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ORIGINAL 'ONE SHINING MOMENT' (1987) CLASSIC ELI GOLD CALL (1989) |
2008 FANTASY FOOTBALL (EXPANDED!!!): 
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TOP STORIES - MARCH 24, 2009 2009 PRE-SEASON RANKINGS ARE OUT!!! Top 40 drivers ranked for NASCAR 2009... IT'S HERE - 2009 KAC FANTASY BASEBALL (OVER 500 PLAYERS PROFILED!!!): CATCHERS | FIRST BASEMEN | SECOND BASEMEN | THIRD BASE | SHORTSTOPS | OUTFIELD (AL) | OUTFIELD (NL) | STARTING PITCHERS (AL) | STARTING PITCHERS (NL) | RELIEF PITCHERS  GOT A DYNASTY LEAGUE DRAFT PICK FOR YOU: Warning - this is NOT another Sidd Finch April Fool's Day story coming out a week early. I got to see some highlights of this guy while working out watching the MTN the other night, and just hearing his numbers while treating conference opposition like Little Leaguers just sounded paranormal. His name is Stephen Strasburg, he pitches for San Diego St. University, he throws 103 MPH, and he struck out 23 batters in a game last year. This past weekend Strasburg only struck out 15 in seven innings in a game SDSU eventually lost. And oh yeah, Strasburg is not wild and has a killer off-speed pitch. Scouts and opposing coaches are already speculating that Strasburg will be in the majors by the end of this year. There lies the rub, because I will give you three guesses on who Strasburg's agent is and the first two don't count. Per baseball's current draft slotting system it is said that Strasburg is good easily for a $15 million contract as the first overall pick (Mark Prior got $10.5 million in 2001) - but there is speculation that Boras might use Strasburg as a 'test case' and ask for a contract similar to that of a veteran staff ace, perhaps asking for as much as $50 million. And although Strasburg is fit now, it was said that he was at least 30 pounds overweight (255 lb) upon arriving at SDSU and his conditioning coach suggested that he'd 'quit on the spot', and there were also issues about his demeanor and handling certain situations on the field. I will say that conditioning coach should either be fired or given a raise for motivating the man. The list of pitchers who have been clocked at 102 MPH or faster are as follows - Joel Zumaya, Strasburg, Matt Anderson, Mark Wohlers, Aroldis Chapman (23 year old currently playing for team Cuba), Matt Lindstrom, Justin Verlander, Bobby Jenks, Randy Johnson, Armando Benitez. Johnson went on to great things obviously but other than that a mixed bag of decent talents, works in progress, or pitchers who ultimately melted down or blew out their arms. I say this guy is close to cant-miss, but negotiations between the Washington Nationals (who hold the lucky #1 pick) and Boras are sure to be contentious.JAPAN WINS IN EXTRA INNINGS IN WBC FINAL: At least Ichiro will have something from his trophy case from the 2009 season, his fourth hit of the game gives Japan a 5-3, 10 inning win over Korea to win the World Baseball Classic, a game that MLB would kill to have for a final game of a World Series. 22-year old Yu Darvish blew a potential ninth-inning save, but ultimately closed things out in the tenth to earn the win. In case you're wondering about the last name not sounding Japanese, Darvish's dad is Iranian, he and his wife met in the U.S.. There's going to be a monster posting fee on this guy somewhere down the pipe, and it ain't going to be cheap. 2009 NFL SCHEDULE STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE: Tennessee opens at Pittsburgh on the opening Thursday night. The Bears play at the Packers that Sunday night, the opening Monday night games are the Bills at Patriots and Chargers at Raiders. The Cowboys are scheduled for their home opener in a Sunday night game in Week 2. Thanksgiving features Packers at Lions, Raiders at Cowboys, and finally the Giants at Broncos. It would mark the Giants first visit to Denver since being the Broncos first regular season opponent in their current venue - a game that took place on the evening of September 10, 2001. MARLINS FINALLY GET THEIR YARD!!! After a 15-year quest which saw two frustrated ownership groups sell off, the Florida Marlins finally cleared the final hurdule to finalize construction of a new retractable-roof stadium expected to open in 2012 on the site of the former O.B.. But even the final vote was hotly contested, with one commissioner vowing that the Marlins 'field of dreams' will prove to be a 'nightmare for taxpayers' and that recent changes to sweeten the deal was like trying to put 'lipstick on a fish'. Because of awful attendance and limited revenue streams at Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin Stadium, the team has been hamstrung by forcing to go with a bare-bones payroll despite the team winning World Championships in 1997 and 2003. As part of the deal, the ballclub will be re-branded as the Miami Marlins in 2012. ANNA RAWSON PEGGED BY GO-DADDY??? Fresh off recent controversial remarks about the state of the women's golf game, word is that Anna Rawson has just been tapped by Godaddy.com to become it's latest endorcer. Expect to see more racy ads than wins between Anna and Dancia, but at least they sell the most in their respective sports.  A.O. GOES T.O.: Well here's what I get for defending Alex Ovechkin in a recent blog, as he does a little more than his normal leap into the boards after scoring his 50th goal in Tampa, and now the debate on whether there should be celebration penalties in the NHL is officially on. The good news for Alex is that he only ranks #2 on the list of those who landed in hot water in Washington last night.ARBY'S OFFERING FREE ROAST-BURGERS IF #16 SEED PULLS THE SHOCKER: Fast-food chain is offering their heavily-promoted 'roast-burgers' for free for a few hours this coming Monday if a #16 seed were to beat a #1 seed in first-round NCAA play. Those seeking the free sandwiches would need to provide proof of the event, such as the box score or a newspaper story of the game. There should be no problem finding that - #1 seed loses in Round 1 and it gets 48-point font on the front page!!! The promotion, even if Arby's ends up paying, is not brashly out of line - last year Arby's offered free curly fries if Matt Kenseth were to win a race in NASCAR's Cup or Nationwide Series, which he did do on one occasion. Arby's has also been recently promoting the roast-burgers by offering them for free with a mere purchase of a soft-drink (about $1.50). I should make my annual announcement that #16 seeds are 0-96 against the #1 seeds all-time, a mark that would become a perfect 0-100 if none of the four #16's win this year. A #16 did beat a #1 in the women's tournament once, when Harvard defeated Stanford, a feat even more impressive since Stanford was rewarded with being a top seed by hosting the game. As of this writing however, you can already write off the first two #16 seeds, KACSPORTS.COM has projected both North Carolina and Connecticut to advance to the second round. ANNIKA ANNOUNCES HAPPY NEWS: Did I call this shot or what??? Actually, I never did here - but trust me, I called it. Actually the wedding was on Jaunuary 10, so it took 68 days for it to become public. Actually, I say the news is a week or two overdue (no pun intend), Annika's blog says she's expecting 'later this fall'. Depending on whether she's intending to stop at one, this helps pave the way for her return to the LPGA Tour in 2011 or 2012. MARTIN BRODEUR BEATEN LIKE A RENTED MULE IN APPEALS COURT: Or you can use another Mike Lang line after a goaltender gets un-dressed in a game (figurately, not literally) and say that Brodeur just lost his liquor license, only this is a bit worse. Fresh off becoming the NHL's all-time winningest netminder the other night with his 552nd career win, Martin Brodeur is dealt a setback in appeals court, where it was ruled that Brodeur must pay his ex $500,000 per year in support until 2020, when Brodeur's youngest child enters high school. Brodeur has appealed saying that he should only pay $500,000 per until he retires, which he estimates will be in 2012. The former Mrs. Brodeur meanwhile is seeking payments through the time the youngest child turns 18, which would be 2024. MAGGLIO HEARING IT FROM HOME FANS AT WBC: Magglio Ordonez has been hearing the catcalls from his countrymen attending the World Baseball Classic over his support for President Hugo Chavez. Magglio has been appearing in television ads supporting a Venezuela referendum to eliminate term limits for the president and other elected officials. While his teammates support Magglio and say that sports should never mixed with politics, the team's fans have been cheerling lustily as Ordonez has slumped during the tournament, with fans saying he should be expelled from the country and 'never seen from again'.  ONE SHINING MOMENT: Long-time CBS executive Doug Towey recently passed away after a long illness at age 61. During his 34-year career at the network, Towey had the title of creative director and oversaw the graphics, promotions, and theme music for the network's sports events. In 1987 Towey started an annual tradition when he chose a montage set to music by folk singer David Barrett to close the telecast of that year's National Championship game. Here you can see a screen-shot from that piece of a Syracuse cheerleader stressing as the nail-biter between SU and Indiana headed into the final moments. What you may not know is that 'One Shining Moment' was not originally intended to be a tribute to the NCAA basketball tournament. The initial plan was to play OSM to close out CBS's Super Bowl 21 telecast two months earlier. That's right - the plan was to have clips of Phil Simms' record-setting performance set to that. But due to the Super Bowl post-game running long, that plan was scrapped and the song was used to close the NCAA tourney coverage instead. I say it was a wise move, you can see the original montage at the top of the page.DAVEY JOHNSON CONSIDERING 'FORFEITING' OUT OF THE WBC??? After the U.S. skipper showed up late as the USA was routed by Puerto Rico the other night so he could attend a wedding I'm not surprised. I understand a manager skipping a regular season game to attend a wedding or graduation, but what is supposed to be billed as baseball's answer to the World Cup is another matter. Johnson is now saying that he is so concerned about running out of players due to numerous injuries that have hit the U.S. team that he will pull what's left of his team off the field if forced to utilize a player out of his usual position - out of respect of not risking that player further for his regular MLB team. I'll use the analogy again, think Brazil would sit their star midfielder from the World Cup out of fear that he could re-aggravate an injury that could cause him to miss part of the season for Real Madrid or whoever his regular season team is??? For the last time baseball is not soccer or even hockey - don't look for the WBC to return in 2013. NICK SCHUYLER PAINTS GRIM PICTURE OF WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED: At least a couple of the party of four struggling for survival fighting for space on top of their capsized boat??? As little as most people would want to think about their final moments - that sounds like a possible scenario. New Coast Guard documents suggest that the two NFL players involved in the tragedy may have died just a few hours after the fishing boat overturned in rough seas, possibly before rescuers were even alerted that the four were lost off the west coast of Florida. The 23-page report says that Schuyler told them that one by one, the other three men took off their life vests and disappeared during the ordeal. Schuyler says one member of the party 'freaked out' and took off his life vest and disappeared, while a second later 'became unruly' and started throwing punches and soon after also threw off his life vest. The third victim started swimming (believed to be William Bleakley in an earlier report) towards what he believed was the shoreline the next morning. As also reported earlier, Schuyler reportedly gave a different account of the events to the Bleakley family than what is reported in the Coast Guard report. NO MERCY FOR U.S. AT WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Jake Peavy shelled, Team USA routed by Peutro Rico 11-1 in game called after seven innings due to mercy rule. DEPAUL BREAKS UP WINLESS CONFERENCE SEASON: It's been a tough year for (soon-to-be-ex) coach Jerry Wainwight and the DePaul Blue Demons, who have seemed to be in over their heads since joining the Big East a few years back (and I thought it was going to be Marquette who would get clobbered). The proud men's basketball program ran the table in conference play this year and went a perfect 0-18. But unlike the Detroit Lions, the Blue Demons got a chance at 'post-season play' this year, thanks to the Big East expanding it's conference tournament to include all 16 teams - using a step-ladder format which gives the top-four teams 'double byes'. DePaul, obviously the #16 seed, opens against #9 seed Cincinnati, and WINS. The good news is the NCAA Tournament Committee can now throw the Bearcats off the bubble, and who knows - maybe the Bearcats can see MSG again in a few weeks if they get hot in the NIT. Now DePaul gets #8 seed Providence in Round 2, and can likewise ruin the Friars NCAA aspirations with another win. Then it gets tough - DePaul would then play for a third-straight day against well-rested and #1 ranked (nationally) Connecticut. But then somehow win that, then beat the likes of Marquette or Villanova in the semi-finals, then someone like Louisville and Pittsburgh (that would be five wins in five days), then DePaul wins the tourney and is in the NCAA's as a #14 or #15 seed (yes the RPI would still be THAT crappy after all thats). Then just win six more games (which might be relatively easy after the Big East gauntlet) in a row after that and DePaul is your 2009 National Champion. You and I will win Powerball several times before that happens, but that's the beauty of March Madness - everyone at least gets a chip and a chair, never mind the dream for the vast majority quickly ends. 'TIRE CHASER' SUSPENDED FOUR RACES: You knew NASCAR would come down on this guy, and this was about what I expected. #47 team crew member and would-be-Darwin Award candidate Jimmy Watts has been suspended four races by NASCAR for his now infamous quest to run clear into the infield to chase down a stray tire smack in the middle of green flag pit stops at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Watts actions forced NASCAR to throw a yellow flag that proved to be ill-timed for the majority of drivers in the field. Watts is also placed on probation for the rest of the season, along with his crew chief, who is held responsible by NASCAR for Watts' actions. There was no driver or owner's point reductions for the #47 team, which some also suspected might come down. THEY HAD THE MIDAS TOUCH, UNTIL THEY MET THE DUTCH: What's Felipe Alou going to say now, after saying that his team should have beaten the Netherlands 9-0 with their eyes closed after being upset the first time by the Dutch at the World Baseball Classic. Getting a second chance through the losers bracket, the Dominican Republic again does a great impression of Alou's more recent San Francisco Giant teams, until finally squeezing out a run to go up 1-0 in the 11th inning - only to see the Netherlands score twice in the bottom half, advancing the Dutch, and eliminating the Dominicans. Guess Felipe's boys were hacking at slop all night again.  TIME TO FIRE LANE KIFFIN AT UT??? You don't think that's not a legitimate question six months before he's to coach his first game for the Vols?? If not, check out the latest allegation regarding some of his recruiting techniques. It's being said that Lane was trying to recruit a player who ultimately signed with South Carolina. Per a speakerphone conversation Kiffin was having with the player and his high school coach, Lane vowed that the player would be 'pumping gas for the rest of his life', if he decided to sign on with the Gamecocks. Kiffin denies the comment despite the coach being a witness. You can add this on to Lane falsely calling out Urban Meyer and committing a recruiting violation himself - all this on his first two months on the job - this guy is making Rick Neuheisel look reputable. Wonder how many points Florida lays on UT come September?? You stay classy Tennessee.CANADA DRY: Canadians go two and out in World Baseball Classic, going home after a shocking loss to Italy before a mere 12,000 at Skydome. I thought the Canadian fan base cared more about this thing than the U.S. HEARTWARMING STORY ON THE PGA TOUR: Phooey to those who actually say the PGA Tour might as well fold when Tiger Woods is out of the equation. Takes this weeks event at the Honda Classic (a tourney without a bailed out financial institution as a sponsor - WHAT A CONCEPT!!!). Irish teen sensation Rory McIlroy is again in contention in just his second U.S. event, currently tied for 13th. Also tied for 13th is local Miami-area golfer Erik Compton - just another golfer you have never heard of before?? Yes. Also Compton has undergone two heart transplants, the most recent only a year ago. Compton was offered a cart to play the tournament, an offer which Compton declined. Compton says that since the most recent transplant that he has lost 30-40 yards off the tee, which obviously has not hurt him much over the past two days - no matter what happens this weekend, Compton will be part of the equation - if he is in contention on Sunday?? Perhaps one of the stories of the year in sports. NASCAR TRACK OWNER DOES NOT LIKE SOUTH FLORIDA: Speedway Motorsports owner Bruton Smith, whose tracks comprise 12 of the 36-race NASCAR Cup schedule, wants the season-ending race moved out of Miami-Homestead Speedway, saying that's NASCAR's season-champions should not be crowned at 'a God-forsaken place just north of Cuba'. Even at his advanced age, Bruton is still damn good at geography. Bruton suggests that the final race either be held in Las Vegas or Atlanta, both happening to be tracks he owns. NASCAR's season-ending race used to be held in Atlanta, but Bruton Smith asked to have that race held earlier in the fall a few years back, which NASCAR obliged. But NASCAR then instituted the Chase for the Championship two years later, making the title being in the balance much more likely, before then the season Championship was often clinched well before the season-ending race. MORE INFO ON FLORIDA BOAT TRAGEDY: You can definitely understand the families of Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith wanting to carry on with the search/recovery efforts for their sons - but after more information that has now come forward, the cold (no pun intended) hard facts tells what the fates of the three missing boaters were. The father Will Bleakley says he has talked to lone survivor Nick Schuyler, who credits Will with saving his life, saying that he helped keep him on the hull of the boat, and was in his grasp when he expired around 36 hours into the ordeal after becoming delirious from dehydration and vomiting. Schuyler says he was attempting CPR on his former South Florida teammate when another large wave hit, which caused him to let go of his friend. A NY Daily News report however has another version of events, saying that Smith and Cooper 'lost hope' and threw off their lifejackets after four hours, and that Bleakley started swimming the next morning after seeing a light in the distance. The 63 degree water temperature may not sound lethal to some, but immersed it's like being outside naked at ten degrees. Also vomiting and other bodily fluids is also known to attract sharks, which may account for the fact that no traces of the three men may ever be found. Hopefully hypothermia got them first. CRICKET TEAM ATTACKED IN PAKISTAN: Unfortunately, we are not talking about cigarette lighters or cell phones here. At least a dozen highly-trained gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team with rifles, grenades and rocket launchers trying to get to the stadium in Pakistan the day before a match, wounding seven players, an umpire and an assistant coach. Six policemen and a driver were killed trying to protect the team. Two players are hospitalized with bullet wounds. In a well-planned attack, the assailants ambushed the convoy carrying the squad and match officials 100 yards from the stadium, triggering a 15-minute gunbattle with police. The attack reinforced perceptions that nuclear-armed Pakistan is veering out of control under terrorist assault. It will end hopes of cricket teams, or teams from other countries in any other sport, playing there for the forseeable future. Sri Lanka agreed to play in Pakistan as part of it's tour only after Australia and India backed out over security concerns. |
