Friday, July 27, 2007

Kenny Lofton traded to Indians


It is being reported that Texas has traded Kenny Lofton to the Cleveland Indians for a minor league prospect....this will be Lofton's third stint with Cleveland....

The Atlanta Falcons "grieve" the loss of a teammate

On Wednesday I wrote my views about the Michael Vick situation so I am not going to rehash it anymore but I think the link to the first story just proves that some people "just don’t get it" and understand the severity of the alleged crime....the Falcons are "grieving" the loss of their teammate????......"grieve"????.....here are some links about Vick appearing in court on Thursday.....

The Atlanta Falcons go through "grieving process" as they mourn the loss of their teammate....
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution


  • New head coach Bobby Petrino keeps his team’s focus on football.......
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution


  • With Vick out for awhile and Joey Harrington as the quarterback, former Georgia quarterback DJ Shockley moves up the depth chart....
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution


  • The Nation of Islam Sports Blog is pleased that the media used the words "not guilty" during Vick’s plea.....
  • Nation of Islam Sports Blog


  • Wake Forest men’s basketball coach Skip Prosser died yesterday of an apparent heart attach while jogging.....the Winston-Salem Journal has it covered.....
  • Skip Prosser


  • The Simpsons movie is out today....and the Associated Press gives their review....
  • The Simpsons


  • It’s SEC Media Day for the upcoming football season and The Birmingham News has it covered.....
  • Day 1


  • The Friday Blog Promotion
    Beginning last week, Stiles Points began a five week series in which we promote a fellow blogger every Friday.....this week, the spotlight goes to Complete Sports blog.....Twins15 is a college student studying finance and accounting.....every Thursday, he posts a debate question where you the reader can vote and sound off about the topic.....this past week’s debate focused on who will win the National League West....other past debate questions included "Pedro Martinez or Sandy Koufax?"....."Best Centerfielder Ever".......so I encourage everyone to stop by and visit Complete Sports.....
  • Complete Sports
  • Thursday, July 26, 2007

    College Football at its Best Series - Alabama Crimson Tide

    Today, Stiles Points features the Alabama Crimson Tide in the series, "College Football at its Best".....Nico from the blog Roll Bama Roll took the time to respond about the Tide....he is a graduate student at the University of Alabama and has been blogging for three years....
  • Roll Bama Roll

  • Q1. How much on a shadow does the legacy of Bear Bryant still cast on Alabama football?
    It is larger than most non-Bama fans could possibly comprehend. A plethora of things around Tuscaloosa are named after him: Bryant-Denny Stadium, The Bryant Museum, The Bryant Conference Center, Bryant Hall, Bryant Drive, Bryant High School, etc...you get the point. Let me give you another example. When offensive lineman Andre Smith, the highest ranked offensive line prospect in the country chose Alabama over the likes of USC and LSU, he put a twist on the 'ol "putting on the hat of the team you're going to sign with" schtick. He didn't put on a Bama ball cap, he put on a Houndstooth hat. This from someone that wasn't even born when Coach Bryant died.

    It has its plusses and its minuses though. On the plus side you have young recruits like Andre Smith that have a healthy appreciation for Alabama's rich history and tradition and that certainly helps in recruiting (at least in state.) The downside though is that many fans and influential people in the program have totally unrealistic expectations for modern day coaches. Given the greater parity in today's collegiate game, we're not likely to see another coach win six national championships at one school over the course of their career and that's what some are expecting here. Alabama has obviously been very hard on coaches that have followed in Coach Bryant's wake. Counting Mike Price (who never actually coached a game here), we're on our seventh coach since Coach Bryant.

    Q2. What is the greatest Alabama football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television?
    I'm going to have to go with the obvious answer here: The 1992 National Championship game where Alabama thrashed Miami. It isn't surprising that Alabama won the game seeing as that 1992 team had one of the greatest collegiate defenses ever assembled, but the ease with which they beat the #1 team in the country was a bit shocking. It was great to out hit, out run, out throw, out hustle and out everything a Miami team that felt like the trophy was a birthright and not something to be earned.

    Q3. Why do Crimson Tide fans hate Auburn so much?
    Well, lately because they've beaten us five times in a row. The serious answer though would be that it is an in-state rivalry where these two teams are the highest level of athletics the state has to offer. There are a few minor league baseball teams scattered around the state, but no real pro sports to speak of. With Alabama and Auburn being two of the most successful programs in college football history, the state can focus all of its energy on these two teams and the Iron Bowl in particular. It's a 365 day a year topic around here and that is said without an ounce of hyperbole.

    Alabama fans have historically looked at Auburn as "little brother" and in some ways are more dismissive than hateful of Auburn...though I guess you could call it a dismissive hate. To put it simply though, Alabama fans hate Auburn (and vice versa) because that's how we are raised from birth. I have a friend that could care less about football but was raised by rabid Alabama fans. He says that despite his apathy towards the sport as a whole that to this day he still finds the color combination of orange and blue to be utterly repugnant and attributes it to his upbringing. That's how ingrained it is in us.

    Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear an Alabama uniform and why?
    This will be a tough but fun question to answer. There were some giants of the game I left off, but I feel pretty good about my choices. I chose three players whose careers I am familiar with and chose another two based on historical records and how much I still hear people talking about them. In alpha order:
    1. Shaun Alexander: This one really doesn't really need much explanation. He's had an amazing NFL career and his collegiate career was just as incredible. When he rushed for 291 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries as freshman at LSU, we all knew we had a special player at Alabama. His name is all over Alabama's record books.

    2. Jay Barker: He may not have the name recognition of Joe Namath or Ken Stabler or Bart Starr, but Jay Barker was a leader that won football games. He was 35-2-1 (.934) as a starter at Alabama. Oh yeah, he won a national championship too. That's an incredible winning percentage and one that trumps the records of a many quarterbacks more famous than Barker.

    3. John Hannah (photo): I never saw Hannah play, but considering just how much praise people are still heaping on him 30+ years later, he must've been one heck of an offensive lineman. Sports Illustrated once featured him on the cover with the headline "The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time."

    4. Ozzie Newsome: Though I never saw him play, from everything I hear he was a sight to behold. He still owns Alabama's all-time receiving yards record and had a 20.3 yard per catch average over the course of his collegiate career.

    5. Derrick Thomas: Thomas had a nose for the ball and a hunger for quarterbacks that was astonishing. He holds the career record at Alabama for sacks (52), tackles for a loss (74) and fumbles caused (10). Thomas was the first player whose skills I wanted for myself. I wasn't big enough to play linebacker (I was a DB), but Derrick Thomas was always my inspiration when I played.

    Q5. Make your case why Alabama football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?
    There's so much I could say to make a case for Alabama as the best football program in the country I almost don't even know where to start. I could list legendary coaches, national championships, the number of All-Americans produced, conference championships and other accomplishments and all of those things would certainly be true and worthy of inclusion in an argument. Those things are in the past though. What makes Alabama great and special today?

    I always like to think that our site looks at things a little differently so I want to provide a different perspective on why Alabama is so great. It is a magnet for talented players and players full of heart. Even coaches that were in over their heads like Mike DuBose and Mike Shula produced 10-win seasons. DuBose even produced a conference championship (and beat Spurrier twice in one season.) Sure, they had losing seasons too but it is the kind of place where talented people want to play and that the talent level can even overcome bad coaching. It has one of the most rabid and devoted fanbases on the planet and the players return that devotion to the fans. When we went on probation during the Franchione era, the players stuck it out. They could've transferred, but they didn't. Others knowingly came to a program on probation even though they had good offers elsewhere because they wanted to play at Alabama. To me, that level of devotion from both fans and players makes it a unique a great place that few can equal.

    I want to thank Nico for his time....it is much appreciated.....on Monday we stay in the SEC as the LSU Tigers will be featured....

    Wednesday, July 25, 2007

    Former ABC sports announcer Bill Flemming dies


    It was announced today that former ABC Sports announcer Bill Flemming died Friday of prostate cancer.....

  • Bill Flemming
  • Michael Vick Case - Race is not the issue at hand

    Over the last week or so there has been much written about Michael Vick and his alleged connection with dogfighting.....let me say right from the start, Vick should be suspended....I don’t think the NFL has been aggressive in dealing out punishment for Vick because he is one of their marquee players.....if this was some offensive lineman or safety, there is no doubt that player would have already been suspended....

    Believe it or not, there are knuckleheads out there who are atually defending Vick and even excusing his alleged involvement.....these people have brought up that hunters kill animals.....I have even read where someone wrote about how butchers kill pigs and cows for the meat that we eat.....to me, these people are just sidestepping the issue at hand about Vick.....

    Of course, the biggest excuse that I have read is that the government and media are after Vick because he is African-American.....of course when there is no other excuse, the ole race card is always a good defense.....

    This case has nothing to do with Michael Vick being African-American.....this case has everything to do with Michael Vick the person who is allegedly involved in the inhumane, barbaric, cruel, and gruesome treatment of dogs - Nothing Else!!!.....some of the people who are using the race card as a defense are stating that Vick is being singled out because he is a black man playing a position (quarterback) that is traditionally held by white athletes.....I have also read where some idiots are even stating this would not be a big thing if Peyton Manning or Tom Brady were accused of the same charges.....

    First off, the fact is, Manning, Brady, or no other NFL player is accused of this despicable act - so stop trying to change the focus of the case....

    Second, the morons who are stating the league/government/media is after Vick because he is black do not know sports history......

    Let’s look at the history of the NFL and even Major League Baseball.....the NFL does not “go after” black athletes....if that was the case, then why did the league, back in the early 1960s, suspend the Golden Boy, Paul Hornung and Alex Karras for gambling?......Hornung was the All-American athlete who played for Notre Dame, won the Heisman Trophy, and played on those great Lombardi Packer teams....he was also white....and he was also suspended by the league....the league did not "sweep it under the rug"...Karras too was white, and he was suspended by the league.....the NFL did not favor these two just because they were white.....

    Let’s also look at baseball.....has anyone ever heard of the name Pete Rose....Rose was the all-time hits leader, Charlie Hustle, Mr. Baseball.....but the league booted him for life for gambling on baseball.....once again, there was no “sweeping it under the rug”......

    These idiots who are stating that Vick is being singled out because he is black simply “Don’t Get It”.....there is no doubt that racism is a part of society and even sports....to this day I still believe that race was a reason for the government's poor and inexcusable slow response to the people in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.....it was sickening to see all those people who were suffering......so I do realize that race is still alive in this country.....but, like I wrote earlier, this case has nothing to do with race but everything to do with man-kind and the character of a person no matter race, creed, gender, etc...I thought man-kind and society as a whole evolved and would not condone something so barbaric and inhumane.....but I guess I was wrong....instead of people chastising Vick for this horrid act, there are actually people who think it is funny and are defending him....

    Tuesday, July 24, 2007

    College Football at its Best - Washington Huskies

    The Washington Huskies are the featured football program in the series "College Football at its Best"....U-Dub grad Zach from the popular blog The Big Picture gives us his thoughts about the Huskies...I want to thank Zach for his time and encourage everyone to check out his blog....it is one of the best blogs in the country....
  • The Big Picture


  • Q1. What has happened to the Washington football program? The Huskies were always a premier program, can Ty Willingham (photo - right) bring them back to prominence?
    Man, good question. For how far the program has fallen, it's hard to pin-point exactly why Washington football has gone to hell. Part of it would be the general chaos in the Athletic Department, dating back to the Rick Neuheisel scandal and the resignation of former AD Barbara Hedges.

    Keith Gilbertson -- a great coordinator, but terrible head coach -- taking over after Neuheisel left probably messed things up. He somehow was losing the top in-state recruits to other Pac-10 schools, which is 124% unacceptable. The Huskies' defense with USC's Taylor Mayes and Cal's Anthony Felder -- both from Seattle's O'Dea High School -- would be greatly improved.

    Willingham has shown signs of bringing UW back to where it should be. With a fast start last season, there was excitement for Washington football for the first time since probably 2002. Personally, I think he's the wrong guy to turn around a program. He's conservative with the gameplan and, frankly, I don't know why anyone would want to play for him. I think he'd be better off coaching an established team rather than trying to rebuild one.

    Q2. What is the greatest Washington football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great.
    Wow! There have been some good ones. I'd say the 2003 Apple Cup in Seattle was really special. It was the first year when fans started realizing that U-Dub wasn't very good anymore so anything -- like anything -- to juice fans would help.

    So when the disappointing Huskies upset a then top-10 Washington State team, it was chaos in Husky stadium. Corey Williams, a freshman wide receiver who hadn't done much of anything all year, caught the game-winning touchdown with 1:10 left to help the Dawgs to a 27-19 win.

    Q3. Who do you consider Washington's biggest rival - Southern Cal or Washington State?
    Washington State is still the biggest. But Oregon would be right up there too. For a long time, Wazzu was garbage, so the best geographical rivalry was the Ducks. When both Oregon and WSU are good, I bet you could poll 100 people and the answer to biggest rival would be a 50-50 split.

    Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear a Washington uniform and why?
    Man, tough. In no particular order, Mark Brunell, Warren Moon (photo - left), Steve Emtman, Reggie Williams, Napoleon Kaufman.

    Q5. Make your case why you are a proud fan of Huskie football?
    Well, lately I'm not all that proud. But the tradition is like nothing I've seen. Growing up in the Bay Area as a Cal fan, I didn't know what it meant for people to really live college football.

    The UW fans are great and expect a 10-win season every year. When we don't get it, things can turn sour. But that expectation for success that is so hard-wired in UW fans speaks of the program's success, tradition and history. To be part of that -- even if the team hasn't been good in a few years now -- is special....

    I want to than Zach for his time - it is much appreciated....on Thursday, the Alabama Crimson Tide will be featured....


    Monday, July 23, 2007

    College Football at its Best - Notre Dame Fighting Irish


    Today, Stiles Points features the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the series, "College Football at its Best".....Rob from the blog Rakes of Mallow took time to respond to my questions....he is a 21-year old, senior-to-be student at the University of Notre Dame.....he was born into a Notre Dame family and has been watching the Irish since the early 90's.....his life motto is "Michigan Sucks"....
  • Rakes of Mallow - Notre Dame


  • Q1. First question - should Notre Dame wear the green jerseys at least once a year or only on very special occasions?
    This is a topic that is heavily debated among ND fans, but I'm of the opinion that Notre Dame should stick with a color for good. I think the green jerseys are just as sharp as the blue ones, but the speculation before every home game about what color the jerseys will be gets tiresome rather quickly. If I was making the decisions, I'd stay with the blues for good. We'll be wearing the green jerseys for the USC game – mostly as a silly marketing ploy by the athletic department and Adidas to sell more jerseys. What was once a great Notre Dame tradition has turned into gimmicky joke.

    Q2. What is the greatest Notre Dame football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great.
    As a young lad like myself, I don't think I could pick any other game than the USC-ND game of 2005. That was one of the best college football games of it's time. There was something special brewing that October day in South Bend and even though ND lost, you can't deny the greatness of that game. The energy and excitement was unbelievable. Even after the fact, I sometimes forget how much of an impact that game had on the entire college football season. If the 'Bush Push' (photo) had never happened, Notre Dame would have likely been 10-1 and in contention with a few other teams for the National Championship game. It still frustrates me today. I have a feeling that 4th and 9 play will be one of the last things I see right before I die.

    Q3. Who do you consider Notre Dame's biggest rival - Michigan or Southern Cal?
    USC. Next question. But seriously, Southern California is our main rival since the 30's and will always be our biggest rival. We've played USC 78 times since 1926 (currently own a 42-31-5 record against them) versus only 34 times against Michigan (we won't speak of records for this one). We've played Michigan State, Purdue, and Navy more times than we've played Michigan. It's more of a recent rivalry even though the first game between the two schools was played in 1897. There's no scientific explanation about why USC is a bigger rival than Michigan. Notre Dame fans circle both games on their calendars, but USC is always the biggest game of the year. I'd consider USC our rival and Michigan our enemy.

    Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear an Notre Dame uniform and why?
    Interesting question and if you were to ask 5 different people their top-5 players, I'm sure you'd get 5 different sets. Keep in mind I'm still a student and lack the complete history of the program, but my list would go:
    QB Paul Hornung – The Irish quarterback from 1955-1956 was the only player to win the Heisman from a losing team. In his senior campaign he ranked 2nd in total offense, had 55 tackles as a safety on defense, and even punted and kicked for the team.
    WR/KR Raghib (Rocket) Ismail – If you thought Reggie Bush had the ability to change a game, you should re-watch some of the Rocket's film. On offense (as both a running back and wide receiver) and on special teams, opposing coaches dreaded letting him get the ball. It was an absolute crock that he finished 2 nd in the Heisman ballots behind Ty Detmer.
    RB George Gipp – Even though I doubt he'd have the same success today as he had in 1917-1920, you can't deny the Gipp's greatness in college football history. Averaging 8.1 ypc in his senior season, the Gipp lead the Irish to 19 consecutive wins and set milestones both running and passing.
    QB Johnny Lujack – Notre Dame's Heisman winner in 1947 won 3 National Championships under coach Frank Leahy in his short time at Notre Dame. He was part of the squad that never lost from 1946-1949 and was the centerpiece of Irish greatness in the 1940's.
    TE/DE Leon Hart – Hart (photo) was the last defensive lineman to win the Heisman Trophy award and was the last Heisman Trophy winner to be selected #1 in the NFL draft. Hart was a 2-time All-American at defensive end and even averaged over 15 ypc as TE on offense.

    Q5. Make your case why Notre Dame football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?
    While I could make a case for why Notre Dame football is the best program in college football history (I think many people would agree with that – or at least list them in their top 3), we've still got our work cut out for us if we want to become the best football program in the country right now. I don't think Notre Dame will ever have the most talented team in the country, but there's no reason why we can't have top 5 talent and I do believe we're getting there. It's going to take awhile for us to rebuild after truly one of the worst coaching staffs in college football and I do believe Charlie Weis will win a National Championship before he leaves South Bend. Good things come to those who wait, right?....

    I want to thank Rob for his time....it is much appreciated....tomorrow our buddy Zach will write about the Washington Huskies....


    Sunday, July 22, 2007

    The Sunday Baker's Dozen - Sunday, July 22, 2007

    Sunday Fact - Despite hitting 755 homeruns. the highest single season homerun output by Hank Aaron ranks 68th all-time.

    When Barry Bonds breaks the record, John Yandle should be recognized for his small part in helping Bonds get ready for the last 15 years.... "Yandle has pitched to Bonds for the last 15 years, so he has allowed more home runs to Bonds than anyone." ....
  • New York Times


  • After just appearing on Larry King Live this past Wednesday, Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner died Friday night of cancer. Sonyia Ellison of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes about Baker's comeback after the 1980s scandal..... "False eyelashes and flashy clothes eventually became her signature. "If you don't like how I look, look the other way," she wrote. "I plan on looking this way till I'm a hundred. I will be buried in my makeup and eyelashes." .....
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution


  • (Cleveland) Plain Dealer sports columnist Bill Livingston writes how NBA referees will be under the microscope even more after the alleged gambling situation of Tim Donaghy.... "Every close game and every bad call is now suspected of being a fix. Referee Steve Javie ruled a hack in the Rockets-Clippers game this season to be a two-shot foul although Cuttino Mobley was behind the 3-point arc when he launched it. It affected the point spread. Call the Feds!" ....
  • Bill Livingston


  • Boston Globe basketball columnist Jackie MacMullan writes about the issue of referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated.... "Now that it has happened, you realize with frightening clarity how feasible -- and how damning -- it would be for referees, umpires, or linesmen to be corrupt, and how lucky the four major professional sports leagues in our country have been not to have confronted this issue before." ....
  • Jackie MacMullan


  • The baseball trading deadline is fast approaching and New York Post columnist Joel Sherman writes which 10 players can be had.... "I told an AL executive I wanted to do a piece on the 10 players most likely to be moved by July 31, and he blurted, "10, you will be lucky to get to five." ...
  • Joel Sherman


  • Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Alan Judd writes how Michael Vick has always had some type of trouble throughout his career..... "Long before a grand jury indicted him Tuesday in a federal dogfighting case, Vick's performance on the football field often competed for attention with his conduct outside the arena." ....
  • Alan Judd


  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette football writer Ed Bouchette writes how the Steelers players are in for an awakening when training camp starts next week.... “Mike Tomlin does not care much if his players do not like his plans for a toughened training camp that starts Monday in Latrobe. He's not trying to make friends.” ....
  • Ed Bouchette


  • Boston Globe reporter Christopher Gasper writes how video games are part of the professional athletic culture..... “(Curt) Schilling got hooked on the epic games in the late 1990s as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks to teammate Todd Pratt. Now, when Schilling goes on the road, laptop in tow, one of the ways he stays in touch with his kids is through the games.” ....
  • Christopher Gasper


  • Whatever happened to Rich Garces....you remember, El Guapo, the rotund relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.....well the Boston Globe is running a contest called “The El Guapo Experience” in which you can win batting practice with Garces at the Boston Dirt Dogs....
  • El Guapo


  • San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ron Kroichick writes about the day in 1992 when the Giants signed Barry Bonds and a rocky marriage was started.... "The Giants and Bonds made for awkward dance partners the past four years, as BALCO fallout clashed with his star power -- his presence helped attract more than 3 million fans season after season, even as San Francisco posted losing records in 2005 and '06." ...
  • Ron Kroichick


  • Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog is on vacation, but guest blogger Adam Littlefield writes how bloggers in general do not like ESPN..... "This entry was inspired by this week's Blog Show conference call, in which Steinberg gave an impassioned speech about how bloggers are unfairly predisposed to hate ESPN just b/c ESPN is big and powerful and an easy target . . ."
  • D.C. Sports Bog


  • Yes David Beckham briefly played last night in his U.S. debut....L.A. Times reporter Grahame L. Jones has it coverd..... "Oddly enough, it was John Terry, the man who replaced Beckham as captain of the England team, who scored the game's lone goal . . ."
  • Grahame L. Jones


  • The Houston Chronicle's John McClain takes you through the NFL beat.....
  • John McClain