I am the prince of darkness... the kiss of death. Each year I select randomly someone who is on the cusp of greatness and reduce their autumn to rubble. I am all four horsemen of the apocalypse put together with a side order of ten plagues. Naturally I'm talking about Fantasy Football.
Simply put, if you are an NFL quarterback, you do not want me to draft you. In 2006 I chose Trent Green and the Chiefs QB had his head scrambled in the season opener--putting me into a vicious downward spiral (Rex Grossman) as I tried to turn around my fortunes. Thankfully LaDainian Tomlinson motored me into the playoffs where I lost in the first round.
In 2007 I selected John Kitna and Brian Griese...both went on to nondescript seasons. So last year brought a new league (40 ounce league) and a new draft philosophy-- take a QB sooner rather than later. I chose Tom Brady and my rollercoaster season began again.
So although I've got Michael Turner...although I'm pleased Eddie Royal was available...and feel I made a steal with Pittsburgh's defense and special teams...I wholeheartedly apologize to Tony Romo and Matt Schaub-- quarterbacks for the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Why the Dread Pirate Roberts? My initials... plus the excuse to view every game within the context of "inconceivable" and "as you wish" plus the "Dread Pirate Roberts takes no prisoners." I won't even get into Indigo Montoya...stop the rhyming now I mean it!
This fall's football slate on Preston's Perspective will feature:
College Football Corner -- a Sunday recap of what went down with Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Redskins Recap-- a Monday or day-after browsing of the Burgundy and Gold.
Fantasy Focus-- midweek diary of how I'm doing in my third league in four years (I am now officially the Larry Brown of Fantasy Football).
Pro-File-- look ahead at the league, NFC East and Skins.
Presto's Picks-- award snubbed prognostication column that looks at national college football issues and tries to sound funny while selecting winners of the weekend's games.
Let the games begin!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Redskins Recap...
Now that's what I call a dress rehearsal... granted it's only preseason--but one has to be encouraged somewhat; as the third game in August is the best barometer of what kind of shape a team is in. Just like there was massive concern last year following the week 3 preseason loss to Carolina (47-3 not as close as score indicated), Friday's 27-24 loss to New England showed plenty of positive possibilities.
Campbell comes through: after completing 4 of 13 passes for 48 yards against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Skins signalcaller threw for 209 yards and ran for a touchdown in a 17 point first half. His 73-yarder to TE Chris Cooley was just the type of field-stretching play this offense sorely needs.
Making his Marko: on a team where much is expected of 2008 second round draft picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, 2009 seventh round selection Marko Mitchell continued his outstanding August with a 33 yard TD reception... his two for the preseason leads the team-and the Nevada rookie has a shot at making the roster.
Hold the Line: The Skins averaged 3.7 yards per carry while allowing four sacks...although Campbell was able to move effectively in the first half.
Up and down defense: OUCH! Two long passes for touchdowns in the first half counters the three and outs they posted in between the three and outs...Laron Landry getting roasted by Tom Brady. In the second half the D tallied a pair of interceptions to go with a fumble recovery.
Splitting hairs and uprights: Kicking Competion week three saw David Rayner make a 25 yard field goal while Shaun Suisham missee a 52 yarder. Both made all of their extra points while Rayner's kickoffs wer slightly better...averaging 66.7 yards on 3 attempts while Suisham's lone kickoff went 66 yards. The competition moves to Jacksonville with a winner takes all duel.
Campbell comes through: after completing 4 of 13 passes for 48 yards against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Skins signalcaller threw for 209 yards and ran for a touchdown in a 17 point first half. His 73-yarder to TE Chris Cooley was just the type of field-stretching play this offense sorely needs.
Making his Marko: on a team where much is expected of 2008 second round draft picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, 2009 seventh round selection Marko Mitchell continued his outstanding August with a 33 yard TD reception... his two for the preseason leads the team-and the Nevada rookie has a shot at making the roster.
Hold the Line: The Skins averaged 3.7 yards per carry while allowing four sacks...although Campbell was able to move effectively in the first half.
Up and down defense: OUCH! Two long passes for touchdowns in the first half counters the three and outs they posted in between the three and outs...Laron Landry getting roasted by Tom Brady. In the second half the D tallied a pair of interceptions to go with a fumble recovery.
Splitting hairs and uprights: Kicking Competion week three saw David Rayner make a 25 yard field goal while Shaun Suisham missee a 52 yarder. Both made all of their extra points while Rayner's kickoffs wer slightly better...averaging 66.7 yards on 3 attempts while Suisham's lone kickoff went 66 yards. The competition moves to Jacksonville with a winner takes all duel.
Friday, August 28, 2009
My three brushes with Senator Ted...
As the Redskins prepare for their major tuneup (don't even think the starters will get more than a whiff of action next week) and the Nationals sparkplug is placed in the shelf for the season (please learn to slide feet-first, Nyjer Morgan)... the nation mourns the death of Massachussetts Senator Ted Kennedy--the last link to Camelot (although his sister Jean Kennedy Smith is still alive). Ardent supporters point to the incredible amount of legislation he produced over his 47-year career in DC...while detractors cite Chappaquiddick as Exhibit A in their argument against the Senator. The lesson learned? Great people are capable of bad decisions and flawed people can do great works. The only question is...which person was Ted? Most people have already made up their mind.
In the 1960's and 70's Kennedy was the Democrats perpetual favorite to run for President... although in the five elections (72, 76, 80, 84 and 88) Ted ran just once-- the only time there was a sitting Democratic president...and in doing so helped end the Carter administration. What would a second Kennedy presidency have been like? Would he have been able to accomplish what he wished minus a Ted Kennedy in the Senate?
I had three chance encounters with Ted Kennedy... the first was on a jet in 1979. My father flew for American Airlines and was based in Boston. Whenever we flew, we flew standby which meant we might get bumped or we might wind up in first class (ruining my flight expectations for a lifetime). On one such flight out of Logan we were in First Class...and as we deplaned a gentleman in a suit shook my 3-year old sister's hand and told my mother "you've got a beautiful daughter." The next year as I was following the NH primary...I learned that man was Ted Kennedy.
My second situation with the Senator came when I was in my mid-20's... I had just got engaged and had a friend who worked in Kennedy's Boston office. She gave me an autographed picture of the Senator; he also wrote "David, congratulations on your engagement". Although I was tempted to write on the back "will there be an open bar?" I wisely let the picture stand as is. Unfortunately in moving that fall to Indiana the picture got misplaced--and thus never made my mantle next to my letter from President Reagan.
The last time I saw Ted Kennedy was November 2004; I was working at CBS Radio in Washington, DC and anchored the Sunday Sports Central USA shows. Our studios were two floors up from where Bob Schieffer taped "Face the Nation"...and Kennedy was on that week, waiting in the lobby. Along with the usual policy questions he also discussed the anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination.
Three brushes with the Lion of the Senate... and all I could get out of it was kindness to children, best wishes for happiness and the mourning of a family member. Great man who made mistakes or flawed man who accomplished great things? You be the judge.
In the 1960's and 70's Kennedy was the Democrats perpetual favorite to run for President... although in the five elections (72, 76, 80, 84 and 88) Ted ran just once-- the only time there was a sitting Democratic president...and in doing so helped end the Carter administration. What would a second Kennedy presidency have been like? Would he have been able to accomplish what he wished minus a Ted Kennedy in the Senate?
I had three chance encounters with Ted Kennedy... the first was on a jet in 1979. My father flew for American Airlines and was based in Boston. Whenever we flew, we flew standby which meant we might get bumped or we might wind up in first class (ruining my flight expectations for a lifetime). On one such flight out of Logan we were in First Class...and as we deplaned a gentleman in a suit shook my 3-year old sister's hand and told my mother "you've got a beautiful daughter." The next year as I was following the NH primary...I learned that man was Ted Kennedy.
My second situation with the Senator came when I was in my mid-20's... I had just got engaged and had a friend who worked in Kennedy's Boston office. She gave me an autographed picture of the Senator; he also wrote "David, congratulations on your engagement". Although I was tempted to write on the back "will there be an open bar?" I wisely let the picture stand as is. Unfortunately in moving that fall to Indiana the picture got misplaced--and thus never made my mantle next to my letter from President Reagan.
The last time I saw Ted Kennedy was November 2004; I was working at CBS Radio in Washington, DC and anchored the Sunday Sports Central USA shows. Our studios were two floors up from where Bob Schieffer taped "Face the Nation"...and Kennedy was on that week, waiting in the lobby. Along with the usual policy questions he also discussed the anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination.
Three brushes with the Lion of the Senate... and all I could get out of it was kindness to children, best wishes for happiness and the mourning of a family member. Great man who made mistakes or flawed man who accomplished great things? You be the judge.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Redskins recap... half full or half empty?
The NFL preseason is far from black and white...with plenty of shades...grays...and other hues that either make no sense or won't need to be thought about in three weeks. Still, NFL teams charge full price for these "don't call them exhibition" games-- so the Redskins Recap will go full bore...and trust me, like those sitting in the upper deck at Fed Ex Field--you will probably feel a little ripped off after reading this. Take heart-- I'm feeling gypped myself...and this is only the first paragraph.
Here's how the NFL can win: just charge half price for these games...creative accounting by teams (increasing regular season tix by 11.25% while slashing preseason games by 50%) can ensure nobody loses revenue...and the fans can justify the August affairs knowing they're discounted.
At least they scored...and seventeen points--although the win over Pittsburgh didn't count in the standings it was reassuring to see the team play much better than they did in the Baltimore blowout.
The offensive line looked much better... generating a ground game that averaged 4.4 yards per carry while allowing just a pair of sacks. Clinton Portis shined in his limited action (5 carries while backups Marcus Mason and Dominick Dorsey played well in relief. After a dismal 1 for 11 against the Ravens, the Skins were 9 of 18 on third down against the Steelers.
The 2008 second round triumvirate combined for 5 catches...60 yards and a touchdown (thank you Fred Davis). Malcolm Kelly's looked better than Devin Thomas so far this preseason--while Marko Mitchell made his case for the 53 man roster by leading the team in catches (3) and scoring a touchdown.
Return to sender? Dominic Dorsey and Keith Eloi shared punt return duties...with Dorsey averaging 12 yards on two returns...and Eloi generating one yard over two tries. One can only wonder which combination gets the nod against New England.
H-O Line...the combination of free agent Albert Haynesworth and first round draftee Brian Orakpo made their debut as a duo...while the rookie notched a tackle and three assists Haynesworth for the most part tied up blockers during his limited action.
Campbell and Chase compare and contrast: looking at the line Jason Campbell (1 of 7 for 10 yards) did not have a good night while rookie Chase Daniel (2 touchdown passes) shined; I wish they had left Campbell in for one more series to give him a chance to get everything out of his system. After the game coach Jim Zorn said they were working on different things and Campbell's progress shouldn't be landlocked in the context of his numbers... but all eyes are on Daniel as he competes with second-year pro Colt Brennan (who's been less than stellar) for the #3 spot.
NASCAR Nationwide aside... what would it be like if Clinton Portis chose 1 or 2 Miami Hurricane games to play in each season? That's exactly what NASCAR is doing by allowing Sprint Cup drivers maintain schedules in the Nationwide Series...which is basically the AAA of stock-car racing. What's the point in cultivating the stars of tomorrow when today's elite can drop down and cherry-pick whenever they feel like it? I'm not a big auto racing fan...and I'd never doubt the NASCAR business model--but this just doesn't seem right.
Here's how the NFL can win: just charge half price for these games...creative accounting by teams (increasing regular season tix by 11.25% while slashing preseason games by 50%) can ensure nobody loses revenue...and the fans can justify the August affairs knowing they're discounted.
At least they scored...and seventeen points--although the win over Pittsburgh didn't count in the standings it was reassuring to see the team play much better than they did in the Baltimore blowout.
The offensive line looked much better... generating a ground game that averaged 4.4 yards per carry while allowing just a pair of sacks. Clinton Portis shined in his limited action (5 carries while backups Marcus Mason and Dominick Dorsey played well in relief. After a dismal 1 for 11 against the Ravens, the Skins were 9 of 18 on third down against the Steelers.
The 2008 second round triumvirate combined for 5 catches...60 yards and a touchdown (thank you Fred Davis). Malcolm Kelly's looked better than Devin Thomas so far this preseason--while Marko Mitchell made his case for the 53 man roster by leading the team in catches (3) and scoring a touchdown.
Return to sender? Dominic Dorsey and Keith Eloi shared punt return duties...with Dorsey averaging 12 yards on two returns...and Eloi generating one yard over two tries. One can only wonder which combination gets the nod against New England.
H-O Line...the combination of free agent Albert Haynesworth and first round draftee Brian Orakpo made their debut as a duo...while the rookie notched a tackle and three assists Haynesworth for the most part tied up blockers during his limited action.
Campbell and Chase compare and contrast: looking at the line Jason Campbell (1 of 7 for 10 yards) did not have a good night while rookie Chase Daniel (2 touchdown passes) shined; I wish they had left Campbell in for one more series to give him a chance to get everything out of his system. After the game coach Jim Zorn said they were working on different things and Campbell's progress shouldn't be landlocked in the context of his numbers... but all eyes are on Daniel as he competes with second-year pro Colt Brennan (who's been less than stellar) for the #3 spot.
NASCAR Nationwide aside... what would it be like if Clinton Portis chose 1 or 2 Miami Hurricane games to play in each season? That's exactly what NASCAR is doing by allowing Sprint Cup drivers maintain schedules in the Nationwide Series...which is basically the AAA of stock-car racing. What's the point in cultivating the stars of tomorrow when today's elite can drop down and cherry-pick whenever they feel like it? I'm not a big auto racing fan...and I'd never doubt the NASCAR business model--but this just doesn't seem right.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Redskins Reboot... Strasberg the Savior... Traffic Trauma...
The baby steps toward the regular season continue with Pittsburgh stopping by Fed Ex Field this evening...believe it or not, the last time the Steelers dropped by Landover they were the team with question marks (having gotten manhandled by the Giants in their previous game) while the Skins were the squad flying high at 6-2. Sixty minutes later (and after backup QB Byron Leftwich shined against his hometown team) the Steelers had resolve and the Redskins were beginning to dissolve. I'm not one to put too much on laundry-- but the Redskins "Burgundy jerseys and pants" began a 2-6 stretch. I'm not saying it was the offensive line or Portis getting banged up...but sometimes ugly uniform combinations can carry karmic consequences.
Questions to be answered--
How long will we see the starters? Coach Jim Zorn said it's not fixed on a certain amount of plays or time--but a certain amount of progress he wants to see on the field. It'll be nice to see Haynesworth in legitimate action.
Who's number two? Santana Moss is the team's alpha receiver-- and Antwan Randle-El, Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas all have claims, legitimate or not, to the other side...even though conventional wisdome says Randle-El is probably most effective as a #3 out of the slot.
In order for a kicking competition... the offense has to get into position to score for the legs of Shaun Suisham and Dave Rayner to be tested... and the team needs to score for their kickoff legs to be evaluated more than once.
This week's offensive line challenge...will be the Steelers vaunted zone-blitz. Althoug it's technically a 3-4 formation... all four linebackers rush while both defensive ends drop back in pass coverage from time to time. The only fixed position in the front seven is the nose-- I guess making this a 1-6 (or 1-7 if you count the safety creeping up for pass rush possibilities). The way the Steelers have gone about getting the right personnel for this specialized base defense over the years has been pretty incredible...it seems as though they always have depth ready to be plugged in whenever they lose a high-priced free agent that somehow isn't as effective with his new team. There's been talk over the years of an assistant coaches wing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Joe Bugel and Richie Pettibon among those names bandied about)--if there is then the zone blitz archictect Dick LeBeau definitely needs to be in Canton.
Questions to be answered--
How long will we see the starters? Coach Jim Zorn said it's not fixed on a certain amount of plays or time--but a certain amount of progress he wants to see on the field. It'll be nice to see Haynesworth in legitimate action.
Who's number two? Santana Moss is the team's alpha receiver-- and Antwan Randle-El, Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas all have claims, legitimate or not, to the other side...even though conventional wisdome says Randle-El is probably most effective as a #3 out of the slot.
In order for a kicking competition... the offense has to get into position to score for the legs of Shaun Suisham and Dave Rayner to be tested... and the team needs to score for their kickoff legs to be evaluated more than once.
This week's offensive line challenge...will be the Steelers vaunted zone-blitz. Althoug it's technically a 3-4 formation... all four linebackers rush while both defensive ends drop back in pass coverage from time to time. The only fixed position in the front seven is the nose-- I guess making this a 1-6 (or 1-7 if you count the safety creeping up for pass rush possibilities). The way the Steelers have gone about getting the right personnel for this specialized base defense over the years has been pretty incredible...it seems as though they always have depth ready to be plugged in whenever they lose a high-priced free agent that somehow isn't as effective with his new team. There's been talk over the years of an assistant coaches wing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Joe Bugel and Richie Pettibon among those names bandied about)--if there is then the zone blitz archictect Dick LeBeau definitely needs to be in Canton.
While the Nationals present is shall we say, less than ideal... the future was front and center this week. The team may be destined to reach the century mark in losses...but at least there appears to be a trail to contention.
Monday the team signed first round pick Stephen Strasburg to a $15.1 contract... a little over a minute before the deadline. This gives the club credibility as a franchise committed to winning and not just the balance sheet-- a residual effect will be prospective free agents will view the Nationals that much more seriously.
Thursday the team promoted interim general manager Mike Rizzo to VP and General Manager... to move in a different direction would push whatever rebuilding plan the team has back at least a season-- and Rizzo's made several solid moves since taking over on an interim basis during Spring Training. My favorite remains the trade for Nyjer Morgan that solidified centerfield defensively while providing a sparkplug to the top of the lineup.
Friday the Nats held a midday press conference to introduce Strasburg to the media and fans--arming the pitcher with a #37 jersey as well as his immediate itinerary: Instructional ball in Florida before the Arizona Fall League. His potential timetable obviously rests on more than a few variables: how effective is he in spring training...where he winds up in April (smart money has Strasburg starting in AA)... plus how he adjusts and fares to competition. The final variable in Strasburg's journey to DC is how thin the Nats starting pitching is... if it's anything like this year's bullpen we could be seeing #37 by the All-Star break next year. A safe bet is he shines at several stops before getting the September callup-and is on the 2011 opening day roster.
Thank goodness they weren't introducing Strasberg to the media Saturday... There's a confluence of events in the evening-- with the Nats hosting Milwaukee at Nationals Park (7:05), Redskins-Steelers (7:30) at Fed Ex Field and the DC United playing the Los Angeles Galaxy at RFK (7:30) there will be plenty of congestion. In order to get to any of the three locations on time you should have left yesterday afternoon...happy commuting.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Rice's Hall of Fame Home--Canton?
The donning of the jacket. The acceptance speech. The cheers... there's nothing quite like a Hall of Fame Enshrinement. And this summer Jim Ed Rice received his rightful moment-- and took his appropriate place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I know many in the Boston era have voiced the famed "what if"? What if Rice hadn't attended Nebraska to play wide receiver and become an All-American safety/punt returner? What if the Red Sox had been able to sign their number one pick? But it just wasn't meant to be and Jim Rice as a Boston Red Sox is merely the flight of fantasy.
Although he did not play in the Game of the Century (freshmen were ineligible in 1971), Rice watched and learned from one of the most electrifying players ever in college football--and when 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers graduated, Rice took over the punt return duties with flair--although he didn't outrun tacklers, the South Carolina born mac truck bulled through them. A position switch to strong safety after his sophomore season gave the born hitter his stage.
Who could forget how Rice took the NFL by storm in 1975 with fellow rookie Fred Lynn? As ironic as this sounds, Lynn was also a Red Sox draft pick (he played both football and baseball at USC)--could you imagine the two playing side by side at Fenway instead of Foxboro? Manning the two safety positions in the Patriots defense the duo was dubbed the "Gold Dust Twins"-- while Lynn played free safety like an all-star centerfielder (truth be told Lynn probably had better HOF credentials until his infamous 1981 holdout caused the Pats to trade him to the Los Angeles Rams-where he was never the same) Rice punished tight ends, running backs and wide receivers alike. He was titled the "most-feared hitter of his generation in the American Conference"...and was an instrumental part of the Patriots rise to dominance in the late 70's.
Rice's fumble causing hit of Ken Stabler in the 1976 AFC Divisional Playoff game held off a Raiders rally made possible when "Sugar Bear" Hamilton was whistled for roughing the passer a few plays earlier on the drive. Stabler and Oakland coach John Madden (who resigned after the year to become an executive for Greyhound--go figure) both maintain Stabler was tucking the ball away as Rice applied the hit...to no avail.
After disposing of the injury-ravaged Pittsburgh Steelers (Rocky Bleier's broken toe and Franco Harris' bruised ribs prevented the 1,000 yard rushers from taking the field) the Pats completed their miracle run by upsetting Minnesota in Super Bowl XI. Rice's late-game interception return for a touchdown is a fixture of NFL Films...and for those taking a closer look one can see a cast on Rice's wrist. Forgotten by most is that Rice broke his wrist in the Pats' final regular season game- and instead of taking the postseason off, played with a heavily buffered and taped cast at risk of the rest of his career. One can only surmise they wouldn't allow that in baseball.
Fresh off a Celtics NBA Championship (and Stanley Cups from the Bruins earlier in the decade), the Hub was soon dubbed the "City of Champions". Rice threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park the following April--and told Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk "they were next".
We all know what happened next--the Red Sox responded by winning the 1977 World Series...fans can recount the rest of the championship lineup in their sleep--starting with an outfield based on speed and defense-- Dwight Evans, Rick Miller and Andre Dawson (picked up in the steal of the century for Juan Beniquez and Bob Stanley the previous winter) all won gold gloves...power on the corners with 3b Butch Hobson and 1b Cecil Cooper (thankfully wiser heads prevailed and he wasn't dealt for George Scott and Bernie Carbo in the offseason)... the middle infield of Denny Doyle and Rick Burleson...and veteran Carl Yastrzemski in his final season playing DH (Yaz's decision to retire on top may have hampered his Hall of Fame chances--instead of aDHing into his early forties and finishing with 3000+ hits and 400+ homers, Captain Carl left the game with 366 homers and 2,724 hits that made him wait until his final year of eligibility for Cooperstown in 1998).
The Patriots dynasty would be short-lived; holdouts by Leon Gray and John Hannah would torpedo the 1977 campaign; 1978 would be marred by Rice's brief switch to wide receiver...put to rest when he knocked Oakland receiver Jack Tatum unconscious in a preseason game--ending the Raider safety's career with a massive concussion. Rice caught some heat for not visiting Tatum in the hospital, sending wide receiver Darryl Stingley instead. Pats fans recall that was the year coach Chuck Fairbanks almost left the team to for the University of Colorado...Rice made one of his best defensive plays ever--- as the Nebraska alum took the ex-Oklahoma coach aside and told Fairbanks the folly of a move to a school that had no prayer in the Big Eight.
A return to the Super Bowl after the 1980 season would bring heartbreak; Steve Grogan's late interception by Herman Edwards sealing the Patriots loss to Philadelphia. While trips to the Pro Bowl and the playoffs would await Rice during the latter part of his career--his dream of one final shot at the title would come short in 1986--as the Patriots were routed by Chicago in Super Bowl XX (although Rice's return of a Walter Payton fumble for a touchdown on the game's first drive gave fans hope). Three injury marred seasons robbed Rice of much of his greatness that had been celebrated and he finally called it quits during the summer of 1989.
Rice's trip to Canton was rather intriguing--as a safety he was more of a run-stopper than an interception-collector...in fact when he played with Fred Lynn he never had more INT's than his teammate. Stat compilers that had taken over the process kept Rice at bay for years until cooler heads finally prevailed this past winter.
The waiting ends and the celebration begins...although one still wonders what may have happened had he chosen the diamond instead of the gridiron--Lynn too, for that matter. But that's for another day...like what would have happened had Butch Hobson stayed at Alabama and played QB for Bear Bryant--
I know many in the Boston era have voiced the famed "what if"? What if Rice hadn't attended Nebraska to play wide receiver and become an All-American safety/punt returner? What if the Red Sox had been able to sign their number one pick? But it just wasn't meant to be and Jim Rice as a Boston Red Sox is merely the flight of fantasy.
Although he did not play in the Game of the Century (freshmen were ineligible in 1971), Rice watched and learned from one of the most electrifying players ever in college football--and when 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers graduated, Rice took over the punt return duties with flair--although he didn't outrun tacklers, the South Carolina born mac truck bulled through them. A position switch to strong safety after his sophomore season gave the born hitter his stage.
Who could forget how Rice took the NFL by storm in 1975 with fellow rookie Fred Lynn? As ironic as this sounds, Lynn was also a Red Sox draft pick (he played both football and baseball at USC)--could you imagine the two playing side by side at Fenway instead of Foxboro? Manning the two safety positions in the Patriots defense the duo was dubbed the "Gold Dust Twins"-- while Lynn played free safety like an all-star centerfielder (truth be told Lynn probably had better HOF credentials until his infamous 1981 holdout caused the Pats to trade him to the Los Angeles Rams-where he was never the same) Rice punished tight ends, running backs and wide receivers alike. He was titled the "most-feared hitter of his generation in the American Conference"...and was an instrumental part of the Patriots rise to dominance in the late 70's.
Rice's fumble causing hit of Ken Stabler in the 1976 AFC Divisional Playoff game held off a Raiders rally made possible when "Sugar Bear" Hamilton was whistled for roughing the passer a few plays earlier on the drive. Stabler and Oakland coach John Madden (who resigned after the year to become an executive for Greyhound--go figure) both maintain Stabler was tucking the ball away as Rice applied the hit...to no avail.
After disposing of the injury-ravaged Pittsburgh Steelers (Rocky Bleier's broken toe and Franco Harris' bruised ribs prevented the 1,000 yard rushers from taking the field) the Pats completed their miracle run by upsetting Minnesota in Super Bowl XI. Rice's late-game interception return for a touchdown is a fixture of NFL Films...and for those taking a closer look one can see a cast on Rice's wrist. Forgotten by most is that Rice broke his wrist in the Pats' final regular season game- and instead of taking the postseason off, played with a heavily buffered and taped cast at risk of the rest of his career. One can only surmise they wouldn't allow that in baseball.
Fresh off a Celtics NBA Championship (and Stanley Cups from the Bruins earlier in the decade), the Hub was soon dubbed the "City of Champions". Rice threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park the following April--and told Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk "they were next".
We all know what happened next--the Red Sox responded by winning the 1977 World Series...fans can recount the rest of the championship lineup in their sleep--starting with an outfield based on speed and defense-- Dwight Evans, Rick Miller and Andre Dawson (picked up in the steal of the century for Juan Beniquez and Bob Stanley the previous winter) all won gold gloves...power on the corners with 3b Butch Hobson and 1b Cecil Cooper (thankfully wiser heads prevailed and he wasn't dealt for George Scott and Bernie Carbo in the offseason)... the middle infield of Denny Doyle and Rick Burleson...and veteran Carl Yastrzemski in his final season playing DH (Yaz's decision to retire on top may have hampered his Hall of Fame chances--instead of aDHing into his early forties and finishing with 3000+ hits and 400+ homers, Captain Carl left the game with 366 homers and 2,724 hits that made him wait until his final year of eligibility for Cooperstown in 1998).
The Patriots dynasty would be short-lived; holdouts by Leon Gray and John Hannah would torpedo the 1977 campaign; 1978 would be marred by Rice's brief switch to wide receiver...put to rest when he knocked Oakland receiver Jack Tatum unconscious in a preseason game--ending the Raider safety's career with a massive concussion. Rice caught some heat for not visiting Tatum in the hospital, sending wide receiver Darryl Stingley instead. Pats fans recall that was the year coach Chuck Fairbanks almost left the team to for the University of Colorado...Rice made one of his best defensive plays ever--- as the Nebraska alum took the ex-Oklahoma coach aside and told Fairbanks the folly of a move to a school that had no prayer in the Big Eight.
A return to the Super Bowl after the 1980 season would bring heartbreak; Steve Grogan's late interception by Herman Edwards sealing the Patriots loss to Philadelphia. While trips to the Pro Bowl and the playoffs would await Rice during the latter part of his career--his dream of one final shot at the title would come short in 1986--as the Patriots were routed by Chicago in Super Bowl XX (although Rice's return of a Walter Payton fumble for a touchdown on the game's first drive gave fans hope). Three injury marred seasons robbed Rice of much of his greatness that had been celebrated and he finally called it quits during the summer of 1989.
Rice's trip to Canton was rather intriguing--as a safety he was more of a run-stopper than an interception-collector...in fact when he played with Fred Lynn he never had more INT's than his teammate. Stat compilers that had taken over the process kept Rice at bay for years until cooler heads finally prevailed this past winter.
The waiting ends and the celebration begins...although one still wonders what may have happened had he chosen the diamond instead of the gridiron--Lynn too, for that matter. But that's for another day...like what would have happened had Butch Hobson stayed at Alabama and played QB for Bear Bryant--
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tiger tamed...
Golf's majors in 2009 will be remembered more by who lost them than who won...
Kenny Perry's misplay at the Masters? Sad, but not much of a stretch for the career journeyman (4 top ten finishes in 20+ years of majors)...
David Duval and Phil Mickelson's close but no cigar performances at the U.S. Open? Given their near miss careers--it was as much a given as the group Big Country singing "In a Big Country" in concert...
Tom Watson's collapse after leading the British Open for 71 holes? The 59-year old stopped winning majors and tournaments in general back in his mid-30's because of a faulty putter-- and it was only fitting his flat stick came back to haunt the Hall of Famer one final time.
But Tiger? Tiger? Woods was supposed to be immune to golf's whimsical fortune...turning a contender into a pretender and back again depending on a slice, hook, sandtrap or pond. In his career after leading for 54 holes, the game's #1 player locked up the trophy with Mariano Rivera-type precision. Death, taxes and Woods winning with a fourth round lead.
It was probably only a matter of time--some will say. Others will point to the law of averages--even the best golfer of his generation can't be perfect forever. Looking back at Tiger's career, there were five Majors he could have lost but came through in the clutch:
He's won three playoffs--the 2001 PGA against Bob May, the 2005 Masters against Chris Dimarco and the 2008 US Open against Rocco Mediate. In a one-hole (M), three-hole (P) or eighteen-hole (U) playoff there's always a little bit of a chance for disaster-- and Tiger was able to come through each time. Two more instances had Woods tied for the lead entering the final 18--and he outpaced Retief Goosen at the 2002 Masters and pushed past Shawn Micheel at the 2006 PGA. Out of those five instances, Goosen is the only one with what would be called a stellar career. You put him against Els or Singh...and maybe he loses one of those.
In Woods' career he's had two distinct eras of dominance: 1997 to 2002 (8 majors) and 2004 to 08 (6)...just like Jack Nicklaus. I fully expect Tiger to have one final dominant stretch-- just like Jack. It's only a matter of when.
Kenny Perry's misplay at the Masters? Sad, but not much of a stretch for the career journeyman (4 top ten finishes in 20+ years of majors)...
David Duval and Phil Mickelson's close but no cigar performances at the U.S. Open? Given their near miss careers--it was as much a given as the group Big Country singing "In a Big Country" in concert...
Tom Watson's collapse after leading the British Open for 71 holes? The 59-year old stopped winning majors and tournaments in general back in his mid-30's because of a faulty putter-- and it was only fitting his flat stick came back to haunt the Hall of Famer one final time.
But Tiger? Tiger? Woods was supposed to be immune to golf's whimsical fortune...turning a contender into a pretender and back again depending on a slice, hook, sandtrap or pond. In his career after leading for 54 holes, the game's #1 player locked up the trophy with Mariano Rivera-type precision. Death, taxes and Woods winning with a fourth round lead.
Give credit to Y.E. Yang for not backing away--and attacking the course without getting intimidated by Woods...more often than not Tiger's playing partner implodes in some manner- and the world was waiting for the other shoe to drop...
But Yang did not falter. Eight straight pars in marked the middle of his round-- the time when Tiger's opponents press, falter or make the fatal mistake...and the South Korean made the shot of the day on 14--eagling a the par 4 and turning Tiger from leader to chaser. If this had happened earlier in the round Woods may have been able to ramp things up...but he wound up bogeying the last two holes to finish a runnerup for the sixth time in his career.
It was probably only a matter of time--some will say. Others will point to the law of averages--even the best golfer of his generation can't be perfect forever. Looking back at Tiger's career, there were five Majors he could have lost but came through in the clutch:
He's won three playoffs--the 2001 PGA against Bob May, the 2005 Masters against Chris Dimarco and the 2008 US Open against Rocco Mediate. In a one-hole (M), three-hole (P) or eighteen-hole (U) playoff there's always a little bit of a chance for disaster-- and Tiger was able to come through each time. Two more instances had Woods tied for the lead entering the final 18--and he outpaced Retief Goosen at the 2002 Masters and pushed past Shawn Micheel at the 2006 PGA. Out of those five instances, Goosen is the only one with what would be called a stellar career. You put him against Els or Singh...and maybe he loses one of those.
In Woods' career he's had two distinct eras of dominance: 1997 to 2002 (8 majors) and 2004 to 08 (6)...just like Jack Nicklaus. I fully expect Tiger to have one final dominant stretch-- just like Jack. It's only a matter of when.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Terrapin Trail...digesting a different defense.
Say goodbye to Leo. The hybrid defensive end/linebacker is a thing of the past in College Park-- the new defense under coordinator Don Brown will be more of a traditional four-three. The new D will also be more aggressive off the snap instead of reading and reacting as has been the case in the past.
The line forms where? Gone are Jeremy Navarre and Trey Covington...senior Travis Ivey's expected to anchor this year's unit from the tackle position. Seniors Jarred Harrell and Deege Galt will be pushed by talented underclassmen (2 sophomores, 4 redshirt freshmen and 2 true frosh) that boast potential but not experience. Alex Wujciak leads the linebacking corps after manning the middle last year--leading the team with 133 tackles.
Secondary Seniority... the defensive backfield is a completely different situation with four seniors in starting roles--and 30 starts returning from 2008. Safety Jamari McCullough was a one man wrecking crew in 2008-- the only player to tally an interception (his four led the team), a fumble recovery and a sack. Cornerback Anthony Wiseman (13 starts and a team-high ten passes broken up in '08) gives the Terps a shutdown corner.
Special Situations--good news and bad news for the kicking game...Maryland returns punter Travis Balz (41.1 yards per kick in 2008)--the junior's touted as an All-American possibility and first team All-ACC. Kicker Obi Egekeze graduated... but the Terps will take their chances this year's specialist won't miss 9 of 24 field goal attempts this fall.
The line forms where? Gone are Jeremy Navarre and Trey Covington...senior Travis Ivey's expected to anchor this year's unit from the tackle position. Seniors Jarred Harrell and Deege Galt will be pushed by talented underclassmen (2 sophomores, 4 redshirt freshmen and 2 true frosh) that boast potential but not experience. Alex Wujciak leads the linebacking corps after manning the middle last year--leading the team with 133 tackles.
Secondary Seniority... the defensive backfield is a completely different situation with four seniors in starting roles--and 30 starts returning from 2008. Safety Jamari McCullough was a one man wrecking crew in 2008-- the only player to tally an interception (his four led the team), a fumble recovery and a sack. Cornerback Anthony Wiseman (13 starts and a team-high ten passes broken up in '08) gives the Terps a shutdown corner.
Special Situations--good news and bad news for the kicking game...Maryland returns punter Travis Balz (41.1 yards per kick in 2008)--the junior's touted as an All-American possibility and first team All-ACC. Kicker Obi Egekeze graduated... but the Terps will take their chances this year's specialist won't miss 9 of 24 field goal attempts this fall.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Redskins Recap-- plus a look at Vick & Tiger...
Thank goodness the preseason is meaningless...the Redskins went 0-4 in August the last time they won the Super Bowl--while the NFL's first 0-16 team went unbeaten in tuneups last year. Granted--the tapes from last night's Redskins 23-0 loss to Baltimore won't make the team's highlight film...but something has to be taken from Thursday's disaster...:
D gets an F...500 YARDS? Although much of the game had backups in place...it has to hurt to get pummelled for a half-millennium of offense. Defensive backs Kevin Barnes and Justin Tryon were exposed...
O-Line AWOL...the Skins had problems running the football--averaging under three yards a carry (19-56, 2.9)...pass protection was an issue (4 sacks allowed)
Malcolm over the Middle... 2008's second round triumvirate of Thomas, Kelly and Davis combined for 6 of the team's 15 receptions--Malcolm Kelly looking exceptionally good (3 grabs for 25 yards) in being a reliable target. Fred Davis caught a pair of passes but fumbled twice. Devin Thomas? A twelve yard catch was par for the course as far as stretching the field was concerned...the team had just one completion longer than 15 yards.
Punt Return Rotation...Dominique Dorsey and Marques Hagans split time returning punts...the tally had Dorsey with one return for no yards and a fair catch; Hagans with a two yard return and an FC.
Hey wasn't that? Former Virginia runningback Cedric Peerman is third in the Ravens' depth chart at running back--and gained 9 yards on 4 carries while running for game's final touchdown.
Vick becomes a bird of a different feather-- former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick lands in Philadelphia--creating a stir in the NFC East. I think the Eagles are one of the few organizations and locker rooms that could handle the addition of Vick--hey, they were able to weather a year of TO. Donovan McNabb was a mentor to Vick when he entered the NFL-- in fact, Vick almost went to Syracuse (where he would have succeeded McNabb) instead of Virginia Tech way back when.
Tiger's trail to a title-- golf's final major teed off with Tiger Woods taking a first round lead. It seems as though the only way Woods doesn't win on the tour is if he buries himself with a poor first or second round. He's the automatic favorite of every tourney--especially the majors--and conventional wisdom is all he needs to do is remain in the mix after two days to be in prime position. With a phenomenal first round...he's that much closer to major #15.
D gets an F...500 YARDS? Although much of the game had backups in place...it has to hurt to get pummelled for a half-millennium of offense. Defensive backs Kevin Barnes and Justin Tryon were exposed...
O-Line AWOL...the Skins had problems running the football--averaging under three yards a carry (19-56, 2.9)...pass protection was an issue (4 sacks allowed)
Malcolm over the Middle... 2008's second round triumvirate of Thomas, Kelly and Davis combined for 6 of the team's 15 receptions--Malcolm Kelly looking exceptionally good (3 grabs for 25 yards) in being a reliable target. Fred Davis caught a pair of passes but fumbled twice. Devin Thomas? A twelve yard catch was par for the course as far as stretching the field was concerned...the team had just one completion longer than 15 yards.
Punt Return Rotation...Dominique Dorsey and Marques Hagans split time returning punts...the tally had Dorsey with one return for no yards and a fair catch; Hagans with a two yard return and an FC.
Hey wasn't that? Former Virginia runningback Cedric Peerman is third in the Ravens' depth chart at running back--and gained 9 yards on 4 carries while running for game's final touchdown.
Vick becomes a bird of a different feather-- former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick lands in Philadelphia--creating a stir in the NFC East. I think the Eagles are one of the few organizations and locker rooms that could handle the addition of Vick--hey, they were able to weather a year of TO. Donovan McNabb was a mentor to Vick when he entered the NFL-- in fact, Vick almost went to Syracuse (where he would have succeeded McNabb) instead of Virginia Tech way back when.
Tiger's trail to a title-- golf's final major teed off with Tiger Woods taking a first round lead. It seems as though the only way Woods doesn't win on the tour is if he buries himself with a poor first or second round. He's the automatic favorite of every tourney--especially the majors--and conventional wisdom is all he needs to do is remain in the mix after two days to be in prime position. With a phenomenal first round...he's that much closer to major #15.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Redskins Report...
The Preseason kicks off tonight with limited time expected for most of the Redskins Starters-- perhaps a quarter at most for the bulk of the first string with Albert Haynesworth and Clinton Portis receiving "Get out of Playing Free" cards. What should one expect and hope for this evening?
Offensive Line Optimism... so far in practice the OL has seemed overmatched at times-- is it a product of outstanding play from Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo or is it a lack of cohesion of the linemen? One has reason to believe tonight they'll be tested by an outstanding Ravens defensive line...all the Sanatana Moss Flash and Clinton Portis Dash won't take place if the OL gets mashed.
Wideout Breakout...Devin Thomas wears #11 while Malcolm Kelly dons #12... uniform numbers traditionally worn by quarterbacks, punters and specialists. I guess it's only fitting neither has put up outstanding wide receiver numbers. They've had a year to learn and get healthy-- the world and development of Jason Campbell won't wait for these two highly touted draft picks to turn the corner.
Many Happy, or at least Productive, Returns...last year the Skins left yardage on the table both on punt returns and in punt coverage. Free Agent pickup Hunter Smith solves the punting question for a team that ranked 32nd last year (I'm just glad they didn't sign Ray Guy Award winner Matt Fodge out of Oklahoma State--Dallas had the honor of cutting him this summer)...which leaves the question of who will be the primary punt returner this season? Last year's duo of Antwaan Randle-El and Santana Moss combined to rank tied for 21st in the league (8.4 yds per return)...Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith has a laundry list of possibilities-- ranging from DeAngelo Hall to Marcus Mason...and it's a matter of finding the right returner to solidify that unit.
Offensive Line Optimism... so far in practice the OL has seemed overmatched at times-- is it a product of outstanding play from Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo or is it a lack of cohesion of the linemen? One has reason to believe tonight they'll be tested by an outstanding Ravens defensive line...all the Sanatana Moss Flash and Clinton Portis Dash won't take place if the OL gets mashed.
Wideout Breakout...Devin Thomas wears #11 while Malcolm Kelly dons #12... uniform numbers traditionally worn by quarterbacks, punters and specialists. I guess it's only fitting neither has put up outstanding wide receiver numbers. They've had a year to learn and get healthy-- the world and development of Jason Campbell won't wait for these two highly touted draft picks to turn the corner.
Many Happy, or at least Productive, Returns...last year the Skins left yardage on the table both on punt returns and in punt coverage. Free Agent pickup Hunter Smith solves the punting question for a team that ranked 32nd last year (I'm just glad they didn't sign Ray Guy Award winner Matt Fodge out of Oklahoma State--Dallas had the honor of cutting him this summer)...which leaves the question of who will be the primary punt returner this season? Last year's duo of Antwaan Randle-El and Santana Moss combined to rank tied for 21st in the league (8.4 yds per return)...Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith has a laundry list of possibilities-- ranging from DeAngelo Hall to Marcus Mason...and it's a matter of finding the right returner to solidify that unit.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Terrapin Trail--offensive opportunities...
Football practice began Monday evening in College Park as Maryland aims for its first Atlantic Division title since the ACC realigned. Offensively the team cooled off once it entered ACC play in 2008--despite scoring 35 and 51 points in back to back weeks against Cal and Eastern Michigan...the Terps averaged just 16 points a game in conference action...if they're to be a contender instead of a pretender this November, the Terrapin offense can't be sluggish.
POSITIVES: talent at skill positions... look no further than running back Da'Rel Scott (1133 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing, 5.4 yards a carry)--while coach Ralph Friedgen has a change of pace back in Davin Meggett (457 yards on 5.1 yards per pop). Wide receivers Torrey Smith and Ronnie Tyler look to build off solid seasons while tight end Lansford Watson has been voted preseason all-ACC (tight ends are to College Park what linebackers are to Happy Valley). Tying it all together is senior quarterback Chris Turner--who's the first clear-cut #1 signalcaller entering camp since the days of Scott McBrien.
QUESTIONS: An inexperienced offensive line: just one player returns to the position he started in last year...left tackle Bruce Campbell. Right guard Phil Costa moves over to center--( a shift that mirrors Terrapin grad Edwin Williams with the Redskins...the Md center's playing both guard positions in training camp) while the other three spots are up for grabs. Just as a great offensive line can maximize mediocre skill players...a porous line can minimize talented backs and receivers.
COMING UP NEXT ON THE TERRAPIN TRAIL--A DIFFERENT DEFENSE...
POSITIVES: talent at skill positions... look no further than running back Da'Rel Scott (1133 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing, 5.4 yards a carry)--while coach Ralph Friedgen has a change of pace back in Davin Meggett (457 yards on 5.1 yards per pop). Wide receivers Torrey Smith and Ronnie Tyler look to build off solid seasons while tight end Lansford Watson has been voted preseason all-ACC (tight ends are to College Park what linebackers are to Happy Valley). Tying it all together is senior quarterback Chris Turner--who's the first clear-cut #1 signalcaller entering camp since the days of Scott McBrien.
QUESTIONS: An inexperienced offensive line: just one player returns to the position he started in last year...left tackle Bruce Campbell. Right guard Phil Costa moves over to center--( a shift that mirrors Terrapin grad Edwin Williams with the Redskins...the Md center's playing both guard positions in training camp) while the other three spots are up for grabs. Just as a great offensive line can maximize mediocre skill players...a porous line can minimize talented backs and receivers.
COMING UP NEXT ON THE TERRAPIN TRAIL--A DIFFERENT DEFENSE...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A true Sox-Yanks allstar team...
Leave it to ESPN to lazily start something potentially great...but not finish the job. Due to the New York Yankees - Boston series this weekend, the network decided to announce an "all-time" Yanks-Sox squad...gee whiz-- such a tough task to realize Yogi Berra, Ted Williams and Derek Jeter are among the best ever at their respective positions! After filling the requisite 15-20 minutes and wasting the time of everyone from Peter Gammons to Dave Winfield.
I'll go one better...can you come up with a team of all time players who spent time at Fenway and in Pinstripes? Here's my all-time Soxyank squad:
FIRST BASE: Bob Watson came to Boston in a 1979 mid-season trade...after hitting .337 and driving in 53 runs over 84 games the ex-Astro signed with the Yankees in the offseason as a free agent and had a decent (.307, 13, 68) first year in the Bronx... plus, he had the pivotal role in Bad News Bears Breaking Training ("Let them play! Let them play!").
SECOND BASE: a very thin position has Mark Bellhorn the only crossover I could think of: the starter for the 2004 champs was waived the following summer only to be picked up by the Yanks...where he didn't fare much better (.118 in the Bronx after hitting .216 with the Sox).
SHORTSTOP: Spike Owen leads another weak field... although he hit .366 in the 1986 postseason. The switch-hitting contact specialist was one of three former Texas Longhorns on the '86 team (Clemens, Schiraldi). His 1993 campaign in the Bronx was nondescript.
THIRD BASE: Wade Boggs won four straight batting crowns in the 80's and was pantsed in an episode of Cheers...the 90's brought a guest appearance on The Simpsons and four straight years hitting .300 with the Yankees.
RIGHT FIELD: Babe Ruth ties it all together--he was on three World Championship teams in Beantown and the Yankees first four title squads...
CENTERFIELD: Johnny Damon gave Red Sox fans one of the best lines ever--"looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary"... but nobody questioned his bat.
LEFTFIELD: Rickey Henderson spent time with nine major league teams--it's only fitting the Yankees were his second stop and the Red Sox were his second to last employer at the big league level.
CATCHER: for a rivalry defined by dueling catchers in the 70's...there have been plenty of crossovers in this position--Jim Leyritz, Rick Cerone and even Elston Howard take a back seat to Mike Stanley...who much like Kelly Taylor on 90210 was seemingly passed around the AL East for the better part of a decade: he spent 1992 through 95 in pinstripes, the next season and a half near the Citgo sign before joining the NYY as a late-season pickup...and after fitting Toronto in Steve Sanders-like in 1998 went back for a second term with Boston in '99.
DESIGNATED HITTER: Don Baylor for Mike Easler was the first trade between the two teams since the Danny Cater for Sparky Lyle fiasco...and paid big dividends in the 1986 AL Championship run despite George Steinbrenner saying "his bat will die by August". Along with Easler there were two other big bats to consider-- Jose Canseco and Jack Clark... who came to Boston as "Jack the Ripper" only to become "Jack the Whiffer" and leave not with a bang but as "Jack with a Whimper".
Easler, Clark, Howard, Canseco, Leyritz and Cerone comprise the reserves...not a lot of variety, but there's not a lot to choose from.
STARTING PITCHING: I'll hold Babe Ruth out of the rotation because I want him as my everyday rightfielder:
1--Luis Tiant...the heart and soul of the Boston contending teams from 1972 through '78... his offseason signing with the Yanks effectively the first domino to fall in the three year run that saw the dismantling of a near-champion...and he also smoked cigars in the shower... I still don't know how the Sox let him go to the Bronx in '79.
2--Red Ruffing...sign of the times in the 20's and 30's--a decent pitcher who was 57 games under five hundred for the Sox who became a Hall of Fame hurler (107 wins over break-even) for six world championship Yankee squads.
3--Roger Clemens...pitches third in the rotation because before, um, his "late-career surge"... he was ever so disappointing in the postseason.
4--Mike Torrez...helped deliver the Yanks their first world title in 15 years by winning two World Series games in 1977...helped the Yanks repeat as champion by allowing a home run to Bucky Dent in the playoff game for the AL East.
5--David Wells/David Cone... a lefty-righty combination with the non-starter on the short list for long-relief: each enjoyed a stellar Yankee career punctuated by perfect games... before going on to moderately successful but brief stops in Boston (Cone: 9-7 in one season; Wells: 17-10 over a year and a half) ... and both spent the bulk of their careers with other teams (3 for Cone, 7 for Wells) ... collecting rings with the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays.
SETUP MAN: Ramiro Mendoza... along with Ruth I believe the only man to win world titles with both teams--could spot-start as well as come out of the pen.
WASHED UP EX-CLOSERS: Lee Smith and Jeff Reardon both bounced around after
being the man in Boston before finding safe harbor in the Bronx; while Smith this was Reardon's final stop.
CLOSER: Sparky Lyle...despite going from Cy Young to Sayonara when the Pinstripes signed Rich Gossage-- the man who sat naked on birthday cakes was one of the games first dominant firemen.
MANAGER: Joe McCarthy...led the Yanks to 7 world titles before guiding the Red Sox to a pair of second place finishes over three years plus a 94 win season.
COACHES: Ralph Houk and Don Zimmer... Houk was at the helm of consecutive World Series Champs in 1961 and 62--before wrapping up his career in the Red Sox dugout in the 80's. Zimmer turned into a wise sage as Joe Torre's key advisor after a managerial career that included three straight 90+ win seasons in Boston.
I'll go one better...can you come up with a team of all time players who spent time at Fenway and in Pinstripes? Here's my all-time Soxyank squad:
FIRST BASE: Bob Watson came to Boston in a 1979 mid-season trade...after hitting .337 and driving in 53 runs over 84 games the ex-Astro signed with the Yankees in the offseason as a free agent and had a decent (.307, 13, 68) first year in the Bronx... plus, he had the pivotal role in Bad News Bears Breaking Training ("Let them play! Let them play!").
SECOND BASE: a very thin position has Mark Bellhorn the only crossover I could think of: the starter for the 2004 champs was waived the following summer only to be picked up by the Yanks...where he didn't fare much better (.118 in the Bronx after hitting .216 with the Sox).
SHORTSTOP: Spike Owen leads another weak field... although he hit .366 in the 1986 postseason. The switch-hitting contact specialist was one of three former Texas Longhorns on the '86 team (Clemens, Schiraldi). His 1993 campaign in the Bronx was nondescript.
THIRD BASE: Wade Boggs won four straight batting crowns in the 80's and was pantsed in an episode of Cheers...the 90's brought a guest appearance on The Simpsons and four straight years hitting .300 with the Yankees.
RIGHT FIELD: Babe Ruth ties it all together--he was on three World Championship teams in Beantown and the Yankees first four title squads...
CENTERFIELD: Johnny Damon gave Red Sox fans one of the best lines ever--"looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary"... but nobody questioned his bat.
LEFTFIELD: Rickey Henderson spent time with nine major league teams--it's only fitting the Yankees were his second stop and the Red Sox were his second to last employer at the big league level.
CATCHER: for a rivalry defined by dueling catchers in the 70's...there have been plenty of crossovers in this position--Jim Leyritz, Rick Cerone and even Elston Howard take a back seat to Mike Stanley...who much like Kelly Taylor on 90210 was seemingly passed around the AL East for the better part of a decade: he spent 1992 through 95 in pinstripes, the next season and a half near the Citgo sign before joining the NYY as a late-season pickup...and after fitting Toronto in Steve Sanders-like in 1998 went back for a second term with Boston in '99.
DESIGNATED HITTER: Don Baylor for Mike Easler was the first trade between the two teams since the Danny Cater for Sparky Lyle fiasco...and paid big dividends in the 1986 AL Championship run despite George Steinbrenner saying "his bat will die by August". Along with Easler there were two other big bats to consider-- Jose Canseco and Jack Clark... who came to Boston as "Jack the Ripper" only to become "Jack the Whiffer" and leave not with a bang but as "Jack with a Whimper".
Easler, Clark, Howard, Canseco, Leyritz and Cerone comprise the reserves...not a lot of variety, but there's not a lot to choose from.
STARTING PITCHING: I'll hold Babe Ruth out of the rotation because I want him as my everyday rightfielder:
1--Luis Tiant...the heart and soul of the Boston contending teams from 1972 through '78... his offseason signing with the Yanks effectively the first domino to fall in the three year run that saw the dismantling of a near-champion...and he also smoked cigars in the shower... I still don't know how the Sox let him go to the Bronx in '79.
2--Red Ruffing...sign of the times in the 20's and 30's--a decent pitcher who was 57 games under five hundred for the Sox who became a Hall of Fame hurler (107 wins over break-even) for six world championship Yankee squads.
3--Roger Clemens...pitches third in the rotation because before, um, his "late-career surge"... he was ever so disappointing in the postseason.
4--Mike Torrez...helped deliver the Yanks their first world title in 15 years by winning two World Series games in 1977...helped the Yanks repeat as champion by allowing a home run to Bucky Dent in the playoff game for the AL East.
5--David Wells/David Cone... a lefty-righty combination with the non-starter on the short list for long-relief: each enjoyed a stellar Yankee career punctuated by perfect games... before going on to moderately successful but brief stops in Boston (Cone: 9-7 in one season; Wells: 17-10 over a year and a half) ... and both spent the bulk of their careers with other teams (3 for Cone, 7 for Wells) ... collecting rings with the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays.
SETUP MAN: Ramiro Mendoza... along with Ruth I believe the only man to win world titles with both teams--could spot-start as well as come out of the pen.
WASHED UP EX-CLOSERS: Lee Smith and Jeff Reardon both bounced around after
being the man in Boston before finding safe harbor in the Bronx; while Smith this was Reardon's final stop.
CLOSER: Sparky Lyle...despite going from Cy Young to Sayonara when the Pinstripes signed Rich Gossage-- the man who sat naked on birthday cakes was one of the games first dominant firemen.
MANAGER: Joe McCarthy...led the Yanks to 7 world titles before guiding the Red Sox to a pair of second place finishes over three years plus a 94 win season.
COACHES: Ralph Houk and Don Zimmer... Houk was at the helm of consecutive World Series Champs in 1961 and 62--before wrapping up his career in the Red Sox dugout in the 80's. Zimmer turned into a wise sage as Joe Torre's key advisor after a managerial career that included three straight 90+ win seasons in Boston.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Skins on the shelf--
The Redskins wrapped up the public portion of training camp Saturday with the team's intrasquad scrimmage. What happened on the field wasn't nearly as notable as who didn't line up:
Were you excited to see free agent signee Albert Haynesworth in a game situation for the first time? No dice.
Did you want to see offensive weapons Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley? Wait 'til the preseason--or if Portis has his way, September.
How about last year's second round draft pick wide receivers? Malcolm Kelly and and Devin Thomas were both watching instead of catching...
How about the most famous thigh in Northern Virginia? Sorry, Carlos Rogers remains on the sidelines... and one wonders when he will get back on the field and up to speed.
Meanwhile, the offensive line situation gets a little more precarious--the slimmed down Mike Williams and Stephon Heyer both sat out Saturday's extravaganza...while lineman Jeremy Bridges left the field with an apparent ankle injury--he's currently day-to-day.
Now the team prepares for its first preseason game against Baltimore. It'll be interesting to see how far along both units actually are-- sometimes an offense or a defense shines or has problems during camp because of familiarity with the other unit. Although it won't be first stringers for 60 minutes...at least it'll be something.
Were you excited to see free agent signee Albert Haynesworth in a game situation for the first time? No dice.
Did you want to see offensive weapons Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley? Wait 'til the preseason--or if Portis has his way, September.
How about last year's second round draft pick wide receivers? Malcolm Kelly and and Devin Thomas were both watching instead of catching...
How about the most famous thigh in Northern Virginia? Sorry, Carlos Rogers remains on the sidelines... and one wonders when he will get back on the field and up to speed.
Meanwhile, the offensive line situation gets a little more precarious--the slimmed down Mike Williams and Stephon Heyer both sat out Saturday's extravaganza...while lineman Jeremy Bridges left the field with an apparent ankle injury--he's currently day-to-day.
Now the team prepares for its first preseason game against Baltimore. It'll be interesting to see how far along both units actually are-- sometimes an offense or a defense shines or has problems during camp because of familiarity with the other unit. Although it won't be first stringers for 60 minutes...at least it'll be something.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Just when you thought it was safe to go camping...
Whenever Training Camp starts on a Thursday, there's always a little bit of confusion--simply put, is this the first or second week of camp? Technically this is still the first week of practice although this is the second week they've held workouts... I half expect to hear "third base!" in the background.
Bumps and bruises from Ashburn--
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth sat out Sunday and Monday workouts before returning to the field Tuesday. Cornerback Carlos Rogers, however, remains on the sidelines with a tight calf.
Meanwhile, the offensive line has been hit-- and like most disasters they come in threes.
Stephon Heyer didn't practice Tuesday with a banged up knee; although the tackle said there's nothing serious--or at least no structural damage in the knee.
Completely different story with Randy Thomas --offensive line coach Joe Bugel's concerned with his knee. Casey Rabach also sat out...the center had a calf injury that he suffered Tuesday.
Last year's rookie wide receivers are finding 2009 is just as tough to get on the field-- both Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly were sidelined with hamstring issues.
Today's new additions were wide receiver DJ Hackett and defensive tackle Michael Marquardt (spent 2008 with Philadelphia on their practice squad)...while releasing wideout Roydell Williams.
First preseason game--eight days (a week) from now... just don't ask if it's in the Skins second or third week of workouts.
Bumps and bruises from Ashburn--
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth sat out Sunday and Monday workouts before returning to the field Tuesday. Cornerback Carlos Rogers, however, remains on the sidelines with a tight calf.
Meanwhile, the offensive line has been hit-- and like most disasters they come in threes.
Stephon Heyer didn't practice Tuesday with a banged up knee; although the tackle said there's nothing serious--or at least no structural damage in the knee.
Completely different story with Randy Thomas --offensive line coach Joe Bugel's concerned with his knee. Casey Rabach also sat out...the center had a calf injury that he suffered Tuesday.
Last year's rookie wide receivers are finding 2009 is just as tough to get on the field-- both Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly were sidelined with hamstring issues.
Today's new additions were wide receiver DJ Hackett and defensive tackle Michael Marquardt (spent 2008 with Philadelphia on their practice squad)...while releasing wideout Roydell Williams.
First preseason game--eight days (a week) from now... just don't ask if it's in the Skins second or third week of workouts.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Redskins review...and Tiger's timing...
Seriously, does anyone expect a bad buzz out of training camp? August is all about optimism--at least until the team plays its first preseason game the 13th against that team from Baltimore. Still, the first weekend of Redskins training camp was successful on several levels...:
1--the team signed top pick Brian Orakpo (the rookie missed Thursday and didn't participate fully Friday) and put the ex-Texas lineman to work. Word out of Ashburn is that he's exceeding expectations at both defensive end and outside linebacker--one hopes it's because of his play, not lack of play from the O-Line.
2--no major injuries. Remember last year when the team lost Phillip Daniels the very first day? Outside of cornerback Carlos Rogers being held out of workouts with a sore calf Saturday-- all units have been intact...and there's not been a knee-jerk need to trade for anyone.
3--quarterback competition. No, not involving the #1 spot--Jason Campbell's safe--but the undercard is interesting between rookie Chase Daniel and second-year pro Colt Brennan. Especially since both are working with fringe players looking to make big plays to stay on the roster.
Golf saw the "Tiger Slam" back in 2000-01 when Woods won four straight majors... is 2009 the year of the "Timing Slam"? Woods wrapped up the Buick Open by shooting a final round 69 to finish 20 strokes under par...giving him four tournament titles this year--although none has come in a major. But--each of his wins has come two weeks before a major...the Arnold Palmer Invitational preceded the Masters by a fortnight, the Memorial was fourteen days before the U.S. Open, the A T&T National came two weeks before the British. Guess what's in two weeks? The PGA Championship-- where he's kind of defacto defending champ...although Padraig Harrington took the tournament last year, Tiger didn't participate due to his knee surgery--and Woods won the PGA in 2007.
1--the team signed top pick Brian Orakpo (the rookie missed Thursday and didn't participate fully Friday) and put the ex-Texas lineman to work. Word out of Ashburn is that he's exceeding expectations at both defensive end and outside linebacker--one hopes it's because of his play, not lack of play from the O-Line.
2--no major injuries. Remember last year when the team lost Phillip Daniels the very first day? Outside of cornerback Carlos Rogers being held out of workouts with a sore calf Saturday-- all units have been intact...and there's not been a knee-jerk need to trade for anyone.
3--quarterback competition. No, not involving the #1 spot--Jason Campbell's safe--but the undercard is interesting between rookie Chase Daniel and second-year pro Colt Brennan. Especially since both are working with fringe players looking to make big plays to stay on the roster.
Golf saw the "Tiger Slam" back in 2000-01 when Woods won four straight majors... is 2009 the year of the "Timing Slam"? Woods wrapped up the Buick Open by shooting a final round 69 to finish 20 strokes under par...giving him four tournament titles this year--although none has come in a major. But--each of his wins has come two weeks before a major...the Arnold Palmer Invitational preceded the Masters by a fortnight, the Memorial was fourteen days before the U.S. Open, the A T&T National came two weeks before the British. Guess what's in two weeks? The PGA Championship-- where he's kind of defacto defending champ...although Padraig Harrington took the tournament last year, Tiger didn't participate due to his knee surgery--and Woods won the PGA in 2007.
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