The Tipping Glass » Sports

The long, dramatic ratings death of ‘man day’

Kyle — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:55:03 +0000

Whatever happened to man day? What happened to that enviable Saturday late each April, when the weather warms, and the sun coaxes you into shorts and a T-shirt. When you and the boys head out to the grocery store to round up as much cheap beer and cheaper shrink-wrapped meat as you can fit in the cart. Where you get together with all those you loved to waste time with, and waste away the day watching the most unexciting, dry sports broadcast, that no true football fan can miss. Whatever happened to that?

It’s ironic, really, that booming broadcast ratings actually killed ‘man day,’ and the NFL Draft could become the victim of its own puzzling popularity this year. Sadly, it will take ‘man day’ down with it. This year, the NFL Draft moves to prime-time in NYC (you’ve probably heard Rihanna singing about it on the ESPN promo), and first round coverage moves to Thursday night. Thursday? Just like that, the all-day man tradition that was Draft Saturday is no more.

Why is it that we love the NFL Draft so much? Do we? Or are we just fooled into it? Each year, when all of the pageantry of the Big Dance fades into obscurity, and the Masters champion donning the fabled green jacket slips from front page, we enter a sort of sports vacuum that sucks the life out of the average sports nut. Our Saturdays—filled for months with a steady diet of consistent college action—are suddenly empty. Our Sundays—dominated for so long by the NFL, and held over by March Madness and the Masters—are swiftly vacated.

Of course there are sports options out there. There is baseball, but lets face it, it’s April. There are at least 150-some games still to be played in the MLB regular season in April, and I think most of the players care as much as the casual fan does about what happens that month. The hockey season ends and the playoffs begin, but for most fans the NHL is a fair-weather home team sport. If you don’t have a horse in that race, you aren’t watching. No offense intended—I’m one of those fans. Basketball, I would say, falls into that category too. Either way, hockey and basketball playoffs are terribly drawn out, and span months. The early rounds of both generally don’t draw huge TV ratings. This is evidenced by the fact that they air on Versus and TBS, respectively. I’m generalizing here, of course, but the truth of the matter is, the majority of sports fans are left high and dry this time of year.

It was a fundamental problem for the media outlets that cover the sports industry. What do you publish in the sports dead zone? It was a problem that Sports Illustrated solved with bikinis and body paint; a problem that ESPN solved this year with Tiger Woods; and a problem that the NFL capitalized on years ago by broadcasting the draft.

The NFL Draft traditionally spans the course of one weekend in April, but it manages to create buzz that radiates for months following the Super Bowl, and through the summer. Ratings for the draft have skyrocketed in the past several years, and it now has a media following unlike any other professional event. ESPN has on-staff draft analysts like Mel Kiper Jr. who could literally talk about the draft until their heads swelled and they hyperventilated. It’s a good thing too.

At face value, the NFL draft is the most boring, drab sports event that you could ever draw up on paper. Fifteen minutes of speculative babble, followed by five minutes of analysis on who each team finally selected—rewind and repeat for three days. It is an event tailor-made for next day newspaper coverage, where some poor schmuck reporter would have to sit through eight painful hours of the draft and put it all into one consolidated list for the interested public. But in the age of instantaneous news, and real-time split-second updates, live coverage of the draft has not just succeeded, it has exploded.

The NFL and ESPN are on a hot streak with draft coverage. Each year’s ratings somehow continue to eclipse the previous, and each year the promos and hype grow in kind. College stars become NFL celebrities before they’ve played a professional down, and first round contracts balloon to levels that leave grizzled NFL vets scratching their heads. It is the over-marketed, under-substanced, NFL equivalent of the late-90’s tech stock bubble.

With all of the recent success of the draft, the move to prime-time might seem a logical step, but I fear the NFL is pushing its luck. My question is simple: is it the event or the traditions people create around it that make the draft so popular? The NFL should be familiar with this paradox. Look no further than the Super Bowl. Not all of the 160-something million people who watched the Super Bowl this year were football fans, but they all wound up at some sort of Super Bowl gathering. It’s the tradition, and not necessarily the event, that makes it so popular. In that sense, moving the first round to Thursday, covering the second and third rounds in prime-time Friday, and airing only late-round coverage on Saturday, could backfire.

To me the draft is not a prime-time event to begin with. It is a monotonous yet interesting backdrop to ‘man day.’ The grill, man-time, and the ice-cold beverages fill the dead space of draft day nicely. It’s not a Friday night kind of event (much less, Thursday), it’s the kind of event suited for a long, sunny, lazy Saturday with the guys.

Who knows, maybe the ratings will spike yet again, and the NFL will flex its proud marketing muscles one more time. Hell, I’ll probably still watch begrudgingly. But one thing is for certain, for me the draft will never be the same if this format holds. Commercialized and split up to appease the network execs, it looses its flavor. And on Saturday, I fear the fourth round and all that come after it will be tough to swallow, even if you washed it down with cheap beer and steak.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

The long, dramatic ratings death of ‘man day’

MLB Season Preview (NL edition)

Austin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:47:29 +0000

Right off the bat, I have to make a disclaimer: I am a diehard Boston Red Sox fan. One reason I get as revved up for baseball season as I do is because I know that going into each year, my team has a legitimate chance to win the World Series. I am aware that most fans in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Washington, San Diego, Baltimore, etc. do not share this hope—and, let’s face it, realistically so. But I propose that even if I were a fan of one of these teams, I would still feel an excitement start to build within me as March turns to April and the marathon that is the Major League Baseball season starts. The great thing about new seasons is that everyone—from Pittsburgh and Kansas City to the often-hated Red Sox and Yankees—is 0-0. And despite the constant complaints that every year, the same teams always finish on top, there are in fact surprises with every new season—look no further than the Colorado Rockies of 2007, the Tampa Bay Rays of 2008, or the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners last season.

To avoid complete homerism, I’ll start my “season preview” by examining the National League. The East division I believe is Philadelphia’s to lose. I love their acquisition of Roy Halladay—one of the most durable, reliable pitchers of this decade—and pitching to weaker offenses will only help further cement his legacy. (A note on this: I said that the NL has weaker offenses—not that it is a weaker league. This certainly was true a few years ago, but over the past couple seasons the NL has continued to gain ground on the American League. But there’s no denying that when you replace a designated hitter—who typically helps to anchor a lineup with 20+ home runs—with a pitcher—who considers a successful sacrifice bunt a good at-bat—it significantly affects the structure of the entire batting order). What I don’t love is the fact that they gave up Cliff Lee, last year’s ace, to get him. The rationale was that they couldn’t afford to re-sign Lee at the end of the year anyways, but why not go for broke and enter the season with a starting rotation of Halladay, Lee, Cole Hamels (who will bounce back after a disappointing 2009 season), J.A. Happ (the most consistent starter Philly had for much of last year, before acquiring Lee), and Joe Blanton (a very underrated innings-eater)? Their lineup is in its prime now, and in another couple years, the prospects they acquired for Lee won’t be playing with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins at the top of their games. Philly fans don’t want to hear it, but their window is closing, and they aren’t in a position to sacrifice the present for the future. Despite wondering what could have been, I don’t see any challengers to the Phillies in the East.

The Atlanta Braves have been a trendy pick to unseat the Phils the past couple of years, but what exactly is that based on? The past couple years, they’ve dealt with injuries to their pitchers and a mediocre offense, and did nothing this offseason to change that—and I don’t count the trade for Melky Cabrera. Chipper Jones is aging, and wonderboy prospect Jason Heyward isn’t quite ready to win a Triple Crown just yet. If their pitchers stay healthy, they definitely could contend. But when before the season starts, one of their top starters, Jair Jurrjens, complains of shoulder discomfort, that’s never a good sign. The Marlins could hang in the race for a while (and possibly steal the NL Wild Card), but when you compare their youth with the Phillies’ experience in clutch games, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them fade come September. The Mets are an interesting case, as their roster consists of some of the top talents in baseball, and they added yet another piece this offseason in Jason Bay. The trouble with them, though, is that beneath the top 7-10, their roster consists of players barely qualified to play in the major leagues. Luis Castillo? Fernando Tatis? Kelvim Escobar? These are veterans lucky to still have jobs, not pieces you can count on for a playoff run. Furthermore, the vibe around this team has been bad for the past several years—and it feels like this might be the year that things finally blow up for New York’s “other” team. As for the Washington Nationals, the casual fan probably couldn’t even name five players on their roster—aside from the inevitable Stephen Strasburg sighting, there’s not a whole lot to get excited about in DC.

In the Central Division, one addition that isn’t getting enough press is the hiring of Rudy Jaramillo as the Chicago Cubs’ hitting coach. For the past decade, Jaramillo oversaw some of the best offenses in Texas, and will inherit what on paper is a great lineup in Chicago—anchored by Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano. The Cubs will certainly score enough runs this year to support even an average pitching staff. The back end of the bullpen is a concern, but if they can stay healthy (which they did not do last year), the Cubs may get another chance in October at their first World Series since 1908. Last year’s champ, St. Louis, can’t be counted out as long as they have Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the lineup, and Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter leading the rotation. Despite having this last year, though, the Cards finished the season very ordinarily after a strong start. The Cincinnati Reds could be an up-and-coming team this year—but, then again, I said the same last year and they stumbled down the stretch after a hot start. If young hitters like Joey Votto and Jay Bruce can take the next step, and their starting pitchers can ever find consistency, they could be this year’s Rockies or Rays. Milwaukee looks like they are trying to descend back into irrelevance after ending a long postseason drought in 2008, Houston is in a state of perpetual confusion, and Pittsburgh is, well… after 18 straight losing seasons, I’ll believe in them when they’re in contention past Mothers’ Day.

Out West, both Colorado and San Francisco made strides forward last year and closed the gap between themselves and the Dodgers. San Francisco had the opposite problems of the Cubs—they had one of the best rotations in the league last year, led by Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain—but a truly anemic offense. The additions of Freddy Sanchez (for a full season), Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff could help to solve this problem, but the Giants still need an impact bat in the middle of their lineup. Pablo Sandoval had a nice year last year and may develop into that guy, but there’s no denying that their offseason moves didn’t give them anything close to a sure thing. Colorado proved that their 2007 World Series run wasn’t a complete fluke, but can they avoid a letdown similar to the one they suffered in 2008? The Dodgers have a fantastic nucleus of young, core position players, a strong bullpen, and, in Joe Torre, a manager who excels over the course of a long season. For those reasons, I’m picking them to stay atop the West until the Giants or Rockies prove otherwise. San Diego has some nice young talent, but they are at least a year or two away now, and could set themselves further back if they actually trade Adrian Gonzalez, the franchise’s cornerstone player who is signed (cheaply) for several more years. They surprised last year by playing respectable baseball for most of the season, though, and could build some momentum heading into 2011. Arizona has some talented young players, but for some reason hasn’t been able to put it together for the past couple years, since their surprising division title in 2007. With a healthy Brandon Webb, though, this team has the potential to surprise.

I’ll take the Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers to win their divisions, and San Francisco to sneak in as the Wild Card. Once the playoffs start, though, it becomes much more wide open—and I pick the Giants to ride the arms of Lincecum, Cain and a resurgent Barry Zito to the World Series, defeating the Phillies in an epic, seven-game NLCS, and leaving them to wish they had never given up Cliff Lee in the Halladay deal.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

MLB Season Preview (NL edition)

This is Madness! 2010 March Madness Preview

Kyle — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:48:20 +0000

2nd Round Recap & 3rd Round Preview

Kyle: You wanted madness? Well you got it this year, my friends. With the first two rounds over and just about every bracket in the country busted, at this point the office pool is becoming a battle of attrition. It has been upset city so far, and if your bracket looks anything like mine, you only open it to get a laugh anymore. So far we’ve seen the #1 overall Kansas drop to #9 seed, Northern Iowa. We saw a 10 seed, St. Mary’s, plow through my Cinderella pick: Richmond and #2 Villanova. And we’ve got an Ivy League team in the sweet 16? What?

Put it this way, if your bracket isn’t covered in scratch-outs and red ink at this point, I’m amazed. You win. I think Yahoo Sports does a million-dollar prize for anyone with a perfect bracket each year. They ought to double it this year. Hell, triple it, no one picked this. I promise. Your prize money is safe, Yahoo.

Josh: I was at a wedding Saturday afternoon. What self-respecting man plans a wedding on March Madness weekend? Seriously?? A very selfish move. My eyes were glued on espn.com on my iPhone instead of the bride walking down the aisle.

I must come clean. Out of 12 people on my Yahoo tournament, I am dead last. I was destroyed this weekend, as I’m sure millions of others were. Seriously, who, beisdes Northern Iowa alumni, picked the upset? “WOW” is the only way to describe this tournament so far.

Kyle: I’m with you, unfortunately, on the bracket standings. With a whopping 89 possible points ahead of me, I’m second from the bottom in mine. Just ahead of the guy who didn’t fill out his bracket, and scores zeroes across the board. Hopefully no one took our commentary into consideration when filling out their brackets… Yeah, sorry about that. But when the overall leader on Yahoo’s top 50 has Kansas as his winner, at least you know you’re not alone.

No shortage of close games, Cinderella’s, and story lines this year. I have to say that this has been one of the most entertaining tournaments in recent memory. Which of the surprise sweet 16 entries has impressed you most?

Josh: Without a doubt it’s gotta be Northern Iowa. This is not only the biggest upset of the tournament, it’s the biggest upset in YEARS. The game they put together builds the kind of momentum that teams ride to the championship. And, not to sound like a wet blanket, I missed it because of a wedding. The open bar is all that saved me.

With one #1 seed down, what top seed do you see falling out of the tournament in this round?

Kyle: Call me crazy, but I have Baylor on upset alert. As upsets go, you’re right, you can’t match Northern Iowa over Kansas, but I think I’ve been more impressed with St. Mary’s overall. No one has had anything close to an answer to Omar Samhan, St. Mary’s center. He has been the most dominant inside player of the tournament by a long shot. At one point Villanova had Samhan in foul trouble early after he’d put them through the meat grinder for the entire first half. Nova went on a little run, and St. Mary’s coach rolled the dice and put Samhan back in. Two possessions, four points, less than 30 seconds played. The crowd subsided and Samhan returned to the bench. It’s been just that easy. Baylor is quick but a bit undersized. I look for Samhan to have a huge game again in Houston, unless Baylor can get him in serious foul trouble early.

Josh: With the first part of the madness over, let’s look toward the future. I had Kansas winning it all. Oops. What’s your pick now for the championship game?

I’m going to go with Syracuse and Kentucky. Both have been playing solid games, and seem to be on a roll right now.

Kyle: Kentucky has been absolutely dominant in it’s first two games, and I expect that to earn them a match-up with Duke in the Final Four. Then comes the age old question: do you take the amazingly dominant, but incredibly young talent of the Wildcats, or the tournament-tested grizzled veteran wisdom of the Blue Devils? I’m going with Kentucky.

As for the other side of the bracket I’m going to take an upset (which has been a pitifully unsuccessful strategy for me so far this tournament, but why stop now?). I’m taking Ohio State over Syracuse in a close one in the Final Four.

Josh: Well, hopefully we’ll both be closer to our new predictions than our old ones. I’d like to say I’m embarrased by my previous picks, but hey, when over half the country’s brackets were busted by one upset? At least I know I’m not alone. I’m looking forward to catching the Sweet 16 this week, and we’ll (hopefully) be back with better news and unshattered confidence after this next round.

1st Round

Kyle: Alright, alright, let me begin by officially removing my foot from my mouth. So, Maryland drops in the first round of the ACC tourney and still somehow winds up with a 4 seed, WVU takes the Big East after all and still doesn’t get the #1, and as far as I can gather not a single coin thrown at the opposing bench from the WVU section. I make no apologies for false predictions–I just blame reality for not pulling through for me.

That said, tell me Josh, which region do you think could be the toughest?

Josh: My motto for all of my NFL picks is the same as the great Gregg Easterbrook at ESPN: All Predictions Wrong, or Your Money Back. That should probably be the Tipping Glass mantra. I’ll tell you who got a great deal in all this: Syracuse. I know college students travel all over the country to see their team play, but Buffalo is only a few hours away from Syracuse, so expect those games to shake the roof off the HSBC Arena. As for the toughest region, it’s gotta be the Midwest. Kansas, Ohio State, Georgetown, Maryland…should I go on?

Kyle: Yeah, the Midwest is absolutely brutal. Congratulations, Kansas, for all of your hard work this season–finishing with a resume that dominates every other team in the field–you have earned the top spot in the most difficult bracket I have ever seen in the tournament…honestly. When I was watching the selection show I was excited when I saw that Maryland landed the #4. Then I saw that our 2nd round game would likely be vs. Michigan St. Then I saw that Georgetown, Tennessee, Ohio State, OK State, and oh yeah, Kansas was in our region. I wasn’t excited anymore. It is going to take a monumental effort for any of the above teams to make it through that bracket. The scary thing is, they are all capable.

Josh: Ok enough with the high seeds. What teams do you see the most potential to bust brackets all over the country?

Kyle: I think Tennessee at a #6 seed is extremely dangerous. The fact that they wound up at a 6 is a crime. The big question will be can they get by Georgetown. That one is a coin flip for me, but I think whoever takes that one will snipe Ohio State in the following round. As for the bracket busters, it all comes down to how the brackets line up, and I say the South and West set up pretty nicely for Cinderellas.

I’ll be watching #7 Richmond and #13 Sienna in the South. I would definitely say this is the weakest bracket overall, which makes me want to drive to Durham and puke on Cameron Indoor. How the fourth #1 seed ends up with the easiest road in the tourney baffles me.

As for the West, keep your eye on #12 UTEP. This pick has become a bit too popular to make me comfortable with it, but they are a strong team and potentially their toughest match up in the first two rounds is a Vanderbilt team that has not been impressive lately.

Who are you picking for your 12/5 upset?

Josh: I hate picking 12/5s…But if I had to, it would be UTEP. However, I think the biggest “upset” will be Sienna over Purdue. Remember what I said last time about a team having one star player who takes over the tournament? That was Robbie Hummel, who was lost to an ACL tear in February. Look at the 69-42 whipping by Minnesota in the Big Ten Semifinals as evidence. As for any other bottom dwellers? I recently read that a #3 seed or higher hasn’t lost in the first round since 2006. With the strength at the top, I can’t see that trend turning around this year.

History means a lot in these tournaments, but I still love my ex-girlfriend’s approach of filling out her bracket based on the uniform colors and mascots. No matter how much research I’d do beforehand, she ends up beating me. That’s how you fill out your bracket, right Kyle?

Kyle: True, history does mean a lot, but as they say on Wall Street, “past performance is no guarantee of future results.” So maybe, just maybe, your statistical fortitude will outmatch your ex-gf’s uniform critiques this year, and all will be right with the world. If you looked at the results of my brackets from the last two years, you might think that the uniform index would be a more sound approach than whatever I’ve used. I just barely edged out a victory over my wife’s bracket last year. She is also a fan of the uniform index. The NCAA tournament, for whatever reason, is the great sports knowledge equalizer. The more you know, the more chance you have to over-think it. I tried not to think about it at all this year. Filled out my bracket in about 90 seconds and named it “Gary Williams’ Sweating Zoo.” It is my grand experiment. I am currently in first place, and I expect that to hold true at least until Thursday morning. Let the games begin!

—

Kyle: And so it begins… Productivity in workplaces around the country takes a nosedive, brackets are filled out and busted, Cinderella’s are crowned and spoiled, pride is tested, trash is talked, and unlike NCAA football, a true champion is decided on the playing surface. It is March Madness, and it is the best championship format in sports as far as I’m concerned. So check your work browser for page restrictions, and keep your trigger-finger on the “boss button.” It’s tourney time baby.

Let’s talk seeding. Josh, who do you have as your number ones?

Josh: This is definitely one of my favorite sporting events of the year. Any time you have an enormous single-elimination tournament you’re in for some amazing upsets, triple-OT heartbreakers, and buzzer-beaters. Let’s cut to the chase. Kansas will always have a place in my memory with an amazing overtime winner that went past midnight a few years ago to reach the Final Four. They’re my pick to win it all. As for the other number one seeds, I’ll say Syracuse, Duke, and Kentucky with possibly West Virginia being a surprise.

Kyle: Going with the Cuse, eh? I totally would have been with you up until I saw them fall so flat in their first game of the Big East tourney against Georgetown, but I think that only lends itself to the strength of the conference, and for that I guess I’ll concede and agree. They probably will still hold on to the #1, but that will knock them down to the final #1, and stick them in a tough bracket. You can’t say enough about the depth and strength of the Big East this year. When a two-game buy in the conference tournament earns you a first game vs. #22 Georgetown, you know you’ve got a strong conference there. I agree with your other #1’s too, with Kansas as the #1 overall. I don’t think there will be a lot of debate over those slots this year. I highly doubt WVU will make a run at it though. I haven’t been all that impressed with what I’ve seen of them, honestly. The only way I see them sneeking into a #1 is if they win the Big East tourney. And I’m not sure their fans will come with enough quarters in their pockets to make that happen.

What happened to the ACC this year?

Josh: Maybe all that snow the East Coast got slammed with in February had an effect on them? I still think Duke can be a force, but I don’t see anyone in the ACC being an actual contender. And Michael Jordon would be rolling in his grave (if he was dead…) at how his Alma Matter has faired this year.

When it comes to the NCAA Tournament, a lot of times it only takes one guy to take over a team and lead them on a hot streak. We saw it with Carmelo Anthony a few years ago. He took most of the year to find his stride, but once the tourney hit, he led Syracuse to the championship and was on his way to the NBA. If you had to pick, who do you think will be the MVP this year?

Kyle: No doubt, Roy Williams and Carolina should be ashamed of themselves this year. Full disclosure: I graduated from Maryland and live in the heart of ACC country in Raleigh (Surrounded by Duke, Carolina, and NC State–God help me). But I have to say, there has been an eerie silence in this normally ACC-centric town this year. Pretty weak showing overall.

That said, I’m going to be a homer here, and talk up my Alma Mater. I think Maryland has a real shot to take it deep this year. With a good showing in the ACC tourney, the Terps could earn themselves as high as a 3 or 4 seed, and in the right bracket that might just give them a window to bust past the sweet 16. Beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess. If (and I do mean if) they make it deep, Greivis Vasquez could be a contender. There are few players in the tourney who mean as much to their team as he does, and traditionally teams with a strong scorer like Vasquez fare well in the tourney. Fear the turtle.

OK, back to objectivity now. More than likely, the MVP could be between two senior leaders (again depending on who goes deep) Sherron Collins of Kansas, and Scottie Reynolds of Villanova. Who do you have?

Josh: Hands down, John Wall from Kentucky. The Freshman Phenom and everyone else in that organization knew he’d be one-and-done in the NCAA before getting picked up in the pros, so this is their best shot at a title before he moves on to mansions and shoe endorsements. I think Kentucky is going to be the main challenger to Kansas, and he’s the biggest reason why.

Kyle: You’ve definitely got a point with Wall. I’ve tried this whole time not to even mention the word Kentucky, but there you have it, you baited me into it. I guess I just feel like they represent too much of what’s wrong with college basketball, and not much of what’s right about it.

But that’s the beauty of the NCAA tournament. Each year, hidden amid a 64-team bracket you’ll find teams you love to hate, and you’ll learn to love teams you’d never even heard of. There will be no shortage of storylines, drama, and blood-pressure-rocketing action. So hold onto your sneakers. We’ll be back after the selection show.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

This is Madness! 2010 March Madness Preview

Progressive Relevance: The Vancouver Olympics

Kyle — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:56:54 +0000

If you live on the east coast of the US, this year you’ve seen your share of snow. With record snowfalls across the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions, cities are blanketed, roads are skating rinks, and grocery stores are pre-winter-storm war zones. I heard somewhere that just the first blizzard to hit D.C. this winter put the metro area 20 inches over its average.

If you live in Vancouver this year, you might be jealous. Not because you love snow so much. No, I’m sure the Canucks in Vancouver have seen enough snow to satisfy them for a lifetime. But it just so happens that the Winter Olympic Games kick off this weekend in Vancouver, and snowfall there is verging on record lows. Reports are stating that many of the events at lower altitudes, like many of the snowboard and half-pipe events, could have to deal with particularly adverse conditions if snowfall doesn’t pick up in the next couple of weeks.

At some point in this ubiquitously interconnected world—whether you like it or not—you have to come to terms with the fact that perception is reality. Or so it seems, at least. It’s the manicured sizzle on a plastic steak. It’s the punditry, not the point.

If you believe what you’ve heard about the Winter Olympics so far this year (at least in the U.S.), it’s a wonder they’re even going to go through with them. Sports commentators in virtually every medium have been chiming in with their talking points and criticisms.

The brush of negative press started with an unlikely source. NBC, the network with an exclusive contract to broadcast the Summer and Winter Olympics, announced that it will likely lose money on its coverage of the Vancouver games. An avalanche of negative press about the Winter Olympics followed. Now the snow shortage in the host city is just throwing salt in the wound.

You can be made to believe a lot of things. NBC would have you believe that ‘the diffusion of audiences’ with all of the specialized entertainment options available has led to decreased interest in audiences and advertisers in such a broad sports outlet, catering to what they would call ‘a niche market’ of viewers.

I don’t buy it. The Super Bowl blew the ‘diffusion of audiences’ argument out of the water this year with the largest audience in television history (though admittedly, ad revenues did slump a bit), and all of the same entertainment options were available at that time slot.

Really? Is it possible? The Olympics were once a staple of American television every four years, with ratings that rivaled the championships of major sports. So could it really be that this household institution had devolved into a net loss for its broadcasters?

For me, this is a tough pill to swallow. I love the Winter Olympics. And if I had to pick between the summer and winter games it would be an easy pick for the winter. But remember, perception is reality. As soon as NBC announced that it would likely lose money on the games, it assured that it would. The same rules apply on Wall Street and Madison Ave. Now as we see, they also hold true at Rockefeller Center.

It’s no wonder to me that NBC stands to lose revenue on the Vancouver games. The network has tried to sell out the Olympics as a glorified figure skating competition with a few other events that they believe no one cares about inconspicuously listed somewhere in the fine print below the sequins and man makeup.

I’m not knocking figure skating. There’s no doubt that it is the big ratings draw of the winter games and probably always will be. But it just seems like NBC has considered it the only selling point of the games, and ignored everything else it has to offer.

The reason I enjoy the Winter Olympics more than the Summer is simple: it’s more exciting, and it’s more progressively relevant.

Let’s start with excitement. Be honest, how many times can you watch a runner lap around a track without changing the channel? How about a swimmer going back and forth in a pool? Or a crew team rowing a boat in a straight line down a river? For me the answer is three—as in it takes me three seconds to realize what I’m watching and find something interesting to watch.

You could argue that each of these summer events has a winter equivalent, and you would have a point. But I think that there are notable exceptions in the events that tend to be featured in the winter games. For instance, there is a long distance cross-country skiing event that might seem like the most boring event you could imagine, until you realize that at set points in the event, the athletes pick up guns and fire at targets. Time penalties are assessed according to accuracy. Why is it that guns just seem to make anything more interesting?

There is also an element of speed, danger, and adrenaline in the winter games that you just won’t find in the summer. Downhill skiers teeter on the very edge of control and achieve ridiculous speeds. There are events with names like “the skeleton” where very unintelligent human beings lay down face first on a bladed sled the size of a Radio Flyer and hurl themselves down a track that is a sheet of ice with 90 degree banked turns. There is an ever-present excitement of not knowing when the big crash will send a person flopping down the mountain like a rag doll, but knowing it’s coming soon.

As for relevance: there is no better juxtaposition of pure simple relevance than hockey in winter and baseball in summer. Whereas baseball was recently excluded from the summer games because everyone realized that the best players in the game weren’t even playing in the Olympics, the NHL shuts down mid-season for weeks so that its players can represent their countries. There is nothing more relevant than a grudge match between true professionals when national pride is on the line. With all due respect to the athletes, there is little less relevant than college stand-ins taking over an unpaid competition that their rich prima donna counterparts are to busy for, or are simply “contractually unable to compete. Hockey’s status in the Winter Olympics is good for the sport, the Olympics, and the NHL. And before you go there, the NBA is off-season during the Summer Olympics—it’s not the same.

Then there is progressive relevance. The Winter Olympics has not been afraid of change. They have not shied away from the youthful energy of the extreme sports world. Snowboarding, extreme skiing, and the half-pipe events have become some of the most popular at the winter games almost instantly. Suddenly the stars of the Winter Olympics are young, energetic, and cool. Not because the Olympic Committee planned it that way, but because the public couldn’t get enough of it. Shaun White went to Torino four years ago as a domestically popular X-Games star to a narrow market. He left Torino an international superstar, a household name, and the new face of the US Olympic Team.

But perhaps the sad truth in all of this is that NBC has failed to recognize any of it. It has failed to take what it learned in Torino and run with it. It has certainly failed to capitalize on its potential. Worst of all, it has stopped even trying to sell it. When was the last time you saw a promo for the Winter Olympics? It seems like they’ve stopped even trying.

For the network ranked dead-last among the four majors, NBC obviously has its work cut out for it. I dare say it begs the question: if the Winter Olympics has found a way to become progressively relevant, and you can’t find a way to sell it, what does that say about how relevant you are? Anyway I’ll be watching, even if perception is reality.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Progressive Relevance: The Vancouver Olympics

Summer in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Super Bowl XLIV Recap and 2010 Preview

Joshy C — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:25:58 +0000

Josh: Well Taylor, instead of sitting on a beach, or laying out in the sun on my cruise ship, I’m stuck in Pittsburgh because the storm of the century just HAPPENED to hit 12 hours before my flight left. I don’t know what’s worse, missing the cruise, or hearing everyone’s opinion on how I should have flown out early, or met up with them at a later port, or driven to another airport, etc. Like I didn’t do everything I possibly could have to get out of this frozen hell…

Taylor: At least you didn’t throw the game losing interception with 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter. There’s something to be happy about!

Josh: At least I didn’t lose power! My street was snowed in so I couldn’t go anywhere, but thankfully I have awesome friends who felt bad for me and braved the snow to join me in my kick-ass basement home theatre to watch the Super Bowl. For the third year in a row, we were treated to a gem. Not as dramatic as the past two, but there was no doubt we were watching the two best teams duke it out.

Taylor: And let’s not forget who, in the end, was the person who picked the correct Super Bowl champ. Although you do deserve props for correctly predicting the Colts to go to the Super Bowl at the beginning of it all. Great game, my two favorite moments were seeing Tracy Porter’s pick six, and of course all of the camera time Brees and his son received. After a slow first half, this game was exciting from the moment the Saints started the second half with an onside kick.

Josh: What a ballsy move by Sean Payton that was. The announcers all loved it of course, but only because it worked. Had it failed, they would have RIPPED him to shreds for making such a risky call.

Taylor: Let’s talk about next season and our early predictions for Super Bowl XLV. I don’t want to be a homer (I am a huge Pittsburgh sports fan), but a healthy Pittsburgh Steelers look like a logical choice for the AFC. I also see the Colts still in the mix. As for the NFC, I don’t see how you can count the Saints out, but I actually like the Cowboys to finally get their shit together. How about you?

Josh: I don’t know about Pittsburgh. Their offensive line is bad, they have no running game, Casey Hampton is a free agent, the secondary is a mess, Hines Ward isn’t getting younger, Polamalu is always injured…should I go on? The AFC North is getting better and better, while the Steelers might be at that point where they’re gonna have to rebuild a little. They are still a force, but there are too many question marks to pick them for the AFC. I’m thinking out of the box here, but with the way the Titans played under Vince Young in the second half of the season, they might be the team to beat next year. As for the NFC, your guess is as good as mine. I would say the Vikings, but (and I know I’ve said this before) I’m not sure if Favre comes back he can get it done one more time. I think if Atlanta can stay healthy, they’re going to be a force.

Taylor: The lack of a running game in Pittsburgh was due to the playcalling, in my opinion. Plus Mendenhall rushed for over 1,000 yards and is really coming into his own. If Polamalu can stay healthy and they retain Hampton, they’ll look a lot like the team that started 6-2 last year. Love your pick of the Titans. They are really a difficult team to figure out. They’re either amazing or a catastrophe. I refuse to say number 4’s name. I’m sick of him. He should retire and the Vikings should trade for McNabb.

Josh: I’m with you on the McNabb trade. Perfect fit for the Vikings right now, and I think would make the Vikings the favorites.

Well Taylor, it’s been a good season. It’s been fun debating. I’m sure we’ll be back after the draft in April, and again during the 2010 preseason. Until then, Tipping Glass readers, farewell, and do what you can to survive these seven football-less months.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Super Bowl XLIV Recap and 2010 Preview

Who Will Win the Super Bowl?

pratt — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:28:18 +0000

Check back each Wednesday with updated banter between Taylor and Josh about how the Big Game is shaping up and who we think will be lifting the Lambardi Trophy on February 7th.

Super Bowl Predictions

Taylor: Well, here we are folks. Just a few days removed from the big game. This is the matchup we all wanted to see, but didn’t believe it would actually happen. Two power-house offenses getting ready for a shootout in Miami, FL. Let’s take a look at what each team has to do in order to raise the Lombardi Sunday night. Let’s start with the Indianapolis Colts.

Josh: Two things before we start. First, on Sunday, I will be watching the Super Bowl on the deck of a cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean. Take a second to be jealous………..Ok.

Second, this is me bragging that my pick to win it all at the beginning of the playoffs is still in it. Let’s take a moment of silence for the Chargers, who bombed out as the 2nd seed against the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!

Taylor: *cough* Cowboys *cought* – you’ve got nothing on me!

Josh: Ok on to the Colts. The only thing that really worries me is the fact that Dwight Freeny’s ankle is about to fall off. But besides that, I think we both know who the better team is in this one. Peyton Manning is a surgeon when he has the ball in his hands. My guess is that the Saints defense will have a few wrinkles thrown into their game plan and Manning will start a little slow. But come his third or fourth possession, it’s game over. Not only will Manning be hoisting the Lambardi Trophy, he’ll also have his second Super Bowl MVP.

Taylor: Don’t underestimate this Saints defense. They make big plays when it counts and in each game that they won this year that had at least one fumble recovery. I expect to see the Colts turning the ball over at least 2-3 times. If the Colts can keep from doing that it is an easy win for them. But once this Saints defense frustrates you as they keep laying hits on you like they did to Brett Favre, any QB will get rattled. It will be an interesting chess match between the two for sure.

Josh: The Saints are opportunistic when it comes to capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes, but Peyton Manning won’t make mistakes. That thumb-headed mother f—er can play! The Vikings must have been eating buttered popcorn on the sidelines in the Championship Game with the way they were fumbling. I don’t see the Colts running the ball more than 20 times the whole game. Who needs a running game when you can pass the ball at will?

Taylor: If the Colts can avoid turnovers, the pressure will be at an all-time high on Drew Brees. From the Saints games I’ve watched, Brees tends to start out strong and then die off towards the end of the game. That’s the opposite of the way Peyton and the Colts offense plays. The Saints need to play consistent, high pressure football in order to both keep up with the Colts and to try and get a lead. I also think they’re going to need some help from their special teams to return a punt or kickoff back for a TD in order to get some sort of edge over the Colts.

As Bill Bellicheat always says, “do your job!” That’s what Brees and the Saints need to do. Even just one mistake will give the Colts exactly what they need to put the Saints at bay.

Josh: So who are you picking to win this one, AND who do you think will be the MVP? I’ve already given my prediction, Indy wins with Manning as MVP. Final score: 30-19 Colts.

Taylor: I’m pulling for the Saints to win their first Super Bowl title. MVP goes to Brees. Final score: 35-31 Saints.

Round 3

Josh: Well, our Super Bowl predictions took a little hit over the weekend and looks like we’ll need to do a little revising. My Colts are still in it, but looks like your Chargers choked again in the playoffs. Nobody is happier than the Colts right now, as they have been bounced the past two years by the Chargers. Taylor, what happened?

Taylor: I’m not entirely sure what happened to the Chargers. They had kicking problems, and they just couldn’t get into a rhythm. Perhaps it was a lack of preparation, or maybe they underestimated the Jets. To be honest it looked a lot like one of the many 4th quarter blown leads by the Steelers. The Chargers let a team they were better than stick around for too long. They should have been more aggressive to build a bigger lead. The Chargers weren’t the only ones to choke. How ‘bout them Cowboys?

Josh: All I gotta say about the Cowboys is how mad I get when people say it was Tony Romo’s fault. They put all the blame on him, when his offensive line (5 guys blocking 4 pass rushers most of the time) couldn’t stop Minnesota’s front four. I think there were 6 sacks and 19 QB pressures. When you have less than 2 seconds to throw on EVERY play, there’s nothing a quarterback can do.

But enough with the past. Tell me what you think of the Jets and Colts this weekend? How epic would it be if the Jets won because in week 16 the Colts pulled their starters, thereby allowing the Jets to get in the playoffs to begin with?

Taylor: That really would be epic. The Jets are looking more and more like the 2005 Steelers. They’ve faced adversity time and time again this playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the Colts dismantled the Baltimore D and I’m not convinced things will go down any different. I’d love to see the Colts and Saints advance to the Super Bowl. It would be one of the most exciting games we’ve seen in a long time. How do you see the Vikings and Saints playing out. At the beginning of the playoffs I predicted the Vikings to advance.

Josh: I’m with you on the Colts. The Chargers were not prepared, and made some head-scratching coaching decisions (punting on the 36 yard line, onside kick at the end, etc). The Colts will not make those mistakes. Every team knows exactly what the Colts are going to throw at them, but they’re helpless to stop them. The Colts have won 15 games in a row that meant something, and would have beaten the Jets in week 16 if they had left their starters in the game.

As for Saints and Vikings, to me, it’s a coin flip. I would love for the Saints to advance, because it would be 2 weeks I won’t have to listen to everyone giving Favre the credit for his TEAM’S success. The Vikings pass defense is vulnerable, so I think if Drew Brees can take advantage of that, they can pull it off. I’m also waiting for Favre to turn into the turnover machine that he usually becomes at the end of the season.

Josh’s New Super Bowl Prediction: Colts over Saints

Taylor: I’m with you there, but I like the Saints to get their first Super Bowl title. Saints over Colts. Which probably means this will be Jets vs Vikings.

Round 2

Josh: Well Taylor, looks like we’re both still in the running to have our Super Bowl picks work out, although neither your Chargers or my Colts played over Wild Card Weekend. Was that one of the most boring weekends of football you’ve seen in a while or what? Until the 3rd quarter of the Cardinals/Packers game, I couldn’t stay awake.

Taylor: Agreed, I was really surprised at how many blowouts there were. The last quarter of that Cardinals game, though, was one of the most exciting I’ve seen in awhile. Your Cowboys have me worried, and with a performance like that, Minnesota should be very worried. That’s a big game for us as they are both of our NFC Super Bowl representatives. I’m going to go ahead and assume you are taking the Cowboys in that game. What about the Saints vs. Cardinals? Looks like another shootout.

Josh: Ah yes, this will be the week for bragging rights, as our NFC picks will be facing each other. Fun fact: The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL right now to not have even one player on Injured Reserved. Healthy teams win in January. Another stat that can not be overlooked, however, is the record of the home team in the divisional round. With an extra week to rest up, about 70% of divisional round games have been won by the home team since the 6-team format began. With that said, the only team in the NFC that worries me right now is the Cardinals. Even with their non-existent secondary giving up 45 points, Kurt Warner is a monster pushing 40 years old. The QB argument for the past decade has been Manning vs. Brady, but maybe it should be changed to Manning vs. Warner.

Taylor: Healthy teams most certainly win in January. That’s a huge advantage on their end. And their defense playing out of their mind. I think the reason Warner gets left out of those conversations is because he doesn’t play at this level during the regular season. He seems to save it all for the playoffs. I think the Cardinals have a huge advantage coming into this game. Outside of the game against Green Bay, the Cardinals D was top 5 all season. Not to mention the Saint defense is probably the most injury-plagued unit of all playoff teams. The Saints have looked terrible their last three games and will most likely be out of sync while the Cards are in their stride. My head tells me Cards win while my heart hopes the Saints do. On to the AFC!

Josh: I think the AFC is a lot more clear cut than the NFC. Chargers and Colts in the championship game. The Ravens played awesome against the Patriots last week, and have that awesome three-headed running attack. But the Colts defense is the most underrated in the league, and playing at home on turf will give the advantage to those small, quick defenders. Plus, Flacco threw only 10 times last week. He won’t be able to get away with that against the Colts. As for the Chargers, I think they can not take the Jets’ defense lightly. They have been dominant, and will pose problems for Phillip Rivers. I see this game being pretty tight, and more physical.

Taylor: Completely agree with you. The Jets and Ravens had a good run, but the Chargers and Colts will end up being too much for them. Thanks everyone and stay tuned next week when we update this post again to review our picks and to pick the championship games!

Round 1

Josh: We enter a brand new chapter. How they got here is irrelevant. What they do now will determine their place in history. Jobs will be lost. Heroes will be discovered. Beer will be drank. It’s the NFL Playoffs baby!!!

Taylor: Over the next few weeks we’ll get to analyze coaching decisions on whether or not to rest players in meaningless games, eagerly await the dramatic fall of the Cowboys, and drink even more beer.

Josh: I love the fact that your Steelers and my Bills are not in the playoffs this year. Nobody can claim we’re biased, and people can call us Switzerland because we’re neutral in this affair. Let’s skip the playoff round-by-round predictions and just get to the Super Bowl. Taylor, who will be the last man standing?

Taylor: Just like that, eh? I recommend that you head on over to your favorite Super Bowl betting website and you place your money on the San Diego Chargers. Not only did they enter the playoffs as the hottest team, they are playing a complete football game on both sides of the ball. They have been consistent and are fully capable of competing in a shootout or in a defensive slugfest. What about you?

Josh: Ah, you’re going with the popular pick. I’m pretty sure every beat writer and their step mothers are picking the Chargers to win it all. They are playing awesome right now and seem to have a complete game. I also love Ladanian Tomlinson and really want him to get a Super Bowl ring, and this might be his best chance. However, I like the Colts to win it all. They have an awesome defense this year that nobody seems to recognize, and the soon-to-be MVP starting at Quarterback.

Taylor: So it sounds like neither of us believe the NFC will be taking the crown. Who do you see representing the NFC this year?

Josh: Two weeks ago, I would have said the Eagles. They were flying (no pun intended) on offense and stiff on defense. But after that performance against the Cowboys where they had a chance to lock up the 2nd seed with a victory, I lost my faith that they can even get past the Wild Card round. What is interesting about both conferences is that besides New England, it looks like every game will be played in a dome or warm weather. That bodes well for the fast, offensive, pass-happy teams like the Saints. But my gut is telling me that something happened in Dallas after they pounded the Eagles, and we might be seeing them in Miami this year. So I’m going on a limb here and calling it: Colts over Cowboys.

Taylor: Josh, I’m speechless. The Cowboys? THE COWBOYS? You are aware that Romo is still starting there, right? After a strong week 17 performance, my faith in the Vikings has been restored. Just like the Chargers, they have a complete game. I think the hiccup they had towards the end of the season was just the reality check they needed to be prepared mentally. Chargers over Vikings. Brett Favre retires until August.

Josh: We will have to agree to disagree here. Honestly I think anyone in the NFC can come away with the conference. Tell me one person who thought the Cardinals would make it to the Super Bowl last year, and I’ll call them a liar. The NFC is wide open. Any of those teams can finish on top. Ok let’s get to this weekend. We’ll start with the AFC Wild Card games: Jets at Bengals, and Ravens at Patriots. Give me your predictions, and one sentence why for each game. Go.

Taylor:I think the Jets roll over the Bengals again. The Bengals only managed 79 total yards of offense against them on Sunday, and they now have strong confidence going into this game. And let’s not forget that Carson Palmer did finish 1/11 with an INT. As for the Pats and Ravens, Welker’s injury makes this game much closer than I originally thought it would be. The Ravens have never beaten the Pats, and I don’t expect this game to be any different. Who do you have?

Josh: That was two sentences for each game. Regarding the Jets, I don’t care how they got into the playoffs (beating two teams with nothing to play for), that defense is spectacular and as long as Sanchez doesn’t try to be a hero, they’ll win on the road. I don’t think Brady has ever been one-and-done, so especially because the game is in New England, the Patriots will overcome Welker’s injury and dismantle the Ravens.

I’ll go first for the NFC. The Cowboys will once again beat the Eagles. This is a different team than in the past. Wade Phillips is coaching for his job and will have his guys up to speed as long as they don’t take a trip to Cabo mid-week. I just can’t get over how Philly played so poorly with a bye week and second seed on the line. Their effort in such an important game shows me that they’re not ready to travel down south again for the rematch.

I think last week’s Cardinals vs. Packers game was meaningless, and that Arizona with all those weapons on offense, a decent defense, and above average running game will be too much for the Packers to handle.

Taylor: I will give you the Cowboys game, as I do believe they will finally win their first playoff game since 1996. As for the Cards/Packers I’m going to have to disagree. Boldin is questionable and the Packers offense is clicking on a cylinders. I think their offense will be too much for the Cards to handle, but it will be an exciting shootout.

That’s all for now folks, check back next week when we’ll update this post to review our predictions and pick the next round.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Who Will Win the Super Bowl?

Quick Hit NFL Thoughts

Joshy C — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:23:40 +0000

Taylor and I will be taking a bye week like the Super Bowl teams, resuming our discussion about who will win the Big Game next Wednesday. To appease our readers in the absence of our normal column, here are some of my non-Super-Bowl random quick hit thoughts on the NFL at this time:

Brett Favre: Will He Retire? First off, let me say, that man is one tough 40-year-old. He was getting drilled on almost every passing play, and even some running plays, but didn’t miss a down. Even after his ankle was crushed, he got it wrapped up and came back in on the next series. After the crap he pulled in his retirement/non-retirement last year, he earned a ton of respect from me by the way he played on Sunday, minus that last interception. After watching Fox cut away to a shot of his wife in the stands every time he got hit, I’m sure if she has her way, he’ll be plowing some fields down south come next September. But my gut tells me that when his bruises heal and he can walk without a limp in the coming months, Favre will decide to come back for one last try at another Super Bowl ring.

Keep Overtime the Way it is! Football pundits everywhere take every opportunity to point out the flaws of the current Sudden Death overtime format. You’ve heard all the arguments already so I won’t rehash them. But here’s a stat that announcers and talk show hosts fail to mention: the team that wins the coin toss in overtime wins 52% of the time, and lose 44% of the time (with the rest being ties). That doesn’t seem so skewed to me. While of course there is an inherent advantage of receiving the ball in overtime, it’s not as overwhelming as the perception. My thoughts on the matter are that if you don’t win the game in regulation, not getting the ball in overtime is a consequence you have to be prepared for. This is not hockey, where you get half a win for just getting to the overtime period.

When it comes to the Vikings/Saints game over the weekend, I feel the argument can be made that BOTH teams deserved to win AND lose. The Vikings outgained the Saints by over 200 yards. But they committed 2 turnovers inside the 10 yard line, and one more at the end of regulation in field goal range. So anyone who blames a coin toss on the Vikings loss should get their facts straight and take an objective look at the other 60 minutes that were played outside of overtime.

Michael Vick is a Puppy Murderer. Vick is owed a huge roster bonus by the Eagles in March and will most likely be looking for a new team when free agency begins. I am a diehard Buffalo Bills fan, and it is well-known that we need a new QB. I make this claim right now: If Michael Vick ever becomes a member of the Buffalo Bills, I will no longer support, root for, or be a fan of the Buffalo Bills. Besides the fact that they would be only doing it to sell tickets and jerseys, there are moral reasons as well.

I love dogs. I don’t own one myself because I know I can’t devote the time and energy needed to training and care. I don’t claim to be an animal rights activist. I believe that any crime committed against a human being is miles worse that a crime committed to an animal. Why do people get so upset when a dog dies in a movie? Because animals are innocent. They are like young children, who can be manipulated and abused easily and cruelly. When it comes to Michael Vick, I can not stand the fact that he is playing football again after the details of his dog-fighting ring came out.

But he did his time in prison, right? If the head of a company or corporation, even with a unique set of skills, did the same thing, would he be welcomed back after his prison sentence was up? This was not a one-time thing. This was a pattern that spanned over five years. The only remorse came from being caught. He would still be doing it if he wasn’t found out. I will never financially support a team that financially supports a person like Michael Vick.

Uncapped Season? If you’re not a football nut, you might not know that there is no agreement between owners and players beginning in March. What that means is teams can spend as much as they want without a ceiling or floor. There are also restrictions on free agency, contract lengths, and other little things. The salary cap not only helps small market teams compete with the larger markets, it forces teams to be creative. You can’t go out and build a fantasy team by throwing money around. You need talent evaluators working around the clock to find inexpensive ways to support the core players on the roster. How much 2011 will affect the competitiveness of the NFL is unknown. Not to concern anyone…but if no agreement is reached by 2012, we will not have an NFL season that year. Owners and the Players Union better get their acts in gear or they’ll be facing a very serious fan outrage.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Quick Hit NFL Thoughts

From baseball to Bosnia–From Tiger, with love

Kyle — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:01:02 +0000

If you watch ESPN like I do, one thing has become abundantly clear in the past few days: Tiger Woods has a new best friend, and his name is Mark McGwire. In a classic Monica Lewinsky vs. Bosnian airstrikes scenario, the McGwire steroid admission has swooped in and totally trumped the Tiger Woods scandal.

While I’ll tell you for certain that I couldn’t be happier to be rid of daily reminders of Tiger Woods’ “transgressions,” I fear we’ve just stopped beating one dead horse, and started kicking another.

When Tiger’s mistress count topped a baker’s dozen, I’d had enough. I love a fall from grace as much as the next guy, but my God, the Perkins waitress? If only she would have worked at Denny’s. Then at least I could have made a ‘grand slam breakfast’ comment here. Unfortunately no good puns on the Perkins menu. I checked.

Then, just as suddenly as Tiger’s Escalade became intimately involved with a tree, McGwire hits us with a jaw-dropper that reduces the Tiger affairs to mere footnotes. It was the sort of jaw-dropper that everyone knew already, and we all act like it’s a surprise together.

The carefully orchestrated gang beating of Mark McGwire began with a statement released to the Associated Press on Monday. Then, surprise, a prime time interview with Bob Costas on MLB network just hours later. Followed up Tuesday with an ESPN interview with Outside the Lines host, Bob Ley.

All along, the whole thing gave the impression that this was a politically constructed PR campaign. Then came the news that the entire sequence was composed by Ari Fleischer’s PR firm. For those of you who might not remember, Fleischer served as White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush. What you might not have known is that he now heads Ari Fleischer Sports Communications, a NY-based PR firm that focuses on athletes who have fallen into the bad graces of the press. According to the firm’s website, “Ari Fleischer Sports Communications can help you handle the bad news, and take advantage of the good.”

It was a natural progression for a press secretary who fended off reporters for an unpopular president who happened to run a MLB franchise before entering politics.

In all, I think McGwire has done a pretty good job handling the public lashing. The media have not always been fair about the story. Maybe not a huge surprise there either.

The day the story broke, Brian Williams began the broadcast of NBC World News saying that because it was a family program he could not say the things he felt about the story. Take that, objectivity.

I don’t think we ought to be praising McGwire for admitting his mistakes. After all, it was the mistakes that got him here. But at the same time, at least he’s manning up to them, which is far more than a lot of his colleagues have done to this point. Beyond that he wasn’t outed. He outed himself. He didn’t fail a drug test. He released a statement saying he took drugs.

Since his admission, there has been a lot of talk about McGwire’s testimony before Congress five years ago. I think a lot of what we’re hearing about this is unfair. McGwire didn’t lie to Congress; he danced around the issue like a court jester. Anyone who thought that McGwire didn’t know what he was setting himself up for there is kidding themselves. He made it a point not to lie before Congress. He basically laid himself on the altar to do so.

New details that are just now coming to light about the hearings offer some insight into why McGwire acted the way he did in Washington. Congressman Tom Davis was the chairman of the House Government Reform Committee which conducted the 2005 inquiry into the use of performance enhancing drugs in MLB. In interviews after the admission, Davis has said that McGwire wanted to tell the truth on the stand. McGwire and his attorneys actually did admit his use to Congress in hours of meetings the day before the public hearing. The meetings were held to request immunity in the next day’s testimony. Then Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez, refused the requests.

On the stand that day in 2005 McGuire was between a rock and a hard place. He could admit what he’d done, and face prosecution. Or he could lie about what he’d done and face prosecution for perjury. Or he could take the only way out afforded to him under the law, and dance around the questions. McGwire danced, and there isn’t an attorney in the country who wouldn’t have advised him to.

So now we have a new whipping boy, and a new headache eating up highlight minutes on ESPN. Why is it that I feel like I’m watching TMZ every time I turn on ESPN? I guess it’s for the same reasons that Ari Fleischer has a lucrative career. For now Tiger Woods is in the clear, thanks to his new buddy Mark. One man’s troubles are another man’s long-awaited relief.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

From baseball to Bosnia–From Tiger, with love

NFL Regular Season Wrap-Up

Joshy C — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:39:41 +0000

With Week 17 in the bag, we now enter a new season, the NFL Playoffs. Check back early and often, as Tipping Glass will be posting often throughout the coming weeks with news, opinions, and predictions during the post-season.

First, a few thoughts on the regular season:

Sitting Starters:

Enough with talk of the NFL Competition Committee doing something about teams resting their starters after locking up their playoff seed. Enough. I’ve read sports writers who are outraged that the Colts, Bengals, Cardinals, Patriots, and Saints would even dream of trying to get healthy before the post-season began. How dare they deny us Manning and give us Painter! Mark Brunnel is still in the league?? Who is Brian Hoyer???

Um…do we forget the 13 hard-fought victories that the Colts and Saints racked up to get here? What are you going to do, take away draft picks because the they didn’t play their starters for the whole game, when they had the #1 seed locked up for weeks? How is that fair? Don’t tell me that the Jets shouldn’t be in the playoffs because they played two teams back-to-back that had nothing to play for. Steelers and Texans fans, maybe you should have won ONE more game this year and you wouldn’t have to rely on situations like that.

The fact is, teams should not be punished for late season white flags. It’s part of the game. I guarantee nobody is going to care come kickoff time on Saturday for the Wild Card games. Win early in the season, and you get the right to decide how to pursue your championship. Period.

Injuries:

I feel bad for Wes Welker. On his 123rd catch, in his 14th game of the year, he makes a cut, and his knee collapses. He put in a lot of effort and hard work to get the Patriots the AFC East crown, and now has to watch them make a Super Bowl run from the recovery room. Tough break kid.

I could mention a few other players who went down yesterday, but Welker illustrates that there is nothing you can do to prevent injuries on the field when your players are in there. While the fans might not like pulling these guys out of the game in meaningless situations, you can’t deny the coaches know what they’re doing. I guarantee Belicheck wishes he could have pulled Welker from the lineup one play early.

The Loveable Losers

Well, we once again talk about a lot of the same teams missing the playoffs, having double-digit losses, and high draft picks again. But I just want to remind everyone that for the 13th year in a row, at least 5 new teams are in the post-season race. Anyone who says halfway through the season that they know how it’ll all end are crazy.

Pittsburgh, sitting pretty at 6-2, follows with a 5 game losing streak, out of the playoffs.

Houston, written off at 5-7, rattles off 4 wins to finish with a winning record.

Cleveland, fighting for a #1 draft pick at 1-11, wins 4 in a row and possibly saves their coach’s job.

The NY Giants and Denver Broncos, 5-0 and 6-0, collapse to 8-8 records.

So when that idiot in the break room at work triumphantly declares that he KNOWS that Pittsburgh is destined to repeat as Champs, and that the Eagles are going to win the NFC East, and that the Titans aren’t going to win a game after starting 0-6…

Well, just read him this section, and look back at the past decade to find similar examples, and tell him to keep his opinion to himself.

And for all the fans of those Loveable Losers, just remember it happens every year. There is always hope that it’ll be a one-year turnaround. Don’t stop believing it could be you.

Next on Tipping Glass:

3 games that were played in week 17 will be repeated in Wild Card Weekend? What it all means.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

NFL Regular Season Wrap-Up

Week 16 NFL Preview Review

Joshy C — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:32:38 +0000

Each Monday (or in this case, Tuesday), I will review the preview I made before the weekend’s games. I will own up to any bad predictions, and brag about my foresight, in hindsight.

Seattle Seahawks (5-10) at Green Bay Packers (10-5)

Results: Green Bay 48, Seattle 10

What Happened: After a last second loss to the Steelers last week, the Packers were ready to seal up that playoff spot and did it convincingly. Their defense picked off 4 passes and their offense scored 5 Touchdowns on the ground to put this game away before halftime.

My Prediction: Packers win in a landslide.

Foresight in Hindsight: This game could probably define the word phrase “landslide victory”.

Oakland Raiders (5-10) at Cleveland Browns (4-11)

Results: Cleveland 23, Oakland 9

What Happened: Who is Jerome Harrison, and where has he been all year? Over 430 rushing yards the past two games, I think the Browns have their starting running back locked up for next year. Now all they need is a QB, receivers, TE, and defense, and they’ll be set.

My Prediction: Browns win easy.

Foresight in Hindsight: Their third straight victory. The Browns. Three straight. Read that again. Yep.

Baltimore Ravens (8-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)

Results: Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 20

What Happened: Another slugfest between these two teams. Every time they meet I feel like someone wins in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. The Ravens shot themselves in the feet with all the stupid penalties. Every game, it comes down to who made ONE more play than the other team. Why negate that with personal fouls??

My Prediction: Ravens win a close one.

Foresight in Hindsight: Next time, I’m just gonna flip a coin to pick who wins between these guys.

New York Jets (8-7) at Indianapolis Colts (14-1)

Results: New York 29, Indianapolis 15

What Happened: The Colts pulled their starters in the 3rd quarter while holding a 5 point lead. The Jets went on to score 19 unanswered points to put themselves in a win-and-you’re-in scenario next week.

My Prediction: Colts win a close game.

Foresight in Hindsight: Well, it was a close game before the starters left. The home crowd was NOT happy, and I don’t blame them. Caldwell accepted defeat in front of his paying customers and the Jets got a gift-wrapped win to put them in position to make a post-season run.

Denver Broncos (8-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)

Results: Philadelphia 30, Denver 27

What Happened: Philly kicked a game winning FG in the 4th quarter, sealing up a playoff spot.

My Prediction: Broncos lose again.

Foresight in Hindsight: Hey Broncos. You had a playoff spot locked up for 16 straight weeks. You were 6-0. What gives?? Did you all of a sudden realize you weren’t a good team anymore? I just don’t understand this type of collapse. Maybe you and the Giants can get together and talk about what caused your seasons to go down the tubes.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Week 16 NFL Preview Review