Note: Posted noon on Wednesday. This is the first week attempting to balance my new video venture with the other work. The mid-week BC may be a bit lite from time to time going forward.
World Series Quiz: Name the two who have played on the most losing clubs in Series history with six. [One A.L., one N.L.] Answer below.
College Football
–Some great games this weekend…and I forgot that Wake Forest is on the tube, Thursday night, at home against No. 18 Clemson. I hope the Deacs show up.
No. 2 Florida at No. 10 Georgia…3:30 pm. ET
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma…8:00
No. 11 Mississippi State at No. 1 Alabama…8:30 p.m.
–Huge blow for Florida State as they lost senior running back Chris Thompson for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Thompson was leading the ACC with a 7.55 yards-per-carry average.
–This is too much. According to the News and Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina’s senior wide receiver Erik Highsmith plagiarized a piece for a communications class last spring in which he used material from a piece on poultry written by 11-year-olds.
“The following are excerpts of what Highsmith wrote last year for his class and what the 11-year-olds wrote eight years earlier for their peers, both provided by the News and Observer. You be the judge.
“First Highsmith’s: ‘Poultry farming is raising of turkeys, ducks, chicken and other fowl for meat or eggs. Poultry farms can be breeding farms where they raise poultry for meat, or layer farms where they produce eggs. The ‘best’ breeds depend on what you want from them. Good egg layers are Rhode Island Reds [brown eggs] and leghorns [white eggs].’
“Now the 11-year-olds’: ‘Poultry farming is raising chickens, turkeys, ducks and other fowl for meat or eggs. Poultry farms can be: 1. Breeding arms where they raise poultry for meat, or 2. Layer farms where they produce eggs.’
“This has to be embarrassing for Highsmith, and it certainly doesn’t bode well for the football program, which is currently serving a one-year bowl ban for an alleged academic fraud scandal under former coach Butch Davis.”
Am I the only one who’s never heard the term ‘layer farms’?
–John Feinstein / Washington Post…on Kansas coach Charlie Weis, ex- of Notre Dame. Weis is 1-6 in his first season with the Jayhawks.
“Weis takes himself very seriously – to put it mildly – and seems to think that bullying the media plays a key role in building a successful football program….
“A couple of weeks ago, a reporter from the Kansas student newspaper was called into a meeting with two members of the Kansas athletic staff and told that if he asked questions in Weis’ news conference that day they could not guarantee how Weis would respond but it might not be friendly. Apparently Weis was upset about a disparaging cartoon that appeared in the student paper about his team.
“Oh gosh, we can’t have that, especially when the genius coach has produced one victory.
“The pick-on-the-kid reporter story came out at about the same time that Weis was quoted by a number of local media members as saying he didn’t plan to allow his 20 seniors to practice with the team on Sundays anymore. While the rest of the team practiced, the seniors were told to lift weights and run on their own.
“When the question of the seniors’ absence was raised the day after Kansas’ 56-16 loss to Kansas State, Weis was quoted as saying he planned to focus the rest of the season on players who would help the team in the future. ‘I took everyone who is gonna be on the team next year and they practiced,’ Weis said, according to the Kansas City Star. ‘And anyone who’s not gonna be on the team next year, after we were done with their film session, they ran and lifted.’”
Weis later claimed his comments were taken out of context.
—A record nine Venezuelans are appearing in the World Series, five with San Francisco, including one of the stories of the year, Marco Scutaro.
Talk about a late-bloomer, Scutaro, who turns 37 next week, was acquired from Colorado on July 27 and in 61 games for the Giants hit an amazing .362, striking out just 14 times in 243 at-bats. He has now gone 17 for 48 (.354) in the postseason thus far, including 14 for 28 in the NLCS which earned him the MVP award.
Of course when it comes to the Venezuelans in the Series, you also have Triple Crown-winner Miguel Cabrera.
—Justin Verlander is 0-for-33 at the plate, with not even a walk. Actually, 0-for-24, officially, with 9 sacrifice hits. Verlander did once reach first on a fielder’s choice.
But according to the New York Times’ Benjamin Hoffman, the 33 plate appearances without a hit, walk or hit by pitch are a major league record, surpassing Nellie King, a pitcher for the Pirates in the 1950s who had 29 such plate appearances over four seasons.
King pitched from 1954-57 and appeared in 90 games with a 7-5 record and a 3.58 ERA.
But here’s something kind of extraordinary, also as noted by Hoffman. Barry Zito, from 2008-2010, had the exact same batting line…6-for-51, .118. Each of the three seasons. You can look it up.
–Looking back at Cards-Giants, it really is kind of amazing St. Louis was outscored 20-1 in the last three games. And as Karen Crouse pointed out in the New York Times, the Cards’ Carlos Beltran “fell one victory short (of playing in the World Series) for the third time with three teams. He lost in the seventh game of the NLCS as a Houston Astro in 2004 and as a Met in 2006.”
Us Mets fans still have nightmares over 2006. Carlos Beltran, looking at a called third strike, frozen by the Cards’ Adam Wainwright, which as Crouse wrote, “ushered in the Mets’ nuclear winter.”
–The Miami Marlins fired manager Ozzie Guillen after just one season. Guillen had three years remaining on a four-year, $10 million contract.
Guillen, who guided the 2005 White Sox to a title, was expected to energize the South Florida fan base but the Marlins had a nightmarish season going just 69-93 in their new ballpark.
It all started with his comments in Time magazine where he expressed his admiration of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The Marlins suspended him for five games, but it was in essence over in terms of his relationship with fans. And despite the new stadium, Miami was only 12th out of 16 teams in the N.L. in attendance.
“The team spent $201 million. Guillen and three top free agents: shortstop Jose Reyes, starter Mark Buehrle and closer Heath Bell. Last week, the Marlins traded Bell (and $8 million) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a prospect.
“The Marlins also traded infielder Hanley Ramirez, a former All-Star, to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July, the same month they shipped starter Anibal Sanchez and second baseman Omar Infante to the Detroit Tigers.
“Now Sanchez and Infante are preparing for the World Series.”
“Is he still a superstar? No. Is he still an above-average player at his position? Yes. He was this year and we expect him to be one moving forward.”
–From the New York Times’ Chase Stuart [Stuart also writes at his site, footballperspective.com]
“After seven weeks, Robert Griffin III of the Redskins has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. He leads the N.F.L. with a 70.4 completion percentage, and could become the first rookie to lead the league in that category since Parker Hall with the Rams in 1939.
“Griffin also ranks first in yards per attempt with an 8.5 average, and could become the first rookie since another Ram, Bob Waterfield in 1945, to lead the N.F.L. in that statistic. Only two rookies in professional football history have ever led the league in both completion percentage and yards per attempt. The first was another Redskin, Sammy Baugh, in 1937; the last was Greg Cook, in the American Football League in 1969 (his career was ruined by a shoulder injury that year).
“Griffin’s statistical domination of the record book has been astounding. And that’s before we get to the fact that he has 468 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in seven games, putting Cam Newton’s rookie rushing records in both categories (706 and 14) in jeopardy.”
As for the man RG3 will always be compared to because of their positions in the 2012 draft, Andrew Luck, Stuart points out that Luck is 32nd in completion percentage (53.6) and 25th in yards per attempt (6.7). Luck is also tied for next to last in quarterback rating.
“Rex Ryan has proven to be a defensive maestro during his Jets tenure – that is, until his defense is trying to close out a game in the final minutes.
“Since Ryan was hired in 2009, the Jets have allowed opponents to score on 40% of drives when they have the ball trailing by one score in the final three minutes – including Sunday’s crushing overtime loss in Foxborough against the Patriots. The NFL average is 30%. And only three defenses have fared worse in these situations: Dallas (52.9%), Washington (42.1%) and the Giants (42.1%).”
As a Jets fan, it feels worse than 40%. And watching all the Giants’ contests, I would have thought they were better.
—Eli Manning’s fourth-quarter comeback on Sunday against the Redskins was his ninth since the beginning of 2011.
—Eva Longoria wised up and dumped Jets QB Mark Sanchez, after reports “the 25-year-old footballer spent early Saturday morning ‘flirting and dancing with some blond’ at the Darby Downstairs nightclub on W. 14th St.” [New York Daily News]
A Sanchez spokesman said, “Mark adores and respects Eva. It really was about scheduling more than anything else. They will remain close friends.”
A source close to Longoria blamed the age difference between the two. She’s 37.
But here’s what I don’t get. According to the News’ source, Sanchez was out Friday night until 3:30 a.m., Saturday, and he had a game less than 36 hours later! You’re supposed to do your partying after the game, Sanchise.
–As the New York Post’s Brian Costello notes, remember during training camp how Rex Ryan talked of Tim Tebow getting 20 snaps a game?
“So far? Tebow has averaged seven snaps…He has carried the ball 22 times (twice on punts). He has attempted three passes (one on special teams). He has no touchdowns. Since playing 12 snaps against the Dolphins in Week 3, his playing time has dwindled. He played just five snaps Sunday against the Patriots….
“The Jets are fortunate Tebow is such a team guy and never will make a peep about his frustration. But this is one of the most successful college football players ever. For all of his throwing flaws, he led the Broncos to a division title. Eventually, Tebow will get tired of playing second fiddle to Sanchez, if he hasn’t already.”
–Boy, I didn’t realize the dysfunctional Carolina Panthers are shelling out contract guarantees of $44 million between running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. $44 mil, guaranteed?! They became the first NFL teammates to both gain 1,100 rushing yards in a season, 2009, but this is 2012 and they’ll be lucky to combine for 800 this year. After another loss on Sunday, the 1-5 Panthers fired GM Marty Hurney.
Meanwhile, Phil W. passed along a story by Barry Petchesky on Slate.com concerning Panthers’ QB Cam Newton, who commented following Sunday’s 19-14 loss to the Cowboys:
“The past couple of games have been the same script, by the same director. It’s kind of getting boring. This taste, this vibe – I’m not buying it, man. And I don’t know what it is, but something’s going to have to change. Something’s going to have to change real fast….
“I’m going to leave this room, and I’m going to bring in a suggestion box, and I want your suggestions to be in that suggestion box because I sure don’t know. I really don’t. I wish I could tell you. But the only thing I control, sweetheart, is myself. Offensively, I am the leader of this bunch, and we haven’t been getting the job done.”
“This is a normal and healthy response…Coming from any other player, these concepts would be chalked up to the frustrations of someone who wants to win. But from Newton – or at least, the Newton of this year – they’re taken as evidence of immaturity; as throwing teammates and coaches under the bus; as a player unwilling to own up to his own failings. Maybe it’s because the NFL media have gotten to know and to dislike Newton, but the usual script has been flipped….
“Newton might be a victim of inflated hype. Compare his numbers from this season and last, and they’re not markedly different….
“The difference is that little was expected from him last year, so he exceeded even the most hopeful projections. This year we expected more, and he hasn’t delivered….
“There are lots of folks who want Newton to fail. Nearly all of that attitude dates to his brief-but-eventful college career: the legal trouble at Florida, the shady recruiting at Mississippi State, his perceived arrogance at Auburn as the controversy swirled around him….
“Most other quarterbacks would be viewed with patience if, after just 22 career starts, the front office was still struggling to build a team around them. The scrutiny of Newton, the venom as he appears to live up to the worst perceptions, shows he’s not going to get that leeway. He can wave away all character concerns by returning to his improbably high standards of play, but he’s not about to receive a lot of sympathy as he tries.”
From the Los Angeles Times’ Wesley Lowery and Andrew Blankstein:
“A 39-year-old man who was killed Tuesday in a shark attack was described by friends as an avid surfer who had been coming to the waters off the Santa Barbara coast for years.
“Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. of Orcutt was dragged by a friend to the beach after he sustained a massive bite on his upper torso that turned the water surrounding him red, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“ ‘His friend saw the shark bite him,’ said sheriff’s Sgt. Mark Williams. ‘It was a pretty bad bite.’”
The attack was off Surf Beach, which runs along the edge of Vandenberg Air Force and is a popular spot with local swimmers and surfers.
An expert said the attack had all the hallmarks of a great white. Solorio’s death was the 13th fatal shark attack in California since 1950; six since 2003. At the same spot two years ago, a 19-year-old who was boogie-boarding was pulled under by a shark, “ripping his left leg off at the pelvis.”
The victim’s friend described that shark as being 18 to 20 feet long.
–It’s so bad for Lance Armstrong, not that I feel in the least bit sorry for the dirtball, that his two sub-three hour times in the New York City Marathon will probably be scrubbed after the findings of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
And now that he has been stripped of his seven Tour de France wins, Armstrong is being asked to repay $9.5 million given to him by SCA Promotions Inc., which paid bonuses for his fourth, fifth and sixth Tour titles.
–The NHL Players’ Association requested a meeting with owners but none has been scheduled. The league had set a deadline of Thursday for having a new collective bargaining agreement in place and salvaging a full season.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, “They have indicated a willingness to meet, but at this point there is nothing to meet about.”
–Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma wants the rims lowered in his sport. He told reporters the other day:
“Do you think the average fan knows that the net is lower in women’s volleyball than men’s volleyball? It’s about seven inches shorter so the women have the chance for the same kind of success at the net.”
Auriemma said lowering the rims would make for increased scoring around the basket.
“Let’s say the average men’s player is 6-5 and the average woman is 5-11,” Auriemma said. “Let’s lower the rim seven inches; let’s say 7.2 inches to honor Title IX.”
—Rory McIlroy is about to sign a deal with Nike for $250 million over 10 years; this after Nike cut ties with Lance Armstrong. So the sportswear giant will have both Tiger and Rory in its stable. I wonder if the two will do commercials together? They’d have some fun with it.
–According to a survey conducted by American and German researchers, when women are asked what they really want in their “perfect day,” “a typical Western woman would like to spend 56 minutes shopping, 75 minutes eating and just 36 minutes working….they would also like to spend 106 minutes of romantic or ‘intimate’ time with their partners.” [Hannah Furness / Daily Telegraph]
Top 3 songs for the week 10/22/66: #1 “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (Four Tops) #2 “96 Tears” (?(Question Mark) & The Mysterians) #3 “Last Train To Clarksville” (The Monkees)…and…#4 “Cherish” (The Association… underrated group…) #5 “Psychotic Reaction” (Count Five…great song…) #6 “Walk Away Renee” (The Left Banke) #7 “Poor Side Of Town” (Johnny Rivers…talk about an underrated artist…) #8 “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” (Jimmy Ruffin) #9 “Dandy” (Herman’s Hermits) #10 “See See Rider” (Eric Burdon & The Animals)
World Series Quiz Answer: Two who have played on six losing Series teams – Pee Wee Reese, NL: Brk. 1941, 47, 49, 52-53, 56; Elston Howard, AL: NY 1955, 57, 60, 63-64; Bos 67.
