Good for Donovan McNabb for getting the payday he deserves.
ESPN’s Michael Smith is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to restructure McNabb’s contract, paying him $24.5 million during the final two years. He was supposed to make about $9 million this season and $10 for 2010. After the two years, McNabb, who is entering his 11th season with the team, will be a free agent and test the waters, although he said he'll be in Philadelphia "for years to come."
McNabb has been a player that can never seem to win with the media. Or in Philadelphia, for that matter. And I can’t figure out why. As a starter, he’s won 65 percent of his games (82-45-1), led the team to its first Super Bowl appearance since the Reagan administration and averaged 19.4 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in his 10 seasons.
Keep in mind that he’s done this with minimal talent around him. Sure, Brian Westbrook is a top-level back in the NFL, but when you have to rely on the likes of Hank Baskett and L.J. Smith to make plays, it can make things tough. Still, McNabb is a five-time Pro Bowler, and – starting on draft day in 1999, when he was booed after the Eagles picked him No. 2 overall – he’s never gotten the respect he deserves.
Fortunately, though, he got paid.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sox vs. Yankees - let's get it on!
Yes, it’s early June but you have to be somewhat excited about the three-game set between the Yankees and Red Sox at Fenway. Like it should be, these teams are 1-2 in the division standings, and the three pitching matchups should make for good viewing.
Judging by those matchups, I like the Sox winning two of three (the first two) and taking a one-game lead into the weekend, when the teams start another round of interleague play.
Most experts will tell you these games don’t mean too much because there’s still plenty of season to be played. But if you don’t remember, the White Sox and Twins had to play a one-game playoff last year to decide the AL Central champion (won by the South Siders).
One more win for the Twins against the Sox during the regular season, and they would have clinched the division. Trust me, these games mean a lot.
Judging by those matchups, I like the Sox winning two of three (the first two) and taking a one-game lead into the weekend, when the teams start another round of interleague play.
Most experts will tell you these games don’t mean too much because there’s still plenty of season to be played. But if you don’t remember, the White Sox and Twins had to play a one-game playoff last year to decide the AL Central champion (won by the South Siders).
One more win for the Twins against the Sox during the regular season, and they would have clinched the division. Trust me, these games mean a lot.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Federer or Sampras?
Let the debate continue.
Now that Roger Federer has won his 14th Grand Slam title, after beating Robin Soderling on Sunday in the French Open final, the discussion over the greatest men’s tennis player of all-time is beginning to peak.
Until recently, Pete Sampras, who also has 14 Slams, was regarded as the best there ever was.
Things have changed.
Federer is The Man.
Not only does he have those 14 Grand Slams, he has a career Grand Slam (winning each major at least once), something Sampras can’t claim. And Federer has the more complete game. Not to downplay Sampras’ game, but in his prime, he couldn’t do all the things Federer does on the court.
Sampras’ biggest weapon was his serve — both the speed and locations. What’s Federer’s strength? Sure, you could say it’s his forehand, but is his forehand that much better than his backhand, serves or volleys?
The guy doesn’t have a weakness.
And he beat Sampras in their only ATP meeting, in 2001 at Wimbledon, when Sampras was the four-time defending champion and Federer was two years away from his first Grand Slam title.
Obviously that isn’t much of a barometer of who is the better all-time player. The most common gage is Grand Slams. Each of them has 14.
But Federer’s not done. Not long after it was thought that he was done at 13, he reminded everyone that he’s still pretty damn good.
He’ll get to 15, and maybe 16 or 17. The Federer-Sampras debate won’t end there, but it’ll give Fed Heads like me more ammunition.
Friday, June 5, 2009
International disaster
OK, “disaster” might be a bit of a stretch, but the international tiebreaker rule for deciding softball games that go into extra innings needs to be rethought.
The rule was on display during the Division II high school playoffs Thursday night at Rhode Island College. Middletown and Barrington were cruising through an intense pitchers duel and, after seven innings, the score was tied 0-0.
Instead of playing on, as baseball does, this tiebreaker rule was enacted, placing a runner on second base to start each half of the eighth inning.
On one hand, I can see the purpose of such a rule. If two teams play seven innings without scoring, what’s to say an eighth, ninth or 10th inning will be any different? Give the offense a jumpstart in hopes of deciding a winner without a 25-inning epic.
But then, one must think: What if all sports had similar overtime rules, giving the offense a decided advantage?
This would be like lowering the rim to eight feet in a basketball game, or forcing a football team’s defense to play with eight players if the score is tied after four quarters. Maybe pull both goalies from a hockey, soccer or lacrosse game that goes into overtime.
I must admit, my opinion of the rule is slightly biased. Especially today, given that Middletown was unable to take advantage of its unearned base runner, while Barrington was and won 3-0 to advance to the D-II state final.
But it seems like a silly rule that detracted from what was an otherwise great game.
The rule was on display during the Division II high school playoffs Thursday night at Rhode Island College. Middletown and Barrington were cruising through an intense pitchers duel and, after seven innings, the score was tied 0-0.
Instead of playing on, as baseball does, this tiebreaker rule was enacted, placing a runner on second base to start each half of the eighth inning.
On one hand, I can see the purpose of such a rule. If two teams play seven innings without scoring, what’s to say an eighth, ninth or 10th inning will be any different? Give the offense a jumpstart in hopes of deciding a winner without a 25-inning epic.
But then, one must think: What if all sports had similar overtime rules, giving the offense a decided advantage?
This would be like lowering the rim to eight feet in a basketball game, or forcing a football team’s defense to play with eight players if the score is tied after four quarters. Maybe pull both goalies from a hockey, soccer or lacrosse game that goes into overtime.
I must admit, my opinion of the rule is slightly biased. Especially today, given that Middletown was unable to take advantage of its unearned base runner, while Barrington was and won 3-0 to advance to the D-II state final.
But it seems like a silly rule that detracted from what was an otherwise great game.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Kudos to the Islanders
When it comes to athletics, Middletown tends to be viewed as the little brother of our four public high schools in Newport County, as one parent pointed out to us earlier this season. But the Islanders were, by far, the most successful school across the board during the spring.
The boys lacrosse team went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the Division III championship game. The baseball team surpassed any and all expectations by starting the season 10-3 and winning its first two games in the Division I tournament.
Senior Liz Peterson is a good bet to win the javelin throw this weekend at the state meet at Brown University, and freshman Cam Murphy qualified for the event in the high jump.
The girls lacrosse team finished 8-3 during the regular season, though it lost in the first round of the Division III playoffs to a hot East Providence squad. Still, coach Courteney Sarro has many young and talented players returning. The boys tennis team, which won three matches in 2008, reached the state semifinals in Division IV, and the golf team, although it didn’t qualify for the state meet, had one of its better seasons, as far as wins and losses.
Last, but certainly not least, Robin Ramey’s softball team is the only remaining team alive in the entire county. The Islanders, who went 17-1 during the regular season, face Barrington tonight with another shot at Moses Brown on the line.
Needless to say, spring has been the season of Middletown.
The boys lacrosse team went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the Division III championship game. The baseball team surpassed any and all expectations by starting the season 10-3 and winning its first two games in the Division I tournament.
Senior Liz Peterson is a good bet to win the javelin throw this weekend at the state meet at Brown University, and freshman Cam Murphy qualified for the event in the high jump.
The girls lacrosse team finished 8-3 during the regular season, though it lost in the first round of the Division III playoffs to a hot East Providence squad. Still, coach Courteney Sarro has many young and talented players returning. The boys tennis team, which won three matches in 2008, reached the state semifinals in Division IV, and the golf team, although it didn’t qualify for the state meet, had one of its better seasons, as far as wins and losses.
Last, but certainly not least, Robin Ramey’s softball team is the only remaining team alive in the entire county. The Islanders, who went 17-1 during the regular season, face Barrington tonight with another shot at Moses Brown on the line.
Needless to say, spring has been the season of Middletown.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
What's annoying me lately?
Couldn't think of any one topic on which to focus in today's blog entry. So instead, I thought I'd go with a simple, yet detailed, list of things in the world of sports that are bothering me at present.
So, without further ado ...
- My Milwaukee Brewers, who are (as of this posting) in first place in the NL Central, can't get no respect. No respect at all. No one, including yours truly, thought they'd be worth a crap this year, but nearly a third of the way through this season, they're leading a division most thought the Cubs would run away with.
But you'd never know that watching ESPN. Brewers highlights are buried on SportsCenter, if they're even shown at all. And none of their so-called analysts think the Brewers have a shot to hold on to that lead. For the record, neither do I. But they have two of the brightest young stars in the game (Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder) and a young pitcher in Yovani Gallardo who is off to a pretty damn good start (5-2, 3.18 ERA, 65 strikeouts).
Just because they don't spend billions of dollars like the Sox and Yanks, or have idiot players like Manny Ramirez, the Brewers get no love and are almost never on national TV.
- I realize and concede that Tom Brady coming back from his knee injury is a big deal. My disdain for the Patriots is no secret, and even I'm curious to see what he can do this season. But it's June. The season doesn't start for months. "A source close to Tom Brady said the quarterback walked from the practice facility to his car with no pain in his knee yesterday." I don't care. Talk to me in September if and when he's dodging defensive ends and getting hit with no pain.
- Speaking of QBs who get too much press, I've been happy to hear no mention recently of a couple guys who should remain nameless and unemployed. Let's just call them BF and MV.
- I've alluded to it before on this blog, but what's up with all the LeBron James haters? Scott Barrett, who I think is president of the LeBron Haters Club, has tried to explain his side. But I'm still baffled that so many people have such a negative opinion of a guy who is so talented, never shows up in the police reports, never has a derogatory word to say about anyone and has never demanded a trade or held out for a new contract. It's not enough that his team lost in the conference finals. Let's trash him for not shaking hands with the Magic players after Game 6. That's weak.
So, without further ado ...
- My Milwaukee Brewers, who are (as of this posting) in first place in the NL Central, can't get no respect. No respect at all. No one, including yours truly, thought they'd be worth a crap this year, but nearly a third of the way through this season, they're leading a division most thought the Cubs would run away with.
But you'd never know that watching ESPN. Brewers highlights are buried on SportsCenter, if they're even shown at all. And none of their so-called analysts think the Brewers have a shot to hold on to that lead. For the record, neither do I. But they have two of the brightest young stars in the game (Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder) and a young pitcher in Yovani Gallardo who is off to a pretty damn good start (5-2, 3.18 ERA, 65 strikeouts).
Just because they don't spend billions of dollars like the Sox and Yanks, or have idiot players like Manny Ramirez, the Brewers get no love and are almost never on national TV.
- I realize and concede that Tom Brady coming back from his knee injury is a big deal. My disdain for the Patriots is no secret, and even I'm curious to see what he can do this season. But it's June. The season doesn't start for months. "A source close to Tom Brady said the quarterback walked from the practice facility to his car with no pain in his knee yesterday." I don't care. Talk to me in September if and when he's dodging defensive ends and getting hit with no pain.
- Speaking of QBs who get too much press, I've been happy to hear no mention recently of a couple guys who should remain nameless and unemployed. Let's just call them BF and MV.
- I've alluded to it before on this blog, but what's up with all the LeBron James haters? Scott Barrett, who I think is president of the LeBron Haters Club, has tried to explain his side. But I'm still baffled that so many people have such a negative opinion of a guy who is so talented, never shows up in the police reports, never has a derogatory word to say about anyone and has never demanded a trade or held out for a new contract. It's not enough that his team lost in the conference finals. Let's trash him for not shaking hands with the Magic players after Game 6. That's weak.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sweet Baby James
OK, LeBron, you lost. You gave it your all, had a triple-double, a 49-point game and hit maybe the biggest shot of your career. There was nothing else you could have done to help your Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals. Things, however, didn't go your way.
Get over it.
Go shake hands with the other team, like every one else. Go congratulate Dwight Howard on reaching the finals for the first time in his career, like the Detroit Pistons did when you went to your first finals.
We preach to our children the idea that sportsmanship is the most important thing. "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game," we tell them. Is it really? Not in the eyes of perhaps the best player in the world, who stormed off the court after Cleveland lost Game 6 in Orlando. Instead of giving interviews after the game, No. 23 ducked out of the locker room and cowardly jumped on the team bus.
Yes, you're an emotional guy, LeBron. We get it, you're all about winning and not about the individual stuff. But, if you ask me, having the respect of your peers - and the fans - is a lot more important than hoisting that trophy.
Get over it.
Go shake hands with the other team, like every one else. Go congratulate Dwight Howard on reaching the finals for the first time in his career, like the Detroit Pistons did when you went to your first finals.
We preach to our children the idea that sportsmanship is the most important thing. "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game," we tell them. Is it really? Not in the eyes of perhaps the best player in the world, who stormed off the court after Cleveland lost Game 6 in Orlando. Instead of giving interviews after the game, No. 23 ducked out of the locker room and cowardly jumped on the team bus.
Yes, you're an emotional guy, LeBron. We get it, you're all about winning and not about the individual stuff. But, if you ask me, having the respect of your peers - and the fans - is a lot more important than hoisting that trophy.
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