We're a society that likes to remember things, as if that makes the journey all the much sweeter. When it comes to recalling those images in sports, we all have memories that linger with us, etched forever. Those of course, can be good and bad memories. In my lifetime, I've seen a number of my favorite teams win the ultimate prize (Chicago Blackhawks-twice, Chicago Bears-twice, Chicago White Sox-once). I can still remember where I was and how I felt. Kind of like it was yesterday, but of course, it wasn't.
But isn't that what being a fan is all about? Having those "moments", or perhaps its having bragging rights over a best friend as to whose favorite team is better. Win or lose we've had hundreds of stars leave their impressions on us. I came a video on "You Tube" the other day...one that showcased sports in the last sixty to seventy years. Spend the next seven minutes and enjoy a trip back in time to some images worth remembering. See how many capture your favorite team or player. And then start wondering....how come they left out a favorite person or game of yours? Remember, somebody had to put together this reel. And of course, it was their highlight reel. Would yours be any different?
I hope you enjoyed the "best of" video. As we head to 2012, be prepared for the continued sports images coming your way. And here is to YOU having good sports memories. They are so much harder to accept than the bad, aren't they? Happy New Year and May God Bless You, Your Family and Your Favorite Teams. That is, as long as they aren't playing mine!!
Thanks for watching and reading.
John
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
EPSTEIN, HOYER HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO
For anyone wondering how far the Chicago Cubs had fallen when General Manager Jim Hendry was released from his duties during the 2011 campaign. Look no further. They've hit rock-bottom. Hendry who spent Chicago Tribune money like it was going out of print should be remembered as the person most responsible for the predicament facing new Cub bosses, Theo Epstein and Jeb Hoyer.
Epsein and Hoyer have been doing their due diligence, so to speak. How they must wonder....how could anyone run so amuck and not be held accountable for so long? In the last several weeks, the new Cub brass have added David DeJesus, Ian Stewart and Travis Woods. Not necessarily household names, but serviceable players. DeJesus will most likely man right field, Stewart will handle third base duties and Wood will be penciled in as the fourth starter in a questionable pitching rotation.
So as we look to 2012 what else looms in the Cub decision-making? In recent days there has been rumor of Matt Garza being shipped out for prospects.....and hopefully a boat load of them. I'm not sure that's an entirely wise move. Garza is young enough to be the centerpiece of a pitching staff for a long time. Build around him and look to move other parts, like Madman Carlos Zambrano. The Miami Marlins need another starter or two....and given the fact that new Miami skipper, Ozzie Guillen, has always had a "thing" for Carlos, deal him down south for left fielder Logan Morrison. Ridding a putrid $17,800,000 salary for Big Z would give some relief to money issues. Two other outfielders in question, Alphoso Soriano and Marlon Byrd have been discussed in team meetings. Byrd has been mentioned as trade bait with the Texas Rangers for Matt Harrison. Harrison, a 26-year old left-hander won 14 games for the Rangers in 2011. Considering Byrd is 34, that would be a wise move to consider. As for Soriano, the likelihood in seeing him move on, is remote. Soriano has been a source of frustration for Cub fans for several years now. Unless someone has money to throw away, he is probably a Cub until his $19 million dollar a year contract runs out at the end of the 2012 campaign.
Around the infield there are more question marks. One position ably-manned is shortstop where Starlin Castro is set. Although Castro has shown signs of immaturity he has the ability to man the shortstop position for the next 10 years in Chicago. Third Base will be handled by Stewart until big-time prospect Josh Vitters is ready. Will that be in 2012? No one knows, but if his numbers (.283, 14 HR's and 81 RBI's) at Double AA Tennessee are any indication, he is not far off. Second base is split between Darwin Barney, Blake DeWitt and Jeff Baker. A solution will be needed here because none of them is the answer. At first base, strong consideration should be given to resigning Carlos Pena to another one year deal. Not only would Pena give them some long ball presence in the lineup, he could buffer the transition to youngster Bryan LaHair. Geovany Soto will be the everyday catcher. With the other problems existing on today's Cub roster, new manager Dale Sveum can pencil in Soto with certainity. Still only 28, if Soto returned to his 2008 power numbers with 28 homeruns, that would be a bonus.
Pitching-wise, the Cubs will be looking for anyone to bridge the gap. Ryan Dempster has a huge salary (13 plus million a year) so he's not going anywhere right now. Dempster will take the ball every fifth day and show his guts...at least early in the season. After the all-star break might be another story. Dempster could be dealt to a contender that needs a workhorse. After Garza, Zambrano, Dempster and Wood (if that's who they stay with), the number five starter remains a question mark. If only Randy Wells bounced back and show some grit? Or maybe a youngster surprises...
In the bullpen, the issues begin and end with Carlos Marmol. I'm not sure a team has ever had three Carlos's on their roster at the same time. Two of the three have been combustible and that's putting it mildly. The youngest of the Carlos clan needs to move on. I've always had the belief you can find a closer within your organization. There are some young power arms in the organization....they deserve a shot. The remainder of the pen will be handled by the likes of Manny Corpas, Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Cashner and Kerry Wood, maybe. It remains to be seen if Wood returns. He gave the Cubs a hometown discount in 2011 signing for one million. That doesn't figure to happen this year.
The Ricketts family got their man with the hiring of Epstein. Many suggest he is a genius but that remains to be seen. In Boston, his product was significantly better when he took over. Not so, in Cub town. There looks to be some dark days ahead. The roster more closely resembles the San Diego Padres, than the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are finally headed in the right direction.....something Epstein and his associates will are striving for. But it's going to be a long, long road. If Theo pulls a Cub turnaround off, perhaps he shoud change his name to Einstein, not Epstein. He will have earned that name.
Thanks for reading,
John
Epsein and Hoyer have been doing their due diligence, so to speak. How they must wonder....how could anyone run so amuck and not be held accountable for so long? In the last several weeks, the new Cub brass have added David DeJesus, Ian Stewart and Travis Woods. Not necessarily household names, but serviceable players. DeJesus will most likely man right field, Stewart will handle third base duties and Wood will be penciled in as the fourth starter in a questionable pitching rotation.
 |
| Can he show his Magic again? |
So as we look to 2012 what else looms in the Cub decision-making? In recent days there has been rumor of Matt Garza being shipped out for prospects.....and hopefully a boat load of them. I'm not sure that's an entirely wise move. Garza is young enough to be the centerpiece of a pitching staff for a long time. Build around him and look to move other parts, like Madman Carlos Zambrano. The Miami Marlins need another starter or two....and given the fact that new Miami skipper, Ozzie Guillen, has always had a "thing" for Carlos, deal him down south for left fielder Logan Morrison. Ridding a putrid $17,800,000 salary for Big Z would give some relief to money issues. Two other outfielders in question, Alphoso Soriano and Marlon Byrd have been discussed in team meetings. Byrd has been mentioned as trade bait with the Texas Rangers for Matt Harrison. Harrison, a 26-year old left-hander won 14 games for the Rangers in 2011. Considering Byrd is 34, that would be a wise move to consider. As for Soriano, the likelihood in seeing him move on, is remote. Soriano has been a source of frustration for Cub fans for several years now. Unless someone has money to throw away, he is probably a Cub until his $19 million dollar a year contract runs out at the end of the 2012 campaign.
Around the infield there are more question marks. One position ably-manned is shortstop where Starlin Castro is set. Although Castro has shown signs of immaturity he has the ability to man the shortstop position for the next 10 years in Chicago. Third Base will be handled by Stewart until big-time prospect Josh Vitters is ready. Will that be in 2012? No one knows, but if his numbers (.283, 14 HR's and 81 RBI's) at Double AA Tennessee are any indication, he is not far off. Second base is split between Darwin Barney, Blake DeWitt and Jeff Baker. A solution will be needed here because none of them is the answer. At first base, strong consideration should be given to resigning Carlos Pena to another one year deal. Not only would Pena give them some long ball presence in the lineup, he could buffer the transition to youngster Bryan LaHair. Geovany Soto will be the everyday catcher. With the other problems existing on today's Cub roster, new manager Dale Sveum can pencil in Soto with certainity. Still only 28, if Soto returned to his 2008 power numbers with 28 homeruns, that would be a bonus.
Pitching-wise, the Cubs will be looking for anyone to bridge the gap. Ryan Dempster has a huge salary (13 plus million a year) so he's not going anywhere right now. Dempster will take the ball every fifth day and show his guts...at least early in the season. After the all-star break might be another story. Dempster could be dealt to a contender that needs a workhorse. After Garza, Zambrano, Dempster and Wood (if that's who they stay with), the number five starter remains a question mark. If only Randy Wells bounced back and show some grit? Or maybe a youngster surprises...
In the bullpen, the issues begin and end with Carlos Marmol. I'm not sure a team has ever had three Carlos's on their roster at the same time. Two of the three have been combustible and that's putting it mildly. The youngest of the Carlos clan needs to move on. I've always had the belief you can find a closer within your organization. There are some young power arms in the organization....they deserve a shot. The remainder of the pen will be handled by the likes of Manny Corpas, Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Cashner and Kerry Wood, maybe. It remains to be seen if Wood returns. He gave the Cubs a hometown discount in 2011 signing for one million. That doesn't figure to happen this year.
The Ricketts family got their man with the hiring of Epstein. Many suggest he is a genius but that remains to be seen. In Boston, his product was significantly better when he took over. Not so, in Cub town. There looks to be some dark days ahead. The roster more closely resembles the San Diego Padres, than the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are finally headed in the right direction.....something Epstein and his associates will are striving for. But it's going to be a long, long road. If Theo pulls a Cub turnaround off, perhaps he shoud change his name to Einstein, not Epstein. He will have earned that name.
Thanks for reading,
John
Thursday, December 22, 2011
DOES McCALL'S FINGER POINT TO OTHER HAWKEYE CONCERNS
Frustration can be a difficult thing to deal with. When you're faced with such a feeling, it can cause you to react in a number of ways....some good and some bad. The bad reaction, even if you're correct in your response, can make you out to be a complainer or a malcontent.
Let's take the case of Mika'il McCall, freshman running back for the Iowa Hawkeyes. McCall was one of the jewel's of the 2011 recruiting class. His presence provided depth at a position the Hawkeyes needed in the worst way.
In the September 3rd season opener against Tennessee Tech, McCall showed a quick burst and tough running ability enroute to a nine-carry, 61 yard effort. Hawkeye fans were ecstatic until his last rush ended in a heap. McCall suffered an ankle injury that later was diagnosed as a break. By most accounts, he was thought to be done for the season, but McCall had other ideas. He spent the next eight weeks in rehabilitation until he was cleared to practice again. On November 19th, McCall returned to action against the Purdue Boilermakers carrying twice. His second rush ended in a fumble near the goal line as the Hawkeyes were attempting to widen a lead. Day over. McCall was subjected to the bench.
The young running back was upset. This wasn't the picture he'd envisioned during the grueling rehab period he had endured. Out of frustration, McCall used his middle finger to express his displeasure of the situation....and later took some of those feelings to his Facebook page. Actions which did not endure himself to Hawkeye head man, Kirk Ferentz This is the press conference Q and A that took place as Iowa prepared to play Nebraska.
COACH FERENTZ: Mika'il McCall will not be making the trip either. He violated a team policy and will not be with the team this week.
Q: Can you elaborate on McCall?
COACH FERENTZ: He won't be with us. Violated team policy.
Q. Was it something after Purdue, after the game?
COACH FERENTZ: I think the fact he's not going this week, it's probably safe to assume that, yeah, something I learned afterwards, so...
Q. Just a one-week deal with him?
COACH FERENTZ: Haven't made that decision yet. We'll just take it a week at a time right now. I'm just trying to get through Friday. That's where I'm at.
Wednesday, Ferentz announced McCall would not be making the trip to the Insight Bowl. His status is still not clear concerning staying or leaving the program.
Those comments are defensible if you're the coach. More than anything you want a team that's on the same page. However, that's the question that surfaces. Is this program on the same page? The sports talk shows are full of "frustrated" Hawkeye fans". Some are calling for a coaching change at the university. Others are fed up with the conservatism of the team, both offensively and defensively. Offensive Coordinator Ken O'Keefe has endured years of mud-slinging concerning his game calling. Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker who retired last week was heralded as a genius, but some critics felt the game was beginning to pass him by. "We've become as vanilla as there is", one disgusted fan mused. "We are so easy to predict. That was fine many years ago when we could physically beat up a team, but we can't do that anymore".
Frustrated??? I think that's a good word to sum up the Hawkeye Nation. There are a whole series of questions that cause concern. Let's list a few and comment:
1. Kirk Ferentz's salary of $3.65 million a year. Comment: This figure is beginning to stick in the craw of Hawkeye faithful. Ferentz is now the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten. In recent years, Iowa has been an average team. The money and the results don't equate themselves.
2. Sexual Allegations of former Iowa players Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson in 2007. Comment: This cast a huge black eye on the university. Not only was the incident a public relations nightmare, the final ruling of the court left many questioning its fairness.
3. January 28, 2011. Thirteen Hawkeye players are stricken with Rhabdomyolysis. Despite an effort to right the situation, the story went national. Comment: University officials postured their findings to soothe many parents of current players and potential recruits. However, one has to wonder, how much of the Rhabo incident was used against them on the recruiting trail.
4. The demise of DJK, Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher and Jewel Hampton. Comment: Bonafide stars in the Iowa program that went south. DJK's situation is much like McCall's. Over the years, he was in the coach's doghouse more often than not. Drugs were his downfall after becoming one of the top receivers in Iowa history. The other three went astray with many of the temptations stardom can present. Do stars in the Iowa program receive too much glory?
5. Norm Parker's retirement and Rich Kaczenski's departure. Comment: Parker's retirement comes at a crucial time for the program. Will Ferentz stay in-house for a replacement or look outside. Last year, Michigan brought in Greg Mattison from the NFL ranks to lead the Wolverine defense. He was instrumental in the Michigan turnaround. Staying in house for someone like Phil Parker won't offer many changes. Additionally, the slowness in hiring a new person has hurt recruiting already. Kaczenski's leaving is an eye-opener. Did he know something internally that prompted him to look elsewhere....or did he fall out of the coach's favor. Kaczenski had received good marks as lead recruiter this fall for a number of potential recruits. Iowa now finds themselves down two defensive coaches. Now, is not the time to be conservative in the hiring process.
6. Marcus Coker Suspension: Comment: The leading rusher for the Hawkeyes in 2011 will not be making the trip to the Insight Bowl. Inquiring minds would like to know the reason for the suspension. Iowa officials are saying it is due to a violation of university policies. If this issue isn't resolved satisfactorily for the Coker family, will Iowa lose another of its leading rushers in the program? Or will Coker raise his middle finger in frustration, much like McCall?
So, as you can see, there is a whole bunch of frustration in the Hawkeye world. December 31st, Iowa plays the pre-season favorite, Oklahoma Sooners, in the Insight Bowl. You could easily call this a crossroads game for Iowa. Does Ferentz have another big rabbit to pull out of the hat with bowl preparation? Does Norm Parker's departure rally the troops? Does an unknown running back lead Iowa to victory like Coker last year?
These are just some of the questions that will be going on in the minds of Hawkeye faithful come game time. If the game turns ugly for Iowa .....how will fans show their frustration? Hopefully, McCall didn't give them any ideas...
Thanks for reading,
John
Let's take the case of Mika'il McCall, freshman running back for the Iowa Hawkeyes. McCall was one of the jewel's of the 2011 recruiting class. His presence provided depth at a position the Hawkeyes needed in the worst way.
In the September 3rd season opener against Tennessee Tech, McCall showed a quick burst and tough running ability enroute to a nine-carry, 61 yard effort. Hawkeye fans were ecstatic until his last rush ended in a heap. McCall suffered an ankle injury that later was diagnosed as a break. By most accounts, he was thought to be done for the season, but McCall had other ideas. He spent the next eight weeks in rehabilitation until he was cleared to practice again. On November 19th, McCall returned to action against the Purdue Boilermakers carrying twice. His second rush ended in a fumble near the goal line as the Hawkeyes were attempting to widen a lead. Day over. McCall was subjected to the bench.
The young running back was upset. This wasn't the picture he'd envisioned during the grueling rehab period he had endured. Out of frustration, McCall used his middle finger to express his displeasure of the situation....and later took some of those feelings to his Facebook page. Actions which did not endure himself to Hawkeye head man, Kirk Ferentz This is the press conference Q and A that took place as Iowa prepared to play Nebraska.
COACH FERENTZ: Mika'il McCall will not be making the trip either. He violated a team policy and will not be with the team this week.
Q: Can you elaborate on McCall?
COACH FERENTZ: He won't be with us. Violated team policy.
Q. Was it something after Purdue, after the game?
COACH FERENTZ: I think the fact he's not going this week, it's probably safe to assume that, yeah, something I learned afterwards, so...
Q. Just a one-week deal with him?
COACH FERENTZ: Haven't made that decision yet. We'll just take it a week at a time right now. I'm just trying to get through Friday. That's where I'm at.
Wednesday, Ferentz announced McCall would not be making the trip to the Insight Bowl. His status is still not clear concerning staying or leaving the program.
 |
| Looking at the Future... |
Frustrated??? I think that's a good word to sum up the Hawkeye Nation. There are a whole series of questions that cause concern. Let's list a few and comment:
1. Kirk Ferentz's salary of $3.65 million a year. Comment: This figure is beginning to stick in the craw of Hawkeye faithful. Ferentz is now the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten. In recent years, Iowa has been an average team. The money and the results don't equate themselves.
2. Sexual Allegations of former Iowa players Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson in 2007. Comment: This cast a huge black eye on the university. Not only was the incident a public relations nightmare, the final ruling of the court left many questioning its fairness.
3. January 28, 2011. Thirteen Hawkeye players are stricken with Rhabdomyolysis. Despite an effort to right the situation, the story went national. Comment: University officials postured their findings to soothe many parents of current players and potential recruits. However, one has to wonder, how much of the Rhabo incident was used against them on the recruiting trail.
4. The demise of DJK, Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher and Jewel Hampton. Comment: Bonafide stars in the Iowa program that went south. DJK's situation is much like McCall's. Over the years, he was in the coach's doghouse more often than not. Drugs were his downfall after becoming one of the top receivers in Iowa history. The other three went astray with many of the temptations stardom can present. Do stars in the Iowa program receive too much glory?
5. Norm Parker's retirement and Rich Kaczenski's departure. Comment: Parker's retirement comes at a crucial time for the program. Will Ferentz stay in-house for a replacement or look outside. Last year, Michigan brought in Greg Mattison from the NFL ranks to lead the Wolverine defense. He was instrumental in the Michigan turnaround. Staying in house for someone like Phil Parker won't offer many changes. Additionally, the slowness in hiring a new person has hurt recruiting already. Kaczenski's leaving is an eye-opener. Did he know something internally that prompted him to look elsewhere....or did he fall out of the coach's favor. Kaczenski had received good marks as lead recruiter this fall for a number of potential recruits. Iowa now finds themselves down two defensive coaches. Now, is not the time to be conservative in the hiring process.
6. Marcus Coker Suspension: Comment: The leading rusher for the Hawkeyes in 2011 will not be making the trip to the Insight Bowl. Inquiring minds would like to know the reason for the suspension. Iowa officials are saying it is due to a violation of university policies. If this issue isn't resolved satisfactorily for the Coker family, will Iowa lose another of its leading rushers in the program? Or will Coker raise his middle finger in frustration, much like McCall?
So, as you can see, there is a whole bunch of frustration in the Hawkeye world. December 31st, Iowa plays the pre-season favorite, Oklahoma Sooners, in the Insight Bowl. You could easily call this a crossroads game for Iowa. Does Ferentz have another big rabbit to pull out of the hat with bowl preparation? Does Norm Parker's departure rally the troops? Does an unknown running back lead Iowa to victory like Coker last year?
These are just some of the questions that will be going on in the minds of Hawkeye faithful come game time. If the game turns ugly for Iowa .....how will fans show their frustration? Hopefully, McCall didn't give them any ideas...
Thanks for reading,
John
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
BIG MONEY IN BASEBALL....IT DOESN'T MAKE CENTS
Millions here...millions there. Good golly, sports teams are forking money over to their players at an alarming rate. Albert Pujols had 254 million reasons to sign with the Los Angeles Angels and because of that the Halos have the services of the best player in baseball for the last 11 seasons. About that same time, Los Angeles pulled the trigger on another contract, that for pitcher C.J. Wilson to the tune of 5-years and $77 million. $331 million in one day. Let me say it again, only a little slower. Three hundred and thirty one million. What made this possible? Here's what:
The Angels have reached a new 20-year deal with Fox Sports worth roughly $3 billion, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. That windfall of $150 million per year is not only the largest in the division, but also $100 million more per season over their previous 10-year, $500 million deal.
There has been some other big names that have come off the board. The Miami Marlins signed SS Jose Reyes, SP Mark Buehrle and RP Heath Bell. Not be outdone, the Philadelphia Phillies inked RP Jonathan Papelbon. Each signed for big dollars. Still to come are Prince Fielder, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Madson and Carlos Pena.
It's deals like Pujols and Wilson's that are shaking the foundation of baseball. The money...and for sure the Angels have lots of it have enabled them to shape contracts in a unique way. For instance, Pujols has this for incentives. He will receive $3 million from the Angels for his 3,000th career hit and $7 million should he reach 763 career home runs, per Tim Brown of Yahoo!Sports. Alex Rodriquez had similar bonuses in his 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees for milestone home runs, which had to be approved by Commissioner Bud Selig. Each of his bonuses were designated as an "historic event" in order to receive special approval, per the Associated Press.
So, it would seem the Angels are the odds on favorite to be the American League representative in the 2012World Series. Well, not necessarily. While perennial big-time spenders, the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been on the sidelines this winter, another team in the American League West is also causing a stir.
Yesterday, the Texas Rangers posted the highest bid for Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish and that bid was accepted by Darvish's team in Japan, Major League Baseball announced. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels would not say how much the Rangers posting bid was, but sources said it was around $51.7 million. Bidding for the posting fee closed last Wednesday, and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters had until 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday to accept. The Rangers still has to pay Darvish a contract, meaning the total investment likely will top $100 million. Darvish is perceived as one of the top five pitchers in the world, yet he will have alot to prove facing major league hitters. And why do I say that?
In 2006, Daisuke Matsuzaka drew a $51.1 million posting fee from the Boston Red Sox, who signed him to a six-year, $52 million contract, taking the total package to more than $100 million. Over the course of his 5-year career, Matsuzaka has a 49-30 record to go along with a 4.25 ERA. Only once has he had his ERA under 3.00, that being the stellar 18-3 and 2.90 ERA year he compiled in 2008. Since then he has gone 4-6, 9-6 and 3-3 and has walked 127 batters in 250 innings. Was he worth the price?
The next big Kahuna on the horizon is Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes. The 26-year old star of the Cuba National Team is being compared to some of the big names in baseball history....already. He figures to make a big money haul wherever he signs. The Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox are some of his early suitors.
All of this star power is lending itself to an international draft. Five days ago a committee was formed to discuss the issue. Currently, the June draft is limited to players who are residents of the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada, with residents of other nations free agents. Now, that makes cents.....errr sense.
Thanks for reading,
John
The Angels have reached a new 20-year deal with Fox Sports worth roughly $3 billion, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. That windfall of $150 million per year is not only the largest in the division, but also $100 million more per season over their previous 10-year, $500 million deal.
There has been some other big names that have come off the board. The Miami Marlins signed SS Jose Reyes, SP Mark Buehrle and RP Heath Bell. Not be outdone, the Philadelphia Phillies inked RP Jonathan Papelbon. Each signed for big dollars. Still to come are Prince Fielder, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Madson and Carlos Pena.
It's deals like Pujols and Wilson's that are shaking the foundation of baseball. The money...and for sure the Angels have lots of it have enabled them to shape contracts in a unique way. For instance, Pujols has this for incentives. He will receive $3 million from the Angels for his 3,000th career hit and $7 million should he reach 763 career home runs, per Tim Brown of Yahoo!Sports. Alex Rodriquez had similar bonuses in his 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees for milestone home runs, which had to be approved by Commissioner Bud Selig. Each of his bonuses were designated as an "historic event" in order to receive special approval, per the Associated Press.
So, it would seem the Angels are the odds on favorite to be the American League representative in the 2012World Series. Well, not necessarily. While perennial big-time spenders, the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been on the sidelines this winter, another team in the American League West is also causing a stir.
Yesterday, the Texas Rangers posted the highest bid for Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish and that bid was accepted by Darvish's team in Japan, Major League Baseball announced. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels would not say how much the Rangers posting bid was, but sources said it was around $51.7 million. Bidding for the posting fee closed last Wednesday, and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters had until 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday to accept. The Rangers still has to pay Darvish a contract, meaning the total investment likely will top $100 million. Darvish is perceived as one of the top five pitchers in the world, yet he will have alot to prove facing major league hitters. And why do I say that?
In 2006, Daisuke Matsuzaka drew a $51.1 million posting fee from the Boston Red Sox, who signed him to a six-year, $52 million contract, taking the total package to more than $100 million. Over the course of his 5-year career, Matsuzaka has a 49-30 record to go along with a 4.25 ERA. Only once has he had his ERA under 3.00, that being the stellar 18-3 and 2.90 ERA year he compiled in 2008. Since then he has gone 4-6, 9-6 and 3-3 and has walked 127 batters in 250 innings. Was he worth the price?
 |
| Where will Yoenis' flight take him? |
The next big Kahuna on the horizon is Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes. The 26-year old star of the Cuba National Team is being compared to some of the big names in baseball history....already. He figures to make a big money haul wherever he signs. The Tigers, Yankees and Red Sox are some of his early suitors.
All of this star power is lending itself to an international draft. Five days ago a committee was formed to discuss the issue. Currently, the June draft is limited to players who are residents of the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada, with residents of other nations free agents. Now, that makes cents.....errr sense.
Thanks for reading,
John
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
BEARS HEADED TO HIBERNATION
Just weeks ago, the Chicago Bears (7-3) looked to be a playoff-bound team. I'm not quite sure how they got to that point, but anyway, how quickly things change. First, Jay Cutler broke his thumb trying to make a tackle on an interception he threw against the San Diego Chargers on November 20th. Then on December 4th, Matt Forte went down with a knee sprain suffered in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs game.
For all practical purposes, Cutler's injury signaled a difficult road to the playoffs. Forte's knee sprain dealt the death blow. It's been three weeks since Cutler went down. Three weeks and three losses. They've scored 33 points in those three games, an 11.0 average per game. QB Caleb Hanie has been a bust. His inefficient play and the amount of time the defense is being asked to play is indefensible. On the horizon for the remaining three games of the season are a home game with the Seattle Seahawks and road games at Green Bay and Minnesota on Christmas and New Year's Day.
I think it's time to go back to an earlier post of mine on April 4 about the Bears and the upcoming year:
"If you're a Chicago Bears fan, you'd better brace yourself for some tough times in the 2011-12 season (last regular season game is on January 1st). From all appearances today, it could be an ugly year and one that will be tough for the "hard-core" Chicago fan to embrace. Call it what you will, but last season's 11 wins came as much from the easy schedule than how good they were".
Some critics would say the Bears were well on their way to the postseason before the injury bug bit them. I'm not sold on that idea. Granted they had reeled off five wins in a row before Cutler got hurt. However, in their seven wins in 2011 only one has been against a team certain to make the playoffs, the Atlanta Falcons in the opening game of the season. We speculated on the schedule back in April:
"How many wins you see there, Bear fans? Last year, Chicago beat Detroit and Minnesota twice. That's not going to happen again this year. The Lions will probably finish ahead of the Bears in the division race. Detroit is a fast improving team that simply needs to know "how to win" and Minnesota is always a pain in the Bear's behind. Chicago won 5 games in the division last year, this year they'll be fortunate to win 3. In looking at the remainder of the schedule, I can see 4 more wins, realistically. So, that would equate to a 7-9 season".
As I look at the remainder of the schedule, I'm not certain of any wins. The Seahawks have been playing inspired ball lately, the Packers are busy running the table to perfection and then there is the big nemesis in the dome, the Vikings. Comcast contributor John "Moon" Mullin wrote this week of the injury situation of this year's team. Mullin suggested the Bears had done a good job of "masking" their deficiencies on the roster until the bug hit....and then the Bears were exposed to the old, inexperienced unit that they are. By comparison, the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers had fifteen players on injury reserve in 2010. Granted they didn't lose their starting quarterback but they had the players to overcome injuries ....time and time again.
Wednesday, Bears head coach Lovie Smith suggested Matt Forte might play this weekend against the Seahawks. If I'm Forte, I'm in no big hurry to get back on the field considering how Bears management has diddled with his contract situation all year. If he indeed is healthy, that's one matter, but if he is marginal, then stay sitting. The life of an NFL running back is very short and Forte has earned the right to get a least one big payday.
Bears fans.....it wasn't easy to have reservations about this team. Hey, I'm one of you, but I had this feeling about 2011. The team has gotten old and it has very little upside. Is a house cleaning in order? Most definitely...starting with General Manager Jerry Angelo right on down the line.
These last three games of the season are going to be hard to watch. It's a good thing hibernation time is upon us.....GO BEARS.
Thanks for reading,
John
For all practical purposes, Cutler's injury signaled a difficult road to the playoffs. Forte's knee sprain dealt the death blow. It's been three weeks since Cutler went down. Three weeks and three losses. They've scored 33 points in those three games, an 11.0 average per game. QB Caleb Hanie has been a bust. His inefficient play and the amount of time the defense is being asked to play is indefensible. On the horizon for the remaining three games of the season are a home game with the Seattle Seahawks and road games at Green Bay and Minnesota on Christmas and New Year's Day.
I think it's time to go back to an earlier post of mine on April 4 about the Bears and the upcoming year:
"If you're a Chicago Bears fan, you'd better brace yourself for some tough times in the 2011-12 season (last regular season game is on January 1st). From all appearances today, it could be an ugly year and one that will be tough for the "hard-core" Chicago fan to embrace. Call it what you will, but last season's 11 wins came as much from the easy schedule than how good they were".
Some critics would say the Bears were well on their way to the postseason before the injury bug bit them. I'm not sold on that idea. Granted they had reeled off five wins in a row before Cutler got hurt. However, in their seven wins in 2011 only one has been against a team certain to make the playoffs, the Atlanta Falcons in the opening game of the season. We speculated on the schedule back in April:
"How many wins you see there, Bear fans? Last year, Chicago beat Detroit and Minnesota twice. That's not going to happen again this year. The Lions will probably finish ahead of the Bears in the division race. Detroit is a fast improving team that simply needs to know "how to win" and Minnesota is always a pain in the Bear's behind. Chicago won 5 games in the division last year, this year they'll be fortunate to win 3. In looking at the remainder of the schedule, I can see 4 more wins, realistically. So, that would equate to a 7-9 season".
 |
| Overcoming injuries wasn't possible |
As I look at the remainder of the schedule, I'm not certain of any wins. The Seahawks have been playing inspired ball lately, the Packers are busy running the table to perfection and then there is the big nemesis in the dome, the Vikings. Comcast contributor John "Moon" Mullin wrote this week of the injury situation of this year's team. Mullin suggested the Bears had done a good job of "masking" their deficiencies on the roster until the bug hit....and then the Bears were exposed to the old, inexperienced unit that they are. By comparison, the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers had fifteen players on injury reserve in 2010. Granted they didn't lose their starting quarterback but they had the players to overcome injuries ....time and time again.
Wednesday, Bears head coach Lovie Smith suggested Matt Forte might play this weekend against the Seahawks. If I'm Forte, I'm in no big hurry to get back on the field considering how Bears management has diddled with his contract situation all year. If he indeed is healthy, that's one matter, but if he is marginal, then stay sitting. The life of an NFL running back is very short and Forte has earned the right to get a least one big payday.
Bears fans.....it wasn't easy to have reservations about this team. Hey, I'm one of you, but I had this feeling about 2011. The team has gotten old and it has very little upside. Is a house cleaning in order? Most definitely...starting with General Manager Jerry Angelo right on down the line.
These last three games of the season are going to be hard to watch. It's a good thing hibernation time is upon us.....GO BEARS.
Thanks for reading,
John
Sunday, December 4, 2011
MIKE NEWELL: NOT JUST ANOTHER FELLA
Most of you probably didn't know Mike Newell, you might not have even heard the name. But let me tell you, he was one unique individual.
Mike passed away Thursday evening in Des Moines at the Mercy Medical Center. One day after Thanksgiving he suffered a heart attack and according to my sources, he couldn't right the ship. It was a series of one setback after another. To anyone that did know him, it's common knowledge, that He...Will...Be...Hard.. To....Replace.
Mike Newell was a local sports broadcaster in Iowa. He covered a variety of sports, everything from minor league baseball to University of Iowa Women's Basketball, to high school state tournaments...you name it and he covered it at one time or another.
I first met Mike in the late 1970's when he was play by play announcer for the Iowa Oaks. It was then, that I took a liking to him. Not just for his sports knowledge, but for everything else he soaked up. By all accounts, he was a Renaissance Man. He loved old time television....the "Golden Years" he would call them. In fact, he provided the stand-ups for Iowa Public Television when they broadcast the series. He introduced each show and led the audience back in time....to the good old days of shows like "The Twilight Zone".
I mentioned that Mike would be hard to replace. If anyone knows what I mean, it would have to be long-time Iowa broadcasting legend, JIm Zabel. For many, many years, Mike served as Jim's potential successor. Newell did it all. He'd spend long days at WHO Radio reading the early morning sports and then writing the afternoon shticks for Zabel. There were times where his day would last well into the evening producing one of the sports programs on the station....arranging the guests for Zabel. He performed these duties faithfullly, because he dreamed up being the "sports man" at the station known coast to coast and border to border, 1040, WHO Radio. That day never came. Not only did Zabel outlast Mike on the air, he did in life as well. Jim recently celebrated his 90th birthday....Mike was 66 when he passed away.
One particularly funny side of Mike was his disgust of the "logo" phase of everything in our society. He'd say, "I'm not going to wear a t-shirt with somebody's logo or saying, unless they pay me". And he meant it. I can recall him wearing a t-shirt a time or two, but never with anything on it. The same goes for a hat. Never. In truth, I can't remember him wearing a hat period. Mike was partially bald and I think he was quite proud of that fact. I never heard him say "Bald is Beautiful", but I have to wonder.....
A little over a month ago, I was cleaning out some of my archives. I came across a box of tapes from the 1940's to 1970's of great games produced by WHO Radio that were Mike's property. Games involving the Unversity of Iowa and Drake University. There was some classic stuff in the fifty some tapes I came across. I'm not sure how I ended up with them, but Mike must have lent them to me for some project. A little voice inside me, spoke quite succinctly. "You need to return them".
Now I want you to realize Mike and I had a falling out in 2004...more on his part than mine. We hadn't spoken to each other in over five years. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy phone call, but it had to be made. "Hey, Mike....this is Kelling", I said. " I think I have something of yours". "Really? what would that be?", he countered. "Let's get together and I'll show you", I threw back.
Well....we got together for a beverage...a "pop" he called them. He had his brew and I had a lemonade. At the end of an hour long chat, I walked with him to the parking lot and gave him the box of audio tapes. He was, I think, one happy camper to get them back. "Let's stay in touch", Mike said as we parted.
That was the last time I saw Mike. When I heard of his passing Friday morning, I could only think how blessed I was to have come across those "memory" tapes to return to him. Fortunately, the memories I have of Mike are stored in my head and can't be lost or replaced. Much like him.
Mike Newell.....not just another fella. He was one of a kind. You left us far toooooo early.
Thanks for reading,
John
Mike passed away Thursday evening in Des Moines at the Mercy Medical Center. One day after Thanksgiving he suffered a heart attack and according to my sources, he couldn't right the ship. It was a series of one setback after another. To anyone that did know him, it's common knowledge, that He...Will...Be...Hard.. To....Replace.
Mike Newell was a local sports broadcaster in Iowa. He covered a variety of sports, everything from minor league baseball to University of Iowa Women's Basketball, to high school state tournaments...you name it and he covered it at one time or another.
I first met Mike in the late 1970's when he was play by play announcer for the Iowa Oaks. It was then, that I took a liking to him. Not just for his sports knowledge, but for everything else he soaked up. By all accounts, he was a Renaissance Man. He loved old time television....the "Golden Years" he would call them. In fact, he provided the stand-ups for Iowa Public Television when they broadcast the series. He introduced each show and led the audience back in time....to the good old days of shows like "The Twilight Zone".
I mentioned that Mike would be hard to replace. If anyone knows what I mean, it would have to be long-time Iowa broadcasting legend, JIm Zabel. For many, many years, Mike served as Jim's potential successor. Newell did it all. He'd spend long days at WHO Radio reading the early morning sports and then writing the afternoon shticks for Zabel. There were times where his day would last well into the evening producing one of the sports programs on the station....arranging the guests for Zabel. He performed these duties faithfullly, because he dreamed up being the "sports man" at the station known coast to coast and border to border, 1040, WHO Radio. That day never came. Not only did Zabel outlast Mike on the air, he did in life as well. Jim recently celebrated his 90th birthday....Mike was 66 when he passed away.
One particularly funny side of Mike was his disgust of the "logo" phase of everything in our society. He'd say, "I'm not going to wear a t-shirt with somebody's logo or saying, unless they pay me". And he meant it. I can recall him wearing a t-shirt a time or two, but never with anything on it. The same goes for a hat. Never. In truth, I can't remember him wearing a hat period. Mike was partially bald and I think he was quite proud of that fact. I never heard him say "Bald is Beautiful", but I have to wonder.....
 |
| Newell......One of a Kind |
Now I want you to realize Mike and I had a falling out in 2004...more on his part than mine. We hadn't spoken to each other in over five years. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy phone call, but it had to be made. "Hey, Mike....this is Kelling", I said. " I think I have something of yours". "Really? what would that be?", he countered. "Let's get together and I'll show you", I threw back.
Well....we got together for a beverage...a "pop" he called them. He had his brew and I had a lemonade. At the end of an hour long chat, I walked with him to the parking lot and gave him the box of audio tapes. He was, I think, one happy camper to get them back. "Let's stay in touch", Mike said as we parted.
That was the last time I saw Mike. When I heard of his passing Friday morning, I could only think how blessed I was to have come across those "memory" tapes to return to him. Fortunately, the memories I have of Mike are stored in my head and can't be lost or replaced. Much like him.
Mike Newell.....not just another fella. He was one of a kind. You left us far toooooo early.
Thanks for reading,
John
Sunday, November 20, 2011
THE DIGGING CONTINUES IN THE SECOND MILE CHARITY
Penn State and the Second Mile Charity founded by Jerry Sandusky seemingly went hand in hand. As the days and weeks and months follow, look for more despicable dirt to be raised between the two. Today, we found out some alarming news. One wonders why oh why would the university continue their relationship with Second Mile after 2008. The following report from Fox News will make you wonder and just might make you sick.
"Penn State University received almost $250,000 for a series of sleepover camps in 2008 and 2009 run by the charity group founded by Jerry Sandusky - years after ex-athletic director Tim Curley imposed an “unenforceable” ban on the accused child molester from bringing children onto the school’s sports facilities and main campus.
 |
| Weren't they closing their doors? |
Financial records obtained by FoxNews.com show $124,587 was given to Penn State by The Second Mile in 2009. The year before, in 2008, the university received $119,592 from The Second Mile. The money is listed under “food and lodging” in charity records, and officials said the payments were made on a series of week-long sleepover camps.
Penn State apparently took money for the camps months after the mother of a high school freshman contacted authorities in the spring of 2008 saying her son had been abused by Sandusky. That allegation kick-started the grand jury investigation that earlier this month indicted Sandusky on 40 counts of child sex abuse charges.
It’s not clear if Sandusky, who was still director of The Second Mile in 2008 before the group cut ties with him, participated in the camps. University officials said their records do not show the names of those who participated, and The Second Mile officials declined requests to answer questions about Sandusky’s involvement.
But Sandusky was still an “active” director of The Second Mile and earned $57,000 in The Second Mile’s 2008 fiscal year, which ended August 31, 2008. Three months later, in November, Sandusky told The Second Mile he was under investigation, and the charity banned him from activities with children, according to a recent statement by the former The Second Mile CEO Jack Raykovitz, who resigned on Sunday.
Sandusky also held sleepover football camps for boys, run through his own corporation, Sandusky Associates Inc., at satellite Penn State campuses all over the state, even after he was turned out from The Second Mile.
When asked for details about money paid to Penn State in 2008, the university’s associate vice president for finance and business, Daniel Sieminski, told FoxNews.com via email that The Second Mile ran five weeks of camps. "These funds paid for all the food, lodging and miscellaneous expenses incurred by the University for these camps.”
In response to a series of follow-up questions, Sieminski said the activities related to the camps were held at various locations on the main Penn State University Park Campus. “Camps were conducted in classrooms, the outdoor pool, outdoor fields, and Creamery,” he said, adding that campers had access to those locations and the university dorms where they stayed.
The 2008 camp dates were:
July 5-10 boys - 64 participants, 21 staff
July 12-17 girls - 100 participants, 24 staff
July 19-24 girls - 90 participants, 23 staff
July 26-31 boys - 75 participants, 22 staff
August 2-7 boys - 65 participants, 21 staff
Sieminski said he did not know the specific name(s) of the The Second Mile camp program. The university’s records do not precisely correspond to the information in The Second Mile’s online reports for the summer of 2008, which classified the camps as a 10-week “Challenge Program.”
FoxNews.com on Friday visited the The Second Mile office in State College, and a receptionist said the charity’s new CEO, David Woodle, was in meetings but would reply to email questions. Woodle did not reply to two emails sent afterward.
When asked about the camps and the money, the receptionist referred to reports on the website. When told the report for that year mentions only one sleepover camp, the Challenge Program, she said the charity also hosted other camps, but would not offer details. The Second Mile and Penn State officials have both denied they were associated with the Sandusky Association football sleepover camps for boys grades 4 to 9 — though they were held on Penn State campuses in 2008, according to a flyer still posted on the website of the university’s Erie campus. Advertisements for the camp have listed the registration contact information as the Penn State (psu.edu) address of Sandusky’s son, Jon.
Sandusky ran the same football sleepover camps on Penn State campuses the following year, in 2009, nearly a year after the charity banned him from activities with children and nearly a decade after the first reports of his alleged sex abuse surfaced.
The 2008 payment was not the only one found in The Second Mile’s tax returns, in which Penn State is listed among the highest paid consultants. In 2009, after the charity says it banned Sandusky from activities with children, The Second Mile paid Penn State more than $100,000 to hold another series of camps on the university's campus. The Second Mile 2008 fiscal year payment is reflected in Penn State’s 2008/09 fiscal year, the school official noted.
The charity’s director/treasurer, Ralph Licastro, an accountant and professor at Penn State’s business school, was not home or unavailable when FoxNews.com stopped by on Friday to ask about the payments. His wife asked for a reporter’s business card, and said he would call back if he chose to do so.
No one answered the door at the home of Raykovitz, who stepped down on Sunday in the wake of the ongoing scandal. But Raykovitz’s wife, Katherine Genovese, is still with the group, and remains its second-highest earner on the charity board, according to records.
Allegations Sandusky sexually abused children go back to at least the late 1990s, according to a grand jury report released two weeks ago. And in March 2002, a then-graduate student Mike McQueary told university officials, including Curley and Penn State’s legendary head football coach, Joe Paterno, that he saw Sandusky sodomizing a young boy in the campus showers.
Later that month, McQueary told a grand jury, Curley told him that he’d informed Second Mile of the allegations and that he’d taken away Sandusky’s key to the locker room. McQueary said Curley told him that Sandusky had been banned from campus — with then-president Graham Spanier’s knowledge.
The sex-abuse scandal has so far claimed the jobs of Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Finance Director Gary Schulz.
Last week, I wrote about the Penn State Board of Trustees and their involvement or lack thereof of the matter. I'm convinced as the digging continues, there will be more jobs lost. And as far as I'm concerned, the more the merrier. Maybe then, the children who've suffered for the these past years can feel some sort of justice being served. And most importantly, let this entire issue serve as a lesson for any other insititution thinking they are bigger than life. The scary thing is, who's going to be next!!
Thanks for reading,
John
Last week, I wrote about the Penn State Board of Trustees and their involvement or lack thereof of the matter. I'm convinced as the digging continues, there will be more jobs lost. And as far as I'm concerned, the more the merrier. Maybe then, the children who've suffered for the these past years can feel some sort of justice being served. And most importantly, let this entire issue serve as a lesson for any other insititution thinking they are bigger than life. The scary thing is, who's going to be next!!
Thanks for reading,
John
Monday, November 14, 2011
DOES PENN STATE COVERUP LEAD TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES?
"Where there is smoke, there's usually fire".....but in the matter of the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, it's far more than that, it's a firestorm. To understand that further, the definition of a firestorm is a conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system. In this case, let's call it alot of hot air.
The finger pointing is going to become very interesting. All of that will be part of the who knew what, when investigation. And we're just getting started.
Here are a couple of recent curious happenings:
The judge who ignored a prosecutor’s request and ordered Jerry Sandusky released on $100,000 bail has worked for the charity of the former Penn State assistant coach, who’s accused of child sex abuse, sports website Deadspin said.
District judge Leslie Dutchcot ruled that the 67-year-old could pay nothing unless he failed to attend a court hearing, the website said. Prosecutors had asked for Sandusky’s bail to be set at $500,000. A profile of the judge on her former law firm’s Internet site said she was a volunteer for Sandusky’s foundation, The Second Mile, Deadspin said.
For me, I have to wonder what Judge Dutchcot was thinking. How in the world can she justify not giving Sandusky the $500,000 bail prosecutors were asking? How can she give any child abuse victim in the world a comfort level that the legal proceedings of this despicable event will be handled properly...right from the very beginning? Which begs the question.....judge, how much and how long have you known of this Sandusky travesty? It would appear that we are trying to prosecute the case without any impartial person at the helm. Unbelievable. But let's go a step further. And here's where it might get ugly as all hell.
At a crowded press conference last Wednesday night following a Penn State Board of Trustees meeting, Board chair Steve Garban made this announcement: “The Board has asked John Surma to head up all Board activities on the current matters.” Trustees lack confidence in Garban’s ability to lead the university out of this mess given his close relationships with Curley, Schultz and university President Graham Spanier, sources said. That source, probably a trustee, left one and maybe as many as 20, out of that mix.
Who is Steve Garban you ask? Garban is or was (I'm not sure right now what he is) the chair of the Penn State Board of Trustees. He graduated from Penn State in 1959 with a B.S. in Business. As an undergraduate, he was captain of the football team among several other honors. Let me restate that again. HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM.
Okay, let's review. The Board of Trustees has asked John Surma to lead the board. Could it be that Garban, having been fully connected to the football program from every different imaginable angle, looked the other way?. Was he so loyally blind and deaf that he protected Joe Paterno and the football program at all costs?
Last week I reported of a column by Pittsburgh sports radio host, Mark Madden. written on April 3rd of this year. In Madden's writings, he was spot on of his assessment of the Penn State Secret on Jerry Sandusky's doings. That information came out seven months ago. Are you telling me, no one asked the questions to the Board of Trustees and it's chairman....what's going on here? Is there any truth to these allegations? And if so, how will we lead the investigation into these matters? Garban led by doing nothing....and it makes one wonder why.
Garban was elected to the Board of Trustees by the alumni for a three-year term beginning July 1, 1998 and was re-elected for succeeding terms. He was elected vice chair of the Board from 2007 through 2009 and was elected chair in 2010.
From my perspective, no one gets a pass here. Not ONE person....and that includes the Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, who sits on the Penn State board. Are we on the brink of a firestorm? I hope so. The victims have had to endure this cover up far, far too long.
Maybe, just maybe, we'll see justice served like we've never seen before. And it begins with having Judge Durchcot removed from the case and then Garban is charged, and then, and then.....
Thanks for reading,
John
UPDATE: "The president of the charity linked to the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal has resigned, saying he hopes his departure after 28 years as the group's CEO would help restore faith in its mission. The Second Mile's board of directors said in a statement Monday that it had accepted the resignation of Dr. Jack Raykovitz." I'll reserve comment on that.
The finger pointing is going to become very interesting. All of that will be part of the who knew what, when investigation. And we're just getting started.
Here are a couple of recent curious happenings:
The judge who ignored a prosecutor’s request and ordered Jerry Sandusky released on $100,000 bail has worked for the charity of the former Penn State assistant coach, who’s accused of child sex abuse, sports website Deadspin said.
District judge Leslie Dutchcot ruled that the 67-year-old could pay nothing unless he failed to attend a court hearing, the website said. Prosecutors had asked for Sandusky’s bail to be set at $500,000. A profile of the judge on her former law firm’s Internet site said she was a volunteer for Sandusky’s foundation, The Second Mile, Deadspin said.
For me, I have to wonder what Judge Dutchcot was thinking. How in the world can she justify not giving Sandusky the $500,000 bail prosecutors were asking? How can she give any child abuse victim in the world a comfort level that the legal proceedings of this despicable event will be handled properly...right from the very beginning? Which begs the question.....judge, how much and how long have you known of this Sandusky travesty? It would appear that we are trying to prosecute the case without any impartial person at the helm. Unbelievable. But let's go a step further. And here's where it might get ugly as all hell.
At a crowded press conference last Wednesday night following a Penn State Board of Trustees meeting, Board chair Steve Garban made this announcement: “The Board has asked John Surma to head up all Board activities on the current matters.” Trustees lack confidence in Garban’s ability to lead the university out of this mess given his close relationships with Curley, Schultz and university President Graham Spanier, sources said. That source, probably a trustee, left one and maybe as many as 20, out of that mix.
Who is Steve Garban you ask? Garban is or was (I'm not sure right now what he is) the chair of the Penn State Board of Trustees. He graduated from Penn State in 1959 with a B.S. in Business. As an undergraduate, he was captain of the football team among several other honors. Let me restate that again. HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM.
Okay, let's review. The Board of Trustees has asked John Surma to lead the board. Could it be that Garban, having been fully connected to the football program from every different imaginable angle, looked the other way?. Was he so loyally blind and deaf that he protected Joe Paterno and the football program at all costs?
Last week I reported of a column by Pittsburgh sports radio host, Mark Madden. written on April 3rd of this year. In Madden's writings, he was spot on of his assessment of the Penn State Secret on Jerry Sandusky's doings. That information came out seven months ago. Are you telling me, no one asked the questions to the Board of Trustees and it's chairman....what's going on here? Is there any truth to these allegations? And if so, how will we lead the investigation into these matters? Garban led by doing nothing....and it makes one wonder why.
Garban was elected to the Board of Trustees by the alumni for a three-year term beginning July 1, 1998 and was re-elected for succeeding terms. He was elected vice chair of the Board from 2007 through 2009 and was elected chair in 2010.
 |
| Trustees at fault too? How far reaching is this cover up? |
Maybe, just maybe, we'll see justice served like we've never seen before. And it begins with having Judge Durchcot removed from the case and then Garban is charged, and then, and then.....
Thanks for reading,
John
UPDATE: "The president of the charity linked to the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal has resigned, saying he hopes his departure after 28 years as the group's CEO would help restore faith in its mission. The Second Mile's board of directors said in a statement Monday that it had accepted the resignation of Dr. Jack Raykovitz." I'll reserve comment on that.
Friday, November 11, 2011
MARK MADDEN AHEAD OF THE PENN STATE TRAVESTY
The Penn State sexual abuse situation has been the focus of the news in our world for the last week. And well it should. But did you know there was rumor and innuendos flying around well before that? Well there was. It was a secret on the Penn State campus, that's for sure. Or was it?
On April 3rd of this year, Mark Madden, a sports radio talk show host in Pittsburgh, wrote the following story for the Beaver County Times. As you read this, wonder if you will......why didn't these accusations prompt the Board of Trustees to ask some down right pointed questions to the entire Penn State administration? Or maybe the question should be.....why wasn't the Board doing their job? I'm beginning to come to the conclusion they have some share of this travesty.
SANDUSKY A STATE SECRET
The Jerry Sandusky situation seems a matter of failure to connect certain dots, or perhaps unwillingness in that regard. Lots of people besides the former Penn State defensive coordinator have some explaining to do.
Allegations of improper conduct with an underage male first surfaced in 1998, while Sandusky was still employed by Penn State. That incident allegedly occurred in a shower at Penn State's on-campus football facility. No charges were filed. Sandusky retired the next year, in 1999. He was 55, prime age for a coach. Odd, to say the least - especially with Joe Paterno thought even then to be ready to quit and Sandusky a likely, openly-discussed successor.
It seems logical to ask: What did Paterno know, and when did he know it? What did Penn State's administration know, and when did they know it? Best-case scenario: Charges are never brought, and Sandusky walks away with his reputation permanently scarred. The rumors, the jokes, the sideways glances - they won't ever stop. Paterno and Penn State do the great escape.
Worst-case scenario: Sandusky is charged. Then it seems reasonable to wonder: Did Penn State not make an issue of Sandusky's alleged behavior in 1998 in exchange for him walking away from the program at an age premature for most coaches? Did Penn State's considerable influence help get Sandusky off the hook?
Don't kid yourself. That could happen. Don't underestimate the power of Paterno and Penn State in central Pennsylvania when it comes to politicians, the police and the media.
In 1999, Penn State was rid of Sandusky. His rep was unblemished, which allowed him to continue running a charitable foundation that gave him access to underage males. To be a volunteer assistant with a high school football team, thus gaining access to underage males. If Paterno and Penn State knew, but didn't act, instead facilitating Sandusky's untroubled retirement - are Paterno and Penn State responsible for untoward acts since committed by Sandusky? This is far from an outrageous hypothesis, especially given the convenient timeline.
Initially accused in 1998. Retires in 1999. Never coaches college football again. Sandusky was very successful at what he did. The architect of Linebacker U. Helped win national championships in 1982 and 1986. Recognized as college football's top assistant in 1986 and 1999. Never any stories about Sandusky being pursued for a high-profile job. Never any rumors about him coming out of retirement. But there's no shortage of stories and rumors about Penn State football sweeping problems under the rug, is there?
Why did college football let an accomplished coach like Sandusky walk away at 55? Why did he disappear into relative anonymity? A grand jury, spurred by a complaint made by a 15-year-old boy in 2009, has been investigating Sandusky for 18 months. Witnesses include Paterno and Penn State athletic director Tim Curley. Interviewing Paterno about a subject like this had to have been one of the single most uncomfortable acts in the history of jurisprudence.
Plenty of questions remain yet unanswered. Potentially among them: What's more important, Penn State football or the welfare of a few kids?
You might not want to hear the answer.
Yesterday, November 10th, Madden appeared on The Dennis and Callahan Show, a Boston sports talk radio program. During his appearance, he reported a rumor being investigated by two prominent columnists that Sandusky and his Second Mile children's charity may have been "pimping out young boys to rich donors.
Is there some truth to this? Any truth. At this point, I think we should all have ours ears perked to what Mark Madden is saying. He's well ahead of us.
Thanks for reading,
John
On April 3rd of this year, Mark Madden, a sports radio talk show host in Pittsburgh, wrote the following story for the Beaver County Times. As you read this, wonder if you will......why didn't these accusations prompt the Board of Trustees to ask some down right pointed questions to the entire Penn State administration? Or maybe the question should be.....why wasn't the Board doing their job? I'm beginning to come to the conclusion they have some share of this travesty.
 |
| Troublemaker?? Or Messenger??? |
SANDUSKY A STATE SECRET
The Jerry Sandusky situation seems a matter of failure to connect certain dots, or perhaps unwillingness in that regard. Lots of people besides the former Penn State defensive coordinator have some explaining to do.
Allegations of improper conduct with an underage male first surfaced in 1998, while Sandusky was still employed by Penn State. That incident allegedly occurred in a shower at Penn State's on-campus football facility. No charges were filed. Sandusky retired the next year, in 1999. He was 55, prime age for a coach. Odd, to say the least - especially with Joe Paterno thought even then to be ready to quit and Sandusky a likely, openly-discussed successor.
It seems logical to ask: What did Paterno know, and when did he know it? What did Penn State's administration know, and when did they know it? Best-case scenario: Charges are never brought, and Sandusky walks away with his reputation permanently scarred. The rumors, the jokes, the sideways glances - they won't ever stop. Paterno and Penn State do the great escape.
Worst-case scenario: Sandusky is charged. Then it seems reasonable to wonder: Did Penn State not make an issue of Sandusky's alleged behavior in 1998 in exchange for him walking away from the program at an age premature for most coaches? Did Penn State's considerable influence help get Sandusky off the hook?
Don't kid yourself. That could happen. Don't underestimate the power of Paterno and Penn State in central Pennsylvania when it comes to politicians, the police and the media.
In 1999, Penn State was rid of Sandusky. His rep was unblemished, which allowed him to continue running a charitable foundation that gave him access to underage males. To be a volunteer assistant with a high school football team, thus gaining access to underage males. If Paterno and Penn State knew, but didn't act, instead facilitating Sandusky's untroubled retirement - are Paterno and Penn State responsible for untoward acts since committed by Sandusky? This is far from an outrageous hypothesis, especially given the convenient timeline.
Initially accused in 1998. Retires in 1999. Never coaches college football again. Sandusky was very successful at what he did. The architect of Linebacker U. Helped win national championships in 1982 and 1986. Recognized as college football's top assistant in 1986 and 1999. Never any stories about Sandusky being pursued for a high-profile job. Never any rumors about him coming out of retirement. But there's no shortage of stories and rumors about Penn State football sweeping problems under the rug, is there?
Why did college football let an accomplished coach like Sandusky walk away at 55? Why did he disappear into relative anonymity? A grand jury, spurred by a complaint made by a 15-year-old boy in 2009, has been investigating Sandusky for 18 months. Witnesses include Paterno and Penn State athletic director Tim Curley. Interviewing Paterno about a subject like this had to have been one of the single most uncomfortable acts in the history of jurisprudence.
Plenty of questions remain yet unanswered. Potentially among them: What's more important, Penn State football or the welfare of a few kids?
You might not want to hear the answer.
Yesterday, November 10th, Madden appeared on The Dennis and Callahan Show, a Boston sports talk radio program. During his appearance, he reported a rumor being investigated by two prominent columnists that Sandusky and his Second Mile children's charity may have been "pimping out young boys to rich donors.
Is there some truth to this? Any truth. At this point, I think we should all have ours ears perked to what Mark Madden is saying. He's well ahead of us.
Thanks for reading,
John
Friday, June 3, 2011
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL LIFE FOR DAN GABLE
Dan Gable might have finally met his match. Not that he's going to get beat on mind you, it's going to be quite the opposite. He's going to get loved on. Here's what will be interesting. I'm not sure how the man who fashions himself the best prepared for any situation will devise a scheme for this one. Tonight, the most successful coach in the history of college wrestling will go head to head with his former wrestlers, so to speak.
 |
| Coaching and Gable were meant to BE |
In talking with Gable last week, it became obvious this "roast" with his wrestlers would be both satisfying but highly emotional. And why wouldn't it? Stop and think of the number of people the man they call "the Michael Jordan of Wrestling" has impacted while coaching at the University of Iowa. Gable was the Hawkeye head man for 21 years compiling a record of 355-21-2. He mentored 152 All-Americans, 45 National Champions, 106 Big Ten Champions and 10 Olympians including 4 Gold Medalists.
It would be easy to see why the men that make up the history of Gable would want to thank him. But it won't be just the stars that have their say. Any wrestler that ever set foot in the Iowa wrestling room has felt the Gable touch. Gable has that ingredient, that intangible that is easy to see, but hard to describe. Many assert that it is his uncanny ability to focus and rid himself of all distractions that has made him successful. Others say he simply outworked every obstacle put in his way. As a coach, that's what he passed on to his athletes. Not all his wrestlers bought into these theories early on. Despite knowing what makes Gable tick, some resisted the "buy in" plan. Some took longer for the full effect or the opportunity to kick in.
I asked Gable inspite of all the big names he coached, who was his favorite. Of course, he resisted that answer. But he did point out a name that raised his excitement level. Jesse Whitmer. One writer, Ethan Bosch offered this assessment of Jesse. "Whitmer was an 118-pounder for the Hawkeyes in the mid-90's. For three years, he was behind classmate and 4-time All-American, Mike Mena. As far as Whitmer knew, he might never start his entire college career. Instead of getting down about it, he stayed in the practice room. He worked hard. He pushed himself and his teammates to get better. He waited for his opportunity and it finally came. For their senior season, Mena moved up a weight class. Whitmer was ready and ended up winning the NCAA title in Gable's last year as head man. How easy would it have been for Jesse Whitmer to quit as a freshman, assuming he'd be a career backup?"
What Gable remembers about Whitmer is this. Each year the Hawkeyes produce a team poster. The theme for the final Gable campaign was "Who's Next?" A nice catchy idea inquiring of who would be the next national champion in Iowa Wrestling history. On the poster, there were several wrestlers with their backs turned to the camera....Whitmer being one of them. It wasn't until some two years after the fact, that Gable realized the prophetic statement. He glanced at the poster again and was blown away with what he saw. A career back-up, Whitmer had raised his game, listened to his coaches, stayed the course and in the end, saw the fruits of his labor. These will be the type of people swarming to Iowa City this weekend.....the ones that wanted to be mentored.
Saturday night, will be entirely different than Friday. The dinner and appreciation night will be jammed packed with coaches that worked in the Gable system. People like a J Robinson, head coach of the University of Minnesota Gophers. He'll no doubt offer some zingers about Dan's past. And then there will be people like Bump Elliott, former athletic director at Iowa, who gave Gable "the" opportunity. The night is all yours, Dan. Enjoy.
What makes Gable so unique? I checked with Tim Johnson, play by play announcer for College Wrestling and ESPN who I thought could put things into its proper perspective. "Tim", I said. "Let's play word association. WRESTLING." He says, " Dan Gable". "Thanks, Tim, that blows my next word, DAN GABLE", I responded. But you see that's how it is. You simply can not mention one without the other. They are forever intertwined. Johnson mentioned a discussion several years ago at the Gable residence that has been his challenge as a broadcaster. Tim had been a color person for a number of years, but was slowly growing into a new role as a play by play person. "Gable said to me, Tim you're good....but you can be better", Johnson recalled. "That stuck with me and I remember it all the time". Just another example of the Gable reach. It extends off the mat as well as on. Always coaching.....always offering words of encouragement and challenge.
I first met Dan 27 years ago. I was working with Iowa Public Television on a national documentary of Gable's life, "The Gable Touch". I poured over hours and hours of interviews that were shot on the legendary one. The shot ratio was like 150:1 The difficulty was trying to pair down his best comments and tossing the others to the edit room floor. Somehow, Executive Producer, Doug Brooker found a way to package a neat 30-minute show.
Some ten years later I had the distinction of doing another documentary on Dan. This time, not as a production assistant, but as the producer. I asked some of the same questions posed to Dan on the previous documentary, but this time in my own words. And then I got to ask some off-beat questions. "What's one of your favorite movies?", I asked. Surprisingly, he fired back, "It's A Wonderful Life". "I don't watch it every Christmas, but I try to catch it. And each time I get choked up". Maybe, just maybe he sees some of himself in the character Jimmy Stewart so eloquently played.
You don't really have to wonder how a person who had to endure the tragic death of his sister, Diane, early in his young life found a way to cope. He found wrestling and wrestling found him. Indeed, "Its Been A Wonderful Life" for Dan Gable. Take him out of the mix and try and imagine who would fill the void. But he's not done yet. When we started our phone conversation last week, he said, "I don't want to hear any of this "R" stuff, okay, I'm not doing that", he said sternly yet playfully. "Just kidding, just kidding". Truth is... he will still be closer than ever to the Wrestling Nation.
Somewhere I think I hear a little bell tinkling.
Thanks for reading,
John
-30-
Thursday, May 26, 2011
GET READY DAN GABLE.....
Dan Gable is in for a couple of interesting days next week. Friday night he is reconnecting with hundreds of his former athletes in a roast-party type of an event where emotions will be high....and then Saturday evening, the University of Iowa is planning a celebration for their former coach. For those of you have never heard of the man they call "Dan", it's a shame. He is the "poster person" of the sport of wrestling. And no, I don't mean professional wrestling. Ask any grade schooler, high schooler, collegian, freestyle or Greco-Roman wrestler who comes to mind when you mention the face of the sport....Gable is front and center.
In February, Iowa officials released the following information on next week's happening.
"A retirement celebration for the University of Iowa’s Dan Gable has been planned for June 4. The Hall of Fame coach will be honored with a reception and banquet at the Coralville Marriott Hotel. The reception is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and a program filled with memories and speakers to follow. Gable is considered by most to be the best collegiate wrestling coach in history. He was Iowa’s head coach for 21 years and compiled a 355-21-5 record that included 15 national team titles."
Short and sweet, the University release falls short of depicting Gable's fame. He was an undefeated 3-time state champion during his high school days at Waterloo West High School in Waterloo, Iowa. After his prep days, Gable attended Iowa State University where he compiled a 181-1 record. His lone loss occurred in the final match of his college career (13-11) at the hands of Larry Owings of Washington in 1970. That loss would later fuel the ferocity and determination he would exhibit as a competitor at the Olympic level. En route to winning the Olympic Gold Medal at the 1972 Olympics, Gable did not allow one point to be scored upon him. The following video will take you back to his final match of those Games where ABC broadcaster Frank Gifford sang his praises over and over again. Ruslan Ashraliev of Russia provided the competition in the 149.5 pound weight class.
In the next blog, I will show you some other sides to this legend. Some call Gable a demi-God...but I'm not sure he's all that comfortable with that notion. He just outworks, out thinks and out prepares others. More to come....
Thanks for reading,
John
In February, Iowa officials released the following information on next week's happening.
"A retirement celebration for the University of Iowa’s Dan Gable has been planned for June 4. The Hall of Fame coach will be honored with a reception and banquet at the Coralville Marriott Hotel. The reception is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and a program filled with memories and speakers to follow. Gable is considered by most to be the best collegiate wrestling coach in history. He was Iowa’s head coach for 21 years and compiled a 355-21-5 record that included 15 national team titles."
Short and sweet, the University release falls short of depicting Gable's fame. He was an undefeated 3-time state champion during his high school days at Waterloo West High School in Waterloo, Iowa. After his prep days, Gable attended Iowa State University where he compiled a 181-1 record. His lone loss occurred in the final match of his college career (13-11) at the hands of Larry Owings of Washington in 1970. That loss would later fuel the ferocity and determination he would exhibit as a competitor at the Olympic level. En route to winning the Olympic Gold Medal at the 1972 Olympics, Gable did not allow one point to be scored upon him. The following video will take you back to his final match of those Games where ABC broadcaster Frank Gifford sang his praises over and over again. Ruslan Ashraliev of Russia provided the competition in the 149.5 pound weight class.
In the next blog, I will show you some other sides to this legend. Some call Gable a demi-God...but I'm not sure he's all that comfortable with that notion. He just outworks, out thinks and out prepares others. More to come....
Thanks for reading,
John
Monday, April 25, 2011
NO END IN SIGHT FOR JEFF CLEMENT
"Amid the thriving careers and fulfilled potential, it’s important to remember that not every fresh-faced 21-year-old turns into a franchise player. Sometimes the scouts were wrong. Sometimes the scouts were right — but it looks like they were wrong. Sometimes the players don’t develop the way they should. Sometimes the players just can’t stay healthy. A combination of that, so far, has been the story of Jeff Clement."
I've seen Clement play baseball since his Little League days in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was head and shoulders above most other youngsters his age. His 11 and 12-year old team advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They lost, but the sweet left-handed swing was apparent. It was the beginning of some great achievements. Years later I interviewed him after breaking the National High School Homerun record. I've pulled for him for years, hoping that he'd have a successful professional career. For now, it's on wait. Jon Paul Morosi from Fox Sports caught up with Jeff the other day and filed this report. He did a fine job in reporting....but Jeff did an even better job in answering. Enjoy the read.
"He is 27 years old. He has a .223 batting average in fewer than 400 major-league plate appearances. On Thursday, when the Milwaukee Brewers announced Ryan Braun’s new deal, Clement endured another five-hour day in his rehabilitation program following microfracture surgery on his left knee last September. Clement likely won’t appear in a game at any level until July at the earliest. And you would not believe how gracious he is about it all.
Clement was the No. 3 overall pick that year — right after B.J. Upton and Alex Gordon, right before Ryan Zimmerman, Braun, Romero and Tulowitzki. The Seattle Mariners took him. There was a lot to like: He was a handsome, hardworking kid who set the national high school home run record while starring for the Marshalltown (Iowa) Bobcats. He won the Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s top collegiate catcher during his final season at USC.
Clement checked three boxes where the Mariners were deficient: catcher, power, left-handed hitter. The Seattle scouts were smitten by Tulowitzki, too. Tulowitzki told FOXSports.com contributor Tracy Ringolsby that Seattle had planned to take him until the night before the draft. What changed?
“They said they had a shortstop in the organization, but no catchers, and therefore that made the pick easy,” Tulowitzki said. Naturally, it all goes back to Yuniesky Betancourt. So, in the end, the Mariners drafted for need, and Clement received a $3.4 million signing bonus.
“Catching being what it is, we gambled,” Bill Bavasi, then the Mariners’ general manager, recalled over the weekend. “Thought if we hit on a left-handed-hitting catcher with power, we’d really have something.”
For a while, it looked like they would. Clement reached the majors in 2007 — an on-time arrival, near the end of his second full season as a professional. There was a game-tying, ninth-inning home run off Cleveland closer Joe Borowski. There was a walk-off homer — to center field, no less — against the Texas Rangers. He batted .375 that September. But in retrospect, the harbingers existed even then. Clement suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during the previous season, requiring surgery. He’s had a total of three operations on the knee, including the microfracture.
Clement acknowledged during our lengthy telephone interview that his knee won’t allow him to be a major-league catcher anymore. His future is likely at first base. “As much as I’d like to tell you that catching would be the thing, because that’s what I love doing the most,” Clement said, “they’ve made it pretty clear that’s out the window.”
Meanwhile, questions about the Mariners’ long-term commitment to Clement began not long after the happy news conference at Safeco Field. Kenji Johjima signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the team roughly four months after Clement joined the organization. Longtime Mariners owner Hiroshi Yamauchi played an influential role in the acquisition of Johjima, his Japanese countryman. Johjima remained with the Mariners throughout Clement’s final 3 1/2 years with the organization.
“Jeff’s minor-league performance was similar to his peers from the ’05 draft, (but his) opportunity to earn a full-time starting job was drastically different after the Johjima signing,” said Brodie Van Wagenen, who also represents Zimmerman and Braun. “He was not given a legitimate opportunity to win a starting job in spring training until 2010 with the Pirates."
In four years in the Mariners organization, Clement made 35 starts as a big-league catcher. We can debate which factor — his knee, his lack of production in the majors, the presence of Johjima — had the most to do with that. Clement, though, isn’t interested in rehashing the past. Sure, he said, the Johjima signing surprised him. But he doesn’t see it as an excuse. “My career, up to this point, has not gone the way I expected of myself,” Clement said. “There were flashes where I did show what I was capable of. But I’m not where I thought I would be right now. I would like to be an established major-league All-Star. I’m not. I’m sure a lot of people (in Seattle) are disappointed. “But as far as being done, or considering myself a bust, no way would I say that. I feel like my career is far from over. There’s still a lot of time. Until that day comes when I have to do something else, I’m going to pour everything I have into becoming a better baseball player.”
Clement said he can’t remember the last time he felt “really healthy” on a baseball field. That could change later this summer. He’s heard positive feedback about his prognosis. Dr. Richard Steadman, the noted orthopedist who performed the surgery, has told Clement that he should be able to move better than before. “I’m looking forward to that,” Clement said.
The rehab may be grueling, but Clement can spend time at home with sons Jake and Benjamin after each daily session. “Kids have completely changed my perspective on a number of different things,” he said. “It’s been a blast. I look forward to every new stage. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Mariners fans won’t soon forget what the ’05 draft has meant to so many other franchises. Tulowitzki is one of the best four or five players in the game, while Clement’s bio can be found in the minor league section of the Pirates’ press guide. Page 282. In Seattle, at least, it’s a contrast that may never go away.
But there’s at least one person who still believes in Jeff Clement. And that is Jeff Clement. In a story like this, that’s an essential place to start. “You can’t live your life based on everybody else’s expectations,” he said. “My expectation for myself, first, is to get healthy, then to play hard every single night and be productive on a winning team. I expect to get the most out of my abilities. I haven’t done that, but I don’t feel like my career is over. There’s still time for me.”
We're still pulling for you Jeff. Patience is a virtue. You are a living testament to that...and God will reward you for your faithfulness.
Thanks for reading,
John
I've seen Clement play baseball since his Little League days in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was head and shoulders above most other youngsters his age. His 11 and 12-year old team advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They lost, but the sweet left-handed swing was apparent. It was the beginning of some great achievements. Years later I interviewed him after breaking the National High School Homerun record. I've pulled for him for years, hoping that he'd have a successful professional career. For now, it's on wait. Jon Paul Morosi from Fox Sports caught up with Jeff the other day and filed this report. He did a fine job in reporting....but Jeff did an even better job in answering. Enjoy the read.
"He is 27 years old. He has a .223 batting average in fewer than 400 major-league plate appearances. On Thursday, when the Milwaukee Brewers announced Ryan Braun’s new deal, Clement endured another five-hour day in his rehabilitation program following microfracture surgery on his left knee last September. Clement likely won’t appear in a game at any level until July at the earliest. And you would not believe how gracious he is about it all.
“I don’t spend time thinking, what-if this? What-if that?” Clement said over the phone from Bradenton, Fla., where he’s locked into a rehab/cardio program seven days a week. “I’ve moved forward. Everything happened the way it did. I’m where I’m at today, looking ahead to the future. “I’ve got a great family — great parents, great siblings and a great wife and kids that are a joy to be around. So many things are so great in my life that I’ve got no time to sit around and think about what might have been.”
Clement checked three boxes where the Mariners were deficient: catcher, power, left-handed hitter. The Seattle scouts were smitten by Tulowitzki, too. Tulowitzki told FOXSports.com contributor Tracy Ringolsby that Seattle had planned to take him until the night before the draft. What changed?
“They said they had a shortstop in the organization, but no catchers, and therefore that made the pick easy,” Tulowitzki said. Naturally, it all goes back to Yuniesky Betancourt. So, in the end, the Mariners drafted for need, and Clement received a $3.4 million signing bonus.
“Catching being what it is, we gambled,” Bill Bavasi, then the Mariners’ general manager, recalled over the weekend. “Thought if we hit on a left-handed-hitting catcher with power, we’d really have something.”
For a while, it looked like they would. Clement reached the majors in 2007 — an on-time arrival, near the end of his second full season as a professional. There was a game-tying, ninth-inning home run off Cleveland closer Joe Borowski. There was a walk-off homer — to center field, no less — against the Texas Rangers. He batted .375 that September. But in retrospect, the harbingers existed even then. Clement suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during the previous season, requiring surgery. He’s had a total of three operations on the knee, including the microfracture.
 |
| Catching is not in Clement's future |
Clement acknowledged during our lengthy telephone interview that his knee won’t allow him to be a major-league catcher anymore. His future is likely at first base. “As much as I’d like to tell you that catching would be the thing, because that’s what I love doing the most,” Clement said, “they’ve made it pretty clear that’s out the window.”
Meanwhile, questions about the Mariners’ long-term commitment to Clement began not long after the happy news conference at Safeco Field. Kenji Johjima signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the team roughly four months after Clement joined the organization. Longtime Mariners owner Hiroshi Yamauchi played an influential role in the acquisition of Johjima, his Japanese countryman. Johjima remained with the Mariners throughout Clement’s final 3 1/2 years with the organization.
“Jeff’s minor-league performance was similar to his peers from the ’05 draft, (but his) opportunity to earn a full-time starting job was drastically different after the Johjima signing,” said Brodie Van Wagenen, who also represents Zimmerman and Braun. “He was not given a legitimate opportunity to win a starting job in spring training until 2010 with the Pirates."
In four years in the Mariners organization, Clement made 35 starts as a big-league catcher. We can debate which factor — his knee, his lack of production in the majors, the presence of Johjima — had the most to do with that. Clement, though, isn’t interested in rehashing the past. Sure, he said, the Johjima signing surprised him. But he doesn’t see it as an excuse. “My career, up to this point, has not gone the way I expected of myself,” Clement said. “There were flashes where I did show what I was capable of. But I’m not where I thought I would be right now. I would like to be an established major-league All-Star. I’m not. I’m sure a lot of people (in Seattle) are disappointed. “But as far as being done, or considering myself a bust, no way would I say that. I feel like my career is far from over. There’s still a lot of time. Until that day comes when I have to do something else, I’m going to pour everything I have into becoming a better baseball player.”
Clement said he can’t remember the last time he felt “really healthy” on a baseball field. That could change later this summer. He’s heard positive feedback about his prognosis. Dr. Richard Steadman, the noted orthopedist who performed the surgery, has told Clement that he should be able to move better than before. “I’m looking forward to that,” Clement said.
The rehab may be grueling, but Clement can spend time at home with sons Jake and Benjamin after each daily session. “Kids have completely changed my perspective on a number of different things,” he said. “It’s been a blast. I look forward to every new stage. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Mariners fans won’t soon forget what the ’05 draft has meant to so many other franchises. Tulowitzki is one of the best four or five players in the game, while Clement’s bio can be found in the minor league section of the Pirates’ press guide. Page 282. In Seattle, at least, it’s a contrast that may never go away.
But there’s at least one person who still believes in Jeff Clement. And that is Jeff Clement. In a story like this, that’s an essential place to start. “You can’t live your life based on everybody else’s expectations,” he said. “My expectation for myself, first, is to get healthy, then to play hard every single night and be productive on a winning team. I expect to get the most out of my abilities. I haven’t done that, but I don’t feel like my career is over. There’s still time for me.”
We're still pulling for you Jeff. Patience is a virtue. You are a living testament to that...and God will reward you for your faithfulness.
Thanks for reading,
John
Thursday, April 21, 2011
CHICAGO FACING "UNBEARABLE" TIMES
If you're a Chicago Bears fan, you'd better brace yourself for some tough times in the 2011-12 season (last regular season game is on January 1st). From all appearances today, it could be an ugly year and one that will be tough for the "hard-core" Chicago fan to embrace. Call it what you will, but last season's 11 wins came as much from the easy schedule than how good they were.
Let's talk about the concerns. First off, let's assume the lockout is settled. We are one week away from the NFL Entry Draft. The Bears draft 29th in the 1st round and that's part of the problem. Had the Bears finished with a less successful campaign, they would have earned the right to pick earlier. That might sound ridiculous, but last year's record was not a true reflection of the quality of the roster. It was an easy schedule. Let's face it, they need this draft to be a success, flat out.
Now, the dilemma the team has is, do they stay at 29 or move up or down? It will be an interesting April 28th night to see if anyone "falls' to them. I was listening to WSCR Radio this morning where General Manager, Jerry Angelo, discussed the upcoming draft. He mentioned if the player they wanted was off the board when it came turn for them to pick, they'd take the "best player available". He also suggested the Bears would be looking to draft a quarterback sometime in the six selections they have. Now, I ask you Bear fans, how comfortable are you with that draft strategy?
Angelo has proven to be a less than proficient evaluator of talent. Over the last five years, the Bears have had 43 draft picks. Of those, three became Pro Bowlers, 7 starters, 17 are backups, 9 are with other teams and 10 are out of the league. Far below other NFL teams. During that same period, the World Champion Green Bay Packers put up these numbers: 47 picks, 2 Pro Bowlers, 11 starters, 20 backups, 13 with other teams and only 3 out of the league. Knowing that the Bears and Bear fans will be comparing themselves to the Packers there will be little room for error. Clearly, the Bears have needs in many, many areas.
 |
| The Bears offensive line needs to be upgraded immediately |
NFL analysts are all over the board as to who the Bears might take with their first choice, but most feel it should be a lineman. The question is, an offensive or defensive lineman? The offensive line performed putrid at the start of the year and got a little better at the end. Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked a league-leading 56 times. Way, way to many. Offensive line coach Mike Tice performed some sort of miracles in the patchwork line be put together. but a revamping is needed. They need at least one and perhaps two starters to emerge through the draft, free agency or from the developmental roster. A mauler like OL Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin would be a huge get. Defensively, DE Julius Peppers brought a much needed pass rush to Chicago, but he needs support too, perhaps a defensive tackle that could control the line of scrimmage. Best guess here is a free agent....someone that plugs the hole, but doesn't provide an answer long-term.
There are other position issues namely at wide receiver, linebacker, safety and running back. Critics have been all over the Bear receivers and their lack of a true number one receiver. While I'm in agreement with that assertion, a line capable of giving Cutler some time to throw the ball would make a big difference. Maybe, wide receiver is not the concern many think it is. Or, they could delay in addressing the receiver position for one more year.
The linebackers are beginning to show their age. Pro Bowlers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have given yeoman effort, but they are the only two linebackers listed on the roster. The Bears need to add a quality pass rushing LB to the unit and develop some backups that can contribute immediately. Then there's the back end of any great defense, a tough, hard-nose safety. Can you recall the last time the Bears had an All-Pro at that position? Maybe the name Mike Brown rings a bell. The year was 2005. Chicago has been looking for someone to lead the defensive back group since Brown's release in 2007. If you look at the strength of most NFL champions, there is always a big hitter at the back end. While Chris Harris has provided some strength at the position, more help is needed .
And running back. While many Chicago fans proclaim Matt Forte's success in the running game, there is little help available as a third down back or a backup. The Bears have relied upon Forte for a big share of their offense since he came into the league 3 years ago. Chicago needs to find a late round running back capable of giving the defense a different look rather than Forte, Forte, Forte. Should Forte be injured......well. The NFL game has shown recently the NEED for two good backs. And then Angelo suggests a quarterback. So, not only do the Bears need replacements, they need quality replacements.
And that's why things will be unbearable. Chicago might find some help in the draft and free agency, but there is clearly a need of 6-7 positions that need to be addressed right now. And due to the NFL lockout, the ability to add some free agent talent and fill in with the draft is not possible. It will have to done the other way around, if at all.....and I have my reservations.
Now that we've addressed the talent aspect of the season, let's move onto the brutal schedule handed to Chicago this week. Take a look:
Week One: Sunday, September 11-Falcons
Week Two: Sunday September 18 - @ New Orleans
Week Two: Sunday September 18 - @ New Orleans
Week Three: Sunday September 25 - Packers
Week Four: Sunday October 2 - Panthers
Week Five: Monday October 10 - @ Detroit
Week Six: Sunday October 16 - Vikings (primetime)
Week Seven: Sunday October 23 - @ Tampa Bay (in London, England)
Week Eight: Sunday October 30 - BYE
Week Nine: Monday November 7 - @ Philadelphia
Week Ten: Sunday November 13 - Lions
Week Eleven: Sunday November 20 - Chargers
Week Twelve: Sunday November 27 - @ Raiders
Week Thirteen: Sunday December 4 - Chiefs
Week Fourteen: Sunday December 11 - @ Broncos
Week Fifteen: Sunday December 18 - Seahawks
Week Sixteen: Sunday December 25 - at Green Bay (primetime)
Week Seventeen: Sunday January 1 - at Minnesota
How many wins you see there, Bear fans? Last year, Chicago beat Detroit and Minnesota twice. That's not going to happen again this year. The Lions will probably finish ahead of the Bears in the division race. Detroit is a fast improving team that simply needs to know "how to win" and Minnesota is always a pain in the Bear's behind. Chicago won 5 games in the division last year, this year they'll be fortunate to win 3. In looking at the remainder of the schedule, I can see 4 more wins, realistically. So, that would equate to a 7-9 season.
That sound unbearable enough? Because if it's not, I'll remind you that Lovie Smith is the head coach. He with the new extension through 2013. All of this could be BAD NEWS BEARS.....but let's hope not.
Thanks for reading,
Monday, April 18, 2011
HARRISON BARNES SAYS "NO"
I had been searching the internet and checking newspapers for days. Last week reports began to circulate regarding Harrison Barnes, the star forward for North Carolina, deciding to stay for his sophomore season. Yet, there still had been no confirmation from the young man from Ames, Iowa. Until today. It's official....he said "NO" to the National Basketball Association and millions of dollars. For now....
Tar Heel head coach Roy Williams had to be elated. "He had a difficult decision to make," Williams said. "He really had no wrong decision to choose, but I believe he is coming back to school because he enjoys college basketball, he enjoys the University of North Carolina and he enjoys his teammates. If he had decided to leave for the NBA, that would have been OK, too, because he will always be a Tar Heel. But it will certainly be a lot of fun to coach him again." The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is April 24.
"As an 18-year-old, I'm in the early stages of my life journey," Barnes said in a statement. "I'm honored and blessed for the chance to play in the NBA. And because of my family, teachers, passion, and work, I have the ultimate dream of one day playing and experiencing a fulfilling career in the NBA."
If you ever met the young man, this is not totally unexpected. He's been doing the unordinary for years. I first saw him as a freshman for the Ames High Little Cyclones. He was inserted into the lineup early in a game against Indianola. As I watched him approach the scorers table, I was struck by his gait. He was patient, assured and confident. And that has been his modus operandi ever since.
During the next few years of high school Barnes led the Little Cyclones to two state championships. He could have averaged 30 points a game, but that wasn't Harrison. He made those around him better and he got everyone involved. A true team player. Last May, I heard him speak at the Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes Annual Banquet. Again, he was patient, assured and confident. He spoke of the road ahead and the expectations that were being placed on him. Yet undaunted, he spoke of God's control in his life. He knew a plan was in place. Weeks before, Barnes had jilted many in the state of Iowa with his decision to attend North Carolina rather than stay at home and play for the hometown Iowa State Cyclones. While many scoffed at the decision, it became apparent the right one was made. The packed FCA banquet saw the presence of a young man headed for great things....and they knew it.
Last fall, Barnes was named a pre-season All-American. The hype had begun. Never before had an incoming freshman had such an honor dating back to when the team was announced before the 1986-87 season.
The 2010-11 basketball season started slowly for the freshman star. Barnes struggled in the early part, but he remained patient, assured and confident. By mid-season, he was "settling in" to his role and feeling more comfortable. He was making those around him better....and so was the team. By regular season's end, North Carolina was riding his heroics. Then came the NCAA's.
An Elite Eight match-up with Kentucky mirrored much of the talented freshman's season. He struggled early then caught fire late, scoring eight straight at one point as the Tar Heels clawed back into it. Yet he faltered in the final minute, missing two key 3-point shots down the stretch. Kentucky advanced to the Final Four with a 76-69 win. Barnes offered a determined response. "All I know is the last two years I played basketball it ended with a championship, not a loss," he said. "I never felt like this before."
I'd think that bitter pill loss had much to do with Barnes ultimate decision to stay with the Tar Heels. I know many are thinking he should taken the millions and head to the NBA. But not this young man. He knows God has a plan for him. And he's sticking to it.
Thanks for reading,
John
Tar Heel head coach Roy Williams had to be elated. "He had a difficult decision to make," Williams said. "He really had no wrong decision to choose, but I believe he is coming back to school because he enjoys college basketball, he enjoys the University of North Carolina and he enjoys his teammates. If he had decided to leave for the NBA, that would have been OK, too, because he will always be a Tar Heel. But it will certainly be a lot of fun to coach him again." The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is April 24.
 |
| Get Ready Duke, He's Coming Back |
"As an 18-year-old, I'm in the early stages of my life journey," Barnes said in a statement. "I'm honored and blessed for the chance to play in the NBA. And because of my family, teachers, passion, and work, I have the ultimate dream of one day playing and experiencing a fulfilling career in the NBA."
If you ever met the young man, this is not totally unexpected. He's been doing the unordinary for years. I first saw him as a freshman for the Ames High Little Cyclones. He was inserted into the lineup early in a game against Indianola. As I watched him approach the scorers table, I was struck by his gait. He was patient, assured and confident. And that has been his modus operandi ever since.
During the next few years of high school Barnes led the Little Cyclones to two state championships. He could have averaged 30 points a game, but that wasn't Harrison. He made those around him better and he got everyone involved. A true team player. Last May, I heard him speak at the Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes Annual Banquet. Again, he was patient, assured and confident. He spoke of the road ahead and the expectations that were being placed on him. Yet undaunted, he spoke of God's control in his life. He knew a plan was in place. Weeks before, Barnes had jilted many in the state of Iowa with his decision to attend North Carolina rather than stay at home and play for the hometown Iowa State Cyclones. While many scoffed at the decision, it became apparent the right one was made. The packed FCA banquet saw the presence of a young man headed for great things....and they knew it.
Last fall, Barnes was named a pre-season All-American. The hype had begun. Never before had an incoming freshman had such an honor dating back to when the team was announced before the 1986-87 season.
The 2010-11 basketball season started slowly for the freshman star. Barnes struggled in the early part, but he remained patient, assured and confident. By mid-season, he was "settling in" to his role and feeling more comfortable. He was making those around him better....and so was the team. By regular season's end, North Carolina was riding his heroics. Then came the NCAA's.
An Elite Eight match-up with Kentucky mirrored much of the talented freshman's season. He struggled early then caught fire late, scoring eight straight at one point as the Tar Heels clawed back into it. Yet he faltered in the final minute, missing two key 3-point shots down the stretch. Kentucky advanced to the Final Four with a 76-69 win. Barnes offered a determined response. "All I know is the last two years I played basketball it ended with a championship, not a loss," he said. "I never felt like this before."
I'd think that bitter pill loss had much to do with Barnes ultimate decision to stay with the Tar Heels. I know many are thinking he should taken the millions and head to the NBA. But not this young man. He knows God has a plan for him. And he's sticking to it.
Thanks for reading,
John
Thursday, April 14, 2011
TERRELLE PRYOR OFF TO THE NFL?
Enough is enough. And I mean that on a couple of fronts. First, people need to back off on the criticism aimed at fan websites and bloggers who are supposedly fueling the fire in Columbus, Ohio regarding Terrelle Pryor leaving the Big Ten school and entering the NFL Supplemental Draft. Secondly, the fact is, we're probably closer to seeing Pryor in the NFL than in scarlet and grey next year.
What I find hard to comprehend, where's the mainstream press regarding this issue? It's no secret these are unsettling times at The Ohio State University. If you look at the course of events that led to the 5-game suspensions of five Buckeyes....the admitted lack of sharing information with the Ohio State compliance department by head coach Jim Tressel....the self-imposed 2-game slap of Tressel....then the additional 3 games Tressel has requested from the NCAA, it's pretty certain that there is more. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire. And I smell a smoke screen.
Tressel continues to offer some lip service. "Throughout this entire situation my players and I have committed ourselves to facing our mistakes and growing from them; we can only successfully do that together," Tressel said in a statement. "I spoke with athletics director (Gene) Smith, and our student‐athletes involved, and told them that my mistakes need to share the same game sanctions. Like my players, I am very sorry for the mistakes I made. I request of the university that my sanctions now include five games so that the players and I can handle this adversity together." Pryor, running back Dan Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive lineman Mike Adams and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas will miss games against Akron, Toledo, Miami (Fla.), Colorado and Michigan State.
You'd have to think the controversy would be wearing thin with Pryor. A source told a National Football Post writer the odds were about 60 percent that Pryor would run to the NFL. Those odds could rise in the coming weeks. It should be noted, there will be no supplemental draft until the locked out NFL resumes business operations.
College Football fans have been opportunistic in expressing their reaction and thoughts on OSU and or Pryor leaving:
"To think that OSU fans were getting upset when people said the whole 'play the bowl game and serve the suspension in the 2011 regular season' thing was a joke because the OSU players agreed to the stipulation they would come back for another year. What a joke OSU is, from their coach, to their players, to their AD, to their fans. Yes, the fans".
John
What I find hard to comprehend, where's the mainstream press regarding this issue? It's no secret these are unsettling times at The Ohio State University. If you look at the course of events that led to the 5-game suspensions of five Buckeyes....the admitted lack of sharing information with the Ohio State compliance department by head coach Jim Tressel....the self-imposed 2-game slap of Tressel....then the additional 3 games Tressel has requested from the NCAA, it's pretty certain that there is more. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire. And I smell a smoke screen.
Tressel continues to offer some lip service. "Throughout this entire situation my players and I have committed ourselves to facing our mistakes and growing from them; we can only successfully do that together," Tressel said in a statement. "I spoke with athletics director (Gene) Smith, and our student‐athletes involved, and told them that my mistakes need to share the same game sanctions. Like my players, I am very sorry for the mistakes I made. I request of the university that my sanctions now include five games so that the players and I can handle this adversity together." Pryor, running back Dan Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive lineman Mike Adams and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas will miss games against Akron, Toledo, Miami (Fla.), Colorado and Michigan State.
 |
| Pryor Doing What He Does Best....Run |
You'd have to think the controversy would be wearing thin with Pryor. A source told a National Football Post writer the odds were about 60 percent that Pryor would run to the NFL. Those odds could rise in the coming weeks. It should be noted, there will be no supplemental draft until the locked out NFL resumes business operations.
College Football fans have been opportunistic in expressing their reaction and thoughts on OSU and or Pryor leaving:
"To think that OSU fans were getting upset when people said the whole 'play the bowl game and serve the suspension in the 2011 regular season' thing was a joke because the OSU players agreed to the stipulation they would come back for another year. What a joke OSU is, from their coach, to their players, to their AD, to their fans. Yes, the fans".
"If he never wants to play a down as QB in the NFL, sure he should come on out. As an OSU fan, I personally don't think he'll ever be an NFL caliber QB. But he does have one last year to try and hone his craft and convince us otherwise. But if he's desperate to reincarnate Maurice Clarett's success, go ahead and pop his name in the Supplemental".
"I would hate to see him go but who could blame him if he were to leave and cash in. These players can make millions by leaving after three years, they can't even sell their own things for a small amount cash let alone a tattoo. The Buckeyes will be fine if he goes. Braxton Miller is just waiting for his chance. Whatever Pryor decides I wish him well and thank him for some fantastic plays he made for my beloved Buckeyes".
Spring football is winding down on college campuses. In the coming days when the pads are put away, there will be some additional fact finding done by the NCAA and some continued soul searching by Terrelle Pryor. Both have alot at stake. The question is, who'll decide first?
Thanks for reading,
John
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)