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Your comment must be posted by 30 minutes before the Tuesday Feb. 26 class.’
You must include the URL so that others can read the column, too.
Let me know if you have any questions.
See you in class.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Tim’s Smith’s column “Heavyweights now a Russian empire,” discusses how boxers from Russia now dominate the heavyweight division.
The lead reads, “For years the Garden has been called the Mecca of Boxing. It is the place where boxers from all over the world want to headline. But when it comes to heavyweight championship fights, the Garden has usually been the sole province of U.S. boxers.”
I liked the lead because it was simply stated. It kept me interested, but didn’t give all of the information. It pushed me to read on.
The column also compared the diversity changes in boxing to those in politics with Barack Obama.
Overall it was a good read, here is the link.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/02/21/2008-02-21_heavweights_now_a_russian_empire.html
February 25th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Bob Ryan is back writing, so I have gone back to him.
Since it is the start of baseball spring training, Ryan wrote Saturday on the fact that the Boston Red Sox are now the favorite and not the underdog anymore. The column is “Their Position Quite Favorable.”
The column was a combination of substance and humor.
As to substance, Ryan points out that the current Red Sox has a stronger starting pitching staff than the team that tried to repeat after 2004.
While there are some older players in the lineup, the Yankee’s lineup is older.
He attempts to tell Red Sox fans to get used to being the “top dogs:”
“You’re on top. Can you handle it ?
You can’t lapse back into that narcissistic, woe-is-me routine. There is no woe. There is only Whoa!”
Here is the link.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/02/23/their_position_quite_favorable/
February 26th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Peter King’s column addresses the ‘Spygate’ scandal and takes the fans opinion into account.
King includes an e-mail with two good reasons to question the NFL and Bill Bilichick’s actions regarding Spygate.
King offers some reasoning for the NFL’s commissioner destroying the tapes the Patriot’s recorded against the leagues rules.
The column also also offered insight on how the scandal may have affected the Super Bowl.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/02/19/mmqbte/index.html
February 26th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Flashback: 13 throws to glory on Troon’s sixth hole
By: Mitch Albom
This article was orginally posted on july 20, 1989. This story was pretty funny for the reason I have played many rounds of golf in my life and seen some crazy incidents, but never a man throw a golf ball down the longest hole in British Open history (577yards).
Albom is a great story-teller in the sense that he creates a build up for his readers that they do not want to stop reading for the mere fact of entertainment. Albom uses many quotes and allusions to other related topics to keep the readers interest.
I also find it funny how there is a connected picture with Tiger Woods, yet the story involves the writer himself. Very creative and imaginative Albom is in his writing.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/COL01/80217036/1082/col01
February 26th, 2008 at 2:56 am
“Is Dusty good for kids? Reds hope so”
By Chris De Luca
De Luca’s article focuses on the Reds’ hiring of former Cubs manager Dusty Baker. He points out that although Baker leads a young team in Cincinnati, he has gained a reputation throughout the league for not developing younger players.
To support his argument, De Luca mentioned two former Cubs who playerd for Baker, Corey Patterson and Mark Prior.
Once regarded as a top outfield prospect, Patterson had some success with the Cubs but was unable to find consistency in Chicago. Prior seemed on his way to collecting multiple Cy Young awards, but injuries have derailed his career. De Luca mentions that some people placed the blame on Baker for overworking Prior.
It will be interesting to see how Baker handles the Reds’ roster. In the past, his rosters were filled with the names of veteran, star players such as Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. But this year he will be managing a younger roster; it remains to be seen whether this will force him change his managing style.
Here is the link:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/de
February 26th, 2008 at 10:08 am
This week, Whitlocks column was titled “These are desparate times for K-State.”
In the column Whitlock discusses the freefall that the Kansas State Men’s Basketball team has suffered in recent weeks.
As usual the column is well written but Whitlock does get a little wordy at times. For example, he comments on Michael Beasley and he starts the paragraph with the phrase “I will add this caveat, though.” A couple times things like that seemed unnecessary.
Here is the link,
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/505576.html
February 26th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Clayton is talking about the future with fans being able to attend the NFL combine. I think it is a excellent idea. I can’t find a reason it would hurt the league. The NFL is all about the money. Anybody who watches the NFL knows that money is a huge priority. Business is business and the inclusion of fans to be apart of the combine helps the NFL during the off season.
It definitely helps for exposure for the league and also helps out Indianapolis. It is like another fan appreciation moment.
The rest of the column speaks about the future of some football players before the start of free agency. Friday is the deadline and I hope Tedy Bruschi decides to continue playing in the NFL. He has an amazing story and how he has come back from a stroke is an amazing thing.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3264107&searchName;=clayton_john&action;=login&appRedirect;=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3264107%26searchName%3dclayton_john
February 26th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Shameless Titans Atop the Hill
Leonard Shapiro wrote a column in the Washington Post about Roger Clemens and his attorney’s decision to defend themselves the way they did during those congressional meetings. He feels that they backfired on them because of the fact that Clemens is a bully and always has been a bully. He states that Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ lawyer should have known better than to have this type of strategy with their defense when clearly Clemens would make it backfire.
Shapiro makes some good points and it brings up an interesting idea about how they should have defended themselves. I think that Clemens should have taken a completely different approach as well with his defense. At the end of the day his defense is going to backfire and his reputation will probably be shattered.
You can find this article at http://www.washingtonpost.com
February 26th, 2008 at 11:20 am
“Human Rights, and Wrongs”
By Sally Jenkins
In this article, Jenkins discusses why having the Olympics take place in China may not be such a great idea after all.
I found her lead to be blunt stating: “International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge spoke yesterday, and, as usual, he didn’t say anything. Which is just how the Chinese government likes it.”
Jenkins believes that though the idea of awarding the Olympics to Beijing was to help change the behavior of the Chinese government, this idea has back-fired and in turn the Chinese government is changing the behavior of everyone else.
I didn’t think Jenkins was going to write an article on the Olympics but after I read her article, I was glad she did.
Here is the URL:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022102695.html
February 26th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Clearly, He Stands Alone
By: MICHAEL WILBON
This article focuses on the recent dominance of Tiger Woods on the PGA tour. Wilbon is obviously a big fan as he praises Tiger’s achievements thruoghout the piece. He draws comparisons to Rocky Marciano and Muhammand Ali.
I do agree with Wilbon as to the fact we are watching history in the making. The dominance Tiger Woods is currently displaying is Jordanesque. But, I do disagree with how Wilbon casts the recent dominance of Roger Federer aside. Saying that it does not even compare makes me question Wilbons knowledge of the game of tennis. A good article, definately not his best though.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502782.html?sub=AR
February 26th, 2008 at 11:39 am
“The Art of Denial”
Scoop Jackson’s story this week was about the recent resignation of Kevin Sampson.
In the story he discusses the art of denial that coaches and players have begun to use in recent years.
The story was somewhat interesting, but at times not clear on what Jacksons real opinion was.
The columnist compares Clemens, Sampson, and Belichick to Jose Canseco, Brian McNamee, and Jason Giambi.
I think the story was well written, here is the link.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/080225
February 26th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Nadia Hajeer
Royals pitching advisor Ficher shares wisdom of 60 years in baseball.
-Joe Posnanski
I really liked Posnanski’s use of “bleep” or “bleeping” in absents of a curse word. It was interesting to see how he choose to leave parts of speech in while not saying them. I would have just cut out the word instead of substituting one for it. But for Posnanski it worked. “Whatever, it was bleeping far.”
I also like how he seemed to get Royal’s pitching advisor Bill Fisher’s personality transfered a little bit into the story. Stubborn, hard headed, mind set after 60 years in the field.
Fish knows it all and has an opinion about everything. Kind of the way it should be in sports.
http://www.kansascity.com/180/story/502797.html
February 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Woody Paige’s column “Tiger tracks are pointing to major feat,” is a great example of his unorthodox style at its best.
The lead quotes James Bond, saying “You know operation Grand Slam won’t work.” Tiger Woods answers in a cool fashion, “I think it is easily within reason.”
The column is very engaging, as Paige somehow relates Tiger’s fishing with his golf. “It couldn’t be much better,” and “a river runs through it.”
Woods has won eight titles in his last nine efforts. Given his seemingly effortless plush through competition, some, like Arnold Palmer, are speculating that Tiger can win the Grandest Slam this year.
With his game at its best, a more seasoned Tiger Woods seems to be ready for his next prey: The Masters, The U.S. Open, The British Open, and The PGA championship. Paige thinks that the impractical proposition is not beyond Tiger’s reach. Not even secret-agent Bond can stop operation Grand Slam.
http://www.denverpost.com/woodysworld/ci_8354690
February 26th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
In his article Gene Wojciechowski writes about how he thinks that Indiana made a good first step by coming to to terms with Kelvin Sampson’s resignation, but that they may need to do more to salvage their reputation.
Wojciechowski feels that Indiana can only blame itself for Sampson since they hired him when he was in the midst of a similar scandal with Oklahoma.
Wojciechowski believes that Indiana should put a self-imposed ban on their post season or at the very least should forfeit the money and benefits that come from advancing in the tournament.
I have to agree with Wojciechowski about Indiana possibly forfeiting the benefits, but I cannot agree with them forfeiting the tournament all together.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id;=3262430&sportCat;=ncb
February 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Jayson Stark’s latest column is about Phillies slugger Ryan Howard’s recent payday.
Howard, considered one of baseball’s brightest young stars, received a record arbitration deal of $10 million. That figure dwarfs previous arbitration payouts.
Stark goes on to justify the amount, basically comparing Howard’s production to that of other famous sluggers through the years. According to Stark, Howard is putting up numbers that no one in history can compare to, short of possibly Babe Ruth.
The article then goes on to explain the ramifications for other young players around the league. In short, teams are going to try to lock up their young talent earlier and for less money, rather than risk a huge arbitration payout like Howard’s. Case in point: the Rockies signing shortstop Troy Tulowitzky at a high cost, but probably less than they’d have had to pay him if they waited.
I think it’s important to note that Stark was born and raised in Philadelphia, and also worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer previously. More than likely, he is a Phillies fan. It makes me wonder whether his perspective on the Howard deal is skewed. Ultimately it doesn’t matter, since he is reputable enough that he can get away with including a little bit of opinion in an analysis piece.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id;=3257829
February 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Seattle’s soothing baseball voice headed to Cooperstown
BY: JIM CAPLE
Dave Niehaus — 31-year voice of the Seattle Mariners and adopted member of Caple’s household — was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Isolated in the Pacific Northwest, Caple compares his efforts to obtain national acclaim to shouting into a tin can.
But through thick and thin, including 15 years of sub-.500 baseball to begin the franchise history, Neihaus’ soothing voice has been there since the Mariners’ first pitch in franchise history.
Caple’s kicker is quite interesting. Neihaus graduated from Indiana University with a degree in dentistry. Thus, Caple gives an accout of the voice of Seattle announcing a root canal.
This struck me. I am a marketing and accounting major with an economics minor. And, with aspirations to work in sports broadcasting, I’m hoping my GMU degree carries equal irrelevance.
URL: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080220&sportCat;=mlb
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