If you haven't heard by now (see here for a thorough rehashing), Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press had a little oopsie a few weeks ago - when writing a column on a Friday, to be published on a Sunday, Albom wrote about events on the intervening Saturday as if they had already happened. Unfortunately, two Michigan State players featured in Albom's column did not show up at the MSU-UNC game as they had planned.
Albom apologized, saying "while it was hardly the thrust of the article...it was wrong just the same." Hmmm. I read the article, and Albom spent the first three paragraphs talking about the two players - what they were wearing, how they got there, what they were feeling, etc., etc. He also concluded by using the phrase "you looked around the stands Saturday" - rather difficult, since it was Friday when the column was written.
Let's hope the editors worship their idols a little less and actually do their jobs a little, no, make that a lot, more.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
T.O. needs a T.O.
Terrell Owens claims he needs a new contract. Apparently he is suffering from Spree-itis. Since he will "only" make $3.65 million or so this coming season, that makes him "underpaid."
Hm. But not if you take the first three years of TO's contract - he'll make around $21 million. Not bad. Yet Drew a/k/a "Rodent" Rosenhaus is only counting the first two years. It's common in NFL contracts to have a lower figure in the 2nd year of a long, multi-year deal. Peyton Manning, for example, will earn far less than his $14 mill per year contract in certain years of that deal (per Howard Eskin of 610-WIP in Philadelphia). Horrors! Get that man Drew's number!
And Stephen A. Smith (of the Philadelphia Inquirer and ESPN) took TO's bait hook, line and sinker. Now Stephen A. is comparing TO's salary to Austin Croshere of the Pacers. Good thing we can compare contracts across sports, I'd have never thunk it. Well, if Spree can't feed his kids on $7-12 million a year, what makes you think TO can provide for his punch-the-time-card mother so she can quit her job? Oh, you didn't hear about her? Hm. Wonder why we didn't hear about her last year when TO got his big signing bonus? Or his previous eight years in San Francisco. "Sorry, Mom. But since Mother's Day is right around the corner, I'll get some brownie points if I bring you into my contract talks".
Let's see - did anyone make TO sign his contract last year? And do they Eagles really cut players before the 3rd year of a 7 year deal? Remind me of one please. Still thinking?
If the Eagles budge on this, they will have rough, rough times ahead.
Hm. But not if you take the first three years of TO's contract - he'll make around $21 million. Not bad. Yet Drew a/k/a "Rodent" Rosenhaus is only counting the first two years. It's common in NFL contracts to have a lower figure in the 2nd year of a long, multi-year deal. Peyton Manning, for example, will earn far less than his $14 mill per year contract in certain years of that deal (per Howard Eskin of 610-WIP in Philadelphia). Horrors! Get that man Drew's number!
And Stephen A. Smith (of the Philadelphia Inquirer and ESPN) took TO's bait hook, line and sinker. Now Stephen A. is comparing TO's salary to Austin Croshere of the Pacers. Good thing we can compare contracts across sports, I'd have never thunk it. Well, if Spree can't feed his kids on $7-12 million a year, what makes you think TO can provide for his punch-the-time-card mother so she can quit her job? Oh, you didn't hear about her? Hm. Wonder why we didn't hear about her last year when TO got his big signing bonus? Or his previous eight years in San Francisco. "Sorry, Mom. But since Mother's Day is right around the corner, I'll get some brownie points if I bring you into my contract talks".
Let's see - did anyone make TO sign his contract last year? And do they Eagles really cut players before the 3rd year of a 7 year deal? Remind me of one please. Still thinking?
If the Eagles budge on this, they will have rough, rough times ahead.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Billy Buck and "oops"
If I read one more inaccurate article referring to how "Bill Buckner lost the '86 Series" I'm gonna puke.
FACTS:
1. It was Game 6, not Game 7. The Sawx managed to blow the next game, too.
2. If Buckner had made the play at first on Mookie Wilson's dribbler, Boston could not have won the World Series because the game was tied.
3. If I blame anyone for losing Game 6, it would be a 3-way tie between Calvin Schiraldi, Bob Stanley and Rich Gedman. The Sawx were not just one out away from winning, they were one strike away. Billy Buck isn't listed as a pitcher in the box score, so I'm not pinning this on him.
I was listening to the game on a Walkman radio back in '86. When the wild pitch/passed ball occurred courtesy of Stanley and Gedman (which tied the game), I yanked my headphones off and threw them across the living room. I didn't even know about Buckner until later that night when I was at a friend's house watching highlights. That's why I never, ever blamed Buckner for "losing" '86.
You might argue that if he managed to make the play at first (or if Dave Stapleton, Buck's normal late-innings defensive replacement, had made the play), they might have won in extra innings. But exactly what confidence would you have in a pitching staff that just cost you a win the previous inning?
FACTS:
1. It was Game 6, not Game 7. The Sawx managed to blow the next game, too.
2. If Buckner had made the play at first on Mookie Wilson's dribbler, Boston could not have won the World Series because the game was tied.
3. If I blame anyone for losing Game 6, it would be a 3-way tie between Calvin Schiraldi, Bob Stanley and Rich Gedman. The Sawx were not just one out away from winning, they were one strike away. Billy Buck isn't listed as a pitcher in the box score, so I'm not pinning this on him.
I was listening to the game on a Walkman radio back in '86. When the wild pitch/passed ball occurred courtesy of Stanley and Gedman (which tied the game), I yanked my headphones off and threw them across the living room. I didn't even know about Buckner until later that night when I was at a friend's house watching highlights. That's why I never, ever blamed Buckner for "losing" '86.
You might argue that if he managed to make the play at first (or if Dave Stapleton, Buck's normal late-innings defensive replacement, had made the play), they might have won in extra innings. But exactly what confidence would you have in a pitching staff that just cost you a win the previous inning?
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Finally, it's Carolina!
Wow, what a game. Illinois gave everything they had and Carolina gave them one better back. Roy finally gets over the hump. No more bitching from impatient and/or ignorant fans. As Dean Smith said to Roy in '82, does winning make me a better coach than the coach I was 2 1/2 hours ago? Nope. Same for Roy. I guess spitting in the river paid off. Congrats from a Dookie, guys.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Final 2
2 really good games last night. I still can't believe how well Carolina played in the 2nd half against Michigan State. The Heels were in serious, serious trouble. MSU was faster, stronger and hungrier in the 1st half. Sean May, who appeared to be a liability in the track meet that was the 1st half, came alive in the 2nd half.
Illinois and Louisville were close until the Illini turned on the jets.
The Duke streak is over - the one about either Duke or whoever beats Duke gets to the final. Well, UNC took care of that. Should be a good final.
Illinois and Louisville were close until the Illini turned on the jets.
The Duke streak is over - the one about either Duke or whoever beats Duke gets to the final. Well, UNC took care of that. Should be a good final.
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