Having worked at Madison Square Garden in the 90's (Van Gundy and Pat Ewing era), it saddens me to see the Garden these days.
Back then, the ticket was hot and the electricity in the arena was powerful especially when MJ came to town!
Unfortunately, the Knicks have become a joke and it is sad that the powers that be don't seem to care.
For any NY Knicks fan, the phrase "wishing for the good old days" has never been more appropriate.
Enjoy the article below by Dave Anderson of the NY Times. He is one of my favorite writers. (NY Times link is at end of article)
Gswede
---------
February 24, 2008
Sports of The Times
Better Days for the Knicks? Dream On
By DAVE ANDERSON
I had a dream the other night, a dream that was too good to be true.
I was in an otherwise empty Madison Square Garden that was set up for a Knicks game, only me and a rumpled little man sitting in the front row who looked like James L. Dolan, the cable guy, and he was babbling about what he had finally decided to do about his alleged professional basketball team.
“I’m returning the New York franchise to the National Basketball Association,” he said. “As of now, the Knicks no longer exist.”
I was tempted to tell him that the Knicks have not really existed for several seasons, not the Knicks that New York knew and loved, the Knicks of Red Holzman and Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett and Earl Monroe that won two championships, or even the Knicks of Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, Allan Houston and Larry Johnson that twice went to the finals. But he kept babbling.
“As of now the Knicks no longer exist,” he repeated.
I told him that a pro basketball franchise and a team can’t simply cease to exist in the middle of the season.
“I don’t care. I’m canceling the rest of the season.”
You mean you’re forfeiting the remaining games?
“Home and away,” he said. “Anybody who bought tickets for any of those games will get refunds. Home and away.”
•
What happens to the players?
“I’ll pay them whatever millions remain on their contracts for whatever number of years, and they’ll be free to go anywhere else.
“If any other team wants them,” he added, with a smirk.
“The last time I watched them play, whatever five guys were on the court, they looked like they were five strangers we had hired off Eighth Avenue that night. No teamwork on offense, no rebounds, no defense.”
What happens to the assistants?
“The assistant coaches and everybody in the front office get all the money that’s coming to them, too.”
What happens to Isiah?
“Who’s Isiah?” he said.
Isiah Thomas, your coach and president for basketball operations.
“Oh, that Isiah.”
Yes, that Isiah.
“I thought Isiah was his last name. When all those fans were yelling, ‘Fire Isiah,’ I thought they were cheering for him. I thought Fire was his first name.”
But what happens to Isiah?
“He’s on the Cablevision payroll now. I thought about using him as a repairman, but that’s what I thought I was getting when I hired him to fix the Knicks more than four years ago. If he couldn’t fix the Knicks, I doubt he could fix somebody’s cable TV if it’s not working. So maybe I’ll just let him work off the rest of his contract as a consultant.”
Will you consult him?
“Not if I can help it.”
Does all this mean that there won’t be a New York franchise in the N.B.A. next season?
“No, somebody probably will buy the New York franchise by then.”
In returning the franchise to the N.B.A., does that mean you’re putting the Knicks up for sale?
“Not me.”
Then who?
“Commissioner David Stern told me he’s willing to broker the sale. When we didn’t settle that sexual-harassment case before it went to trial and we lost, eventually settling it for $11.5 million, he said that the Knicks were ‘not a model of intelligent management.’ Imagine that. Doesn’t he know that Cablevision is a billion-dollar business?”
But on your watch, the Knicks have been nowhere near as successful as Cablevision?
“Let me remind you that, according to Forbes magazine, the Knicks, with a net worth of $608 million, are pro basketball’s most valuable franchise.”
But that $608 million hasn’t bought a playoff berth in what will be seven seasons, much less a championship.
“Playoffs, championships. They’re not the bottom line. The dummies who kept buying Knicks season tickets at ridiculous prices, they’re the bottom line. And in returning the Knicks franchise to the league, David Stern has assured me that he’ll start the bidding for the franchise at $608 million. Now that’s a bottom line.”
•
Will you let the new owner’s team play in the Garden?
“Under the deal I made with David Stern, the new owner can rent the Garden for every home game for the same amount that the Knicks paid. Whatever amount that was. To tell you the truth, I don’t know what it was.”
To tell me the truth?
“Of course,” he said.
With that, I woke up. Not wanting to forget anything, I hurriedly wrote down everything that this rumpled little man who looked like James L. Dolan had told me in the dream. And as crazy as that dream was, the next night, I dreamed that I had to tell the commissioner about it. When I did, he laughed.
“I’ve had the same dream,” he said.
Link is http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/sports/basketball/24anderson.html?ref=basketball
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Why Pats will be 19-0 soon!
See article below which will give you great insight on why the Pats will be 19-0 on February 3.
In my book, the Giants simply have no chance unless Brady is hurt. If Bill Parcells (Tuna) was coaching the NY team, they might present a challenge.
I don't think the game will be as close as some believe. I look forward to the kickoff which will be around midnight here in Europe!
It has been a remarkable run. Everyone (business, individuals,etc) can learn from the results- focused Patriots.
Like I always say, "Life is all about Results".
Gswede
-----
Eighteen reasons why the Patriots are a perfect 18-0
By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
Is it their talent, their chemistry or is it just their time? A variety of factors help to explain why the New England Patriots are 18-0 heading into Super Bowl XLII on Sunday against the New York Giants. USA TODAY identifies 18 of them:
1. Ownership: Success always starts at the top. Robert Kraft rolled the dice when he hired Bill Belichick before the 2000 season after the former defensive coordinator went 36-44 with the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95 in his only previous head coaching stint. Kraft is a supportive owner who wants to win but doesn't meddle.
2. Coaching: Belichick can tie former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll by winning his fourth Super Bowl. His .833 postseason winning percentage (15-3) trails only Green Bay Packers legend Vince Lombardi (.900, 9-1). Belichick might not win any popularity contests in the NFL, but he gets results.
3. Quarterbacking: More than a GQ cover boy and the boyfriend of supermodels, Tom Brady is putting up Hall of Fame numbers. He set an NFL single-season record with 50 touchdown passes and franchise marks for passing yards (4,806), completion percentage (68.9) and passer rating (117.2).
4. Leadership: New England is loaded with veterans who buy into Belichick's insistence on an unwavering next-game focus and who refuse to allow a letdown. Brady, safety Rodney Harrison, running back Kevin Faulk and linebackers Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Junior Seau are all praised as exceptional leaders.
5. Ball security: No team in the league was stingier with gifts to the opposition. The Patriots set a franchise record by committing only 15 turnovers — nine interceptions and six fumbles. That represented the fifth-lowest turnover total in franchise history. Belichick regards turnovers as the most important number after the score.
6. Record-setting Moss: Although Randy Moss has been held to one catch in each of two playoff games, his enormous contribution in the regular season cannot be overlooked. After two dismal years with the Oakland Raiders, Moss showed the difference he can make with 23 touchdown receptions, one more than the previous single-season mark set by Jerry Rice in 1987.
7. Record-setting Welker: With teams forced to give Moss so much attention, the undersized Wes Welker (5-9, 185-pound) capitalized with 112 catches during the regular season, most in NFL history by a player with a new team. New England all but swiped Welker when it acquired him from the Miami Dolphins, who had him in a limited role, for second- and seventh-round draft choices.
8. Outstanding offensive line: The big boys up front are the ones responsible for giving Brady the time to pick apart defenses for those 50 touchdowns and Moss the chance to get deep for many of his 23 scores. They allowed just 21 regular-season sacks. The reward: Center Dan Koppen, tackle Matt Light and guard Logan Mankins will all enjoy the sun and sand in Hawaii as selections to the Pro Bowl.
9. Outstanding defensive line: With so much attention paid to an oldie-but-goodie linebacking corps, linemen Richard Seymour and Ty Warren and space-eating nose tackle Vince Wilfork tend to be overlooked. They are the ones, however, who create so much havoc up front that the linebackers are free to swoop in and make tackles.
10. Scoring threats everywhere: An NFL-record-tying 21 players reached the end zone at least once en route to league marks for points (589) and touchdowns (75). The 2000 Denver Broncos are the only other team to have so many players score in a non-strike year.
11. Omnipresent Harrison: Even at age 35, punishing safety Rodney Harrison sets the defensive tone. He is the only player in league history to record at least 30 sacks and 30 interceptions in his career (30½ sacks, 33 picks). He owns seven interceptions in eight playoff games since joining the Patriots in 2003.
12. Maroney's surge: Second-year running back Laurence Maroney was hurt early in the season and started slowly. But he has come on to surpass 100 yards in four of the last five games, including 122-yard efforts in both postseason games. He enters Super Bowl XLII having scored at least one TD in each of his last five starts.
13. Bringing the heat: The combination of talent and defensive creativity allowed New England to produce an AFC-high 47 sacks, five more than the runner-up San Diego Chargers. The Patriots trailed only the New York Giants (53) for the NFL lead. It was the Patriots' highest sack total in 21 years.
14. Fast starters: New England scored a league-high 71 points on their opening possessions while allowing only 10 points. They outscored opponents 134-41 in the first quarter and never looked back.
15. Strong finishers: New England has won 22 of 25 games played between Christmas and the end of the postseason since Belichick became head coach in 2000, including a 14-2 postseason mark.
16. Vinatieri's replacement: When the Patriots allowed clutch-kicker Adam Vinatieri to leave for the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent two years ago, there was much hand-wringing among fans about how whether he could effectively be replaced. Stephen Gostkowski, a fourth-round draft choice in 2006, provided the answer. He hit 21 of 24 regular-season field goal attempts and finished third in the NFL in scoring with 137 points. He's 9-for-10 in the postseason.
17. Ball control: The Patriots converted a first down when faced with third-and-3 or fewer yards 71.9% of the time. They put together 41 drives of at least 10 plays. They had 38 drives that consumed five minutes or more. It's called moving the chains.
18. Continuity: The Patriots have had a core (Brady, Faulk, Seymour, Bruschi) through their run of Super Bowls.
In my book, the Giants simply have no chance unless Brady is hurt. If Bill Parcells (Tuna) was coaching the NY team, they might present a challenge.
I don't think the game will be as close as some believe. I look forward to the kickoff which will be around midnight here in Europe!
It has been a remarkable run. Everyone (business, individuals,etc) can learn from the results- focused Patriots.
Like I always say, "Life is all about Results".
Gswede
-----
Eighteen reasons why the Patriots are a perfect 18-0
By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
Is it their talent, their chemistry or is it just their time? A variety of factors help to explain why the New England Patriots are 18-0 heading into Super Bowl XLII on Sunday against the New York Giants. USA TODAY identifies 18 of them:
1. Ownership: Success always starts at the top. Robert Kraft rolled the dice when he hired Bill Belichick before the 2000 season after the former defensive coordinator went 36-44 with the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95 in his only previous head coaching stint. Kraft is a supportive owner who wants to win but doesn't meddle.
2. Coaching: Belichick can tie former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll by winning his fourth Super Bowl. His .833 postseason winning percentage (15-3) trails only Green Bay Packers legend Vince Lombardi (.900, 9-1). Belichick might not win any popularity contests in the NFL, but he gets results.
3. Quarterbacking: More than a GQ cover boy and the boyfriend of supermodels, Tom Brady is putting up Hall of Fame numbers. He set an NFL single-season record with 50 touchdown passes and franchise marks for passing yards (4,806), completion percentage (68.9) and passer rating (117.2).
4. Leadership: New England is loaded with veterans who buy into Belichick's insistence on an unwavering next-game focus and who refuse to allow a letdown. Brady, safety Rodney Harrison, running back Kevin Faulk and linebackers Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Junior Seau are all praised as exceptional leaders.
5. Ball security: No team in the league was stingier with gifts to the opposition. The Patriots set a franchise record by committing only 15 turnovers — nine interceptions and six fumbles. That represented the fifth-lowest turnover total in franchise history. Belichick regards turnovers as the most important number after the score.
6. Record-setting Moss: Although Randy Moss has been held to one catch in each of two playoff games, his enormous contribution in the regular season cannot be overlooked. After two dismal years with the Oakland Raiders, Moss showed the difference he can make with 23 touchdown receptions, one more than the previous single-season mark set by Jerry Rice in 1987.
7. Record-setting Welker: With teams forced to give Moss so much attention, the undersized Wes Welker (5-9, 185-pound) capitalized with 112 catches during the regular season, most in NFL history by a player with a new team. New England all but swiped Welker when it acquired him from the Miami Dolphins, who had him in a limited role, for second- and seventh-round draft choices.
8. Outstanding offensive line: The big boys up front are the ones responsible for giving Brady the time to pick apart defenses for those 50 touchdowns and Moss the chance to get deep for many of his 23 scores. They allowed just 21 regular-season sacks. The reward: Center Dan Koppen, tackle Matt Light and guard Logan Mankins will all enjoy the sun and sand in Hawaii as selections to the Pro Bowl.
9. Outstanding defensive line: With so much attention paid to an oldie-but-goodie linebacking corps, linemen Richard Seymour and Ty Warren and space-eating nose tackle Vince Wilfork tend to be overlooked. They are the ones, however, who create so much havoc up front that the linebackers are free to swoop in and make tackles.
10. Scoring threats everywhere: An NFL-record-tying 21 players reached the end zone at least once en route to league marks for points (589) and touchdowns (75). The 2000 Denver Broncos are the only other team to have so many players score in a non-strike year.
11. Omnipresent Harrison: Even at age 35, punishing safety Rodney Harrison sets the defensive tone. He is the only player in league history to record at least 30 sacks and 30 interceptions in his career (30½ sacks, 33 picks). He owns seven interceptions in eight playoff games since joining the Patriots in 2003.
12. Maroney's surge: Second-year running back Laurence Maroney was hurt early in the season and started slowly. But he has come on to surpass 100 yards in four of the last five games, including 122-yard efforts in both postseason games. He enters Super Bowl XLII having scored at least one TD in each of his last five starts.
13. Bringing the heat: The combination of talent and defensive creativity allowed New England to produce an AFC-high 47 sacks, five more than the runner-up San Diego Chargers. The Patriots trailed only the New York Giants (53) for the NFL lead. It was the Patriots' highest sack total in 21 years.
14. Fast starters: New England scored a league-high 71 points on their opening possessions while allowing only 10 points. They outscored opponents 134-41 in the first quarter and never looked back.
15. Strong finishers: New England has won 22 of 25 games played between Christmas and the end of the postseason since Belichick became head coach in 2000, including a 14-2 postseason mark.
16. Vinatieri's replacement: When the Patriots allowed clutch-kicker Adam Vinatieri to leave for the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent two years ago, there was much hand-wringing among fans about how whether he could effectively be replaced. Stephen Gostkowski, a fourth-round draft choice in 2006, provided the answer. He hit 21 of 24 regular-season field goal attempts and finished third in the NFL in scoring with 137 points. He's 9-for-10 in the postseason.
17. Ball control: The Patriots converted a first down when faced with third-and-3 or fewer yards 71.9% of the time. They put together 41 drives of at least 10 plays. They had 38 drives that consumed five minutes or more. It's called moving the chains.
18. Continuity: The Patriots have had a core (Brady, Faulk, Seymour, Bruschi) through their run of Super Bowls.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tiger's year to win a Grand Slam?
Tiger Woods has always been a confident player but he is super smart when it comes to sending a message and putting more fear into his fellow PGA players.
His quote below that he could possibly win all 4 Golf Majors in 2008 was a great first move. As we all know, it is only possible for him to do it and I believe he will one day.
I am looking forward to seeing one of the greatest athletes of any generation compete this year. It is always a treat!
Gswede
-----
By LARRY DORMAN
Published: January 24, 2008
This scenic golf course set on the cliffs above Black’s Beach, believed to be the only municipally approved nude beach this side of the French Riviera, takes on added significance because it is also the site of the United States Open in June. Coming off a seven-victory year, Woods recently wrote on his Web site that he believed sweeping the four major championships during the 2008 season was “easily within reason,” serving notice to his already beleaguered Tour colleagues that he has penciled in another undoable feat on his to-do list under “Win Grand Slam.”
“Well, he’s obviously a very confident player, and he should be,” Mickelson said. “He’s won countless events and double-digit majors — how many is it? — 13, there you go. So he should be confident.”
“I’m certainly stronger,” Woods said. “I can’t run five-minute miles like I could in high school, but everything feels pretty good. It’s just a matter of getting out here and competing again. I’ve been playing and practicing to get my speed back and just really look forward to teeing it up. Playing money games back home isn’t quite the same as being out here with the best players in the world".
Click on Full article below
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/sports/golf/24golf.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
His quote below that he could possibly win all 4 Golf Majors in 2008 was a great first move. As we all know, it is only possible for him to do it and I believe he will one day.
I am looking forward to seeing one of the greatest athletes of any generation compete this year. It is always a treat!
Gswede
-----
By LARRY DORMAN
Published: January 24, 2008
This scenic golf course set on the cliffs above Black’s Beach, believed to be the only municipally approved nude beach this side of the French Riviera, takes on added significance because it is also the site of the United States Open in June. Coming off a seven-victory year, Woods recently wrote on his Web site that he believed sweeping the four major championships during the 2008 season was “easily within reason,” serving notice to his already beleaguered Tour colleagues that he has penciled in another undoable feat on his to-do list under “Win Grand Slam.”
“Well, he’s obviously a very confident player, and he should be,” Mickelson said. “He’s won countless events and double-digit majors — how many is it? — 13, there you go. So he should be confident.”
“I’m certainly stronger,” Woods said. “I can’t run five-minute miles like I could in high school, but everything feels pretty good. It’s just a matter of getting out here and competing again. I’ve been playing and practicing to get my speed back and just really look forward to teeing it up. Playing money games back home isn’t quite the same as being out here with the best players in the world".
Click on Full article below
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/sports/golf/24golf.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Todd Bozeman - Irresponsible mistake cost him a career
Todd Bozeman had it all but wanted more. (see quote and link below for full story)
He was one of the top coaches in college basketball especially after he defeated Duke, the defending NCAA chamption.
A BIG mistake cost him dearly. He paid money to the parents of of top high school player which is illegal. The pressure of being the best and winning at any cost was probably on his mind at the time.
In life, one must make responsible mistakes, not irresponsible ones. His mistake derailed a promising and most likely lavish career.
It is a good lesson for anyone. There are no shortcuts to success just hard work. One must "put in the time" to get ahead.
I am happy he is back in basketball and seems to be ready to do what he loves, teaching basketball and education young men about life.
I wish him well.
Gswede
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/sports/ncaabasketball/28bozeman.html?ex=1199509200&en=38722713eb057b7a&ei=5070&emc=eta1
December 28, 2007
For Bozeman, Road to Redemption Winds Slowly
By JERÉ LONGMAN
As clearly as any coach, Bozeman, 44, understands the consequences of decisions. In 1993, he was the upstart at California whose team stunned the defending champion in the N.C.A.A. tournament. His star player made the cover of Sports Illustrated, shooting a jumper over Bobby Hurley, vaulting over a headline that read: “Jason Kidd and Cal Dethrone Duke.”
Bozeman was 29 at the time, the youngest coach to reach the Round of 16. He would become the first to win three straight games over U.C.L.A. at Pauley Pavilion. He was going places, all right, just not the places everyone expected.
Seeking a replacement for Kidd at Cal, Bozeman admitted paying $30,000 to the parents of point guard Jelani Gardner. “I knew right away that wasn’t good,” Bozeman said. “But the wheels were already going.”
Eventually, those wheels crushed his career.
Upset about Gardner’s playing time, his parents went to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and told about the payments. By late 1996, Bozeman was gone from Cal. The N.C.A.A. imposed an eight-year show-cause ban, meaning that any university wanting Bozeman had to show just cause why he should be hired.
He was one of the top coaches in college basketball especially after he defeated Duke, the defending NCAA chamption.
A BIG mistake cost him dearly. He paid money to the parents of of top high school player which is illegal. The pressure of being the best and winning at any cost was probably on his mind at the time.
In life, one must make responsible mistakes, not irresponsible ones. His mistake derailed a promising and most likely lavish career.
It is a good lesson for anyone. There are no shortcuts to success just hard work. One must "put in the time" to get ahead.
I am happy he is back in basketball and seems to be ready to do what he loves, teaching basketball and education young men about life.
I wish him well.
Gswede
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/sports/ncaabasketball/28bozeman.html?ex=1199509200&en=38722713eb057b7a&ei=5070&emc=eta1
December 28, 2007
For Bozeman, Road to Redemption Winds Slowly
By JERÉ LONGMAN
As clearly as any coach, Bozeman, 44, understands the consequences of decisions. In 1993, he was the upstart at California whose team stunned the defending champion in the N.C.A.A. tournament. His star player made the cover of Sports Illustrated, shooting a jumper over Bobby Hurley, vaulting over a headline that read: “Jason Kidd and Cal Dethrone Duke.”
Bozeman was 29 at the time, the youngest coach to reach the Round of 16. He would become the first to win three straight games over U.C.L.A. at Pauley Pavilion. He was going places, all right, just not the places everyone expected.
Seeking a replacement for Kidd at Cal, Bozeman admitted paying $30,000 to the parents of point guard Jelani Gardner. “I knew right away that wasn’t good,” Bozeman said. “But the wheels were already going.”
Eventually, those wheels crushed his career.
Upset about Gardner’s playing time, his parents went to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and told about the payments. By late 1996, Bozeman was gone from Cal. The N.C.A.A. imposed an eight-year show-cause ban, meaning that any university wanting Bozeman had to show just cause why he should be hired.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Why I never played American Football
What many don't know about me is that I really enjoy the game of football. On television, there is no better sport.
I actually considered playing football in high school but decided against it for these reasons:
1) I would never love the game the way I loved basketball
2) An injury would hurt my scholarship chances for basketball
3) I didn't want an injury that made me permanently disabled
Injuries like the one to Kevin Everett (see NY Times article below) reminds everyone of the serious danger with football. One moment a young man is healthy, the next his life is forever difficult.
If your kids want to play football, make sure that they have the LOVE and DESIRE for the game. If not, it may not be worth it.
Gswede
----------
September 11, 2007
Chance of Recovery for Bills’ Everett Is ‘Bleak’
By MATT HIGGINS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Sept. 10 — Kevin Everett’s Buffalo Bills teammates are accustomed to his silence. On Monday, they described Everett, a third-year tight end, as quiet. So they would have gladly settled for a simple gesture, like a thumb’s up, as he was carted off the field with a spinal cord injury Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Buffalo quarterback J. P. Losman said he thought, “Show me a sign of something,” as Everett was loaded into an ambulance.
“Something” never came. And that turned out to be a grim sign.
On Monday, team doctors said Everett was paralyzed from the shoulders down and his condition was potentially fatal after he was injured while covering the second-half kickoff in the Bills’ 15-14 loss to Denver.
Click on the following link below to read entire article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/sports/football/11everett.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
I actually considered playing football in high school but decided against it for these reasons:
1) I would never love the game the way I loved basketball
2) An injury would hurt my scholarship chances for basketball
3) I didn't want an injury that made me permanently disabled
Injuries like the one to Kevin Everett (see NY Times article below) reminds everyone of the serious danger with football. One moment a young man is healthy, the next his life is forever difficult.
If your kids want to play football, make sure that they have the LOVE and DESIRE for the game. If not, it may not be worth it.
Gswede
----------
September 11, 2007
Chance of Recovery for Bills’ Everett Is ‘Bleak’
By MATT HIGGINS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Sept. 10 — Kevin Everett’s Buffalo Bills teammates are accustomed to his silence. On Monday, they described Everett, a third-year tight end, as quiet. So they would have gladly settled for a simple gesture, like a thumb’s up, as he was carted off the field with a spinal cord injury Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Buffalo quarterback J. P. Losman said he thought, “Show me a sign of something,” as Everett was loaded into an ambulance.
“Something” never came. And that turned out to be a grim sign.
On Monday, team doctors said Everett was paralyzed from the shoulders down and his condition was potentially fatal after he was injured while covering the second-half kickoff in the Bills’ 15-14 loss to Denver.
Click on the following link below to read entire article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/sports/football/11everett.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
Monday, August 13, 2007
Tiger - No Athlete can Compare
No one is more dominant in his or her sport.
Tiger Woods has inspired me from the moment I saw him play over a decade ago. His dedication, preparation, talent, focus and performance are as the poet John Keats says "A Thing of Beauty". I enjoy watching him just as much today as I did when I saw him annihilate the competition at the 1997 Masters.
In our generation, Tiger is the most dominant athlete in his sport, period. MAYBE ever.
Here's why:
Next stop for Tiger, Masters 2008. The other golf pro's are already trembling.
Can't wait.
Gswede
Tiger Woods has inspired me from the moment I saw him play over a decade ago. His dedication, preparation, talent, focus and performance are as the poet John Keats says "A Thing of Beauty". I enjoy watching him just as much today as I did when I saw him annihilate the competition at the 1997 Masters.
In our generation, Tiger is the most dominant athlete in his sport, period. MAYBE ever.
Here's why:
- Arnold Palmer is an icon and a big reason why golf is so popular. He won 7 Majors to Tiger's 13. If we compare Woods to Palmer, the latter becomes irrelevant.
- Two of the best golfers of all time, Gary Player and Ben Hogan each won 9 Majors.
- Tiger's contemporaries, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson have 9 Majors combined. They are in their prime or beyond. Tiger has not even reached his prime.
- There are pro golfers that make a good living like Rory Sabbitini (who famously said that "Tiger looks as beatable as ever") that have won less than 5 PGA tournaments in their career. Tiger has 59 victories. After the comment, Rory is 0-2 in final rounds against Tiger including an 8 stroke thrashing the week before the PGA.
- As much as I have enjoyed other greats like Jordan, Gretzky, Magic, Montana, Bonds, Brady, Federor, Bird, Borg, Jeter, Payton, McEnroe, Ali, etc- they don't even begin to compare in their sport.
- Let's look at one of the greatest athletes of all time, Michael Jordan. Midway in his career, he had 3 championships. For someone in golf to compare, they would need about 4-5 Majors at the midpoint (No current golfers are close except Tiger who has blown that away). Even if you consider Jordan's entire career, Tiger is more dominant NOW in his sport. Jordan has 6 total championships. The equivalent in a golf career would be 8-9 Majors. 13 is Tiger's number.
- No one has accomplished what Tiger has 1/3 or halfway into a career. Can you make a case for Roger Federor (11 tennis majors at 26)? Sure, but tennis is void of ANY serious contenders for Roger and the sport has sunk to pathetic levels of interest.
- Tiger could play until he is 50 if Jack Nicklaus (never in shape or fit) was able to win his last Major, the Masters at age 46. Realistically, he might be only 1/3 into his career.
- At age 35, Jack won his 13th Major. Tiger has done it at age 31
- A CLOSER. This is his best characteristic. 13-0 when leading or sharing the lead in a Major tournament. Has there ever been a better finisher or "moment of truth" athlete?
For those of you that don't consider golf a sport, it sure helps to be IN SHAPE when there are 100-degree days like the ones in Oklahoma last weekend.
Here's a paragraph on Woods from Reuters (August 13 by Mark Lamport-Stokes):
The championship at Southern Hills featured some of the hottest conditions in major history, with temperatures reaching 102 degrees (39 Celsius) during the final round. The ability to maintain focus for all four days was paramount and Woods believes his renowned fitness has always given him an edge in golf's biggest events. "Physical fitness is always a huge advantage, especially when you play any sport and you have heat and anything that wears you down mentally and physically," he said."When I walked up 18, I felt the same way as I did going off the first tee. I felt great. Other guys may have gotten tired and you see their shoulders slumping and dragging a little bit."You should always train hard and bust your butt. That's what a sport is, (it) is to do that. And not everyone considers golf a sport and they don't treat it as such." Woods already has 10 more major titles than any of his contemporaries. The prospect of an improved, fitter Woods over the next seven years can only enhance his aura of dominance.I thought a classic and crucial Tiger moment occurred at the 2007 PGA when he made the 25-foot birdie on the 8th hole that gave him a 5 shot lead at the time. Big moment, Big result. He has done it time after time. Without that shot, Els or Austin might have tied him as they were playing terrific golf. Tiger never gave them that chance. The great ones never do.
Jack Nicklaus always speaks fondly of Tiger and I admire that about him. He should know greatness in golf better than anyone. Tiger will easily break Jack's Major championship record of 18 as long as he stays healthy. Keep in mind, that Jack's most impressive record may be that he came in 2nd place in Majors a record 19 times!
My prediction is that Tiger will have won 26 Majors when he hangs up the clubs. Over 30 would not surprise me but life and kids could mellow his desire.
Finally, like yours truly...he is married to a Swedish woman. He even hits great shots off the course!Next stop for Tiger, Masters 2008. The other golf pro's are already trembling.
Can't wait.
Gswede
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Reggie Miller and Celtics - Worth a Shot!
Once a shooter, Always a shooter.
And not many can put it up like Reggie! Ask Spike Lee and the NY Knicks.
Reggie Miller can definitely help the Celtics and as a true sportsman of the game, I hope he comes back for that elusive ring. No one thought that he would be such a top quality player coming out of UCLA but he proved everyone wrong. He might just do it again.
Bob Ryan has always been one of my favorite sportswriters. A snippet of his article is below.
The entire article can be found at http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/bob_ryan_blog/
Bob is not to sure about Reggie's ability to help the Celtics. I am. With Garnett, Pierce and Allen around him, he could be deadly once again.
They have maybe 4 years to get that championsip if Ray Allen stays healthy.
With or without Reggie, one thing Bob and I agree on is that the Celtics have the SIZZLE back
Gswede
-------
By Bob Ryan, Globe Staff
August 08, 2007 03:44 PM
What? Hal Greer wasn't available? (Had to get the cheap shot out of the way quickly).
Reggie Miller, huh? Makes sense on one level. If you recall, when Danny Ainge was bombarded by assertions that old shooting guards never die, they merely fall apart at age 32 or so, he cited Reggie Miller as an example to the contrary. And Reggie did retire after 18 seasons with his head pretty high, averaging 14.8 points a game in the 18th and final season of a very distinguished career coming off picks to drill jump shots, spotting up for threes, and banking in patented wrong-legged leaners.
And not many can put it up like Reggie! Ask Spike Lee and the NY Knicks.
Reggie Miller can definitely help the Celtics and as a true sportsman of the game, I hope he comes back for that elusive ring. No one thought that he would be such a top quality player coming out of UCLA but he proved everyone wrong. He might just do it again.
Bob Ryan has always been one of my favorite sportswriters. A snippet of his article is below.
The entire article can be found at http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/bob_ryan_blog/
Bob is not to sure about Reggie's ability to help the Celtics. I am. With Garnett, Pierce and Allen around him, he could be deadly once again.
They have maybe 4 years to get that championsip if Ray Allen stays healthy.
With or without Reggie, one thing Bob and I agree on is that the Celtics have the SIZZLE back
Gswede
-------
By Bob Ryan, Globe Staff
August 08, 2007 03:44 PM
What? Hal Greer wasn't available? (Had to get the cheap shot out of the way quickly).
Reggie Miller, huh? Makes sense on one level. If you recall, when Danny Ainge was bombarded by assertions that old shooting guards never die, they merely fall apart at age 32 or so, he cited Reggie Miller as an example to the contrary. And Reggie did retire after 18 seasons with his head pretty high, averaging 14.8 points a game in the 18th and final season of a very distinguished career coming off picks to drill jump shots, spotting up for threes, and banking in patented wrong-legged leaners.
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