December 02, 2003
Still breaking barriers
On Monday, Green Bay Packers' assistant coach Sylvester Croom accepted Mississippi State's vacant head coaching position. Croom will be officially introduced at a press conference this afternoon as the SEC's first African-American head football coach.
Croom,49, has been an NFL assistant since 1987. He also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama from 1977-1986.
Croom has long been regarded as a top candidate for a college head coaching job, and University of Alabama officials were criticized for not choosing him to replace Mike Price before the 2003-2004 season.
While having a black head coach in the conference is important, there are more relevant factors to focus on.
The fact of the matter is that Croom is the most qualified candidate for the job. He had more experience than Mike Shula, who was hired at Alabama before this season. Aside from his qualifications, Croom was expected to get the Alabama job because of his close ties to the school. He is a Tuscaloosa native, played his college ball at Alabama and coached there for 10 years.
At any rate, he was passed over for a less qualified white candidate, which wasn't surprising to most college football fans. But despite being slighted, Croom now has an incredible opportunity to make his mark in an historically racist state.
So while being passed over by his alma mater may have been disappointing, it may have also been a blessing in disguise. Croom now has the chance to turn around a declining MSU program and turn a lot of heads in the process.
Kudos to Mississippi State for bucking the trend and hiring the most qualified candidate, regardless of race.
Croom,49, has been an NFL assistant since 1987. He also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama from 1977-1986.
Croom has long been regarded as a top candidate for a college head coaching job, and University of Alabama officials were criticized for not choosing him to replace Mike Price before the 2003-2004 season.
While having a black head coach in the conference is important, there are more relevant factors to focus on.
The fact of the matter is that Croom is the most qualified candidate for the job. He had more experience than Mike Shula, who was hired at Alabama before this season. Aside from his qualifications, Croom was expected to get the Alabama job because of his close ties to the school. He is a Tuscaloosa native, played his college ball at Alabama and coached there for 10 years.
At any rate, he was passed over for a less qualified white candidate, which wasn't surprising to most college football fans. But despite being slighted, Croom now has an incredible opportunity to make his mark in an historically racist state.
So while being passed over by his alma mater may have been disappointing, it may have also been a blessing in disguise. Croom now has the chance to turn around a declining MSU program and turn a lot of heads in the process.
Kudos to Mississippi State for bucking the trend and hiring the most qualified candidate, regardless of race.
December 01, 2003
Baseball's off-season trade wars begin
Several trades and free-agent signings involving big name players went down over the weekend. While it is hard to predict which teams got the better deals, it's safe to say that the clubs involved got some important additions in areas where they needed improvement.
Today, ESPN.com reported that the New York Yankees have agreed to a deal with free-agent outfielder Gary Sheffield. The deal is said to be worth between $36 and $38 million over three years.
Sheffield, who was third in National League MVP voting last season, also hit 39 homers and drove in 132 runs for the Atlanta Braves. He should solve the Yankees' problems in right field, where eight different players started for the Bronx Bombers last season.
The Yankees are reportedly also close to signing relief pitcher Tom "Flash" Gordon. Gordon would shore up a shaky bullpen that includes Jeff Weaver and Jose Contreras, who both disappointed during the 2003 playoffs, despite decent regular seasons.
In another huge move, the Boston Red Sox acquired Arizona Diamondbacks' ace Curt Schilling in a deal that will keep the 37-year-old in New England through the end of his career. The addition of Schilling gives Boston the most formidable four-man rotation in baseball. Boston's other three starters are future Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield.
Finally, Arizona traded six players to Milwaukee for All-Star slugger Richie Sexson. The 6-foot, 7-inch first baseman hit 40 home runs and drove in 120 runs last season for the Brewers. Sexson gives the D'backs a solid right-handed bat alongside third baseman Shea Hillenbrand, which should lead to more offensive production in 2004.
While we won't be able to measure the effects these deals will have on the rest of the league for a while, one thing is for sure. On paper, last year's best teams just got better, while the cellar-dwellers seem poised for repeat performances.
So much for parity in baseball.
Today, ESPN.com reported that the New York Yankees have agreed to a deal with free-agent outfielder Gary Sheffield. The deal is said to be worth between $36 and $38 million over three years.
Sheffield, who was third in National League MVP voting last season, also hit 39 homers and drove in 132 runs for the Atlanta Braves. He should solve the Yankees' problems in right field, where eight different players started for the Bronx Bombers last season.
The Yankees are reportedly also close to signing relief pitcher Tom "Flash" Gordon. Gordon would shore up a shaky bullpen that includes Jeff Weaver and Jose Contreras, who both disappointed during the 2003 playoffs, despite decent regular seasons.
In another huge move, the Boston Red Sox acquired Arizona Diamondbacks' ace Curt Schilling in a deal that will keep the 37-year-old in New England through the end of his career. The addition of Schilling gives Boston the most formidable four-man rotation in baseball. Boston's other three starters are future Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield.
Finally, Arizona traded six players to Milwaukee for All-Star slugger Richie Sexson. The 6-foot, 7-inch first baseman hit 40 home runs and drove in 120 runs last season for the Brewers. Sexson gives the D'backs a solid right-handed bat alongside third baseman Shea Hillenbrand, which should lead to more offensive production in 2004.
While we won't be able to measure the effects these deals will have on the rest of the league for a while, one thing is for sure. On paper, last year's best teams just got better, while the cellar-dwellers seem poised for repeat performances.
So much for parity in baseball.
November 25, 2003
Mourning: a champion without a ring
New Jersey Nets center Alonzo Mourning annonced yesterday that he will retire from basketball due to a life-threatening kidney ailment. The disease sidelined him for all of the 2002 season and parts of two others.
Mourning was informed by doctors yesterday that his condition, focal glomerulosclerosis, had worsened. He will need a kidney transplant, and the team has said that a nationwide search for a donor has already begun.
In light of Mourning's retirement, many have begun to consider whether he belongs in the basketball Hall of Fame.
He has always been an undersized center who prides himself on a strong work ethic. Mourning has been a classic example of a blue-collar player who elevated himself to the upper echelon of the NBA through sheer determination.
Mourning was a seven-time All-Star who averaged 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during his 12 seasons in the league. Still, what many Hall of Fame voters will point out is that he never won a championship.
While induction to the Hall of Fame is supposedly based only on basketball accomplisments, 'Zo was also a great contributor to charities and the community in his free time. Aside from being a great player, he is also a great person.
If Alonzo Mourning is not Hall of Fame material, nobody is.
Mourning was informed by doctors yesterday that his condition, focal glomerulosclerosis, had worsened. He will need a kidney transplant, and the team has said that a nationwide search for a donor has already begun.
In light of Mourning's retirement, many have begun to consider whether he belongs in the basketball Hall of Fame.
He has always been an undersized center who prides himself on a strong work ethic. Mourning has been a classic example of a blue-collar player who elevated himself to the upper echelon of the NBA through sheer determination.
Mourning was a seven-time All-Star who averaged 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during his 12 seasons in the league. Still, what many Hall of Fame voters will point out is that he never won a championship.
While induction to the Hall of Fame is supposedly based only on basketball accomplisments, 'Zo was also a great contributor to charities and the community in his free time. Aside from being a great player, he is also a great person.
If Alonzo Mourning is not Hall of Fame material, nobody is.
November 24, 2003
Wolverines to the rescue
Thanks to the Michigan Wolverines 35-21 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes last Saturday in Ann Arbor, all seems to be right with the world. The BCS standings now have Oklahoma no. 1 and Southern California no. 2, and it looks as if those teams will meet in the Sugar Bowl for the National Championship.
Last week, Ohio State managed to leap-frog USC in the BCS, despite USC being ranked no. 2 in both human-generated polls. Thus, while the BCS continues to be a problematic system, things seem to have naturally worked themselves out. There is a consensus that these are the two best teams, and now the BCS agrees.
While it would be unfair to some deserving, I would like to see things not work themselves out for once. For the good of college football, there needs to be a legitimate controversy about who plays in the championship game. The reason being that everyone will finally realize that this system is awful and needs to be thrown out. Unfortunately, the only way I see for that to happen is for someone to get shafted.
That someone could have been USC. Luckily for their fans, it wasn't. However, we can't keep relying on a bizarre series of upsets to set up the championship picture every season.
Bottom line, it's only a matter of time before the BCS' luck runs out. I, for one, wish it had been this year.
Last week, Ohio State managed to leap-frog USC in the BCS, despite USC being ranked no. 2 in both human-generated polls. Thus, while the BCS continues to be a problematic system, things seem to have naturally worked themselves out. There is a consensus that these are the two best teams, and now the BCS agrees.
While it would be unfair to some deserving, I would like to see things not work themselves out for once. For the good of college football, there needs to be a legitimate controversy about who plays in the championship game. The reason being that everyone will finally realize that this system is awful and needs to be thrown out. Unfortunately, the only way I see for that to happen is for someone to get shafted.
That someone could have been USC. Luckily for their fans, it wasn't. However, we can't keep relying on a bizarre series of upsets to set up the championship picture every season.
Bottom line, it's only a matter of time before the BCS' luck runs out. I, for one, wish it had been this year.
November 18, 2003
Magic-ally disappointing
The Orlando Magic fired head coach Doc Rivers after Monday night's 90-88 loss to the Utah Jazz. Rivers was just three games over .500 in his four plus seasons with the Magic.
Despite the general rule that you don't fire a coach during the season, this move actually makes sense. There was talk after last year's first-round playoff loss to the Detroit Pistons that Rivers might be fired. Surprisingly, he wasn't.
However, his team had looked uninspired through the first three weeks of the season. They are off to the worst start in the NBA (1-10), and scoring champ Tracy McGrady's numbers are down this year. Orlando clearly needed to make a change before it was too late to salvage the season.
For now, assistant coach Johnny Davis will take the reigns and try to turn the team around. Davis has been an NBA assistant since 1996, and played for 10 years in the league. Whether he will be the head coach for the rest of the season remains to be seen.
While the Magic seem to making the right decision for the future of the franchise, the immediate future will hinge on the players, not the coaches. For the team to have any chance at a playoff run, veteran players like T-Mac and Juwan Howard will have to step up.
Obviously, McGrady's huge scoring performances are not enough to win games. He must focus more on rebounding and defense, and especially on keeping his young teammates from becoming complacent during the coaching transition.
Despite the general rule that you don't fire a coach during the season, this move actually makes sense. There was talk after last year's first-round playoff loss to the Detroit Pistons that Rivers might be fired. Surprisingly, he wasn't.
However, his team had looked uninspired through the first three weeks of the season. They are off to the worst start in the NBA (1-10), and scoring champ Tracy McGrady's numbers are down this year. Orlando clearly needed to make a change before it was too late to salvage the season.
For now, assistant coach Johnny Davis will take the reigns and try to turn the team around. Davis has been an NBA assistant since 1996, and played for 10 years in the league. Whether he will be the head coach for the rest of the season remains to be seen.
While the Magic seem to making the right decision for the future of the franchise, the immediate future will hinge on the players, not the coaches. For the team to have any chance at a playoff run, veteran players like T-Mac and Juwan Howard will have to step up.
Obviously, McGrady's huge scoring performances are not enough to win games. He must focus more on rebounding and defense, and especially on keeping his young teammates from becoming complacent during the coaching transition.
November 17, 2003
Man vs. machine
The Ohio State Buckeyes, who are no. 4 in both the AP and coaches polls, are now no. 2 in this week's BCS standings. This comes after Southern California unexpectedly dropped from no. 3 to no. 5 in the New York Times computer rankings, which are an element in the BCS formula.
I don't see how anyone could argue that this is fair. While both teams have lost only one game, it is clear that this system puts too much empasis on computer rankings and not enough on the human-generated polls.
Computer rankings can account only for factors that can be calculated mathematically. Any college football coach or player could tell you that there's more to being a successful team than losses and strength of schedule, though they are important.
Weighting computer polls so heavily in the BCS formula takes out the opinions of truly knowledgeable evaluators. Coaches and sports writers are in and around the game constantly, and have a better grasp on the non-concrete qualities that make teams better or worse than others. While concrete elements (like strength of schedule and record) are important, we should have confidence that those who coach and cover the games are smart enough to take them into account when voting.
The bottom line is that all the humans who have a say think that USC is better than Ohio State. The computers say something else.
It looks like the bad guys won this one.
I don't see how anyone could argue that this is fair. While both teams have lost only one game, it is clear that this system puts too much empasis on computer rankings and not enough on the human-generated polls.
Computer rankings can account only for factors that can be calculated mathematically. Any college football coach or player could tell you that there's more to being a successful team than losses and strength of schedule, though they are important.
Weighting computer polls so heavily in the BCS formula takes out the opinions of truly knowledgeable evaluators. Coaches and sports writers are in and around the game constantly, and have a better grasp on the non-concrete qualities that make teams better or worse than others. While concrete elements (like strength of schedule and record) are important, we should have confidence that those who coach and cover the games are smart enough to take them into account when voting.
The bottom line is that all the humans who have a say think that USC is better than Ohio State. The computers say something else.
It looks like the bad guys won this one.
November 11, 2003
Bench is just the place for Winslow
Miami Hurricane tight end Kellen Winslow's public tirade after his team's 10-6 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers this past Saturday was shocking. But what happened the next day was just plain disgusting.
Winslow lashed out at officials, opposing players and his teammates in the locker room following the game. He claimed that Tennessee players had been "going after (his) legs." He said that Southeastern conference officials had targeted him during the game. He even compared the football game to a war, and called himself "a (expletive) soldier."
While most of us would expect reactions from the Miami locker room to show frustration, Winslow's comments were not like most you might see on a nightly sports recap. He was visibly angry and continually raised his voice. The most important thing to note was that he repeatedly said "write this down."
On Sunday, Winslow released a statement through the university apologizing for his comments. What this means is that he was reprimanded by the school and someone wrote an apology for him. Anyone who saw the video of Winslow's postgame comments and read this apology knows they were not composed by the same person.
The most repulsive part of the apology comes when it addresses the reference the to armed forces. "As for my reference to being a soldier in a war, I meant no disrespect to the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces. I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of war or its consequences."
Give me a break. I can ignore and forget about the insincere apology in most cases. But not taking the time to personally apologize for disrespecting our armed forces at a time like this is inexcusable and unpardonable.
His original comments were bad enough. His apparent indifference to the offense they might cause shows even more disrespect.
Being upset after an emotional game is one thing, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. That line should come way before where Kellen Winslow went on Saturday night.
Winslow lashed out at officials, opposing players and his teammates in the locker room following the game. He claimed that Tennessee players had been "going after (his) legs." He said that Southeastern conference officials had targeted him during the game. He even compared the football game to a war, and called himself "a (expletive) soldier."
While most of us would expect reactions from the Miami locker room to show frustration, Winslow's comments were not like most you might see on a nightly sports recap. He was visibly angry and continually raised his voice. The most important thing to note was that he repeatedly said "write this down."
On Sunday, Winslow released a statement through the university apologizing for his comments. What this means is that he was reprimanded by the school and someone wrote an apology for him. Anyone who saw the video of Winslow's postgame comments and read this apology knows they were not composed by the same person.
The most repulsive part of the apology comes when it addresses the reference the to armed forces. "As for my reference to being a soldier in a war, I meant no disrespect to the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces. I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of war or its consequences."
Give me a break. I can ignore and forget about the insincere apology in most cases. But not taking the time to personally apologize for disrespecting our armed forces at a time like this is inexcusable and unpardonable.
His original comments were bad enough. His apparent indifference to the offense they might cause shows even more disrespect.
Being upset after an emotional game is one thing, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. That line should come way before where Kellen Winslow went on Saturday night.
