Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steeler at the White House

There's been some conflict around this, but from the video it looks like good times.
h/t Whitehouse.gov

R.I.P Chuck Daly

Rest in peace, Chuck Daly. You were the first professional coach I despised. Your "Bad Boy" Piston teams won back-to-back championships by beating down and abusing your opponents. You showed you didn't need the best athletes or players in the league to play at the highest level. I loved the Bulls and I know had it not been for your coaching and style of play the Bulls and Michael Jordan never would have excelled later.

You "coached" the first 'Dream Team' to the dominating Olympic gold, but it wasn't so much what you did in the Olympics that brought you to the pinnacle. It was your commitment to winning by any means necessary. In that sense, you were the Malcolm X of NBA coaches.

While it's true I despised you, I always respected you and your teams. Rest in peace, Coach.

Moving on Up to the Eastside

High school juniors dropping out of school to play basketball overseas was inevitable, but that doesn't make it any less sad:

Jeremy Tyler, a 6-foot-11 junior, dropped out of his San Diego High School and said he would skip his senior year to play professionally in Europe, The New York Times and Yahoo! Sports reported on Wednesday.

Tyler, 17, will become the first player born in the United States to leave high school early to play professional basketball overseas. He is expected to come back in two years, when he is eligible for the NBA draft.

I hope he has a solid support group. There are college graduates who never make the adjustment from college to the pros. I can only imagine what this kid's first year in Europe will be like. Kids are growing up so fast they can't be prepared for what's to come.

A True Class Act: Andre Ward

Sports columnist Monte Poole is the best thing the Oakland Tribune has going for it.

It really is that simple.

He brings it once again with a profile of 2004 gold medal boxer and Oakland native Andre Ward.

Ward was the highlight of the '04 Summer Olympics. It turns out Ward is an even better person than he is a fighter:

Ward, however, won't compromise. He politely declines to talk trash even when provoked. And that's what Miranda is trying to do. He did it during a recent news conference and can't resist doing it whenever he finds an outlet.

A sample: "Andre Ward has never been in the ring with a fighter like me; he hasn't fought anyone talented. If there is one thing you notice about Andre's fights, he's always running."

Another sample: "Andre doesn't have the heart of a champion. He is holding onto his one achievement: the Olympic gold medal. But that is all he will ever achieve."

A third: "I feel sorry for Dan Goossen to have invested so much money in such an untalented fighter."

This is not atypical of boxers seeking attention. Whether showmanship or cheap chatter, it's designed to attract publicity and stir pre-fight promotion.

Ward responds with a shrug. If the immensely popular Manny Pacquiao doesn't need to swagger and boast, why should he?

"My kids are in this audience. My wife is here," Ward said after Miranda's verbal performance at the news conference. "So I'm going to continue to stand with integrity. And that's part of the reason I want to be an ambassador to the sport, because people expect fighters to do this.

I doubt I'll be able to make it to Ward's hometown debut May 16, but any locals should consider supporting this great boxer and great person.
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Now playing: Broken Social Scene - Almost Crimes (Acoustic)

Play Ball!

Over the last three years, I've sort of felt like I was in baseball purgatory living in Minneapolis. I only had a few acquaintances that'd even consider going to a game with me. The first year I continued to follow the A's religiously by subscribing to the MLB online radio package. The previous five seasons saw me attending at least five plus games per year, often ending late in October.

Yesterday the boys got together for another game. While it felt like the fastest seven innings ever, seeing as we didn't get seated until the top of the 7th, due to some ticketing issues and a special snack bar attendee, the game was good times. Hopefully the A's pick it up and I get to as many games this year, as in years past.
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Now playing: Telefon Tel Aviv - The Birds

ESPN, The Sports Enabler

The SF Chronicle is running an AP story that says former baseball star and eventual member of Baseball's Hall of Fame Roberto Alomar has A.I.D.S and is being sued by her ex-girlfriend. ESPN.com has nothing on the story. Not on their front page breaking news or on the baseball page. Whether Alomar the lawsuit is frivolous or not is besides the point. The AP is running a story on it. How can ESPN.com ignore the story? I don't have cable television so I can't look on TV, but I'm curious if they too are ignoring it.

The coziness between professional athletics and ESPN is downright scary. ESPN is supposed to be in the profession of journalism. I guess that went out the window years ago.

At lease CNN/Sports Illustrated is running the story on CNNSI.com. Fox Sports has it up. Looks like ESPN is the only publication that's failed to recognize it.

Headline of the Day

Phelps: Photo with marijuana pipe real

FBS Continues Diversity Failures

Two day ago I commented on Tyrone Willingham suggesting "Rooney Rule" for FBS schools to solve the diversity problem. Yesterday Pat Forde at ESPN looked into the diversity issue even further:

Bottom line: Of the few head-coaching jobs blacks get in college football, most are bad ones.

Outside of Randy Shannon, who just completed his second season in charge at Miami, there are no black coaches among the other 64 schools in BCS conferences. Those are the schools that offer the most money, the most exposure, the most prestige and the best chances to win. They just don't offer many chances to blacks

Ten jobs in BCS conferences have turned over heading into 2009. All were filled by white coaches, eight of whom have never been a head coach at the FBS level. Last year, all 11 BCS-conference jobs went to white men.

Forde doesn't give any suggestions on how to solve the problem, but then again he doesn't look at the root of it either. He not using his soap box well enough. Simply recognizing there's a diversity problem and as he said:

Ten jobs in BCS conferences have turned over heading into 2009. All were filled by white coaches, eight of whom have never been a head coach at the FBS level. Last year, all 11 BCS-conference jobs went to white men.

Meanwhile, black coaches are scrambling to take jobs in gridiron gulags like Las Cruces, N.M., and Ypsilanti, Mich. Of the seven programs currently headed by black coaches, four (Buffalo, New Mexico, Eastern Michigan and New Mexico State) rank in the bottom 20 of ESPN.com's freshly updated all-time Prestige Ratings.

Black coaches who have put in the work have two options. They can either take gigs at historically bad FBS schools or move onto the N.F.L. Jim Caldwell did both, as Forde pointed out. First, he attempted to turn bad Wake Forest program around and after lasting a seven years he became Tony Dungy's top assistant and eventually his replacement this year.

There's so much money coming from outside the athletic program. Boosters play a key role in hiring and schmoozing with prospective coaches. I agree with Willingham's original point. Courts will need to force the hand of administrations. These school, many of which are public institutations, receive federal and state funds and need to be held accountable.

Something Needs to be Done and Now!

Former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham believes college football needs to do something about diversity:

It's unfair to our population, it's unfair to the young men in our programs, it's unfair to the universities if we have teachers that are very capable teachers and we don't allow them to teach. It shouldn't matter what the race, the religion, if the young man is talented, if he's good and can help the organization and help the young men then he should have the opportunity.

We need to find some constructive way to go about doing that, whether that's the implementation of some type of "Rooney Rule" in college, something needs to happen to provide a legitimate opportunity and not one of these token opportunities where somebody walks in and we satisfy the color line.

But he also recognizes change won't come without a mandate:

Most change in this country has been mandated by law. That's unfortunate because you'd hope it rests on the hearts of men. When you have to bring litigation, it makes things very difficult. You've got to be careful because you never want to do that. But unfortunately in our country, sometimes that's been the only way things have moved.

The "Rooney Rule" has always frustrated me. Most of the minority candidates only get a periphery look and aren't being seriously being considered for a position. It wasn't until Dan Rooney himself that a first time minority candidate got a top caliber job, when he hired Mike Tomlin. Dungy's hiring in Indy doesn't count. He was a known candidate from Tampa Bay. Herm Edwards with the Jets doesn't count, because well, the Jets were horrible before he arrived.

I'm not sure a "Rooney Rule" would help in college, because too many of the decisions are made by non-administration people. Boosters are such huge part of college sports and that's an old white man's club, so until more people of color get involved in this aspect we'll have situations like Auburn this off season.
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Now playing: Frank Black - Wanderlust

Quote of the Day - 01.15.09

ERIC HOLDER: Senator Kohl, he’s ten years younger than me. He plays a lot more frequently than I do. Having said that, I got a New York City game. I come from the city that produced Condy Hawkins (?), Kareem Abdul Jabar, Nate “Tiny” Archibald. I learned how to play ball in PS 127 in Queens. if you give me a little time and a little space to get back in shape, I think I could hang with him. I don’t think I’m ever going to be in a position to beat him, nor do I think that would be a wise thing to do.

h/t Matt Yglesias
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Now playing: Animal Collective - Lion in a Coma

GOAT Rickey Henderson in HOF

Seriously, 28 voters thought Rickey Henderson wasn't a first ballot Hall of Famer? Really now, let's run down his career attributes from Jayson Stark:

• He's the all-time leading base stealer in the history of the sport. And even if he'd never played a game after age 29, he'd still rank No. 5 -- ahead of Vince Coleman, Honus Wagner, Joe Morgan, Kenny Lofton and Maury Wills. Among a zillion others.

• Let's just say Carl Crawford and Jose Reyes are baseball's two most prominent active base stealers. They've combined to steal 592 bases in their careers, in a total of 13 seasons. That's not even as many as the 612 Rickey stole after turning 30 -- by HIMSELF.

• In Rickey Henderson, ladies and gentlemen, we're talking about a man who had more 20-homer seasons (four) than Matt Holliday, more 100-run seasons (13) than Manny Ramirez and Junior Griffey put together, and more 100-walk seasons (seven) than Chipper Jones, A-Rod, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, Grady Sizemore and Johnny Damon combined.

• In fact, Henderson had more 100-walk seasons by himself than all 14 of the active leadoff men in our rank-the-leadoff-hitters poll have drawn in their careers COMBINED.

• Not to mention he led the major leagues in runs scored five different times. Only Babe Ruth (eight) and Mickey Mantle (six) ever did it more times than that.

Case closed, nuff said! Whomever decided he wasn't first ballot should have their votes taken away. Morons. Rickey is the greatest clean player I've ever personally seen play. One of these days I'll write something up about Mr. Henderson. Mr. Oakland, born and raised. Congratulations and welcome to your rightful place on baseball's greatest team.
source of image

Barkley Has a Long Way to Rebound

The best thing about sports broadcasting is Charles Barkley, AKA the round mound of rebound, on TNT. And after last week's colorful arrest, he's taking a leave of absence from TNT.

With an alcohol level of .149, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 in Arizona. We can only hope he gets his life in order shortly.

The details of the arrest won't be repeated here, but can be found at the original link.
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Now playing: Iron & Wine - Cinders And Smoke

Young and Dumb, Old and Dumber

Universities have no business offering eighth graders athletic scholarships. Division one athletics should not muddle up the lives of athletes so young.

Too big to place Pop Warner, Reeve Koehler, 13, has never played a down of organized football. Football might run in his blood, with his brother Arizona freshman offensive lineman, Solomon Koehler, but there's a emotional and physical maturation that must take place before student-athletes begin considering a university.

The agreement with the University of Hawaii is non-binding, but that's besides the point. Let the kid grow up a bit before you move to corrupt him. Where are Koehler's parents in this? Shouldn't they know better?
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Now playing: Ricardo Villalobos & Patrick Ense - M.Bassy

At Least Someone Wants the Job

Two articles, historically, well, depends what you consider historically, badly managed programs. Cal hasn't been to the Rose Bowl in 50 years. The 49ers haven't won the Super Bowl since '94 or made the playoffs since 2002.

Jeff Tedford has turned it around at Cal, winning 5 of 6 bowl games and the highest winning percentage ever, all the while playing in ans recruiting for horrible facilities. When I hear he wants to stick around, I say, "hallelujah!" I hope he does stick around to 2015.

And now Mike Singletary, who dramatically turned this dreadful season around, wants complete control of the 49ers. Again, I say, "hallelujah!" Give it to the man. The 49ers were turning into the dreadful Oakland Raiders before he took over.

With the track records of these teams/programs, I just hope they don't screw it up.
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Now playing: Palace Brothers - Come a Little Dog

Appreciation Out of Struggles

My three years in Minnesota and two years at University of Minnesota were not not my most pleasant. For those interested more details for my trials in Minnesota you can read Frost-Bite. But that doesn't mean I don't have a soft spot in my heart for the U.

Bringing in Tubby Smith was a coup for a school that hasn't had a coach on his class in decades. Now ESPN reports the 2009 recruits will be a game changer.

Great news for a hockey school. Let's just hope Tim Brewster continues to improve the football program, though I'm not sure he deserved a new contract just yet, either.
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Now playing: José González - Broken Arrows

Coliseum Facilities Cost A's Free Agents

Many of favorite professional sports memories occurred at the Oakland Coliseum. Most of them date back over a decade prior to the Raiders return from Los Angeles. The facilities have continued to deteriorate and after Al Davis' fleecing of the city of Oakland, there's just not the support to improve them or build a new stadium.

Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports has an interesting note in his recent column [ht:SFGate]:

"The A's rarely are major players in free agency, but the agent said that the poor working conditions and occasionally unruly crowd behavior at McAfee Coliseum are turnoffs for his clients.

"Many players are uncertain about the atmosphere," the agent said. "They're not as comfortable going to work there or having their families attend games there on a regular basis."

In 2012, the A's are scheduled to move into Cisco Field, which will be located approximately 20 miles south of McAfee in Fremont, Calif.

"That will help them recruit players," the agent said. "Billy and David are as good as anyone in the business. The new park will level the playing field for them and allow them to excel."'

I'm not so sure the stadium will be ready for 2012, as chronicled here. But I also don't think it's fair to link A's fans to notoriously rowdy Raider fans. There have been few incidences at A's games over the years, and while attendance has been low, the fans are getting a bum rap. AT&T Park has spoiled Bay Area sports fans. Hopefully A's fans will get the stadium they deserve. It's a shame it can't be in Oakland.

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Now playing: Aesop Rock - Super Fluke

Cal Bears Luck Out Against Depleted Miami Hurricanes

Cal Coach Jeff Tedford played senior QB Nate Longshore the entire game despite playing horribly. Can you believe just last year he was projected as a first or second round NFL draft pick?

Cal still barely won, 24-17, over a team with five starters suspended. Senior LB Zack Follett saved the day and the dominating rushing of Javid Best kept Miami at bay throughout.

But what was going on with Tedford's decision to keep Longshore in the game? Was sophomore Kevin Riley hurt? Is Riley really transfrring as is rumored? I'm not sure, but this win sure was embarrassing.
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Now playing: Iron & Wine - Lovesong of the Buzzard

SF Giants: Where Great Players Get Put to Pasture

For years every attempt to sign or trade for Randy Johnson was rebuffed. Johnson simply refused to play with Barry Bonds. Johnson has a bit too much Jeff Kent in him to put up with Bonds' prima donna act. I guess we can now officially say the Bonds' years have come to close.

ESPN.com is reporting that Johnson has signed a one year contract to come "home" to the Bay Area. Johnson was a two-sport star, basketball and baseball, at Walnut Creek High. He's sitting at 295 wins, so it's hard to imagine him missing out on 300, not that he needed it to be considered an all-time great. I hope the final contract at least includes a mutual option for a second year.

The Downfall of Journalism

OK, so you decide: Imagine you are the San Francisco Chronicle sports page editor. You have a limited budget, but you have the funds to send a reporter to one of two games on a Tuesday night. Either you send someone to cover the bottom dweller Golden State Warriors or first place San Jose Sharks. The Sharks may not bring you the most hits, but in the long run with adequate coverage hockey could bring you in balance and turn both sports profitable.

If you hadn't guessed which one the Chronicle chose to cover. You can read the AP Sharks article here and Warrior beat reporter Janny Hu here.

I bet you can't guess who won?

Mom, I'm sorry. I'll be better. I promise.

Rich Bucher at ESPN.com has a great profile of Stephen Jackson today. Most sports fans will always remember him for brawling and shooting his way out of Indianapolis. Once Jackson arrived here in Oakland he's been on his best behavior. Jackson along with his mother are helping out families back home in Port Arthur, TX.

It's worth a read just to know redemption is possible and even grown men can turn their lives around.