Category: Sports

Will Penn State prompt change in college culture?

Posted by dcrim – November 23, 2011

The Christian Science Monitor, in an editorial, notes that the NCAA will “examine” Penn State’s loss of control over its sports program following the sex and coverup scandal. But it says the NCAA needs a robust solution to break the culture of sports dominance in colleges.

The newspaper concludes:

Individuals who have been charged will be held responsible in a court of law. But Penn State and the NCAA need to break a culture that serves an institution first instead of the values its stands for.

Click here for the editorial.

Making a sad story even sadder, the New York Times reports Victim 1, according to friends and others, was taunted by classmates after it became widely known this month that he had testified against Sandusky as part of a case that ultimately caused Joe Paterno, the longtime football coach at Penn State, to lose his job. Click here for the story.

Politico and The Daily Beast offer analysis of the CNN GOP presidential debate.

A look at baseball’s ‘perfect knight’ on his 91st birthday

Posted by dcrim – November 21, 2011

Happy birthday to Stan “The Man” Musial, who turns 91 today. A new book published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch chronicles the life and career of Musial, the Cardinals Hall of Fame outfielder, and Quincy native Rick Hummel — a Hall of Famer himself — talks about Musial and the new book in this video clip.

Musial was a great Cardinals All-star player and a great sportsman who made St. Louis his home. Hummel and former teammate Red Schoendienst share their memories of “The Man” in this video clip.

Was Matheny the smart way for the Cardinals to go?

Posted by dcrim – November 14, 2011

The Cardinals reportedly will make it official later this morning that Mike Matheny will be their new manager, replacing Tony La Russa. Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers these 10 thoughts on the hire.

Good move or bad move? Your thoughts are welcome.

Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins (new name, new stadium, new manager, higher payroll) reportedly have made an offer to free agent first baseman Albert Pujuols. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com takes a look at where Pujols and Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder may end up this winter, and the twist and turns their contract negotiations may take in this analysis.

Where will Pujols end up?

Memo to Penn State students: This isn’t about football

Posted by dcrim – November 10, 2011

Penn State fired football coach Joe Paterno Wednesday night in the wake of the horrific sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky. The firing of the winningest coach in major college football history sent angry students into the streets where they shouted support for Paterno and tipped over a news van, creating a surreal scene.

Writes Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com: Finally, adults with backbones and courage made a prudent decision at Penn State. Paterno was fired because he failed miserably while making the biggest decision of his life. Click here for the full story.

Notes Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com: It is a sad and stunning end to a 20th-century American success story. An Italian-American kid from Brooklyn grew up to become one of the most influential figures in American sports. He supped with Presidents. He transformed a university. And a career that should be celebrated is sullied instead. Click here for the story.

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says Paterno got what he deserved. Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle writes that Paterno failed Penn State more than any coach has failed any school.

The students? Their disturbing actions are detailed here and here. The first questions that pops to mind: Where was their outrage for the eight boys who allegedly were molested? C’mon. Football coach, icon or not, or one of the most disgusting stories of our time? Seems like these future leaders have their priorities out of whack. Maybe they should take the time to read the grand jury report.

On the political front, one question that emerged from Wednesday night’s GOP presidential debate: Is Texas Gov. Rick Perry now officially toast? Click here and here to see what insiders think.

Story of alleged sexual abuse disgusting on every level

Posted by dcrim – November 8, 2011

There is nothing more disgusting than bringing harm of any kind to a child. A close second is doing nothing about it — other than “going through the chain of command,” which is political speak for covering your own butt —  when learning about potential harm.

The story about former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, seen above, is revolting in every way. That university personnel did little once allegations of sexual abuse by Sandusky were made nearly a decade ago is equally insidious. It already has cost two Penn State officials their jobs, and they still face perjury charges.

The Pennsylvania attorney general and the state police commissioner excoriated Penn State officials for failing over 15 years to alert the authorities to possible sexual abuse of young boys by Sandusky. The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News is calling for school President Graham Spanier and head fooball coach Joe Paterno to resign in this editorial.

Michael Tomasky, writing for the Daily Beast, admits that Paterno has been a great man. He is the winningest big-time college football coach in history, and his name is on the school’s library, not an athletic facility. But his failure to bring a rapist to justice has ruined his reputation for good. Click here for the story.

Meanwhile, Frank Bruni of the New York Times says parents should also remain conscious of an additional lesson suggested by the Penn State story because institutions do an awful job of policing themselves. Click here for the column.

The whole thing makes the 2001 book, “Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story,” a sad, ironic title. Now it seems like Penn State is laying the groundwork for Paterno’s departure.

BTW, nobody cares about Saturday’s game against Nebraska.

Mizzou taking giant leap in moving to SEC

Posted by dcrim – November 7, 2011

It’s official: Missouri is heading to the SEC. And after watching LSU and Alabama slug it out through 60 minutes and overtime Saturday night, it’s difficult to see how Mizzou — which gave up 42 points and lost to Baylor — is going to compete in the country’s toughest football league.

Ivan Maisel ESPN.com puts an exclamation point on that line of thinking.

And now the Tigers, visions of long-term security in their heard, are stepping up their level of competition. The Tigers are like the Midwestern executive who takes a job in New York because it pays more. Only when he gets to Manhattan and discovers the price of rent and groceries does he understand that the rise in pay will include a decline in the standard of living.

Click here for the full story.

ESPN’s Big 12 blogger David Ubben says the Big 12 is to blame for the defections of Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M and now Mizzou.

One casualty will apparently be the rivalry between Missouri and Kansas. And some people are not happy about it.

Jeff Gordon provides a sampling of what other experts are saying about the move.

Who will make first managerial move: Cubs or Cardinals?

Posted by dcrim – November 3, 2011

A Thursday morning sprint around the sporting world:

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune have the same man as the top choice as the next manager for the Cardinals and Cubs. (Hint: It’s not Ryne Sandberg.) Meanwhile, the Tribune offers 11 possibilities to replace Mike Quade as the Cubs skipper.

(Interesting note: Since 1965, four men have managed 91.5 percent of the Cardinals’ games — Red Schoendienst, Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre and Tony La Russa. Two are in the Hall of Fame, and the other two will be. Meanwhile, the Cubs have employed 26 managers — or 27, if you count Joey Amalfitano’s two stints.)

Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated lists the top 50 free agents in baseball, while Joe Posnanski detail’s the worst 10 contracts in the game. And here is an offseason look at the National League Central Division.

Jeff Gordon notes that Mizzou will have to make some big changes once it moves to the SEC.

Best 9-9-9 plan? Runs Cards score in next three games

Posted by dcrim – October 12, 2011

The Daily Beast assesses what seems to be the Republicans’ debate of the week here, but we’re in the midst of the baseball playoffs, and the only deficit we’re concerned about is the one Milwaukee should be in after three games in St. Louis.

As the Cardinals and Brewers prepare to play Game 3 of the NLCS tonight in Busch Stadium, Jayson Stark of ESPN takes a look back at Game 2 and the performance of Albert Pujols.

It’s still Albert Pujols’ world. The St. Louis Cardinals are just playing in it. They don’t know for how much longer. They couldn’t tell you how many gazillions of dollars it will take to keep the guy from doing this stuff for somebody else’s team next year. All they know is, they’re now back even in the National League Championship Series, at a game apiece. And they owe it to You Know Who.

Click here for the story.

Meanwhile, Theo Epstein, the general manager of the Boston Red Sox for two championship teams in the last eight seasons, could be on his way to the Chicago Cubs in the next day or two if the Red Sox and Chicago can conclude negotiations. Someone should remind Epstein that the Cubs haven’t won since Japan lost.

Also in Boston, recently canned Terry Francona was distracted by marital issues and his use of pain medication last season, a team source told the Boston Globe, an allegation the former Red Sox manager denied.

On the Cardinals, Mizzou to the SEC and Yankees’ flameout

Posted by dcrim – October 7, 2011

Notes and quotes from the sports world heading into the weekend:

• The Phillies and the Cardinals are both throwing their ace in a winner-take-all playoff game. It doesn’t get any better than that. The loser has no complaints. And let’s be honest: Did anyone expect the Cardinals to still be playing?

• It’s nice that Missouri is flexing a little muscle and making the shot-callers in the Big 12 squirm, but the Tigers don’t belong in the SEC.

Mizzou’s rebirth in football has been due, in part, to the two-division setup in the Big 12 and the ability to recruit Texas. The Tigers played Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska every year, and only had to take on Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State twice every four years. There won’t be any cupcakes on an SEC schedule, and the recruiting advantage vanishes once that move is made.

The Big Ten makes more sense if MU wants a new home, but it doesn’t appear that conference is interested. And the SEC is no slam-dunk, either. Click here for the story.

• It’s always interesting to see how the New York tabloids react when the Yankees flame out in the playoffs, which happened for the fifth time in 10 years Thursday night. The story of a retired NYPD officer’s wife being acquitted of his murder seems to have softened the shots at the Yankees, though

‘… I also love the easy opening can’

Posted by dcrim – August 4, 2011

Former NFL star Bubba Smith, who went from feared defensive end on the field to endearing giant in his successful second career as an actor, died Wednesday. He was 66.

Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter said Smith was found dead at his Baldwin Hills home. Winter said he didn’t know the circumstances or cause of death. Police spokesman Richard French added the death does not appear to be suspicious.

The top overall pick in the 1967 draft after a sensational career at Michigan State (Spartans fans used to chant “Kill, Bubba, Kill”), the 6-foot-7 Smith spent five seasons with the Baltimore Colts and two seasons each with Oakland and Houston. He won the 1971 Super Bowl with the Colts. He went on to pitching Miller Lite beer and playing officer Moses Hightower in the “Police Academy” series.