The State of Sports Feb 4th

-Football

-Super Bowl Preview
Im going to be perfectly honest. I really dont care about this Superbowl. I dont care who wins. I dont care who looses. I am getting drunk watching one of the most interesting Super Bowl matchups i've seen in 10 that i've been old enough to see. If there was going to be a least watched Superbowl, id have to say this one will so out-do the Baltimore-Giants game (least-watched game in history).

I've asked several people what they think about this matchup. Some say Pittsburgs defense is too unbelievable not to win this game. Others say Seattles got too good an offense with Hasselback and Alexander. One person said its gonna be a close low-scoring game. Bosoxguy has said four times that the final score will be 34-17. The pro-sports beat writer for my school newspaper said, "Supporting either one of these teams would be like saying that I support mediocrity." And I couldn't agree with Rudzi more.

You have Pittsburg, the team that everyone wrote off when they were bottom seeded and even lucky to get a wild-card spot. As though they destined to be in the Super Bowl, they beat Cincinati because Carson Palmer got injured, they beat Indianapolis because Payton Manning shit the bed, and they beat Denver because they stopped the running game. Pittsburg is also coached by Bill Cower. Man can this man make a photograph. The man could break the camera if it had a lens in it.


But, can he coach a football team. Among one of the most sucessful in the last ten years of the AFC, he has drafted well. He in the last three drafts he has drafted Heath Miller, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu in the first round. Miller, a top TE from Virgina, has done an excellent job not only blocking in a run first offense, but spreading the defense thin with his passing threat down the middle. Roethlisberger, last years rookie of the year, has proven time and time again he can be a force. His two year quarterback record is 26-6. Polamalu has long hair. I cant think of any other person who just might make the NFL have a hair rule next year. Not only that but he has helped lead this defense to give up 86 yards per game (3rd NFL ranked).

I give props to Seattle. One of the most consistent teams over the course of the season, they carry one of the most potent offenses in the league. Led by former BC quarterback Matt Hasselback, he knows how to spread the ball around. If he doesnt get the job done, then NFL MVP Shaun Alexander will get the job done. And just like that, you have an offense that rivals that of the AFC tandem of Edgerin James, and Payton Manning. It's scary how this team has put up points (28.3) and yards (369.7) over the course of the season, being in the top two of both categories.

I have been saying for the past two weeks that Seattles got a very good offense and mediocre defense. I think that Pittsburgs got a good defense, but they are shaky on offense. This equals for a close game. I think Seattles got the intangibles, and thats who im picking. This should make for one of the most interesting/least watched superbowls ever.

Meanwhile, I will enjoy watching the plethra of commericals that I am always impressed with. I will also enjoy the Rolling Stones halftime show. I sure hope they do "Miss You." I friggen love that song.

-Random Notes of Note:
-I try and be bold last Tuesday. I make a comment/post on The Away Teams blog after I try to attempt to answer a comment made about the catcher situation, and I get blasted. The other two members of the blog more-less copy an opinion of what Gammons said a month ago. I was being the random idiot that ive always been, but I think that my comment was rudly cast aside like a caller who doesnt know what they are talking about on WEEI. I may not subscribe to the RSS Service like other bloggers on this site, but I have continue to have valid and good opinions about sports in general. I may be random, but please if you dont like anything I have to say, dont toss it aside.

-If you would like to check out this weeks sports section of "The Comment" (my school newspaper) online, here is the link. I have three articles, the interview with Derek Thompson is good, and the superbowl preview is priceless. But unlike every online college newspaper you have to register, so buyer beware.

-The Sox deal with Gonzalez is interesting because they can still cut him if he doesnt make the squad. If an all-star caliber defense shortstop is makes a contract with the Red Sox and doesnt make the squad because hes getting replaced by someone internally, man would that be interresting.

The State of Sports Jan 30th

-College Basketball

-BC finally beats Georgia Tech
It was one of those games where it was close the entire game. Just when you thought they would pull away and win by a slim lead, GT would just bounce right back into it. It was among the most sloppyest games ive seen BC play this season, and I wish they would play a lot more consistently. A game that started out bad from the beginning with both teams had a combined 9 turnovers, in 4 minutes of play, and one free throw scored by Jared Dudley. But they hung on for the victory, and thats the important thing.

One thing that I think really kills a team is turnovers. BC had 19, and GT had 20. I think Georgia could have beaten them by a lot more, had BC not played a decent defense. I think the BC defense got streched too thin at lots of points. They gave up the easy layup and the three pointer, from college range. This allowed GT to get back into the game, even when BC clearly had the game won, with 3-4 minutes to go.

One of the things I do like, however, was the press breaker that BC ran to stop the 2-3 zone full-court press that GT ran. GT was just forcing BC to make bad throws and mental errors, but they showed a lot of poise and got easy layups and created mismatches. The other thing that Eagle pointed out, was that Craig Smith had a good game, and he is just playing so consistently for them right now. Smith was 9-9 from the floor, had 13 rebounds, and 23 points on the game. One of BC's other strenghts is knowing how to score baskets by getting guys in the post, when a team plays a good zone defense on you. They were 2-12 (0-8 in 2nd half) from the three point range, and I give a lot of credit to BC for scoring points, the other way.

BC needs to play their best defense, they cant afford to make turnovers, or other mistakes if they want to beat Duke. I cant wait to read Eagles preview on what the keys to game are in this game. He follows and watches BC like a die-hard, and hes always got good points that I dont think twice about, when it comes to BC Basketball. After Duke, BC should have challenges with VT and Wake Forest (both 1-6 in ACC), and then they have Clemson, who almost beat NC State yesterday.

BC has definately stepped it up though. After dropping consecutive losses to GT and NC State, BC has won five in a row. They went from a 0-3 hole in the ACC to 4-3. I think they can play a lot better than they have and at least finish the season strong with a 4-5 seed in the ACC tournament. It should be an interresting week.

Random Thoughts:
-Mike Riess reports on his blog that Bill Belichick will be a pre-game analyst for Super Bowl XL (40 if you dont know roman numerals). I think this a great move for ABC because who tunes into the pre-game show. Last year I watched the game with my good friends at Northeastern. An hour before the game, they had musical guests on. When they announced that they were going to be Kelly Clarkson, Charlie Daniels, and John Fogerty, my friend Danny remarked "Whos John Fogerty?" My other friend Andrew then says to his suitemate, "Hey want to play some Madden?" And they switched off the pre-game.

I think adding Belichick as an analyst for this pre-game might boost the ratings up slightly. I still want to read the "Education of a Coach" book, by David Halberstam. Im still waiting for it to come out in paperback

-If your one of those people that doesnt know whats going on with the Coco Crisp deal, check out the Globe's Extra Bases blog. I think its a good wrap up, and has very good content thats been published over the weekend. I also liked reading Gammons this weekend. I was talking to my sports editor for the paper, and pretty much blew him off, because I was reading Gammons while talking to him on AIM.

-Olney makes a good point this afternoon, as lots of money was spent on middle relief this winter. I believe Gammons once said that "so many games are won and lost in the 7th or 8th inning, because you dont have a consistent setup man to set the stage for the closer to close out and win the ball game for you." I think this is the trend in baseball today. If a baseball francise wants to be competitive today you need a good middle relief-setup man in the bullpen.
-Olney has a chart that says that teams spent $232,215,000 on 47 total contract years for relievers compared to $265,425,000 and 34 total contract years for starters. While it was a small market for free agents this year, and both starting and relief pitchers really collected on money this year, teams focused on strengthening their relief corps. Especially when you dont have several pitchers leading the league in complete games with anywhere from 20-30 games. Pitch counts are watched religiously by pitching coaches in baseball today.

I liked his point, and I look forward to the many articles that ESPN will publish on the subject of middle relief this year.

-The Padres have reportedly signed future hall of fame catcher Mike Piazza to a two million dollar deal. I thought this was interesting because of the way that it was done. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Towers had his eye on Piazza then, but decided to wait and see when the time was right. I remember not even seeing Piazza's name in the list of interrested suitors, and the Padres werent on that list. Being subtle and quiet is the way to go sometimes. Its tricky, and its just so devilish. Towers played the right card here.

The terms of his contract allow for Piazza to have more control over where he bats. He is best suited for the #4 clean up spot, that last year, generated the most offense for the Padres. (.279, 19 homers, and 97 RBI's; Piazza was .261, with 19 homers and 62 RBI's total). The Padres are hurting for offense. The Dodgers look to contend with their revamped offense with Nomar, and Bill Mueller and the Giants with Barry Bonds returning all look to contend in that division. The Padres are in desperate need of offense and pitching, and it gives them an added advantage they really need.

Piazza, a veteran catcher, should give them solid numbers from the cleanup position, and leverage helping out a rotation that is young. Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and Shawn Estes should benifit from having the tandem of Doug Mirabelli and Mike Piazza. This also might have an impact on Chan Ho Park and his overpaid contract of 15 million dollars. Park has not had a good year since 2001.

The State of Sports Jan 29th

Baseball

-Sox on free TV
Once again the Sunday Globe knows how to hit home. Shaugnessy's article writes about one of those things you look forward to every friday. Friday Night Baseball! Every Friday night I would turn off the radio and just sit back and watch some baseball (much to my little sisters dismay) in the living room, before anyone would get home. If I was old enough to drink, id be drinking beers, too. Man would it be heaven. But Shaugnessy brings up a very important point, What about the people that dont have cable?

Ever since the third grade, when I told kids that I didnt have cable at home, they said I was nuts. In fact, people still think my dads on drugs when I tell people I live without the Internet at home. But, my family is in the majority of people in this New England region that dont have cable. The only time I get to even see a Red Sox game live is when either I am there, or when im at school watching NESN up here. So, now all I have are the random games that will be broadcasted on Fox with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. McCarver, by the way, is one of the worst analysts that I am forced to listen to on the air. He says the dumbest things, is a clear and biased Yankees fan (not that thats a bad thing), and his contract shouldnt be renewed.

There is only one article announcing that the Sox would no longer be broadcasting the games on public television. The Worcester Telegram and Gazette quotes the president of NESN, Sean McGrail as saying that it is a "natural progression." "The games of more than 30 other pro sports teams are televised exclusively on cable," so maybe it just makes sense. Also, McGrail says "a low single-digit percentage of viewers don't subscribe to cable or satellite TV." The reporter then asks the question "what about those die hard Red Sox fans who dont subscribe?" McGrails response: "One hundred and 26 of them or so were on NESN last year. How much of a diehard fan were you if you didn't watch all those games?"

The bottom line is its a business. You try to make a lot of money for the highest revenue possible. Obviously the people at NESN really dont care about the people who can't watch, or cant afford to watch the Red Sox on TV. It's a damned shame that you now are forced to choose to pay the heating bill or watch the best team in baseball on live cable.

Someone should have a petition online to petition the people at NESN. Thousands of people who dont have access to cable should be able to say how they feel on this matter. If I knew how to build a website, I would do it. I would even fund the project. I would stand on a soapbox and let my voice be heard, along with anyone else who is out there with me.

I just hope it isnt a small number.