As the World Series approaches, how about adding some drama to the current, and may I add, ridiculous series format?
That's right, ridiculous. The top-seed gets two home games, then the visitors get the middle three, and then, if necessary, the home team gets the last two at its digs. And that's entirely too stacked in one team's favor. How about adding some spice--as in the #2 seed getting the final game if it forces it? That's what a "2-2-2-1" series would do.
It basically reworks the formula to where the top seed gets games 1-and-2, and the 2nd-seed gets the next two, and then the top-seed gets the next two to wrap up the series. If it does not, the 2nd-seed gets the 7th and final game of the series. Wow! Talk about double incentive for both teams to play extra-caliber championship ball! The top-seed knows it HAS to win it in 6-games or it truly loses home field/court advantage. And, it gives the 2nd-seed extra incentive to push the series to a full 7-games. The 2-2-2-1 format would add an extra sense of urgency to both teams, and that would amp things up for the fans and TV viewership as well.
Too bad it'll never happen.
The powers that be would never consider the top-seed not having the last game of the series. And, as usual, the powers that be would be wrong.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Lay Off Stoops (and other Big 12 observations)
He may not longer be "Big Game Bob", but he's still the best coach you're going to have right now, Sooner fan! And you don't have to look far for the reasons why--if you leave unrealistic expectations out of the equation.
Yes, Bob Stoops and the Sooners are having a bad year--3 & 3, with injuries galore (and let's face it--QB Sam Bradford's lost for the year) and a bickering fan base to go along with it. And while the bickering is somewhat justified--with expectations of competing for the national championship gone kaput--some of the calling for Stoops's head is not. Sooner fans aren't really any different from any other that root for a national championship calibre program: they not only want to be in the national championship mix every season, they expect to be. And, that's what Stoops has generally delivered. Now, granted, the Stoops troops have come up goose-eggs since winning the BCS title back in 2000, and has suffered two VERY embarrassing BCS bowl defeats to Boise State and West Virginia--those two losses prompted the joke: "What do OU football and marijuana have in common? ANSWER: "They both get smoked in bowls.".
But Sooner fans also sport short memories. It was a decade ago when Stoops took over a moribund OU program that languished under John Blake in the late 90s--suffered four straight losing seasons--and in just two seasons, resurrected OU to not only elite status, but a national championship. Granted, Stoops won that 2000 title with mostly John Blake's players. But then one must also grant another fact: Blake evidently couldn't coach those players, and Stoops could--therefore, not only good coach, but GREAT coach. Furthermore, factor in two major cogs that were all Stoops: QB Josh Heupel and LB Torrance Marshall.
Now, to be fair, it's been 9-years since that magical year. That's an eternity of time when it comes to bragging rights of a national title. But if the criteria nowadays is, "You win a title or you're going to get fired" is not only absurd, it's unrealistic. Even Florida's Urban Meyer, who's won 2-of-the-last-3, will tell you that. He'd be the first to say that a lot of variables went his way, namely injuries (namely lack of injuries), and a little luck along the way (e.g: losing to Ole Miss at home in 2008 early rather than late). Oh, Sooner fans, how about your own Barry Switzer, "The King"? After winning back-to-back titles in 1974-75, it took another 10-years before tasting title-time in 1985, and did you forget that you were calling for his head after the lean years of the early 1980s and late 80s? Learning lessons of that magitude come very hard, evidently.
But back to 2009. This is a team that has lost three games by a collective five points. I'll go so far to say that the Sooners #3 preseason ranking was entirely too high--considering the losses on the offensive line that gave Bradford Secret Service-like protection in 2008. Sooner fans have gotten spoiled again, and with the rumblings of some calling for the end of the Stoops era, it shows. Get real, Sooner fans. It'll save you a lot of heartache. Besides, I bet you don't want Stoops coaching against you.
OTHER BIG 12 OBSERVATIONS:
>Oklahoma State's defense still resembles Swiss cheese for the most part, but shutting out Missouri in the 2nd-half last week should give it a boost heading into Saturday's showdown at Baylor. Oh, and Baylor: you don't stand a chance as long as you continue to get dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage. And, that's with or without Robert Griffin.
>Texas looks vulnerable, at least offensively. QB Colt McCoy just doens't have the same step he had in 2008. I do think they'll handle Mizzou this Saturday, but unless McCoy and company find some of that 2008 magic, trouble looms at Oklahoma State on All Hallows Eve.
>Texas Tech has to go back to Taylor Potts at QB now that Sheffield's injured. Darn, what a quandry--going BACK to the guy who started for you when the season kicked off.
>I'd talk about the Big 12 North, but there's nothing really to talk about. Nothing remarkable, anyhow. These things go in cycles, but at least for this year, the North plays little brother to the South again.
Yes, Bob Stoops and the Sooners are having a bad year--3 & 3, with injuries galore (and let's face it--QB Sam Bradford's lost for the year) and a bickering fan base to go along with it. And while the bickering is somewhat justified--with expectations of competing for the national championship gone kaput--some of the calling for Stoops's head is not. Sooner fans aren't really any different from any other that root for a national championship calibre program: they not only want to be in the national championship mix every season, they expect to be. And, that's what Stoops has generally delivered. Now, granted, the Stoops troops have come up goose-eggs since winning the BCS title back in 2000, and has suffered two VERY embarrassing BCS bowl defeats to Boise State and West Virginia--those two losses prompted the joke: "What do OU football and marijuana have in common? ANSWER: "They both get smoked in bowls.".
But Sooner fans also sport short memories. It was a decade ago when Stoops took over a moribund OU program that languished under John Blake in the late 90s--suffered four straight losing seasons--and in just two seasons, resurrected OU to not only elite status, but a national championship. Granted, Stoops won that 2000 title with mostly John Blake's players. But then one must also grant another fact: Blake evidently couldn't coach those players, and Stoops could--therefore, not only good coach, but GREAT coach. Furthermore, factor in two major cogs that were all Stoops: QB Josh Heupel and LB Torrance Marshall.
Now, to be fair, it's been 9-years since that magical year. That's an eternity of time when it comes to bragging rights of a national title. But if the criteria nowadays is, "You win a title or you're going to get fired" is not only absurd, it's unrealistic. Even Florida's Urban Meyer, who's won 2-of-the-last-3, will tell you that. He'd be the first to say that a lot of variables went his way, namely injuries (namely lack of injuries), and a little luck along the way (e.g: losing to Ole Miss at home in 2008 early rather than late). Oh, Sooner fans, how about your own Barry Switzer, "The King"? After winning back-to-back titles in 1974-75, it took another 10-years before tasting title-time in 1985, and did you forget that you were calling for his head after the lean years of the early 1980s and late 80s? Learning lessons of that magitude come very hard, evidently.
But back to 2009. This is a team that has lost three games by a collective five points. I'll go so far to say that the Sooners #3 preseason ranking was entirely too high--considering the losses on the offensive line that gave Bradford Secret Service-like protection in 2008. Sooner fans have gotten spoiled again, and with the rumblings of some calling for the end of the Stoops era, it shows. Get real, Sooner fans. It'll save you a lot of heartache. Besides, I bet you don't want Stoops coaching against you.
OTHER BIG 12 OBSERVATIONS:
>Oklahoma State's defense still resembles Swiss cheese for the most part, but shutting out Missouri in the 2nd-half last week should give it a boost heading into Saturday's showdown at Baylor. Oh, and Baylor: you don't stand a chance as long as you continue to get dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage. And, that's with or without Robert Griffin.
>Texas looks vulnerable, at least offensively. QB Colt McCoy just doens't have the same step he had in 2008. I do think they'll handle Mizzou this Saturday, but unless McCoy and company find some of that 2008 magic, trouble looms at Oklahoma State on All Hallows Eve.
>Texas Tech has to go back to Taylor Potts at QB now that Sheffield's injured. Darn, what a quandry--going BACK to the guy who started for you when the season kicked off.
>I'd talk about the Big 12 North, but there's nothing really to talk about. Nothing remarkable, anyhow. These things go in cycles, but at least for this year, the North plays little brother to the South again.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Transparency In The 1st Person
It's been awhile, and there's good reasons.
Reasons that I don't like to think about much less talk about, but reasons nonetheless that I must get out here before I continue to offer up my observations of the sports world--and it involves something that most of like to think about but really not follow through on: transparency.
Yes, transparency. And to continue to be honest about my observations, I feel it necessary to be honest with my readers. I feel that you need to know why I say what I say and know that my observations come from a genuine place--and not someplace that's trying back-handedly to manipulate you, push your buttons, or promote anybody else's agenda. This is all my own, with 21-years of TV sportscasting, and 2-years of radio hosting and play-by-play experience as my underwriting. But now comes some truth that only some of you know, so here goes.
My 21-years of TV sportscasting came to an end--although I hope not a permanent one--back in March of this year. I was let go from my job, and for the most part, I was the responsibile party. I got careless with my gear and a company vehicle, and in this day of trimming budgets, it made it very easy for my former station's management to invite me to pack up my stuff and leave. I make no bones about the fact that I was careless. I also make no bones about the fact that I was physically and mentally exhausted leading up to my dismissal for various reasons--the big two being the long drag of football and basketball seasons without an extended break, and getting up multiple times on multiple nights of the week for a good three months tending to my two-year old light-sleeping daughter. Lack of sleep and lack of more than a one 3-day break over 8-month period will wear a person down, and I allowed that to happen. But that's where my responsibility stops. My former station's management, whether it can/will admit it or not, bears that small brunt--and I really could care less whether it does or not--it's no longer my problem (and I'm not exhausted anymore!).
Since then, I've been dabbling in many part-time ventures: radio play-by-play, free-lance writing, a part-time sales job for "GreatSavingsHere.com", a discount/special offer coupon website, and of course, my two blogs. And, truth be told, it's been a double edged sword. I've enjoyed having the time to be detailed about my writing, and to get a taste of the business world outside of TV. But, at the same time, it's been MEGA-stressful not having steady income, and quite frankly, pretty disapppointing being strung along by some folks I thought were more than just professional acquaintances. In short, the rest has been nice, and it's been a big learning experience for everything else not TV Sports. But the biggest truth is: it's a sucky time to be out of work. I've applied for a lot of part-time jobs--everything from pouring coffee at Starbucks, to hardware stores, to even stacking boxes at UPS. And guess what? No response. I hope to start substitute teaching here within a week, and I'm studying to earn my personal training certification--I'll take the tests in December. I'm also exploring going back to school. All of this while being primary morning caregiver to my now 2-and-a-half year old. So, I think you can understand why I've been sporadic in my sports world observations lately. But that's not the end of the transparency--no, not at all.
The biggest truth of them all is this: I have not changed one iota since I left the TV airwaves 7-months ago--at least changed as far as my core goes. I still have my opinions, and I'm willing to back them up with solid facts. I'm still the guy with what some call the "pretty boy looks" who revels in the grunt work of the trenches (I almost forgot: one of my other jobs is taking care of a buddy's yard--I enjoy that kind of work). And, I've also noticed that most of my friends' attitudes toward me since I lost my TV job haven't really changed either. And the rest? I really could care less. If my being on TV or my having a high profile in my community is the basis for an friendship and/or acquiantanceship, then that person wasn't really my friend, and don't think for a minute I didn't know that when I was fully employed. In short, other people's attitudes are their problems, not mine--and I refuse to make them mine. In my job search--right or wrong--my attitude is this: if my landing a job is dependent on such shallow things like "the right career track" or the seeming unwritten rule of, "you're more attractive if you have a job while searching for a job", then I really don't want that job--it screams of a culture of limited thinking, and in this day and age, limited thinking is a death knell. And, I don't intend to re-enter the job market on a sinking ship. I have that much faith in Our Lord to negotiate from a position of strength. And if they can't handle that, then screw 'em. I may have to change careers, but it's a job, man. It's only a job. Anything more than that and it becomes a god. The same thing can be said about money, looks, place and power, shoes (ladies, pay attention), etc..
All that having been said, I will be glad to see the year 2009 pass. It's been a stressful & frustrating year as a whole. I miss the world of TV Sports to a degree, but I don't miss the high proportion of stress compared to the low salary. I miss the comraderie but not the back-biting and drama that accompanies a newsroom. I miss telling stories with video and sound, but I don't miss dragging four bags of video/audio/editing gear through an airport by myself--all to save my station thousands of dollars. And I fully don't appreciate being taken for being weak by taking responsibility for my actions--by not "passing the buck". There seems to be some kind of an unwritten rule out there that says, "Hey, if somebody takes responsibility, make him the fall guy for everybody's responsibility". And, if you believe in that philosophy, I think you're a turd--and you know the old saying, "You can't polish a turd". A turd is also anything but transparent. You don't like it? Deal with it. And kiss my ass while you're at it.
How's that for transparency?
I tell you all these things because I deeply feel that you need to know that I have no fear of what people think. I refuse to be hardballed, swayed by position or power, or coddled for anybody's agenda. I'm in the thick of one of the hardest periods in my life. So, I do a lot more praying, a lot more soul searching, and a lot more lifting other people up, a lot more giving. Those are the important things. Sports not only become secondary, they become tertiary. And that gives me license to praise and/or lambaste--and anything in between. Sports on the whole are a diversion. And that point was driven home tonight when my toddler was crying to see her mommy (Mary's in South Dakota for her grandmother's funeral). For those of you who don't know our story, Mary and I adopted Malia from China about 13-months ago, and in Malia's little 2-and-a-half your old mind, she's been abandoned by two mommies: her biological mom and her Foster mom who she lived with for almost a year-and-a-half. So, when Mary goes away, she lives those feelings all over again. She cries for no reason. She has trouble sleeping. And sometimes, she screams in her sleep and she doesn't even know it. When Malis broke out in one of those cries toinght, I cried along with, and just held her until we both stopped. Now, THAT is what's important! Not whether the Cowboys stunk it up at the lowly Chiefs even though they won in overtime, or who wins this Saturday's "Red River Rivalry" in Dallas. My little girl is real life--and tonight, it was a double case of transparency.
Yes, transparency demands that we be real. And I respect my craft, my family, and my Lord enough to be real--and anybody else's approval isn't necessary.
Reasons that I don't like to think about much less talk about, but reasons nonetheless that I must get out here before I continue to offer up my observations of the sports world--and it involves something that most of like to think about but really not follow through on: transparency.
Yes, transparency. And to continue to be honest about my observations, I feel it necessary to be honest with my readers. I feel that you need to know why I say what I say and know that my observations come from a genuine place--and not someplace that's trying back-handedly to manipulate you, push your buttons, or promote anybody else's agenda. This is all my own, with 21-years of TV sportscasting, and 2-years of radio hosting and play-by-play experience as my underwriting. But now comes some truth that only some of you know, so here goes.
My 21-years of TV sportscasting came to an end--although I hope not a permanent one--back in March of this year. I was let go from my job, and for the most part, I was the responsibile party. I got careless with my gear and a company vehicle, and in this day of trimming budgets, it made it very easy for my former station's management to invite me to pack up my stuff and leave. I make no bones about the fact that I was careless. I also make no bones about the fact that I was physically and mentally exhausted leading up to my dismissal for various reasons--the big two being the long drag of football and basketball seasons without an extended break, and getting up multiple times on multiple nights of the week for a good three months tending to my two-year old light-sleeping daughter. Lack of sleep and lack of more than a one 3-day break over 8-month period will wear a person down, and I allowed that to happen. But that's where my responsibility stops. My former station's management, whether it can/will admit it or not, bears that small brunt--and I really could care less whether it does or not--it's no longer my problem (and I'm not exhausted anymore!).
Since then, I've been dabbling in many part-time ventures: radio play-by-play, free-lance writing, a part-time sales job for "GreatSavingsHere.com", a discount/special offer coupon website, and of course, my two blogs. And, truth be told, it's been a double edged sword. I've enjoyed having the time to be detailed about my writing, and to get a taste of the business world outside of TV. But, at the same time, it's been MEGA-stressful not having steady income, and quite frankly, pretty disapppointing being strung along by some folks I thought were more than just professional acquaintances. In short, the rest has been nice, and it's been a big learning experience for everything else not TV Sports. But the biggest truth is: it's a sucky time to be out of work. I've applied for a lot of part-time jobs--everything from pouring coffee at Starbucks, to hardware stores, to even stacking boxes at UPS. And guess what? No response. I hope to start substitute teaching here within a week, and I'm studying to earn my personal training certification--I'll take the tests in December. I'm also exploring going back to school. All of this while being primary morning caregiver to my now 2-and-a-half year old. So, I think you can understand why I've been sporadic in my sports world observations lately. But that's not the end of the transparency--no, not at all.
The biggest truth of them all is this: I have not changed one iota since I left the TV airwaves 7-months ago--at least changed as far as my core goes. I still have my opinions, and I'm willing to back them up with solid facts. I'm still the guy with what some call the "pretty boy looks" who revels in the grunt work of the trenches (I almost forgot: one of my other jobs is taking care of a buddy's yard--I enjoy that kind of work). And, I've also noticed that most of my friends' attitudes toward me since I lost my TV job haven't really changed either. And the rest? I really could care less. If my being on TV or my having a high profile in my community is the basis for an friendship and/or acquiantanceship, then that person wasn't really my friend, and don't think for a minute I didn't know that when I was fully employed. In short, other people's attitudes are their problems, not mine--and I refuse to make them mine. In my job search--right or wrong--my attitude is this: if my landing a job is dependent on such shallow things like "the right career track" or the seeming unwritten rule of, "you're more attractive if you have a job while searching for a job", then I really don't want that job--it screams of a culture of limited thinking, and in this day and age, limited thinking is a death knell. And, I don't intend to re-enter the job market on a sinking ship. I have that much faith in Our Lord to negotiate from a position of strength. And if they can't handle that, then screw 'em. I may have to change careers, but it's a job, man. It's only a job. Anything more than that and it becomes a god. The same thing can be said about money, looks, place and power, shoes (ladies, pay attention), etc..
All that having been said, I will be glad to see the year 2009 pass. It's been a stressful & frustrating year as a whole. I miss the world of TV Sports to a degree, but I don't miss the high proportion of stress compared to the low salary. I miss the comraderie but not the back-biting and drama that accompanies a newsroom. I miss telling stories with video and sound, but I don't miss dragging four bags of video/audio/editing gear through an airport by myself--all to save my station thousands of dollars. And I fully don't appreciate being taken for being weak by taking responsibility for my actions--by not "passing the buck". There seems to be some kind of an unwritten rule out there that says, "Hey, if somebody takes responsibility, make him the fall guy for everybody's responsibility". And, if you believe in that philosophy, I think you're a turd--and you know the old saying, "You can't polish a turd". A turd is also anything but transparent. You don't like it? Deal with it. And kiss my ass while you're at it.
How's that for transparency?
I tell you all these things because I deeply feel that you need to know that I have no fear of what people think. I refuse to be hardballed, swayed by position or power, or coddled for anybody's agenda. I'm in the thick of one of the hardest periods in my life. So, I do a lot more praying, a lot more soul searching, and a lot more lifting other people up, a lot more giving. Those are the important things. Sports not only become secondary, they become tertiary. And that gives me license to praise and/or lambaste--and anything in between. Sports on the whole are a diversion. And that point was driven home tonight when my toddler was crying to see her mommy (Mary's in South Dakota for her grandmother's funeral). For those of you who don't know our story, Mary and I adopted Malia from China about 13-months ago, and in Malia's little 2-and-a-half your old mind, she's been abandoned by two mommies: her biological mom and her Foster mom who she lived with for almost a year-and-a-half. So, when Mary goes away, she lives those feelings all over again. She cries for no reason. She has trouble sleeping. And sometimes, she screams in her sleep and she doesn't even know it. When Malis broke out in one of those cries toinght, I cried along with, and just held her until we both stopped. Now, THAT is what's important! Not whether the Cowboys stunk it up at the lowly Chiefs even though they won in overtime, or who wins this Saturday's "Red River Rivalry" in Dallas. My little girl is real life--and tonight, it was a double case of transparency.
Yes, transparency demands that we be real. And I respect my craft, my family, and my Lord enough to be real--and anybody else's approval isn't necessary.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Chicago: Bang-Bang!!
Bang-bang--your 2016 Olympic games hopes are dead--and that's not a bad thing, bruised pride and all.
That's right, I'm glad the Olympics are headed to Rio in 2016. First of all, it'll South America's first foray into hosting the Olympiad--and even though Rio has been seen as the Crime Capital of the Continent, South America needs its shot, and it's got it now. Second, Chicago and the rest of our nation has enough economic problems without another one that would come with the staggering cost (and debt) involved in the years leading up to the games. And third, settling the debt years after the world's best have come and gone. Example? Montreal, site of the 1976 Summer Games--took 30-years to pay off what was called "The Big Owe": $1.5 billion for the stadium, Olympic village, a post-modern apartment building complex, a sports recreation complex, outdoor facilities, parking and the Vélodrome, which has since been refurbished as the Biodome--all pretty much paid for by a special tax on tobacco. But the point is made: more debt for a nation that's drowning in debt.
Furthermore, as for the our country's big-time celebrity presence promoting Chicago at the selection in Copenhagen, Denmark this past week, as in President Obama, Oprah, and athletic legends Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Michael Johnson et.al., I thought it made us look more like Goliath than the Jolly Green Giant. More to the point: I think we would have stood a better chance with the International Olympic Committee if we had taken a more humble approach, simply because this country has its hand(s) in too many pies around the globe.
Or, maybe we can just--as the 1980's movie title says, "Blame It On Rio".
That's right, I'm glad the Olympics are headed to Rio in 2016. First of all, it'll South America's first foray into hosting the Olympiad--and even though Rio has been seen as the Crime Capital of the Continent, South America needs its shot, and it's got it now. Second, Chicago and the rest of our nation has enough economic problems without another one that would come with the staggering cost (and debt) involved in the years leading up to the games. And third, settling the debt years after the world's best have come and gone. Example? Montreal, site of the 1976 Summer Games--took 30-years to pay off what was called "The Big Owe": $1.5 billion for the stadium, Olympic village, a post-modern apartment building complex, a sports recreation complex, outdoor facilities, parking and the Vélodrome, which has since been refurbished as the Biodome--all pretty much paid for by a special tax on tobacco. But the point is made: more debt for a nation that's drowning in debt.
Furthermore, as for the our country's big-time celebrity presence promoting Chicago at the selection in Copenhagen, Denmark this past week, as in President Obama, Oprah, and athletic legends Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Michael Johnson et.al., I thought it made us look more like Goliath than the Jolly Green Giant. More to the point: I think we would have stood a better chance with the International Olympic Committee if we had taken a more humble approach, simply because this country has its hand(s) in too many pies around the globe.
Or, maybe we can just--as the 1980's movie title says, "Blame It On Rio".
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