The Sporting News articles from August 2002

The Sporting News archives from August 2002

Ultimate fantasy fun. (Sportingnews.com).
August 5, 2002... The best fantasy football game on the Internet is at your fingertips at SportingNews.com. Ultimate Fantasy Football is back and better than ever with features such as team e-mail reports, draft spreadsheets and player updates. Be sure to sign...

The clock is ticking. (Sportingnews.com).
August 5, 2002... Need to get ready for the upcoming NFL season? SportingNews.com's Preseason Countdown dissects each team's training camp and provides analysis of the top players on every team. It's the authoritative reference for the die-hard fan. Go to:...

Sports and laughs. (Sporting News Radio).
August 5, 2002... Murray In the Morning debuts Monday and will air weekdays 7-10 a.m. ET. Bruce Murray and co-hosts Kevin Fleming, T.J. Shanoff and Tanyette Colon will break down X's and O's, talk with the biggest names in sports... ah, forget all that--just...

`Hey, didn't you used to be an active NBA offseason?' (Caught On The Fly).
August 5, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where active and Vin Baker just don't go together. * Sure, the Padregs've been a black cloud on sunny San Diego, but Fly's looking at that future five-day forecast of Brian Lawrence, Brett Tomko, Jake Peavy, Oliver Perez...

On the possible MLB players' strike. (Sound Bites).
August 5, 2002... "I think the players are marching off a cliff like lemmings, following Donald Fehr this time. The players do whatever Donald Fehr wants them to do. I think this is destruction... if they walk out on strike." Papa Joe Chevalier can be...

On Kenny Rogers refusing to be traded to Cincinnati. (Sound Bites).
August 5, 2002... "Kenny Rogers is another example of what is wrong with Major League Baseball. He doesn't want to be bothered. He doesn't want to win. He just wants to get paid, and that's wrong." Rick Ballou can be heard 10 p.m.-2 a.m. ET weekdays.

On Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France. (Sound Bites).
August 5, 2002... "I can't think of anything better. What Lance Armstrong is doing is simply phenomenal. It is mind-boggling to think about what he has done and what be is doing against the world's best." James Brown can be heard 10 a.m.-noon ET weekdays.

Bob Hille's starting five 5. (TSN Sights).
August 5, 2002... (1) NFL preseason. Buy a ticket and you overpaid for something low in actual value. It's your portfolio all over again. (2) Waivers. Players traded now have to clear them in baseball's second-most-popular parlor game--right behind...

Hard knocks brings out stars. (Remote Patrol).
August 5, 2002... I noticed almost immediately that Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Dallas Cowboys lacks the star value of 10 years ago, had HBO and NFL Films come a-knockin' at Camp Wowboys inhabited by Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin in Super...

Instant greatness. (Static).
August 5, 2002... * Instant greatness: The Monday Night Football Dream Team of Al Michaels-John Madden needs to be boffo, and producer Fred Gaudelli, predictably, predicts it win be. But even in exhibition form at ABC's Hall of Fame Game? "I would be shocked if...

The buzz. (Static).
August 5, 2002... * The buzz: Pat Summerall will work a limited NFL on Fox schedule, all Cowboys games (he lives in Dallas) with Brian Baldinger, a commentator for Sporting News Radio.

FYI. (Static).
August 5, 2002... * FYI: Brad Nessler-Bill Walton were named ABC/ESPN's A team for NBA telecasts; Mike Tirico-Tom Tolbert are No. 2

Soundbitten. (Static).
August 5, 2002... * Soundbitten: "Of 25,000 strikes called against him, he may have agreed with an umpire twice."--Tim McCarver on Fox's Yankees-Red Sox, as Rickey Henderson woofed.

Do not adjust you set. (Static).
August 5, 2002... * Do not adjust you set: In honor of Italian Night at Shea, AI Trautwig of MSG's SportsDesk serenaded Mets highlights with an upbeat and fast version of the "Tarantella."--F.Q.

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
August 5, 2002... Choice Voice `Can you believe people will pay to watch the NFL practice but won't pay to watch major league baseball? Thank God for the NFL.'--Dale Kokesh, Rapid City, S.D. Got a comment? THE SPORTING NEWS would love to hear from you....

Remembered in his Will: Darryl Kile's last win lifted the Cardinals into the N.L. Central lead. They're determined to make the late pitcher's contribution stand up. (Baseball).
August 5, 2002... Caden Williams is dressed like the big boys. It's a pine-tar sticky July day in St. Louis, but Caden, the 7-year-old son of Cardinals pitcher Woody Williams, doesn't mind. He's firing balls from his small black glove into the mitts of a couple...

Someday soon, Chicago will win. (Insider: baseball).
August 5, 2002... It's going to happen, not this season, but sometime this decade. The Cubs and White Sox are going to return to the postseason. One or both will win a playoffs series, maybe even the World Series, overcoming profit-driven owners, inexperienced...

Go ahead--cheer for the Twins. (The Closer).
August 5, 2002... I knew it when I was with them last year: The Twins have something special. All winter, this team was harpooned by Bud Selig and Major League Baseball. But the contraction talk only galvanized the players. When most other general managers...

Coming attractions. (Insider: baseball).
August 5, 2002... Fans of great pitching will love the three-game Diamondbacks-Braves series that starts Tuesday in Phoenix. Possibly the N.L.'s four best starters--Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson--will pitch. Offensively, keep an eye...

Getting sticky with it. (Insider: baseball).
August 5, 2002... Facing a pitcher who throws a dancing knuckleball is hard. Facing that pitch in hot, humid weather is harder still. Unfortunately for hitters, the two often are related. Knuckleballs tend to work better in hot, sticky situations because...

Santiago knows squat. (Insider: baseball).
August 5, 2002... To get a real feel for this story, try this while you read: Rise from your seat, place the magazine on the floor, and assume the catcher's crouch. Now stand, then squat. Stand, squat. Squat, squat, squat. This is the life of a catcher. In...

Get out of the way. (Insider: baseball).
August 5, 2002... For a moment, Torii Hunter had the audacity of Dennis Rodman and the accuracy of Brett Favre. Pushing peacemakers aside at home plate, the Twins center fielder threw a retaliatory fastball that nailed Indians pitcher Danys Baez, who had plunked...

Take your pick.
August 5, 2002... JOEL PINEIRO or JARROD WASHBURN Who would you rather have on the mound next opening day? Pitching analyst and scout Lewis Shaw offers his take on two of the game's hottest young pitchers. VITAL STATISTICS RHP, Mariners (6-1, 180,...

Taking stock.
August 5, 2002... Midseason trades aren't made with April in mind. Contenders who have bargained away their future don't want to hear about potential. They want results yesterday. Chuck Finley, LHP, Cardinals, He had the same vital numbers in his first two...

One on one with ... Mark Rodgers.
August 5, 2002... During the days and weeks before the trading deadline, general managers take on a high profile in the baseball world. But agents play a very important role behind the scenes in trade discussions. Mark Rodgers, who represents Rockies pitcher...

Fantasy source TSNumber 5. (Insider: baseball).
August 5, 2002... Wins by the Marlins against the Expos since they traded Cliff Floyd to Montreal. The Marlins have won only six games since dealing Floyd on July 12. What's with all the closer injuries and ineffectiveness? Keith Foulke, Jeff Zimmerman,...

A.L. (Baseball).
August 5, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 61-41 2nd in West HIDDEN SLUMP: The team has played so well of late it has obscured 3B Troy Glaus' two-month slump. Glaus was hitting .292 at the end of May, but since then...

N.L. (Baseball).
August 5, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 63-41 1st in West A HARBINGER? The starting pitching's recent performance gave the team reason to feel good about its rotation down the stretch. LHP Brian...

Brick by brick: Bill Elliot's team builds a foundation for speed during testing at Indianapolis. (NASCAR).
August 5, 2002... It's 6:45 Monday morning, a little more than 12 hours after the Winston Cup race in Chicago, and Mike Ford and his crew are unloading two of Bill Elliott's Dodges at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Elliott isn't due at the track for three hours,...

TSN 10: the 10 big races to watch this year. (NASCAR).
August 5, 2002... "You have to have a strong engine and almost perfect strategy. Even if you have a good car, if you don't do the right thing late in the race to get yourself up front, you're not going to have a chance to win." --Dale Jarrett, two-time...

Childress always keeps his house in order. (Insider: NASCAR).
August 5, 2002... Richard Childress can relate to what Cardinals manager Tony La Russa experienced after the death of pitcher Darryl Kile. As the leader of an organization, you don't have time to mourn. The season goes on, whether you're prepared or not....

Driver report. (NASCAR).
August 5, 2002... Exclusive NASCAR team reports are written by Lee Spencer. They appear in the first issue of each month and provide you with the lowdown on the teams. TSN considers the top five title contenders, plus a report on a team to watch. Sterling...

Dream chaser: since 1997, offensive lineman T.J. Washington's NFL journey has been full of heartache and sacrifice and devoid of a single down of playing time. As he suits up with Carolina, his sixth team, he knows this could he his last dance. (NFL).
August 5, 2002... Just before you leave the locker room, you touch the picture of your girlfriend hanging in your locker--something you always do before a practice or a game. For inspiration and good luck. Then, as you walk down the asphalt path to the practice...

49ers react to their own needs, not to the Rams' strengths. (Insider: NFL).
August 5, 2002... After a team has lost six straight games to a division rival, that opponent can become an obsession. But to their credit, the 49ers have focused more on each of their steps than on the mountain they are trying to overcome: the NFC champion...

Scouts' views: observations from NFL pro personnel directors. (Insider: NFL).
August 5, 2002... I think getting QB Chris Chandler was the No. 1 upgrade the Bears made on offense. If they can protect him and keep him healthy, I think he will help. The guy can still throw the ball, he understands how to read defenses and he can move the...

All you must be is perfect. (Insider: NFL).
August 5, 2002... He has great hands and unbelievable speed. He catches the ball away from his body. He runs surprisingly precise routes. And there's a very good chance he won't make the team. That's because Darcey Levy is an undrafted rookie wide receiver...

AFC. (NFL).
August 5, 2002... Baltimore Ravens www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/ravens TAYLOR'S TIME: The team needs a breakout season from third-year WR Travis Taylor. He has shown great potential but not the consistency needed to become the go-to guy. Taylor has...

NFC. (NFL).
August 5, 2002... Arizona Cardinals www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals HARDLY A REACH: The club was accused of reaching a bit on draft day when it took QB Josh McCown in the third round, but it could turn out to be a wise selection. He is showing...

Do as I say, not as ... (Insider: NHL).
August 5, 2002... Shame on you, No. 99. Shame on you, Wayne Gretzky, for changing your tune quicker than Panthers coach Mike Keenan pulls a goalie. You are only a few years removed from making a grand living as a player (and many more millions through...

Eastern conference. (NHL).
August 5, 2002... Atlantic Division NEW JERSEY DEVILS PLAYER ON THE SPOT: This should be a breakout season for spunky center a statement that could be taken two ways: Either Gomez will finally break through, or he will finally find himself kicked out of the...

Western conference. (NHL).
August 5, 2002... Central Division CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PLAYER ON THE SPOT: By playoff time, the Blackhawks didn't know whether wispy G Jocelyn Thibault still was their man. Backup was better down the stretch, confirming suspicions that Thibault couldn't...

Musselman will find a way to reach the Warriors. (Insider: NBA).
August 5, 2002... When he was 22 and fresh out of the University of San Diego, Eric Musselman spent his summer mornings playing tooth-and-nail pickup games in Huntington Beach, Calif., before cruising up to watch games in the Los Angeles summer league in the...

Eastern conference off-season update. (NBA).
August 5, 2002... Atlantic Division BOSTON CELTICS: Chairman Paul Gaston mandated that the team not exceed the luxury-tax threshold, but the Celtics still searched for a true post presence, a more physical mix up front and stability at point guard. The...

Western conference off-season update.
August 5, 2002... Midwest Division DALLAS MAVERICKS: The Mars already have more talent than any team in the league, so they entered the offseason set on maintaining the status quo. They took care of their top concern by re-signing C Raef LaFrentz. Finding...

Second helping: Miami will spend its summer camp blending ingredients on a hungry but untested offensive line, hoping the new mix will produce another national championship feast. (College Football).
August 5, 2002... Brett Romberg is hungry. He's always hungry, but his stomach is growling a little louder than usual at this moment. He hasn't had lunch yet, and it's well past 1 p.m. Romberg peers from beneath a baseball cap pulled down tightly upon his...

Even the top teams have issues. (Insider: College Football).
August 5, 2002... Washington State is TSN's darling for 2002. Go ahead and grab a thumb-and-index finger full of the Cougs' cheek. There's a lot to adore about this team, which has top 10 potential Foremost, there's quarterback Jason Gesser, he of the $2,500,...

An all-access pass to the recruiting tour. (Insider: college basketball).
August 5, 2002... The NCAA Hall of Champions. Yankee Stadium. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Lance Burton, Master Magician. The bar at the Hard Rock Hotel. These are a few of the attractions that could not be squeezed onto the schedule as I followed the college...

Five little rascals go to training camp.
August 5, 2002... Maybe the last person a small child wants to see is an old man wearing a badge and carrying a walkie-talkie. Usually such a man has a stern look on his face. Usually he's about to tell you something you don't want to hear. Usually he sounds...

Ultimate Irish. (Sportingnews.com).
August 12, 2002... Can Tyrone Willingham restore the glory at Notre Dame? Will Carlyle Holiday win the starting quarterback job? THE SPORTING NEWS' Ultimate College Football package has these answers and more, as we provide in-depth Irish information all season...

Football, fish and chips. (Sportingnews.com).
August 12, 2002... Ready for some football? English football, that is. SportingNews.com's free Fantasy Premiership game offers you the chance to manage a team of players from the world's most renowned soccer league. Sign up to play at http://fantasygames....

Tune in to Pete. (Sporting News Radio).
August 12, 2002... The Peter Brown Show has a new home on Sporting News Radio--weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET. Brown is back with co-host Scott Wetzel on weekdays, but his in-your-face style hasn't softened with age. The result is a high-energy, passion-filled...

`Hey, didn't you used to be Vinny Castilla's power?' (Caught On The Fly).
August 12, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, a Warren Sapp/Keyshawn Johnson-free zone. * Sure, most have slapped an early October expiration date on the Twinkies, but one A.L. skip whispers to Fly, "I haven't seen a club that takes advantage of their home park like...

On Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez attempting to play both football and basketball professionally. (Sound Bites).
August 12, 2002... On Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez attempting to play both football and basketball professionally: "I don't think you can fool yourself and play at the highest possible level when Wing to play two sports professionally. Even Deion Sanders...

On the new Monday Night Football broadcast team of Al Michaels and John Madden. (Sound Bites).
August 12, 2002... On the new Monday Night Football broadcast team of Al Michaels and John Madden: "Put a hold on the Emmy Awards. There's a heck of a chance this team'll be a flop... a huge flop! Why? (Al) Michaels' ego. Pat Summerall used to tee the ball...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sights).
August 12, 2002... (1) The Olympics. Just like the OIC says, "the Games enable people from all over the world to come together." The Italian police discovered that the Russian mob got French judges to fix Canadian Ice dancers In American Olympics. (2)...

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
August 12, 2002... Choice voice `It was a sad day for Philadelphia sports when Scott Rolen was shipped out of town. But when the Cardinals return to the Vet for a series in mid-August, I'll be there. And if Rolen hits one to me, I'll throw back that ball like any...

A couch potato's couch trip. (Remote Patrol).
August 12, 2002... Thanks for seeing me; I know your schedule is busy with other patients, Dr. Melfi. What line of work am I in? No, not waste management. Not literally. I watch sports on TV, although in August it gets refuse-like. All-the-way-to-Labor-Day...

Real estate jeopardy! (Static).
August 12, 2002... * Real estate Jeopardy! answer is: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Augusta National and the Superdome. The question is: What three famous venues most influenced the way network sports are televised? A look at NBC's Brickyard 400 cements the case...

The buzz. (Static).
August 12, 2002... * The buzz: Telemundo will show 15 NBA games--TV's first big-league domestic deal en Espanol.

Vital stat. (Static).
August 12, 2002... * Vital stat: Ratings for Fox baseball are up 9 percent over 1998, when Games of the Week starred Mark McGwire vs. Sammy Sosa.

FYI. (Static).
August 12, 2002... * FYI: The Chris Myerses seen this summer anchoring Fox's NASCAR, guest-co-anchoring with Paula Zahn for CNN and hosting USA's U.S. Open and The NFL Show on Fox Sports Net... are all the same guy.

Soundbitten. (Static).
August 12, 2002... * Soundbitten: "I'm bored, I'm broke, I'm back. Tony, what did you do with your `vacation?'"--Michael Wilbon on PTI, returning from time off/welcoming back Tony Kornheiser from ESPN suspension.

The Big Dig: following the lead of its massive highway excavation project, Boston unearthed itself from years of athletic misery to win TSN's annual Best Sports City award.
August 12, 2002... Below the surface and 300 years of fill, beneath yards of organic silt, sand and peat, through a layer of blue clay and a rocky glacial till as dense and deep as Fenway Park's left field wall is high and green, finally resting on the bedrock...

Smaller--but stronger.
August 12, 2002... If you've followed our list over the years, you've seen it expand from 25 in 1993 to 376 in 2001. Now we've decided, in the name of accuracy and accountability (gulp), to contract it a bit. Because the cities that fall at or near the bottom of...

Top 10 reasons the Mariners win; an inning-by-inning breakdown of M-ball: it might be in the first; it might be in the 10th. But sooner or later, Seattle finds a way to win. (Baseball).
August 12, 2002... With his bare feet kicked up on the desk in his office, Lou Piniella names the Mariners who are playing Gold Glove-caliber defense: "The first baseman and second baseman. Perhaps the third baseman. Definitely the right fielder and center...

The pieces are in place for the stretch. (Insider: baseball).
August 12, 2002... Because most clubs are reluctant to add payroll, more players are expected to clear waivers than in recent seasons, increasing the possibility of trades before the August 31 deadline for setting postseason rosters. Nearly every contender,...

How it all works out. (The Closer).
August 12, 2002... Guys today are so much bigger then they were 10 years ago. Guys are in better shape. The players are becoming more specialized. The workouts of players have to be specific to guys, according to what they do. I know steroids have hurt the...

On every scout's itinerary: for Prior and other Southern California products, the show started in high school. (Insider: baseball).
August 12, 2002... By almost anyone's standards, Mark Prior is having a dynamite rookie season. He has a 3.65 ERA, a better than 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and--despite playing for the lowly Cubs--winning record (4-3). Given his baseball roots, his success is...

Fantasy source. (TSNumber .465).
August 12, 2002... Collective winning percentage of the N.L. and A.L. Central divisions, seven of whose 11 teams, including the Tigers, have losing records. The trade deadline provided a deal a minute. If only they meant anything. Few of the big names--Jim...

A.L. (Baseball).
August 12, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 65-44 2nd in West ONE-PITCH WONDER: LHP Scott Schoeneweis, removed from the rotation in late June in favor of RHP John Lackey, worked all spring to add a changeup to his...

N.L. (Baseball).
August 12, 2002... Arizona Diamondback www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 67-43 1st in West DURAZO BACK IN THE SWING: Since spending a month on the D.L., 1B Erubiel Durazo has made six starts, hitting three homers and driving in 11...

The road not often taken: racing on road courses is very much a different ballgame for Winston Cup drivers, crew chiefs and cars. (NASCAR).
August 12, 2002... The joke that Winston Cup crew chief Brandon Thomas was about to tell wasn't one of send cocktail partygoers into martini-spitting delirium. No, Thomas' joke was of the had-to-be-there, insider variety. "We've got this running joke...

Make it a real dash for cash. (Insider: NASCAR).
August 12, 2002... Imagine how NASCAR would change if owners compensated drivers solely for performance. No base salary mind you, strictly a percentage of the purse, plus any bonus a driver might receive from Winston at the end of the season. Didn't finish...

Cranking it up: Steve Spurrier will need a little time to adjust, but he eventually will win big with a dynamic offense that will shake a rattle the staid NFL. And he won't work all night to get it done. (NFL).
August 12, 2002... Psst. I've got a secret. Now, this is between you and me. I can trust you, right? Has to do with this guy Steve Spurrier. You know, the new Redskins coach who's being paid a gazillion dollars and has everyone talking about him because,...

Dissecting the ifs, ands and huts. (Insider: NFL).
August 12, 2002... Yes, Doug Flutie versus Drew Brees is yesterday versus tomorrow. But the battle between the 39-year-old and the 23-year-old Chargers quarterbacks is about so much more: Martyball. Locker room politics. City council task forces. Voidable years....

A few Rudys to watch. (Insider: NFL).
August 12, 2002... When a team wins the Super Bowl, there usually isn't much space for rookie free agents on the roster. Such is the case for the Patriots, who boast a veteran team that has greatly improved depth at almost every position. The spot that might be a...

AFC. (NFL).
August 12, 2002... Baltimore Ravens www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/ravens BACK IN THE FOLD? With MLB Ray Lewis' restructured seven-year, $50 million deal freeing up $1.1 million in salary-cap room, the team can pursue some free agents. First on the list...

NFC. (NFL).
August 12, 2002... Arizona Cardinals www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals HELD UP: Though rookie DT Wendell Bryant and the team remain deadlocked in contract talks, it has become obvious in camp practices that the team needs him on the field. Unlike...

Big Ten should aim for even dozen. (Insider: college football).
August 12, 2002... Bigger isn't always better. But it can be in the Big Ten because the conference would help itself and its members by expanding from 11 to 12 schools. The topic came up again at a recent gathering of Big Ten players and coaches in Chicago....

Chewing the fat about the fattest cap chewers. (Insider: NBA).
August 12, 2002... Once upon a time--and we're talking pro basketball's Stone Age here--the NBA instituted a salary cap of sorts. It was 1946, and the limit was set at $55,000. Most of the money was evenly distributed among all players, though the Detroit...

A world of preparation. (Insider: college basketball).
August 12, 2002... They endured wakeup calls, sophisticated practices, strenuous competition and a wholly foreign atmosphere. This is how the members of USA Basketball's junior national team spent July: training for and competing in the World Championship...

A Sabre-toothless tiger. (Insider: NHL).
August 12, 2002... Only one development could worsen the mess now called the Buffalo Sabres: Islanders captain Michael Peca makes a super-speedy recovery from major reconstructive knee surgery and faces his former team in the season curtain-raiser in Buffalo. ...

Cooperstown dreams fit all sizes.
August 12, 2002... It was just after sunrise, and mist floated on the forests and mountains, and in the valley there was a river, and all the world was green and shimmery and heavenly. I drove north on a two-lane road, and then I stopped, because it is necessary...

We're here to help. (Sportingnews.com).
August 19, 2002... Admit it. You need all the help you can get drafting your NFL fantasy team, SportingNews.com's Fantasy Football Draft Kit--updated daffy through September 8--provides all the analysis you need to help you make smart, strategic moves. Go to:...