Sports of all sortstag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//612008-06-19T01:29:45ZMovable Type 3.32Worth beholdingtag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.43982008-06-19T01:28:47Z2008-06-19T01:29:45ZThe Travelers Championship has drawn few top-25 players this year, which unfortunately seems to be the norm for the tournament. Nonetheless, I fail to be discouraged. I look forward to the PGA coming to Connecticut every year, and I plan...Dave
The Travelers Championship has drawn few top-25 players this year, which unfortunately seems to be the norm for the tournament. Nonetheless, I fail to be discouraged. I look forward to the PGA coming to Connecticut every year, and I plan to attend.
So, when you read all about the lackluster field, remember these facts:
* Here’s something you probably haven’t read yet: The Travelers has the top four in driving distance on Tour, according to PGA statistics: Bubba Watson, J.B. Holmes, Dustin Johnson and Robert Garrigus all average over 300 yards per drive.
* J.J. Henry, slumping a bit lately, goes for his second win on Tour. Henry, who won in 2006, could delight the home fans if he contends.
* Kenny Perry, who’s in the Travelers, won as recently as June 1 (Memorial) and also had a second-place finish about a month ago. Perry, 47, is trying to play as many tournaments as he can to collect Ryder Cup points — the Ryder Cup is being played in Kentucky, his home state — and he could very well become part of the U.S. team.
* The Travelers has the top four in driving accuracy according to Tour stats — Olin Browne, Mark Brooks, Fred Funk and Zach Johnson. Browne and Brooks are former winners at Cromwell.
* Vijay Singh, a former world No. 1, is in the field.
To me, the tournament’s appeal is still there.
Golf: Pursuit of madnesstag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.42622008-06-04T05:58:02Z2008-06-04T06:18:57ZAfter years of buying golf clubs, shoes, balls and assorted gear, shelling out more money to have my clubs extended, and paying greens fees — sometimes exorbitant enough to make my wife’s eyebrows shoot up — my game has remained...Dave
After years of buying golf clubs, shoes, balls and assorted gear, shelling out more money to have my clubs extended, and paying greens fees — sometimes exorbitant enough to make my wife’s eyebrows shoot up — my game has remained remarkably mediocre. So I decided to invest more money and take lessons. (Smart, huh?)
In the past, on a good day — OK, a very good, very rare day — I’ll shoot an 85. Most of the time, I’m grinding so hard to overcome my weaknesses, I’ll be happy with a 95 or 96. And days when my game is worse? You don’t want to hear about it.
I’ve just completed my fourth and final group lesson, and I have to wonder how I ever broke 120.
Now, the first three lessons were very instructive and had me feeling relatively good about myself. On irons play, I learned how to greatly reduce my backswing and introduce a sweeping motion. I’ve played four nine-hole rounds during the same period as these first three lessons, and I struggled on the first two rounds, but shot a 47 and 46 on the next two.
So far, so good. The few pointers I’d picked up were working.
Then I went to the fourth lesson.
That could have been my mistake.
A pro at the golf course that gave the lessons really challenged me. He saw my swing for the first time, saw my potential (or the chance to make a lot of money in future lessons). He said I shouldn’t shoot 95 any more. He said that without chipping or putting well, I should be shooting 85. Later during the session, he said if I do the drills (and practice), I should be hitting 7-irons 170 yards. Normally to that remark, I would say something like, “What have you been smoking?”
Now, you’ve got to realize that I’m often the butt of jokes at the course because of my short distance off the tee. Once, after I hit a measly driver, a buddy asked if my husband plays, too. Sure, it’s a tired, sexist joke, but he delivered it well and his timing was perfect — another foursome (of guys) had just arrived on the same tee.
But 170-yard 7-irons? You’ve got to be kidding me.
So I did every drill the pro asked of me, even though I admit that in a couple of instances, rather than learn anything, I was simply trying not to hurt anyone else at the range by plunking them with my golf ball. But I took all his advice, tried to commit it to memory, and I will do the drills some more.
I will try to golf well, for a change.
I did like the pro, who said I should come see him again if I have problems. He may regret that statement when I do my Bill Murray impersonation from “What about Bob?” with the pro as my doctor.
CP3 my MVPtag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.40532008-05-07T02:35:49Z2008-05-07T02:37:32ZMy thoughts on Kobe Bryant winning the NBA MVP award over Chris Paul: Yes, Kobe had perhaps his finest season, one in which he made his teammates better, and you could say he is deserving of the award for that...Dave
My thoughts on Kobe Bryant winning the NBA MVP award over Chris Paul:
Yes, Kobe had perhaps his finest season, one in which he made his teammates better, and you could say he is deserving of the award for that reason alone.
But Paul did more for his teammates.
Give the Hornets’ Tyson Chandler credit for leading the charge neutralizing Tim Duncan of the Spurs. And David West is an improving player, even an all-star this past season. Peja Stojakovic is a terrific outside shooter. But if you take Paul away, does Chandler — who led the NBA in dunks in the regular season, usually on Paul assists — play defense and rebound with the same energy? Without Paul, does West avoid double-teams? Does Stojakovic find himself as open — sometimes startlingly so — without Paul?
You know the answer.
Granted, if you take Bryant away, the Lakers would win 20 fewer games just like the Hornets without Paul. But Bryant isn’t the setup man Paul is. For that reason, I find Paul more valuable.
(And I love Paul’s sense of humor: He compared sideline announcer Craig Sager’s latest look to that of Hugo the Hornet.)
Ailing Tigertag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.38912008-04-16T05:49:11Z2008-04-16T05:50:10Z* So Tiger’s having cartilage repaired in his knee. I’m sure that sore knee must have really hampered him when he was missing 4-foot putts in the Masters Sunday. Sunday’s round was ugly, let’s hope forgetfully so. I didn’t think...Dave
* So Tiger’s having cartilage repaired in his knee. I’m sure that sore knee must have really hampered him when he was missing 4-foot putts in the Masters Sunday.
Sunday’s round was ugly, let’s hope forgetfully so. I didn’t think CBS did a good job of portraying how truly difficult the conditions were with the wind; it was tough enough to make a grown man (Brandt Snedeker) cry. But let’s not take anything away from what Trevor Immelman did in the first three rounds to build his insurmountable lead, just months after he survived major surgery to remove a benign tumor on his diaphragm. And if this guy is really the closest thing to Ben Hogan as Gary Player suggests, we’ll be seeing much more of him in the future, which is a good thing, when the game has Tiger on the top level and everybody else below him.
* I have very few feelings about the NBA playoff picture, but I hope the Hornets’ Chris Paul makes it to the finals. No one seems to expect the best point guard in the game to be able to do that.
* Red Sox and Yankees again … and it doesn’t seem to be a big deal. Can’t these games, the only ones that matter to a lot of fans in this region, be played when your hands won’t go numb from the cold?
Augusta unleashedtag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.38492008-04-10T00:30:02Z2008-04-10T00:31:33ZI had the good fortune of having a practice round ticket for the Masters, provided by a great buddy, on Monday, and here’s what I noticed on my first trip to Augusta, Ga.: * There is the world we live...Dave
I had the good fortune of having a practice round ticket for the Masters, provided by a great buddy, on Monday, and here’s what I noticed on my first trip to Augusta, Ga.:
* There is the world we live in, and there’s a separate world dictated by the Masters. Because the folks at Augusta National have boatloads of money and their reach of influence goes far, objective journalism isn’t the norm in their world.
There seem to be at least two radio stations that are Masters-oriented, and one commentator said the tournament should raise the price of a four-day pass to cut into scalpers’ business. (If it’s that hot a ticket, wouldn’t the scalpers find a way to survive anyway?)
And another commentator (or maybe the same one, I’m not sure) made the most unusual point that people would probably be willing to be tasered for the right to see the tournament, because it’s so wonderful. Now, people have died after being tasered. It’s a great tournament, but I probably wouldn’t risk my life just to see Tiger hit an approach shot. And I’m sure I’d have to watch Tiger over a 12-deep crowd (if the taser had not paralyzed me from the waist down).
* Now a few positive words. I thought all Augusta folks were nice, but once you get inside the course, you’ll be showered with southern hospitality. Masters employees — whether it’s people in concessions, security officials or even bathroom attendants — are so darn nice, you know it’s manufactured, but it feels good anyway.
And the grass is a deeper, truer shade of green than any green you have ever seen before. The azaleas are breathtaking. (I’ve heard people say that they’ll ship in a pine tree or azalea and plant it in the middle of the night just for the sake of beauty.) If you can’t be happy in a place that exults in the beauty of spring, you just can’t be happy.
* The Augusta Chronicle — while, I’m sure, limited in its impartiality by the fact that the newspaper company’s chairman is William Morris III, an Augusta National member — seems to do an outstanding job of covering every imaginable angle of the Masters. The Chronicle puts out an annual Masters preview tab that ran 96 pages, which is unheard of in today’s world of rising newsprint cost and fading print readership. The one thing you can count on is that the Associated Press Sports Editors tab competition will reward the Chronicle annually with top-10 notoriety. I was told that the one year the Chronicle won only APSE honorable mention for its tab, the paper called an emergency meeting to determine what could have possibly gone wrong.
* Beers really do cost $2 at the Masters. It’s a buck for a lemonade and either $1 or $1.50 (I forget) for their green plastic-wrapped egg salad or pimento sandwiches. Also worth noting: the practice round tickets originally went for a pretty reasonable $31. You have to send your name and social security number in to some sort of database to enter a lottery for a chance to get them. But there were people all over town days in advance with signs seeking practice-round tickets, which could go for $300 if not more.
* And then, of course, you have the players. I saw Gary Player, tuning up for his record 51st start, stick a short iron in close at No. 15. I saw Amen Corner, Nos. 11, 12 and 13, with more notable history than most PGA event courses. I saw Augusta native Larry Mize almost hole out on the par-3 No. 16 — after skipping his ball across the water, which most players do to please the fans. (I heard Tiger wouldn’t skip, but I wasn’t there, so I can’t say for sure. He didn’t play on the par-3 course on Augusta’s grounds Wednesday, which is a shame — it wouldn’t fit in his Masters preparation — because the fans would have loved that.)
In all, it was a great experience, and I’d love to go again, should I be so lucky.
Hoops hysteriatag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.37192008-03-26T02:56:54Z2008-03-26T03:01:36ZA few memories from the NCAA men’s tournament, which has had my attention from the very start: * One reason I pay attention to the NCAAs is that I’m in my office pool. I don’t bet, I don’t do fantasy...Dave
A few memories from the NCAA men’s tournament, which has had my attention from the very start:
* One reason I pay attention to the NCAAs is that I’m in my office pool. I don’t bet, I don’t do fantasy sports and I’ve never been to Vegas, but I love following the NCAAs and knowing there could be a nice payday in it for me. (I live for the small thrills. Call me sheltered.)
For that reason, I was totally wrapped up in the Western Kentucky-Drake first-round game, following every hoop, not having a clue who either team was, yet cheering for Drake because I had them in my pool. As the final minutes ticked away and as I realized that no household odd jobs would get accomplished that afternoon, I did actually think to myself, “What are you doing? You’re watching Western Kentucky and Drake.” Then Ty Rogers sank the game-winning 3-pointer and every brackethead was talking about the game when I got to work. I missed the pick, but I got to see a great finish. And I was sucked into these NCAAs.
* It was a shame Belmont lost to Duke. It was reported as a tiny school with no basketball history almost upsetting an NCAA giant, but Duke clearly doesn’t have the same talent level as the big boys. And all Belmont had to do to finish off the upset was get in Gerald Henderson’s way rather than let him drive all the way to the hoop for the game-winner. You can’t ignore the fundamentals.
* I hated to see UConn go down in the first round. But I really thought the Huskies lacked discipline, especially after A.J. Price’s injury. San Diego’s biggest player was 6-foot-8, and you tell me UConn can’t work its inside game and score with 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet and 6-7 Jeff Adrien, who faces bigger players in the Big East?
For the second time in three years, UConn was too disfunctional to succeed in the NCAAs. In 2006, Rudy Gay was their most talented offensive player, but he was younger than the core players at the time and their No. 3 or No. 4 scoring option. Something was wrong with that. This time, Price, in addition to being their best player, was the closest thing to a go-to scorer. The team needed another player to step up when the Huskies needed to score, and they couldn’t find one — a big reason they lost four of their final seven games.
Another thing — I know he’s probably out the door, but Thabeet needs another year at UConn to develop an offensive game. I don’t want him to become another Samuel Dalembert, who went to Seton Hall and left school way too early for the NBA. After a few professional years, Dalembert is showing great defensive and rebounding flashes with the 76ers, but he may never become a great offensive player. Thabeet could become a decent scorer, but if he leaves for the NBA now, his skills will develop much more slowly.
Hooked on ‘Magic’tag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.36472008-03-19T23:21:15Z2008-03-19T23:23:10Z“Black Magic” on ESPN Sunday and Monday nights was a wonderful documentary on the struggles blacks encoun-tered in collegiate and professional basketball, pre-integration and in the years afterward, and was very much worth seeing. I found it very enlightening and...Dave
“Black Magic” on ESPN Sunday and Monday nights was a wonderful documentary on the struggles blacks encoun-tered in collegiate and professional basketball, pre-integration and in the years afterward, and was very much worth seeing. I found it very enlightening and also sad. (If you missed it, I’m sure you’ll get the chance to see it, the way ESPN reruns its productions.)
I thought I knew a lot about basketball until I realized what I was missing regarding historically black colleges. From Earl Monroe to Avery Johnson — names we all know — to players Cleo Hill and Travis “Machine Gun” Grant and coaches Ben Jobe, John McLendon and Clarence Gaines — names we probably don’t know — this documentary was a real gem on the game’s history.
Jobe and McLendon were true revolutionaries who promoted fast-break basketball in the college game, but neither could break through with a major Division I program. The closest Jobe could get was as an assistant with South Carolina and Georgia Tech, which I found sad.
Another striking subplot was the story of Virginia Union coach Dave Robbins, a white man who was snubbed by fellow black coaches within the predominantly black CIAA. Despite building Virginia Union, with players like Charles Oakley and Ben Wallace, into a powerhouse, he was ignored for years in coach of the year bal-loting.
This is much better than anything ESPN has ever done cinematically, in my opinion, and worth your time.
*Last year, I won the NCAA pool here at the Post (not that I like to brag, but I have so few shining moments of this sort, so cut me some slack). Wanna know my secret? Pick the favorites. (Now you'd pay for that kind of advice, wouldn't you?)
Go with tournament-savvy coaches — there are several in the Big East, which is why I'm picking several teams in the league to make some headway this year. The same is true of lower-seeded teams — pick upset clubs that have played quality competition and won against better teams. I like Villanova for that reason, yet it’s hard to pick against a team like Clemson, Villanova’s opponent, that’s hot at the moment.
In the end, though, no matter how wise you are, it can be a crapshoot. So just try to have fun with it rather than losing sleep wondering why in the world you sided with Siena or American U.
Fear of Friarstag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.35762008-03-12T05:44:39Z2008-03-12T05:45:15ZYou know that UConn will try to go about things like the 15th-ranked team in the nation, which it is. Nonetheless, it still must be hard to avoid having mortal fear of playing Providence again. Yeah, that Providence, the one...Dave
You know that UConn will try to go about things like the 15th-ranked team in the nation, which it is. Nonetheless, it still must be hard to avoid having mortal fear of playing Providence again.
Yeah, that Providence, the one that was 6-12 in the Big East. But the Friars have also beaten UConn three straight games, including twice this season in embarrassing fashion. If you were Jim Calhoun, would you rather face Providence, the Big East tournament’s No. 12 seed, or No. 5 West Virginia in Thursday’s quarterfinal? Yeah, I’d opt for the Mountaineers, too.
* Hey, ESPN guys, stop rhyming “winner” with “chicken dinner.” It was cute the first time. The 42nd time, it’s downright annoying.
* For you Sacred Heart fans, this nugget of information may interest you — the Pioneers are 2½-point favorites over Mount St. Mary’s in tonight’s NEC final. One of our staffers went beyond the call of duty to chase this down, but it came in too late for Wednesday’s edition. (For recreational purposes only.)
* Can’t write any more, I’ve gotta get to that scintillating battle for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs between No. 8 Atlanta (26-36) and No. 9s New Jersey (26-38) and Chicago (26-38). All you need to know about the power discrepancy in the East and the West is that the West has 10 teams with winning records, the East has five. It’s enough to make you want to move to Salt Lake City.
Character counts, Rogertag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.35092008-03-07T02:18:23Z2008-03-07T02:19:24Z* On Wednesday I attended a “Character Counts” school assembly for my son, who is in kindergarten. The principal gave parents some advice on how to help children take responsibility for their actions. When dealing with misbehavior, she tells the...Dave
* On Wednesday I attended a “Character Counts” school assembly for my son, who is in kindergarten. The principal gave parents some advice on how to help children take responsibility for their actions.
When dealing with misbehavior, she tells the child that she has already decided upon a punishment, and if the child won’t talk earnestly about what he or she has done wrong, she will call in witnesses and that the punishment will only get worse.
She said she never has to call in witnesses.
Now, if children can learn to be accountable, why can’t Roger Clemens?
* HE’LL BE BACK — Smart money says Brett Favre will be back in the NFL by midseason. There are just too many terrible quarterbacks in the league.
I don’t even know if the Packers would consider releasing him, but somewhere, he would find work. The Carolina Panthers would be among at least a half-dozen teams offering Favre a job — do you remember that Vinny Testaverde, a decent QB in his time, but now a relic, started for them last season?
* BLAH COACH K, BLAH BLAH BLAH — Too early to talk about NCAA basketball, but I like Carolina to win it all if Ty Law-son is healthy. And even though I’m not a huge Tar Heels fan (and I know I should be because I graduated from there — another story), I’d love to see them whip Duke this weekend.
A reason for my strong feelings? ESPN continues its love affair with Duke, to the point that Mike Patrick said last week that Mike Krzyzewski has dominated the ACC like no other coach. Now, my apologies to Mr. Patrick if I misheard, but if he said what I believe he said, there’s a guy named Dean Smith who won a few games during his time at Carolina.
* THEY’VE GRADUATED — UConn days are clearly over for Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton, and for Rudy Gay and Josh Boone. The Grizzlies’ Gay dunked over the Nets’ Boone, drawing smiles from both, on Wednesday, the AP reported. And Allen of the Celtics drew a technical for delivering an elbow to the sternum of the Pistons’ Richard Hamilton on the same night.
Hoops salvationtag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.32542008-02-07T05:51:17Z2008-02-07T05:52:22ZI’m trying to get over my Super Bowl letdown … it was a hell of a game. But moving on, it’s most clearly basketball season now. With that in mind … * I’m not quite sure what to make of...Dave
I’m trying to get over my Super Bowl letdown … it was a hell of a game. But moving on, it’s most clearly basketball season now.
With that in mind …
* I’m not quite sure what to make of the Shaquille O’Neal trade to Phoenix. I guess his defense could help against half-court teams, but what about when the Suns run the ball, which they try to do all the time? Shaq’s already past his prime, and I see Shawn Marion slipping into mediocrity with the Heat.
* It’s a shame the Wizards’ Caron Butler is having trouble with a strained hip flexor, because he was having a special season. UConn fans can hope he comes back strong the second half of the season.
By the way, does any school have an alumni NBA lineup like Marcus Williams and Kevin Ollie at the point; Ray Allen, Ben Gordon and Richard Hamilton at shooting guard; Butler and Rudy Gay at small forward; Charlie Villanueva, Josh Boone, Donyell Marshall and Hilton Armstrong at power forward; and Emeka Okafor and Jake Voskuhl at center? I think not.
* Spent some time watching Duke-North Carolina and the Tar Heels didn’t look much like a No. 3 team. Clearly they need injured point guard Ty Lawson back, because this team is awfully frenetic without him. The fact that No. 2 Duke had six players score in double figures didn’t make Roy Williams too happy, either.
Both teams — especially North Carolina, with Lawson — have great potential. They’re clearly on a level or two above the J.R. Reid-King Rice-Jeff Lebo Tar Heels I covered as a green reporter about 20 years ago. (Someone misread that crop of talent.)
* How about Jim Calhoun’s Huskies? This team, as far as I can tell, doesn’t seem to be enormously talented, but A.J. Price is steady, and they rebound and block shots extremely well. Have you noticed that Hasheem Thabeet has a hungry look this year contrasted with a slightly dazed look last year when he was a freshman? If nothing more, things seem back to normal, with the UConn women No. 1 (at least until next week) and the UConn men creeping up the ladder toward the top 10.
Clemens and the mediatag:forum.connpost.com,2008:/sports//61.30312008-01-04T02:48:28Z2008-01-04T02:50:48ZI have a friend who’s an assistant baseball coach for a college team. He doesn’t trust the media. Imagine that. He believes the Mitchell Report coverage on performance-enhancing drugs has all been overblown, that blowhard columnists use such news to...Dave
I have a friend who’s an assistant baseball coach for a college team. He doesn’t trust the media.
Imagine that.
He believes the Mitchell Report coverage on performance-enhancing drugs has all been overblown, that blowhard columnists use such news to prop themselves up and spout foolishness. My friend knows I’m in the media, which makes his criticism all in good fun. (At least I hope he en-joys it as much as I do.)
There are times, though, when he has a point.
Like when the Los Angeles Times made an inaccurate report linking Roger Clemens’ name to the sworn federal statement in the Jason Grimsley steroids case.
I’m sure my pal will be watching when it all hits the fan Sunday night in Clemens’ “60 Minutes” interview. And the truth is that Clemens won’t be the only one who is held to judgment Sunday.
Also under the microscope?
Clemens’ pal, Mike Wallace, a Yankees fan.
Wallace didn’t make a name for himself on “60 Minutes” pitching softballs, but he’s likely to do that in Sunday’s interview. We have al-ready learned that after Clemens said he has never used steroids or HGH, Wallace said “swear?” Clemens, naturally, said “swear.”
Talk about tension.
As a journalist, I hope Wallace put his friendship aside and asked questions we all want to hear. Like why was the Mitchell Report appar-ently truthful in its implication of Andy Pettitte — he has admitted he did indeed use HGH — but inaccurate when it came to Clemens? After all, they were associated with the same trainer, Brian McNamee, who was Mitchell’s source.
Wallace had the chance to prove he can still deliver a little fire. Let’s hope he came through.
Holiday wraptag:forum.connpost.com,2007:/sports//61.29732007-12-19T04:55:42Z2007-12-19T04:56:31ZA little holiday wrap: * Baseball is being pounded right now, but the sad truth of the matter is elite athletes in all sports will do whatever it takes to get an extra edge. Case in point: Shaquille O’Neal, in...Dave
A little holiday wrap:
* Baseball is being pounded right now, but the sad truth of the matter is elite athletes in all sports will do whatever it takes to get an extra edge. Case in point: Shaquille O’Neal, in an AP story that moved Tuesday, said that to cope with nagging injuries, he must “rely on almost illegal things to get me going.” Harmless or not (and as a gullible sort, I’ll believe it was harmless), that should have thrown up a red flag to the skeptics out there who wonder about shady substances, as long as the world doesn’t test for HGH.
* Roger Clemens, go away. And no one wants to see you pitch any more. At the same time, I’m inclined to believe Andy Pettitte’s admission that he only took HGH twice. (I told you I was gullible, didn’t I?)
* When it comes to these apologies, denials, etc., who are we to believe? The truth is in many cases, we’ll never know absolutely, positively for sure. Baseball, nonetheless, has to learn from its history, develop an HGH test, hold testing at the highest level and make cheaters of the future accountable. That would be the most positive step in the aftermath of the Mitchell Report.
* The word “changes” has finally been uttered by Knicks coach Isiah Thomas in regard to the team and perhaps who should be leading it in a couple of weeks. By Jan. 15, Thomas will be out, which would give the team a fresh start if it didn’t have the same starting point guard. If they win more than 22 games this season, I’ll be amazed.
* Josh Boone still can’t shoot free throws. But he and Sean Williams can play some energetic defense, and maybe it will be enough to help turn the Nets around. (Side note: Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor can’t hit either from the stripe: He had made 52.8 percent through Friday, 52.4 percent from the field.)
Blindsidedtag:forum.connpost.com,2007:/sports//61.29312007-12-07T05:08:22Z2007-12-19T04:57:59ZI’m no longer amazed by how quickly a New York sports story can unfold, from the beginning stage to crazed status. This week’s Jason Kidd saga, for example, hit its boiling point in a matter of hours. It started when...Dave
I’m no longer amazed by how quickly a New York sports story can unfold, from the beginning stage to crazed status. This week’s Jason Kidd saga, for example, hit its boiling point in a matter of hours.
It started when Kidd, the Nets’ point guard, didn’t play against the Knicks Wednesday night. Kidd said he had a migraine, but New York writers sensed something else was going on.
A “trusted source” told one writer that Kidd boycotted the game. Without naming names, this New York Post writer later said early Thursday morning on WFAN that Kidd was either (1) holding out because he was disenchanted by the Nets’ offer of a contract extension; (2) balking because he wanted to be traded because he was unhappy with the team; or (3) letting the Nets see how bad they are without him. One option that wasn’t seriously suggested: Kidd actually had a migraine.
A report in The Record of Hackensack, N.J., had pretty much the same story, that “sources close to the team” said he was “staging a protest.”
Early Thursday afternoon, Kidd did an interview on WFAN to categorically deny all of those reports. He said he indeed had a migraine. It’s also true that any news to the contrary could have led to Kidd being fined for missing the game on purpose. And Kidd could have had a hush-hush meeting with Nets president Rod Thorn to clear up any ill feelings, then spun it as he desired.
But, hey, can’t the guy have one sick day? Why is this so hard to believe? He’s as committed a team leader as there is out there. Most know him as a true professional.
Could it be these sources weren’t as reliable as the writers believed in their rush to break a story? What kind of reliable information have they handed out in the past? Anything on the livelihood of a professional basketball player, or where to find good steaks when the team is on the road? Something in between? We’ll never know.
I get really irritated by this type of journalism. We are in the business of breaking stories, but we should do so responsibly. And the fact of the matter is that we have to choose the sources that we can trust.
When one of our reporters relies on an anonymous source, I always want to know why the source must be anonymous, and if this source is truly knowledgeable. The Connecticut Post’s ethical code strongly advises against using anonymous sources. But when they are used, and only for compelling reasons, the reporter must tell the editor the name of the source.
It sounds old-school, but the rules work.
The readers deserve it. And so do people like Jason Kidd.
Strange rewardstag:forum.connpost.com,2007:/sports//61.29272007-12-06T06:01:31Z2007-12-06T06:03:55ZThe weirdness just kept on coming Saturday night with upsets of No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia. And it hasn’t just been on the field. How about Syracuse welcoming back coach Greg Robinson, whose team was outscored by...Dave
The weirdness just kept on coming Saturday night with upsets of No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia. And it hasn’t just been on the field.
How about Syracuse welcoming back coach Greg Robinson, whose team was outscored by 514 points in his three seasons at the school? Or Pitt offering a contract extension to Dave Wannstedt last week before his fourth win this season? (At least the former Dolphins coach gave Pitt a positive buzz for the off-season with the huge 13-9 upset of the Mountaineers.) What’s next? UConn Randy Edsall replaces Bill Belichick?
While upsets abound on the college scene, where you can usually find a juggernaut or two, the NFL — a league known for its parity — is where the true powerhouses seem to reside this season. The Patriots look much more mortal, though, after close wins over the Eagles and Ravens, which leads us to the question: Is there anything to the undefeated Patriots conspiracy? The Ravens, who blamed more than one controversial call for their loss Monday, claim it exists.
I don’t know … I’d say it’s a stretch. Then again … the Patriots weren’t stung too harshly for being caught in spy-gate. If the NFL really wanted to penalize the team, it should have docked the Pats a couple of touchdowns in their second game vs. the Jets this season. That would have brought the line down below plus-20 New England.
Sorry or not?tag:forum.connpost.com,2007:/sports//61.28292007-11-14T04:52:33Z2007-11-14T05:48:59ZThere was an interesting discussion in our department on Saturday night about analyst Barry Melrose's comments that fans going to see the New Jersey Devils in Newark should be careful outside the new arena "if you got a wallet." Melrose...Dave
There was an interesting discussion in our department on Saturday night about analyst Barry Melrose's comments that fans going to see the New Jersey Devils in Newark should be careful outside the new arena "if you got a wallet."
Melrose apologized, probably more for ESPN's sake than his own. But the issue was raised whether his apology was necessary.
I was too busy working to counter as well as I would have liked. But here's what I was thinking:
*Melrose had never been to the new arena, which he admitted;
*His opinions of Newark aren't new and they weren't researched in any way. So as an analyst, his comments weren't necessary or even enlightening.
It seems like there's a sports commentator apologizing every other day now, so to be honest, his apology didn't even affect me.
However, I agree with the premise that too many in the media feel they must be politically correct, first and foremost. If we offend, we have erred; that's the unwritten law, and it's a wise one. But recognizing who our listeners or readers are is much of our mission and can help us in this regard.
Melrose didn't know his listeners (especially those in Newark). Don Imus didn't know his listeners (not those at Rutgers, nor those in the women's college basketball world). Does Charles Barkley, the NBA commentator, know his listeners? I hope so. He veers toward offensive but he's usually new, original and funny.
To me, Melrose wasn't funny, he wasn't original, and his comments didn't particularly serve the listener in any way.
But I hope he didn't apologize for ESPN's sake. If he truly felt it, I hope he apologized for his own sake, because he thought he made an error.
I think before we're politically correct, we should be genuine, and we should also try to enlighten, amuse or inform. These are our jobs. It's not asking too much, and it's what our audiences should expect.