Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe died August 10, 2005, at age 103 I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Radcliffe in Chicago about 15 years ago at a local establishment (if I'm not mistaken, I think it might have been the bar "Sluggers" on Clark). WGN TV had an event for a documentary that it produced on the negro leagues, and Mr. Radcliffe was one of the stars of the event. I was also able to meet Vernon Jarrett at the time, which was a great thrill for me.
Mr. Radcliffe was very gracious, and he was funny. He will be missed.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/11/baseball.oldest/
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Griff Junior: Should He Stay Or Should He Go?
Ken Griffey Jr. has done nothing but play hard for the Cincinnati Reds. I am a Ken Griffey Jr. fan.
Those who want to dog him because he kept getting hurt, I think, have it backwards. He kept getting hurt because he doesn't love the game. He kept getting hurt solely because he loves the game and plays only one way. In that way, he reminds me of Eric Davis, or, if you're a fan of baseball history, Pete Reiser.
The Reds have tried to trade Junior away. Jim Bowden traded Junior to the Padres for Phil Nevin. The trade was voided because Nevin refused to come to the Reds. Junior for Phil Nevin. I can't even fathom it. I am convinced that that trade got Jim Bowden fired. I'm sure the dearth of starting pitchers in the Reds minors for a decade or so helped, but I think that that trade of Junior was the straw that broke the GM’s back.
Now, the rumors are flying that Junior will be traded to the White Sox for some prospects, that in fact a deal had been done, and that Carl Lindner, the managing general partner of the Reds, nixed the deal before the trade deadline. John Allen, who is the president of the Reds, furiously denies all of this. Ken Williams, the Sox GM, remains mum about the specifics.
If Lindner nixed the deal, all I can say is, "Good for you." I know that Junior should go. I know that it would be the best thing for the Cincinnati organization and for Ken Griffey Junior. Trading to get Junior was the right thing to do. But letting him move on at the right price is also the right thing to do.
At the right price. My greatest fear is that the Reds will dump Junior, get marginal prospects, and still have to foot almost all of his salary, thus impairing their ability to spend the money necessary in player development and roster development that would help them move forward.
If you are not helping the franchise baseball wise, then keep Junior. I know that there is a logjam in the outfield and Kearns and Pena need to play. I know that the Reds need pitching, and that they are a small market, and that the farm system is not very stocked. I know all this. But, if the deal's not the one to move the franchise forward, don't make it.
Grif is hitting .290, with 28 homers, 83 RBI, and 74 runs this season. If the White Sox (or the Braves or the Mets or someone else) wants a centerfielder who can put up those kinds of numbers, they will have to come to the table with something good. If not, the Reds should keep him.
Of course, that is coming from a Ken Griffey Jr. fan. But, even more, I'm a Cincinnati Reds fan. And the No. 1 goal in any transaction is, move the franchise forward.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Those who want to dog him because he kept getting hurt, I think, have it backwards. He kept getting hurt because he doesn't love the game. He kept getting hurt solely because he loves the game and plays only one way. In that way, he reminds me of Eric Davis, or, if you're a fan of baseball history, Pete Reiser.
The Reds have tried to trade Junior away. Jim Bowden traded Junior to the Padres for Phil Nevin. The trade was voided because Nevin refused to come to the Reds. Junior for Phil Nevin. I can't even fathom it. I am convinced that that trade got Jim Bowden fired. I'm sure the dearth of starting pitchers in the Reds minors for a decade or so helped, but I think that that trade of Junior was the straw that broke the GM’s back.
Now, the rumors are flying that Junior will be traded to the White Sox for some prospects, that in fact a deal had been done, and that Carl Lindner, the managing general partner of the Reds, nixed the deal before the trade deadline. John Allen, who is the president of the Reds, furiously denies all of this. Ken Williams, the Sox GM, remains mum about the specifics.
If Lindner nixed the deal, all I can say is, "Good for you." I know that Junior should go. I know that it would be the best thing for the Cincinnati organization and for Ken Griffey Junior. Trading to get Junior was the right thing to do. But letting him move on at the right price is also the right thing to do.
At the right price. My greatest fear is that the Reds will dump Junior, get marginal prospects, and still have to foot almost all of his salary, thus impairing their ability to spend the money necessary in player development and roster development that would help them move forward.
If you are not helping the franchise baseball wise, then keep Junior. I know that there is a logjam in the outfield and Kearns and Pena need to play. I know that the Reds need pitching, and that they are a small market, and that the farm system is not very stocked. I know all this. But, if the deal's not the one to move the franchise forward, don't make it.
Grif is hitting .290, with 28 homers, 83 RBI, and 74 runs this season. If the White Sox (or the Braves or the Mets or someone else) wants a centerfielder who can put up those kinds of numbers, they will have to come to the table with something good. If not, the Reds should keep him.
Of course, that is coming from a Ken Griffey Jr. fan. But, even more, I'm a Cincinnati Reds fan. And the No. 1 goal in any transaction is, move the franchise forward.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Pigskin News: TO Goes to Work. Big Whup
In pigskin news, the big story of the day is that Terrell Owens went to work. He went to work today. This morning. He got up, put on his monkey suit, which is apparently camouflage, and went to work.
Last night, he was getting ready to come to work. He was back in town, which is, I believe, the little town of Bethlehem, with his publicist and his agent. And, then, this morning, it was up and at 'em.
My next door neighbor went to work this morning. I saw the post office down the street bustling with activity. My wife went to work. I went to work. The Metra station looked packed with people going to work.
There are at least 2,400 other NFL players who went to work today. Brett Favre went to work. Michael Lewis reported. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice are in camp, working, trying to make their teams Super Bowl teams.
Apparently, TO doesn't like his pay structure. There are times that I'm not happy with my pay. So, TO isn't happy with his direct supervisor and some of his coworkers. There are times I'm not all that thrilled with my coworkers or my boss. But I go to work. I don't complain. I get my job done. I do it because it's my job and I'm a professional.
So, Terrell Owens went to work today. For all of the pigskin news today, that's the news lead.
Huh.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Last night, he was getting ready to come to work. He was back in town, which is, I believe, the little town of Bethlehem, with his publicist and his agent. And, then, this morning, it was up and at 'em.
My next door neighbor went to work this morning. I saw the post office down the street bustling with activity. My wife went to work. I went to work. The Metra station looked packed with people going to work.
There are at least 2,400 other NFL players who went to work today. Brett Favre went to work. Michael Lewis reported. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice are in camp, working, trying to make their teams Super Bowl teams.
Apparently, TO doesn't like his pay structure. There are times that I'm not happy with my pay. So, TO isn't happy with his direct supervisor and some of his coworkers. There are times I'm not all that thrilled with my coworkers or my boss. But I go to work. I don't complain. I get my job done. I do it because it's my job and I'm a professional.
So, Terrell Owens went to work today. For all of the pigskin news today, that's the news lead.
Huh.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Jeff Blake's Pigskin Leadership Questioned in News
The pigskin scribes in the Chicago press has been all over Jeff Blake, saying that in the past he had a reported "me-first" attitude. They consistently bring up the fact that in 2003 in Arizona, Blake's Cardinal teammates nicknamed him "Leon," as the Leon in the Budweiser commercials who would said things like, "There's no "I" in "Team," but there ain't no "we" neither."
That's not the Jeff Blake I remember. I remember a Jeff Blake who rode in a white horse in Cincinnati in 1994 when all hope was lost. He found success throwing bombs to Carl Pickens and leading what was a terrible offense for two or three years. I remember a Jeff Blake who was constantly taken out of a starting role by Bengal management, either by Boomer Esiason, Neil O'Donnell, and Akili Smith, finally replacing him with, of all people, Scott Mitchell. The Bengals were bad in the 1990s. But Blake handled it all with a lot more grace than he should have.
In 2000, Blake took a bad New Orleans team to the brink of the playoffs, before getting hurt and being replaced forever by Aaron Brooks. Blake sort of helped salvage Baltimore's 2002 season. Baltimore wanted to re-sign Blake, but Blake felt low-balled by the figure. Maybe things weren't left in that great of a situation in Baltimore, but Jeff wasn't really that bad about it. And the situation deteriorated it seems to me because Balitmore wanted Jeff back so badly but were unwilling to pay him a starter's salary.
Blake shopped around and ended up in Arizona for the 2003 season. Arizona was trying to replace Jake Plummer.
Below is Blake's 2003 season:
Name G CMP ATT PCT YARD Y/A TD IN
Jeff Blake 13 208 367 56.7 2247 6.1 13 15
And here is Plummer's 2002 season:
Name G CMP ATT PCT YARD Y/A TD IN
Jake Plummer 16 284 530 53.6 2972 5.6 18 20
Add in three more games, and Blake's numbers may have been near identical to Plummer's. Blake's coach in Arizona, Dave McGinnis, was reportedly happy with Blake as his quarterback. Plummer is making a lot more money than Jeff Blake is right now.
Last year, Blake was Philadelphia's third-string quarterback, and, now, he's Chicago's third-string QB. Is Jeff Blake a me-first player? I don't' think he is. I think he is a confident and maybe cocky player who thinks he can play in the NFL and win games. I think that is probably what the Bears really need right now.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
That's not the Jeff Blake I remember. I remember a Jeff Blake who rode in a white horse in Cincinnati in 1994 when all hope was lost. He found success throwing bombs to Carl Pickens and leading what was a terrible offense for two or three years. I remember a Jeff Blake who was constantly taken out of a starting role by Bengal management, either by Boomer Esiason, Neil O'Donnell, and Akili Smith, finally replacing him with, of all people, Scott Mitchell. The Bengals were bad in the 1990s. But Blake handled it all with a lot more grace than he should have.
In 2000, Blake took a bad New Orleans team to the brink of the playoffs, before getting hurt and being replaced forever by Aaron Brooks. Blake sort of helped salvage Baltimore's 2002 season. Baltimore wanted to re-sign Blake, but Blake felt low-balled by the figure. Maybe things weren't left in that great of a situation in Baltimore, but Jeff wasn't really that bad about it. And the situation deteriorated it seems to me because Balitmore wanted Jeff back so badly but were unwilling to pay him a starter's salary.
Blake shopped around and ended up in Arizona for the 2003 season. Arizona was trying to replace Jake Plummer.
Below is Blake's 2003 season:
Name G CMP ATT PCT YARD Y/A TD IN
Jeff Blake 13 208 367 56.7 2247 6.1 13 15
And here is Plummer's 2002 season:
Name G CMP ATT PCT YARD Y/A TD IN
Jake Plummer 16 284 530 53.6 2972 5.6 18 20
Add in three more games, and Blake's numbers may have been near identical to Plummer's. Blake's coach in Arizona, Dave McGinnis, was reportedly happy with Blake as his quarterback. Plummer is making a lot more money than Jeff Blake is right now.
Last year, Blake was Philadelphia's third-string quarterback, and, now, he's Chicago's third-string QB. Is Jeff Blake a me-first player? I don't' think he is. I think he is a confident and maybe cocky player who thinks he can play in the NFL and win games. I think that is probably what the Bears really need right now.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Da Bearss Need a QB. Who Will It Be?
Rex Grossman is out for at least half of the 2005 season, according to the Bears. The quarterbacks remaining on their roster include Chad Hutchinson, Kyle Orton, Kurt Kittner, Joe Barnes, and Kent Nix. I don't think that'll do it.
I advocated last year (I have at least one friend, Hot Doug, who'll back me up) that the Bears sign Chad Hutchinson before they did. And I think that he potentially can still be a good backup. I don't really know about being a real starter in this league.
But I think Da Bearss need a veteran quarterback to come in. Here are the names that are sort of being bandied about:
Vinnie Testaverde: No. Vinnie is too old. He looked not so good at the end of last year. I don't think the Bears need a 40-year-old to come in. They need a veteran, but not of WWII.
Jeff George: No. Though he had some experience with the Bears last year, there is a new offensive coordinator, so some of that advantage is lost. And, he's not had the best history of team play. I don't think Jeff is a bad idea for some teams, necessarily, but not the Bears.
Quincy Carter: No. The Jets didn't want him back. I think Q needs to go to Canada.
Tim Couch: No. The Bears probably can do better. Also, I don't know if Tim's shoulder can take two pratices in a row, much less hold up in game situations. As with Carter, I think you need someone who is ready to step in, but not that old.
Brock Huard: Now we are getting somewhere. But I think he is closer to Chad Hutchinson, and he doesn't have the experience that Hutchinson does. So, he still rates a "no."
Jeff Blake: Here you go. He's the answer if you are looking for a one-year deal. He has a ton of experience, he has been in several "West Coast" offenses, so he should be able to step in. He's a bit long in the tooth, but he should be fresh after not playing much last year. He could step in, help right away, and then you could say "bye-bye."
Shaun King: He's the guy if you want a longer term solution. Without a doubt. The only math I think you need to make is where you think Kyle Orton is, and where you think Chad Hutchinson is. And, I guess for that matter, what you think about Rex Grossman. I think that Orton could be a starter in the NFL. I thought he was the best combination of college QB and pro prosepect as a QB through about eight weeks of the season last year, until he got hurt. I have my doubts about Hutchinson. And I have strong doubts about Rex. So I would sign Shaun King.
So it's Blake or King. Fairly easy call.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
I advocated last year (I have at least one friend, Hot Doug, who'll back me up) that the Bears sign Chad Hutchinson before they did. And I think that he potentially can still be a good backup. I don't really know about being a real starter in this league.
But I think Da Bearss need a veteran quarterback to come in. Here are the names that are sort of being bandied about:
Vinnie Testaverde: No. Vinnie is too old. He looked not so good at the end of last year. I don't think the Bears need a 40-year-old to come in. They need a veteran, but not of WWII.
Jeff George: No. Though he had some experience with the Bears last year, there is a new offensive coordinator, so some of that advantage is lost. And, he's not had the best history of team play. I don't think Jeff is a bad idea for some teams, necessarily, but not the Bears.
Quincy Carter: No. The Jets didn't want him back. I think Q needs to go to Canada.
Tim Couch: No. The Bears probably can do better. Also, I don't know if Tim's shoulder can take two pratices in a row, much less hold up in game situations. As with Carter, I think you need someone who is ready to step in, but not that old.
Brock Huard: Now we are getting somewhere. But I think he is closer to Chad Hutchinson, and he doesn't have the experience that Hutchinson does. So, he still rates a "no."
Jeff Blake: Here you go. He's the answer if you are looking for a one-year deal. He has a ton of experience, he has been in several "West Coast" offenses, so he should be able to step in. He's a bit long in the tooth, but he should be fresh after not playing much last year. He could step in, help right away, and then you could say "bye-bye."
Shaun King: He's the guy if you want a longer term solution. Without a doubt. The only math I think you need to make is where you think Kyle Orton is, and where you think Chad Hutchinson is. And, I guess for that matter, what you think about Rex Grossman. I think that Orton could be a starter in the NFL. I thought he was the best combination of college QB and pro prosepect as a QB through about eight weeks of the season last year, until he got hurt. I have my doubts about Hutchinson. And I have strong doubts about Rex. So I would sign Shaun King.
So it's Blake or King. Fairly easy call.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Fantasy Football News: QBs list one
Fantasy Football News. Below, please find my first pass, har har, at fantasy QBs for 2005
1 Manning,Peyton IND 8 29/7 399.0
2 Culpepper,Daunte MIN 5 28/5 385.6
3 McNabb,Donovan PHI 6 29/6 366.3
4 Bulger,Marc STL 9 28/3 362.3
5 Vick,Michael ATL 8 25/4 253.2
6 Collins,Kerry OAK 5 32/10 316.0
7 Palmer,Carson CIN 10 25/2 280.9
8 Favre,Brett GB 6 35/14 309.3
9 Hasselbeck,Matt SEA 8 29/6 307.0
10 Green,Trent KC 5 35/8 347.5
11 Brady,Tom NE 7 28/4 293.9
12 Leftwich,Byron JAX 7 25/2 234.1
13 Delhomme,Jake CAR 7 30/4 247.3
14 Brooks,Aaron NO 10 29/5 265.7
15 Plummer,Jake DEN 9 30/8 296.4
16 Brees,Drew SD 10 26/4 251.3
17 Roethlisberger,Ben PIT 4 23/1 218.0
18 Carr,David HOU 3 26/3 223.0
19 Griese,Brian TB 7 30/6 247.2
20 Pennington,Chad NYJ 8 29/4 231.9
21 Boller,Kyle BAL 3 24/2 205.6
22 Grossman,Rex CHI 4 24/2 176.7
23 Warner,Kurt ARI 6 34/6 215.1
24 Manning,Eli NYG 5 24/1 188.9
25 McNair,Steve TEN 10 32/10 194.3
26 Bledsoe,Drew DAL 9 33/12 209.0
27 Losman,J.P. BUF 9 24/1 188.2
28 Harrington,Joey DET 3 26/3 143.0
29 Feeley,A.J. MIA 4 28/2 165.9
30 Ramsey,Patrick WAS 3 26/3 183.8
31 Holcomb,Kelly BUF 9 32/7 34.0
32 Smith,Alex [R] SF 6 R 92.0
33 Dilfer,Trent CLE 4 33/11 138.0
34 Rattay,Tim SF 6 28/4 133.8
35 Garcia,Jeff DET 3 35/6 130.9
36 Volek,Billy TEN 10 29/2 121.1
37 McCown,Josh ARI 6 26/3 40.4
38 Fiedler,Jay NYJ 8 33/7 22.2
39 Brunell,Mark WAS 3 34/11 20.2
40 Hutchinson,Chad CHI 4 28/3 19.8
I'll update this list later.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
1 Manning,Peyton IND 8 29/7 399.0
2 Culpepper,Daunte MIN 5 28/5 385.6
3 McNabb,Donovan PHI 6 29/6 366.3
4 Bulger,Marc STL 9 28/3 362.3
5 Vick,Michael ATL 8 25/4 253.2
6 Collins,Kerry OAK 5 32/10 316.0
7 Palmer,Carson CIN 10 25/2 280.9
8 Favre,Brett GB 6 35/14 309.3
9 Hasselbeck,Matt SEA 8 29/6 307.0
10 Green,Trent KC 5 35/8 347.5
11 Brady,Tom NE 7 28/4 293.9
12 Leftwich,Byron JAX 7 25/2 234.1
13 Delhomme,Jake CAR 7 30/4 247.3
14 Brooks,Aaron NO 10 29/5 265.7
15 Plummer,Jake DEN 9 30/8 296.4
16 Brees,Drew SD 10 26/4 251.3
17 Roethlisberger,Ben PIT 4 23/1 218.0
18 Carr,David HOU 3 26/3 223.0
19 Griese,Brian TB 7 30/6 247.2
20 Pennington,Chad NYJ 8 29/4 231.9
21 Boller,Kyle BAL 3 24/2 205.6
22 Grossman,Rex CHI 4 24/2 176.7
23 Warner,Kurt ARI 6 34/6 215.1
24 Manning,Eli NYG 5 24/1 188.9
25 McNair,Steve TEN 10 32/10 194.3
26 Bledsoe,Drew DAL 9 33/12 209.0
27 Losman,J.P. BUF 9 24/1 188.2
28 Harrington,Joey DET 3 26/3 143.0
29 Feeley,A.J. MIA 4 28/2 165.9
30 Ramsey,Patrick WAS 3 26/3 183.8
31 Holcomb,Kelly BUF 9 32/7 34.0
32 Smith,Alex [R] SF 6 R 92.0
33 Dilfer,Trent CLE 4 33/11 138.0
34 Rattay,Tim SF 6 28/4 133.8
35 Garcia,Jeff DET 3 35/6 130.9
36 Volek,Billy TEN 10 29/2 121.1
37 McCown,Josh ARI 6 26/3 40.4
38 Fiedler,Jay NYJ 8 33/7 22.2
39 Brunell,Mark WAS 3 34/11 20.2
40 Hutchinson,Chad CHI 4 28/3 19.8
I'll update this list later.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Kenny Rogers Gambles, Beats the Bud
Kenny Rogers got his supension for knocking around two camera operators toting heavy equipment reduced from 20 days to 13 days. The fine became a charitable contribution, thus tax deductable. Which is good, 'cause you don't want multimillionaires to pay the same in taxes that a taxi driver pays.
Reading the news, I fully expected outrage from the baseball pundits, saying that this was another case of letting these guys get off easy. Instead, much to my surprise, I saw that Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune (who I am pretty sure is not related to Kenny Rogers) pretty much blasted Bud Selig. Another writer, Mike Celizic of MSNBC, did likewise. What did Bud do wrong?
Rogers writes that Bud was the person who issued the suspension, not baseball vice president in charge of issuing suspensions Bob Watson. Then Bud heard the appeal, which Bud denied.
What Kenny Rogers did was terrible. He acted like a bully. There are other instances of athletes or coaches or celebrities abusing workers doing their jobs whereever the event may be taking place. The stars of sports or the media depend on hundreds of lunchbucket folks such as camera operators, clubhouse attendants, sound engineers, and on and on, to let them bask in the glow and rake in the dough of stardom. Abusing the people who provide the entire support system that allows these people to be multimillionaires really frosts my butt. I thought that the original suspension should have been for more than 20 days.
Bud Selig needs to follow the rules, however. There needs to be some due process. He took over the whole process, grandstanding and letting everyone know that he's tough and not going to take it. Well, there are times that you need to let the process work. And this was one of those times.
Unfortunately, this looks like one of those stories that there is no real satisfactory outcome.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Reading the news, I fully expected outrage from the baseball pundits, saying that this was another case of letting these guys get off easy. Instead, much to my surprise, I saw that Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune (who I am pretty sure is not related to Kenny Rogers) pretty much blasted Bud Selig. Another writer, Mike Celizic of MSNBC, did likewise. What did Bud do wrong?
Rogers writes that Bud was the person who issued the suspension, not baseball vice president in charge of issuing suspensions Bob Watson. Then Bud heard the appeal, which Bud denied.
What Kenny Rogers did was terrible. He acted like a bully. There are other instances of athletes or coaches or celebrities abusing workers doing their jobs whereever the event may be taking place. The stars of sports or the media depend on hundreds of lunchbucket folks such as camera operators, clubhouse attendants, sound engineers, and on and on, to let them bask in the glow and rake in the dough of stardom. Abusing the people who provide the entire support system that allows these people to be multimillionaires really frosts my butt. I thought that the original suspension should have been for more than 20 days.
Bud Selig needs to follow the rules, however. There needs to be some due process. He took over the whole process, grandstanding and letting everyone know that he's tough and not going to take it. Well, there are times that you need to let the process work. And this was one of those times.
Unfortunately, this looks like one of those stories that there is no real satisfactory outcome.
thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
Saturday, August 06, 2005
John Bolton: Who's Call Is It, Anyway?
If lovin' John Bolton is wrong, W don't wanta be right.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/08/02/bolton/index.html
Ian Williams wrote a piece in Salon regarding John Bolton's recess appointment to the U.N. I share in its conclusion that the democrats would be wise to not try to block John Bolton. My reasoning is different, however. Ian Williams says that if the dems were truly partisan, they would rejoice this as a bad thing for the Bush administration.
My reasoning that the democrats should cease the delaying tactics is because the president, I believe, has the right to pick many of the people in the administration, right or wrong. I believe Bolton is wrong, maybe as wrong as you can get, for this particular position. But that's the pres's call. I think the dems are working this to their disadvantage. I don't think the lunchbuckets worry who the U.N. Ambassador is. The dems, trust me, have other things to worry about.
Federal courts, now that's different. Attorney General, that's a closer call. Secretary to the United Nations, even one as fun-loving and open-minded as John Bolton, that's is W's call, even if he is one of the worst candidates that there is. Which he is.
thankyouverymuch,
old cleat
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/08/02/bolton/index.html
Ian Williams wrote a piece in Salon regarding John Bolton's recess appointment to the U.N. I share in its conclusion that the democrats would be wise to not try to block John Bolton. My reasoning is different, however. Ian Williams says that if the dems were truly partisan, they would rejoice this as a bad thing for the Bush administration.
My reasoning that the democrats should cease the delaying tactics is because the president, I believe, has the right to pick many of the people in the administration, right or wrong. I believe Bolton is wrong, maybe as wrong as you can get, for this particular position. But that's the pres's call. I think the dems are working this to their disadvantage. I don't think the lunchbuckets worry who the U.N. Ambassador is. The dems, trust me, have other things to worry about.
Federal courts, now that's different. Attorney General, that's a closer call. Secretary to the United Nations, even one as fun-loving and open-minded as John Bolton, that's is W's call, even if he is one of the worst candidates that there is. Which he is.
thankyouverymuch,
old cleat
Pat Harmon, Sports Editor and Football History Writer, Retires
This is from Fred Mitchell's "Around Town" column in the Chicago Tribune on July 21, 2005:
Pat Harmon, whose career as a sportswriter and editor spanned more than 70 years, has retired as the historian for the National Football Foundation&College Hall of Fame. Harmon began his career in 1933 covering events at age 17 for the Freeport (Ill.) Journal Standard during the Depression. He served as sports editor and columnist for the Cincinnati Post for more than 34 years, starting in 1951. Harmon, who will turn 89 on Sept. 2, covered such greats as Vince Lombardi, Pete Rose, Casey Stengel, Arnold Palmer, Eddie Robinson, John Wooden, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Jack Nicklaus, Woody Hayes, Paul Brown and Joe Louis. Harmon also wrote for the Champaign News-Gazette in 1934 when he became a student at the University of Illinois. He may be known best for inaugurating the selection of All-State high school football and basketball teams in Illinois.
Pat Harmon was one of those guys I wanted to be while growing up in Cincinnati. He was the sports editor for the Post, which was then (and is now) the No. 2 paper in Cincy to the Enquirer. My family had both subscriptions. The Enquirer was a morning paper, and the Post was the afternoon paper. And I used to read both. Especially the sports sections.
Pat was Old School. He covered the Reds before Frank Robinson was on the team, for Pete's sake. He covered Paul Brown as a new (and highly successful) coach in the NFL for the Browns. So by the time I started reading his stuff, he KNEW Frank Robinson and the trade that sent him to the Orioles. He KNEW Paul Brown and the baby Bengals. He was a part of the history.
The below item was all I could find in his old paper, the Cincinnati Post:
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/SPT/507190316/-1/all
MORRISTOWN, N.J.
Football historian Harmon retires
Pat Harmon retired as historian of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
"Pat has dedicated himself to the reporting, researching and publicizing of sports, in particular football, for more than 70 years," NFF chairman Jon F. Hanson said in a statement Monday. "We have been privileged to have an individual with his depth of knowledge as a resource for our organization and the entire nation."
Harmon began his career in 1933, covering events for the Freeport Journal Standard in Illinois at the age of 17. Harmon later spent 34 years at The Cincinnati Post as a sports editor and columnist. He retired in 1986, and began his tenure as NFF historian.
"The job has been wonderful," Harmon, 89, said in the statement. "It's the contact with people that I will miss the most. Every day, I think about something that
I could be doing. But, heck, I am almost 90 years old. It's time to retire."
http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=290
http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=650
Pat Harmon, whose career as a sportswriter and editor spanned more than 70 years, has retired as the historian for the National Football Foundation&College Hall of Fame. Harmon began his career in 1933 covering events at age 17 for the Freeport (Ill.) Journal Standard during the Depression. He served as sports editor and columnist for the Cincinnati Post for more than 34 years, starting in 1951. Harmon, who will turn 89 on Sept. 2, covered such greats as Vince Lombardi, Pete Rose, Casey Stengel, Arnold Palmer, Eddie Robinson, John Wooden, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Jack Nicklaus, Woody Hayes, Paul Brown and Joe Louis. Harmon also wrote for the Champaign News-Gazette in 1934 when he became a student at the University of Illinois. He may be known best for inaugurating the selection of All-State high school football and basketball teams in Illinois.
Pat Harmon was one of those guys I wanted to be while growing up in Cincinnati. He was the sports editor for the Post, which was then (and is now) the No. 2 paper in Cincy to the Enquirer. My family had both subscriptions. The Enquirer was a morning paper, and the Post was the afternoon paper. And I used to read both. Especially the sports sections.
Pat was Old School. He covered the Reds before Frank Robinson was on the team, for Pete's sake. He covered Paul Brown as a new (and highly successful) coach in the NFL for the Browns. So by the time I started reading his stuff, he KNEW Frank Robinson and the trade that sent him to the Orioles. He KNEW Paul Brown and the baby Bengals. He was a part of the history.
The below item was all I could find in his old paper, the Cincinnati Post:
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/SPT/507190316/-1/all
MORRISTOWN, N.J.
Football historian Harmon retires
Pat Harmon retired as historian of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
"Pat has dedicated himself to the reporting, researching and publicizing of sports, in particular football, for more than 70 years," NFF chairman Jon F. Hanson said in a statement Monday. "We have been privileged to have an individual with his depth of knowledge as a resource for our organization and the entire nation."
Harmon began his career in 1933, covering events for the Freeport Journal Standard in Illinois at the age of 17. Harmon later spent 34 years at The Cincinnati Post as a sports editor and columnist. He retired in 1986, and began his tenure as NFF historian.
"The job has been wonderful," Harmon, 89, said in the statement. "It's the contact with people that I will miss the most. Every day, I think about something that
I could be doing. But, heck, I am almost 90 years old. It's time to retire."
http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=290
http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=650
Jim Parker's Stays at Woody's Dorm; NCAA Blows Football History Top
I was saddened to read about the passing of Jim Parker, the legendary Ohio State Buckeye and Baltimore Colt lineman, who was one of the best players in football history.
In reading the obits, I was struck with one in the Baltimore Sun recounting his history as an Ohio State football player. First there was a little item on the weight that he gained. But the bigger item was where he stayed.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.parker19jul19,1,2919229.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
First of all, he gained nearly 100 pounds. Parker was a big lineman for his time. So if he weighed 290 pounds, let's say, he would have had to have been about a 200 pounder as a high school player for the nearly 100 pounds he gained.
But, second of all, he stayed at the head coach's house. How do you think the suits at the NCAA would react to that today? Can you imagine the hubbub that would ensue today? It would be the biggest uproar in football history.
Hard to imagine.
thankyouverymuch,
old cleat
In reading the obits, I was struck with one in the Baltimore Sun recounting his history as an Ohio State football player. First there was a little item on the weight that he gained. But the bigger item was where he stayed.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.parker19jul19,1,2919229.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
"When I'm gone, I'd like to be known as the best offensive lineman that
ever lived," Parker told The Sun in a 2000 interview. "I set that goal as a
college freshman, but I didn't get bodacious about it until later.
"You don't broadcast goals 'til it's all over."
Four years later, Parker had gained nearly 100 pounds and a college football scholarship. At Ohio State, where few blacks lived on campus, he stayed at the home of the late Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes' head coach, who would introduce Parker at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
First of all, he gained nearly 100 pounds. Parker was a big lineman for his time. So if he weighed 290 pounds, let's say, he would have had to have been about a 200 pounder as a high school player for the nearly 100 pounds he gained.
But, second of all, he stayed at the head coach's house. How do you think the suits at the NCAA would react to that today? Can you imagine the hubbub that would ensue today? It would be the biggest uproar in football history.
Hard to imagine.
thankyouverymuch,
old cleat
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Backup Quarterbacks Could Make Gridiron News
Seth Wickersham, a gridiron news writer for ESPN The Magazine, recently wrote in his blog:
“They are the QBs who start the year on the bench or with no expectations and rise up to a Pro Bowl or Super Bowl near you. Here are a quick five who might some about this year.”
Then he listed the following five:
5. Tony Banks, Houston.
4. Gus Frerotte, Miami.
3. Joey Harrington, Detroit.
2. Kyle Boller, Baltimore.
1. Jason Campbell, Washington.
I agree maybe with one of these picks, Tony Banks. Kyle Boller and Joey Harrington are former first-round picks who are starters, for crying out loud. They have to have some expectations, so they don’t count. Gus Frerotte is a former starter who is not really a backup. He is competing for a starting job under a new coach. So he don’t count. And Jason Campbell is a first-round pick this year who is the designated QB of the future for Joe Gibbs and Co. So Campbell don’t count.
My list has five QBs who would really be surprises to lead his team to the playoffs, or to make a Pro Bowl:
5. Todd Bouman, New Orleans. Not the QB of the present or the future. He also could be a third stringer that we never hear from again. But I’ve seen him play, and he can play some QB in the NFL.
4. Tim Hasselbeck, New York Giants. Picture this: Eli’s not getting it done. The Giants don’t have patience. They bring in a Hasselbeck, and he gets it done. I can see it now. Not a pro bowler, but I can see a playoff run behind Timmy.
3. Marques Tuiasosopo, Oakland. Now this would be a real surprise. He is behind Collins, he’s been hurt, and they drafted that Walter kid outta Arizona State, who I really like. But I can see him lofting pass after pass to Moss. And let’s face it: Nobody really knows about San Diego.
2. Anthony Wright, Baltimore. This would surprise the world (well, maybe not the world), but not me. I think Wright may outplay Kyle Boller early in camp. And if Boller struggles during the season, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Wright under center. Athletic, strong arm, pretty darned good team around him, save maybe for the wideouts. What the hell. I could see Wright go far in the playoffs.
1. Kelly Holcolmbe, Buffalo. This is a no-brainer. I think Holcolmbe can flat out get it done. I have no real opinion on J.P. Losman other than I thought it was a terrible waste of picks to get him. Saw him a little in college and wasn’t real impressed. But Holcolmbe can play. Don’t pay attention to some of the crapola that happened in Cleveland. This kid’s a QB. I’m sayin’ he could make the Pro Bowl.
Well, that's the gridiron news for now. thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
“They are the QBs who start the year on the bench or with no expectations and rise up to a Pro Bowl or Super Bowl near you. Here are a quick five who might some about this year.”
Then he listed the following five:
5. Tony Banks, Houston.
4. Gus Frerotte, Miami.
3. Joey Harrington, Detroit.
2. Kyle Boller, Baltimore.
1. Jason Campbell, Washington.
I agree maybe with one of these picks, Tony Banks. Kyle Boller and Joey Harrington are former first-round picks who are starters, for crying out loud. They have to have some expectations, so they don’t count. Gus Frerotte is a former starter who is not really a backup. He is competing for a starting job under a new coach. So he don’t count. And Jason Campbell is a first-round pick this year who is the designated QB of the future for Joe Gibbs and Co. So Campbell don’t count.
My list has five QBs who would really be surprises to lead his team to the playoffs, or to make a Pro Bowl:
5. Todd Bouman, New Orleans. Not the QB of the present or the future. He also could be a third stringer that we never hear from again. But I’ve seen him play, and he can play some QB in the NFL.
4. Tim Hasselbeck, New York Giants. Picture this: Eli’s not getting it done. The Giants don’t have patience. They bring in a Hasselbeck, and he gets it done. I can see it now. Not a pro bowler, but I can see a playoff run behind Timmy.
3. Marques Tuiasosopo, Oakland. Now this would be a real surprise. He is behind Collins, he’s been hurt, and they drafted that Walter kid outta Arizona State, who I really like. But I can see him lofting pass after pass to Moss. And let’s face it: Nobody really knows about San Diego.
2. Anthony Wright, Baltimore. This would surprise the world (well, maybe not the world), but not me. I think Wright may outplay Kyle Boller early in camp. And if Boller struggles during the season, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Wright under center. Athletic, strong arm, pretty darned good team around him, save maybe for the wideouts. What the hell. I could see Wright go far in the playoffs.
1. Kelly Holcolmbe, Buffalo. This is a no-brainer. I think Holcolmbe can flat out get it done. I have no real opinion on J.P. Losman other than I thought it was a terrible waste of picks to get him. Saw him a little in college and wasn’t real impressed. But Holcolmbe can play. Don’t pay attention to some of the crapola that happened in Cleveland. This kid’s a QB. I’m sayin’ he could make the Pro Bowl.
Well, that's the gridiron news for now. thankyouverymuch,
Old Cleat
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