DeadSpin
Lawrence Phillips Goes For Rare Triple Crown April 20, 2007 02:27 PM
An old George Carlin comedy routine had a good time mocking California's "Three Strikes And You're Out" policy of jailing three-time felons for life; Carlin pointed out that the writing of laws for the incarceration of our citizens should perhaps not be based in cute and funny baseball terms. But as far as we know, no athlete has ever actually notched one of the real-world trifectas.
But we're awfully close, in the person of the one and only Lawrence Phillips. Turns out, Phillips could be starting down the barrel of his third strike (if we might play the Stephen Colbert metaphor game for a moment).
The guilty plea from 2000 would be his first strike (the previous dragging his girlfriend down a flight of stairs doesn't count as a strike). His "taking his anger out on a bunch of kids who beat him at a pickup game in a sport he used to play professionally" crime (also defined above as assault with a deadly weapon) would make his second strike, and therefore double the maximum sentence to 20 years.
If all goes bad, Phillips could soon be facing his third strike. On top of all of these, he's also awaiting trial on charges he struck his live-in girlfriend in San Diego and strangled her into unconsciousness in 2005. I just hope it wasn't the same girlfriend as the 2000 incident.
So yeah, matters didn't turn out to well for Mr. Phillips. If only Dick Vermeil had tried harder!
Lawrence Phillips: Delay Of Conviction [Lion In Oil]
DeadSpin
The Daily Closer: A-Rod Thinks You May Have Underestimated Him At Some Point April 20, 2007 01:49 PM
Notes on a day in baseball:
• Do Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Shortstop. Alex Rodriguez is playing at a level only dogs can hear; his walk-off homer on Thursday (two outs in the ninth!) going for his 10th HR of the season (26 RBI), in 14 games. A-Rod is even hitting in the clutch, which must be making Red Sox fans wonder what would have happened if he had come to Boston -- as many said he wanted to do -- instead of New York three years ago. Well, not to rain on the Yankees or anything, but Herald columnist Gerry Callahan writes today that Rodriguez is as good as red. It's the Yankees-Red Sox, where we suppose anything goes. Rodriguez's three-run homer brought New York back from a four-run deficit in the ninth, giving the Yankees an 8-6 win over the Indians. Oh, and Sean Henn pitched one inning to get the win, following Chase Wright and Kei Igawa to become the third Yankees rookie in three games to get his first major league win. That hadn't happened since Norm Branch, Charlie Stanceu and Steve Peek did it from May 20-22, 1941, as if the Elias Sports Bureau had to tell you. The Yankees now go to Boston, where Callahan should collect some interesting quotes.
• Cora! Cora! Cora! Oh, by the way Callahan, Boston shortstop Alex Cora would like a word with you. Cora tripled home the go-ahead run in the ninth (Manny Ramirez hit a tying, two-run homer in the eighth in a 5-3 win over the Blue Jays.
• Meet Mr. Met. David Wright update: Hitting streak intact at 26 games. We love hitting streaks, especially ones which extend over two seasons so that people argue over wheter it counts. Mets 11, Marlins 3. Carlos Beltran 4-for-6 with a home run.
• Those Dodgers Will Sneak Up On You. Mark Hendrickson, filling in for Jason Schmidt (he's hurt already?), allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings as the Dodgers beat the Rockies 8-1.
• Cubtastic. Rich Hill. That's all you need to know. OK, Hill gave up four hits in eight scoreless innings, Michael Barrett and Aramis Ramirez had solo homers, and the Cubs beat the Braves 3-0.
DeadSpin
About Last Night ... April 20, 2007 01:49 PM
What you missed while counting your chocolate peanuts ...
• NHL: All right all you Penguins, outta here, single file! Ottawa 3, Pittsburgh 0.
• MLB: I'm The God! A-Rod, walk-off homers, and you.
• NASCAR: Pole dancing ... In which Jeff Gordon finds a primo parking space.
SpoFi
Mets take NL East lead and enjoy another rout of Marlins April 20, 2007 01:06 PM
The Mets thought they had assembled an offensive juggernaut when the season began. Over the last two days, they proceeded to show the Marlins the sharp end of that buzzsaw. Read Story.
SpoFi
A-Rod caps off winning rally April 20, 2007 10:48 AM
Trailing 6-2 in the ninth, Josh Phelps homered, and Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu hit RBI singles to pave the way for Alex Rodriguez's 10th homer, a walk-off shot to sweep the Indians. Read Story.
SpoFi
Sorry tubby, you're just too good. April 20, 2007 12:46 AM
Bryan Murray's grand-nephew banned from his youth hockey league, for being too big and too good. Read Story.
DeadSpin
Free Darko Playoff Pants Party: Cavaliers Vs. Wizards April 19, 2007 11:26 PM
With last night's wrapup of the regular season, the playoff matchups are set. There are eight conference quarterfinal contests, and the whole shebang kicks off this Saturday.
Because we feel that no one understands the NBA more like the way we wish we understood the NBA than the gang at Free Darko, we've asked them to write up previews of every playoff series throughout the postseason. It will help us understand what's at stake in each series, what matters, what it means for the individuals involved, their fanbases and their history. And there will also be funny, bizarre, non-linear photographs.
After the jump, our last playoff preview of the day, the series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards. No Arenas. No Arenas. Damn. Well, let's see LeBron turn it on, anyway. If you want to hop in with your predictions in the comments, please do. Because we type about sports, and people expect it, our prediction is Cavs in 5.
And now, Bethlehem Shoals, from Free Darko, after the jump. Enjoy.
-------------------------------
First off, let's eradicate all the things that Cavs/Wizards is not. It's not going to be a rehash of last year's firestorm, which arguably made both LeBron and Arenas who they are today. It's not the James/Wade tango that nearly was -- which is fortunate, because there was zero buzz about this possibility and it would have knocked one out way early. And to be perfectly fair to my sources, this isn't the same LeBron who romped into the 2006 postseason with one hand up immortality's skirt.
At least among picky eaters, the LBJ's stock is at an all-time low. Blame it on Mike Brown's stifling offense, the inept Cleveland front office, or our own skewed version of what accomplishment means. But in one choppy season, Gloria's boy squandered all the superstar capital he'd earned against the Pistons and Wiz. The point isn't whether it's fair to expect James to save Cleveland on his own -- admit it, last May we all thought he could. So for the team to drop from the "must-watch" status and LeBron get taken for granted, well, that's deflation. I know all about the man called Larry Hughes, and how he's taken up the point guard position. I think that's more a testament to how broken the Cavs are, in the same way that black markets flourish and warlords build schools in war torn lands. The awakening of Pavlovic, the hairy spatters of Anderson Varejao, Boobie Gibson's range ... all these things are true, and yet none are mutually exclusive with a commanding LeBron. The playoffs are theater, and there's really nothing to bring the house down like the messianic urge fulfilled.
As for the damaged Wizards, well, these times are hard. Let's not underestimate how much Arenas needed these playoffs -- sure, his star rose like a blob of helium this season, but those missed free throws still linger. Even if you believe that he's over that, kindly turn to his kid-in-a-candy-store '06-07. Without a weighty playoff run to back up all the swag, he's no better in the books than T-Mac in Orlando: a fantastic individual performer who can't drag his team through the rapids. Alas, Gilbert is gone. Caron Butler clutches at his broken hand; he believes in the will above all else, and yet can offer nothing but the faint promise of a second-round return. Antawn Jamison keeps up his head and pushes onward, with Deshawn Stevenson cackling by his side. But the cupboard is bare, hope long ago replaced with cobwebs, and a dignified exit the best-case scenario. And for the media to respectfully ignore them in their hour of ruin.
Luckily for them, this series will be all LeBron, all day. The more absent and pale the Wizards are, the less it will sting; if James goes the eff off, this will become a refresher in what made us all witnesses. Here's the young fella's chance to restore his luster, to get us believing again that basketball belongs to him. What better an opportunity than a first-round opponent that belongs in the lottery? Now, this could backfire hopelessly -- if the Wiz do anything more than steal one game, James will be accused of lacking substance. Somehow, though, I just don't foresee that happening. As Agent Steinz astutely observes, LeBron's really the only Cav that's in any way imposing. But LeBron out to renew his good name -- well, it will only a take a little of that for the Wizards to evaporate and for the King James Version to get back on that heavenly track.
What words to give the Wizards faithful? To thee, I would say: This dismal week will be all about looking inward. Remember the good times. Bathe in the warmth this season left in your stomach. Send a friendly message to the aforementioned Steinz, who has played an instrumental role in making most of the world into Wiz enthusiasts. When this team was up, the high was delirious. When the the rough patches set in, they passed the time with good humor. The temptation will be strong to venture into these God-foresaken waters, but be warned: Your love will not save you here. Turn away, know that it will soon be over, and instead make this a nondescript celebration of what a better person this team made you.
Cavs in five. LeBron on every shoehorn. Numerous Andray Blatche close-ups. And then a whole summer of foment from the Armies of Gilbert.
SpoFi
The Blue Jackets take off MacLean -- who's next? April 19, 2007 10:27 PM
The NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets have fired general manager Doug MacLean, whose teams never came closer than 19 points to the playoffs in his six-year tenure. Who's in line for that job and who should be listening for footsteps? Read Story.
DeadSpin
To Watch Tonight April 19, 2007 09:26 PM
What to watch as Carl Monday leaps into the Action News van and speeds toward Wisconsin ...
• MLB: Chicago Cubs at Atlanta. As Ryan Theriot said, "Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify." [TBS] [WGN]
• NHL: Playoffs, conference quarterfinals, Pittsburgh at Ottawa, Game 5; Detroit at Calgary, Game 4; Dallas at Vancouver, Game 5. We understand that the Stars-Canucks game will be "joined in progress." That kind of sucks, Versus. [Versus]
• MLS: New England at Columbus. You say you want a Revolution, we-ell you know, we'd all like to see the plan. [ESPN]
DeadSpin
What? Football Stars Smoke Pot? April 19, 2007 08:47 PM
Pro Football Weekly has unearthed a pleasant little nugget from the endless parade of young men flexing in their underwear that is the NFL Draft: Three of the top expected draft picks admitted to smoking pot.
Amobi Okoye, Calvin Johnson and Gaines Adams all admitted during interviews at the NFL combine that they have used marijuana, according to a story reported by Pro Football Weekly on its Web site. All three are regarded as top-10 picks and all three could be off the board in the first five picks.
PFW says it seems unlikely this would affect their draft stock, and we say thank heavens to that. We hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but we no longer are too taken back by marijuana use by our athletes. In fact, we're starting to think there's something weird if they're not doing drugs. (This is why we wouldn't draft Brady Quinn, by the way.) In fact, we're pretty convinced everybody else who was asked is lying.
The Way We Hear It [Pro Football Weekly]
Wanna Get High? [AngryT]
DeadSpin
Leftovers: Grass, Clay, What's It Matter? April 19, 2007 08:47 PM
• Tennis gimmicks can be quite fun. [The Battle Of Surfaces]
• Are the Nationals actually becoming a real franchise? [No One Appreciates Me]
• Michael Lewis needs to update his mantra. [SethMnookin]
• Here's something to annoy all your friends with today. [MLB XM]
A look back at some sorry Warriors history. [Say Hey]
DeadSpin
Somedays, Being A Sports Fan Is No Fun At All April 19, 2007 08:27 PM
We find that the best way to truly appreciate how much fun and liberating being a sports fan can be is to remember the truly awful days, the days where everything goes wrong and falls apart, the times when you wonder why, exactly, you put yourself through all this. We used to call this "Days When Jason Marquis Starts."
Anyway, yesterday was definitely one of those days for Seattle sports fans. The Sonics probably aren't coming back, they were blown away in their final game and, oh yeah, Felix Hernandez left his start with tightness in his elbow. It's enough to make a guy want to find a empty greenhouse somewhere, a fistload of heroin and write an illegible note to your child and batshit bonkers wife.
But, alas, through the despair is hope! Look at the Bay Area yesterday, for example. It is only when we remember when matters were hopeless that we can appreciate true glory. At least, that's what we're telling ourselves, with the Cardinals two games under .500. That's the plan, and we are sticking to it.
I Give Up [Sportszilla]
What A Day For Bay Area Sports [The Big Picture]
DeadSpin
It's Best To Be Aware Of Who Is Playing Santa April 19, 2007 07:47 PM
This photo is from Alyssa Milano's MLB Blog, and it features Alyssa sitting on Tommy Lasorda's lap.
Yep. Tommy Lasorda. Careful, Alyssa ... very careful.
*touch 'em all* [MLB Blogs]
Tommy Lasorda Wants You To Know He Doesn't Pay For Sex [Deadspin]
Women's Hoop Blog
Will there be any fallout from the Pokey Chatman s... April 19, 2007 07:37 PM
Will there be any fallout from the Pokey Chatman situation on recruiting? Jeré Longman tackles that question in today's New York Times.
DeadSpin
MSG Pulling No Punches In Dance Skater Lawsuit April 19, 2007 07:27 PM
You might remember, from a while back, a lawsuit involving Madison Square Garden and former Rangers City Skater Courtney Prince, who claims she was fired for reporting a sexual harassment with a Garden employee. (The employee tried to talk Prince into having a threesome, which, somehow, didn't work.) The lawsuit has continued, and you know what that means: Time to start playing dirty.
But we didn't expect it to come to this: MSG is claiming that she's suffering from "hypersexuality."
In the sweeping counterattack, Garden attorney Melissa Rodriguez said Prince's behavior "is not surprising as she suffered from bipolar disorder, a classic symptom of which is hypersexuality."
The skaters claim Prince pretended to simulate sex on the ice during one practice and regularly coached skaters to appear more "fuckable." She also grabbed other skaters' breasts and used explicit terms to describe their anatomy, the skaters said.
God, aren't lawsuits just the best? They really bring out the best in everyone.
Hockey Cheerleader And Her Passion For Sex [WBRS Sports Blog]
DeadSpin
Free Darko Playoff Pants Party: Heat Vs. Bulls April 19, 2007 06:14 PM
With last night's wrapup of the regular season, the playoff matchups are set. There are eight conference quarterfinal contests, and the whole shebang kicks off this Saturday.
Because we feel that no one understands the NBA more like the way we wish we understood the NBA than the gang at Free Darko, we've asked them to write up previews of every playoff series throughout the postseason. It will help us understand what's at stake in each series, what matters, what it means for the individuals involved, their fanbases and their history. And there will also be funny, bizarre, non-linear photographs.
After the jump, our next playoff preview, the series between the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. It's a rematch of last year's playoff battle, and it's clear that the Bulls would rather not be here. (The Wizards are looking rather appetizing right now.) If you want to hop in with your predictions in the comments, please do. Because we type about sports, and people expect it, our prediction is Bulls in 7.
And now, Dr. Lawyer IndianChief, from Free Darko, after the jump. Enjoy.
------------------------
I started writing this in my South Chicago apartment as it caught fire, and I might as well have kept writing until the damn thing burnt down. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PLAY. Dwyane Wade is coming to town, and he has people from Oak Lawn to Robbins. Chris Quinn's Notre Dame frat brethren are downing Car Bombs over at Poag Mahone's. James Posey is saving up money to pay for his Flagrant-2's, and this time he's a bit tipsy.
Of course, the dude in the building that NOBODY in Chicagoland wants to talk about right now is The Daddy. Shaquille O'Neal still has some pre-2006 Larry Brown-related issues to work out regarding Ben Wallace poking and prodding all up in his midsection on the way to two consecutive finals appearances. Because Flip Saunders didn't give Wallace his proper burn during last year's Pistons-Heat series, Shaq feels like he didn't get that real-deal payback, that sensation of slamming a four-time defensive player of the year to the ground.
So, if Ben Wallace is listening, then I'm saying it loud and clear: Now is your time. You spent the year brooding, missing your friends in Detroit, looking for people in the locker-room that you could discuss Sade with and wondering why you were surrounded by guys born after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. You were unapproachable to teammates who played at better colleges than you did but who look up to you anyway. You had back pain. You watched the Chris Webber situation unfold and wondered if you could sulk your way on to a different team. You looked in the mirror, asking yourself if Tyson Chandler has better abs than you. Now you can earn that big contract. You can make John Paxson look like he knew what he was doing all along, and you can solidify your legend in Chicago.
Big Ben came out firing a lot of big words at Bulls media day back in October. He talked about showing what he could do offensively, wanting to prove doubters (including former coach Saunders) wrong about his deficiencies on the offensive end and letting people know that he hasn't lost a step on D. All that chatter amounted to a lot of missed free throws and many underwhelmed Bulls fans. Now is one of those special moments -- just like when Cat Stevens nearly prayed to God to save him from drowning -- that a man can seize on all that is before him, and alter his life course while inspiring people in the process.
Of course, Big Ben vs. Shaq is not the lone storyline. For one, the Bulls' frontline is more than just Wallace-deep. P.J. Brown is Louisiana levee-tough. Mike Sweetney is "well-rested." Martynas Andriuskevicius is seemingly still on the roster. Secondly, Shaq is ultimately going to get his points. I expect a cage match in the post and a dogfight on the perimeter, where Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon are going to give Dwyane Wade (at 68 percent) and the banged up trio of Gary Payton, Jason Williams, and Eddie Jones a little more speed than they can handle. With these frontcourt/backcourt matchups essentially balancing each other out, the series must therefore be won in the spheres that are difficult to define, the absence of space, the trigonometry of a higher mental plane. I am of course referring to Chicago's dual Gobots, Tyrus Thomas and Luol Deng.
Luol Deng, the Bulls' team MVP provides too much versatility for the monolithic Udonis Haslem and the perpetually satisfied Antoine Walker. Next to Tracy McGrady, Deng was the most underappreciated do-it-all player of the 2006-07 season. While most pundits gawked at Dirk ("CAN YOU BELIEVE A SEVEN FOOT WHITE PLAYER IS STEPPING BACK TO SHOOT THE THREE?"), Deng combined the efficiency of Krzyewski-ball, the formalism of a South London upbringing and a variety of moves carried out with the pastoral serenity of the Sudanese Dinka tribe. Simply, Deng is an extremely tough matchup for the Heat, and the world will soon know his name.
Whereas Luol Deng embodies controlled chaos, Tyrus Thomas defines chaos in its purest form. Just saying the word "bracket" around Thomas gets his heart pumping Absinthe and increases his cognitive engagement to the point of instinctual telepathy. Thomas knows his next move before understanding what that next move really means. We saw him enter the season with a composed arrogance that has not waned throughout mild injuries, rookie struggles, fines and scrutiny for his expressed dunk contest apathy, Scott Skiles' mindgames and staccato transitions from 12th man to starter and back. Thomas recognizes the magnitude of the stage, and the role to which he is assigned. With Deng allowed to freelance, and Thomas as his understudy, the Bulls should prove too energetic for the Heat, causing Pat Riley's Irish eyes to glaze over, while wondering in which tropical location Bill Cowher is currently posted up.
Wages of Wins Journal
One Correct Prediction April 19, 2007 05:51 PM
Earlier this week Steve Kerr asked the following question:
Who could have predicted the Sixers would win 29 of 57 games since trading Allen Iverson?
Hmmmm….. I wonder.
Last December 19th, when the trade was made, I offered my first impressions of the Iverson trade. Here is most of that post:
Iverson, as we noted in The Wages of Wins and in this forum, has been slightly below average for his career. Although the past two seasons he was above average, this year he was again slightly below average.
In contrast, Miller – with the exception of his one season with the Clippers – has always been well above average. So the 76ers have exchanged a guard that hovers around the average mark for a guard that has consistently ranked among the top players at his position.
… How exactly does this trade impact the 76ers? Miller comes in and probably takes many of the minutes of Iverson. I would also suspect that Smith allows the 76ers to play at the center and power forward spots a combination of Samuel Dalembert, Steven Hunter, Chris Webber, Smith, and Alan Henderson. In other words, the team going forward should stop playing players at the big men slots that are not big men, a problem I noted a few days ago.
At the small forward spot the team will should now use Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala, with Rodney Carney seeing his minutes limited. Given how little Carney has contributed thus far, that will also be a positive development.
In the backcourt the team still has Willie Green and Kevin Ollie. Both of these players are very unproductive. But the addition of Miller does boost what this team is getting out of the guard positions.
Put it all together – as I have done HERE – and we see that this team could win half its games going forward. Now I am assuming that what these players have done so far this season will continue. And I am assuming that I can truly guess how the minutes will be allocated. But if both my assumptions are correct (and what are the odds an economist can get two assumptions right?), then the 76ers can expect to win about 30 more games. This gives the team a final record of 35-47, which should leave them out of the playoffs and with very few balls in the lottery hopper.
Last night the 76ers won their 30th game since the Iverson trade, giving the 76ers a final record of 35-47.
In my career I have taught fifteen different courses in economics, including the History of Economic Thought. Although HET is not one of my research fields, I understand enough of this subject to know that this is the first time in the history of our discipline that an economist made a prediction that was actually right.
Okay, that was a joke (really, economists get stuff right all the time). And this specific prediction had the right outcome, but still had a few flaws. I still have no way to predict how many minutes each player is going to play in the future or see that the 76ers were going to cut Chris Webber. Fortunately, the loss of Webber did not adversely impact the team.
Still, despite being unable to perfectly forecast everything, I had the big picture painted correctly. Exchanging Iverson for Miller made the 76ers a better team. This is exactly what Wins Produced indicates, and we see more evidence of this in the final record of the team.
A Brief Hiatus and the Relief Pitchers
If I were a showman, I would exit the stage on a high note. And in the next few days it might look like I am doing just that. Actually, though, I just need to take a brief hiatus. Over the next few days I need to work on an important project that must be completed by the end of this month. So although I love writing for The Wages of Wins Journal, there can be no more posts from me until May (which is just 12 days away).
I am not, though, leaving this forum unattended. Stacey has agreed to step in. Plus, I have asked for a couple of guest bloggers to fill the void. The first is The Baseball Economist himself – JC Bradbury. JC says he will try and post something next week. Plus, Steve Walters – a brilliant sports economist at Loyola College and occasional contributor to The Sporting News – is also going to offer some thoughts. So The Wages of Wins Journal is in good hands while I am gone.
Before I go, though, let me just tip my hat to Brian for alerting me in the comment section to Steve Kerr’s question. I will be reading the comments over the next few days, so keep those coming.
- DJ
DeadSpin
Blogdome: Nature Vs. Nurture April 19, 2007 05:47 PM
• How does one become a fan of a team, anyway? [Strike Zones And End Zones]
• Cubs fans aren't hanging in so well early. [Sweet Home Sports]
• Pee 'em, Horns! [The Wizard Of Odds]
• Did the stat guys ever figure out if Derek Jeter could play defense or not? Let us know when ya'll come to a conclusion. [Valentine's Views]
• What happens when you like one Carlos more than the other one? [Inappropriate Hugs]
• Who will be the best Madden player drafted? [Kid Cleveland]
• Howard Eskin is a damned wimp. [Life On A Bench]
• Are they remaking the Jordan-Bird "Nothing But Net" commercial? [BostonSportz]
• Look, MLS analysis! [That's On Point]
DeadSpin
Those Red Sox Fans Sure Do Travel Well April 19, 2007 05:47 PM
Thanks to The Tao Of Stieb, we present you this video from the Blue Jays-Red Sox game in Toronto. We didn't know men named Sully were allowed north of the border.
Classy Boston Fans Enjoy 2-1 Loss Last Night [The Tao Of Stieb]
Duke Press Releases
Two-Protein Team Would Be Lost Without Each Other April 19, 2007 05:30 PM
Researchers are developing a more detailed picture of the complex interplay between genes and proteins in the rapidly growing root tips of plants
Duke Press Releases
Gift from Blake Byrne Doubles Nasher Museum's Contemporary Art Holdings April 19, 2007 05:30 PM
Duke alumnus makes the gift on the occasion of his 50th reunion at Duke in honor of Raymond D. Nasher, the late founder and namesake of the Nasher Museum.
DeadSpin
Charlie Manuel Continues to Entertain Us As Only He Can April 19, 2007 05:26 PM
So at first Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he wasn't going to talk about his Tuesday dustup with radio guy Howard Eskin (as seen and heard above), but thanks in part to Dan Steinberg at DC Sports Bog, that vow didn't last long. Prior to Wednesday's game with the Nationals (the Phillies left nine on base in a 13-inning, 5-4 loss ... ouch), Manuel went off on this bizarre rant:
"When I first started as a manager in this game I used to grab guys, I'd slam them on the wall. Really. I mean, that was no problem. I had no problem doing that. And you know, like, I'm older now and things like that, I'm 63 years old, but at the same time, you know, like, I've still got that same passion, I've still got that same fire....People don't know me and they don't take the time to know me. They see me around the ballpark and they kind of look at, 'Well, there's Goodtime Charlie,' or you know, like, 'Take-it-Easy Charlie,' 'Laidback Charlie,' 'Uncle Charlie,' 'Grand-pa Charlie,' whatever."
But that wasn't the best part. Later in the interview:
Finally, out of the blue, Manuel drops this: He's putting his No. 1 starter, Brett Myers, into the bullpen. There was five seconds of silence. Literally. I timed it later. Then laughter. Much laughter. The beat writers attempted to convince Manuel that he was joking. They stared at each other. Literally, jaws were dropped. One writer offered to bet Manuel $100 that he was kidding. Finally, they realized he was serious.
It was all too bizarre, and the weirdness continued. When we eventually tracked down Myers, someone asked if he'd be able to throw harder now that he was working in shorter bursts. "Let me let you direct that question to my arm," Myers said, putting his arm in the writer's face. I mean, this team was born for bloggers.
It should be noted that Manuel said all of this while wearing a Virginia Tech cap. Well, you can change your cap, Charlie ... but don't you change.
Charlie Manuel Explains It All [DC Sports Bog]
Manuel Explodes, Challenges Eskin After Loss [NBC.10]
Charlie Manuel Vs. Howard Eskin [YouTube]
Nationals 5, Phillies 4, 13 Innings [MSNBC]
DeadSpin
Free Darko Playoff Pants Party: Raptors Vs. Nets April 19, 2007 04:48 PM
With last night's wrapup of the regular season, the playoff matchups are set. There are eight conference quarterfinal contests, and the whole shebang kicks off this Saturday.
Because we feel that no one understands the NBA more like the way we wish we understood the NBA than the gang at Free Darko, we've asked them to write up previews of every playoff series throughout the postseason. It will help us understand what's at stake in each series, what matters, what it means for the individuals involved, their fanbases and their history. And there will also be funny, bizarre, non-linear photographs.
After the jump, our first playoff preview, the series between the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors. We suspect you might have heard about this one; it's the battle of the team Vince Carter pissed off against the one he's preparing to. If you want to hop in with your predictions in the comments, please do. Because we type about sports, and people expect it, our prediction is Raptors in 6.
And now, Nathaniel Friedman, from Free Darko, after the jump. Enjoy.
--------------------------------
Get your weight up -- it's time for the Vince Carter Bowl! The Toronto Raptors may have rinsed away the doofy purple and acquired a new friendly All-Star in the form of spry big man Chris Bosh. But still, no player is as closely associated with that franchise as the all-time king of the dunk contest. I talk to a few real live Raptors fans--they mostly call Canada home and keep basketball blogs. All season long, they've raved about the streamlined, zig-zagging fast break Raptors. And yet here the freshly-Reddened Swarm is, staring the trauma of the past straight in the eyes and unable to escape its hold. If the Raptors are ever going to get truly reborn, they have to tear through Vince Carter as part of the healing process. That's the iron fist of psychoanalysis, and that's why this series had to happen.
The thing is, I doubt Vince himself is that amped about any of this. Not because he's ice-like, or, as his enemies would have you believe, low on motivation. Carter just doesn't seem to pay much attention to the code of professional sports. So he flew to his college graduation the day of a game seven; it only took a few hours, and the Gulfstream experience is not about handing out thrombitis. Jordan wanting to start in his last ever All-Star Game? What mattered is that Carter gave up his spot, even if it was only a few minutes before tip. As player and as a personality, he floats over it all, like a glassy-eyed bird of prey clutching a missile. He's the NBA's Beyonce: a rapturously proficient ghost who needs help approximating urgency or humanity. Thankfully, this incarnation of Vince Carter has his gutsy, team-oriented Kelly in J-Kidd, and his very own Michelle in Richard Jefferson. If you're keeping track, that makes Marcus Williams the Solange-esque sideshow.
The Raptors are about as overhyped as an unheralded team can be, the proverbial "most known unknowns." Many children in the cornfield have told me that they're Bryan Colangelo's Oedipal answer to the Suns, that Andrea Bargnani was a perfectly respectable first overall pick, and that Sam Mitchell has gone from body-slamming Rafer Alston to deserving Coach of the Year. And yet somehow, we don't hear enough that Chris Bosh has emerged as one of the Association's best players. I get that if these are the Suns redux, then Bosh is Amare. . . which would make T.J. Ford into Nash? While the once back-broken waterbug is having a career year, he doesn't provide for Bosh the way Stoudemire depends on Nash. This whole team follows from the Class of 2003's forgotten citizen, just as Phoenix originates in Nash's velvety hands. Bosh is the MVP-ish hub around which Ford, Anthony Parker and Juan Dixon harmoniously squiggle.
The Nets are never as bad as you think, but rarely as good as imagination suggests they could be. Absent vowel-less wonder Nenad Krstic, their frontcourt is a place of shame, sorrow, Mikki Moore and Josh Boone. Yet still, in the uneasy East you'd think three stars would be enough to stir the toilet a little. For this reason alone, we can hold out hope that roughly one-quarter of the Nets' showing will be sturdy playoff heroics. And while the Raptors may be spazzy child-lizards looking to prove they can grapple with the postseason, Bosh deserves more than mere legitimacy. This kid stands a few narrative shards away from superstardom and finally now has the chance to shed his cloak of thankless obscurity. While the first round in the East is hardly prime real estate, I firmly believe that Bosh can send some ripples through the general public.
This isn't a question of what, but when and how. To paraphrase Carl Lewis, the Raptors need to realize that they're the ones who come out of this series alive. At the same time, the veteran playoff g-spot is a stubborn apparatus. Who knows how long it will continue to push the Nets' notables, well past when they should've creaked out of the track meet? I won't be surprised if this goes six games, with only two of them close. Then again, I also wouldn't bat an eyelash if it's a sweep where every game goes into overtime. The Nets will take their stand, and it will fail. What remains to be seen is how efficiently they will do so.
DeadSpin
We Have To Ask ... April 19, 2007 04:28 PM
Suggested questions for today's ESPN SportsNation chatters ...
• 1 p.m. Football draft expert Mel Kiper: Can anyone be called an expert when the Jets and Raiders are involved? Discuss.
• 2 p.m. MLS w/Crew's Andy Herron: Soccer or crew? Make up your mind.
• 3 p.m. NHL w/analyst Barry Melrose: Defrosting your penis, a one-man job? Discuss.
DeadSpin
Brian Urlacher Deplenished Of $100 Grand Worth Of Fluid April 19, 2007 04:28 PM
OK, so we'll say it: We don't find Gatorade the slightest bit replenishing. We think it mostly tastes like urine distilled through a coffee machine, but that's less to the point; when we work out, the last thing we want is a sugary thick beverage. We're working out to lose calories; why would we want to pile more on while we trying to rid ourselves of them? (Note: That was a rather effete sentence for a sports blogger to write. Sorry.) We might as well drink Yoo-Hoo. Folks: There's no magic formula Gatorade has discovered that just delivers you more energy. The only magic formula they've discovered is how to market the shit out of your product. People: Just drink water. It's good for you.
Well, you should drink water as long as you're not employed by the NFL.
Bears LB Brian Urlacher has hit the fine board for a cool $100 Gs, and it's apparently all over a goddamned drink and a cap. Urlacher was fined for drinking vitaminwater and wearing a vitaminwater hat during the media session in Miami leading to the title game. Gatorade is the NFL's official drink.
We're not going to get too indignant about this, considering Urlacher was surely promoting his own product and knew exactly what he was doing. But 100 grand? You know that rookie orientation seminar the NFL has ever year? We always thought it existed to help guide players through the potential minefield of off-field issues in the NFL. We now know it's just to make sure they know which products are acceptable. Wait ... which is the official erectile dysfunction pill of the NFL again? We want to make sure we have this right.
NFL Will Tell You What To Wear, And When [Signal To Noise]
Fanblogs
2007 College Football Schedules for Outlook, iCal, Google Calendar April 19, 2007 04:28 PM
For all you geeks in the crowd, here's the 2007 College Football Schedules in iCal format for Outlook, Apple iCal, Google Calendar (and pretty much any calendar application).
2007 ACC Football Schedules for Outlook, iCal, Google Calendar
2007 Florida State Seminoles Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Miami Hurricanes Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Virginia Tech Hokies Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football Schedule (ical)
2007 NC State Wolfpack Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Clemson Tigers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 North Carolina Tarheels Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Virginia Cavaliers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Duke Blue Devils Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Boston College Eagles Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Maryland Terrapins Football Schedule (ical)
2007 SEC Football Schedules for Outlook, iCal, Google Calendar
2007 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Florida Gators Football Schedule (ical)
2007 South Carolina Gamecocks Football Schedule (ical)
2007 UGA Georgia Bulldogs Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Arkansas Razorback Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Kentucky Wildcats Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Auburn Tigers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 LSU Tigers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Mississippi Rebels Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Big10 Football Schedules for Outlook, iCal, Google Calendar
2007 Illinois Fighting Illini Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Indiana Hoosiers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Michigan Wolverines Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Michigan State SpartansFootball Schedule (ical)
2007 Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Ohio St. Buckeyes Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Penn St. Nittany Lions Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Purdue Boilermakers Football Schedule (ical)
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule (ical)
Comment on 2007 College Football Schedules for Outlook, iCal, Google Calendar...
DeadSpin
Finally, The Playoffs Are Set April 19, 2007 03:27 PM
You know, for a regular season that, all told, was rather lackluster, the NBA first-round playoff matchups look rather compelling. The Raptors-Vince Carter reunion is self-explanatory, but we also have Kobe against the Suns again, the Spurs against Carmelo and Iverson, a truly solid and evenly matched Jazz-Rocket battle and we even to watch Warriors fans finally get to play an elimination series. (If Golden State wins one game, they're gonna be ecstatic, and they'll deserve it.) It almost makes up for the lament of a Cavaliers-Wizards rematch without Agent Zero.
And oh, to be a Bulls fan. With just one win last night, they'd play those Wizards in a rather pleasant first-round matchup. Instead, they have to face the Heat again in a series in which they're unlikely to be favored. Talk about a turnaround of fortune. It's enough to make a Bulls fan want to throw his hands up in despair, or at least wonder where the heck Ben Wallace went.
Our pals at Free Darko will be previewing each series over the next few days, and we cannot wait. The NBA matters again! Kind of!
Bulls Lose, Get 5th Seed, Face Miami, Season Not Over [Blog A Bull]
DeadSpin
NBA Roundup: Goodbye Regular Season. Goodbye April 19, 2007 02:48 PM
Notes on Wednesday's games in the National Basketball Association ...
• Where Have You Gone, Billy Owens? Normally no one would make a huge fuss over an eighth playoff seed, but this is the Warriors, who haven't tasted the post-season since Latrell Sprewell and Chris Gatling were in the lineup (Jud Buechler! Dell Demps!). That was in 1994, when the coach was also Don Nelson (he coached there from 1988-94, then was hired again in 2006). Needing a win (or a Clippers loss) on the last day of the regular season to get in, Stephen Jackson had 31 points and Baron Davis had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead the visiting Warriors over the Trail Blazers 120-98. Their prize is a first-round matchup with Dallas, which had the NBA's best record this season at 67-15. Nelson, who coached the Mavericks from 1997-2004, has beaten Dallas in five of their past six meetings. So, in this case, first round = fun!
• Anticlimax Theater. The Clippers found out during their game that the Warriors had won, eliminating them from the playoffs. And so Rasual Butler's tie-breaking jumper with 1.5 seconds left gave New Orleans an 86-83 win, sending LA to summer vacation and a spot in the draft lottery. Not so bad, when you think about it.
• Net Dividends. So as it turns out, the Nets draw the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs, and the Bulls get the horns. Er, the Heat. Vince Carter's 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists led New Jersey past Chicago 106-97, costing the Bulls the No. 2 seed in the East. The Nets get the No. 6 seed, with the Cavaliers moving up to No. 2.
• Lakers-Suns Rematch On Tap. Meanwhile, the Lakers signed the final papers for their No. 7 seed in the West, which gives them a first-round series with the Suns. LA beat Sacramento 117-104 behind Kobe Bryant's 34 points. Last year, the Suns overcame a 3-1 deficit to knock out Los Angeles in seven games in the opening round. Game 1 of the series will be Sunday in Phoenix. See you there?
DeadSpin
The Daily Closer: Nine-To-Two, What A Way To Make A Living April 19, 2007 02:25 PM
Notes from a day in baseball:
• Mr. Met Will Take It Anyway. Look, if all we're going to do this morning is talk about Buehrle this and Buehrle that, we're not going to have time to get to John Maine, who dabbled with perfection himself on Thursday for the Mets. Maine (2-0) had a no-hitter before giving up a single to lead off the seventh in New York's 9-2 win over the Marlins. Faith and Fear in Flushing, somewhat unimpressed, puts it this way: Congratulations go out to David Wright for extending his two-season hitting streak to 25 games and Met opponents for extending their 46-season hitting streak to 7,163 games. Yes, Wright (.327) set the franchise record for consecutive hits, and the Mets still do not have a no-hitter in their history. Maine gave up two hits before leaving; Miguel Cabrera singled to led off the seventh for Florida. Joe Borchard had a two-run homer for NY. Maine walked four and struck out seven.
• Another Rookie Starter, Another Win. Kei Igawa: Know It. Learn it. Love it. Thanks to Alex Rodriguez and his Early Innings Bat of Doom, the Yankees staked Igawa to an early lead and cruised to a 9-2 win over the Indians. A-Rod hit his major league-leading ninth homer, Igawa gave up two runs over six innings, and all is well today in New York, New York. Chase Wright won 10-3 in his big league debut on Wednesday. Igawa isn't exactly a kid; he spent eight seasons in Japan's Central League and is 27 years old.
• A Thursday Morning Bit Of Unpleasantness. Albert Pujols had another homer, but so did Barry Bonds (No. 738, for those who are counting), as the Giants prevailed 6-5 in 12 innings in San Francisco (fog horn sound effect here). Rich Aurilia -- one of baseball's truly good guys -- lined a game-winning single to left-center in the bottom of the 12th, depressing the Leitch family, which drove all across America's West just to watch the Cardinals drop two games under .500. They'll be out there again today.
• Wake 'N Papi Make It Snappy. Tim Wakefield's knuckleball and David Ortiz' bat gave the Blue Jays a throbbing headache on Thursday, the Red Sox winning 4-1. Wakefield, 40, gave up four hits over seven innings and Ortiz homered.
• Reds Bullpen, Not So Good. Jason Lane's three-run homer in the eighth completed a two-out rally in Houston's 7-2 win over the Reds. The Astros, down 2-1, scored five runs in the eighth against Cincinnati's bullpen.
Dave Sez
Reggie Bush Would Have Gone Faster April 19, 2007 02:08 PM
Wanna know how a #1 NFL draft pick (deserved or not) rolls? In a burnt orange Lamborghini at about 130 mph on I-40 here in Raleigh, that's how. Evidently Super Mario doesn't follow the news much and hasn't heard about...
DeadSpin
There's Nothing Quite Like A No Hitter April 19, 2007 01:47 PM
We love no-hitters; we're kind of obsessed with them, actually. It's one of the reasons we love baseball more than any other sport; any time you show up at a game, there's a chance you'll see one, which is their appeal. They're rare enough to be spectacular, but they're common enough that they seem conceivable. The otherwise forgettable names of Bud Smith and Jose Jimenez are chiseled into our brain solely because they threw no-hitters. We've never seen a no-hitter in person, but every game we attend, we let out a silent sigh of disappointment whenever both teams have a hit. Not tonight ... maybe next time.
We love how the baseball world stops when someone throws a no-hitter, no matter what the circumstances or context. Mark Buehrle's no-hitter last night was like any other no-hitter -- a little better than most, actually, if not quite perfect -- but that is enough to make it the talk of every sports fan this morning, and will be again the next time it happens. (We'll all watch Buehrle's next start with that quiet hope he'll pull a Vander Meer.) Heck, it's enough to make you understand why people would pour beer on his head in the middle of the field. That looked cold.
Almost Perfect [South Side Sox]
Blue Devil Weekly via GoDuke
Roth: King of the Hill April 19, 2007 01:47 PM
After three years as a Duke baseball pitcher, Tony Bajoczky owned a 3-11 record with a 6.70 earned run average. In ACC play he was 1-6 and 8.02, with 91 hits allowed in 65.1 innings — not the kind of numbers that would suggest he might become the ace of the Blue Devils' staff his senior year.
Women's Hoop Blog
President Orender tells Houston fans the league ha... April 19, 2007 12:33 PM
President Orender tells Houston fans the league has now sold 11K tix for this year's All-Star Game.
Women's Hoop Blog
June Daugherty has found a new job at... Washingto... April 19, 2007 12:33 PM
June Daugherty has found a new job at... Washington State. Over at the subscriber section of FCP, Clay takes a spin on the coaching carousel. As for the Penn State opening, Mel offers some advice.
DeadSpin
About Last Night ... April 19, 2007 12:25 PM
What you missed while alphabetizing your Lionel Richie CDs ...
• NBA: Lord Nelson ... Warriors in playoffs!
• MLB: No. 9 ... No. 9 ... No. 9 ... A-Rod leads Yankees over Indians.
• NHL: Rangers! Every ten years, whether the world is ready or not.
SpoFi
Nationals Honor Virginia Tech, Fall to Braves April 19, 2007 12:25 PM
"It was an honor to wear that hat," Washington center fielder Ryan Church said after his team's 6-4 loss. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families." Read Story.
SpoFi
Urlacher fined $100,000 for Super Bowl hat April 19, 2007 12:08 PM
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league. Read Story.
SpoFi
Re-Mark-able night in Chicago: Buehrle no-hits Rangers April 19, 2007 12:08 PM
Mark Buehrle hurled the 16th no-hitter in White Sox history, coming within just one Sammy Sosa walk in the fifth inning of a perfect game, during a 6-0 victory over Texas. Read Story.
Women's Hoop Blog
Reader Jill B-K writes us to note that several hig... April 19, 2007 02:33 AM
Reader Jill B-K writes us to note that several high school ballers were among the slain in this week's horrifying events at VT.
Blue Devil Hoops
ACC Preview #10: Clemson April 19, 2007 02:26 AM
| Full Season | Min% | Shots% | Score % | PPWS | EFG% | 2FG% | 3FG% | |||||||
| Cliff Hammonds | 83.32 | 9 | 18.13 | 49 | 19.00 | 45 | 1.17 | 19 | 0.580 | 11 | 0.602 | 6 | 0.377 | 19 |
| Vernon Hamilton | 78.41 | 17 | 22.42 | 32 | 21.44 | 31 | 1.03 | 58 | 0.517 | 39 | 0.544 | 19 | 0.306 | 42 |
| K.C. Rivers | 72.39 | 26 | 25.33 | 15 | 26.51 | 11 | 1.18 | 18 | 0.573 | 14 | 0.549 | 16 | 0.395 | 13 |
| James Mays | 70.10 | 28 | 23.68 | 23 | 23.74 | 22 | 1.01 | 61 | 0.488 | 56 | 0.502 | 39 | 0.226 | |
| Trevor Booker | 64.64 | 39 | 18.85 | 45 | 21.95 | 29 | 1.22 | 7 | 0.602 | 4 | 0.602 | 5 | 0-0 | |
| Sam Perry | 38.55 | 72 | 14.03 | 64 | 12.91 | 66 | 0.92 | 0.453 | 0.448 | 0.333 | ||||
| Raymond Sykes | 26.92 | 8.78 | 10.75 | 1.19 | 0.608 | 0.608 | 0-0 | |||||||
| David Potter | 23.67 | 20.75 | 14.51 | 0.77 | 0.360 | 0.424 | 0.171 | |||||||
| Julius Powell | 19.17 | 18.39 | 12.76 | 0.78 | 0.370 | 0.391 | 0.241 | |||||||
| A.J. Tyler | 10.52 | 15.35 | 12.98 | 0.89 | 0.400 | 0.250 | 0.400 | |||||||
| ORB% | DRB% | BLK% | AB% | TO% | A/TO | STL% | ||||||||
| Cliff Hammonds | 1.77 | 70 | 10.09 | 46 | 0.37 | 57 | 21.16 | 15 | 2.86 | 11 | 2.49 | 3 | 2.83 | 15 |
| Vernon Hamilton | 2.48 | 64 | 9.64 | 51 | 0.20 | 65 | 19.76 | 21 | 4.85 | 57 | 1.30 | 24 | 3.53 | 6 |
| K.C. Rivers | 6.01 | 33 | 12.59 | 33 | 0.35 | 58 | 11.62 | 36 | 2.46 | 5 | 1.45 | 18 | 2.48 | 20 |
| James Mays | 10.71 | 10 | 16.37 | 13 | 2.48 | 11 | 17.91 | 24 | 5.75 | 68 | 0.97 | 35 | 4.05 | 3 |
| Trevor Booker | 13.42 | 2 | 15.78 | 18 | 6.17 | 2 | 7.83 | 53 | 4.43 | 48 | 0.55 | 63 | 2.07 | 32 |
| Sam Perry | 8.05 | 24 | 12.69 | 32 | 1.99 | 15 | 10.28 | 43 | 4.61 | 51 | 0.80 | 49 | 3.05 | 13 |
| Raymond Sykes | 9.53 | 11.18 | 6.86 | 4.55 | 2.86 | 0.58 | 1.66 | |||||||
| David Potter | 5.21 | 10.44 | 1.29 | 11.59 | 4.91 | 0.83 | 1.70 | |||||||
| Julius Powell | 5.21 | 9.75 | 1.32 | 5.16 | 3.13 | 0.60 | 1.68 | |||||||
| A.J. Tyler | 8.83 | 24.43 | 0.00 | 7.29 | 4.60 | 0.58 | 0.77 | |||||||
| Conference-Only | Min% | Shots% | Score % | PPWS | EFG% | 2FG% | 3FG% | |||||||
| Cliff Hammonds | 88.76 | 5 | 19.46 | 43 | 20.62 | 36 | 1.14 | 26 | 0.566 | 11 | 0.586 | 4 | 0.369 | 19 |
| Vernon Hamilton | 79.85 | 20 | 24.32 | 18 | 24.16 | 22 | 1.04 | 47 | 0.528 | 29 | 0.561 | 10 | 0.306 | 37 |
| James Mays | 76.64 | 25 | 23.11 | 27 | 23.80 | 23 | 0.98 | 61 | 0.458 | 60 | 0.457 | 48 | 0.313 | |
| K.C. Rivers | 76.20 | 27 | 23.28 | 24 | 23.10 | 25 | 1.11 | 29 | 0.542 | 20 | 0.500 | 33 | 0.391 | 12 |
| Trevor Booker | 68.76 | 40 | 18.59 | 48 | 20.56 | 37 | 1.15 | 23 | 0.570 | 9 | 0.570 | 8 | 0-0 | |
| Sam Perry | 36.79 | 11.40 | 11.80 | 0.91 | 0.440 | 0.389 | 0.500 | |||||||
| Raymond Sykes | 26.57 | 8.31 | 9.66 | 1.18 | 0.591 | 0.591 | 0-0 | |||||||
| David Potter | 22.04 | 19.78 | 13.03 | 0.68 | 0.307 | 0.364 | 0.091 | |||||||