The Sporting News articles from July 2004

The Sporting News archives from July 2004

A little summer research.(Sporting News.com)
July 5, 2004... Players start reporting for training camps this month, which means you better be gearing up for the fantasy season. Fantasy Football Central is the ultimate one-stop shop for everything you need: analysis, rankings, newsletters, games and more....

On the strip with Timmy B.(Sporting News Radio)
July 5, 2004... Join Tim Brando live all week from Mandalay Bay Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. Don't miss the biggest names in sports and analysis from TSN experts. Tune in every Friday for a chance to play "Beat Timmy B Around the Bases!" Catch Brando...

Be a gridiron guru.(Sporting News Books)
July 5, 2004... Get the skinny on all 117 Division I-A teams in TSN's college football yearbook, complete with rankings, scouting reports and more. Pick it up at newsstands, call 800-825-8508, or order online at www.sportingnews.com/books.

To know list: 6 of one, a half-dozen of the other.(Know It All)
July 5, 2004... (1) JULY 2004 All times Eastern THU 1 For Brett Hull, Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne and at least a dozen more true superstars, the NHL's free-agent signing period opens, and the quality (and quantity) of the unrestricted guys is...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)
July 5, 2004... (1) The Fourth of July, It's a baseball team's chance to give the home crowd a salute to America's never-surrender attitude. Fortunately, the Royals are on the road. (2) The NBA draft. Get this, we got news releases--news new...

Caught on the fly.(Know It All)
July 5, 2004... A field of dreams... seriously Fly hears the St. Louis Cardinals have come up with a promotion that's no snoozer. One night in September, fans will be able to buy "lawn tickets" so they can pitch a tent, watch a Cardinals away game on the...

On air.(Know It All)
July 5, 2004... from Century 21 Studios Who would you rather have: Kobe or Shaq? Bill Lekas 6-7 a.m. ET weekdays Shaq! I'll always take a talented center over a talented guard, and in this case, we're talking about the most dominant player in the...

They'll pedal with mettle.(Tour De France)
July 5, 2004... DATES July 3-25 DISTANCE 3,395 kilometers (A prologue and 20 stages) PARTICIPANTS 21 teams of nine riders The front-runner Lance Armstrong, United States/U.S. Postal Service. The odds are stacked against him (and) allegations...

A chance to do good.(My Turn)
July 5, 2004... It is no longer a dream. The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital--my gift to my country--is now under construction. When the facility is completed, my home city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will have its first modern hospital...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... * On behalf of the Pistons, I want to thank Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers for being so accommodating in their surrender to this year's Bad Boys. The L.A. Sparks were not as nice; the Detroit Shock actually had to fight them for the WNBA...

Movers and shakers: some of them did it with remarkable style; nearly all of them did it with resounding effectiveness. The most innovative athletes changed the way their games are played.(Innovations In Sports Part 4 Of 4)
July 5, 2004... PRE-1900 * In 1864, Arthur "Candy" Cummings throws shells as a boy while walking on the beach in Brooklyn and wonders about their unpredictable trajectory. He applies this experience to baseballs and discovers the curveball, then puts this...

A light in the darkness: Curt and Shonda Schilling share a dream about a world without debilitating disease. Their tireless work to fight ALS and skin cancer makes Curt No. 1 on TSN's annual list of Good Guys in pro sports.(The Good Guys)
July 5, 2004... On a sultry late spring night in Washington, D.C., Shonda Schilling stands on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. In 72 hours, her husband will win his fifth game of this season, to the delight of thousands of ALS patients nationwide. But...

A much needed victory: by bucking conventional wisdom, the Magic began its turnaround and was the biggest winner on draft night. For a few other teams, wisdom seemed in short supply.(NBA Draft Analysis)
July 5, 2004... For weeks, the Magic was prepared to take the path of least resistance. When the team won the draft lottery in May, the assumption was Connecticut forward Emeka Okafor would be the No. 1 pick. Okafor would be teamed with star guard TracT...

Guiding lightning: forces combined to lead Al Montoya to USA Hockey's developmental program and eventually made him the No. 6 pick in the draft.(NHL Draft Analysis)
July 5, 2004... Uncompetitive, even when pushed. That was one conclusion after a written psychological exam was given to the University of Michigan's Al Montoya by the Rangers. Looking back on that exam, the young goalie shakes his head over a draft-day...

An ounce of prevention: in the quest to keep pitchers from breaking down, a slowly growing contingent believes 'prehab' and its scientific components just might be the cure.(Baseball)
July 5, 2004... If you've ever wondered about the wear and tear that is part of pitching, try this at home: Drop your arm by your side, then lift it in front of you and spin it around in a windmill motion. In I second, you might be able to complete two...

A better idea: retain your talent.(NASCAR)
July 5, 2004... Ford can't afford to let another one get away. Though I commend the Blue Oval group for uniting the forces of its remaining organizations--Roush Racing, Robert Yates Racing and Wood Brothers Racing--to offer a competitive edge to the whole, the...

Let's cut to the Chase.(NASCAR)
July 5, 2004... Can't wait until after Richmond to see which drivers will be in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup? Good news: To get the inside scoop, staff writer Lee Spencer asked a veteran, high-profile owner to predict which drivers will make the Chase...

Bobcats hope it will pay to be flexible.(NBA)
July 5, 2004... By the end of last week, Bernie Bickerstaff, coach and general manager of the expansion Bobcats, was satisfied. He rattled on about the group of talented, athletic young players he had assembled in Charlotte, reveling in his roster of rejects...

One man's most glittering stars.(Baseball)
July 5, 2004... Once again, the All-Star Game counts, only this time it's different. It will be played under National League rules at Houston's Minute Maid Park. Double switches will abound. Roster management will be critical. And A.L. manager Joe Torre won't...

A world of possibilities.(Closer)
July 5, 2004... A few weeks from now, the owners will consider a proposal to hold a World Cup tournament that would take place during spring training. Sixteen teams, including ones from Latin America and Asia, would participate. These games, if played...

Scouts' views: observations and opinions from major league scouts.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Right now, the Brewers' Ned Yost is the manager of the year in the National League. I don't think there's anybody close, not even the Reds' Dave Miley. Look at the payroll the Brewers are operating with.... Jason Schmidt is throwing a lot of...

The last ace standing.(Baseball)
July 5, 2004... Cal State Fullerton's Jason Windsor spent all season pitching in the considerable shadow cast by Long Beach State's Jered Weaver. That changed Sunday when Windsor finished the Titans' two-game sweep of Texas with a complete-game 3-2 victory at...

Two moves you might have missed matter now.(Baseball)
July 5, 2004... UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS. It's a wonderful phrase--not to be confused with Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, or Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. Under the cover of darkness, two American League West teams made...

Top five: players with the last name Wilson.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... 1 Jack Wilson, SS, Pirates. Before this season, Wilson was good field, no hit. This year, it's plenty hit (tied for fourth in the N.L. with a .336 average, tied for first in the league with 100 hits) and still good field (No. 1 in the league in...

Coming attractions.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Interleague play comes to an end with some regional rematches from last weekend. The Dodgers-Angels, White Sex-Cubs, Yankees-Mets, A's-Giants and Rangers-Astros series are the highlights. Another compelling matchup includes the Red Sox visiting...

Best benches.(Spotlight)
July 5, 2004... Not surprisingly, most of the top reserve units in baseball are found on teams that can afford quality veteran help--and have enough talented starters to keep those veterans on the bench. 1. Cubs General manager Jim Hendry and manager...

A.L. reports.(Baseball)
July 5, 2004... ANAHEIM ANGELS RHP Ramon Ortiz returned to the rotation with better confidence and a much-improved slider, the key pitch to his success. Ortiz's slight frame (6-0, 175) demands maximum effort to reach his optimum velocity of 93-94 mph. It's a...

N.L. reports.(Baseball)
July 5, 2004... ARIZONA BACKS 2B Scott Hairston's play has been so impressive that the club decided to stick with him even when Roberto Alomar returned. Hairston is not a prototypical leadoff hitter, but he brings athleticism and speed to the lineup.......

These kids are ready to score points.(NFL)
July 5, 2004... Our annual analysis of the young offensive players--excluding rookies--who should have breakout seasons in 2004: Quarterback Joey Harrington always had the talent, and now, in his third season, he has the talent around him. The Lions...

AFC reports.(NFL)
July 5, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS LOLB Adalius Thomas is not a good pass rusher and lacks top speed for his position. But he's athletic and agile enough to penetrate gaps and disrupt running plays. He has an outstanding vertical leap that allows him to knock...

NFC reports.(NFL)
July 5, 2004... ARIZONA CARDINALS Rookie Darnell Dockett already has won a starting spot at "under" tackle. Dockett seems perfectly suited to the position; he's very quick and has a great first step. He played the same position at Florida State, so he's...

Free college football nation.(College Football)
July 5, 2004... Different men often see the same subject in different lights. --Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775 Those words ushered in arguably the most famous speech in the history of our republic. Patrick Henry stood proud and spoke loud that day,...

Investing in patience pays off.(College Football)
July 5, 2004... Good thing Ryan Gomes showed up in Chicago for the NBA predraft camp instead of Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. He did well enough at basketball but would have gotten creamed playing "No Limit Texas Hold 'em." In a conversation midway...

A cloudier future for Bertuzzi.(NHL)
July 5, 2004... Now that criminal charges once again have entered the world of hockey, the sports-related question becomes: What will the filing of charges mean to Todd Bertuzzi's career? Bertuzzi, a Canucks right winger, was charged in Vancouver last...

Fantasy source.(Fantasy)
July 5, 2004... Insights from the editors of the Ultimate Fantasy Source, your online authority. http://fantasy.sportingnews.com ROTO RAP ROB HURTT Eighth place? How am I still stuck in eighth place? Checking your team midway through the...

Matchup heaven & hell.(Fantasy)
July 5, 2004... Favorable and unfavorable schedules to keep in mind while setting July lineups. HEAVEN Indians. The Reds and Rangers early and the Tigers and Royals late are nice bookends to a month in which Victor Martinez and Co. should thrive. ...

Athletes have lost their legal legs.
July 5, 2004... The question so far has been: Did they break the rules? The next question is: Do those rules make sense? Talking about Barry Bonds and Marion Jones. Talking about Tim Montgomery and Jason Giambi. Talking about all of those athletes...

To know list: 7 items to ponder while the Red Sox teach us how to 'cowboy down'.(Know It All)
July 12, 2004... (1) REMEMBER THE NAME The buzz is starting: Greg Oden has all the right stuff The most gifted basketball player who won't be paid to play next season will not suit up for Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State or Connecticut. He won't be...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)
July 12, 2004... (1) The All-Star Game. It's a respite from baseball at its highest level, the kind of break commonly known in Pittsburgh as "1993 to the present." (2) Finishing under yellow. NASCAR knows caution flags wring the excitement from...

Now that would be a timeout.(Caught On The Fly)
July 12, 2004... As if the NHL labor mess isn't enough to deal with, now there's talk the NBA could have a lockout after the 2004-05 season. But don't look for that exact term to be used. Given the age of many of the players, David Stern and Billy Hunter will...

On air.(Caught On The Fly)
July 12, 2004... Name the first half MVP in the American League and National League. Kevin Wheeler 2-6 a.m. ET weekdays A.L.: Vladimir Guerrero is a legitimate Triple Crown contender. Plus, he's doing so for a contender. N.L.: Scott Rolen...

The best is yet to come.(My Turn)
July 12, 2004... As I look ahead to the second half of the baseball season, I giggle with the anticipation of tight races and major deals that will get the sports world looking forward to October the way it used to. As I look back at the past few weeks, I...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
July 12, 2004... * I think having a shootout to determine the winner of a hockey game (TSN, June 21) is a brilliant idea. I am tired of seeing two teams battle neck and neck just to end up in a tie. I believe the NHL should have teams play one overtime and then...

One-hit wonder.(Inside The Box Score)
July 12, 2004... Twice in his career, righthander Mike Mussina has taken a perfect game into the ninth inning. Each time he has finished with a 1-hitter. Once, pitching for the Yankees in 2001, he got to two outs in the ninth and two strikes on the third...

Is Ken Griffey back?(Counterpoints)
July 12, 2004... Yes--his brilliance made the Reds contenders. As these words roll off my fingertips, Ken Griffey's hitless slump has persisted through 24 at-bats, and his batting average has plunged to .239. That's the longest drought of his career, unless...

NFL goes camping.(On deck: in the July 19 issue)
July 12, 2004... If it's mid-July, it's time for our annual training camp preview--a double issue for the first time. We've put ourselves through two-a-days to bring you the inside scoop on each team and offer the little-known nuggets that make training camp a...

Tapping SAP potential.(Static)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Tapping SAP potential: Shakespeare wrote, "The play-by-play's the thing," or thereabouts. Now, in a 10-game experiment starting July 15, FOX Sports Net will test the premise by offering White Sox viewers an alternate audio channel that flouts...

The buzz.(Static)
July 12, 2004... The buzz: Mary Albert, voice of the Rangers and Knicks (off and on) for 36 seasons, and MSG are divorcing because he refused to cheerlead for losers--the transgression that once led the Yankees to dismiss Red Barber.

Vital stats.(Static)
July 12, 2004... Vital stats: The 2.25 million TM homes in Washington, D.C., constitute the eighth-largest market. (And, as Bud Selig knows, Montreal's audience doesn't count toward Nielsen ratings.)

Soundbitten.(Static)
July 12, 2004... Soundbitten: "People forget that God invented electricity."--FOX Sports chairman David Hill, in defense of scheduling more events, especially NASCAR, under the lights.

Do not adjust your set.(Static)
July 12, 2004... Do not adjust your set: ESPN has pared Jim Rome's talk show to 45 minutes, plus changed the title from Rome Is Burning to Jim Rome Is Burning to "foster clearer association with the star," not because every time the show aired the Vatican...

How that feel: you watch in wonder. You watch and wonder. What's it like to get hit in the eye with a puck? Almost throw a perfect game (twice)? Be a long snapper?
July 12, 2004... We're here to show you, to bring you to your senses. Read this, our second annual "How's that feel?" package, and see, hear, taste and smell the sports experience through those who've lived to tell these tales. ... to just miss a perfecto?...

Baseball's big puzzle: nothing quite seems to fit this season--other than the Yankees' surge--so expect even more of the unexpected in the second half.(Second Half Preview)
July 12, 2004... Raise your hand if you predicted the Rangers and Devil Rays would be the surprise teams of the American League. If you believed the Reds and Brewers would keep pace with the big boys in the National League Central. If you thought the Pirates'...

Finding the right pieces.(Second Half Preview)
July 12, 2004... For big-league general managers, completing the roster puzzle that would vault their teams into the postseason is a daunting task. On some teams, the key ingredient might be the impact of a recently acquired player or one still to be obtained...

OK, it's clear now: Cubs over... A's.
July 12, 2004... Silly me, picking a Cubs-Red Sox World Series. Oh, I still think the Cubs can get there--should get there, even. But the Red Sox, it seems, would prefer to implode. Even if the Sox were one big, happy family, they would be doomed by their...

Plenty to watch in the second half.(Closer)
July 12, 2004... Can you believe we're halfway through the season already? One thing we can look forward to is the tight races. The sexiest division, of course, is the A.L. East with the two big ones doing their things. The Yankees and Red Sox are like...

A.L. reports.(Second Half Preview)
July 12, 2004... ANAHEIM ANGELS WHAT WENT RIGHT: The Angels remained in first place in the A.L. West through the first two months of the season because they jelled offensively and consistently delivered timely hits with runners in scoring position. New...

N.L. reports.(Second Half Preview)
July 12, 2004... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS WHAT WENT HGHT: 2B Scott Hairston showed he can hit in the big leagues, displaying a quick bat and a good eye. CF Steve Finley and RF Danny Bautista, both potential free agents, played well and should be attractive trade...

NASCAR needs a guts transfusion.(NASCAR)
July 12, 2004... At times NASCAR officials must feel a bit like Rodney Dangerfield. But respect has to be earned, and the suits in Daytona have done little to earn the respect of competitors or fans in the past few weeks. To discuss how NASCAR used Nextel...

The WIX Filters 2004 LAP Leader Award.(NASCAR)
July 12, 2004... The WIX Filters 2004 LAP LEADER Award 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES Jeff Gordon (#24 Chevy) Pepsi 400 Daytona International Speedway LAPS LED: 61 SEASON LEADERS 1. Jeff Gordon (#24 Chevy) 5...

Learning the ropes: Carl Edwards' talent has him in a slingshot to the big time.(NASCAR)
July 12, 2004... Carl Edwards bounds onto the scene, half-lovable Tigger, half-frightening tiger, and suddenly NASCAR is making Gordon and Earnhardt comparisons again. "He and Jeff Gordon are exactly the same," says Bill Politsch, Edwards' first crew chief...

Putting it all together: it won't be long before Nextel Cup comes calling on crew chief Lance McGrew, who is proving he has the parts to prosper.(NASCAR)
July 12, 2004... Whenever you hear someone in NASCAR described as "laid-back," there are two things you need to know: 1) It's a high compliment. 2) It's part baloney. Those who work for Busch Series crew chief Lance McGrew say he's laid-back. And he is--most...

Big spending doesn't pay.(NHL)
July 12, 2004... Of course, it is the labor issues that will hang over the offseason and alter the flee-agent signing season. It is the teams' loss of money--something that didn't occur suddenly but appears to be treated as such--that will chain checkbooks to...

No doubt, the Rockets landed a superstar.(NBA)
July 12, 2004... Perhaps last season, as miserable as it happened to be, was the best thing that could have happened to Tracy McGrady. There was a brutal 19-game losing streak. There was a dip in his shooting from 45.7 to 41.7 percent and a slide in his scoring...

They're poised to break out on 'D'.(NFL)
July 12, 2004... Our 2004 breakout defensive players (rookies were not considered): Defensive ends This should be the season Kalimba Edwards' preposterous athleticism begins to become evident. In his rookie season, the Lions didn't play him enough. As...

AFC reports.(NFL)
July 12, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS FS Will Demps makes up for his lack of measurables with desire and a nose for the ball. He's fearless against the run and rarely misses a tackle. Demps is a liability against the deep pass, but he reads and breaks on passes in...

NFC reports.(NFL)
July 12, 2004... ARIZONA CARDINALS WEB Raynoch Thompson has been the team's best defender the past two seasons, and he will hold a key position in the Cardinals' new system. The defense is designed to let him roam the field, and he should be able to use his...

Being a world power isn't easy.(College Basketball)
July 12, 2004... The one problem with Kelvin Sampson's zeal to take on the world is the world isn't available this summer. The United States team he will coach is charged with conquering only the Western Hemisphere. Sampson, whose day job is coaching...

A Big Ten swing-and-miss.(College Football)
July 12, 2004... We begin with a story of college baseball--the ping of aluminum, the double-digit innings, the 5-hour games... I'm already bored. We're talking baseball because without it, we can't see the BCS for what it really is: an exclusive,...

Fantasy source.(Fantasy)
July 12, 2004... ROTO RAP BRENDAN ROBERTS The long and winding road that is the fantasy baseball season can be viewed from different perspectives. For some, the midway point finally is here. Others are asking: Is it the All-Star break already? (For fantasy...

Baseball braintrust.(Fantasy)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Baseball BRAINTRUST Brendan Roberts Senior editor First half MVP Vladimir Guerrero, Ana. Second half MVP Albert Pujols,...

14.03.(TSNumber)
July 12, 2004... Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez's strikeouts per nine innings through June. If Troy Percival continues to falter, Rodriguez is ready to take over as Anaheim's closer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Speaking out.(Fantasy)(Letter to the Editor)
July 12, 2004... A fantasy owner clears the air: I enjoyed Brendan Roberts' online column on mistakes and bad judgments he and his colleagues have made this season, but I think I can top anything they did. Last year, I started the season with three...

TSN games tip of the week.(Fantasy)
July 12, 2004... If your fantasy team already has tanked, there's a place where you can get a second chance. You can join one of our Fantasy Season 2 leagues, which begin July 15. When putting together your eight-man squad, consider using a reliever in at...

Toolbox.(Fantasy)
July 12, 2004... Owners always are looking for mistakes pickups who can put their teams over the top. They spend hours scouring the wires and trolling for trade partners in search of the final piece in a championship run. The difference-maker this year,...

Ask a tough question, get a tough answer: what can steroids do to you?
July 12, 2004... Want to get scared? Read this. It's an e-mail from a young man in the Midwest. I had asked him to tell me about his experiences in our Steroid Age. OK, here goes, informal, hope that's OK. One of my buddies did steroids (juice) for a...

Hardball help.(Sporting News.Com)(baseball fantasy game)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... Whether you're signing up for Basic Fantasy Baseball Season 2 or just need to tinker with your lineup in a full-season league, we're here to help. Ultimate Fantasy Source Baseball has columns, analysis and customized settings to help you win...

Go behind the scenes.(Sporting News Radio)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... Jeff Rickard gives you an inside look at your favorite sports as he brings the benefits of his extensive relationships with athletes, coaches and sports celebrities to the airwaves on the Jeff Rickard Show. Catch the show noon-p.m. ET...

Dazzle your friends (and take their money).(Sporting News Books)(Advertisement)
July 19, 2004... Stay on top of your fantasy league with Fantasy Football 2004. Get scouting reports, rankings and more. Buy your copy on newsstands, call 800-825-8508, or order online at www.sportingnews.com/book.

To know list: 7 fruity drinks for Shaq and his friends, pronto!(Know It All)(sports and corporate advertising)
July 19, 2004... (1) RETURN OF THE COLA WARS The drive to dominate If Budweiser is the King of Beers, can Miller run for president? Ah, who cares? We've got a better beverage power struggle for you. The so-called Cola Wars of the 1980s featured...

Starting 5.(Know It All)(sports news bits)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... (1) The British Open. They've got rock-hard grass over there, unruly weeds and, let's face it, not the greatest teeth. Kind of like those neighbors you've yet to invite to your barbecues. (2) Refreshing news. Golf used to be an...

He even wore his good chest protector.(Caught On The Fly)(baseball, basketball, football news)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... In a nationally televised game against the Yankees last week, Tigers catcher Pudge Rodriguez was ejected in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes. This infuriated Pudge, who said a lot of people wanted to see him on TV. When asked why...

On air.(Caught On The Fly)(college basketball coaches)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... Which college coach would fare best in the NBA? Chet Coppock 7-11 p.m. ET Saturdays and Sundays Coach K at Staples would've been the greatest disaster since Ben and J. Lo tag-teamed in Gigli. I'll go with Tom Izzo. His...

Kids are the great imitators.(My Turn)
July 19, 2004... I'm moving my family to Virginia. The bulk of my post-Congressional business dealings still originate in our nation's capital, and it just makes sense to make that temporary move. This arrangement will allow me to spend less time catching...