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 Monday, July 9 |
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Extra Point/June (All notes by Ron Flatter except where noted)
As she continues to roll thru the draw at Wimbledon Jennfier Capriati is raising some eyebrows. Not because of anything off the court and not because she's not playing well. Believe it or not Capriati is getting attention because she's playing mixed doubles with her BROTHER!!. Her brother may be good as a club pro but on this level he's a hack. Critics are up in arms that she could hurt herself covering for his ineptitude. To which I respond, so what? You could hurt yourself playing with anybody and quite frankly I think it shows where Jennifer Capriati is as a person that she'd be willing to play with her brother. Clearly her game is back on track, having won 2 straight grand slams and a big reason why her game is back is because her life is back. After going thru the dark side Jennifer has found what's most important in life and it's not tennis it's family. Is it really a coincidence that they both come back strong at the same time?" Hypocrisy is name of commission's game THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Rece Davis: "When three of the first four players picked in the NBA draft are high schoolers, I wonder what the Knight commission guys, the group who issued the reports on reforming collegiate sports thought, 'at least these nouveau millionaires didn't sully our campuses.' The report called for among other things, graduation rates to be tied to post-season eligibility and no corporate logos on uniforms. Tom Green has a better chance of hosting the 700 Club. Father Theodore Hesbergh, President Emeritus of Notre Dame, and commission co-chairman said: "We're not in the entertainment business, nor are we a minor league for professional sports." With all due respect, yes you are. When you take eight million bucks from a TV network to broadcast your football games, you're in showbiz baby. As noble as the Knight Report's intentions might have been, they succeeded only in proving that hypocrisy is not limited to athletics. If you're serious about stamping out commercialism, give back the TV and shoe money. Anybody?" Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dan Davis: "Raymond Bourque's record of accomplishment on the ice speaks for itself. But when he retired as a player two days ago, he only closed the book on that PART of his life. His class will always be evident. Few who have followed Ray Bourque's career will EVER forget the night of December 3, 1987. That night, those who didn't yet know, found OUT how classy a guy Ray Bourque is. He was already 8 years into his Hall of Fame career and wearing the No. 7 Bruins sweater. On that December night 14 1/2 years ago, Boston Garden was packed, to honor the previous wearer of that sweater, Phil Esposito. As the leader of the Bruins, Bourque skated to center ice to make a presentation to Espo. He then peeled off his sweater, revealing he was now wearing No. 77. And Espo's No. 7 was then raised to the rafters. Bourque's statistical accomplishments can be singled out and his numbers likely will be exceeded someday. But in measuring Bourque the MAN, you are not likely to find anyone better." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo (substituting for Brent Musburger): "Did the Wizards and Michael Jordan tip their hand by what happened Wednesday night in New York City? With the No. 1 pick overall, Washington went young, REAL young, with high schooler Kwame Brown. No question Kwame Brown has alot of talent and a tremendous upside. But exactly when are the Wizards supposed to expect that talent to be ready to play game in and game out in the NBA? If they're planning on developing him over time, does that really sound to you like Michael Jordan would be coming back to play for the Wizards? If MJ was really serious about making a return to his playing days, why would he waste the top pick on a kid who may be years away from really contributing? It certainly appears that way, but keep something in mind. Jordan, if nothing else is never predictable. He was a double-A baseball player for a couple of years in his prime and he could really believe that Brown can contribute right away if surrounded by enough veterans like himself, Barkley if he EVER loses the weight and Hakeem, who also has said he'd play for MJ. So not only does Jordan make history by taking a high schooler No. 1 but the Bulls do the same thing times two by drafting Eddie Curry and then trading for Tyson Chandler. Chicago becomes the first team to EVER have two high schoolers taken in the lottery in the same year. While the trade for Chandler did cost them Elton Brand, a solid pro, this deal may be the first smart thing the Jerry's have done since destroying the six-time NBA champs. Now they have a front line that consists of 7-foot Tyson Chandler, 6-11 Eddie Curry and 6-9 Brian Skinner who also came over from the Clippers. If Curry and Chandler develop, this could be the foundation of a return to glory for a franchise that's seen little of it in the post Jordan era. And quite frankly, this draft could be the lasting legacy of Krause and Reinsdorf. They have a chance now to prove, as Krause once said, that franchises win championships. Kind of scary though, how we remember those two as basketball men, now in the hands of a couple of teenagers." -- Notes by Tim Thomas Stevens: Money isn't everything TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Bob Stevens: Sergio Garcia's five-week hot streak with two wins and a second has been worth nearly $2 million. But how good is he, really? How good are any of the current pros -- except Tiger? I had the chance to talk with a number of now-senior pros this week who can tell you what golf greatness is, and it's not found on any money list. Lee Trevino is 109th on the Tour's all-time money list, behind Tom Byrum and Ted Tryba. Yeah, right. Trevino's got six majors; the No. 2 guy on the money list -- Davis Love III -- has one, and No. 1 -- Mr. Woods -- is still behind 'The Merry Mex.' Sure, Tiger's probably going to get more, but he hasn't done it yet. The seniors I talked to would love to see a points system that values majors ahead of regular Tour wins like the LPGA does in its Hall of Fame selections. Then Hogan and Player, with their nine majors, Watson's eight and Arnie's seven would keep their rightful place ahead of the kids who have won more money but still haven't won anything of ultimate value in the game." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dick Schaap: "If I were John Rocker, I'd really be hurt. It was bad enough the Atlanta Braves decided to trade him, but then they traded him for a right-handed pitcher named Steve Karsay, who was born and raised in of all places John Rocker's vision of hell -- Flushing, N.Y. Karsay has probably ridden the dreaded No. 7 subway hundreds of times. He went to a Catholic high school in New York with a bunch of African-American classmates and probably a few foreigners, too. Rocker's only consolation is that the Braves traded him to Cleveland, a city which doesn't have a subway, and which does have an interesting sports history. George Steinbrenner came out of Cleveland. Don King came out of Cleveland. Any city that has survived Don King and George Steinbrenner can survive John Rocker." SportsBeat (afternoon) --Trey Wingo: "Everybody loves Raymond. And now they'll have to love somebody else. Ray Bourque's retirement from the NHL today means the league and their fans will have to find somebody else to pull for. And if you think about it, it makes perfect sense for Ray to walk away now as a champion holding the Cup. I mean, really, how many people does it work out for like that? It's a fairly short list of superstar athletes that get traded away from a team they've spent most of their career with in search of that elusive championship trophy. Roger Clemens comes to mind, but his brief stint in Toronto sort of diminishes the transformation. Wade Boggs was picked up as a free agent by New York. About the closest you could come to is Moses Malone, who the Sixers imported specifically to win a championship, and his first year there they did. Then again, maybe it's just something in the water in Colorado. Ray Bourque retires as a champion much in the same way John Elway walked away from the Broncos after back-to-back Super Bowl crowns. "So Sergio Garcia has now won two of his last five events. He's 21, and maybe, just maybe he's the one to give Tiger a chase as the dominant player on the PGA Tour. After all, Garcia's second win came while Tiger was in the field at Westchester, and his two tour wins both came on thinking man's courses -- the other being 'Hogan's Alley' at The Colonial at Fort Worth. What may be most important about Garcia's readiness to challenge Woods happened at Southern Hills during the U.S. Open. Tiger was nowhere to be found, and Sergio, with a golden chance to win his first major, fired a final-round 77 to actually finish right where Tiger did -- tied for 12th. He's only 21, you say? I believe Mr. woods was 21 when he blitzed the field at The Masters in 1997. Sergio is on track, but right now he's still not in Tiger's stratosphere. Not yet, anyway." Let them play, let them play MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Dan Le Batard: "Why are we still so outraged by high school basketball phenoms leaping right over college and landing in the NBA? The 13-year-old gymnast working under a tyrant coach doesn't seem to fill us with such indignation. Neither does the 15-year-old tennis prodigy with the meddlesome parents. Nor the thousands of high school kids who go straight into minor-league baseball and hockey without college. Bobby Convey broke into Major League Soccer as a 16-year-old and was celebrated. Let the kids play. Lack of college experience didn't hurt Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady any. The college experience didn't seem to help Isaiah Rider, Rod Strickland and Rasheed Wallace any. The athlete who can be corrupted by the freedom of the NBA can get just as corrupted by a college system that pampers and pimps him while preparing him for the pro lifestyle. The athlete who wants to get in trouble with boozing, drugging and easy women can do it just as easily in college as the NBA. If an athlete's will is going to be tested, he might as well be paid for it." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dick Schaap: "After well-publicized bouts with drug use and shoplifting, Jennifer Capriati's tennis career came to an end a few years ago. But someone forgot to tell her. Now at the age of 25, she's at the top of women's tennis, the champion of Australia and France and bidding for a Wimbledon championship that would lift her within one major victory of a Grand Slam. The odds are that no one in any sport, unless his or her career was interrupted by war or major illness, has ever fallen so far, then risen so high. If Capriati were to win Wimbledon, if she were to win the Grand Slam, it just might be the most stunning reversal of form in sports history. To find a parallel, you have to go outside sports. Frank Sinatra was finished in the 1950s, then came back and was a champion for more than 40 years." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo (substituting for Brent Musburger): "Clearly, something needs to be done about the seedings for Grand Slams. This afternoon for the 10th straight time Martina Hingis entered a Grand Slam as the No. 1 seed. For the 10th straight time she didn't win. In fact for the second time in three years she didn't even make it past the first round at Wimbledon. She hasn't won a Grand Slam since the '99 Australian Open. So it begs the question, why exactly is she continually given the top seed? As the last 10 Grand Slams seem to indicate, the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati have passed her by. Hingis was at one time the dominant player on the ladies' tour. In the last three years her claim to fame is winning exactly one more Slam than Anna Kournikova, who, of course, has won zero. Time for the rankings to reflect what's actually happening in tennis. "Wednesday night in New York City once again young men will become instant millionaires. And perhaps for the first time as these gentlemen make their way to the podium, America may ask as they did in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' who are those guys? Early exits from college, waves of high school players and tsunamis of foreign players that none of us have ever seen will make up the bulk of this group. How many of them can you name? There's an Eddie Curry in the draft. There's also an Eddie Griffin. Quick. Which one's a high schooler, and which one spent exactly one full year playing collegiate ball at Seton Hall? This is where we've come to as a nation. We don't know who to cheer for during the draft, because we couldn't pick half of these guys out of a group if money were on the line. It would be nice if the one guy everybody knew, who stayed in college all four years, would be the first player taken -- Duke's Shane Battier." The case of John Rocker SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Rece Davis: "Celebrity athletes are given considerable latitude for various indiscretions -- criminal and moral -- the propensity for public and media forgiveness is great, unless you're John Rocker. His original comments were indefensible. Why his apologies were unacceptable is a bit of a mystery, given the fact that another major-leaguer just this season offered slurs in the Rocker vein and flew under the radar screen with little more than a scolding. Some say the apologies didn't coincide with a repentant attitude. Perhaps. It's true he never fit in the Braves clubhouse. One former teammate says he was a problem long before Sports Illustrated. Despite general manager John Schuerholz's classy protestations, this appears to be addition by subtraction, because the Braves traded a rare commodity lefty who throws in the high 90s for one pretty good right arm and a bag of magic beans. On the field, history may prove that the Braves were off their rocker to give up their Rocker." Sweet science turns courtroom sour FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Brian Kenny: "The heavyweights hit court, and Lennox is back in it. A federal judge has struck out the best laid plans of Don King, ordering Hasim Rahman to grant Lennox Lewis his rematch as stipulated in his contract for this first fight with Lewis. Now there were two lawsuits filed -- one by Cedric Kushner, one by Lennox Lewis. The suit by Kushner -- Rahman's old promoter -- has yet to be ruled upon, and those are murkier waters. Don King was certainly geting Rahman more money, and I'm always in favor of the fighter, not the promoter, reaping the windfall. However, Lennox Lewis went into his contract with Rahman in good faith. The deal allowed for an optional title defense if Rahman won and then a rematch within five months of the first fight. Now that's not enough time to promote a big-time fight, but that should have been negotiated. Rahman deserves to cash in, but Lennox Lewis also deserves better than to be left on the scrap heap by Don King." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Bob Stevens: "Tomorrow night, possibly the second-most popular non-heavyweight champ of all time -- Oscar de la Hoya -- fights for the fifth different weight title of his career, which says a lot for how he eats and how many different belts there are out there to win. Now to try to sell the fight against the guy who actually has the belt -- Javier Castillejo -- Oscar's claiming that if he loses, he'll retire, arguably the most popular non-heavyweight champ of all-time -- Sugar Ray Leonard -- who knows a thing or two, or three, or four, about retiring, says don't believe Oscar, he still needs the game. And of course the game needs de la Hoya. Boxing is so messed up that the one fight the experts say people would buy is between two guys who don't have a title between them -- Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis -- and Sugar Ray says if and when they do fight, he likes Mike. The heavyweight champs are John ruiz and Hasim Rahman. A judge just told Rahman he has to fight Lewis next, but Lewis wants the Tyson pay day instead. Maybe Rahman ought to call Laila Ali, Think folks would want to watch that?" SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger: Noting a trivia question he saw on ESPNews, Brent asked, "When was the last time two players brought 500 career home runs apiece into a game against one another?" He brought it up since Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, two members of the "500 club," are meeting this weekend. "But let's not forget both these teams are in pennant races. The Giants have gotten hot to move back within striking distance of Arizona in the NL West, and the Cardinals are close to the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central." As for the trivia answer, Brent pointed out it was when "Hank Aaron and the Milwaukee Brewers hooked up with player-manager Frank Robinson and the Cleveland Indians in the summer of 1976." Previewing the Phillies-Marlins game, Brent asked, "Wouldn't it be something if Florida got into position to contend for the title -- then go out an buy a player?" As for tonight's Angels-Mariners game, he noted Disney continues to look for a new owner to buy the Angels, then pointed out, "The last time a huge media conglomerate sold a big-league team, it didn't go so well. CBS sold the New York Yankees for $10 million to a little-known shipbuilder named George Steinbrenner. That goes down as perhaps the greatest buy -- and worst sale -- in the history of sport." Contraction would punctuate the game THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Trey Wingo: Trey discussed the possibility of Major League Baseball disbanding teams. "If baseball knows what's good for it," he said, "they'll leave the Marlins and the Twins alone and just find better people to run them, because right now they're both doing it the right way, and it's paying off." Noting the Twins have harvested organization-grown talent and the Marlins made wise trades for young talent, Trey said, "If you want to contract, take the Rangers out of the majors. It's not like they're really there anyway right now." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dan Davis: With the United States' 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, Dan said, "It is not easy trying to decide whether to get really interested in World Cup soccer. ... It had everything that cynics claim there is not enough of." Dan pointed out scoring, strong goaltending, dumb penalties, "American fans were painted in red, white and blue. The loyal opposition provided steel drums, cowbells, and lots of sound from their own section." But Dan cautioned, "Let's go the World Cup as Americans. They call it 'a match.' We call it 'a game.' We say '2-zip' or '2-nothing,' not '2-nil,' thank you. And damn it, they play on 'a field,' not 'a pitch.' Three cheers for our side." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger: After noting the surprising Twins remain atop the American League Central on this, the first day of summer, Brent noted the second-place Indians, who are hosting Minnesota tonight, "have quietly gone about their business, especially Juan González. Remember, this is the same Juan González who suffered through a miserable season last year in Detroit. But now he's hitting .345 with 16 homers and 58 RBI. Despite the fact he had to fill a huge void replacing Manny Ramírez, it appears González has found a very comfortable home in Cleveland." Looking ahead 66 days to college football season, Brent noted three national preview magazines have picked three different potential champions -- Miami, Florida and Texas. Brent's thoughts on each team: * Miami. "New head coach Larry Coker was Butch Davis's offensive coordinator, so the 'Canes should not miss a beat on offense. But check out Miami's schedule. An opener at Penn State. Home for Washington. At Florida State. * Florida. "The Gators must run the table in the tough SEC, including a treacherous date October 6 at LSU." * Texas. "No school has more talent, but Mack Brown still has to prove that he can win a championship. The Longhorns' success will depend in large part on Chris Simms living up to his hype." A love for the game WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Linda Cohn: Noting Cal Ripken Jr. announced his impending retirement Tuesday on Lou Gehrig's birthday, Linda pointed out Ripken is going to the Hall of Fame for reasons other than his 2,632 consecutive games played. "He made it hip for shortstops to have power," she said. "Who do you think A-Rod, Jeter and Nomar modeled themselves after?" Linda concluded by saying, "Sure, I'm one of those who believe Cal should have retired two years ago. But I made my judgement on his stats alone, not on Ripken's passion for the game -- something, perhaps, only a handful can ever match." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo: Trey called the upcoming retirement of Ripken "the official end of an era in baseball. Ripken was the last man standing who personified one simple phrase -- the Oriole way." Referring to the Orioles' former tradition of winning with talent groomed within the organization, he said, "The idea of doing that now almost seems ridiculous, and most teams, including the Orioles, essentially stopped doing that years ago." Trey concluded by saying, "Maybe it's not a coincidence that the one team doing it the most -- building with their own -- is the one team that's been winning all those things called the World Series -- the New York Yankees." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger: Looking ahead to whether Barry Bonds will break Mark McGwire's single-season home-run record, Brent said, "I have one problem with Bonds accomplishing this feat. That is his October record. I know, the regular season will be over by then. But that's not the point. Think about how Bonds has batted only .200 with exactly one home run in 23 playoff games. Twenty three pressure-filled playoff games. If he thinks the postseason brings pressure, wait'll he starts to approach McGwire's record in September. I'm not sure Bonds has the patience that this chase is going to demand." Previewing tonight's Cubs-Cardinals game, Brent pointed out that the "Cardinals have had it both ways this year. McGwire sat on the disabled list for 36 games. Rick Ankiel continues to try and find himself. J.D. Drew breaks his right hand. But then there's the good news. They found out yesterday that they're getting a new $370 million ballpark to house some of the best fans in baseball. 'Big Mac' is back and on a pretty good run at the plate, (and) Matt Morris and Darryl Kile are pitching well." Noting the Cardinals have weathered all that to pull within four games of Chicago in the National League Central, Brent said, "Never mind the fact McGwire needs only three home runs to tie Reggie Jackson for sixth on the all-time list. For Cardinal fans, nothing beats 'beating' the Cubs." Heimlich maneuver, anyone TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Rece Davis: The climactic moments of the U.S. Open Golf Championship may not have been pretty -- "Choke-lahoma," he called it -- but Rece asked, "Doesn't it seem odd that there have been many complaints that no one challenges Tiger (Woods)?" He pointed out champion Retief Goosen and runner-up Mark Brooks both beat Woods. "Isn't that what some said they wanted to see?" Rece asked. "Sure, they didn't stare him down on Sunday, and maybe they wouldn't have been able to, but beat him they did." As for "Choke-lahoma," Rece said, "Someday it might happen to Tiger. It won't diminish his greatness one bit. It doesn't tarnish Goosen's win." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dick Schaap: Dick pointed out the convergence of the RMS Titanic's sinking with some baseball droughts. "Eight nine years after the great ship went down," he said, "there are still a few survivors around. There are probably as many as there are living men and women who saw the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series." Making a segue to present, Dick said, "Now almost halfway into the 2001 season, both the Red Sox and Cubs are in first place, and anyone who does not dream of a Red Sox-Cubs World Series has no romance in his soul." As Dick concluded, "Imagine if the Red Sox win, a handful of nonagenarians will be dancing in the streets, and if the Cubs win, perhaps one or two centenarians. In either case, their lives will be finally and joyfully fulfilled. Of course, there'll also be a few really unhappy old people." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger: Discussing Cal Ripken Jr., Brent said, "It looked like it had a chance to be one of those bogus All-Star selections for someone who didn't deserve it this season, but then (Ripken) decides he's going to retire, making the announcement today. So now his farewell tour has begun, and it's only appropriate that he'll be voted into the American League's starting lineup for next month's All-Star Game in Seattle." Thinking about Ripken's possible front-office future, Brent noted it may not include the Orioles. "As Tony (Kornheiser) put it (this morning on ESPN Radio), Cal thinks owner Peter Angelos tried to push him out the door for the last three or four years. So while Ripken looks for a high profile off the field, don't be surprised if it's with a new team some day near Washington, D.C." In other baseball notes, Brent asked, "Have you noticed the same Marlins that Wayne Huizenga sent to the bottom of the deep blue sea have won four in a row to pull within 4˝ games of the struggling Phillies. ... When general manager Dave Dombrowski dismantled the franchise, he acquired some young pitchers who are starting to blossom." Brent concluded with a note about Barry Bonds' chase of Mark McGwire's home-run record, noting McGwire maintains no one should take any pursuit of the mark seriously until September. "Before you think he's letting his ego do the talking," Brent said, "remember McGwire said the very same thing in 1999 about one Mark McGwire." When moral decisions are off-track MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Dan LeBatard: Looking back on the March story of exotic dancer Leilani Rios' dismissal from the Cal State Fullerton track team, Dan said, "This is not meant to address whether it is right or wrong to dance nude for a living. This is to address why it is we insist on holding athletes to a different set of standards than everyone else." Pointed out that non-athlete students could do the same thing and keep their scholarships, Dan said, "I'm not at all comfortable having a track coach decide morality for me. I'm even less comfortable with him revoking something as valuable as someone's education because he doesn't approve. Why stop with stripping? Why not revoke scholarships for athletes being gay or having abortions or getting drunk? People will morally object to homosexuality, abortions and drinking, too, but they are all legal, just like stripping, and I don't understand why schools should be allowed to punish something that police can't." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dick Schaap: Dick pointed out the rivalries that were waged this weekend -- the battles of New York (Yankees-Mets), Canada (Expos-Blue Jays), Southern California (Dodgers-Angels), the Bay (Athletics-Giants) and "the battle of marine life" (Rangers-Astros). "But of all the matchups in the fifth season of interleague play," Dick said, "the only one that involved a pair of first-place teams was between the Cubs and the Twins." Noting the Cubs have the best record and biggest lead in the National League, he said, "Kerry Wood looked like a rookie again; Sammy Sosa like a slugger." Dick concluded by saying, "Sosa, with 20 home runs, is now 15 ahead of Mark McGwire and 16 behind Barry Bonds." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo (substituting for Brent Musburger): "My lasting memory of the 2001 U.S. Open," Trey said, "won't be the sudden end to Tiger Woods' amazing run of four straight major titles. It won't be Stewart Cink's untimely double bogey on 18 after a birdie on 17 to tie for the lead. And it won't be anything from today's playoff. My lasting memory of Southern Hills will be two words -- 'Phil Mickelson.' ... How did the second-ranked player in the world respond (to his opportunity)? He was rank -- a 5-over 75 showed once again that Phil Mickelson still does not know how to win a major." Trey said, "Phil Mickelson should be our national champion today. Instead we have to wonder if he'll ever know what it feels like to be your best when your best is absolutely required. Never has so much talent gone unfulfilled." Discussing baseball, Trey asked, "Has there ever been a team more uncomfortable in first place than the Boston Red Sox?" He pointed out manager Jimy Williams' reported rejection of a contract extension, shortstop Nomar Garciaparra's injury, clubhouse dysfunction and Pedro Martínez' recent aches and pains. "Pedro threw for 10 minutes on Sunday and says he's OK. He's even got a clean bill of health from team doctor Arthur Pappas -- and I believe we all know how reliable that is." Still, the Red Sox are in first, and Trey said, "You'd think with their history, Boston would just be enjoying the moment. Then again, I guess with their history, you have to expect the sky to eventually fall in Fenway. But so far, it hasn't." Hale of a game SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Dick Schaap: Looking at the U.S. Open, Dick spotlighted Hale Irwin's first-round 67 and Tiger Woods' opening 73. "(It) indicates how difficult it is for one man to dominate the game of golf," he said. "The odds are infinite that Irwin will not end up winning his fourth U.S. Open, but there is no one in the field who is not capable of shooting two or three consecutive sizzling rounds." Dick noted, "Even the greatest of players -- Jack Nicklaus -- won only one out of every six tournaments he entered. If Tiger loses this weekend, he will be four out of five in his last five majors, and one out of four in his career." Lilly-livered decision FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Brian Kenny: Previewing this weekend's Yankees-Mets series, Brian noted Sunday's game will match starting pitchers Rick Reed and Ted Lilly. Brian said Yankees manager Joe Torre "doesn't want Roger Clemens to face the Shea Stadium crowd, so he throws in Ted Lilly?" Remembering Torre recently started Lilly to keep Mike Mussina from having to face Pedro Martínez a third time this season, Brian asked, "When have you ever seen a defending champion running scared so often? Torre has four rings that back up any decision he makes, but I think you always put out the best team that gives you the best chance of winning, and that means Clemens, not Lilly." He concluded by saying, "I understand this like I understand a guy bunting in a perfect game. But that doesn't mean I like it -- or admire it." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo: Previewing tonight's Lakers-76ers game, Trey said, "In all likelihood, the NBA Finals end tonight, and that makes me wonder what the heck happened in that first game. ... Sadly, it's kind of like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop lollipop. The world may never know." Trying to compare this team with past champions, he said, "This team has sort of what the Jordan Bulls had -- one amazing talent." Speaking of Chicago, Trey asked, "Wasn't it Jerry Krause who said players don't win championships, organizations do? I think he's right. The Lakers were smart enough as an organization to realize the value of a Phil Jackson. The Bulls weren't. Oh, hey, Jerry. How's that Tim Floyd thing working out?" SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger from Philadelphia: Looking ahead to tonight's NBA Finals game on ESPN Radio, Brent said, "Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers are headed for back-to-back championships, but I am not buying the hype that this is one of the great NBA teams of all-time." While he ranked Shaquille O'Neal among the best centers ever and Kobe Bryant as someone with "a chance to become an enduring superstar," he noted "there isn't another elite performer on this team." Brent said, "These Lakers are a team that is very well-coached, and those who say Phil Jackson succeeds only because he leads superstars should remember this. I don't remember either Michael Jordan or Shaquille O'Neal winning an NBA championship for Doug Collins or Del Harris." With the interleague weekend coming up, Brent said while rivalries such as Yankees-Mets make it interesting, "some would argue such titanic battles as Devil Rays-Marlins offset that. (But) the positives outweigh the negatives. Baseball season is long enough, and if there's one thing interleague play does, it gives us a few weeks of variety in a season of 'same-ol, same-ol.' It's not perfect, but it beats not having it." Tiger bites THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Linda Cohn: Previewing the U.S. Open, Linda noted Tiger Woods was "grimacing and grabbing his upper back" during his final practice round. "As it turned out," Linda said, "he had an itch caused by a mosquito bite right in the middle of his back, just where you can't reach it. It was a moment that reminded us that Mr. Woods isn't immune to everything, and that includes Southern Hills -- a course Tiger says will be quite a test." In conclusion, Linda said, "I like Woods' chances more of reaching that itch to win his fifth straight major than I did when he was trying to reach and relieve that mosquite bite." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo: Is the Woods angle at the U.S. Open receiving saturation coverage? Trey presented some statistics: "Phil Mickelson is tied for first in the (PGA) Tour's all-around statistic; Tiger is only fourth. Sergio Garcia leads the Tour in total driving; you won't find Tiger until you go all the way to ninth. Driving accuracy? Please. Joe Durant, No. 1 with a bullet; Tiger, a distant 81st." He added Woods' 103rd position in sand saves and 42nd place in putting average. "Oh," Trey said, "one more note. Tiger leads the Tour in birdie averages, scoring averages, money and, of course, wins. He's also the No. 1 golfer in the world. ... Now ask yourself one question. What stats would you rather lead in? That's why we talk about Tiger. The dude is special." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger from Philadelphia: With a day off from the NBA Finals, Brent offered up some early baseball awards: * Surprise of the Year. Without Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. or Alex Rodriguez, Brent asked, "Have the Seattle Mariners started printing playoff tickets yet? * Disappointment of the Year. "Losing Mike Hampton was just the beginning for the New York Mets." * Bang for Your Buck Award. "It'll cost the Texas Rangers $25 million this year for a shortstop. It'll cost the Minnesota Twins $24 million for their whole team. Is there any doubt here, folks?" * Rookie of the Year. "The Cardinals' Albert Pujols has it sewn up in the National League, and the only debate that will linger in the American League will be whether to pass an age limit on the award after Ichiro wins it." * Cy Young. "In the National League, we'll go with Arizona's Curt Schilling. In the American League, the edge goes to Seattle reliever Kaz Sasaki, although we'll expect a late charge from you-know-who in Boston." * MVP. "In the American League, ... it belongs to Boston's Manny Ramírez. And in the National League, nobody has been more important to his team than the Giants' Barry Bonds. But before you say he's a lock, remember, we were all saying the same thing last year at this time about Mike Piazza. With more than three months left this year, we'll be careful not to do that this time.
Slick would never wear it like that WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Rece Davis: Taking a slightly different tack on the Lakers-76ers series, Rece noted, "Leon Hall from E!'s 'Fashion Emergency' critiqued the creative garb donned by players in the NBA Finals on 'SportsCenter.' Admittedly, I care enough about men's fashion that I listened intently for the answer that has bugged me like Iverson has bugged Kobe Bryant. Why in the name of Slick Watts does Derek Fisher wear his headband over his ears?" Rece had several questions about this practice, asking, "Does the headband over the ears muffle the crowd noise? Does it drown out Zen teachings? Does it have tiny earphones sewn in, piping in crowd noise, Phil's philosophy or the Kazaam soundtrack? Maybe his ears are just cold, although you'd figure they'd be burning in Philadelphia." Rece concluded by saying, "Fisher sure has worn the role of Laker point guard well, if he could just figure out how to work that headband." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dan Davis: Looking ahead to tonight's NBA Finals game, Dan said, "The best thing about (it) is that there can be no more than three more games after it. It is June 14 for heaven's sake." Dan pointed out the NBA season is the longest with the NFL being the shortest of the four major sports. Dan said, "Next time the missus gives you the evil eye on a Sunday afternoon or maybe a Saturday night in January and asks, 'Is the football season ever going to end?', just haul out these notes and give her what for. And tell her you identify with football players. Tell her I said so." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger from Philadelphia: Brent noted similarities between this year's and last year's NBA Finals, saying "If (the 76ers) go down three-games-to-one to the Los Angeles Lakers, then this series is over, (but) not necessarily in five games." He pointed out the Lakers won Game 4 last year to take a 3-1 series lead over Indiana, then lost Game 5, forcing them "to hold their victory rally and riot after Game 6 in L.A." Brent then said, "The difference in this series right now -- and the 76ers' problem -- is to find another scorer to join the fray with Allen Iverson. Dikembe Mutombo has been the second option, but it's a weak alternative when Larry Brown finishes the game with him on the bench as was the case in Game 3." Previewing the U.S. Open, Brent said, "I don't think the usual suspects are the choices in Tulsa this week. Look for a short hitter who keeps the ball in the fairway and plays a hot putter. ... I'm pulling for (Tiger Woods), but I'm not going to be surprised if an unknown winds up on top. ... So if it's Joe Durant or Frank Lickliter battling with or ahead of Tiger, don't be surprised. At least not completely." Cohn: Hey, it's baseball season
Extra Point (morning) -- Linda Cohn: With the NBA Finals on hold, Linda asked, "Do you realize what could take place on a baseball diamond near you?" With Barry Bonds looking to add to his 7-for-14, two- homer lifetime totals against the Angels' Pat Rapp, and with the Mariners' Aaron Sele trying to go 9-0 when he faces the Rockies, Linda admitted she would be paying attention to the Cubs-Diamondbacks game, which matches Kerry Wood and Curt Schilling. "In Schilling and Wood's last four starts," she said, "each pitcher has gone 4-0 with identical 1.59 ERAs." Linda concluded by saying, "I wouldn't be surprised if Shaq, Kobe, Allen and Dikembe had their eyes on that game, too." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dick Schaap: Quick, who's in Eugene, and who's in Corvallis? Oregon or Oregon State? Who are the Ducks, and who are the Beavers? If you know, you probably also know that Joey Harrington plays quarterback for the Ducks -- in Eugene. But in case you don't, his school -- Oregon -- has spent a quarter of a million dollars for billboard facing Madison Square Garden in New York to promote Harrington for the Heisman Trophy. Harrington's Ducks don't play a game east of Utah State -- is that Salt Lake or Logan? But the school must expect hundreds of Hesman voters to frequent Madison Square Garden this summer. Do the Ducks know that neither the Knicks nor Rangers will play in the Garden before the billboard comes down September 1? Do they realize a quarter of a million bucks could buy two or three good English professors -- maybe even two or three good football players? SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger: With interleague play continuing, Brent noted the best game tonight will, instead, be intraleague between the Cubs and Diamondbacks. "Did you really think (the Cubs would) be ahead of St. Louis and Houston in June? Credit a pitching staff led lately by tonight's starter -- Kerry Wood." Noting Wood will face 10-game winner Curt Schilling, Brent said this "sets up some pretty good matchups, doesn't it? Wood against Luis González. Schilling against Sammy Sosa. Sounds like there'll be no power shortage tonight at 'The BOB.'" Examining the NBA Finals that resume Wednesday, Brent said, "The Sixers will have a hard time shaking off the disappointment of what could have been in Game 3. Shaquille O'Neal fouls out. He's on the bench in crunch time with the game on the line. And the Lakers still win." Brent added that "Shaq is lobbying hard to get the officials to lay off the offensive fouls. Four of his six were offensive on Sunday, and that's unheard of. I'm not sure who's gonna win by how many points, but I'll bet you anything that Shaquille O'Neal does not foul out of Game 4." Brent also pointed out Tiger Woods will be teeing off Thursday at 12:30 Central time in the U.S. Open, "just as the Tulsa weather turns steamy. It's supposed to be hot and muggy all week long. Could be rain delays aplenty, as if those first two rounds weren't enough of a patience tester. Tiger has certainly been through it before. I'm just wondering about the galleries." This is the face of a loveable underdog MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Dan LeBatard: After the 76ers' victory over the Lakers on Friday, Dan observed, "Allen Iverson conducts a postgame news conference behind sunglasses while wearing his cornrows under a do-rag and a sideways baseball cap and holding both his illegitimate children in his skinny, tattoo-scarred arms. This is the face of the most lovable underdog we've seen in a long time? The short answer is, as Marv Albert likes to say, yesss." Dan said observers should "concentrate on the gift, not the packaging. Inside Iverson's chest beats the heart of everything you wish for from spoiled millionaire athletes too often corrupted by money, fame and the accompanying intoxicants. Iverson is, pound-for-pound, the toughest man in basketball." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Dick Schaap: Commenting on Point Given's victory in the Belmont Stakes, Dick said, "The trouble with horse racing is that they don't fix the races anymore. If they did, Point Given would have been given the Kentucky Derby last month, and thoroughbred racing would have awakened yesterday to its first Triple Crown champion in almost a quarter of a century, and the rest of the world would have found out that horse racing still exists." Dick said "it's too bad" Point Given inexplicably lost the Derby. "The sport deserves a superstar," he said. "(Point Given) even has a name people can pronounce -- and remember. SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger from Philadelphia: With the U.S. Open Golf Championship later this week, Brent opened by asking, "If I had asked you who would be the most likely athlete to put together a Grand Slam in 2001, you would have said Tiger Woods, right? ... But I'll bet you would have gotten pretty long odds on one Jennifer Capriati." Noting Capriati got to the halfway mark of her calendar-year grand slam before Woods, Brent recounted her checkered past. "Jennifer Capriati has been on an amazing ride," he said, "and believe it or not, she is still only 25 years old -- born exactly 90 days after one Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods." Looking at the Lakers' Game 3 victory over the 76ers, Brent noted the comeback from a Game 1 finals loss is not unprecedented for such a vaunted team. "Let me take you back to 1972 -- 29 years ago," he said. "The Lakers won 69 games that year, including a major-sports-record 33 in a row. They had Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West and Gail Goodrich. They're still regarded as one of the best NBA teams ever. And you know what they did in Game 1 of the finals? They lost to the New York Knickerbockers by 22 points in Los Angeles. Those 1972 Lakers proceeded to win the next four games for the championship and place themselves among history's elite." Kenny: Bout of craziness
Extra Point (morning) -- Brian Kenny: Brian said tonight's fight between Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde "is for suckers only. ... This is a novice, amateur bout and could be a mess." He noted while Ali "boxes with some style and poise," Frazier-Lyde is "completely unpolished, a terrible boxer." With this being a pay-per-view event, Brian asked, "Who exactly would pay money to see this? I can't figure it out. Maybe if it were stuck on the undercard of a de la Hoya fight or something, it'd put some buyers over the top." Brian concluded by quoting one person linked to the promotion. "'People would watch if it were a couple of cats named Ali-Frazier.' Let's hope not." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Bob Stevens: Calling Barry Bonds' threat of the single-season home-run record "legitimate," Bob contrasted his chase to that of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa three years ago. "First, he's all alone," Bob said of Bonds. "Sosa and McGwire could feed off each other and diffuse some of the scrutiny by being in the case together. While Mac and Sammy eventually embraced the chase and learned to handle the circus, Bonds would really prefer the whole thing went away." Bob also pointed out that "while Mac and Sammy were chasing two dead guys, Bonds -- who's never been the most popular player anyway -- is chasing guys everyone reveres." Bob concluded by saying, "I'd love to see Bonds chase the record and get his due as one of the all-time greats. But buckle up, Barry. It's liable to be a wild ride." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger from Los Angeles: In previewing tonight's second game of the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio, Brent said, "Funny, isn't it? Only 48 hours ago, we were talking about a Laker sweep. Now we're hearing comparisons to the greatest upsets in sports history." Amid all that hyperbole, Brent said, "It's all premature. With that in mind, the question tonight is how will the Lakers shut down Allen Iverson the rest of this series?" Looking to the weekend sports menu, Brent offered thoughts on:
* Interleague baseball. "It's just too bad the red-hot Seattle Mariners are hosting San Diego. Nothing against the Padres, but the Mariners just don't have a natural rival. Then again, that could be temporary. Reports out of Montréal suggest the new front-runner to get the Expos could be Portland, Ore." * Ali vs. Frazier-Lyde. "It'll be the eight-round 'Thrilla in Verona' -- Verona, N.Y., that is. And to think Father's Day is still nine days away." Bourque stands in way of Devils' repeatTHURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2001 Extra Point (morning) -- Linda Cohn: For anyone who has not checked out the Stanley Cup Finals, Linda said tonight is the night to watch Game 6 on ABC. "If you're looking for desperation," she said, "you'll witness it by watching Colorado. ... We're talking about a franchise which has never come back from a 3-2 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series -- 0-for-7 lifetime." She also pointed out Ray Bourque's 22 years of championship frustration. "And then you have the New Jersey Devils," she said, "who couldn't care less about Colorado's needs." In conclusion, Linda said, "Put your feet up, and watch the Devils drink up -- in celebration." Extra Point (afternoon) -- Trey Wingo: In point out Bourque's title drought, Trey noted he is not alone. "Why is Ray Bourque any different than a guy like Bob Corkum? Corkum is a journeyman for the Devils who has also never won a Stanley Cup. He doesn't have the talent, the charm or the media hype of a Ray Bourque. Is his quest to become a champion any less interesting or sympathetic?" Trey concluded by saying, "In many ways, the Cup was made for guys like Corkum. Win or lose, Ray Bourque's place in hockey history is set. A Cup for Corkum would put him on the map." SportsBeat (afternoon) -- Brent Musburger from Los Angeles: In previewing tonight's hockey game on ABC, Brent pointed out that "since it started expanding from 'The Original Six' in 1967, the National Hockey League has had only three teams that have won at least three championships each," the Canadiens, the Islanders and the Oilers. "Tonight," he said, "that list could grow to four" if the Devils beat the Avalanche. He also checked in on the Bourque odyssey, saying, "Like Ted Williams before him, it looks like he could wind up as a Hall of Fame star from Boston who couldn't attract a championship. I didn't know 'The Curse of the Bambino' extended to hockey." He then said, "As much as Bourque may be a sentimental choice tonight, you'd be hard pressed to pick against the Devils." In previewing the St. Jude Classic golf tournament, Brent said, "If Tiger Woods isn't there, it's just not a big-time event. The Memphis stop is one of eight Tour events Tiger has never played." Brent pointed out, "A recent study showed he's even more famous than Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey, Britney Spears and Vice President Dick Cheney. (But) when Tiger doesn't show up for an event, the general public doesn't care. TV ratings are as much as 65 percent higher when Tiger plays." |
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