Tuesday, October 31, 2006
World Series '06: Major League letdown
The Lantern - Sports
This year's MLB postseason featured one of the most disappointing World Series matchups I've ever seen, and not just because I'm a Yankees fan.
I'd have to say that his Yankee/east coast bias did have a lot to do with him(and a lot of other people, based on the TV numbers) not finding this interesting. It's the typical mentallity that has taken root in the media today, "if it doesn't happen on the coasts, it doesn't matter." "Fly over country"(which, btw, he lives in) is meaningless. What better story could you have had then a team in the Tigers who had one of the worst records in baseball history just 2 short years ago making the World Series and the team with the 2nd most world titles(who were in a 25 year title drought) and one of the more improbable runs to the Championship in the Cardinals?!
Had it not been for a couple of key injuries it would have been the Tigers and not the Yankees with the best record in baseball for the season. Speaking of which, it's not hard to have the best record when you have a team salary of OVER 200 MILLION and the next closest team is something like 80 million less. That makes what both the Tigers and Cardinals did even more sweet in that they both were over 100 million less in team salary than the Yanks. Maybe now some of these free-spending owners (George Steinbrenner) will wake up and see that you don't have to spend the most (or even remotely close to the most) to win championships. Give me a Tigers/Cardinals (though actually I'd prefer the Reds) World Series every year! They're much more interesting.
Jason Turner
Issue date: 10/31/06 Section: SportsThis year's MLB postseason featured one of the most disappointing World Series matchups I've ever seen, and not just because I'm a Yankees fan.
I'd have to say that his Yankee/east coast bias did have a lot to do with him(and a lot of other people, based on the TV numbers) not finding this interesting. It's the typical mentallity that has taken root in the media today, "if it doesn't happen on the coasts, it doesn't matter." "Fly over country"(which, btw, he lives in) is meaningless. What better story could you have had then a team in the Tigers who had one of the worst records in baseball history just 2 short years ago making the World Series and the team with the 2nd most world titles(who were in a 25 year title drought) and one of the more improbable runs to the Championship in the Cardinals?!
Had it not been for a couple of key injuries it would have been the Tigers and not the Yankees with the best record in baseball for the season. Speaking of which, it's not hard to have the best record when you have a team salary of OVER 200 MILLION and the next closest team is something like 80 million less. That makes what both the Tigers and Cardinals did even more sweet in that they both were over 100 million less in team salary than the Yanks. Maybe now some of these free-spending owners (George Steinbrenner) will wake up and see that you don't have to spend the most (or even remotely close to the most) to win championships. Give me a Tigers/Cardinals (though actually I'd prefer the Reds) World Series every year! They're much more interesting.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Talk is cheap when it comes to Michigan-Ohio State
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - No team wants to be accused of looking past an opponent. Yet that doesn't mean a lot of other people aren't already chattering about Michigan vs. Ohio State on Nov. 18.
"All you hear about is the big showdown,'' Minnesota coach Glen Mason said Saturday after a 44-0 beating at the hands of No. 1-ranked Ohio State. "A lot of people in the country think they are the best two teams in the country.''
I'm still anxious to get to this game, but there's still work to be done before that!
A Look at Some Stats
NCAAFootball.com
*** 2006 NCAA Division IA Football Total Offense Team Statistics ***
(Complete Through Saturday, October 28th)
From The Sports Network
T O T A L O F F E N S E
Rank Team G Pl Yds Avg TD Ydspg
1. Hawaii 8 524 4234 8.08 51 529.25
2. Louisville 7 469 3473 7.41 34 496.14
3. New Mexico St. 8 632 3755 5.94 34 469.38
4. West Virginia 7 441 3215 7.29 37 459.29
5. Oregon 8 575 3652 6.35 37 456.50
6. Brigham Young 8 533 3565 6.69 37 445.63
7. California 8 539 3524 6.54 38 440.50
8. Nebraska 9 610 3931 6.44 43 436.78
9. Houston 9 596 3929 6.59 40 436.56
10. Texas Tech 9 599 3889 6.49 35 432.11
11. Oklahoma St. 8 500 3448 6.90 41 431.00
12. Purdue 9 614 3828 6.23 30 425.33
13. Clemson 9 575 3805 6.62 46 422.78
13. Texas A&M 9 622 3805 6.12 39 422.78
15. Ohio St. 9 575 3765 6.55 43 418.33
16. LSU 8 486 3318 6.83 39 414.75
17. Washington St. 9 626 3725 5.95 30 413.89
18. Boise St. 8 509 3305 6.49 42 413.13
19. Missouri 9 644 3716 5.77 34 412.89
20. Southern California 7 493 2866 5.81 26 409.43
21. San Jose St. 7 444 2825 6.36 24 403.57
22. Tennessee 8 501 3213 6.41 32 401.63
23. Tulane 8 550 3190 5.80 25 398.75
24. Texas 9 585 3587 6.13 49 398.56
25. Tulsa 8 528 3166 6.00 31 395.75
48. Michigan 9 600 3219 5.37 31 357.67
*** 2006 NCAA Division IA Football Team Scoring Statistics ***
(Complete Through Saturday, October 28th)
From The Sports Network
S C O R I N G O F F E N S E
Rank Team G Pts Avg TD Kxp Oxp FG S
1. Hawaii 8 363 45.38 51 41 2 0 0
2. West Virginia 7 286 40.86 37 37 0 0 0
3. Boise St. 8 318 39.75 42 38 1 0 1
4. Texas 9 356 39.56 49 48 0 0 0
5. Louisville 7 271 38.71 34 34 0 0 0
6. Clemson 9 345 38.33 46 40 1 0 0
7. Oklahoma St. 8 303 37.88 41 37 1 0 0
8. Oregon 8 293 36.63 37 35 0 0 0
9. California 8 289 36.13 38 36 2 0 0
10. Ohio St. 9 323 35.89 43 41 0 0 0
11. LSU 8 287 35.88 39 38 0 0 0
12. Brigham Young 8 286 35.75 37 34 0 0 0
13. Nebraska 9 308 34.22 43 39 1 0 0
14. Pittsburgh 8 273 34.13 36 35 0 0 0
15. Houston 9 305 33.89 40 38 0 0 0
16. Texas A&M 9 297 33.00 39 33 3 0 0
17. Wisconsin 9 291 32.33 37 36 0 0 0
18. Tennessee 8 258 32.25 32 31 0 0 0
19. Arkansas 8 251 31.38 34 31 1 0 0
20. Oklahoma 8 247 30.88 29 29 0 0 0
21. Missouri 9 275 30.56 34 34 0 0 0
22. New Mexico St. 8 243 30.38 34 28 1 0 0
23. Southern California 7 211 30.14 26 23 1 0 0
24. Notre Dame 8 240 30.00 32 30 0 0 0
24. Rutgers 7 210 30.00 26 24 0 0 0
32. Michigan 9 255 28.33 31 30 0 0 0
*** 2006 NCAA Division IA Football Total Defense Statistics ***
(Complete Through Saturday, October 28th)
From The Sports Network
T O T A L D E F E N S E
Rank Team G Pl Yds Avg TD Ydspg
1. LSU 8 461 1693 3.67 7 211.63
2. Rutgers 7 399 1564 3.92 8 223.43
3. Virginia Tech 8 478 1865 3.90 10 233.13
4. Michigan 9 542 2118 3.91 12 235.33
5. Clemson 9 574 2175 3.79 14 241.67
6. Wyoming 9 553 2248 4.07 19 249.78
7. Wisconsin 9 553 2258 4.08 13 250.89
8. Miami (Fla.) 8 453 2086 4.60 13 260.75
9. Florida 8 500 2088 4.18 10 261.00
9. Ohio St. 9 537 2349 4.37 7 261.00
*** 2006 NCAA Division IA Football Team Scoring Defense Statistics ***
(Complete Through Saturday, October 28th)
From The Sports Network
S C O R I N G D E F E N S E
Rank Team G TD Kxp Oxp Fg Sf Pts PtPg
1. Ohio St. 9 7 6 0 0 0 66 7.3
2. LSU 8 7 7 0 0 0 66 8.3
3. Rutgers 7 8 6 0 0 0 60 8.6
4. Michigan 9 12 11 0 0 0 104 11.6
5. Virginia Tech 8 10 10 0 0 0 96 12.0
Take from this what you will, but I think you know what I'm thinking!
Small smacked silly, Beanie botches ballcarrying, Gonzo gets gonged
The Lantern - Sports
The Ohio Stadium grounds crew has taken plenty of heat recently, so sorry to pile on.
But the new field, which was replaced more than a month ago for about $100,000, continues to devolve. On Saturday, parts of the field looked as if they had been steamrolled: paint covered numerous bare spots and the discolored grass was spongy throughout.
"They just replaced the field, right?" Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. "They need a new gardener. If they have a weakness, it's a lousy field..."
I don't know if they are going to replace it again between now and M******n, but I think they should. This is odd too. Ohio Field had been one of the best natural grass fields around until this year. I hate to say this, but, as I said before, they might have to think about installing field turf.
Small knocked out, Pitcock has concussion
Ray Small laid motionless for a few moments Saturday after taking a brutal - and cheap - shot to the chin from Minnesota cornerback Dominic Jones...
That was a vicious hit and, yes, it was illegal! It was clearly helmet to helmet and it should have been flagged!!!
All is forgiven
Chris Wells sat alone on the Buckeyes bench.
The freshman tailback had just coughed away his third fumble of the season and he doubted he would get another call...
He definitely needs to work on tucking the ball away.
Troy and Justin, sittin' in a tree
Before Justin Zwick could reach the sideline after his one-yard dive into the endzone late Saturday, he was jubilantly mauled by Troy Smith.
"If anybody was going to be there for him, I was," Smith said. "And tell him how happy I was for him..."
That's what makes him (Troy) the undeniable leader of this team!
Quotable
"The funny thing is that even though we won last year, defensively our stats were so terrible that for us, it was kind of a loss. We used that as motivation, because to us, it was like playing a team that beat us last year." - OSU defensive end Jay Richardson on last year's defense giving up 578 yards of total offense to Minnesota.
Extra points
The Buckeyes' helmets were adorned Saturday with the initials of Andrew Polakowski, the OSU student who was recently suffocated by a residence hall elevator ... Smith hasn't thrown an interception in his last 120 pass attempts ... Under Tressel, OSU is 44-3 when taking a lead into half-time ... The Buckeyes have scored at least 24 points in 16-straight games.
Well, now on to Illinois!
Notebook
David Briggs
Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: SportsThe Ohio Stadium grounds crew has taken plenty of heat recently, so sorry to pile on.
But the new field, which was replaced more than a month ago for about $100,000, continues to devolve. On Saturday, parts of the field looked as if they had been steamrolled: paint covered numerous bare spots and the discolored grass was spongy throughout.
"They just replaced the field, right?" Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. "They need a new gardener. If they have a weakness, it's a lousy field..."
I don't know if they are going to replace it again between now and M******n, but I think they should. This is odd too. Ohio Field had been one of the best natural grass fields around until this year. I hate to say this, but, as I said before, they might have to think about installing field turf.
Small knocked out, Pitcock has concussion
Ray Small laid motionless for a few moments Saturday after taking a brutal - and cheap - shot to the chin from Minnesota cornerback Dominic Jones...
That was a vicious hit and, yes, it was illegal! It was clearly helmet to helmet and it should have been flagged!!!
All is forgiven
Chris Wells sat alone on the Buckeyes bench.
The freshman tailback had just coughed away his third fumble of the season and he doubted he would get another call...
He definitely needs to work on tucking the ball away.
Troy and Justin, sittin' in a tree
Before Justin Zwick could reach the sideline after his one-yard dive into the endzone late Saturday, he was jubilantly mauled by Troy Smith.
"If anybody was going to be there for him, I was," Smith said. "And tell him how happy I was for him..."
That's what makes him (Troy) the undeniable leader of this team!
Quotable
"The funny thing is that even though we won last year, defensively our stats were so terrible that for us, it was kind of a loss. We used that as motivation, because to us, it was like playing a team that beat us last year." - OSU defensive end Jay Richardson on last year's defense giving up 578 yards of total offense to Minnesota.
Extra points
The Buckeyes' helmets were adorned Saturday with the initials of Andrew Polakowski, the OSU student who was recently suffocated by a residence hall elevator ... Smith hasn't thrown an interception in his last 120 pass attempts ... Under Tressel, OSU is 44-3 when taking a lead into half-time ... The Buckeyes have scored at least 24 points in 16-straight games.
Well, now on to Illinois!
Minnesota marauding
Media Credit: David Heasley
Jack Nicklaus dots the "i" at the homecoming game against Minnesota.
The Lantern - Sports
David Briggs
Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: Sports
Ohio State is the best football team in the land because:
A. A defense that lost nine starters is becoming as vaunted as an offense with two leading Heisman candidates, now allowing the fewest points per game in the nation...
Jesus Jim and the Buckeyes
The Lantern - Sports
Good news, fellow Buckeyes. For those of us who drink like Liza Minnelli, smoke like, well, me, and have unprotected pre-marital sex like inner-city high school girls, Jim Tressel and Co. have the answer we've all been looking for: Drug-dealing hookers ... er ... Jesus...
Gee, is it really a surprise that this kid is in J school?! I'd say, "what a buffoon," but that's rather redundant. I'd also write him a response, but it would be wasted as it would go right over his head.
Scott Woods
Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: SportsGood news, fellow Buckeyes. For those of us who drink like Liza Minnelli, smoke like, well, me, and have unprotected pre-marital sex like inner-city high school girls, Jim Tressel and Co. have the answer we've all been looking for: Drug-dealing hookers ... er ... Jesus...
Gee, is it really a surprise that this kid is in J school?! I'd say, "what a buffoon," but that's rather redundant. I'd also write him a response, but it would be wasted as it would go right over his head.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Buckeyes aware that collision with Michigan is ahead
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Like two runaway locomotives on a collision course, No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan are rapidly drawing closer.
But before they can get to their Nov. 18 showdown at Ohio Stadium, each has three teams - none with a winning record - to get through...
No looking a head! I can't wait, but there's business to take care of before that!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Brownies beg for Buckeye boss?, Troy talks trophies, field falls flat
The Lantern - Sports
The Cleveland Browns' yearly plunge into irrelevance has rekindled the seemingly annual talk that OSU coach Jim Tressel could skip town for the NFL and his hometown team.
Four words, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!
Smith's Heisman in the bag?
As much as Troy Smith speaks of drowning himself in the present and refusing to look ahead to, say, Michigan, he admits to Heisman thoughts dancing their way into his head.
He may not say so, but the only way he loses it is if he loses to M******n, and I just don't see that happening.
Ginn, Patterson fine
A protective boot has adorned Ted Ginn Jr.'s right foot for parts of the last week, but the wideout looks to be fine and will start Saturday, Tressel said.
Ouch!
New grass failing
Meet the new turf. Same as the old turf.
More than a month after OSU installed new grass at Ohio Stadium in response to slipping field conditions, the surface has not progressed as planned.
I love having natural grass, but maybe they should consider field turf.
David Briggs
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: SportsThe Cleveland Browns' yearly plunge into irrelevance has rekindled the seemingly annual talk that OSU coach Jim Tressel could skip town for the NFL and his hometown team.
Four words, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!
Smith's Heisman in the bag?
As much as Troy Smith speaks of drowning himself in the present and refusing to look ahead to, say, Michigan, he admits to Heisman thoughts dancing their way into his head.
He may not say so, but the only way he loses it is if he loses to M******n, and I just don't see that happening.
Ginn, Patterson fine
A protective boot has adorned Ted Ginn Jr.'s right foot for parts of the last week, but the wideout looks to be fine and will start Saturday, Tressel said.
Ouch!
New grass failing
Meet the new turf. Same as the old turf.
More than a month after OSU installed new grass at Ohio Stadium in response to slipping field conditions, the surface has not progressed as planned.
I love having natural grass, but maybe they should consider field turf.
Monday, October 02, 2006
We don't give a damn for Michigan, or do we?
The Lantern - Sports
Brandon Castel
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: Sports
There's a saying among many Buckeye fans that goes: My two favorite teams are Ohio State and whoever is playing Michigan. The good news for them is their favorite team is No. 1 in the country and 5-0 after a 38-17 win over Iowa Saturday. The bad news is their second favorite team has been getting its butt whipped...
There's a saying among many Buckeye fans that goes: My two favorite teams are Ohio State and whoever is playing Michigan. The good news for them is their favorite team is No. 1 in the country and 5-0 after a 38-17 win over Iowa Saturday. The bad news is their second favorite team has been getting its butt whipped...
Man, I Can't believe it!
Happy Birthday to me, I think. I'm now 1 year shy of 40! I just had my 20 year high school reunion too. Man, where did time go!?
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