Stuart Scott was personally responsible for changing the entire face of sports reporting. ESPN became THE major sports network because of him. Those hilarious sports promos featuring athletes in the sports newsroom? A direct result of Scott's attitude. Every funny or irreverent comment while reporting by the multitude of reporters since? They can thank Scott for paving the way.
He was as cool as the other side of the pillow.
And he will be missed.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Lowered Expectations
I sure hope today's NFL playoff games were better than yesterday's. The Cardinals were "held" to 78 yards of offense. No offense to the Carolina defense, but a team that has lost their starting quarterback AND their two best running backs in the last month didn't offer much in resistance.
Carolina played equally poorly, and only walked away with the win because one team had to. They played like a team with a sub .500 record. Just an awful game to watch.
And Pittsburgh demonstrated last night what happens when a team relies too much on one running back and that back gets hurt the last week of the season. The Steelers were forced to use a Vikings late season cast-off as their starting running back.
The results weren't pretty.
Roethlisberger couldn't use his passing skills when Baltimore no longer had to worry about the run. They looked as bad as the Cardinals last night. Substitutes make for poor games. The Ravens were the only team playing yesterday that looked like they belonged there.
Two more games today. Hope they're better.
Carolina played equally poorly, and only walked away with the win because one team had to. They played like a team with a sub .500 record. Just an awful game to watch.
And Pittsburgh demonstrated last night what happens when a team relies too much on one running back and that back gets hurt the last week of the season. The Steelers were forced to use a Vikings late season cast-off as their starting running back.
The results weren't pretty.
Roethlisberger couldn't use his passing skills when Baltimore no longer had to worry about the run. They looked as bad as the Cardinals last night. Substitutes make for poor games. The Ravens were the only team playing yesterday that looked like they belonged there.
Two more games today. Hope they're better.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Spring Training Invites
The Twins released their 18-player invite list for spring training this week. The biggest surprise? Only 4 of the 18 have major league experience. That's a dramatic departure from past years where nearly everyone at camp was someone else's castoff. I think it bodes well that the Twins are now confident enough with their own farm system that they now place more value in their own young players than someone else's rejects when it comes to filling roster spots.
I won't bother listing them. Most Twins fans, including myself, will never have heard of most of them. I kind of like that. I've been pressing for a youth movement with the team. This year will probably be the transitioning year. I can put up with another season of over-the-hill veterans waiting for what's just around the corner.
I dread this season knowing it revolves around one starter staying great, while two other starters must return to the form of their "glory years," knowing full well that neither of them were ever that good to begin with. We all wait for the term "cagey" to be added to their veteran status.
The best part about having lowered expectations this year is that I won't be disappointed when they lose. It will also give me greater joy if they become better than expected.
Minnesota sports. Lowering expectations more every year so that any wins at all seem good.
I won't bother listing them. Most Twins fans, including myself, will never have heard of most of them. I kind of like that. I've been pressing for a youth movement with the team. This year will probably be the transitioning year. I can put up with another season of over-the-hill veterans waiting for what's just around the corner.
I dread this season knowing it revolves around one starter staying great, while two other starters must return to the form of their "glory years," knowing full well that neither of them were ever that good to begin with. We all wait for the term "cagey" to be added to their veteran status.
The best part about having lowered expectations this year is that I won't be disappointed when they lose. It will also give me greater joy if they become better than expected.
Minnesota sports. Lowering expectations more every year so that any wins at all seem good.
NFL Playoffs
Without Denver, New England, Green Bay, and Seattle, this weekend's games look a little light in the interest department. The only game I have any rooting interest in at all, at this point, is Dallas Vs. Detroit. Knowing I'm rooting for Dallas to crush Detroit shows you how much I despise Suh right now.
Go Dallas! The other games should be a good watch.
Go Dallas! The other games should be a good watch.
Friday, January 2, 2015
College Football
I watched two and a half games yesterday. I would have watched all three completely if that last one had started sooner, but when the second half starts after 10 p.m. it's time to call it a night. The ONLY game that went the wrong way yesterday was the Gophers. I'm disappointed they lost, of course, but the first half was solid, and knowing coach Kill has brought the program back in so little time is still very satisfying.
The other two games were great. The Ducks kicked Florida State. Their brand of offense simply exhausted the Seminoles. They couldn't prepare for that type of offense. It's like Oregon was playing a different sport.
And Ohio State's comeback against number one Alabama was the most satisfying win of all. The Big Ten is back. Big time. I'm already anxious to see how they will match up against the Duck's offense. I don't see anyone beating Oregon at this point, but maybe Urban Meyer will still have a few tricks up his sleeve. That he beat the Tide with their THIRD STRING QB was amazing. Maybe there is some amazing left.
The other two games were great. The Ducks kicked Florida State. Their brand of offense simply exhausted the Seminoles. They couldn't prepare for that type of offense. It's like Oregon was playing a different sport.
And Ohio State's comeback against number one Alabama was the most satisfying win of all. The Big Ten is back. Big time. I'm already anxious to see how they will match up against the Duck's offense. I don't see anyone beating Oregon at this point, but maybe Urban Meyer will still have a few tricks up his sleeve. That he beat the Tide with their THIRD STRING QB was amazing. Maybe there is some amazing left.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Long Quote of the Day by DE Seattle's Michael Bennet
"This is a fantasy football league,'' Bennett said Wednesday. "That's how it's set up now. You take the play that Suh did. He did step on somebody's foot, but he gets fined because it's the quarterback. As a defensive lineman, people are always stepping on you. People always are hitting you in the head. There's always something happening to you, but nobody cares because we're defensive linemen."
Bennett said the rules are skewed in the favor of offensive players.
"You can't touch a quarterback here, can't put your hand on a receiver there,'' he said. "You have to let them run free.
"But if I get knocked to the ground, the referee just steps over me and says, 'That's part of the game.' If Peyton Manning falls to the ground, the referee helps him get up. I thought everybody was equal, but that's a lie."
Commentary:
NO one is treated equal in the NFL. That's why they're all paid different salaries. And quarterbacks like Rodgers, Manning, Brady, Romo, and Roethlisberger are the lifeblood of the league. Without them the NFL, as we know it, wouldn't exist. How could Bennet, a grown man NOT NOTICE that there are special rules in play just to protect the quarterback? Is he stupid? Does he not pay attention? And when there are over 30 million viewers watching one of your counterparts step on a fallen quarterback star (perhaps league MVP!) ON PURPOSE, in slow motion, from several angles of replay, you are going to get punished. Listen to what Bennet is saying. He says he doesn't like it when people do similar stuff to him, but when the league finally does something about it, he doesn't like that either.
Grow up Mr. Bennet. Work toward stopping this ongoing idiotic, accepted behavior. Thank the league for doing something about it, knowing it's only a first step. Ask for the league to do more to protect everyone. Don't whine when they DID protect someone. Make the NFL better.
Bennett said the rules are skewed in the favor of offensive players.
"You can't touch a quarterback here, can't put your hand on a receiver there,'' he said. "You have to let them run free.
"But if I get knocked to the ground, the referee just steps over me and says, 'That's part of the game.' If Peyton Manning falls to the ground, the referee helps him get up. I thought everybody was equal, but that's a lie."
Commentary:
NO one is treated equal in the NFL. That's why they're all paid different salaries. And quarterbacks like Rodgers, Manning, Brady, Romo, and Roethlisberger are the lifeblood of the league. Without them the NFL, as we know it, wouldn't exist. How could Bennet, a grown man NOT NOTICE that there are special rules in play just to protect the quarterback? Is he stupid? Does he not pay attention? And when there are over 30 million viewers watching one of your counterparts step on a fallen quarterback star (perhaps league MVP!) ON PURPOSE, in slow motion, from several angles of replay, you are going to get punished. Listen to what Bennet is saying. He says he doesn't like it when people do similar stuff to him, but when the league finally does something about it, he doesn't like that either.
Grow up Mr. Bennet. Work toward stopping this ongoing idiotic, accepted behavior. Thank the league for doing something about it, knowing it's only a first step. Ask for the league to do more to protect everyone. Don't whine when they DID protect someone. Make the NFL better.
Football Day
I know most people are celebrating the day because it's January 1st 2015. But when I woke up this morning all I could think of is this is the day that I'm planning on seeing the two college championship contender games today AND, as a bonus, the first Gopher football January 1st game in over fifty years as a warm-up.
Though I don't like the new playoff system in place because it removes too much emphasis and drama from regular season Saturday night games, TODAY is the one day that gets WAY, WAY better. January 1st Bowl games used to mean something before the BCS started. Well, now they do again. Two games today are must see TV.
It doesn't make up for the entire season of meaningless games, but even I have to admit, this is a day of major match-ups.
Happy New Year everybody!
And go Gophers!
Though I don't like the new playoff system in place because it removes too much emphasis and drama from regular season Saturday night games, TODAY is the one day that gets WAY, WAY better. January 1st Bowl games used to mean something before the BCS started. Well, now they do again. Two games today are must see TV.
It doesn't make up for the entire season of meaningless games, but even I have to admit, this is a day of major match-ups.
Happy New Year everybody!
And go Gophers!
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