Abbott Lines, 7/14 (PM) - 7/15
I remember Packer taking notes at one of those sessions, walking out late one night and saying essentially, “I’m not going to be guilty of this anymore.” And very quickly the language that so offended many of us was eliminated from his analysis. Not reduced, not lessened . . . gone. More than 12 years ago in this space I marveled that Packer had called Syracuse’s Lawrence Moten (who is black) “one of the most sophisticated players in recent years in college basketball.” I about died. Fairness became the rule with Packer when it came to race, not the exception. It’s why John Thompson, among others, defended Packer’s new record when he called Georgetown’s Allen Iverson “a tough monkey” during a broadcast.
Personally, I’d grown much more annoyed with Packer’s recent crusades against mid-major college basketball teams, particularly in light of George Mason’s run to the Final Four in 2006, and his refusal to note the incredible advantage in resources enjoyed by the big-time basketball powers. But I’m certainly not ready to agree with the SportingNews.com critic, Dan Shanoff, who wrote that Packer “wasn’t just a curmudgeon; he was joyless, which made listening to him excruciating. His ouster is a great day for college hoops fans.” ~ Michael Wilbon, Washington Post, Packer, A Pro in the College Game, 7/15
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It’s been only two years since guard Alan Faneca threw the block that sprung Willie Parker on a tide-turning, 75-yard touchdown run in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 Super Bowl win against the Seattle Seahawks.
Two years since tailback Jerome Bettis and linebacker Joey Porter provided the emotional fuel that propelled the team to its fifth title.
Two years since coach Bill Cowher finally hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after chasing it for 14 seasons.
Now all of these championship pillars, save Parker, have taken a bow and hit the road; Parker’s merely looking at the prospect of going from leading man to a co-starring role.
Yes, the times they are a changing in the Steel City, not exactly typical for Pittsburgh fans who have enjoyed so much stability for the better part of 40 years. Not only is there turmoil in the team’s ownership that could force the team out of the Rooney family’s control for the first time in generations, but depending on how some positional battles unfold, the Steelers could have 10 new starters from the Super Bowl XL team. ~ Nate Davis, USA Today, As change comes for Steelers, can winning ways be saved?, 7/14
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Those are some of the reasons given to why the 49ers have been so bad on offense the past three years, with rankings of 32nd, 26th and 32nd out of the 32 NFL teams.
But a light went on while thumbing through my latest issue of SI. In the July 14-21 edition, there is an 11-page feature, “Big Bucks In Sports.”
On page 45 is a breakdown of how NFL teams spent their money in 2007. According to SI, the 49ers spent a higher percentage of their salary cap on defense than all but three teams in the league at 53.45 percent. Only the Titans (57.73), Panthers (55.52) and Ravens (54.31) spent more on defense.
Could this be the reason the 49ers’ offense has been so bad? It sure makes sense to me. ~ Matt Maiocco, Santa Rosa Press Democrat / INSTANT 49ers, Another theory why 49ers’ offense has been so bad (hint: it’s all about money), 7/14
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Let’s forget for a second that all defending champions denied a chance to defend, and I’ll even look past the fact that [Rick Reilly] didn’t know that non-All Star Game participants aren’t invited. He seriously decided to drop nonsense like this throughout the broadcast. I don’t know how many times he said the word heroin in regards to Josh Hamilton, and while it’s the truth, it just begs of a desperate man searching for an angle on-air. Just a bad decision to have him on the broadcast….send him to England for the British Open now please.
Also, the Karl Ravech “Interesting Concept” line is just about the funniest thing I’ve heard in awhile. ~ Awful Announcing, Rick Reilly Questions The Ethnic Makeup Of The Home Run Derby, 7/15 (click through for video)
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As he watches Jason Giambi morph from pariah to hero, being feted with mustache day at Yankee Stadium in support of a failed All-Star candidacy, Bonds has to be thinking, “You mean, all I had to do was say I did it.” …
While Giambi has become a media darling, Bonds, the greatest home run hitter of our time, can’t get a job.
Why, with so many major league teams desperate for help, is Bonds being boycotted? The pat answer is the so-called baggage Bonds might bring. …
Why were the Yankees passing out Giambi mustaches — to adults and children — in honor of an admitted drug cheat? So fans could stuff the ballot and get Giambi on the All-Star team. What’s the message here? That you can do wrong and make it right — after you’re busted — by groveling, granting media access, begging for mercy by playing ball with the powers that be? Then you, too, can get back. …
Bonds has to do a complete media makeover, and he’s fully capable: smiles, charm, gratitude and home runs. Lots of home runs.
In no time, he’ll have a mustache day of his own. ~ Will Rhoden, New York Times, Cheers for Giambi, but Silence for Bonds, 7/12
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Got any good lines from your favorite writer or blog—or maybe your own? Send them over.
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