Pete Rose always comes to mind when considering the Hall of Fame. After all, he's the all-time career hits leader. I think it's safe to say that record will never be surpassed. Even if someone could match or outdo his stats over several years, players make too much money these days, so they neither need nor want to stick around as long as it would take to get anywhere near that record. It will never happen again.
Rose got a lifetime ban for betting on baseball, so he's ineligible for the Hall of Fame. Turns out, he was betting on his own team to win, and yours truly sees no harm in that, but the "purists" adamantly maintain he was nonetheless betting, so he's been relegated to purgatory. Every year we'll hear some sports columnists get on their high horse and rail against Rose for the ultimate sin, in their eyes. Yet, those are likely the very same people who closely monitor the Las Vegas betting "line" in their own papers, buy football squares at the office or their local watering hole, fill out multiple brackets for the NCAA hoops tournament, play fantasy football, grab a few lottery tickets every time they're in a party store, and take their spouses or significant others to a casino for a good time. But dammit -- Rose was not supposed to gamble. Can you spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e?
Will Rose eventually be enshrined in Cooperstown? Of course. It's a shame he might not be alive to see it, because the purists will rant and rave until their, or his, dying breath, but it will happen, because it has to. The all-time career hits leader not being in the Hall? Are you kidding me? There's a huge difference between betting on your own team to win and....
Shoeless Joe Jackson (and others), of 1919 Black Sox notoriety, allegedly throwing a World Series. He was given a lifetime ban as well, which remains in effect to this day. Indeed, the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago White Sox 5 games to 3. For some reason, likely to generate more money, in 1919, along with the years 1903, 1920, and 1921, the World Series was a best of 9, instead of the usual best of 7. Jackson was vilified then, and most still think of him as a scoundrel today.
But a closer look at what really happened shows otherwise. In 1919, the Cincinnati Reds had a regular season record of 96-44. The White Sox had gone 88-52. On paper, the Reds were the better team anyway, so winning the World Series 5 games to 3 shouldn't have come as a great surprise. It wasn't like the Sox rolled over and got steam rolled. At that, Shoeless Joe went 12 for 32, a .375 average, with 5 runs scored, 3 doubles, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs. Do those sound like the sort of numbers a guy would put up in a World Series if he was trying to lose? I don't think so. (For that matter, there WAS no baseball commissioner in 1919. Kenesaw Mountain Landis didn't become Commissioner until 1921. Jackson played another full season before Landis handed him his lifetime ban. Does something seem not quite kosher with that?)
Neither did somebody else back then. The whole mess eventually found its way into court. After hearing all the testimony from various players, other people that were present, and considering all the evidence, or lack thereof, a judge totally absolved Jackson of any wrong doing. Shoeless Joe maintained his innocence until the day he died in 1951. 13 years with a lifetime batting average of .356, a career cut short because of being wrongfully accused, then acquitted, and almost a century later he still remains banned. I don't understand how even the purest of purists can defend that stance, but it's real.
How good was Jackson? Here's a quote from someone yours truly would consider to be fairly knowledgeable about such things.
"I copied Shoeless Joe Jackson's style because I thought he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen. The greatest natural hitter I ever saw. He's the guy who made me a hitter". Babe Ruth.
Good grief. In the days before most major league baseball players became millionaires, in 1979 former Commish Bowie Kuhn handed down lifetime bans to Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays because they dared to make a few bucks off "appearance fees" by playing golf with people a couple of casinos in Atlantic City were trying to impress. No mob connections, nor were the Mick and the Say Hey Kid ever even remotely associated with any actual betting (they didn't even HAVE a sports book in Atlantic City in those days), but baseball's seemingly irrational gambling phobia was still alive and well. It wasn't until after Kuhn died, and new Commish Peter Ueberroth took over, that he saw the wisdom is lifting those ridiculous bans.
These days, players routinely go to casinos for entertainment in the off season. To boot, if you've got enough money and a really good travel agent, you can probably have it arranged to sit down with one or more of them at a gambling event on a island somewhere between Florida and South America. It happens. Some of them are already enshrined, and others likely will be some day.
But Pete Rose is still banned because he made some bets on his team to win. And how about Shoeless Joe finally truly resting in peace? He got the justice, but nobody noticed. When will he get the recognition, and the plaque, that he so much deserves?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Baseball's Hall of Fame. A very strange house. Part I
It seems like the contradictions never end when one takes a closer look at some of the former baseball players now enshrined in Cooperstown, or those that maybe should be -- but aren't.
Everybody remembers Sandy Koufax. He only pitched for 5 or 6 years, was absolutely dominating, and an arm injury cut his career short, right? Not exactly. He pitched for 12 years. The first 6, he had a not-so-good record of 30-40. The final 6 he was indeed dominating, and that's what people remember. He developed arthritis in his pitching arm and retired with a career 165-87 record. He was a shoo-in for Cooperstown when he became eligible, but based on those numbers -- was he worthy?
Compare him to Jack Morris, who played for 18 years, and was the dominating pitcher for an entire decade. Morris was not only known for being able to bring serious " heat" with a fastball, but is sometimes credited as being the first to perfect the "split finger" pitch, which not many hurlers to this day have mastered. They both were on multiple World Series' winning teams, and Morris finished up at 254-186. Yet, 17 years after Morris retired, he's still not in.
On the other hand, Bert Blyleven, who played 22 years and was known for his extraordinary curve ball, and giving up a lot of home runs in the process, wound up at 287-250. He was inducted last year. Is justice, or even fairness, being served here?
No doubt, longevity plays a big part, but even that seems to be twisted.
Consider two shortstops. Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers and Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. Tram played 20 years. Oz 19. Tram had more homers, RBIs, and a career batting average of .285. Oz had more Golden Gloves and a career batting average of .262. Both were on one World Series championship team. Oz was flamboyant, back flips and all. Tram was not. Oz has a plaque in Cooperstown and Tram hasn't even come close. Why is that? You need only check something out. Do a Google search, only type in the name Alan, and see what pops up for suggested topics. When I did it, I saw Alan Jackson, Alan Rickman, Alan Colmes, Alan Ladd, Alan Thicke, and Alan Jackson's wife's cancer. Even ALANis Morissette made the list, but no Trammell. I never even heard of some of those people. Talk about no respect for Tram. Type in just Ozzie, and he comes in third, behind Ozzie Nelson, and Ozzie and Harriet, which seems redundant. Evidently, after all these years, he's still more popular than Ozzie Guillen, or Ozzie Osbourne, or even that guy behind the curtain in the Emerald City. Certainly more so than Trammell, to say the least. My personal opinion is I don't care if Smith never made an error in his whole career, and won multiple gold medals as an olympic gymnast, a.262 career batting just flat out isn't good enough for the Hall of Fame. But he's in.
The epitome of longevity would be comparing Lou Gehrig to Cal Ripken Jr. Gehrig went roughly 17 years to set the former mark of consecutive games played. During the course of that time, he had 493 home runs, 1993 RBIs, and wound up with a career batting average of .340. Everyone knows his life was cut short by ALS, an incurable disease to this day that bears his name. What most don't realize is that in the last full year he played, when it now seems quite probable that he was already beginning to suffer the symptoms of that disease -- his performance dropped off -- all the way down to hitting 29 home runs, 114 RBIs, and batting a mere .295. Even when he was stricken, he put up numbers that would likely get him on a modern-day All-Star team. Conversely, Ripken played roughly 21 years, without missing a game to break his record, and if it hadn't been for the strike-shortened 1994-95 seasons, his all-time record number would certainly be higher. But let's not forget that many of those seasons, Cal Jr. had his dad for a manager. Would another manager have given him a day or two off when he was dinged up or in a slump? Maybe. At that, with all the extra games, Ripken wound up with 431 home runs, 1695 RBIs, and a not-so-impressive career batting average of .276. He couldn't have carried Gehrig's jock strap, but he was a nice guy, so first ballot -- bang -- he's in. Was it justified?
Everybody remembers the name Roberto Clemente as well. He began his major league career in the same year as Sandy Koufax -- 1955. Played for 18 years. A 15 time All-Star, 12 Golden Gloves, also was on one World Series championship team with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was the National League MVP in 1966. He wasn't known as a big time home run hitter, clubbing only 240 over his career, but he racked up 1305 RBIs, stole a lot of bases, threw out many opposing runners with his rifle arm, and had a lifetime batting average of .317. Very impressive stuff. Though a native Puerto Rican, tragically, he died in an airplane crash, while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Nicaragua in 1972. To my knowledge, he was the first "latino" player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. At that, something strange happened. The mandatory 5-year waiting rule for eligibility was waived so he could be immediately inducted. He was the first and, to date, ONLY player that was granted such immunity. Why? He was going to get there anyway in due time. Not to be callous about it, but lots of guys, including the above mentioned Lou Gehrig, got inducted posthumously -- after the 5 year wait. Why should Clemente have been any different? By all accounts, they were both very fine men to be admired. It can't be about suffering. From what we know today about ALS, Gehrig likely suffered horribly in his final weeks, days, hours, and minutes. Plane crashes? In most cases, maybe a minute or so to contemplate doom when it's going down, but then BANG, lights out -- no suffering. It's just the way it is.
Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson, drunks, womanizers, steroids, and a bad guy next time.
Everybody remembers Sandy Koufax. He only pitched for 5 or 6 years, was absolutely dominating, and an arm injury cut his career short, right? Not exactly. He pitched for 12 years. The first 6, he had a not-so-good record of 30-40. The final 6 he was indeed dominating, and that's what people remember. He developed arthritis in his pitching arm and retired with a career 165-87 record. He was a shoo-in for Cooperstown when he became eligible, but based on those numbers -- was he worthy?
Compare him to Jack Morris, who played for 18 years, and was the dominating pitcher for an entire decade. Morris was not only known for being able to bring serious " heat" with a fastball, but is sometimes credited as being the first to perfect the "split finger" pitch, which not many hurlers to this day have mastered. They both were on multiple World Series' winning teams, and Morris finished up at 254-186. Yet, 17 years after Morris retired, he's still not in.
On the other hand, Bert Blyleven, who played 22 years and was known for his extraordinary curve ball, and giving up a lot of home runs in the process, wound up at 287-250. He was inducted last year. Is justice, or even fairness, being served here?
No doubt, longevity plays a big part, but even that seems to be twisted.
Consider two shortstops. Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers and Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. Tram played 20 years. Oz 19. Tram had more homers, RBIs, and a career batting average of .285. Oz had more Golden Gloves and a career batting average of .262. Both were on one World Series championship team. Oz was flamboyant, back flips and all. Tram was not. Oz has a plaque in Cooperstown and Tram hasn't even come close. Why is that? You need only check something out. Do a Google search, only type in the name Alan, and see what pops up for suggested topics. When I did it, I saw Alan Jackson, Alan Rickman, Alan Colmes, Alan Ladd, Alan Thicke, and Alan Jackson's wife's cancer. Even ALANis Morissette made the list, but no Trammell. I never even heard of some of those people. Talk about no respect for Tram. Type in just Ozzie, and he comes in third, behind Ozzie Nelson, and Ozzie and Harriet, which seems redundant. Evidently, after all these years, he's still more popular than Ozzie Guillen, or Ozzie Osbourne, or even that guy behind the curtain in the Emerald City. Certainly more so than Trammell, to say the least. My personal opinion is I don't care if Smith never made an error in his whole career, and won multiple gold medals as an olympic gymnast, a.262 career batting just flat out isn't good enough for the Hall of Fame. But he's in.
The epitome of longevity would be comparing Lou Gehrig to Cal Ripken Jr. Gehrig went roughly 17 years to set the former mark of consecutive games played. During the course of that time, he had 493 home runs, 1993 RBIs, and wound up with a career batting average of .340. Everyone knows his life was cut short by ALS, an incurable disease to this day that bears his name. What most don't realize is that in the last full year he played, when it now seems quite probable that he was already beginning to suffer the symptoms of that disease -- his performance dropped off -- all the way down to hitting 29 home runs, 114 RBIs, and batting a mere .295. Even when he was stricken, he put up numbers that would likely get him on a modern-day All-Star team. Conversely, Ripken played roughly 21 years, without missing a game to break his record, and if it hadn't been for the strike-shortened 1994-95 seasons, his all-time record number would certainly be higher. But let's not forget that many of those seasons, Cal Jr. had his dad for a manager. Would another manager have given him a day or two off when he was dinged up or in a slump? Maybe. At that, with all the extra games, Ripken wound up with 431 home runs, 1695 RBIs, and a not-so-impressive career batting average of .276. He couldn't have carried Gehrig's jock strap, but he was a nice guy, so first ballot -- bang -- he's in. Was it justified?
Everybody remembers the name Roberto Clemente as well. He began his major league career in the same year as Sandy Koufax -- 1955. Played for 18 years. A 15 time All-Star, 12 Golden Gloves, also was on one World Series championship team with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was the National League MVP in 1966. He wasn't known as a big time home run hitter, clubbing only 240 over his career, but he racked up 1305 RBIs, stole a lot of bases, threw out many opposing runners with his rifle arm, and had a lifetime batting average of .317. Very impressive stuff. Though a native Puerto Rican, tragically, he died in an airplane crash, while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Nicaragua in 1972. To my knowledge, he was the first "latino" player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. At that, something strange happened. The mandatory 5-year waiting rule for eligibility was waived so he could be immediately inducted. He was the first and, to date, ONLY player that was granted such immunity. Why? He was going to get there anyway in due time. Not to be callous about it, but lots of guys, including the above mentioned Lou Gehrig, got inducted posthumously -- after the 5 year wait. Why should Clemente have been any different? By all accounts, they were both very fine men to be admired. It can't be about suffering. From what we know today about ALS, Gehrig likely suffered horribly in his final weeks, days, hours, and minutes. Plane crashes? In most cases, maybe a minute or so to contemplate doom when it's going down, but then BANG, lights out -- no suffering. It's just the way it is.
Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson, drunks, womanizers, steroids, and a bad guy next time.
Monday, January 9, 2012
LSU vs Bama. One word. Boring
LSU and Alabama may or may not be the best two collegiate football teams in the country -- we'll never know because if any year ever screamed out for some sort of playoff system, it was this one -- but there's one thing I know about them for sure.
They're no fun to watch when playing against each other. I watched the first game they played, that LSU won 9-6. Some made field goals, some missed field goals, and nary a touchdown in sight. Boring.
This time I made it half way through the second quarter before reaching for the remote. Still not a touchdown. Click.
I can appreciate great defenses, but only to a point. There comes a time when the average football fan, such as yours truly, wants to see a touchdown here or there. (I heard later on that Bama actually scored one in "garbage time", glory hallelujah, but I was long gone.)
How bored was I? You've heard the comparisons about watching grass grow or paint dry. Maybe you've even watched a European soccer game. All that can be fairly boring.
I'm talking about begging my neighbor to bring over his 8 mm home movies, all couple hundred reels of them, firing up his Bell and Howell, popping up a few jars of Orville Redenbacher's finest, and watching his kids tear up everything they could get their hands on, for an all-nighter of good old fashioned family entertainment, while I give my dogs a hair cut -- one hair at a time. That's REALLY being bored.
But I'd have rather done that than watch those two teams play anymore.
Say or think what you will, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that teams such as Stanford, Okla St., Oregon, Boise State, and other schools considered offensive "juggernauts", couldn't have scored touchdowns against either LSU or Bama. And it would have been a lot more fun to watch.
Nevertheless, congrats to that lovable carpetbagger Nick Sabin and Alabama. They're the champs, and may they enjoy the parade in Tuscaloosa in a couple days.
I've been to oceans lots of times. You know what the only thing more boring than grass growing, paint drying, and your neighbor's home movies is?
Crimson or not, watching the tide go in and out.
They're no fun to watch when playing against each other. I watched the first game they played, that LSU won 9-6. Some made field goals, some missed field goals, and nary a touchdown in sight. Boring.
This time I made it half way through the second quarter before reaching for the remote. Still not a touchdown. Click.
I can appreciate great defenses, but only to a point. There comes a time when the average football fan, such as yours truly, wants to see a touchdown here or there. (I heard later on that Bama actually scored one in "garbage time", glory hallelujah, but I was long gone.)
How bored was I? You've heard the comparisons about watching grass grow or paint dry. Maybe you've even watched a European soccer game. All that can be fairly boring.
I'm talking about begging my neighbor to bring over his 8 mm home movies, all couple hundred reels of them, firing up his Bell and Howell, popping up a few jars of Orville Redenbacher's finest, and watching his kids tear up everything they could get their hands on, for an all-nighter of good old fashioned family entertainment, while I give my dogs a hair cut -- one hair at a time. That's REALLY being bored.
But I'd have rather done that than watch those two teams play anymore.
Say or think what you will, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that teams such as Stanford, Okla St., Oregon, Boise State, and other schools considered offensive "juggernauts", couldn't have scored touchdowns against either LSU or Bama. And it would have been a lot more fun to watch.
Nevertheless, congrats to that lovable carpetbagger Nick Sabin and Alabama. They're the champs, and may they enjoy the parade in Tuscaloosa in a couple days.
I've been to oceans lots of times. You know what the only thing more boring than grass growing, paint drying, and your neighbor's home movies is?
Crimson or not, watching the tide go in and out.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Tim Tebow for President
With a few breaks, he just might be able to pull it off. More about that later.
If you watched the Pittsburgh Steelers - Denver Broncos game, you know that Denver was cruising right along on their way to defeating the highly-favored Steelers until a couple weird things happened in the fourth quarter. A Broncos' running back named McGahee fumbled the ball. Huh? What choo be talkin' bout, Willis? Shortly thereafter a normally sure-handed defensive back named Champ Bailey came oh so close to having that first "a" in his named changed to a "u" when he dropped an easy interception in the end zone, that allowed the Steelers to stay in the game, and eventually tie it. On to overtime, the Steelers had the momentum, and the Broncos' fate seemed sealed.
But Denver won the coin flip and then something even weirder happened. On the first play from scrimmage, Tebow struck for an 80 yard TD pass. Bam. Game over. Just like that. John Elway flashed his famous grin and Mile High Stadium went bonkers. I'm pretty sure the talking heads will be resurrecting the latest rage in the sports world for the next week. Tebowmania will be coming your way, and that right soon.
Now Denver gets a date with the Brady Bunch in Foxborough next weekend. No way can they win that one, right? Probably not, but they weren't supposed to beat the Steelers either. Yet if they do.....
Tebow should throw his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for the Presidency. Think about it.
Put TT up on the stage for a debate with Mitt, Newt, Ron, Rick, and whoever else is left. The rest of them could blather on for hours in their typical political-non-speak. All Tebow would need do is take a knee, point his index finger skyward, and say nothing. The crowd would jump to it's feet and give him a standing ovation. Debate over. He wins.
Negative campaigning against him? He's a deeply religious man, the son of missionaries, and a self-confessed virgin. Good luck attacking THAT.
Foreign policy? Tebow would likely advocate world peace. Anyone care to argue the point?
Experience? Run of the mill candidates don't want to be labelled "career politicians", but two breaths later they'll brag about how much experience they have. The hypocrisy screams out while watching the "insiders" pretend they're "outsiders", so they can get back INSIDE, with even more power. Tebow need only smile at them. Try playing QB in the NFL, at altitude, when it's 10 below, in a blizzard. It doesn't get any more "outside" than that. Besides, what's the toughest thing the suits and power dresses have faced in the last few years? The manicure lady coming down sick at the last second before a photo-op? Tebow could roll a film clip showing an all out blitz coming at him, taking the shot, and getting back up. He wins again.
Tebowmania is only for desperate crazy people? Maybe, but how many millions spent big bucks on birth certificates for cabbage patch dolls? And don't get me started on chia-pets or lava lamps, let alone pet rocks. While some things may be in short supply in this country, crazy people is definitely not one of them.
Having to raise big money for campaigning? He wouldn't need to. Sports scribes from Maine to Hawaii, every local TV sports guy or gal, the internet, and the 4-letter network would provide all that for free.
Name recognition? Are you kidding me?
He'd be a lock for that nomination. The REAL election's next November. Tebow doesn't need to do any politicking at all. If he and the Broncos start off next season 7-1 or so, Obama might have something to worry about.
What's that, you say? 35 in the minimum age requirement for a President and Tebow's only 24? Well, that's a dumb rule. It's OK to have senators and judges in their 90's that are babbling incoherently, and are back on diapers, but a guy like this doesn't qualify?
OK. Have it your way -- for now. We'll talk about this again in 2024.
If you watched the Pittsburgh Steelers - Denver Broncos game, you know that Denver was cruising right along on their way to defeating the highly-favored Steelers until a couple weird things happened in the fourth quarter. A Broncos' running back named McGahee fumbled the ball. Huh? What choo be talkin' bout, Willis? Shortly thereafter a normally sure-handed defensive back named Champ Bailey came oh so close to having that first "a" in his named changed to a "u" when he dropped an easy interception in the end zone, that allowed the Steelers to stay in the game, and eventually tie it. On to overtime, the Steelers had the momentum, and the Broncos' fate seemed sealed.
But Denver won the coin flip and then something even weirder happened. On the first play from scrimmage, Tebow struck for an 80 yard TD pass. Bam. Game over. Just like that. John Elway flashed his famous grin and Mile High Stadium went bonkers. I'm pretty sure the talking heads will be resurrecting the latest rage in the sports world for the next week. Tebowmania will be coming your way, and that right soon.
Now Denver gets a date with the Brady Bunch in Foxborough next weekend. No way can they win that one, right? Probably not, but they weren't supposed to beat the Steelers either. Yet if they do.....
Tebow should throw his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for the Presidency. Think about it.
Put TT up on the stage for a debate with Mitt, Newt, Ron, Rick, and whoever else is left. The rest of them could blather on for hours in their typical political-non-speak. All Tebow would need do is take a knee, point his index finger skyward, and say nothing. The crowd would jump to it's feet and give him a standing ovation. Debate over. He wins.
Negative campaigning against him? He's a deeply religious man, the son of missionaries, and a self-confessed virgin. Good luck attacking THAT.
Foreign policy? Tebow would likely advocate world peace. Anyone care to argue the point?
Experience? Run of the mill candidates don't want to be labelled "career politicians", but two breaths later they'll brag about how much experience they have. The hypocrisy screams out while watching the "insiders" pretend they're "outsiders", so they can get back INSIDE, with even more power. Tebow need only smile at them. Try playing QB in the NFL, at altitude, when it's 10 below, in a blizzard. It doesn't get any more "outside" than that. Besides, what's the toughest thing the suits and power dresses have faced in the last few years? The manicure lady coming down sick at the last second before a photo-op? Tebow could roll a film clip showing an all out blitz coming at him, taking the shot, and getting back up. He wins again.
Tebowmania is only for desperate crazy people? Maybe, but how many millions spent big bucks on birth certificates for cabbage patch dolls? And don't get me started on chia-pets or lava lamps, let alone pet rocks. While some things may be in short supply in this country, crazy people is definitely not one of them.
Having to raise big money for campaigning? He wouldn't need to. Sports scribes from Maine to Hawaii, every local TV sports guy or gal, the internet, and the 4-letter network would provide all that for free.
Name recognition? Are you kidding me?
He'd be a lock for that nomination. The REAL election's next November. Tebow doesn't need to do any politicking at all. If he and the Broncos start off next season 7-1 or so, Obama might have something to worry about.
What's that, you say? 35 in the minimum age requirement for a President and Tebow's only 24? Well, that's a dumb rule. It's OK to have senators and judges in their 90's that are babbling incoherently, and are back on diapers, but a guy like this doesn't qualify?
OK. Have it your way -- for now. We'll talk about this again in 2024.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The Saints put the Lions in their place
I don't know how many hard-core Lions' fans I heard this last week, nor how many columns I read from supposedly learned sports-writers, telling me all the reasons the Lions could defeat the Saints in a playoff game at the Superdome. It was a lot. Yours truly just nodded or smiled at every one. Optimism is a good thing, but being foolish about it is quite another, especially if one is putting their money where their mouth is. I'll get back to that later.
Saints 45, Lions 28.
In a post-game press conference, Lions' head coach Jim Schwartz sounded like a sore loser. He whined and complained about a call here or a call there, and how his team didn't take advantage of their opportunities. Far be in from him to show a little class and just say they got beat by a better team -- again. If only this, and if only that.......
Hogwash. For everything that coulda, woulda, shoulda happened to the Lions, the Saints had a touchdown taken away, had to settle for a field goal, and in the closing minutes of the game took a knee while at the Lions' 2 yard line, where they probably could have punched it into the end zone again easily for yet another touchdown. It was the NFL equivalent of the "mercy rule" that's used in prep sports. That's potentially another 11 points that didn't happen, so I don't want to hear any sour grapes from Schwartz.
Look at the stats. Every time the Saints had the ball in the second half, they scored a touchdown, except at the end, where they didn't want to rub it in. No field goals, no punts, just down the field and rack up 6. Drew Brees threw for 466 yards, and the running backs added another 160 or so. The Lions don't have much of a running game, and while Matthew Stafford was trying to play pitch and catch with Calvin Johnson, Drew Brees was playing arena football against their entire defense. And if you watched the game, you know that some wide-open New Orleans receivers dropped a few balls in the first half, or it might have been even worse.
Lions' fans might wonder why Brees seemed to have way too much time to throw, and what happened to their fearsome defensive line -- including the likes of Ndahmukong Suh, Cliff Avril, Nick Fairley, and all. It had to do with a few guys they never heard of. The Saints have 3 All-Pro offensive linemen in front of Brees, and the other guys are brutes as well. Suh and company got cancelled. (While everybody always hears about defensive linemen, sacks, tackles for losses, etc, the offensive linemen continue to be under the radar, underpaid, and certainly underappreciated -- but nothing happens without them -- for any football team.)
Don't get me wrong. Much credit to the Lions for even reaching the playoffs. Their improvement over the last 2 years has been remarkable. In a year or two -- who knows what they might accomplish?
Yet to think they were a Super Bowl caliber team this year was just foolishness. The Saints, an obviously superior team, took them to the woodshed again.
Let's get real about the Lions. In the NFC, they've come a long way this year, but not as far as the San Francisco 49ers under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh. San Fran came to Ford Field and handed the Lions their first loss of the year. You might remember Jim Schwartz losing his cool after that game, to say the least. Are the Lions better than the Atlanta Falcons? Hard to say at this time, but Atlanta did beat them earlier this year -- also at Ford Field. Da Bears? Another hard call. They lost starting QB Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, a dominating running back, which doomed their chances. Take away Stafford and Johnson from the Lions a few games ago, and where might they be? Besides, who's considered the class of the NFC field right now? I don't even have to mention the name. You know.
In the AFC, the Lions aren't as good as the Ravens or the Steelers, and does anybody really want to compare Jim Schwartz and Matthew Stafford with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady just yet? Please. And let's not forget those pesky Houston Texans, who are also flying under the radar, but are improving at a rate similar to the Lions. The Lions, who have been playing in the NFL since 1934, are currently among only 4 teams, the other ones being Jacksonville, Cleveland, and Houston, all "expansion" teams, that have never even PLAYED in the Super Bowl, let alone won it. It might be interesting to see who gets there first -- the Lions or the Texans -- or perhaps even one of the others.
But for now, I'll grade the Lions out as about a #10 seed in the entire NFL. That's a lot better than a few years ago when they were #32 -- out of 32. Things are looking up, but let's not get carried away just yet.
The wagering thing I mentioned earlier? The line had the Saints giving 10 and a 1/2. Turned out, a few Lions' fans were willing to bet them even-up to win. Really? Hey, a dime here and a quarter there, and the next thing you know, we're talking about real money.
Oh, may those saints keep marching in.
Saints 45, Lions 28.
In a post-game press conference, Lions' head coach Jim Schwartz sounded like a sore loser. He whined and complained about a call here or a call there, and how his team didn't take advantage of their opportunities. Far be in from him to show a little class and just say they got beat by a better team -- again. If only this, and if only that.......
Hogwash. For everything that coulda, woulda, shoulda happened to the Lions, the Saints had a touchdown taken away, had to settle for a field goal, and in the closing minutes of the game took a knee while at the Lions' 2 yard line, where they probably could have punched it into the end zone again easily for yet another touchdown. It was the NFL equivalent of the "mercy rule" that's used in prep sports. That's potentially another 11 points that didn't happen, so I don't want to hear any sour grapes from Schwartz.
Look at the stats. Every time the Saints had the ball in the second half, they scored a touchdown, except at the end, where they didn't want to rub it in. No field goals, no punts, just down the field and rack up 6. Drew Brees threw for 466 yards, and the running backs added another 160 or so. The Lions don't have much of a running game, and while Matthew Stafford was trying to play pitch and catch with Calvin Johnson, Drew Brees was playing arena football against their entire defense. And if you watched the game, you know that some wide-open New Orleans receivers dropped a few balls in the first half, or it might have been even worse.
Lions' fans might wonder why Brees seemed to have way too much time to throw, and what happened to their fearsome defensive line -- including the likes of Ndahmukong Suh, Cliff Avril, Nick Fairley, and all. It had to do with a few guys they never heard of. The Saints have 3 All-Pro offensive linemen in front of Brees, and the other guys are brutes as well. Suh and company got cancelled. (While everybody always hears about defensive linemen, sacks, tackles for losses, etc, the offensive linemen continue to be under the radar, underpaid, and certainly underappreciated -- but nothing happens without them -- for any football team.)
Don't get me wrong. Much credit to the Lions for even reaching the playoffs. Their improvement over the last 2 years has been remarkable. In a year or two -- who knows what they might accomplish?
Yet to think they were a Super Bowl caliber team this year was just foolishness. The Saints, an obviously superior team, took them to the woodshed again.
Let's get real about the Lions. In the NFC, they've come a long way this year, but not as far as the San Francisco 49ers under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh. San Fran came to Ford Field and handed the Lions their first loss of the year. You might remember Jim Schwartz losing his cool after that game, to say the least. Are the Lions better than the Atlanta Falcons? Hard to say at this time, but Atlanta did beat them earlier this year -- also at Ford Field. Da Bears? Another hard call. They lost starting QB Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, a dominating running back, which doomed their chances. Take away Stafford and Johnson from the Lions a few games ago, and where might they be? Besides, who's considered the class of the NFC field right now? I don't even have to mention the name. You know.
In the AFC, the Lions aren't as good as the Ravens or the Steelers, and does anybody really want to compare Jim Schwartz and Matthew Stafford with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady just yet? Please. And let's not forget those pesky Houston Texans, who are also flying under the radar, but are improving at a rate similar to the Lions. The Lions, who have been playing in the NFL since 1934, are currently among only 4 teams, the other ones being Jacksonville, Cleveland, and Houston, all "expansion" teams, that have never even PLAYED in the Super Bowl, let alone won it. It might be interesting to see who gets there first -- the Lions or the Texans -- or perhaps even one of the others.
But for now, I'll grade the Lions out as about a #10 seed in the entire NFL. That's a lot better than a few years ago when they were #32 -- out of 32. Things are looking up, but let's not get carried away just yet.
The wagering thing I mentioned earlier? The line had the Saints giving 10 and a 1/2. Turned out, a few Lions' fans were willing to bet them even-up to win. Really? Hey, a dime here and a quarter there, and the next thing you know, we're talking about real money.
Oh, may those saints keep marching in.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Miguel Cabrera and a better way
In my opinion, Matt Mowery does a first-class job (Hawkins who?) covering the Detroit Tigers for this newspaper. Here's hoping he doesn't mind too much that I'm going to heavily reference a small article he recently wrote about the outcome of Miguel Cabrera's alcohol related legal problems in Florida.
It seems Cabrera pled no-contest to DUI, which isn't an admission of guilt, but is treated the same for sentencing purposes, while the prosecution agreed to dismiss charges of resisting arrest and having an open intoxicant in the vehicle.
The sentence? No jail time. A couple grand in fines and/or court costs, a year of probation and 50 hours community service. His driver's license will be suspended for 6 months. All nice and tidy, case closed, and it sounds fair enough, right?
Hardly. Let's take a closer look. Cabrera might be able to get out of his probation if he meets the other conditions of his sentence. By the way, he can pay off his community service at $10 an hour.
The end result? Basically no punishment whatsoever. It's a joke. Cabrera made $20 million last year playing baseball. For the purposes of this argument, let's say, after taxes, he netted $15 million. Take home. Does anybody in their right mind think a $2000 fine is going to faze this guy? The pair of shoes he wore into court probably cost more than that. In HIS world, that's chump change. High priced legal-eagles to represent him? Would it surprise anybody if the Tigers were picking up the tab for those services?
Getting rid of 50 hours of community service at $10 an hour? My math says that's $500. So either Cabrera can go back to Florida and spend 50 hours cleaning up trash on the sides of roads, helping out in a soup kitchen, mowing lawns at churches, or perhaps even giving inspirational speeches to kids. Or he can throw 5 C-notes down and forget about the whole thing. What's the next rung below chump change? Decisions, decisions. Gee, I wonder what he will do?
And here's the kicker. He will have fulfilled all his sentence requirements, so his probation will likely be cancelled and he'll get his driver's license back. After almost a year of working it's way through the court system, the end result appears to amount to nothing. So what was the point? The arresting officers in Fort Pierce might as well have asked him for his autograph, swiped his booze, and chauffeured him to wherever he wanted to go.
Consider an "average" citizen in Fort Pierce, or anywhere else, for that matter, getting busted for the same crime(s). Let's assume that guy is making $20,000 a year. Let's even assume he would receive the same sentence that Cabrera did. While it's chump change to Cabrera, a $2000 fine would hurt that guy. That doesn't seem fair.
There's a better way.
Depending on the severity of the crime(s), make the fine a percentage of what they earn -- off the top. Gross income. That way rich people can't have their CPAs figuring out a way to write it off. Let's further say a certain crime was worth 5%. In Cabrera's case, that would have equated to a million bucks. Cough it up. The guy that's making $20,000 would pay a thousand bucks. The clerk/cashier is right down the hall.
That way they would both theoretically suffer the same amount of financial hurt for the same crime. Yes, I understand Joe Citizen would miss his thousand more than Cabrera would miss his million, but you have to start someplace, because the current system is somewhere between rigged and ridiculous.
But what if that citizen was amongst the millions that don't even HAVE jobs? He could be fined a million, a billion, or whatever, but he can't give what he doesn't have, and currently has no way of earning.
THAT is where community service should come into play. If nothing else, the man's got time on his hands. The alternative is to throw him in jail, house him, feed him, all at taxpayer expense, and take away any opportunity he might have had to get a job in the first place. How much sense does THAT make?
One more suggestion. When sentencing rich guys like Cabrera to community service -- forget about 50 hours they can buy out of for the price of a cheap night out. Give them, say, 2000, with the same $10 an hour opt-out clause.
If I could send a message to Cabrera, it would be this ----
Hey Miguel, you have a choice. Do you want to play baseball next year in major league parks, fly on private charters, stay in 5-star motels, and be adored by millions of your fans -- or do you want to spend it putting in 40 hour weeks at a soup kitchen in Florida?
I know you don't like it, but think of it this way, amigo. At $10 an hour, you just created another $20,000 job for a guy that needs one. You're doing your small part to help with the unemployment problem in the country that has made you rich.
Be very thankful you never had the pleasure of meeting a young lady named Kimberly Small. She's a judge, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to get to know her in an official capacity. Trust me on that one.
Say hi to Hugo for me.
It seems Cabrera pled no-contest to DUI, which isn't an admission of guilt, but is treated the same for sentencing purposes, while the prosecution agreed to dismiss charges of resisting arrest and having an open intoxicant in the vehicle.
The sentence? No jail time. A couple grand in fines and/or court costs, a year of probation and 50 hours community service. His driver's license will be suspended for 6 months. All nice and tidy, case closed, and it sounds fair enough, right?
Hardly. Let's take a closer look. Cabrera might be able to get out of his probation if he meets the other conditions of his sentence. By the way, he can pay off his community service at $10 an hour.
The end result? Basically no punishment whatsoever. It's a joke. Cabrera made $20 million last year playing baseball. For the purposes of this argument, let's say, after taxes, he netted $15 million. Take home. Does anybody in their right mind think a $2000 fine is going to faze this guy? The pair of shoes he wore into court probably cost more than that. In HIS world, that's chump change. High priced legal-eagles to represent him? Would it surprise anybody if the Tigers were picking up the tab for those services?
Getting rid of 50 hours of community service at $10 an hour? My math says that's $500. So either Cabrera can go back to Florida and spend 50 hours cleaning up trash on the sides of roads, helping out in a soup kitchen, mowing lawns at churches, or perhaps even giving inspirational speeches to kids. Or he can throw 5 C-notes down and forget about the whole thing. What's the next rung below chump change? Decisions, decisions. Gee, I wonder what he will do?
And here's the kicker. He will have fulfilled all his sentence requirements, so his probation will likely be cancelled and he'll get his driver's license back. After almost a year of working it's way through the court system, the end result appears to amount to nothing. So what was the point? The arresting officers in Fort Pierce might as well have asked him for his autograph, swiped his booze, and chauffeured him to wherever he wanted to go.
Consider an "average" citizen in Fort Pierce, or anywhere else, for that matter, getting busted for the same crime(s). Let's assume that guy is making $20,000 a year. Let's even assume he would receive the same sentence that Cabrera did. While it's chump change to Cabrera, a $2000 fine would hurt that guy. That doesn't seem fair.
There's a better way.
Depending on the severity of the crime(s), make the fine a percentage of what they earn -- off the top. Gross income. That way rich people can't have their CPAs figuring out a way to write it off. Let's further say a certain crime was worth 5%. In Cabrera's case, that would have equated to a million bucks. Cough it up. The guy that's making $20,000 would pay a thousand bucks. The clerk/cashier is right down the hall.
That way they would both theoretically suffer the same amount of financial hurt for the same crime. Yes, I understand Joe Citizen would miss his thousand more than Cabrera would miss his million, but you have to start someplace, because the current system is somewhere between rigged and ridiculous.
But what if that citizen was amongst the millions that don't even HAVE jobs? He could be fined a million, a billion, or whatever, but he can't give what he doesn't have, and currently has no way of earning.
THAT is where community service should come into play. If nothing else, the man's got time on his hands. The alternative is to throw him in jail, house him, feed him, all at taxpayer expense, and take away any opportunity he might have had to get a job in the first place. How much sense does THAT make?
One more suggestion. When sentencing rich guys like Cabrera to community service -- forget about 50 hours they can buy out of for the price of a cheap night out. Give them, say, 2000, with the same $10 an hour opt-out clause.
If I could send a message to Cabrera, it would be this ----
Hey Miguel, you have a choice. Do you want to play baseball next year in major league parks, fly on private charters, stay in 5-star motels, and be adored by millions of your fans -- or do you want to spend it putting in 40 hour weeks at a soup kitchen in Florida?
I know you don't like it, but think of it this way, amigo. At $10 an hour, you just created another $20,000 job for a guy that needs one. You're doing your small part to help with the unemployment problem in the country that has made you rich.
Be very thankful you never had the pleasure of meeting a young lady named Kimberly Small. She's a judge, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to get to know her in an official capacity. Trust me on that one.
Say hi to Hugo for me.
UM and the Lions rule Michigan sports
I expect to catch some flak for this, but before you start thinking my very last functional neuron finally gave up the ghost -- bear with me.
First, I attended neither UM nor MSU, so I play no favorites there. I graduated from Oakland University in Rochester. Second, this is in no way meant to ignore all the other fine schools in Michigan, and the myriad of sports programs they offer, but I'm going to keep this about UM/MSU football and basketball. I'll get to the Lions later.
MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo has built a program to be highly admired. They have a national championship, 6 Final Four appearances, are perennially a Top Ten ranked team, consistently recruit blue-chip prep hoopsters from all over the country, and, well, success breeds more success. In the meantime, UM has gone through scandals, a few head coaches that didn't work out, and dismal records. But honestly ask yourself -- if Michigan's program ever returns to prominence -- who do you think will get the spotlight?
Look at football. Under Mark Dantonio, MSU has beat UM 4 times in a row. MSU went to the Big "Ten" conference title game this year. After the disastrous RichRod era, Michigan hired a new coach, Brady Hoke, who made them at least respectable. But they only came in 3rd in the conference, while suffering yet another defeat at the hands of the Spartans. Yet.when all was said and done, UM got to play in a higher tier bowl game than MSU. More money, more exposure, more everything. I'm not saying it's right -- I'm just saying it's real. Many scribes have said UM is on it's way to reclaiming its "rightful place" at the top of the heap. So what's so righteous about UM and non-righteous about MSU? Beats me, but sometimes it seems like that's just the way it is.
Academics? Both have a lot to offer. At that, what could be more important than health? UM has a first-class teaching hospital, with a burn center likely second to none. You've likely seen many TV commercials where they boast of their prowess in specialized fields, particularly pediatric care. On the flip side -- if you just need a regular doctor for an office call, good luck finding one that came from UM.
MSU offers something different. People that love their pets will take them to a veterinarian for routine check-ups, vaccinations, heart-worm pills, etc. Unless a vet came from another state and somehow transferred their license to practice, all those people in this state went to MSU. There's lots of law schools, med schools, this schools, and that schools, but, to my knowledge, there's only one veterinary school in Michigan. (On that note, I would highly recommend Dr. Richard Hirr, his associates and staff at the Waterford Veterinary Hospital, to take good care of your 4-legged kids.)
It all depends on what you want or need.
On the pro-level, it would seem absurd to say the Lions rule the state. They haven't won anything since -- what -- the Eisenhower administration? But stop and think about it.
The Pistons won back to back championships in the late 80s, and another one in 2004. We celebrated all of those. The Tigers haven't won a World Series since 1984, but as Ernie Harwell used to say, hope springs eternal every year. Maybe it's because there's nothing much else to watch in the summertime, but the Tigers' faithful will always be there. Recently, they're at least competitive every year. The Red Wings have won a few Stanley Cups in the not so distant past, had parades, and it's pretty well taken for granted they will make the playoffs every year. After that, it's a crap shoot, as hockey fans know.
But the Lions rule. They always have. Even though they've been mocked and ridiculed for many years, and for many reasons, including the Ford ownership, Matt Millen, various head coaches, draft picks that were busts, and a win-loss record that approached the Washington Nationals' against the Harlem Globetrotters' only a few years ago -- the fan base has always been there simmering barely underneath the surface, year after year, like a volcano that's just trying to find a way to erupt. And look at what's happened.
In only one year, they've gone from joke to merely respectable. Fans have found their fissure to finally just let all that pent up energy, heat, and in the case of some local scribes -- gas -- go. The Lions haven't even won a single playoff game in 20 years, but people from executives on down to bar flies are talking about the Super Bowl. Maybe it will happen. I hope so, for their sake. Then again, maybe Donald Trump will stop by my house tomorrow and hand me a million dollars because he really likes this blog -- but I wouldn't bet on it.
Let's put it this way. It's highly unlikely, but if in the same sports year, the Pistons were to win the NBA championship, the Tigers the World Series, the Red Wings the Stanley Cup, and the Lions went to the Super Bowl, but got beat -- even hammered -- which do you think would inspire the most passion amongst sports fans in Michigan?
These days, sports bars are chock full of Lions' fans that will pay big bucks for drinks, and will jump up and scream at the big screen when it comes to a questionable call against their beloved team. Last year, those same people would probably have been home watching them on TV, while mumbling and grabbing another beer out of a 12 pack.
But they watched. They always watched. They always WILL watch.
It's a passion.
The Lions rule.
First, I attended neither UM nor MSU, so I play no favorites there. I graduated from Oakland University in Rochester. Second, this is in no way meant to ignore all the other fine schools in Michigan, and the myriad of sports programs they offer, but I'm going to keep this about UM/MSU football and basketball. I'll get to the Lions later.
MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo has built a program to be highly admired. They have a national championship, 6 Final Four appearances, are perennially a Top Ten ranked team, consistently recruit blue-chip prep hoopsters from all over the country, and, well, success breeds more success. In the meantime, UM has gone through scandals, a few head coaches that didn't work out, and dismal records. But honestly ask yourself -- if Michigan's program ever returns to prominence -- who do you think will get the spotlight?
Look at football. Under Mark Dantonio, MSU has beat UM 4 times in a row. MSU went to the Big "Ten" conference title game this year. After the disastrous RichRod era, Michigan hired a new coach, Brady Hoke, who made them at least respectable. But they only came in 3rd in the conference, while suffering yet another defeat at the hands of the Spartans. Yet.when all was said and done, UM got to play in a higher tier bowl game than MSU. More money, more exposure, more everything. I'm not saying it's right -- I'm just saying it's real. Many scribes have said UM is on it's way to reclaiming its "rightful place" at the top of the heap. So what's so righteous about UM and non-righteous about MSU? Beats me, but sometimes it seems like that's just the way it is.
Academics? Both have a lot to offer. At that, what could be more important than health? UM has a first-class teaching hospital, with a burn center likely second to none. You've likely seen many TV commercials where they boast of their prowess in specialized fields, particularly pediatric care. On the flip side -- if you just need a regular doctor for an office call, good luck finding one that came from UM.
MSU offers something different. People that love their pets will take them to a veterinarian for routine check-ups, vaccinations, heart-worm pills, etc. Unless a vet came from another state and somehow transferred their license to practice, all those people in this state went to MSU. There's lots of law schools, med schools, this schools, and that schools, but, to my knowledge, there's only one veterinary school in Michigan. (On that note, I would highly recommend Dr. Richard Hirr, his associates and staff at the Waterford Veterinary Hospital, to take good care of your 4-legged kids.)
It all depends on what you want or need.
On the pro-level, it would seem absurd to say the Lions rule the state. They haven't won anything since -- what -- the Eisenhower administration? But stop and think about it.
The Pistons won back to back championships in the late 80s, and another one in 2004. We celebrated all of those. The Tigers haven't won a World Series since 1984, but as Ernie Harwell used to say, hope springs eternal every year. Maybe it's because there's nothing much else to watch in the summertime, but the Tigers' faithful will always be there. Recently, they're at least competitive every year. The Red Wings have won a few Stanley Cups in the not so distant past, had parades, and it's pretty well taken for granted they will make the playoffs every year. After that, it's a crap shoot, as hockey fans know.
But the Lions rule. They always have. Even though they've been mocked and ridiculed for many years, and for many reasons, including the Ford ownership, Matt Millen, various head coaches, draft picks that were busts, and a win-loss record that approached the Washington Nationals' against the Harlem Globetrotters' only a few years ago -- the fan base has always been there simmering barely underneath the surface, year after year, like a volcano that's just trying to find a way to erupt. And look at what's happened.
In only one year, they've gone from joke to merely respectable. Fans have found their fissure to finally just let all that pent up energy, heat, and in the case of some local scribes -- gas -- go. The Lions haven't even won a single playoff game in 20 years, but people from executives on down to bar flies are talking about the Super Bowl. Maybe it will happen. I hope so, for their sake. Then again, maybe Donald Trump will stop by my house tomorrow and hand me a million dollars because he really likes this blog -- but I wouldn't bet on it.
Let's put it this way. It's highly unlikely, but if in the same sports year, the Pistons were to win the NBA championship, the Tigers the World Series, the Red Wings the Stanley Cup, and the Lions went to the Super Bowl, but got beat -- even hammered -- which do you think would inspire the most passion amongst sports fans in Michigan?
These days, sports bars are chock full of Lions' fans that will pay big bucks for drinks, and will jump up and scream at the big screen when it comes to a questionable call against their beloved team. Last year, those same people would probably have been home watching them on TV, while mumbling and grabbing another beer out of a 12 pack.
But they watched. They always watched. They always WILL watch.
It's a passion.
The Lions rule.
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