Tiggy Woo: Movement 2: Adagio

In golf, most players reach their “prime” in their thirties as patience, personal stability, and knowledge of the game and its intricacies are infinitely more familiarized to the seasoned veteran. No such wait was needed for Eldrick Woods. Instead, he has dominated the sport from the very beginning, reshaping the game itself and the courses on which he plays (well, he more destroyed the courses, with the architects choosing to revamp them accordingly, but I digress, stay with me here). As he enters what is considered to be the best years of a professional golfer’s existence, what is possible for a man breaking records at every turn?

Tiger began his PGA Tour season in style, winning the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines for the the fourth time in a row, recording his sixth victory in the event overall. He is the only golf professional to have won at least three tournaments six times (the WGC American Express Championship (now known as the CA, because of sponsor changes) and WGC Bridgestone Inv. at Firestone as well as the Buick). With this victory, Mr. Woods tied the record for consecutive wins at a single tournament (4). But what is astounding is that he has accomplished this feat in TWO different tournaments now (the other being the Bay Hill Invitational). In recording these amazingly unique records, Tiger also drew level, in fourth place, with The King, Arnold Palmer, on the list of most career PGA Tour victories, with 62 total wins. He has obtained this status in five fewer years than any of the legends in whose great company he now resides. Along with Mr. Palmer, he now finds himself chasing the likes of Ben Hogan (64 wins), Jack Nicklaus (73 wins), and Sam Snead (82 wins). This is rarefied air to be sure, with many of these men being on their pedestal in the list for some 20+, or in Snead’s case 43+, years. But having watched him for some time now, it comes as no surprise.

There are innumerable statistics and records that allude to Tiger’s unsurpassed dominance in a sport of individual glory. I’ve merely discussed a few which relate to his most recent whomping of the field at the Buick. So, instead of using pure statistical analysis of his career to this point, I will use individual moments of brilliance from the weekend which are but snippets of what has to be regarded as the greatest all around golf game in history. To get to this position Tiger Woods has made himself the undisputed best at: reading greens/putting, shot-shaping/escape shots, and short AND long iron accuracy.

Having played the game a great deal (albeit, appallingly at times) I must admit that the most impressive facet of Tiggy’s game has got to be his putting. His speed and distance control is unparalleled and he almost never misses a putt inside of five feet. Add to this his uncanny knack of reading even the smallest breaks and undulations in the surface of the green, and Tiger’s deadly accurate touch is awe-inspiring to say the very least. Just reference the 60 ft. birdie putt he sank on Sunday, which required he play about 12-15 feet of break down a ridge, or the par save from 20 ft. he sank on Saturday to keep any challengers at bay. Even looking back, at the famous 17^th “Island Green” at the TPC Sawgrass, commentator Gary Koch had commented how no player had read the break from the back of the green, nor gotten a putt within 8 feet of cup from the position in which Tiger found himself. Koch’s now infamous “Better than most, BETTER THAN MOST” call during the putt just illustrates how someone in the know can be so astonished by the ability of this walking highlight reel.

To examine this idea further we need only look to Koch’s broadcast partner David Feherty, who is often so flabbergasted by the shots Tiger gets to come off as to remain nearly speechless (which is saying something, indeed). Over the weekend he hit a huge, sweeping draw that screamed around a tree and just short of the green, with some 40 feet of piercing curve. Most often when Tiger finds himself in the goop, he will use some sort of fiendishly difficult shot which will undoubtedly save him from having to “play it safe”. There are so many examples to draw from, my mind is too much of a flurry to actually distinguish between them; I remember a bunker shot, over water that ran just through the green, the “over-under” shot where he kept the ball under some branches immediately in front of him and then got the ball to rise over the next set of trees and landed the ball maybe 10-14 feet past the pin but still on the green, with his back against a tree, playing another sweeping draw just 8-10 feet off the ground to go under the trees and advance the ball into a solid playing position – there’s just too many to recall them all. However, this shot shaping is not just useful when stuck in the mess. He has an unbelievable ability to control trajectory, spin, and direction to play each shot as it is presented to him. Each time he approaches his ball, no matter where it is, he has the ability and the gall to get it where he can save par, or even make birdie.

This total control was never more apparent than at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake) in 2006. He only used his driver once during the tournament and hit all but four fairways on the week. While using a 3-wood or 2-iron off the tee left him with longer second shots, the deft trajectory control he exhibits with the long irons ensured he was always where he needed to be – on the green with shots at eagle and birdies. Some complained that this display was “boring”. Are you kidding me? You better be or I’m gonna give you a boot upside the head. I would call it clinical. The astonishing control of his game is unmatched by most, if not all, of his competitors.

Another blatantly idiotic comment is that Tiger really has no “rivals” or fellow competitors challenging him on a weekly basis. With displays such as Hoylake in ‘06 or the Buick Invitational at the weekend, this may be true. My question is this - who really cares? Though many of his victories are all but sealed by the time he tees up his first shot on Sunday, I would miss anything, I mean ANYTHING (ok, minus a gorgeous day where I can struggle and duff my way around a supposedly easy Forest Preserve layout, and even then its recorded) for the sake of witnessing Tiger’s other-worldly talent continue to pad his portfolio of brilliant shots and unique records. There is no one like Tiger Woods and there is no experience that can compare to watching him ply his diligently perfected game in person (for now anyways). Here’s to many more records being broken and more befuddled mirth from the broadcasters paid to watch the “best ever” play the most beautiful and challenging courses around.

By the way: Come on you Redmen, make yourselves proud today at Upton Park. I’m sure we both could use a nice victory against the Hammers. You’ll Never Walk Alone – not if I have anything to say about it.

Fantasy Baseball Primer: Getting the Chatter Started

The Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball signups start every year around February 15th which makes sense because that’s when pitchers and catchers report. It’s when our National Pastime takes bat to cleats, knocking the dirt (and rust) from their spikes after a long winter of inactivity. Recently, baseball has stolen some headlines from the NFL and NBA with the Mitchell Report and the resultant Roger Clemens fall out, but these are mere talking points for drive-time radio shows. This idle fodder has nothing to do with the game we know and love. Wait, hold on, what’s going on here… it’s still January… Why on earth am I talking about the upcoming baseball season??? After all, Opening Day is still 64 days away. Well, let’s explore that question:

Usually I would let the NFL season run its course before I’d concern myself with MLB chatter. I would watch the NFL Films reruns of old Superbowls at lunchtime and marvel at the toughness of the 60's Packers, the grittiness of the late 70’s Steelers, the grace of the 80’s 49ers, the dominance of the 1985 Bears, the sustained brilliance of the early-90’s Cowboys and the poetry of John Elway’s swan song. It’s all a wonderfully rich tapestry of moments and emotions that have shaped this country. NFL Football is America. However, as things stand now, I’m adrift in a quagmire of hype that zaps the specialness from the proceedings. Think about it. What have been the great performances of these playoffs? Ryan Grant, fumbling twice and then shredding the Seahawks in the snow, Tom Brady’s other worldly performance against the Jags, Eli Manning not throwing an interception in three road playoff games. OK, so what leads Sportscenter? Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson bumping uglies in Mexico during a bye week and Tom Brady wearing a protective boot (not a cast, no crutches, mind you) on his way to bump uglies with Giselle Bundchen. Perhaps this is just the curse of having a 24-hour news cycle, but I think the continued coverage of these (non)events just further elucidates my claim that there is a growing disconnect between us and the game itself. We enjoy talking about the talk surrounding the game. More now than ever, we’d rather discuss the packaging, the presentation, the salaries, the girlfriends, the opinions, the soundbites and the overall minutia of the peripheries rather than the actual meat and potatoes of the sport. Gone are the days of the sports fan – welcome to the era of the sports analyst/moralist/social commentator.

OK – one more football jag to illustrate my point before I get to baseball…

While I’m not a huge fan of Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio, I’ll listen to them for ten minutes at a time in the morning. I think they do a solid job and are professional radio people even though I don’t always agree with their takes. Now, I understand that they have to fill 20 hours a week (more like 14 when you factor in commercials), but the topic of conversation this past Thursday was completely illogical. They were asserting that removing “attention seekers” like Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey from the equation has allowed Eli Manning to fully realize his potential as a silent, confident leader for the Giants. They noted that he has been spreading the ball around more (not really) and looking more assured in his decisions (whatever that means). This is a powerfully inaccurate speculation that didn’t exist thirty years ago because the medium didn’t dictate such vapid opining. From a sheer logic standpoint, the principles of correlation and causality are completely lost on Mike and Mike - and these are the most popular talking heads on ESPN. The blatant mangling of the FAE leads me to believe that this is done with a deft purpose to subtly outrage listeners who value deductive reasoning. However, the other part of me feels like these trends in radio (and quite frankly in print and on television) are just bigger reasons to ignore the hype, change the channel and break in the baseball mitt until next Sunday. Which is precisely what I’m going to do…


Head-To-Head vs. Rotisserie

When it comes to the debate between Head-to-Head versus Rotisserie leagues, I’ve always been of the mindset that familiarity is good. Roto leagues are certainly the most accurate models for determining the best team, but they lack the human element. They are represented by frigid stacks of data that move with all the swiftness of a glacier. Everyday you wake up and look at the standings, not in the traditional win-loss variety, but rather as vague sum of all your categories. I tried Roto once and lost interest halfway through the summer. Head-to-head, as it seems, quenches my short attention span.

Head-to-head leagues also give you a chance to point to something say, “Hey, I beat you 8-2 last week. Your starting outfield couldn’t make my bench. I question your ability to manage baseball players in a strictly hypothetical realm.” In a Roto league, people have no real reason to smack talk. The only thing they need to do is keep picking up players in categories that they suck in. It’s a long, winding stat grab. In Head-to-Head, if you win a category one week… that’s a win. It stays in the win column and you move forward. There isn’t any of this “win a point/lose a point later” bullshit. This isn’t Russia. Is this Russia? This isn’t Russia.

5 Tool Players vs. 1 Tool Players


Richie Sexson either hits a homerun or strikes out. He’s a bad hitter who can make you pay on a mistake pitch. Similarly, Jose Valentin has been equally confounding. Valentin had a bizarre track record in the five years he played shortstop for the White Sox. While playing in an average of 135 games every year he averaged 27.2 homers, yet only had 80.6 runs and 75.8 RBIs. Not terrible numbers from your SS, but undeniably disproportionate. Some guys simply excel at one thing and don’t do anything else for shit. Others do everything well, but not well enough to be flashy or attractive on a highlight reel.

After years of stubbornly waiting for one-dimensional sluggers to learn some plate disciple or fleet-footed leadoff men to develop a decent slugging percentage, I’m finally starting to see the error of my ways. What I should be doing is simple in theory, yet difficult to attain. In Head-to-Head formats, every week is a crapshoot. There are 25 weeks and your sluggers may hit their homeruns in bunches - half of their jacks may happen in only five scattered weeks. It is important to hedge your team with across-the-board consistency. Don’t rely on two or three guys for one category. Identify the 5-tool players (those who produce R, HR, RBI, AVG and SB consistently but not spectacularly) and what rounds they should be available. Draft them and stop losing with “specialty players” like Juan Pierre who kill you everywhere else.

NL Only/AL Only Leagues

I have a problem with keeping fantasy baseball fresh. Fantasy NFL is easy to adjust whether it’s implementing a two-quarterback system, rearranging scoring values or expanding position eligibility. Fantasy NBA is mostly a “set it and forget it” endeavor where players, their stats and where you play them don’t change much except for injuries. Fantasy MLB, which is the true Godfather and reason for fantasy sports, is a difficult entity to wrap up. I’ve done keeper leagues, but they are somewhat redundant. I’ve participated in daily leagues, but changing out line-ups 162 days a year and streaming pitchers late in weeks to maximize starts becomes tiresome. I’m seriously considering participating in two leagues (and only TWO leagues) come the middle of next month: One NL-only league and one AL-only league. I’ve always been interested in the knowledge needed to utilize the depth involved in each setup, however I’ve never tried it. Since I’m a Cubs fan, I follow the National League much more closely than the American League and I feel like that dynamic could really spice things up.

If anyone reading this (i.e. one of our 7 readers) has ever played in an AL/NL only league, please comment and let me know what you thought about your experience.

Auction Drafts vs. Standard Snake Drafts

Auction Drafts are great because you can really separate yourself from the pack. Any punter can participate in a snake draft and still luck into a decent team. Hell, I’ve seen draftbots take over and emerge with championship caliber results. Snake drafts are easy which is why they are standard, but let’s be honest… they aren’t entirely fair. If you get stuck with the third pick, that means you don’t get A-Rod or A-Poo (i.e. 1a and 1b) but you get to wait until the end of the second round to make your second pickup. Auction drafts introduce a strategic element that involves true value, because any player is attainable (but you have to decide what their worth is to your team). Also, the “going once, going twice, SOLD” hook never gets old.

TK and I used FantasyAuctioneer.com for our auction needs last year. It worked well except that you need to make sure you designate bench positions into your submitted lineups spots, otherwise once you fill a position you cannot draft another player that occupies that same position (a minor oversight that we ironed out). There is a draftbot option in this scenario, but as my buddy Beckwith can attest, the A.I. chip leaves much to be desired. Once the draft is over, you simply import your rosters and begin your free agent pickups. There is a small fee for their services, but it is certainly worth it. To quote Ferris Bueller, “It’s SO choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.”



If you’ve read this far, then you at least have a passing interest in fantasy baseball. If you’ve never played before, I would encourage you to seek out a league this year. I’ve heard all the excuses such as “I only play NFL” or “I’m a Giants fan and I don’t want to be forced to root for a Dodger under any circumstance”. Don’t kid yourself – It’s not a purity of the game issue nor is it a team loyalty issue, it’s simply a different way to experience your box scores in the morning. Don’t overcomplicate things.

You might already be aware of the fact that I have no problem what-so-ever expressing my love for fantasy sports. For me, it creates an alternative knowledge and skill set which can be applied to the game. It makes me pay attention to where the runs and strikeouts come from rather than simple wins and losses. It makes me internalize what these numbers are worth to me as a baseball fan. It makes me strive to find the next household name before he plays his first full season. It makes you ask the BIG questions:

Who, out of the beastly setup men, should I stockpile incase they become an elite closer?

A: K-Marm. Simple as that.

What is the best way to piss off your friend?

A: Draft his favorite player right before him in the draft. By doing this, you throw an emotional monkey wrench in his whole system. He’ll immediately draft Geoff Jenkins and Pedro Feliz back-to-back and wonder where it all went so horribly wrong.

When do I sell high on my young fireballer?

A: Mark Prior – yesterday. AJ Burnett – today. Justin Verlander – never.

Where does the luck begin and the skill end?

A: “Luck is the residue of design” ~Branch Rickey (i.e. there are only two types of people in fantasy baseball: winners and haters)

Why do I keep drafting Ray Durham and Dontrelle Willis?

A: Because you enjoy 8th place finishes.

We all love this game. If you think stat nerds are wasting their time or even worse “bad for baseball”, then you are missing the point. Sabermetrics and fantasy leagues are mostly aligned with learning a different language to discuss our love for the same thing. The joy and renewal we feel each spring is honest and so are the numbers. They speak volumes. They drift up and down and when the dust settles, they tell a profound story of a six-month odyssey. So please, break out the sunflower seeds and the Budweiser a little early this year fill your brain with useful data in these bleak winter months. Brady and Manning will still be there next Sunday, but the hype doesn’t have to be…

Coming next month: Sleepers, Busts and Gratuitous Photos of Anna Benson (tawdry wife of former Orioles and likely Cardinals pitcher Kris Benson)

On second thought, why wait...

"Every time I meet a new person, I figure out how I'm gonna fight 'em - you have a gimpy left knee, right?"

As “sources” continue to spread their half-truths to the British media, who gobble it up like lamb vindaloo, more pundits are referring to Rafael Benitez as a “dead man walking” or as the commentator of Monday’s draw with Aston Villa put it “wounded man bleeding”. This has spurred many to ask the question, “Is Liverpool Football Club really going to suffer if the manager is changed?” and also, “Is Rafael Benitez really taking this club in the right direction?” My response to both of these questions is an emphatic YES! Not only will the club suffer massively, but Rafael Benitez has done ever so much in the last two seasons to formulate his football ideas and also to find the personnel to carry them out.

More often than not, the contention that Rafael Benitez has not improved the squad is justified through statistics or opinion based on the performance of the squad in parts of a game or in pockets of the season. Some reasonable examination seems necessary at this point.

First of all, many contend that Liverpool’s defense has been getting weaker. Ignoring the injury to Daniel Agger allows this kind of generalization to pervade. Without one of their starting centre-backs, and with an early season injury to Jamie Carragher, Liverpool’s defense ranks second only to the league leaders Manchester United in terms of goals conceded (all this with a 34 year old playing the bulk of the games, including multiple games in a week during cup competitions. This is extremely impressive in a game where 32 year olds are considered “on their last legs” and is a shining example of why Sami Hyypia is already a Liverpool legend). The most improved defensive statistic, in fact the most improved statistic, is the Reds’ away form. Conceding the fewest number of away goals in the league is a tremendous achievement made even more poignant by the fact that Liverpool have only lost two matches in the league this entire season. Only Arsenal outshines them in this category, with Man. U and Chelsea each having suffered three losses away from their respective strongholds (both have yet to suffer a home defeat, however). The most worrying statistic is that Liverpool have failed to defend their home ground in a similar fashion to the Red Devils, Blues, and Gunners. With only one loss at home, they should be in a better position. However the Redmen have drawn six, count ‘em SIX, times at “fortress Anfield”. Indeed, the most disappointing statistic is the number of times LFC have managed only one point from a fixture. They have drawn an astonishing 10 games in total during the Premier League campaign, which explains their current position in the table. This is down to a lack of goal production from the “rest” of the squad.

So far, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have accounted for a vast majority of the Reds’ offensive prowess. With young starlet Ryan Babel finding his way around the left wing and often in a substitute role, and Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, and Yossi Benayoun getting the odd goal every now and then, the rest of the squad have accounted for the same number of goals as the MBE, Steven Gerrard. Many attribute this to Rafa’s “defense first” approach to the game. While partially true, other factors expound on this style. For instance, Liverpool have revamped nearly their entire squad at the behest of Benitez and his staff.

Many of these new signings are young players, which explicates both the supposed style and character of the squad. What I mean is, with so many young players in a new country and vastly different pace of play, it is understandable that Rafa would employ defensive tactics first and foremost. Once their defensive roles have been ingrained, the ability to move forward into attacking positions will come more naturally. In a recent interview, John Arne Riise expounded on this fact. He justified his goal drought by saying that he has been focusing almost 90% of training on defending and reading plays as they develop in front of him. If an established veteran is doing so, surely the younger/newer members of the squad are doing the same. As the squad becomes more familiar with their own roles and also their teammates around them, the fluidity of passing moves and the accuracy of the shots will improve drastically. Another factor in all this is how Rafa has ignored price tags on these players and focused their attention on adapting to the English game and perfecting their craft.

An example of this is Ryan Babel. The young Dutchman has impressed in his first season on Merseyside despite playing in the unfamiliar position of left wing, and often in a substitute’s role. During an interview with LFC.TV, Babel was quoted, “"He [Benitez] tells me that even though he paid a lot of money for me I must not think about that. He says I am still young and will improve with time. This is good for me to hear and gives me the confidence that I can train and work without worrying too much. I developed as a striker at Ajax but also have the ability to play as a winger. It is an important part of developing my game and is a good way for me to get minutes on the pitch right now.” This type of player management is reminiscent of the “good ole days” at LFC, when Ian Rush was the record transfer signing from Chester in 1980. When asked about what it was like to have garnered such a high fee, but play only in the reserves for the first season, Rush had great hindsight. He stated that he understood that this development was necessary. It wasn’t just about ability or price tag, but learning the craft of being a footballer. He said the dressing room atmosphere was different, the style was a bit different, and learning to play with members of an already established squad was a bit unnerving at first. Though football has changed significantly since the Welsh wonderboots first donned the Red shirt, these aspects of the game really have not (minus of course some of the ridiculous situations modern footballers put themselves in, i.e. Stan Collymore in the car park, United’s recent “spit roast” incident, or that Rio/ Lampard/ Dyer beer bottle/sex tape incident). Here is a list of the young players (under 26) Rafa has brought in:

• Fernando Torres
  
• Xabi Alonso
  
• Alvaro Arbeloa
• Lucas Leiva
• Ryan Babel
  
• Pepe Reina
• Javier Mascherano
• Jermaine Pennant
• Peter Crouch (who turns 27 on the 30^th of January)
• Daniel Agger
• Martin Skrtel
• Charles Itandje
• Momo Sissoko (whose future with the club is still uncertain)

This group, combined with Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt, and Andriy Voronin, make up the vast majority of the current squad, and have all shown promise. Once they have fully settled into the style and the tempo of the English game, they all have the potential to be studs. This is an impressive list of talented and disciplined players, many of whom exemplify quality characters and hard work. These factors should not be overlooked, nor underappreciated in a world where instant results are becoming the standard by which all managers are measured. It took a shitload of time to build some of the “successful” squads so idealized by the British press. United had their core of players already established by the time Rafa took over in ’04, while Liverpool’s squad barely resembles the one he inherited from Houllier’s time. The main point of interest is that this squad has turned many losses into draws, a step forward in my book. While they have conceded some silly goals this season, the defense has often been undermanned and exhausted because of on/off injuries to Steve Finnan, Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger, Alvaro Arbeloa, and even the ironman Jamie Carragher (Hyypia even took a few knocks, but missed only one game, if I’m not mistaken).

I, like so many, have been disappointed with the way this squad has dropped points. However, I think looking solely at league statistics and generalizations of the team’s performance does not give an accurate picture of all the external factors. The youthfulness of the squad accounts for so many things. Once acclimated, I see this squad going on to great things. All this nonsense about Rafa being sacked, the owners placing debt on the club, etc. just detracts from and distracts the players. Given some time to adapt to the game and each other, this squad can contend for the league title. Just reference how much closer this squad is to the top than in previous campaigns. In this light of adaptation and education, the ceiling gets higher...nay...is destroyed altogether. This squad needs Rafael Benitez to continue his work developing and strengthening them into what I hope they will be – title contenders every season. Hopefully the owners will not allow their own opinions of the man, Rafael Benitez, to supercede the knowledge that The Boss, Rafa, is most certainly the right man for this job. His record should speak for itself.

Chelsea

2005 Premier League Winners, League Cup Winners, Charity Shield Winners
2006 Premier League Winners, Charity Shield Runners-up
2007 FA Cup Winners Winners, League Cup Winners, Premier League Runners up, Charity Shield Runners-up

6 trophies
3 runners-up spots


Liverpool

2005 European Champions League Winners, European Super Cup Winners,
FIFA Club World Cup Runners-up, League Cup Runners-up,
2006 FA Cup Winners, Charity Shield Winners
2007 European Champions League Runners-up

4 trophies
3 runners-up spots


Manchester United

2005 FA Cup Runners-up
2006 League Cup Winners
2007 Premier League Winners, FA Cup Runners Up, Charity Shield Winners

3 trophies
2 runners-up spots


Arsenal

2005 FA Cup Winners, Charity Shield Runners-up, Premier League Runners-up
2006 Champions League Runners-up
2007 League Cup Runners-up

1 trophy
4 runners-up spots

Side Note: On the topic of youth, Lady’s sister just gave birth this morning to a baby boy. You’ll be pleased to know that although there were some complications, Mama and Baby are doing just fine, though Mama is in some PAAAIIIN (no kidding, right). I’d like to welcome Brayden Cole to this world and tell all of you that he already has a “My First Liverpool Kit” sleeper suit, and a cap and booties with the crest on them (gotta start ‘em young) from his favorite Auntie and his excited Uncle-by-Proxy.

Post-Posting: Let us not forget that Rafa is the brain behind putting Jamie Carragher permanently in the central defensive role, when his predecessor used him more as a utility back. It can be argued that since this change, Jamie Carragher (now over 500 appearances for the club) has gained a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the WORLD, let alone Europe. Thanks also for that one, Rafa.

The Descent of Man

September 16th happened in a different year, in a different season. And it feels like the game itself occurred long before then. Looking back on the highlights of that game is a revelation of the lifespan of a season and a tip of the cap to Darwinism in football. The remaining teams of the National Football Conference are a study in evolution by natural selection.

The three characteristics of Darwinian processes are self-replication, variation, and selection. Both the Giants and the Packers have demonstrated (i) an ability to reproduce the performances over a period of months that have won victory on the field, (ii) a sufficient range of traits over the course of the season as evidenced by the variety of ways in which each has been successful; and, most importantly (iii) that such consistency and such traits have allowed both teams to perpetuate their existence. They have done what 14 others have not. They have survived.

The Giants, who were up-and-down during the regular season, bring a crew of seasoned and battle-hardened (and battle-worn) veterans on defense, the reincarnation of Thunder and Lightning (or more appropriately, Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber as they should have been) in the offensive backfield, and Elisha Nelson Manning to Lambeau Field. The most important question in their admittedly shocking appearance in the Conference Championship Game this Sunday, can they achieve a third road playoff victory in three weeks?

In beating the Cowboys and Buccaneers, the Giants have run a conservative, but error-free, offense that relies on the run game and short-to-intermediate passes. The heart of these road upsets, however, has been a defense that has been riddled by injury over the course of the season. Their ability last weekend to pressure Romo, stop the run in 4th quarter, and to prevent T.O. from becoming a factor in the outcome were all impressive.

Please, however, spare me the Eli-coming-of-age story. The Giants' success has been predicated on Eli not losing games rather than Eli winning games. If not losing games is a sign of an individual fulfilling lofty expectations, somebody please squeeze my nipples and wake me up from this nightmare. The number one pick in the 2004 draft on whom the Giants hedged the future of their franchise is "maturing" and becoming a "leader" because he is no longer single-handedly giving away ballgames to the opponent.

In this, there seems to be an eerie resemblance to Peter Gibbons, the quintessential underachiever. In every game and in every press conference, the look in Eli's eyes seems to say, "that's my only real motivation is not to be hassled; that, and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired."

This, needless to say, is not sustainable. It means that the running backs and defense must be dominant in each game if they expect to win. Or they must rely on the mistakes of their opponent. We witnessed both of these occurrences in their two road playoff upsets, but it is unreasonable to believe that this will continue with a strong Packer run defense, a battered and bruised Giants' secondary, and a Super Bowl berth on the line. Eli must play the game of his life on the truly Frozen Tundra (the forecast calls for a crisp, clear 4 degrees around kickoff). 12-18 for 163 yards (almost a third of those yards, it is worth noting, coming on 50 YAC by Amani Toomer) will not do it this time and if past performance is any indicator of future success, Eli be fucked. Fucked in the sense that he will not lead his team to a victory and fucked because he will end this season having not proven much of anything. Fucked because the questions still remain.

The Packers on the other hand, benefitted from the bye week and Divisional Round win in which they controlled the ball and imposed their will on their opponent. Offensively and defensively, they simply must continue to perform as they have for the bulk of the season. They are solid against the run, solid against the pass, solid on the line, solid in execution, and solid (for the most part) in protecting and possessing the ball. It is their game to lose and a season is at stake.

For my part, I'm tired of all this. I started this entry on Tuesday. It is Thursday now, and there's not much I can tell you that you don't already know about the x-factors and the match-ups, about each team's journey to this point, and about predictions for the game. The difference in coverage since the last time the Packers played in the NFC Championship Game (in January of 1998) is astounding and disconcerting. It does weird things to your perspective.

My anxiety in waiting has slowly transformed into a dull weariness knowing that, for all the chatter, nothing will be settled until Sunday and that the emotions brought forth to the surface will be turbulent and extreme. Furniture may be broken in victory or defeat. As a football spirals downfield through the air, a stroke becomes that much more likely. Following the game, one's life may seem perfect and tranquil or miserable and troubled. A man far wiser than I once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." The stark reality of those words is all-consuming. If victory is the only thing, then losing is the abyss, the vacuum, and nothingness.

The only thing is to live to fight on one more Sunday, one more battle…for survival.

Dissecting the Evil Empire

I was watching Return of the Jedi the other night and something occurred to me. Even if some people consider it the worst of the original trilogy, I really enjoy that movie. I understand that the Ewoks could be construed as tiny harbingers of lameness that paved the way for the likes of Jar-Jar Binks. But personally, I really liked the fact that the entire rebellion would have been sunk without them. To delve further into matters - without C3PO’s ability to communicate and bond with the Ewoks, the deflector shield would never be knocked out and that operational Death Star would completely wipe out the rebel alliance fleet. I appreciate that sort of story, because the Evil Empire never considered these things. It also made this exchange between Luke and the Emperor all the more poignant:

Luke: “Your overconfidence is your weakness.”

Emperor: “Your faith in your friends is yours.”

As it happened, Luke was exactly right and the Emperor was 100% wrong. The ultimate resolution to the entire Star Wars saga was entirely satisfying because the cocky-ass Empire shit the bed when it seemed like they had everything going for them. The scrappy underdogs used the force, some unlikely forest dwellers and a British-voiced droid to topple tyranny and oppression throughout the galaxy. EVERYONE likes that story. The little guy will always get public support, especially if faced with a perennial juggernaut. Let’s face it, there are a lot of real life sports applications of this principle: Duke basketball and their annoying ability to never get called for a blocking foul, Yankees baseball and their endless stream of money, Notre Dame football their obnoxious independent status and TV contract. Sports are full of these traditional Goliaths and every time they stumble, we obsessively rejoice. Why? Because fuck the Death Star, that’s why!

Exhibit A: The New York Yankees haven’t won a championship since the Subway Series of 2000. Since then, they’ve gone 686-445 (.607) in the regular season but only 30-32 (.484) in the postseason. Alex Rodriguez somehow is responsible, but any practical baseball man knows that while one player can win a series for you, one player alone cannot lose it for you. But the media loves thumping their chest and clicking their pens, “A-Rod and the Yankees choke again!” while the magazine and paper buying public eats it up. It’s wonderful bar fodder, as if it were custom-made for drunken arguments. The non-Yankee American public has become bold, hurling half-baked theories as to why this wealthy collection of playoff shoe-ins can’t get the job done. It’s this strange annual ballet of making a non-story into so much hype to be digested on a mass scale. If you transposed the above records with, say, the Minnesota Twins… would anyone care? Would people be jumping around with misbegotten joy every time they got bounced from the ALDS once again? No, the Twins would be considered a great ballclub that, for one reason or another, couldn’t seem to put it together in the postseason. There would be no reason to delve any further than that.

Exhibit B: Notre Dame football has the 2nd highest winning percentage in NCAA history (.744), second only to Michigan (.745). They are tied with USC for the most Heisman trophy winners at seven. As of the 2007 NFL Draft, there have been 459 Fighting Irish drafted into the NFL. The list goes on-and-on…

When I was young, my Dad taught me to root for two teams each Saturday. The Virginia Cavaliers and whoever was playing Notre Dame. The funny thing was, my Dad didn’t have a huge qualm with the Golden Domers. He appreciated the fact that they didn’t compromise academic integrity to win football games, like Miami or Florida State. He also thought they were a well-coached bunch. But in the end, this is what he was taught, so this is what I was taught. The fact that most any average college football fan can tell you how many consecutive bowl loses they have suffered (nine) or the exact terms of Charlie Weis’s ridiculous contract extension after only one season (10 years, 40 million) are just part and parcel of the greater disdain for Notre Dame football. I think this constant hatred has partly to do with the obnoxiousness of the fans (think of how annoying Red Sox fans are now, except over decades of success). The steady resentment is also a direct result of Notre Dame joining the Big East for basketball and baseball, but still holding onto their independent status for football. The contract they have with NBC smacks of elitism and only perpetuates the self-important image of the Notre Dame ethic.

On the other hand, I rather enjoyed Rudy. And some of my best friends are loyal Notre Dame supporters. There are some redeeming qualities about the institution that I cannot deny, but none of these elements could ever sway me from my hardwired contempt for the Green and Gold. Charlie Weis isn’t the second coming after all and I’m glad that talk has finally ended. Tyrone Willingham’s coaching record was 21-15; Weis’s record over that same span is 22-15. As far as I can tell, such blatant hypocrisy deserves our widespread critical derision. Nothing makes me happier than seeing this Evil Empire fumble and fuck it up and still have that unmistakable pride and hubris intact - It only validates my Dad’s teachings.


Exhibit C: Duke Basketball. I’m bent over with rage just thinking about what to say about these colossal ass clowns. For the sake of the vein forming on my forehead, I’ll just play this amazingly on-point video and leave it at that:







I guess it’s pretty obvious where I’m going with this… Should we enjoy the Patriots domination because it’s so convincing? After all, if they go 19-0, set records for points in a regular season all while amassing the most TDs by both a QB and WR, then they are the best team ever. I mean, we’ll be telling our kids about them one day, right? So should we root for greatness? Does the package a once-in-a-generation talent come in matter or should all prohibitive favorites be met with unmitigated bile? Did everyone hate my beloved Bulls of the 90’s without me knowing it? Is the reason to loathe a dynasty simply a reaction of boredom – that you want to see someone (anyone!) else on top? Well, here’s my two cents:

As impressive as the Patriots are… I’m rooting against history. There are many factors that I’ve weighed into this equation. ESPN’s Bill Simmons is one reason. I’ve spent the last seven years listening to this guy wax poetic about the virtues of Tom Brady and company. I probably would be equally proud of my team if they had similar accomplishments, but the tipping point came in the middle of this season. In a November 9th article, he all but says the NFL fixed the “Showdown in Indy” in favor of the Colts… AND THE PATIORTS STILL WON. He completely glosses over any moralistic quandary that arises when faced with the subject of Spygate in Week One. He’s dismissive and arrogant. He even accuses CBS of “being worse” than the Patriots coaching staff when they put a mic on Tom Brady during a midseason game because his audibles were registering too clearly on the television broadcast. His illogical defense, which is only emboldened by each passing week of perfection, has become emblematic of a larger trend. Simply put, Boston is taking over. The Joe’s Diner spots on the NFL network have continued the Boston Love-in with such annoying banter as “What comes after a dynasty?” and “Tom Brady is WAY hotter than Carson Palmer”. There is a general dislike of the New England sports fan right now because all three of their professional teams are at the pinnacle of their respective leagues (and as Dane Cook can tell you, over saturation is the kiss of death). It goes deeper though, in my opinion.



Each big market has their own sports fanatic shortcomings. Los Angeles is known for two things, transplants and Mexicans. Therefore, the local sports scene lacks a distinct passion (except maybe for the Doy-yers). New York is known for being crass, short-tempered and self-important. They demand instant results through some strangely arrived at sense of entitlement. Chicago is full of fat, rabid know-it-alls who have an inferiority complex being the Second City. We grow mustaches and eat deep-dish pizza and do bad Chris Farley impressions. Anyway, Boston fans were always fatalistic complainers (with the exception of the Celtics) who used funny dialects and believed that the worst was yet to come. They were lovable because they were so desperate, so passionate and so miserable. But now, Bostonians are still finding things to complain about even when they are experiencing the biggest sports boom one city has ever known. It’s jarring to the rest of the country, but really, this is uncharted territory. It’s hard to make sense of it.

There is no doubt that the Patriots are a tremendous team, top to bottom. The greatness is otherworldly. Welker snakes for first downs. Moss runs and blocks like a champ. Brady basically hands the ball off to receivers 15 yards at a time (as my Dad puts it). Maroney is a beast when healthy. Belichick is a dominating strategist. It’s all there for 19-0, but for some reason, I just can’t support these guys. They are poor winners (mocking the Eagles in the Superbowl, the Chargers in last year’s playoffs) and are consistent saying the right things while whistling another tune on Sunday. They run up the score. They lack class at times. They ceased being confident miles ago and are now just plain cocky. I’m not sure if they are evil yet, but they certainly aren’t virtuous. Speaking for myself, I’m hoping the road gets bumpy ahead for the Golden Boys of the gridiron.

For the love of God…

Please, cue the Ewoks.

"I get the news I need on the weather report, I can gather all the news I need on the weather report."

My abhorrence of the media is now hopelessly apparent.

Deal with it.

The (cropped) running diary from Ginger’s:

8:28 a.m. C.S.T. – The Lady and I grab a booth, kitty corner from our big buddy with the Carlsberg tee (which was obviously going to be a dress on my Lilliputian frame, had I chosen to keep it). From what I can gather his name is pronounced Ya-kee(L ?). He chows on some taters like they’ve done his family wrong and deserve aggressive mastication. He is here, yet again, with the rest of the regulars (a group with which Lady and I are quickly becoming entwined, thanks to the friendly/heavy accent laden questions batted ‘round by our bar matrons), and we are all bundles of nervous anxiety. All that I can say for certain, at this moment, is that I hope the second half of this season has loads of FSC broadcasts at the homestead… for the sake of the indissoluble experience of anxiety, cigarettes, and footy.

9:01 a.m. – Kick-off – Boro get it started.

3 mins. – Nice formation today with John Arne Riise roaming on the left of midfield. Hopefully he can regain some consistent form and bag a few trademark screamers in the second half of this campaign. Good spell from Liverpool, Boro get a corner against the run of play. Over for a goal kick.

8 mins. – Pepe with a couple of “I wanna be a sweeper” moments. Bad/daisy-trimmer clearance.

11 mins. – Corner to the Reds after some midfield exchanges. Short corner, Steve Gerrard, Gerrard moves from left to right at the 18 yard box and uncorks a scalding shot, save by Mark Schwarzer (why is it he always has his best games against the ‘pool?). Another corner to the Reds, Big Sami heads over. Nada.

14 mins. – Mascherano takes one square on the dome from 9.5 yards: he’s dazed, gets some treatment, and may need a blow to regain some semblance of cognizance.

19 mins. – Damn fine save from Pepe after a floated header – flag is up for offside. The appearance of the save, and the fact that he continues to make clearances outside his box lead me to believe he’s spending too much time watching clips of everyone’s favorite Zimbabwean Bruce Grobbelaar.

20 mins. – Tenuous right now, Boro starting to come to life in the attacking sense.

23 mins. – Torres gets his boots in the act - finally. Boro have marked his runs well thus far, staving off any breaks and relegating him to build-up play and headers.

26 mins. – Goal. George Boateng of Boro gets a sliding shot from six yards into an open net. Pepe misjudged the play, attacked an aerial ball at the byline (which he had no chance of corralling), while Tuncay played the header back to the six yard box for an easy captain’s goal.

30 mins. – Robert Huth chips at Fernando’s calves as if doing so will release some German chocolate for him.

33 mins. – Boro look content to sit deep and absorb pressure. The midfield is getting closed down quickly; consequently, there is little crispness to the passing moves.

36 mins. – Yossi Benayoun gets a volley on after a nice spell of pressure. Schwarzer saves, offside flag is up – buggeration.

43 mins. – More dodgy defending from Liverpool. Far offside from Boro.

HALFTIME

Substitution at the beginning of the second half. Arbeloa makes way for Babel, J.A.R. moves to the more familiar left back position.

47 mins. – Javier Mascherano with a great ball, then, after a mistake by Riise, makes a tremendous tackle to spoil a Boro counter. Riise’s bad form shows little chance of abating at this moment.

54 mins. – Boro continue to exploit the right side of the Reds defense with great success – is Yossi playing too close to the front? Indubitably.

57 mins. – Babel works hard and earns a corner, then unleashes a scorcher just past Schwarzer’s left-hand post.

66 mins. – Downing rips a shot from about 17 yards and Pepe gets a finger on the ball, sending it careening off of the keeper’s best friend (his left-hand post). Dodged a bullet there, literally (maybe not quite literally).

71 mins. – GOAL!!! Torres with a screamer sending the pub into exultation. I tell Lady its official now, I am gay for Fernando Torres. She seems relieved by this statement. But why?

76 mins. – Nice spell to keep the pressure on the compact Middlesbrough defense. Great low shot from Babel – so close yet again.

87 mins. – Steve Gerrard, Gerrard from about 35 yards, pushed over the crossbar from Schwarzer.

90 mins. – Hyypia heads down to the keepers right, fine save to keep it level. Damn you Mark Schwarzer.

90 + mins. – Steve Gerrard, Gerrard tries to place one across the face of goal to the left side of Schwarzer, just not to be.

FULL TIME – goddamn it. ANOTHER GOD FORSAKEN DRAW. At least the Redmen scored at the Riverside for the first time in five years. At the very least.

As for the rest of the weekends fixtures, some promising turns of events and some horrifying statements to make.

Arsenal v. Birmingham City – 1:1

A great result as Liverpool simply could not afford to drop further back in the standings. It’s a blow for the Gunners after a bright start through an Adebayor penalty. They had not dropped points after an Adebayor goal yet this season. Thank heavens this was not the case today. It was a very lively match, and elucidates the reason the EPL is so much fun to watch, as any team can beat another on their day.

Aston Villa v. Reading – 3:1

Villa continue to impress under American ownership and the seemingly brilliant coaching of Martin O’Neill. A brace from John Carew, and yet another goal from a corner for the Big Dane, Martin Laursen, secured three more points for a Villa squad pushing for European qualification. They have scored more goals from set pieces than any other Premiership side. The bad news for me is that this result pulls them level on points with Liverpool.

Chelsea v. Tottenham Hotspur – 2:0

Chelsea continue their form under new manager Avram Grant, and maintain pressure on the top two. Another victory leaves them just four points clear of the top spot. Juliano Beletti uncorked a blazing shot from 30 yards, and Shaun Wright Phillips continued his sizzling form with a late sealer to prolong the Blues’ impressive 75^th straight unbeaten match at Stamford Bridge. However, newly signed (for a whopping 15 mil. pounds) Nicolas Anelka could not find the back of the net; the deep pockets of Roman Abramovich will continue to add depth to an already loaded squad (beset by injuries to some key players, mind, but still getting results). This is becoming a three horse race at the top, with Liverpool falling deeper into the mire. Looks like its suicide again for me.

Derby County v. Wigan Athletic – 0:1

Honestly, who cares other than the home support (and even then “care” is a relative term). The relegation battle for these sides will continue through to the end of the season, with Derby’s ticket down to the Championship all but stamped.

Everton v. Manchester City – 1:0

The blue portion of Merseyside had a good day, thanks to Joleon Lescott’s first half strike. The victory draws them level on points with Liverpool. Things are crowded for that fourth spot and Champions League qualification, as the teams from fourth to seventh are all level on points and separated only by goal differential. The dropped points by Man. City keep them on the same number and send them into that seventh spot. God help us all if Everton manage to keep the pressure on Liverpool through April and into May. Anytime I see some blue, I may get stabby.

Middlesbrough v. Liverpool – 1:1

DAMN IT! Liverpool are being traduced as a team that may not even qualify for the Champions League. This is a disgusting thought, and one based solely on many pundits’ desire to see the Reds flailing. They still have a game in hand on any team above or below them in the standings (minus, of course, their opponent for said game, West Ham, who find themselves moderately adrift), so the table is a bit misleading, as are some comments from either illiterate or just plain daft muppets (mainly the Super Sunday Plus crew, comprised of Andy Houlihan, Christian Miles (I often wonder aloud, whose hand is up his pooper manipulating that gob?), and the bitter ex-QPR man, Gary Richards. I envisage their broadcast associate, and staunch Liverpool supporter Keith Costigan, leaving a fresh, steamy pile on their keyboards or lending some of his special brand of Irish “seasoning” to their tea for their blatant defamation of the beloved Reds). For Boro, the result continues a strong run against the best competition and raises questions about the lack of results against the lower half of the league (wherein they find themselves).

West Ham United v. Fulham – 2:1

Dean Ashton and Anton Ferdinand secured three points for the Hammers and pushed Fulham further into the relegation fight. It started brightly enough for the Cottagers of Fulham, but constant pressure from United forced goalkeeper Anti Niemi to earn his pay. It probably should have been more one-sided, in favor of West Ham, if not for the heroic, and often acrobatic, keeping from the Finn. Ashton alone peppered the visitor’s goal as if taking target practice and could nearly have had a brace, if not more, for his efforts. Both of these squads, like so many others, find themselves wearing the Sock and Buskin at stages of each match they play.

Sunderland v. Portsmouth – 2:0

Roy Keane’s Sunderland team took three much needed points off a Pompey side embattled by reports of coach Harry Redknapp (henceforth known simply as Droopy dog) being linked with a vacancy at the helm of Newcastle United, and heavily weakened by the African Cup of Nations. Sunderland got both goals from former Manchester United man Kieran Richardson, one off a poor pass from the Pompey midfield, the other when Sol Campbell left a ball for the byline, only to have it kept in play by Sunderland’s Kemwyne Jones. He skittered a pass back to Richardson, who could not miss. Pompey must get back into the form that had them contending for that coveted European berth. Otherwise, Benny C may have to traipse across the pond and put some fight in the side via his own moxie and fists. Huh. That doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Bolton Wanderers v. Blackburn Rovers – 1:2

The Lancashire derby is rarely a dull one, as two very physical sides beat the ever-lovin’ sh*t out of each other in an attempt to assert defensive dominance on their local rivals. This was certainly an enjoyable match, with Kevin Nolan striking first on a gorgeous wonder-volley across the face of goal. Christopher Samba drew the sides level from a corner with a good header and Jason Roberts stole the match in the dying moments for a Rovers side desperate to stop the slide down the table. Roberts’s run was strong and purposeful, and his finish was as cool as they come (though it did take a slight deflection). Wanderers need to up their game if they intend on staying in the top flight, especially after Nicolas Anelka made the big money move to Chelsea, and with El-Hadji Diouf and Abdoulaye Meite away at the African Cup of Nations. They must string some wins together to get out of the logjam near the relegation zone.

Manchester United v. Newcastle United – 6:0 (Pfffftttt!!!)

Newcastle’s sub-standard performances have cost Sam Allardyce his seat at the helm of the Toon. For the first half, Newcastle looked a decent side, absorbing the constant pressure from the Red Devils and escaping some close calls, thanks in large part to their keeper and some rather fortunate non-calls by referee Rob Styles (not so much for the fact that they should have been called, but rather because it was Manchester United, who often get the rub of the green from the officials). Towards the end of a scoreless first half, the Red Devils should have gone down 1-0, as Michael Owen broke clear behind the defense, only to be flagged for a non-existent offside. The replay was clear as day, and the Devils got lucky on that occasion. After that bit of fortune, the second half came and went with six goals for Manchester United: a hat trick for Cristiano Ronaldo (his first in English football), a brace from Carlos Tevez, and a fine volley from Rio Ferdinand right inside the post. The Geordies never stood a chance after the second half began. The victory placed Manchester United atop the standings on goal differential, but level on points with Arsenal. It was a display that showed their intent to snag the Premier League title for the second season in a row, and reminded me of the gap in quality (at the moment) between the top and Liverpool.

I feel filthy.

I need a shower.

January Sports Moments

January still remains one of my favorite months on the American sporting calendar. There are few joys greater than the high drama of the NFL playoffs. The college and professional basketballers are just hitting their stride, positioning themselves for the long and winding stretch run. The New Years Day bowl games leading up to the National Championship are always a welcome sight for sore eyes. Meanwhile, the PGA is tentatively edging itself into the collective subconscious with promises of Masters brilliance once the snow lifts for good in April. In baseball, we’ve got pitchers and catchers reporting in one month, signifying the start of my favorite season of all. Then, of course, there is a wonderful absence of NASCAR highlights on the morning Sportscenter (Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth don’t like each other! Let’s settle this with more circles!). There is a lot to get excited about.

I’ll grant you, March and September are fine sports months. But neither hold the expectation, the raw and genuine emotion that a January can provide: ACC hoops action... Lambeau Field in the driving snow... The final percolations of the Hot Stove League... So, in honor of this fabulous month (and also because I’m trying to kill time before the first NFL game today), I’m going to countdown a personal recollection of the Top Four January Sports Moments that I can remember.

4.) January 28th, 2007 – Virginia Cavaliers vs. #17 Clemson Tigers




This game occurred during a 7-game winning streak for the Wahoos during ACC play last year. I don’t care if it’s a down year, that is damn impressive in a conference that regularly trounces the Big Ten each December. What made it more impressive was that Virginia was down 63-49 with 5:05 left in the game. They scored the final 15 points to win 64-63. I’ve always appreciated scrappy teams that played over their heads at times and earned their stripes, the 2006-07 Virginia Men’s Basketball team was one such animal. Sean Singletary for president. That is all.





3.) January 15th, 2005: Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks.

This was the season that my beloved Bulls started out 0-9 with rookies Ben Gordon and Luol Deng playing significant minutes. This was also my first year out of college, so I could closely watch what I thought was a promising team. I remember watching the first game of the season (an OT thriller against the Nets) in my empty apartment, getting chills during the player introductions and being pleasantly surprised with the young core of players we had built. This was back in the time when the Bulls were still considered absolute trash, not even worth following by hometown "fans". I remember telling people the following week that this was the best 0-5 team in NBA history… and meaning it. I got a lot of furrowed brows and comments such as "You still watch the Bulls?". Most of my friends and acquaintances stayed away, but I followed this tenacious and hard nosed team through the doldrums of winter and into the new year with a religious devotion. By the time New Years Day rolled around, we had a 9-17 record. Certainly respectable considering how we started the season, but nothing had prepared even the most devoted fan for the January that was about to unfold. After the dust settled, the Chicago Bulls finished the month 13-3 and had climbed back above .500 for the first time in February since the Jordan years. They finished the season 47-35. I cite the January 15th game because my buddy Shawn and I went to this matinee at the UC and were treated to an exceptional finish that will always be with me. We were sitting in the second row mere feet away from where Tyson Chandler started going nuts after the final buzzer. One of the best regular season games I’ve ever seen in person considering the context:





2.) January 21st, 2007 – Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints

I’ve already gone into just how perfect this game was from a Chicago fans POV, so I’ll spare you the recap. Needless to say, there are few things as rewarding as watching your childhood team wind down the clock as a Superbowl looms in the distance. This being said, I’m officially riding shotgun on the Green Bay Packers bandwagon after one of the most amazing playoffs games I’ve ever seen. I say, let’s keep the NFC title in the Norris Division for one more year. Benny, you have my full support.




1.) January 4th, 2005 – Ryno makes it into the Hall



Ryne Sandberg was the greatest second-baseman of his era. He was an All-Star from 1984-1993. He won nine Gold Gloves from 1983-1991. He won seven Silver Slugger awards and, the crown jewel, the NL MVP in 1984. He was a tremendous player and an even better role model. When I heard that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, I jumped with an honest joy. This man will forever be a hero.

I will always remember a game against the Pirates when I was ten years old. Barry Bonds hit a go-ahead homerun in the late innings and, as it sailed over the fence, he stopped, admired it, flipped his bat, twirled and slowly trotted around the bases. Ryno got up the next inning and hit the eventual game winning homer deep into the Pittsburgh night. He simply put his head down and ran the bases like a true professional. Ryno taught me more about class and respect than any teacher ever could.

When I heard his Hall-of-Fame speech, I cried. I cried because it was perfect. If you haven’t had the privilege, here is a transcript and the audio. It chills the baseball loving part of you to the core.

Respect.

"The only thing you can trust in a British newspaper is the date." "I'd even double check that, mate."

I'll get to that in a short while, but first:

The PGA tour began in traditional fashion last week, on the Hawaiian swing. In terms of a first tournament, I could not have asked for more. There was; a four hole playoff between last year's come-back manchild Steve Stricker and up-and-comer Daniel Chopra, the incredible layout of Kapalua's Plantation Course, uke strumming galore, and innumerable shots of spawning whales playing in the surf. All of this glorious-ness greeted a soul starved (if only mildly) for some PGA tour coverage and ... (Briny Baird is still alive? huh. and he continues to wear those ridiculous Byron Nelson style straw hats...damn, that was a helluva two from the fairway there, especially from a walking corpse)... palm trees. A great start to the new season.

As it is abundantly clear, I am currently catching the first round of the Sony Open at Waialae. Last season, this tournament produced a story worthy of a Disney Company film. Tadd Fujikawa, the wee man from Oahu, became the youngest player to make the cut at a tournament in 50 years. He accomplished this feat as an amateur, at the tender age of 16, and the diminutive stature of 5'1'' tall. Anyone who saw him drain that eagle putt on the 18th to secure his spot for the weekend could not help but fist pump right along with him. In the modern game, what he did was astronomically improbable. As he strides out on the course today, the delirious crowds will certainly give him the welcome he deserves after an almost clinical display on a very difficult course at this time last season (and in spite of a less than stellar first round this year). Good luck to him as he begins his first full season as a professional.


Side note: They just showed a slow-mo comparison of the swings of two of the biggest bashers on tour, J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson. I might just willingly give a few digits, or one of the berries to smack the ball some 316 yards on average, or in this case (from Bubba) 338 (not a misprint) 338!!! mother-truckin' yards. Just a thought.

Now on to my true love (sorry Lady - I mean in sporting terms), Liverpool Football Club. After such a glowing introduction by the Whiskey Bowler, there may be some disappointment over my first contribution beginning with PGA talk. I'd like to say the previous discussion was necessary because I am so overtly excited about a new golf season. This is simply a partial truth, as my disgust over recent results has left me feeling hollow, and left my wall in need of some spackling. Another below standard performance at Anfield - against lowly Wigan Athletic - and an F.A. Cup 3rd round draw at lower division Luton Town have given the supporters some (warranted) concern. This is where the title of this piece enters the fray.
These horrifying results have given the British press enough fodder to begin another round of "sacking" talk with regards to our beloved Rafael Benitez (in Homer form on my profile), and also to essentially disregard Liverpool as title contenders come May. That last bit is a hard pill to swallow. Especially when you consider the fact that, at this point in previous seasons, the points deficit between Liverpool and the top team was considerably greater than the current state, where Liverpool find themselves 12 points back, but with a game in hand (in the '05-'06 season they were short of Chelsea's mid-season total by some 30 odd points, and similarly (hopelessly) adrift of Manchester United's point totals last season at the halfway point). This gives the supporters a sliver of hope that a long awaited League title may still be possible, though implausible (especially when the top two squads, Arsenal and Man. U. look to be in control at the moment). Inevitably, the press have used this run of form to; begin anew discussions about Rafa's strained relationship with ownership, print some bollocks from a "friend" of Rafa who says the man thinks his days are numbered, continue sandbagging a club in need of some good news this season, yadda, yadda, b.s, b.s. All I can say for sure, is that letting go of a man who has had more success in his first 3 seasons than the two managers currently atop the standings enjoyed at their clubs in comparable time, would be a disaster of Chernobyl-esque proportions (but with less death and disfigurement - there would be some, just not quite so awful). This is made even more poignant by the good news that follows.
Today, at Anfield, 23 year old defender Martin Skrtel (pronounced skur-tell (accent the last bit)) completed a deal to move from Zenit St. Petersburg to Liverpool Football Club. The defender is big, tough, and aggressive, and a welcome addition to an aging back line, weakened by the injury of the impressive Dane, Daniel Agger. This injury had left the club in desperate need to find someone to give the aging, yet still profoundly active, Sami Hyypia some much needed respite. From what I can gather, Rafa was a huge influence on making this deal, and the Slovakian defender said as much during his introductions. The club paid a record fee (for a defender) to make this move, and the question becomes, why make such a splash for the manager if he may not be around much longer? The answer should be simple. The American ownership would not spend such dough (somewheres in the realm of 6.5 mil. pounds) if indeed they were choosing to retool the management at the end of the season, because such an overhaul would require funds being spent for the new manager's aquisitions. Let's pray this blatant hopefulness on my part is in fact reality. The club needs some stability after the acquisition last year by the Americans.

Speaking of stability, Xabi Alonso has been making his way back into the side, after two metatarsal injuries earlier in the campaign. If he makes a start against Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday, it would be his 100th appearance for the club. This would make him the first Spaniard in the illustrious history of LFC to reach the century mark. Considering his signing was the work of Rafa, and the young Spaniard has quickly gained status as one of the best passers in the game, yet another reason for Benitez's continued reign becomes clear.

At present, there are excessive off-the-pitch questions, some injury concerns, and permeating fear in the ranks of the supporters about the most popular manager since King Kenny. Because of all this, I hesitate to prognosticate anything. Making matters worse is the fact that the Riverside has been a house of horrors for the Redmen in recent times. I will make my way for the essential pub appearance to watch it live, entrenched beneath the enourmous LFC flag, with a developing ulcer and a nicotine fix that could drive an elephant mad (but must wait for the half, thank you very much fascist health nuts), and visualize a victory. Hopefully, Fernando Torres (with whom the Lady is competing for my affections) will make this vision reality and assuage some of my concerns, if only for the rest of the day. She could really use a good date night (much deserved, I might add, after recent illness and craptacular work hours) and some peace of mind regarding the safety of the bones in my hand. Though if he does score, it may be the final nail in my straight coffin, as i would most certainly go gay for Nando....lets hope.