StoogeTV – R.I.P.

uh oh

StoogeTV is down. Not sure what’s up, but I’m going with terrorism. In the meantime, try http://us.zaptiger.com for games online.

Miss You, Sean

On NFL Draft Day 2004, Gregg Williams—the defensive head coach of the Washington Redskins—stood on top of a table to make his point. Looking down at his colleagues, the owner, the General Manager, a Hall of Fame head coach. His message was clear.

For days the debate was “Who do we draft at #5?”. The choice narrowed to two: either Miami University tight-end star Kellen Winslow or fellow Miami star, free safety Sean Taylor.

Both players filled a need. Both were “can’t miss” prospects. Both would be available at #5.

Rumor has it Dan Snyder wanted Winslow. The Redskins owner loves the high-profile, charismatic scoring threat—(but who doesn’t really?)

Williams wasn’t having it. If you’ve ever watched Sean Taylor play—either at the University of Miami or with the Redskins—it was obvious. The kid was special.

Williams got his wish.

Three years later, Taylor was not only the most feared—truly feared—defensive player in the most angriest of all sports, but he led the league in interceptions. (Even three weeks after his death)

On Sunday, he was inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame. We’ll miss you Sean. 

Oh, that Pinky Finger

It’s great when the Cowboys lose. Especially when it’s their quarterback.

A couple weeks ago, Tony Romo broke his finger on the first play of overtime versus the Arizona Cardinals.

The Doc told him to sit out 4 weeks. And, of course, he followed the advice. 

But that’s the easy way out:

Early this Fall, Trevor Wikre, the 6-3, 280-pound starting right guard for Division II Mesa State College, was pulling off the line of scrimmage on a sweep play when his pinky got jammed in a teammate’s face mask. When the play ended, he looked at it–and saw a bone sticking out.

The doctor said his season was over. Done. Fini. And only a few weeks in. 

But no, no, no…

Here’s what Wikre told the Doctor, according to ESPN.com:

“No way,” Trevor said. “This is my senior year. We’ve got to make this work.”

“We can’t,” the doctor said.

“We can,” insisted Trevor. “We can cut it off.”

And that was that. A week later, he was back at practice, running sweeps and high fouring his pals.

Which begs the question: What is it about sissy men that Jessica Simpson finds so attractive?

World Sports Mind Games

 

 ….And they’re off!…

…at the World Mind Sports Games (October 3rd-18th) in Beijing, China.

Young (and old) men and women alike from around the globe, filling gymnasiums, cracking knuckles, readjusting glasses, and competing at such games as bridge, chess, checkers, go, draughts and xiangqi (pronounced “象棋”) for the glory of a gold medal.  

Consider it the Olympics of the Mind (Who’s the P.R. firm on this one, by the way? “Mind Olympics” taken?)

In the backrooms of the WMSG

Unless you count adderall crushed in a cup of coffee, it’s finally a worldwide competition where “performance-enhancing drugs” is a non-issue.

A battle of wit. A battle of skill. And a battle I’m pretty sure the U.S. wasn’t invited to. At least as far as I can tell.

Because so far, not a single medal has gone to a country anywhere near the Western Hemisphere. But China’s kicking butt. Maybe we should take Bobby Fisher to a pet cemetery or fly in Mike                                                                    Ditka. There’s only a week left.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers, 09/20/08

The Rangers-Angels game wasn’t as noteworthy as was the Vazquez-Hallion contest.

In the 5th inning, the game turned into a bar fight when Ramon Vazquez went after home plate umpire Tom Hallion after the infielder was rung up on strike three.

He obviously didn’t like the call. In fact, Vazquez lost it.

He ripped off his batting helmet and flung it, bumping up against the ump in the process. The two men then went nose-to-nose, shout-for-shout. The 56-year-old manager (Washington, left) had to run out on his aging legs to hold him back, his hands full of Vazquez’s jersey.

It was a little surreal. Especially since an 8-year-old behind me went freckin’ bizerk and scared the bejesus out of me. Yelling “Get him! Get him! Ahhhh!”.

The NFL’s 25 Minute Rule – (Review)

A normal NFL game is three hours long. Unfortunately, the real game is shorter–much shorter. If you subtract commercial breaks, instant replays, referee stoppages, players huddling, walking to the line, etc. If you subtract all the game that is not played, it equals to about 25 minutes. 

That’s right. 80% of a three-hour long game—or roughly two and a-half hours worth—is not played.

Watch the NFL Network. Every week they air what’s called NFL Shortcuts: every game that week cut to just the plays (kick-off, tackle. first play, tackle. second play, tackle, so on…)

 So, get the NFL Network. Get in, get out. Maybe time can be better spent elsewhere?

I mean, we pour over pounds of newspaper and magazine articles. We watch press conferences and interviews. We re-check our fantasy football line-ups twice a day and talk shop at work (“Did you see that game last night?”). (And with all the barbecuing on Sunday, meat companies should throw Fan Appreciation Days.)

Coaches spend their lives on it too–watching game tape, writing playbooks. Holding mini-camps and practices. Hours upon hours teaching, tutoring, mentoring. Assistant coaches–20 to 30 of them–helping out. (Reporters love it when a coach sleeps less than 3-to-4 hours a night. A bonus if he sleeps in his office).

Owners and General Managers watch from their box: reviewing salaries, negiotiating contracts. Keeping tabs on everybody from upcoming NFL free agents to junior college stand-outs. All with an army of scouts.

And players are wrung dry too–lifting weights, watching film, practicing. Memorizing a 700-page playbook.

And not just in the Fall. This sport’s year round.

In the off-season, coaches, scouts, owners and GM’s get ready for free agency and the draft in April–which demands a cartoon of game tape and fine-toothed combs. They hold mini-camps in May, July. In August, the players return for training camp–two practices a day for a month.

Then comes September. And finally a game. Just seems like a helluva a lot of work–and attention–for 25 minutes.

The Stephen Strasburg Bowl

 

 

Tonight, the Washington Nationals play the San Diego Padres to start a three game series. The stakes? Last place in Major League baseball–both have a record of 58-95. 

Which means, with only 10 games left in the season, the loser of the series will probably end up with the worst record in baseball. Which then means the #1 pick in next year’s draft–or, in other words, Stephen Strasburg.

You know, this happened a few years ago in the NFL. The 49ers beat the Texans in week 15, giving the #1 pick to Houston. Everyone wanted Reggie Bush.

Well, Strasburg is baseball’s Reggie Bush. Or maybe a better comparison: LeBron James.

He’s a sophomore pitcher from San Diego State University. And last year he set an NCAA conference record by striking out 23 batters in a single game–he faced 30. Then this past summer he became the only collegiate player ever to join the U.S. Olympic baseball team–an honor usually designated for the best of the best in minor league baseball. 

He’s got a wicked curve, a deceptive change and scouts have clocked his fastball at 101 mph, which less than 5% of pitchers in Major League Baseball can do. 

Scouts and GM’s are drooling. (Fans too: a poll by the Washington Post found a majority of fans hoping the Nationals lose out.)

Well, maybe the GM’s of the bottom feeders are listening:

Jake Peavy, the Padres ace and Cy Young winner, was scheduled to pitch tonight against the Nationals. Instead he’s on a plane for San Diego. The Padres say “his wife is pregnant and will be giving birth soon”

 Riiiiight.