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Bar Chat

09/25/2014

Bear Attack in New Jersey

[Posted Wed. PM...before Tony Stewart grand jury ruling.]

Ryder Cup Quiz: Going back to 1991, name the last four sites Team USA has won at. Answer below.

Ball Bits

N.L. Central (thru Tuesday)

St. Louis 88-70
Pittsburgh 86-71

N.L. Wild Card

Pittsburgh 86-71
San Francisco 85-72

The Pirates clinched their second consecutive playoff berth after a 21-year drought on Tuesday in Atlanta and now if they can’t catch the Cardinals, it’s about staying ahead of San Francisco for home-field advantage in the sudden death playoff contest.

A.L. Central

Detroit 87-70
Kansas City 86-71

A.L. Wild Card

Kansas City 86-71
Oakland 86-71
Seattle 83-74

The Mariners have folded like a cheap suit, losing their last four, and it looks like Oakland will avoid the worst collapse in history...going from best record in baseball to missing the playoffs entirely. Kansas City, of course, would like to catch Detroit and avoid a sudden death game with the A’s.

Back to Atlanta, talk about folding their tent early. The Braves are 4-16 in September and at 76-81, below .500 for the first time since May 2010. General Manager Frank Wren was fired on Monday.

--As for the playoffs, it would appear the Washington Nationals will finish with the best record in the N.L. but as the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell writes, gaining the home-field advantage throughout matters little.

“Since the arrival of wild cards in baseball (and a three-tiered playoff system) in 1995, more teams that had the best record in their league have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round (14) than have made it to the World Series (13). The Nats and Washington know all about this since it happened to them in 2012. That wasn’t an anomaly. It was simply the unavoidable cruelty of October baseball.

“Since ’95, there have been 38 teams with their league’s best record. What’s it worth? In the first round, quite a bit. The No. 1 seeds have a 24-14 record in division series – a rare lopsided number in baseball. After that, you might as well flip coins to pick a favorite. In league championship series, those ‘top seeds’ have gone 13-11. And when they’ve reached the World Series, they were 7-6....

“An even meaner trend has emerged in the N.L. in this century...Of the 14 teams since 2000 that had the N.L.’s best record, none – that’s n-o-n-e – won the World Series and only two of those ‘best’ teams even got there.

--The Wall Street Journal’s Brian Costa notes that since Aug. 1, the Oakland A’s are 20-30 (.400), which is significant in that “Only two teams in baseball history have played below-.500 baseball from Aug. 1 to the end of the regular season and gone on to win the World Series: the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (.439) and the 1958 New York Yankees (.491). And those teams were not nearly as bad after the end of July as the A’s have been, the ’06 Cards going 25-32 (.439) and the ’58 Yankees 27-28 (.491).

“You’d have to be cold-blooded and cold-hearted, or living under a rock with slimy snakes, or camped out in a Yankee Stadium parking lot, or as cynical and hardened and disillusioned as a D.C. lobbyist at a Georgetown dinner party, not to be rooting for the Kansas City Royals.

“I mean, what has Kansas City, Mo., ever done to you?

“The poor folks there have lived through a generation of disappointment for their favorite professional sports teams, the NFL’s Chiefs and MLB’s Royals.

“The Chiefs won their only Super Bowl in the 1969 season; they haven’t been back since. The Royals won their only World Series in 1985; they haven’t made the playoffs since.”

There will be a lot of fun stories in the postseason, the Royals and Pirates being right up there.

But...cough cough...my prediction of Washington over Baltimore looks as good as any.

--The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright joined Clayton Kershaw as a 20-game winner, the second time in his career Wainwright hit that magical mark as St. Louis remained ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL Central with an 8-0 win over the Cubs on Monday night.

Here is Wainwright’s won-loss record the past few years.

2009...19-8
2010...20-11
2011...Tommy John surgery
2012...14-13
2013...19-9
2014...20-9

Wainwright has also been in the news with regards to the rehab of Yankees hurler Masahiro Tanaka, who has thus far eschewed TJ surgery in the hope he can just pitch through his issues.

Wainwright said he held off on surgery for six seasons before going under the knife in 2011 and after one full season, 2012, he was back to peak form. The point being, Tanaka should know he’ll eventually need it, but it’s not necessary to do it right away. In Tanaka’s first start after 2 ½ months of extensive rehab, he proved Wainwright, err, right...at least temporarily.

[I do have to note that last time I made it sound as if Tanaka is finished for the year but the Yankees are acting like he’ll start over the final weekend. I’d tell the guy you proved you can come back...now take the winter off.]

--The Mets are bringing back GM Sandy Alderson and Manager Terry Collins for 2015, with Alderson getting a three-year extension through at least 2017, and Collins returning to fulfill the second season of his two-year contract extension signed at the end of the 2013 campaign.

The Mets haven’t had a winning season since 2008 – tied with Houston for the longest such streak in baseball.

--Former Met Justin Turner continues to rake for the Dodgers. He’s now batting .333 in 282 at-bats, 7 homers, 41 RBI and an .879 OPS...easily his best season yet and suddenly an absolutely critical cog for their playoff hopes.

College Football

Yet another unexciting weekend coming up, though once again the best game in terms of rankings is on Thursday, No. 11 UCLA at No. 15 Arizona State, with both teams having cheerleading squads consistently in the top ten.

I must say I’m also curious to see how 3-0 Oregon State does at No. 18 USC. Can the Beavers give the other powers in the Pac-12 a run for their money this fall, or will they stage their traditional flameout in the second half of the season.

And 4-0 Duke is at 2-2 Miami. A solid win for the Blue Devils probably vaults them to No. 23 or so.

--Back to last Saturday and Florida State’s 23-17 win over Clemson, FSU coach Dumbo Fisher said Jameis Winston’s one-game suspension “hit home” with the Heisman winner.

As for why Winston was warming up in full pads prior to the game before Fisher told him to go back and change, Fisher said, “That was a miscommunication between us and the [equipment staff] because, with the late-night [full-game] suspension, he was scheduled to dress [Saturday] and the stuff was put out in the locker room when he went in to dress,” Fisher said Monday. “He was great about it, went in and came back out and did what he was asked to do.”

The school said it is continuing to help teach Winston how to handle himself in public, but gave no specifics. Ah, Seminoles? It’s called common sense.

--Texas coach Charlie Strong has now dismissed nine Longhorns players since taking over the program this spring. Texas has started the season just 1-2 and also lost the services of quarterback David Ash, as I noted the other day.

--TCU is a 33-point favorite over SMU...just sayin’. Paul P. says that SMU’s female student population, however, is very impressive and he doesn’t understand why the Mustangs don’t recruit better.

The Ravens and Ray Rice

Responding to an ESPN investigative report into the team’s handling of Ray Rice’s domestic abuse case, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti responded by holding a news conference on Monday, blaming Rice’s ‘team’ for ‘manufacturing’ much of the information in ESPN’s story.

“The majority of the sources [for the report] are people that work for Ray,” said Bisciotti. “Almost everything in there is anonymous, but it’s clear from the subject matter that it’s Ray’s attorney, it’s Ray’s agent, it’s Ray’s friends.” Bisciotti said he just wished ESPN had named its sources.

Responding afterward for ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” reporter Don Van Natta said OTL interviewed more than 20 sources over 11 days, including team officials, current and former league officials, and NFL Players Association representatives, as well as Rice’s advisers and friends.

Bisciotti reiterated an earlier stance that the team’s biggest mistake was not obtaining the video of what happened inside the elevator.

“There’s no excuse for me to not have [demanded] that video except I wasn’t concerned or interested enough to get it,” he said.  “It never crossed my mind. I’m deeply sorry for that.”

Personally, I find it hard to believe he didn’t see the video.

But Bisciotti did release a full transcript of texts he exchanged with Rice after the running back was released and on these Bisciotti says exactly what the Rice camp said he did, only the Rice camp hadn’t released the tone of Ray’s return texts, which were very positive as the two discussed his future in the organization after the suspension and once his playing days were over.

“As pointless and condescending as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s news conference was on Friday, he at least had the good sense to not blame victims or make jokes about the situation.

“Bisciotti did both, with a cavalier attitude that was as inappropriate as it was appalling. The worst Saturday Night Live skits have better taste than that displayed by Bisciotti.

“What Goodell and the NFL owners have consistently failed to understand since TMZ aired that second Rice video two weeks ago is that apologies are as useless as defending themselves. Nobody wants to hear it.

“What the public and NFL sponsors want is an explanation of how the league is going to prevent more of these horrible crimes in the future. And, as more incidents inevitably happen, what is a plan of action that leaves no uncertainty about how unacceptable such behavior is?

“Three weeks in, we’re still waiting. Worse, we’re now shaking our heads at how Bisciotti could continue to be so clueless....

“ ‘My one prevailing thought: Why didn’t we get that video? How could the league have not seen that video?’ Bisciotti said when asked his reaction to seeing the tape.

“Actually, his prevailing thought should have been concern and sympathy for Janay Rice.

“But Bisciotti and the Ravens made it clear long ago that they don’t get domestic violence, and they don’t much care. This is the same organization that sent a domestic violence victim on stage with her abuser, then compounded the insensitivity by sending out a tweet saying, ‘Janay Rice deeply regrets the role that she played the night of the incident.’”

“For years, the Ravens’ front office – with a history of sticking by players who deal with sticky off-the-field issues – has been one of the most respected in the NFL on several levels that includes producing teams that consistently compete.

“Besides, we’re in the ‘ignorance is not an excuse’ era of league scandals.

“Their insensitivity, NFL macho culture or not, is another matter.

“ ‘This is a society thing,’ Bisciotti said. ‘So as much as I’d like to tell you that I should have stood up and told you, ‘To hell with the way the world views this, we’re going to take a stand better and bigger than anyone else,’ I’m not that good. I’m not that honorable, I guess, that I was prepared to take the worst-case punishment for someone that I have incredibly loving feelings for.’

--Meanwhile, in Monday Night Football, my Jets once again failed to get it done, losing at home to the Bears, 27-19.

Here’s the deal. I thought in the opener (Oakland) and first half of the second game (Green Bay) quarterback Geno Smith appeared to have made big strides and, for one, seemed a lot more confident and in charge. The last six quarters that hasn’t been the case. He’s been the same old Geno.

Oh, sure, his stat line for Monday looks OK...26 of 43, 316 yards, the second highest total of his young career, but he threw two killer interceptions, both truly pathetic and beyond explanation.

Once again, after the game Smith said, “It’s one of those things I can learn from and I will learn from and get better.” Or maybe not.

Many fans are clamoring for Michael Vick as the Jets are home to Detroit this coming Sunday, but there is no chance we see Vick unless Geno has a truly dreadful first half and the Jets are down 20-0.

--Did you see Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch tore the ACL in his left knee while celebrating a sack in Sunday’s win over Green Bay?

--Yikes, Raiders coach Dennis Allen is 8-27. Team owner Mark Davis said Allen’s fate would be decided after Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, during the Raiders’ bye week.

--Eagles cornerback Cary Williams questioned his head coach, Chip Kelly, and his practice methods, saying they are having a negative impact on the team.

“I’m saying [practicing every day] impacted a lot of people,” Williams said. “A lot of people, but I’m just the only one man enough to get up here and say anything about it... When you don’t have legs, period, it shows up in the game.”

The players love playing for Kelly, but if Williams is right, this is a big problem for the 3-0 Eagles. [Eliot Shorr-Parks / NJ.com]

Ryder Cup

Well here we are...Gleneagles, Scotland. Cutting to the chase, I believe the Europeans will prevail in a rout, 17-11. There is zero reason to be optimistic for the Americans, especially given how poorly some of them have been playing, and we’re talking for months.

Phil Mickelson, for one, has to step up big time. But I fear Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth will totally flame out, and I’m less than optimistic Webb Simpson will prove Tom Watson right for selecting him as a captain’s pick. [Obviously, I love Webb, being a Deac and all, but I’m just being objective.]

On the other hand, the same Spieth and Reed could totally turn things around for Watson’s boys if they get off to good starts.

The Ryder Cup is fascinating because careers can be made, from an advertising standpoint. It’s all about the Q-rating. I do believe Rickie Fowler will play great, and assuming he is in all five matches (he better be, Captain Tom!), I’ll say he goes 4-1.

[Pssst...just looked at Euro squad again and how they have been playing over the summer, in particular, vs. their American counterparts...it could be really, really bad.]

In his first press conference upon touching down in Scotland, where he won four of his five Open championships, Tom Watson said it would be bigger to take down Ian Poulter than Rory McIlroy.

--According to the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, Rickie Fowler is the favorite to be the top American points scorer...5/1. Phil Mickelson is second at 6/1. Boy, I’d love that to be so. Just don’t see it. [Patrick Reed is at the bottom at 20/1.]

The top European points scorer, according to the same sports book, is McIlroy at 7/2. Sergio Garcia is second at 6/1.

By the way the lowest odds at picking the correct score are 7/1 if you have Europe 15 USA 13.

--Not for nothing but if Team USA has a shot, the selection of Gleneagles will have a lot to do with it. Only three of the European players have any real knowledge of the course.

Bear Kills New Jersey Student

Yup, it finally happened. For years and years, I have told you it was just a matter of time before my home state recorded its first official bear fatality. Well it happened on Sunday. A 22-year-old Rutgers student, whose name I am not going to state here, was with four friends, hiking through a wooded area of West Milford, New Jersey, when a black bear began to follow them and they decided to scatter in five different directions (instead of forming a circle like musk ox). Four of the five then found each other. They called police at 3:45 p.m. when they couldn’t find what turned out to be the victim. His body was discovered about two hours later.

Said the police chief for West Milford, “Evidence at the scene indicated that the victim had been attacked by a bear.”

A bear was found nearby (30 to 40 yards from the victim’s body) and gunned down in a hail of bullets, a la Bonnie and Clyde.

The news is great for ratings, of course, this being Web Sweeps Week, but here I have long told you I feared being the first victim in my state, given all I’ve written. I have also been truthful in telling you that the park I do most of my running in has a safe side, and a kind of spooky side (both wooded but one well-traveled, the other path not so much...plus I’ve seen dead animals...large ones...in a creek going through the spooky section.)

So I’ve decided to run around Giralda Farms, a large corporate park, where if I come under attack by a Kodiak bear at least dog walkers will see my mangled body and alert someone...the lawn guys, perhaps.

And as Brad K. best summed up...it’s only going to get worse in these parts. “The bears smell fear.”

--We note the passing of former NBA center Caldwell Jones, 64. He died of an apparent heart attack while at a driving range, according to his wife.

Jones played from 1973-90 in the ABA and NBA and was a solid rebounder and shot blocker. While with Philadelphia, he was twice named to the all-NBA defensive team. He was well-respected and loved by his teammates.

--Embattled Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry picked up a key endorsement Tuesday after a meeting with Magic Johnson. Ferry, on indefinite leave of absence after making a racially insensitive comment concerning Luol Deng and the African American community, had what Magic described as a “heart to heart meeting” and Johnson considered Ferry’s apology “very sincere” and thinks Ferry “deserves a second chance.”

Magic also recommended the Hawks hire Dominique Wilkins as a high level executive.

“No one knows more about basketball and loved by the Atlanta community than Dominique Wilkins,” Magic tweeted.

--Uh oh...I know it’s only 5 games into the Premier League season, but my Tottenham Hotspurs are just 2-1-2 (W-D-L), 7 points, with Chelsea the only undefeated squad at 4-1-0, 13 points. Tottenham had a bad 1-0 loss at West Brom the other day.

Meanwhile, Manchester United is just 1-2-2...truly pathetic...under new manager Louis van Gaal, including last weekend’s 5-3 loss to Leicester.

--Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev, has a dark past. So much for her image of being a goody two-shoes. It seems that she was booted from her Hofstra University sorority in 2013 – for abusive hazing of pledges.

As reported by the New York Daily News’ Bill Hutchinson, “A former pledge told website Jezebel that Kazantsev was a mean girl who made recruits’ lives ‘a living hell.’

“Under Kazantsev’s direction as head of recruitment for the Alpha Phi sorority at the Hempstead, L.I., college, pledges were put through a ringer of abuse and belittling, the source said.

“Recruits were called foul names, berated for physical imperfections and forced to perform tasks that left some exhausted and bruised, the source told the website.

“When Hofstra University was tipped off about the ‘dirty pledging’ that Kazantsev and her best friend, a sorority sister, were up to, officials launched an investigation.

“Kira Kazantsev was reportedly expelled from the sorority for her pledging tactics.

“In April 2013, the university expelled Kazantsev and her friend from the sorority and barred them from all sorority activities, the source said.”

The university said it could not comment on specific student proceedings due to privacy laws.

The Miss America organization said it was “unfortunate that this incident has been exploited to create a storyline that distracts from what we should be focusing on: Kira’s impressive academic achievements at Hofstra University, including earning a triple major from the Honors College.”

Frankly, I’m a Miss Universe kind of guy.

Top 3 songs for the week 9/22/79: #1 “My Sharona” (The Knack) #2 “After The Love Has Gone” (Earth, Wind & Fire...one of their better tunes...) #3 “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” (The Charlie Daniels Band...never understood the success of this one...my favorite was “Carolina” off the ‘High Lonesome’ album, 1976...)... and...#4 “Rise” (Herb Alpert...an amazing music titan...) #5 “Lead Me On” (Maxine Nightingale) #6 “Sad Eyes” (Robert John) #7 “Lonesome Loser” (Little River Band) #8 “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” (Dionne Warwick) #9 “Sail On” (Commodores) #10 “Don’t Bring Me Down” (Electric Light Orchestra...not a good band to be a member of...something like 86 members, divided by proceeds, equals nuthin’. Better to be one of the four in the Beatles...or Simon and Garfunkel...or Frank Sinatra...know what I’m sayin’? “Mom, can I be a member of ELO? They think I’m pretty good.” “Jimmy, they have like 98 members! How are you going to make a living?” That’s how it went down, back in the day...)

Ryder Cup Quiz Answer: Team USA won at the following...

2008...Valhalla 16 ½-11 ½
1999...The Country Club...14 ½-13 1/2
1993...The Belfry...15-13
1991...The Ocean Course...14 ½-13 ½

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