The Sporting News articles from July 2002

The Sporting News archives from July 2002

Another go-round. (Sportingnews.com).
July 1, 2002... The first half of the Winston Cup season almost is over with Sterling Marlin in the lead, but a new fantasy season is around the corner. To get behind the wheel, sign up for Fantasy Stock Car Season 2 by July 20, Go to:...

Countdown to kickoff. (Sportingnews.com).
July 1, 2002... Is your team ready for the season? Get the lowdown on all 32 NFL teams with SportingNews.com's Preseason Countdown, which analyzes the offseason moves, burning questions and summer game plans for each club. Go to:...

On the air, anywhere. (Sporting News Radio).
July 1, 2002... Looking for interviews with sports' biggest names at your fingertips? Sporting News Radio interviews and updates are available on your PDA and wireless phone. Visit http://radio.sportingnews. com/mobile to learn how you can take Sporting News...

`Hey, didn't you used to be a soccer craze?' (Caught On The Fly).
July 1, 2002... * Yo, isn't it amazing how much hype two wins in five games'll buy you these days? * You don't get to be Hockeytown without being single-minded, which 'splains why a Dee-troit daily offered a primer on what Red Wings fans missed while...

On Jack Buck's legacy. (Sound Bites).
July 1, 2002... "Jack Buck had a tremendous influence on anybody my age that grew up wanting to be a sports broadcaster. Jack was a part of a group of guys that wrote the rules that guys like me follow today. Jack was one who set the standard." Tim Brando...

On U.S. soccer. (Sound Bites).
July 1, 2002... "Soccer is a sport played by young kids--little kids, who, if they have any talent whatsoever, grow up and do something else! If they are big, they play football. If they hit, they play baseball. If they are tall, they play basketball, but no...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (Caught On The Fly).
July 1, 2002... (1) The NBA draft. All agreed that this class had talent that went past the top 28. Translation: It was damn near Nuggets-proof. (2) Wimbledon. The women's draw has become the show. In fact, the top-seeded men are Venus and Serena's old man...

Buck: a genuine guy. (Remote Patrol).
July 1, 2002... Soul of the city," boomed the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a headline fit for a Budweiser baron. "The greatest Cardinal of all," lauded Tony LaRussa, noting Jack Buck pitched for 47 years. His initials adorned uniforms and grass at Busch Stadium,...

Why the Cup still is half-empty. (Static).
July 1, 2002... * Why the Cup still is half-empty: Never mind ESPN Inc.'s 166 percent increase in (literally) overnight ratings, TV's World Cup habits die hard. Differences between soccer and the Olympics, which viewers don't understand either but watch in...

Vital stats. (Static).
July 1, 2002... * Vital stats: The final half-hour of NBC's pseudo-prime-time U.S. Open Starring Tiger Woods did a 14.0 overnight rating, two points higher than Game 4 of the NBA Finals. FRITZ QUINDT/REMOTE PATROL fquindt@sportingnews.com

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
July 1, 2002... Choice voice `Here in Hockeytown, when one team earns three Stanley Cups in six seasons, we call that a "Cup trick"'--Todd Wyett; Bloomfield, Mich. Red is wrong Even though I am an old Celtics fan, I must admit Phil Jackson is the...

The Enemies List: deep inside my passionate sports fans, the joy of winning is long outlived by the pain of losing. For those who keep heroes close and villains closer, we present The Enemies List. (Player Hasting).
July 1, 2002... The Enemies List began with a simple goal: find out whom sports fans hate and why. We wanted to know who broke fans' hearts and how they did it. What we found is a dog's breakfast of bile and bitterness, a boiling stew of regret and jealousy...

The heartbreaker: when Michael Jordan was winning championships, he gave opposing fans the easiest reason to hate him: he was good.
July 1, 2002... In his first two NBA incarnations with the Bulls, Michael Jordan was, at once, the most adored and reviled athlete in the history of pro sports. That was his reward for winning six championships in the 1990s. His ineptitude in baseball during...

The villain: when the postseason pressure is on, Claude Lemieux enjoys the role of agitator.
July 1, 2002... You spit the name more than you say it. Claude Lemieux. Lemieux is a pest. He is rough and tough. Some say he's dirty. All are reasons for entry on The Enemies List. But as much as he drives opposing fans nuts, as much as he contradicts all...

The last guy you'd expect: when Kent Harvey bumped into Bob Knight, he didn't know he'd become public enemy No. 1.
July 1, 2002... It was midday in September, and my friends and I were picking up our Indiana football tickets. As we walked out of the stadium, we saw IU basketball coach Bob Knight. I wanted to greet him so I could say I talked to "The General." I was nervous...

The man: when you think the man is holding you down, remember that you could be working for George Steinbrenner or Al Davis.
July 1, 2002... Sometimes the bad guys steal the show. Consider Heat Miser and Snow Miser, the animated siblings who sang and danced into our holiday seasons in the 1970s on the TV special The Year Without a Santa Claus. Many of us know the tune, can hum it a...

The traitor: when Roger Clemens left Boston, Red Sox fans found a special place in their hatin' hearts for the Rocket that even Bill Buckner never occupied.
July 1, 2002... Drinking motor oil, chewing aluminum foil and flossing with barbed wire all are more appealing to Red Sex fans like me than watching Roger Clemens celebrate a World Series championship in pinstripes, which he did in 1999 and 2000. Only two...

`Be like Darryl': Cardinals manager Tony La Russa gave his team the simplest piece of advice for dealing with the loss of a teammate and friend. (Baseball).
July 1, 2002... Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is sitting inside a sweltering interview room at Wrigley Field. Pitcher Woody Williams and center fielder Jim Edmonds stand behind him, fighting back tears. It is the first day of the rest of their lives...

Picking the All-Stars is not an easy task. (Insider: baseball).
July 1, 2002... Picking 30 All-Stars from each league, I gained a newfound appreciation for the challenges facing the respective managers. It's easy to complain about All-Star omissions. It's not easy to avoid them, particularly when every club must be...

Man, I am living a dream. (The Closer).
July 1, 2002... Last week, I had some company. My two buddies from Alabama came to Coors Field to watch our series against the Yankees. The three-game set was electric. The Yankees might be better then they were in '98. They're always a good challenge because...

Fantasy source TSNumber 54. (Insider: baseball).
July 1, 2002... The word "strike" is being mentioned louder and more often all the time. Obviously, shutting down games would have huge fantasy implications. Many fantasy owners are counting on big second halves from slumping stars, but the season could end...

A.L. (Baseball).
July 1, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 42-29 2nd in West COMING BACK: 1B/DH Shawn Wooten is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in early July. Wooten hit .312 last season hut has not played in a game this...

N.L. (Baseball).
July 1, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 45-28 1st in West NEW ROLE: Righthanded setup relievers have had problems, so Todd Slottlemyre (shoulder) is working as a reliever on his rehabilitation...

There's cool, and there's way cool Kenseth. (Insider: NASCAR).
July 1, 2002... The rookie class of 2000 is a case study in cool--different types of cool. Two Gen-Xers, defending Busch champ Dale Earnhardt Jr. from powerhouse DEI and perennial runner-up Matt Kenseth from the mom-and-pop Reiser Enterprises, came to...

Driver report. (NASCAR).
July 1, 2002... Exclusive NASCAR team reports are written by Lee Spencer. They appear in the first issue of each month and give you the lowdown on TSN's top five title contenders, plus a report on a team to watch. Sterling Marlin 40 WORK TO DO: Last...

Michigan has suffered enough. (Insider: college football).
July 1, 2002... The infractions case against the Michigan program has grown so old that if the NCAA decides to throw the book at the Wolverines, it ought to be a first-edition copy of Dostoevsky's Crime And Punishment. When Chris Webber was stuffing the...

Purple passion: enter the intense world of new Vikings coach Mike Tice as he tackles, finesses--and agonizes over--the challenges of a head-spinning first six months.
July 1, 2002... After a 14-year career as a tight end in the NFL, Mike Tice accepted an assistant coach's position with the Vikings under Dennis Green in 1996. With the support of his wife, Diane, who left her extended family behind in Seattle, Tice set a...

The Colts' linebackers are better than you think. (Insider).
July 1, 2002... When thinking about the top units in the league, the Rams' receivers, the Buccaneers' defensive linemen and the Eagles' secondary generally come to mind. Parts of the Colts--the parts on offense--might get consideration but certainly not their...

AFC. (NFL).
July 1, 2002... AFC East BUFFALO BILLS: What role will the fullback play? In minicamps, the team used a lot of single-back, two-tight end sets. Larry Centers is a great receiver but not a prototypical lead blocking fullback. Second-year pro Phillip Crosby...

NFC. (NFL).
July 1, 2002... DALLAS COWBOYS: Kevin Hardy might not be available for the start of training camp after missing seven games last year following knee surgery. The Cowboys need Hardy to boost their anemic pass rush and want to blitz him off the edge as a...

All in a day's work: the Hurricanes have proved themselves masters of the planning, scouting and decision-making that go into the NHL draft. (NHL).
July 1, 2002... For most NHL scouts, draft day is their Stanley Cup playoffs. They prepare all season for this day--watching prospects in more than 100 junior, college and European games and hoping to discover that elusive hidden talent. Last Saturday was...

Drafting young isn't the only way to win. (Insider: NHL).
July 1, 2002... The adept drafting of 18-year-old prospects remains the foundation for success in the NHL. Blue Jackets president and general manager Doug MacLean cites the "10-30" theory of building a winner: After 10 years, a team should have 10 draft...

Eastern conference. (NHL).
July 1, 2002... Atlantic Division NEW JERSEY DEVILS Needed: The aging defense and small forward corps (which will get smaller if C Bobby Holik signs elsewhere) were due for a boost. The priority had to be defense. D Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko eat up...

Western conference. (NHL).
July 1, 2002... Central Division CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Needed: With Tony Amonte a free agent, the Blackhawks needed to draft size up front to help make room for the skilled Europeans who are projected to make the team in the next few years. The defensive...

The year of the free-agent misfit. (Insider: NBA).
July 1, 2002... Raptors forward Keon Clark is sitting courtside in early April, talking about his future, but he pauses. In explaining what might happen next with his career, he realizes he must first talk about the past. He's 27 and has made himself into a...

Climbing the draft ladder is a real workout. (Insider: NBA).
July 1, 2002... Marcus Haislip usually does not go to bed early, but he knew he had to give it a shot. It was May 21, and Haislip was preparing for his workout with the Clippers, which was to begin at 10:30 a.m. at the University of Southern California the...

Who's got next? A first look at the 2003 draft.
July 1, 2002... Upset because you're quite sure your infernal hometown team has blown it again with another terrible lottery selection? Well, have no fear--NBA Draft 2003 is just one year away, and we're already looking at how the lottery might shake down. ...

Right-hand men need to get it right. (Insider: college football).
July 1, 2002... Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville warned John Lovett not to take the job. But Lovett didn't listen. "When we got here (from Mississippi), I was looking for a defensive coordinator," Tuberville says. "At the time, John was my secondary coach. I...

A different era, a different fate.
July 1, 2002... What if there'd been no Vince Lombardi? No St. Vincent creating the Packers? What if the great man never coached beyond high school? What if, after he failed to get a head coaching job in college, the folks at Green Bay also had said no to him?...

Your fantasy football bible. (Sportingnews.com).
July 8, 2002... Sure, Marshall Faulk and Brett Favre are no-brainer selections for your fantasy team, but what about after that? SportingNews.com's Fantasy Football Draft Kit, available Monday, is the ultimate reference source to keep you ahead of the...

Summer reading. (Sportingnews.com).
July 8, 2002... Check out THE SPORTING NEWS bookstore for the best selection of reading material for the serious sports fan. Choose from our vast collection of commemorative books, player registers and preseason yearbooks, including this year's pro and college...

Take me out to the airwaves. (Sporting News Radio).
July 8, 2002... Sporting News Radio takes you to Milwaukee for the MLB All-Star Game. Peter Brown broadcasts live noon-2 p.m. ET Monday and Tuesday from Miller Park with TSN senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal as a special co-host. Plus, Rick Ballou will take...

Hey, didn't you used to be the Downtown Athletic Club? (Caught On The Fly).
July 8, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where, as always, pushing and shoving is frowned upon in a Giant way. * De-Fly-nition of the weak: Sun-burn (n): The inflammation of a hoop fan's psyche as a result of overexposure to really, really bad decision making....

On the Cardinals choosing to play the day after Darryl Kile's death. (Sound Bites).
July 8, 2002... "The team made the decision to go forth with the game because that is, in fact, what Kile would have wanted. Who is to question that? Who would argue with that? They knew him best, and certainly taking the pulse of the team was the best thing...

On Barry Bonds' comments about fans coming back to baseball if there's a strike. (Sound Bites).
July 8, 2002... "Oh, yeah, Barry Bonds is fighting this labor war so that 8-year-olds down the road will reap the benefits. And I'm running for governor of New Zealand. Bonds is a living, breathing jerk. His arrogance insults common decency. I yearn for the...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (Caught On The Fly).
July 8, 2002... (1) The Fourth of July. It's the day we celebrate our inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of a 55-inch, wide-screen, rear-projection HDTV with two-tuner PIP. (2) The N.L. All-Stars. Bob Brenly faces some very difficult...

Tempus fugit, baseball. (Remote Patrol).
July 8, 2002... Baseball trying to speed itself up always struck me as bad feng shui--if I'm at a game and it runs longer than three hours, I think like a concessionaire: It's a bonus, baby! Yet, for years The Lords have been trying everything but nitrous...

Sad commentary. (Static).
July 8, 2002... * Sad Commentary: Hell week for Joe Buck meant never being regarded as a mere happy-go-lucky play-by-play man again. June 18: Announced his dad's death. June 21: Gave eulogy at the funeral. June 22: Scheduled to call Fox's Cardinals-Cubs, he...

The buzz. (Static).
July 8, 2002... * The buzz: The proposed NBA/AOL Time Warner all-sports channel is being scaled back to a makeover of the existing NBA TV on digital cable/satellite showing four games a week.

Vital stat. (Static).
July 8, 2002... * Vital stat: ABC will "capitalize" on World Cup Fever by adding a regular-season game to its MLS schedule, bringing the grand total to four.

Commercialism. (Static).
July 8, 2002... * Commercialism: All-Star Game spots feature caricatures of Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, Sammy Sosa, et al., "Dynamic Superhumans" with oversized muscles. No mention of steroids.--F.Q. FRITZ QUINDT/REMOTE PATROL fquindt@sportingnews.com

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
July 8, 2002... Choice voice `Now that the Red Wings have won another Stanley Cup, would it be expecting too much for owner Mike Illitch to start spending money to improve the other Detroit team he owns, the sad-sack Tigers?'--George Schraw, Lansing, Mich. ...

Power poll: giants slugger Barry Bonds tops our list of baseball's 50 best players, as chosen by general managers and personnel men. (Baseball).
July 8, 2002... When Barry Bonds hit a monstrous three-run homer at Yankee Stadium on June 8, he was met with applause. The friendly greeting afforded Bonds was baffling. Was this a sign fans are warming to Bonds? Doubtful. More likely it was the crowd...

The Expos mean business. (Insider: baseball).
July 8, 2002... It's time to stop viewing the Expos as a sad-sack operation destined to be abolished at the end of the season. Not even Major League Baseball will be stupid enough to eliminate a franchise it could sell to the highest bidder. The Expos'...

What I learned from your dad. (The Closer).
July 8, 2002... A letter to Darryl Kile's children: twins Kannon and Sierra, 5, and Ryker, 10 months. In baseball, as in life, you have a chance to meet all kinds of people. In baseball, there are good people and bad people, selfish people and helpful...

A.L. (Baseball).
July 8, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 46-33 2nd in West FIRST-HALF SURPRISES: 2B Adam Kennedy's future with the team appeared uncertain after the emergence last season of SS David Eckstein, a natural second...

N.L. (Baseball).
July 8, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 47-32 2nd in West FIRST-HALF SURPRISES: Junior Spivey came to camp with a shot at the 25th spot on the roster if he showed he could be an extra outfielder and...

`Too good to be true': the pairing of Jay Williams and the Bulls seemed so perfect that he wondered if it really could happen. While Williams wondered--and after it happened--he gave TSN exclusive access to the first days of his dream come true. (NBA).
July 8, 2002... Last Thursday evening, 24 hours after it was over, after his future had been decided, after Yao Ming had become a Rocket and the Bulls followed with a pick so simple that general] manager Jerry Krause said it could have been made by "an old,...

Eastern conference draft reports. (NBA).
July 8, 2002... Atlantic Division BOSTON CELTICS: With the 50th pick, the Celtics wanted a big guy who would be willing to spend a couple years overseas developing. G.M. Chris Wallace believes he got that with Darius Songaila, a Lithuanian-born power...

Western conference dreaft reports. (NBA).
July 8, 2002... Midwest Division DALLAS MAVERICKS: Owner Mark Cuban is trying to close the gap with the Lakers and Kings, and there is no roster space available for rookie development. With the 55th pick, the team took 6-8 Yugoslavian G/F Mladen...

Knicks traded picks for the quick fix. (Insider: NBA).
July 8, 2002... Pondering the biggest deal of draft night, the one that sent Nuggets power forward Antonio McDyess and rookie point guard Frank Williams to the Knicks for Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and draftee Maybyner "Nene" Hilario, there seemed to be only...

Stepping up to the plate: hard work, exhaustive testing and the skills of drivers Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have helped Dale Earnhardt, Inc. seize control of restrictor-plate racing. (NASCAR).
July 8, 2002... The heat is on. Tony Eury has a solemn look on his leathery face. He is making meticulous preparations. He is making hamburgers. He is standing by the gas grill outside the hauler for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet after a morning...

TSN 10: the 10 big races to watch this year. (NASCAR).
July 8, 2002... Daytona at a glance Race: Pepsi 400, No. 17 of 36. Length: 160 laps, 400 miles. When: 7:30 p.m. (Eastern) Saturday. TV: Fox. Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla. The track: 2.5-mile trioval....

Plate rules must change before Talladega. (Insider: NASCAR).
July 8, 2002... Does NASCAR really want this nonsense to continue? A 24-car pileup with fewer than 25 laps to go in April at Talladega. An 18-car mess with a little more than 50 laps to go in February at Daytona. So, what's in store Saturday night for the...

Deuce's wild: after unloading Ricky Williams, the Saints can't wait to unleash Deuce McAllister in a role--but will he hold up? (NFL).
July 8, 2002... Ricky Williams might be the Dolphins' workhorse/headache now, but his presence seems to inhabit New Orleans like a dreadlocked specter. Take the Saints' recent minicamp, where the two most memorable moments were directly related to Williams'...

Time to step up. (NFL).
July 8, 2002... Deuce McAllister isn't the only unproven young veteran stepping into a position of prominence this season. These second- and third-year players, largely untested, also face the pressures of being first-time starters. Drew Brees, QB,...

The best bosses a player can have. (Insider: NFL).
July 8, 2002... When Reggie White was a free agent in 1993, he could have played for any team in the NFL. He chose to play for the Packers, and it's easy to understand why. If I were an NFL player, the owner I'd most like to play for is the owner of the...

AFC. (NFL).
July 8, 2002... AFC East BUFFALO BILLS: DE Aaron Schobel, who had a team-high 6 1/2 sacks last year, must have an even bigger impact in his second year because the defensive line lacks a player with a track record of getting to the quarterback. The Bills...

NFC. (NFL).
July 8, 2002... NFC South ATLANTA FALCONS: Rookie QB Kurt Kittner is the front-runner for the No. 3 job behind Michael Vick and Doug Johnson. Kittner has shown good arm strength, a supposed weakness, during passing camp. He has strong fundamentals and a...

One big risk: Kendrick Perkins is the best high school big man in the county. In his world, the 2003 NBA draft looms large. Should college coaches recruit him? (College Basketball).
July 8, 2002... Kendrick Perkins climbs out of bed so early each morning he occasionally beats the humidity to the Ozen High track. He steps onto its surface by 6 a.m. to begin his daily workout routine, which includes two hours of running, two of...

Senior moments aren't fading away. (Insider: College Basketball).
July 8, 2002... Kansas center Nick Collison sees no need to hide in shame. He'll come right out and admit it: He is a senior. There is no formal support group for this, but it seems he will survive the next year, regardless. "I just think it matters if...

Building the perfect schedule is important but not easy. (Insider: College Football).
July 8, 2002... In college football, the schedule is the thing. In fact, scheduling is more important in college football than in any other, sport. Why? Because there s no season-ending playoff to erase regular-season missteps. So it's vital to know how to...

Pay attention, shoppers. (Insider: NHL).
July 8, 2002... Every office has one: a penny-pinching business manager who glares at you every time you visit the stock room for a new pen or paper clip. In the NHL these days, that role is being played by commissioner Gary Bettman. Over the last few...

Today's lesson: don't lose your head.
July 8, 2002... John McEnroe without the steroids: Calista Flockhart. Jeff Kent without Barry Bonds: Tom Arnold without Roseanne. Tennis without Anna Kournikova: Lindsay Davenport. Baseball has done it again. Just when so many teams at last seem to...

Start your fantasy engines. (Sportingnews.com).
July 15, 2002... Need a lead driver for your fantasy racing team? Jeff Gordon hasn't won a race all season, but he's still in the thick of the Winston Cup points standings. Don't wait long to grab Gordon or someone else; the green flag for TSN's Fantasy Stock...

Field a team of legends. (Sportingnews.com).
July 15, 2002... Same game. Same rules. Only this time, you'll be drafting a team of all-time greats. Be the first to play the historical edition of Strat-O-Matic Baseball, in which you'll control a collection of the game's best players through a 162-game...

A Grand achievement. (Sporting News Radio).
July 15, 2002... Don't think you'll make it to Muirfield to see Tiger Woods take a shot at his third straight major title? Don't worry--Sporting News Radio will be on the British Open beat, covering Woods' continuing quest for the calendar Grand Slam. Tune in...

`Hey, didn't you used to be Carlos Delgado?' (Caught On The Fly).
July 15, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where the goal is to one day land Bobby Holik money for Bobby Holik production. * Speaking of NHell free agency, with Tom Hicks, along with every other big-bucks owner with a pulse, ignorin' the commish's plea for...

On the possibility of a baseball strike. (Sound Bites).
July 15, 2002... On the possibility of a baseball strike: "The truth is, I actually hope there is one.... I'd love to see the results of what would happen after a ninth work stoppage. Wouldn't it be great to hear Alex Rodriguez say, `Would you like to...

On Sammy Sosa. (Sound Bites).
July 15, 2002... On Sammy Sosa: "Screw the long ball.... Here is all you need to know about Sammy Sosa. He leads the nation in meaningless home runs and, until further notice, he is the most overrated player in baseball history." Chet Coppock can be...

On Ted Williams' life. (Sound Bites).
July 15, 2002... On Ted Williams' life: "Ted Williams wasn't a perfect man, but he was a man's man. I was as impressed with his patriotism... answering the call of his country, as I was with his all-time baseball stats." Papa Joe Chevalier can be...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sights).
July 15, 2002... (1) Baseball's second half. It'll be the best illustration of the disparity between the haves and the have-nots--unless, of course, you've seen your CEO's pay stub next to yours. (2) NFL training camps. They aren't as grueling as...

Not damned yet. (Remote Patrol).
July 15, 2002... Surely Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period should've died and gone to puppy heaven by now. Even Tom Arnold, its big-galoot star, viewed such boldness with contempt when it debuted. "I thought, `This'll last six weeks,'" says the...

Fox takes us out to the ol' ballgame. (Static).
July 15, 2002... Fox takes us out to the ol' ballgame: In 1996, Fox welcomed baseball to its network with the dictum "no more dead guys," but it put together a show that put the past back in pastime for this year's All-Star Game. Fox decided to go old school,...