Friday, December 03, 2004
Potpourri
Whether you think the firing of Tyrone Willingham was racially motivated or that he was just not given enough of a chance, most people seem to be pretty critical of Notre Dame this week. I think The Irish look kind of foolish from a different angle.
It seems to me that the firing of Willingham had less to do with Tyrone than it had to do with Urban Meyer. Sure, they weren't happy with their record the past two seasons, but I think the presumed availability of a better coach (in their minds anyway) was the clincher.
However, now that Meyer has reportedly agreed to take over at Florida, Notre Dame appears to be left standing with its golden dome in the wind. They look like Ethan Embry in "Can't Hardly Wait" when he sees Jennifer Love Hewitt making out with her cousin. As Bill Simmons would say, Notre Dame is making The Ethan Embry Face.
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So now we know for a fact that Barry Bonds used steroids. Finally. His image is certainly forever tarnished, not that it was all that sterling to begin with, but I am wondering how this will affect the reverie in which his records and incredible achievements are held.
While the use of steroids is clearly an illegal means of greatly increasing strength and muscle mass, I wonder if it really gives Bonds, or anyone, an unfair advantage in homerun hitting. If this were tee-ball or even slowpitch softball, I could see it, but a homerun in baseball seems to be more a matter of timing, coordination, and bat speed rather than arm strength. I suppose you could argue that his beefed up arms allow him to swing a reasonably heavy bat a lot more quickly. The reduced power numbers over the past two seasons would certainly support that theory or just that steroids do affect homeruns in general. I am not sure, even given that correlation, that Bonds' numbers should have an asterisk attached to them. Depending on which player you talk to, you'll hear that perhaps as many as 80% of major league players are using steroids or have used them in the last five years. Yet only one hit 73 homeruns in a single season. Of course, the counterargument is that hitting better than others whom are also on steroids does not prove that his numbers are not inflated compared to what they would be if he were drug free. We may never know for sure, but Barry's dominance has got to still count for something.
Bonds is regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all-time because of his bat speed, his coordination, and his keen batting eye that seems to have laser-like precision. Subtract ten feet from 60% of his homeruns and he is still going to be hailed as such. Joe just reminded me that Bonds did win an MVP in Pittsburgh, before any of this steroid controversy. He also had another incredible season in 2004 when it was presumed that steroid use was greatly decreased.
Barry Bonds will still get into the Hall of Fame, as he should. Maybe they'll give his section bad lighting or stick it right next to the men's room, but he will still be there. I hate to close my thoughts on Bonds by starting onto someone else, but if Bonds gets in, don't they have to let Pete Rose in as well?
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Speaking of the greatest hitters of all-time, the bat that Babe Ruth used to hit the first ever homerun at Yankee Stadium was sold at auction for $1.26 million. What amazes me is that the bat made of solid ash is 36 inches long and weighs a massive 46 ounces! That is positively Flinstonian! I can barely manage a modern 32 oz. bat. I couldn't benchpress a 46-er! I would need written notice of a pitch five days in advance in order to swing lumber like that!
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It seems to me that the firing of Willingham had less to do with Tyrone than it had to do with Urban Meyer. Sure, they weren't happy with their record the past two seasons, but I think the presumed availability of a better coach (in their minds anyway) was the clincher.
However, now that Meyer has reportedly agreed to take over at Florida, Notre Dame appears to be left standing with its golden dome in the wind. They look like Ethan Embry in "Can't Hardly Wait" when he sees Jennifer Love Hewitt making out with her cousin. As Bill Simmons would say, Notre Dame is making The Ethan Embry Face.
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So now we know for a fact that Barry Bonds used steroids. Finally. His image is certainly forever tarnished, not that it was all that sterling to begin with, but I am wondering how this will affect the reverie in which his records and incredible achievements are held.
While the use of steroids is clearly an illegal means of greatly increasing strength and muscle mass, I wonder if it really gives Bonds, or anyone, an unfair advantage in homerun hitting. If this were tee-ball or even slowpitch softball, I could see it, but a homerun in baseball seems to be more a matter of timing, coordination, and bat speed rather than arm strength. I suppose you could argue that his beefed up arms allow him to swing a reasonably heavy bat a lot more quickly. The reduced power numbers over the past two seasons would certainly support that theory or just that steroids do affect homeruns in general. I am not sure, even given that correlation, that Bonds' numbers should have an asterisk attached to them. Depending on which player you talk to, you'll hear that perhaps as many as 80% of major league players are using steroids or have used them in the last five years. Yet only one hit 73 homeruns in a single season. Of course, the counterargument is that hitting better than others whom are also on steroids does not prove that his numbers are not inflated compared to what they would be if he were drug free. We may never know for sure, but Barry's dominance has got to still count for something.
Bonds is regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all-time because of his bat speed, his coordination, and his keen batting eye that seems to have laser-like precision. Subtract ten feet from 60% of his homeruns and he is still going to be hailed as such. Joe just reminded me that Bonds did win an MVP in Pittsburgh, before any of this steroid controversy. He also had another incredible season in 2004 when it was presumed that steroid use was greatly decreased.
Barry Bonds will still get into the Hall of Fame, as he should. Maybe they'll give his section bad lighting or stick it right next to the men's room, but he will still be there. I hate to close my thoughts on Bonds by starting onto someone else, but if Bonds gets in, don't they have to let Pete Rose in as well?
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Speaking of the greatest hitters of all-time, the bat that Babe Ruth used to hit the first ever homerun at Yankee Stadium was sold at auction for $1.26 million. What amazes me is that the bat made of solid ash is 36 inches long and weighs a massive 46 ounces! That is positively Flinstonian! I can barely manage a modern 32 oz. bat. I couldn't benchpress a 46-er! I would need written notice of a pitch five days in advance in order to swing lumber like that!
# posted by j.h.k. @ 1:19 PM 
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
The Pimp and the Message Board Post-er
So let me get this straight...when Urban Meyer (as an offspring, would his son be named Sub-Urban?) signed his contract to coach football at Utah, he had a clause put in that allows him to opt out if the Notre Dame job is offered? That is one of the oddest contract stipulations I have ever heard of. That's like getting into a relationship with a girl and telling her "okay, now I'll go out with you, but if my ex-girlfriend wants me back, I'm leaving you for her." No self-respecting woman would stand for that so what does this say about Utah that they agreed to it? Urban Meyer, you are the grandmaster pimp of head coaches.
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If you're ever in need of a good laugh, I recommend checking out a sports message board. I've been perusing them the past few days and have found some real doozies. Here's one of my faves...
The subject of the post reads: UCLA 28, USC 21
UCLA is #6 in the nation on NET PUNTING and #4 in the nation on kickoff coverage. Punt/Kickoff returns are what led to USC beating California, Stanford, and Oregon State setting up great field position. With UCLA forcing USC to travel long field all day they won't put up an abundance of points. And in case you didn't know, UCLA has one of the best rushing attacks in the nation and a Top 20 total offense rating.
Are you laughing as hard as I am? Now I don't want to say that special teams are worthless. They absolutely can mean the difference between winning and losing...assuming the two teams are evenly matched otherwise! To say that UCLA's punting game is going to make up for USC's total dominance on both offense and defense is the most desperate reach of all reaches. Let's face it, UCLA can pin SC's offense back at their own 1-yard line of the Coliseum and they're still gonna march down the field, up the steps, through the peristyle, along three freeways, through the quiet neighborhood of Pasadena, and right into UCLA's endzone at the Rose Bowl. And they're going to do it many many times. And as far as the defense is concerned, let's just say USC is going to give the famed UCLA punt squad plenty of chances to show their stuff. God, I love UCLA fans.
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If you're ever in need of a good laugh, I recommend checking out a sports message board. I've been perusing them the past few days and have found some real doozies. Here's one of my faves...
The subject of the post reads: UCLA 28, USC 21
UCLA is #6 in the nation on NET PUNTING and #4 in the nation on kickoff coverage. Punt/Kickoff returns are what led to USC beating California, Stanford, and Oregon State setting up great field position. With UCLA forcing USC to travel long field all day they won't put up an abundance of points. And in case you didn't know, UCLA has one of the best rushing attacks in the nation and a Top 20 total offense rating.
Are you laughing as hard as I am? Now I don't want to say that special teams are worthless. They absolutely can mean the difference between winning and losing...assuming the two teams are evenly matched otherwise! To say that UCLA's punting game is going to make up for USC's total dominance on both offense and defense is the most desperate reach of all reaches. Let's face it, UCLA can pin SC's offense back at their own 1-yard line of the Coliseum and they're still gonna march down the field, up the steps, through the peristyle, along three freeways, through the quiet neighborhood of Pasadena, and right into UCLA's endzone at the Rose Bowl. And they're going to do it many many times. And as far as the defense is concerned, let's just say USC is going to give the famed UCLA punt squad plenty of chances to show their stuff. God, I love UCLA fans.
# posted by j.h.k. @ 1:45 PM
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
The Recruit
Given that last Saturday's game against Notre Dame was a rivalry game and a nationally televised one at that, naturally USC hosted a bevy of recruits. Most had very respectful things to say or even went so far as to say they "can't wait to get here."
Except one. North Hollywood running back Marlon Lucky had this to say:
“The Trojans came and kicked some ass. I’m just here to watch. The SC coaches are still coming after me but I’m committed to Nebraska. I’m not planning on taking an official visit to USC.”
No, of course not. Why would you? Why would you bother wasting an official visit on a historic power and defending national champion on the verge of going wire-to-wire as the number one team in the nation? I mean, what could they possibly have to offer? Probably not very much media exposure, that's for sure. Even less of a chance to win if you ask me. And it's not like Pete Carroll ever gives freshmen a chance to play. Mike Williams, Dwayne Jarrett, and Reggie Bush will tell you that. And when was the last time a Trojan won a Heisman anyway? No, considering USC is just not an intelligent move for a young running back.
Personally, I'd much rather head to a happenin' city like Lincoln, Nebraska and play for a team that will be missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 1968. That's an exciting, up-and-coming team to me. A 5-6 record just smells like success to me. With Oklahoma clearly struggling, I think Nebraska could easily take the Big 12 title in the next couple seasons. Yessir, thanks for the tickets, USC, but I'm thinking the Cornhuskers are the team for me.
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Except one. North Hollywood running back Marlon Lucky had this to say:
“The Trojans came and kicked some ass. I’m just here to watch. The SC coaches are still coming after me but I’m committed to Nebraska. I’m not planning on taking an official visit to USC.”
No, of course not. Why would you? Why would you bother wasting an official visit on a historic power and defending national champion on the verge of going wire-to-wire as the number one team in the nation? I mean, what could they possibly have to offer? Probably not very much media exposure, that's for sure. Even less of a chance to win if you ask me. And it's not like Pete Carroll ever gives freshmen a chance to play. Mike Williams, Dwayne Jarrett, and Reggie Bush will tell you that. And when was the last time a Trojan won a Heisman anyway? No, considering USC is just not an intelligent move for a young running back.
Personally, I'd much rather head to a happenin' city like Lincoln, Nebraska and play for a team that will be missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 1968. That's an exciting, up-and-coming team to me. A 5-6 record just smells like success to me. With Oklahoma clearly struggling, I think Nebraska could easily take the Big 12 title in the next couple seasons. Yessir, thanks for the tickets, USC, but I'm thinking the Cornhuskers are the team for me.
# posted by j.h.k. @ 10:06 AM
Monday, November 29, 2004
The Return of The Czar!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1933045
Hasn't "The Czar" been considered for every NBA coaching vacancy in the past four years? Nice to see he finally caught on, I guess. Before I got hired, I interviewed with my current employer for five different jobs in the company, never being hired until obviously the last time. After a while, I thought HR might be playing a cruel joke and secretly laughing their asses off every time I actually showed up in coat and tie, resume in tow. At this point, I gotta think Fratello is feeling something similar. By the way, if you can't get a head coaching job in four years of interviews, don't you kinda have to stop calling yourself "The Czar?"
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Hasn't "The Czar" been considered for every NBA coaching vacancy in the past four years? Nice to see he finally caught on, I guess. Before I got hired, I interviewed with my current employer for five different jobs in the company, never being hired until obviously the last time. After a while, I thought HR might be playing a cruel joke and secretly laughing their asses off every time I actually showed up in coat and tie, resume in tow. At this point, I gotta think Fratello is feeling something similar. By the way, if you can't get a head coaching job in four years of interviews, don't you kinda have to stop calling yourself "The Czar?"
# posted by j.h.k. @ 2:33 PM
Long Lost Brothers?
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