anyone can talk about is what should have been or what wasn't. Jim Furyk claimed his first major at Olympia Fields. He was 8-under par at a U.S. Open -- a great accomplishment, except as often as I've heard that, I've listened to complaints about how the rough was not high enough or that Furyk has an ugly swing. Are you kidding? His hitch gives me hope. The Spurs took out the Lakers, then Nets en route to a second title. It's an ending so well deserved by David Robinson, one of the league's greatest humanitarians. So enough already about the poor shooting, blown leads and low television ratings. Us sports fans have always been a critical bunch. Debate is part of the job, but argue in favor of something. Fight for your team, your favorite player or event. Stop telling me about the good old days, especially if by 'the good old days,' you mean Tiger in 2000 and the Lakers in 2001."
Extra Point -- Bob Picozzi (afternoon): "Tomorrow night. That's when the city of San Antonio will throw a parade to honor the NBA champion Spurs. It will be the second such celebration in four years for some Spurs, the second and final one for David Robinson. When Robinson is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he will become the first Hall of Famer since Bill Russell and Sam Jones to win an NBA title in his final game. But Robinson has won much, much more -- the undying respect of everyone who has come in contact with 'The Admiral.' If there were such a thing as a Mount Rushmore for good citizens among athletes, Robinson's mug would be one of the four on the side of the mountain. His foundation has donated millions to help educate inner-city youngsters, but he not only has helped pay for their education, he has taken the time to show up at their high-school graduations. New York Giants manager Leo Durocher once uttered, 'Nice guys finish last.' Well, Leo never met David Robinson -- Hall of Fame player, an even better person."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "While San Antonio continues to celebrate its second championship in five years, let's address some of the other goings-on in the NBA. Since the end of the regular season, we've seen nine openings in the ranks of head coaches. The list included the usual suspects like the Clippers and Hawks as well as intriguing ones in Philadelphia and Washington. Even as jobs were filled, we were scratching our heads. In Detroit, they dumped successful Rick Carlisle because Larry Brown was available. Carlisle's assistant, Kevin O'Neill, was ticketed to replace Lenny Wilkens in Toronto. Rudy T. retired because of health issues, so Houston lured Jeff Van Gundy. Then there was the curious case of Paul Silas, who will coach LeBron James in Cleveland after New Orleans inexplicably dumped him and hired Tim Floyd, who lost about four times as much as he won at Chicago. We're not even counting the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who have spent their brief history in the executive parlor with Michael Jordan. Folks, with the millions of dollars being paid to the players, this sort of turnover should come as no surprise. Ownership is demanding more 'W's' than ever from their coaches. This coaching door is bound to keep revolving at the expense of patience. There's no other way to explain why Carlisle and Silas had to fill out change-of-address cards this spring.
"In almost every sport, the most successful teams are imitated the following year. In the NBA, that means you'd better get ready for more and more of the zone defense than ever before. In my opinion, though, lifting the ban on zone defenses was a huge mistake on the part of the owners. NBA athletes are too big, too quick and too smart to give them an added defensive edge. If you want to bring back the 16-foot jump shot to the pro game, I would outlaw both the three-point basket and the zone defense. More than two decades ago everybody was complaining there was no defense in the NBA. Where are those days when we really need them?" LeBatard: Losing not a Tiger option
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (morning): "This is where we are with Tiger Woods: He wins, and he has done what was expected. Ho hum. The only way he can impress at this point is if he wins all four majors in a calendar year. That's it. That's where he has set the bar -- at an unprecedented height. To impress us, he has to do something that has never been done. Disappointing us? Now that's far easier. He finishes in second, and he has failed, and if he does what he did at the U.S. Open -- looking positively mortal -- then we all wonder what's up with this terrible slump. He hasn't won a major in a year now. It's still pretty hard winning majors, as Colin Montgomery and Phil Mickelson can tell you, and it remains hard no matter how easy Woods has made it look. Jack Nicklaus in his prime didn't win a major for three years against top-to-bottom competition inferior to what Woods now sees. Talk all you like about Palmer, Watson and Trevino, but there wasn't a second tier back then like the one you see today with the Mike Weirs and Jim Furyks of the world. But Tiger can't lose quietly. In fact, he's not allowed to lose at all."
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (afternoon): "If you believe life is fair, then you're clearly not a Red Sox fan. Over the weekend Roger Clemens' record run was just another clear example of why the gods above, below and all around have singled out the city of Boston for perennial persecution. History will probably remember Roger Clemens now as a Yankee first. Yes, he racked up most of his career wins while working in Fenway, but look at what's happened since he came to the Yankees: He won back-to-back World Series -- appeared in three straight -- won a record sixth Cy Young Award and, oh, by the way, picked up career win No. 300 and career strikeout No. 4,000 in pinstripes -- at Yankee Stadium, no less. The frailty of the 'Red Sox Nation' be damned; this is just something they're going to have to accept. Wade Boggs may or may not go into Cooperstown as a Devil Ray, but years from now, when kids go to the Hall of Fame and see 'The Rocket's' bust, you know what they'll say? 'Oh, yeah. Roger Clemens. My dad told me about him. May be the best Yankee pitcher ever.' Ouch, babe."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger from San Antonio, Texas (afternoon): "Here in the Alamo City the barges are being prepared for the Spurs' second victory ride down the San Antonio Riverwalk in five years. This time not even Phil Jackson can put an asterisk on it. With last night's series-ending victory over the New Jersey Nets, there is no question who the best team was in the NBA this year. The Spurs have the best player in the league -- Tim Duncan -- and he proved it by being the MVP in the Finals. Last night marked the fourth time the Spurs had won a series in six games. The other three were wrapped up on the road with clinchers at Phoenix, at Los Angeles and at Dallas. Last night also brought down the curtain on one of the great careers in NBA history. Folks, in the case of David Robinson, nice guys do not finish last.
"Now for some Yankee intrigue. Today, we offer up the weekend rumor from the Newark Star-Ledger. The story goes that 'Boss George' told confidantes he may fire Joe Torre. Just as that story was breaking, two things happened. First, Torre told the media that he very much wants to stay on as manager. Second, 'The Boss' obliged Joe by giving him the dreaded vote of confidence. My guess? Steinbrenner deliberately planted the newspaper seed in hopes that his team would rally around Joe. It's the same old story with 'Big Stein,' always stirring the pot. If you're wondering who the manager of the Yankees will be come playoff time, it says here it will be one Joe Torre. More Yankee intrigue: Fast-forward to the summer of 2009. If you saw last night's Sunday Conversation on 'SportsCenter,' you saw Roger Clemens tell us he'll skip his own Hall of Fame induction if he doesn't go said if he doesn't go into Cooperstown as a Yankee. Folks, because of today's free-agency movement, I'm wondering why these plaques have to be limited to one symbol. In the case of Clemens, why not include all three of his teams -- the Red Sox, the Blue Jays and the Yankees? Maybe that just makes too much sense for baseball as we know it."
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