The Morning After: January 26, 2009
There are those of us who will say there were no sports to speak of this weekend. I have several links to prove you wrong. You may look at these links and say to me that the links I provided were largely linked to sports that no one talks about. If I look at the weekend traffic here at Sparty and Friends and compare it to those weekends when we had college football as well as “paid to play” football games on from sun up to sun down – I would largely have to agree with you.
So for all of the tormented souls out there who didn’t get their sports fix this weekend… let me be the first to welcome you to Super Bowl Week. You get your fill of the biggest event in sports on tap for the next 150 hours or so before kick off. More on this in a little while after the jump…
To start with though we gotta bring up Joe Torre and The Yankee Years… a soon to be released third person narrative about Torre’s years with the Yanks. There are so many links and so many opinions,I would be remiss to leave any of them out… but alas I can’t get to all of them. Hopefully this has been enough of a sampling of the stories out there so you can get your fill. I dont know what else can be said about the subject. And I thought being a Cubs fan was a soap opera.
Apologies to one of our fine authors that goes by Mizerle for leading with baseball – I’ll make it up to you by talking NFL for a minute… specifically, your Tennessee Titans and Jeff Fisher’s little rumor that is leaking regarding VY sitting another year in favor of Kerry Collins… remember when VY and Matt Leinart were “can’t miss” pros?
Eric Mangini…made his career on being a Belichick spinoff… had an okay year, made a ton of money, and got a new job becuse he parlayed Brett Favre’s interceptions into a scapegoat excuse for the Jets failure and his subsequent firing. He hasn’t done anything in the NFL but now gets to pick his GM?
I really like Phil Jackson and don’t care if you don’t agree with me. Jackson took Doug Collins’ Bulls and turned them into Champs. He took Del Harris’ Lakers and turned them into Champs. If he wasn’t a great coach – he wouldn’t have done either – 11 trips to the NBA finals = nine titles…..and now a few questions with Magic.
Speaking of the Lakers – they crushed the Spurs (watching the late night replay now). GITC will be around later to recap the NBA – but here is a link to the weekend scoreboard to get you through until then. In case you scanned over the Laker slurping and missed the first link – be sure to check this out sometime today… Oh and Michael Redd is out for the year with a torn ACL and MCL.
The NHL All Star Game went to a shootout after an 11-11 tie in regulation before the East prevailed.
While we are on fringe sports – the X Games closed out last night. Shawn White is a stud. Someone here at S&F kept talking about talking about this….maybe I will go to Summer X and get you some photos…thats the best I can do. (GITC Note: There will be a very comprehensive X-Games Wrap Up coming later with many awesome videos. Stay tuned.)
Tennis Update: Sergio Garcia Rafael Nadal advances… Federer too. In fact, here are the story lines to get you through from yesterday and today so far.
Tiger didn’t play golf this weekend – but Pat Perez did. Remember I told you about him Friday. Well Perez turned his record setting performance into his first PGA tour win.
Was this shown over the weekend? If so – some of you may wanna watch it again anyways. Poor Chase Budinger. I’d be pissed too…
Speaking of piss… did Kirk Radomski really pee for Doc Gooden? As ridiculous as that may sound…to me – this is 100 times more ridiculous… and almost as ridiculous as this.
As promised… 150 hours of SB coverage start now. Here are some of the BS stories we will be monitoring between now and next Sunday.
Enjoy your morning – and thanks for hanging out at Sparty and Friends.
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First!
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i think the pistons may be done.
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I used to be one of those guys that thought VY was a “can’t miss” because of his versatility. I thought he could learn to become a better thrower and combine that potential with the sheer athleticism he brought to the table and become a franchise QB for the Titans.
it’s clear to me now that VY is going nowhere with this team; maybe another team would be better. if the two choices are Collins vs. VY, I fully support Collins > VY.
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same with the Grizz, sparty. I think they’ve let their chance for playing for the Association’s championship slip through their fingers.
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miz-
I heard Greeny make a joke the day after they fired Mark Ivaroni. It went something like “The Memphis Grizzlies have fired Mark Ivanori from the position of head coach because he was clearly the only thing holding them back from setting the rest of the NBA ablaze.”
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Oh, and as far as NFL QBs go…
me > VY
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Woo Hoo! Lakers!
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the Grizz are what I like to call “decision challenged” in that they can’t seem to make a decision and then stick with said decision. and gitc, it’s true; Iavaroni was the only thing holding the Grizz back from that championship. clearly, franshise history should show that they’ve never won a championship with Iavaroni at the helm.
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I remember everyone saying how stupid Houston was for not taking bush, leinart or young….
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VY was supposed to be the second coming of Vick, without the dogs.
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The Pistons are done? Can we have Rip then?
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If the Magic get Rip somebody other than DHo might play defense. Not allowed.
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Trey- sure, for D-Ho
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sounds like a deal to me. somebody call the gm’s and let ‘em know.
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Good luck with that.
We already foolishly let one dominant big man go…it ain’t happening again.
GITC – you saying we can’t play D? The numbers aren’t THAT bad.
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I don’t think Rip would go anywhere, but do you think AI will move before the deadline?
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the last two games are the perfect example as to why Rip should be the starter and not AI.
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no, Iverson stays. Dumars won’t make any deal with a big name.
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i haven’t looked at the stats, but from the little I have read and heard, Orlando’s defense is supposedly a lot better than last years.
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OK, then do they just let his contract expire then, or {gulp} resign him?
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he is gone after the season.
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The Pistons are saving up for Lebron…But that’s gonna be tough. Lebron stays in Cleveland
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they are saving up for 1 or 2 players from that class. i would take Yao and Stoudamire.
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godspeed.
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Yao and Amare? Good luck with that.
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so, how bout that Joe Torre?
Not sure why everyone is so surprised by the content about A-Rod in this book
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i was wishing on a star…
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I just wonder how the Dodgers players and front office will react to Torre now.
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Ya, but I’ve heard the criticism of A-Rod in the book isn’t what the media has made it. And he qualifies it and kinda backs out in the end.
it’s not some shocking tell all grip like Juiced is.
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When Norm Chow (who was the Titans OC at the time) passed on Leinhart in favor of VY, I figured Leinhart would be a bust. If the guy who knew him best heading into the draft didn’t even want him, he probably was going to suck. I figured Bush would be a bust (without LenDale he isn’t as good), but I actually believed VY would be a solid pro.
The Texans could not be more right in drafting Mario Williams. Now, they should re-hire the GM, with an apology and back pay for making the right but unpopular decision.
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natsfan- i never had much hope for VY. I am just not a big fan of a QB that has the inclination to run first then pass. The thing about QBs like Cunningham, Young and Tarkenton, is that they used their legs so that they could buy more time for themselves. if they still couldn’t get the pass off, then they ran.
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natsfan – word out of Nashvegas was that Chow wanted Leinart really bad but Bud Adams, the owner, wanted the Texas boy VY. Owner trumped O-coord.
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Hmm, I think we just had the least competitive week of FBB.
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fantasy NBA is stoopid.
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Hey, LA fans are used to coaches disclosing “locker room” conversations. We forgave Phil for his tell all book.
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john-
My good. I mean, your bad.
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Uhh…you played 7 more games than me.
FBB Quantity > FBB Quality
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i had a bad week. camby and horford being out killed me.
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Randy Lerner is the worst NFL owner, and that is including Jerry Jones and Al Davis. The Browns aren’t going to win more than 5 games next season.
An acquaintance of mine was the director of player personnel and was scouting at the Senior Bowl when he got canned Friday.
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With LeBron, the Browns should be good for at least 8 wins.
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I thought Wrestlemania wasn’t until April? Oh wait, that’s the biggest event in sports entertainment. My bad.
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/ sorry to hear about your friend.
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NEW POST.
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Mangenius only makes good hires, because he’s Mangenius. I’m sure this new GM is just as genius as Mangenius.
/genius’d
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john-
You’re a genius.
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Totally agree with you. It’s frusterating that I don’t get enough credit for this.
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