Interesting comments from Howie Long about watching his sons, Chris and Kyle, play in last Sunday’s Chicago-St. Louis.
Latest SI cover features overhyped Tony Romo; How much more Dallas can we take?
I’m sure S.L. Price wrote an excellent story on Tony Romo, and the photo looks cool. He’s actually having a decent season from a stats perspective: 23 TDs, 7 Ints and 2,931 yards.
However, the Cowboys are 6-5 in the NFL’s worst division, and Romo still has won only one playoff game during his career.
All I’m saying is if Romo was the quarterback of a 6-5 team in Houston, or Jacksonville, or Tampa Bay, etc., would he be on the cover of SI? I think you know the answer.
Sorry, but I’ve had enough of the Dallas Cowboys.
Will scumbag who sold Hall of Fame vote to Deadspin actually reveal identity?
Yesterday, “the kids at Deadspin,” as Jason Whitlock likes to call them, disclosed that they had purchased a ballot for the upcoming Baseball Hall of Fame election from one of the voters. Yes, some scumbag actually sold a vote to Deadspin.
What is the point? Deadspin’s Tim Marchman explains:
Our idea was to make a mockery and farce of the increasingly solemn and absurd election process, and to take some power from the duly appointed custodians of the game’s history and turn it over to the public.
Yeah, right. The idea was to generate publicity for Deadspin. And it worked, unfortunately. Just heard discussion about the stunt on sports talk radio in Chicago.
The sad part is, Deadspin got some scumbag to buy in. That person remains anonymous for now, Marchman writes.
For obvious reasons, the voter will remain anonymous for now, but he/she will be filling out his/her ballot on behalf of Deadspin readers, who will be polled in binding elections. The voter will announce his/her name and motivations once his/her vote has been officially cast.
Oh really? A person actually is going to step forward and explain why he/she took on this noble crusade?
I’d be surprised if that occurs. The criticism already is fairly intense. Labeling this voter a “scumbag” actually is fairly tame considering what is being said elsewhere.
Also, if this voter was so intent on exposing the process, why did he/she have to sell the vote to Deadspin? Why not just donate the vote without a price? It says something about the integrity of the person that he/she can be bought.
Sure, the Hall of Fame voting process has its flaws. They all do. I continue to maintain sportswriters shouldn’t vote in the first place. It falls under the heading of, journalists cover the news, not make the news.
However, this scumbag likely has participated in the process for years. Why now to make a statement? Oh yeah, you’re getting paid. Don’t worry about stabbing your brethren in the back.
No, I suspect this scumbag won’t be able to weather the scrutiny by coming out of Deadspin’s closet.
More to come on this story.
Giving thanks: Digger Phelp now ‘2-0’ against cancer
My latest Chicago Tribune column is on Digger Phelps. The former Notre Dame coach and current ESPN college basketball analyst will be giving thanks during the holiday season.
You also can access the column via my Twitter feed: @Sherman_Report.
From the column:
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Digger Phelps was only 32 when he recorded his signature moment on the court. On Jan. 19, 1974, the Notre Dame basketball coach defeated John Wooden and ended UCLA’s record 88-game winning streak with a 71-70 victory in South Bend.
Now 40 years later, Phelps will be inducted in the Irish’s Basketball Ring of Honor on Jan. 19.
“We beat seven No. 1 teams,” said Phelps of his 20-year run on the Notre Dame bench.
Yet when Phelps thinks of his most significant victories these days, it has nothing to do with basketball.
“I’m 2-0 against cancer,” Phelps said. “I don’t want to try for the hat trick.”
Indeed, the 72-year-old college basketball analyst for ESPN will be giving thanks during the holidays for overcoming a second bout with cancer. In 2010, he underwent treatment for prostate cancer. Then in April, Phelps learned he was suffering from bladder cancer.
Phelps insists he went into coach mode after receiving a second cancer diagnosis.
“I told the doctor, ‘OK, what’s the game plan?'” Phelps said.
Phelps reports he is cancer free following the initial treatment. He continues a maintenance program to make sure the cancer doesn’t return.
Phelps’ brushes with cancer now have him coaching up in a different way. He is trying to alert men about the importance of getting annual physicals that include prostate and bladder screenings.
When Phelps turned 60, he made a point of going regularly to his doctor. Now he goes twice a year, and he thinks it might have saved his life.
“If I went for a physical in last October and something kicks in November, and I wait until next October to see the doctor again, I could have had some serious issues here,” Phelps said. “Men need to stop being macho. Make yourself a priority and get yourself checked.”
Highest rated NFL game of weekend? Clue: It wasn’t Denver-New England
Yes, it’s true. More people tuned into the 5-5 Cowboys vs. 4-6 Giants than another memorable showdown between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
The afternoon doubleheader game averaged 27.9 million viewers on Fox, while NBC pulled in 26.5 million viewers for the prime time game.
A couple of factors come into play:
Denver-New England had to go up against stiff prime time competition on CBS, ABC and elsewhere. Don’t tell me what happened in Homeland. Need to catch up.
Also, some viewers probably tuned out when the Broncos went up 24-0. I know I did for a while, and was stunned to see New England winning 28-24.
NBC, though, still did a huge number. It will give thanks for four Peyton Manning telecasts this year, all of which generated high ratings.
Yet the evening game still didn’t beat a game featuring two highly mediocre teams on Fox.
Bottom line: While NBC’s Sunday Night Football likely will be the highest-rated program in prime time again, the most watched part of the NFL’s TV package usually is the Sunday afternoon doubleheader telecast. Good teams or not.
Chicago news: Comcast Sports Net new series on classic Bears games; Rally that launched Dennis Green’s epic rant
A new documentary series from Comcast Sports Net should give Bears fans some relief after last Sunday’s debacle in St. Louis. Always fun to hear the rant.
Here are the details from CSN:
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Chicago, IL (November 18, 2013) – As part of its programming partnership with the Chicago Bears, which includes this season’s additions of “Bears Pregame Live” and the live stream of “Bears Halftime Live,” along with the returns of “United Bears Recap,” “Bears Blitz” and “Bears Huddle,” Comcast SportsNet and the Chicago Bears will debut a brand new documentary series this month that takes a look back at some of the most memorable games in Bears history.
Premiering Wednesday, November 27 at 9:30 PM CT exclusively on Comcast SportsNet, Bears Classics presented by Honda, is a new, one-hour series that chronicles season-defining games from select eras in Bears history as fans will hear behind-the-scenes stories from the players who played in these games and from those who covered them that have never been heard before…until now.
The debut airing will go back in time to Monday night, October 16, 2006 when the Bears faced the Arizona Cardinals…a game featuring a remarkable comeback that set them on the path to an appearance in Super Bowl XLI. The four-episode series (new airings focusing on separate games to debut in December, January and next September) will be narrated by local/national television broadcasting legend/multiple Peabody & Emmy Award winner Bill Kurtis. Comcast SportsNet’s Chuck Garfien is the documentary series writer/director and Willie Parker is the series producer.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our expanding partnership with the Chicago Bears and we feel this brand new documentary series will be exciting ‘appointment television’ events that both old and new Bears fans will truly appreciate,” said Phil Bedella, VP/GM of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
The first episode of Bears Classics (entitled “Night of the Ridiculous”) will take viewers back to that memorable “Monday Night Football” game in October of 2006. The Bears were off to a 5-0 start that season, but endured some early season struggles offensively. These struggles were exposed to a prime time MNF audience watching the Cardinals take advantage of those problems by taking a 20-0 lead into the half. However, thanks to some highly-motivational halftime speeches in the locker room, the Bears defensive and special teams units were the ones who came up big as they combined for an unforgettable second-half performance, highlighted by Brian Urlacher’s 25-tackle showcase, a forced fumble that led to a score, and Bears rookie Devin Hester’s stunning 82-yard punt return TD that propelled the Bears to a 24-23 victory. This unexpected Bears victory also struck a nerve with Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green, as his “They are who we thought they were!” post-game press conference rant added to the lore of this remarkable moment in Bears history.
BRIAN URLACHER on center Olin Kreutz addressing the team at halftime: “I remember halftime. Olin Kreutz stood up and we were like ‘what’s going on here?’ Olin said ‘we’re gonna win this f-in’ game’…then he was yelling ‘WE’RE GONNA WIN THIS F-in’ GAME!”
MUHSIN MUHAMMAD on Rex Grossman’s nightmarish performance: “He had six turnovers in that game…four interceptions, a couple of fumbles, and anytime you get to a quarterback early and you can hit him, the quarterback’s going to struggle.”
REX GROSSMAN on the offensive unit’s adversities in that game: “Everything was a struggle, they were all over us and their offense was starting hot…and I just remember the (Urlacher) sack-fumble getting everybody pumped up.”
CHARLES “PEANUT” TILLMAN on Urlacher’s 25-tackle performance: “Brian Urlacher turned into…he was just a beast the rest of the game. And to be on the field and witness it up close and personal, I mean it was probably one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen.”
OLIN KREUTZ on Urlacher’s 25-tackle performance: “That was the greatest performance I have ever seen on a football field. I mean it was unbelievable. He took over the whole game almost single-handedly.”
BRIAN URLACHER on his 25-tackle performance: “I didn’t feel like I was getting blocked, and if you watch the film, I didn’t get blocked a lot. There were times when they had guys on me, but I didn’t feel like I was getting blocked a whole lot in the second half.”
DEVIN HESTER on the punt return TD that completed the Bears’ comeback: “I felt a little knick on my leg that I was able to avoid to stay up, and after that, the rest was history. Before I even crossed the goal line, the last five yards were like ‘please don’t get caught!”
RICK TELANDER on Hester’s punt return TD: “As an observer, you couldn’t help but think ‘punt it to him. Please god, please punt the ball to him. Get it in his hands. You idiots! You morons!”
SCOTT PLAYER on punting the ball that led to Hester’s game-winning TD: “You hope that those ten other guys can cover the punt, which they should be able to do if they’re in the National Football League.”
OLIN KREUTZ on Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green’s infamous post-game rant: “I think that’s what made that game legendary was just his comments after the game…I mean he went crazy.”
LANCE BRIGGS on Green’s post-game rant: “It’s a moment I think will outlive everyone. Years from now, we’ll look back and say moments in sports history, and you’ll see Denny Green. And not only will you see what he said, but they’ll show that game.”
Comcast SportsNet will also re-air this episode of Bears Classics on Saturday, December 7 at 9:00 PM and on Wednesday, December 11 at 11:00 PM. Details regarding December’s premiere episode of Bears Classics will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition, fans can also get interactive prior and during every airing of Bears Classics with their thoughts, memories and comments by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #BearsClassics. Plus, CSNChicago.com will provide additional, online exclusive interviews and commentary write-ups from a variety of Comcast SportsNet on-air talent members and from CSNChicago.com’s Bears “Insider” John ‘Moon’ Mullin.
Breaking tradition: How about other teams besides Detroit, Dallas on Thanksgiving Day?
My son, Sam, perceptive as always, wondered why Oakland is playing in one of the Thanksgiving Day games Thursday. The 4-7 Raiders are at Dallas.
“Why couldn’t they come up with a better game for Thanksgiving?” Sam said.
For those of you asking the same thing, here’s the answer: It’s CBS’ turn to televise the Cowboys’ game this year on Thanksgiving. Since the network has the rights to inter-conference games when the AFC teams are on the road, there were only two choices: Denver or Oakland, the two AFC teams scheduled to visit Dallas this year.
So why not schedule Peyton Manning and the Broncos for Thanksgiving? Now that would be a feast. Imagine that 51-48 thriller on Oct. 6 filling up your turkey day? Nobody would eat.
The way it was explained to me, the ratings for the Thanksgiving Day games remain mostly the same regardless of who plays. So CBS and the NFL went for the big number with Dallas-Denver in the doubleheader window in early October.
As a result, we get the blah Raiders on Thursday. Talk about a turkey.
It doesn’t have to be this way. I’ve argued for years that it is time to break with the Detroit-Dallas tradition to create better match-ups on Thanksgiving Day.
I have no problems with Green Bay at Detroit on Thursday. It still is an interesting game even if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t play.
However, how about all of those years when the Lions were beyond terrible? Why did we have to stomach those bad Matt Millen teams on Thanksgiving Day? Talk about ruining your appetite. It hardly was a showcase for the NFL.
As for Dallas, I’ve seen my fill of Jerry Jones’ mediocre ensembles. The Cowboys have won one playoff game since the 90s. I know Dallas is America’s team, but enough already. That goes triple if they are playing a team like the Raiders.
The addition of a third game on Thanksgiving night does allow for some variety. NBC will air Pittsburgh at Baltimore.
How about expanding the concept to all three games? Thanksgiving is a huge day for football consumption. The NFL invites all of America over to its house. It needs to serve us its best meal, and not processed turkey (i.e., the Raiders).
Rich Eisen podcast with Twitter CEO: Huge possibilities for sports
If you have a few minutes during the holiday week, check out Rich Eisen’s podcast with Twitter CEO Dick Costolo.
Among other things, you learn that if Costolo had been a better stand-up comic, the world may never get Twitter. After graduating Michigan, he joined a Second City training program in Chicago that included a young fellow named Steve Carell. Wonder what ever happened to him?
Thankfully for Tweeters everywhere, Costolo’s life took another course. Now your life isn’t the same.
The rundown from Eisen’s site:
It’s a special late-week edition of The Rich Eisen Podcast featuring the CEO of Twitter, Dick Costolo. Eisen and his fellow University of Michigan alumnus discuss all things Twitter and the incredible impact that it has had not only in sports, but in our daily lives over the past few years. The hour long conversation hits on a myriad of topics, but none more important than Eisen’s request for Twitter to implement a sarcastic font, a.k.a. the “Eisen Font,” and for producers Chris Law and Chris Brockman to get blue check marks. Costolo’s responses to both are priceless and spawned this week’s #REP Poll Question, so be sure to vote.
Rose out again: ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV will feel pain with several Bulls games scheduled for national TV
It’s a dark and bleak day in Chicago. And I’m not talking about the dreary weather outside.
The news that Derrick Rose suffered another knee injury requiring surgery has the city in a collective funk. Everyone is concerned that Rose will become the Chicago basketball version of Gale Sayers.
Scary parallel: Both players got injured in their fourth seasons. Sayers never was the same. Hopefully, that won’t be the case for Rose, but you never know.
Also feeling the pain today are the NBA’s national TV partners. They were counting on the return of the 2010-11 MVP to produce a big year for the Bulls.
The networks loaded up on the Bulls this season: ESPN 10 times, on TNT nine times, on NBA-TV nine times and on ABC five times.
Some of those games already have been played, but there’s many more on the menu, including two Miami-Chicago games on ABC.
Not having Rose will hurt the marquee value of the Bulls national TV games. While the Bulls remained competitive last year without the star guard, it will be a challenge to hold things together two years in a row, as evidenced by a 39-point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday.
A strong Chicago team always does big numbers for the NBA. If the Bulls falter without Rose, the league might have to readjust some of its national TV schedule.
Yes, the pain of Rose’s latest injury extends beyond Chicago.
ESPN attribution issue: Disagreeing with ombudsman over flap involving Brett McMurphy
I was watching ESPN Sunday and something in the ever-present crawl caught my eye. I didn’t see what the exact story was, but the tagline said, “…first reported by NFL.com.”
I chuckled, knowing how sensitive ESPN is about the attribution issue, especially in light of a recent flap.
ESPN ombudsman Robert Lipsyte dedicated his latest column to unraveling a situation involving ESPN reporter Brett McMurphy.
Lipsyte writes:
On Nov. 6, Brent Zwerneman, who covers Texas A&M football for the San Antonio Express-News and the Houston Chronicle, posted what he considered “huge news in our fair state:” A&M was no longer interested in playing the University of Texas in the regular season. He based that assumption on the implications of this quote: “We hope to play them again in a BCS or playoff game at some point.” He attributed the quote thusly: “A&M senior associate athletic director Jason Cook told me this afternoon.”
As Zwerneman wrote in blogs for the two newspapers (both owned by the Hearst Corporation, which also has a 20 percent interest in ESPN), that stance was a “far cry” from the Aggies’ previous “Anytime, anywhere,” attitude toward a game with the Longhorns, their former conference rivals in the Big 12. Zwerneman attributed this to the Aggies’ recent success since moving to the Southeast Conference.
In reporting the story, Zwerneman tipped his hat to the Austin American-Statesman’s Kirk Bohls, who had earlier tweeted that he was “told by a higher-up Longhorn that the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry ‘perhaps’ could resume.”
Three hours later, Brett McMurphy, a college sports reporter for ESPN, filed a similar story with exactly the same quote. From the piece: “‘We hope to play them again in a BCS bowl or playoff game at some point,’ Texas A&M senior associate athletic director Jason Cook told ESPN on Wednesday.”
McMurphy wrote that “Cook would not elaborate,” but he came to the same conclusion as Zwerneman. McMurphy wrote: “It’s pretty clear the Aggies have no intention of scheduling any future regular-season games with Texas.”
Zwerneman subsequently demanded that McMurphy credit him for the initial scoop, believing that McMurphy had been pointed to Cook and the story by Zwerneman’s tweets and blogs on the topic (just as Zwerneman had been pointed to it by Bohls).
Later, Lipsyte writes:
Zwerneman, 42, the newspaper reporter, has covered the Aggies for 17 years and written three books about the school. He believes it was “simply wrong” of ESPN’s McMurphy to fail to credit him with this “breaking story” and then “stunningly” claim credit for the quote, which “means one thing: an exclusive.”
McMurphy, 51, spent 22 years at The Tampa Tribune as well as short stints at CBSSports.com and AOL Fanhouse before joining ESPN in August 2012. He doesn’t dispute the fact that Zwerneman’s blogs alerted him to the Cook quote or the story. But he saw no reason to offer attribution — and his TV editor at ESPN concurs — because he independently interviewed Cook by phone “for 10 or 15 minutes” as well as other sources.
Cook gave him the same quote, McMurphy told me, and he doesn’t understand why Zwerneman “went off like a 12-year-old girl.” Feisty on the phone and on email, McMurphy wrote to me that “Brent — and now you — will have spent more time on this than Kennedy historians spent dissecting the Zapruder film.”
Even though McMurphy’s editor defended him, Lipsyte said ESPN should have attributed its story back to the Texas reports.
He writes:
Nevertheless, I think there’s a flag on this play. I disagree with Salituro that it’s only about two reporters getting the same quote. Why would McMurphy call the Aggies’ Cook in the first place if he hadn’t been alerted by Zwerneman’s reporting? Whether Cook repeated the quote verbatim to McMurphy or merely agreed it was authentic is immaterial — that “told ESPN” is generally interpreted as ESPN having been told exclusively, or at least first. McMurphy might have slightly advanced the story by confirming it and adding some background of his own (neither story topped 250 words), but a tip of his hat would have been ethically proper.
I disagree. I’ve been on the other end some scoops that I’ve reported in Chicago. The credit lasts about 10 seconds before everyone else confirms the information.
McMurphy did his own interview for the story. Perhaps using the line “told ESPN on Wednesday” made it seem as if it was his exclusive. However, I believe McMurphy was just trying to show those were his quotes.
Also, this wasn’t a breaking news story. Rather, this was about confirming something that already was out there: A&M won’t be playing Texas.
I have to say I would have handled the story the same way as McMurphy. That’s how things work in the new media world.
Now we’ll have to see how the Sherman Report ombudsman weighs in on that one.