The Sporting News articles from May 2002

The Sporting News archives from May 2002

Strat-O-Matic for a new era. (Sportingnews.com).
May 6, 2002... Like second-guessing the manager? Now you can put your baseball knowledge to work. SportingNews.com presents Strat-O-Matic online baseball, the classic simulation game that goes beyond the stats. Draft and manage your team through a 162-game...

Get your kicks. (Sportingnews.com).
May 6, 2002... MLS Fantasy Challenge is the official fantasy game of Major League Soccer, and it's powered by SportingNews.com. Work with a salary cap to build an 11-man roster, then make trades throughout the season. The season starts May 22; sign up to play...

Derby days. (Sporting News Radio).
May 6, 2002... Sporting News Radio takes you live to Churchill Downs for the 128th Kentucky Derby. Experience the worldclass excitement and pageantry as Papa Joe Chevalier and Peter Brown provide live coverage from paddock to trackside. Coverage begins Friday...

`Hey, didn't you used to be in the A.L. West race?' (Caught On The Fly).
May 6, 2002... Welcome to COTF, a spider-web free zone. * Not only are the stRangers having an '01 flashback, The BaLLLLLpark clubhouse is (surprise!) stuck on a sloooow simmer. The Spies of Texas say Johnny Rocker's temper tantrum over getting demoted...

On the fall of the Bucks. (Sound Bites).
May 6, 2002... "Here's a team that not only was picked to be one or two in the conference but also the challenger perhaps for the NBA championship. The addition they made of (Anthony) Mason appeared to be the type of ingredient they needed to maybe shore up...

On the Drew Bledsoe trade. (Sound Bites).
May 6, 2002... "New England has to be pleased. Now they can avoid any potential chemistry issues on their team. Drew Bledsoe is a model citizen. He wants to play. He deserved an opportunity to play. If New England could have, they would've kept both...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sights).
May 6, 2002... (1) Playoff goalies. To typically see this many zeroes, you have to go to a Star Trek convention. (2) Yao Ming. Half of his NBA income will go to the state-run league in his native China, its version of half of an American player's income...

The high cost of gizmos. (Remote Patrol).
May 6, 2002... Ain't technology grand? Sure, for us consumers of TV sports basking in the Golden Age of Gimmicks--er, Enhancements. There's SimulCam, RACEf/x, K-Zone and all those real-time, digital-readout computer displays that once were as exotic as Dick...

Snails. Heinz ketchup. Season-ending two-hour episodes of Survivor. (Static).
May 6, 2002... * Snails, Heinz ketchup, Season-ending two-hour episodes of Survivor. I'm struggling to list something as slow-moving as the first round of the NBA playoffs, peaking at five games in 15 days--primarily because NBC insists on its quota, but only...

Vital stats. (Static).
May 6, 2002... * Vital stats: Tim McCarver won Emmy No. 1 after 13 nominations. Susan Lucci needed 19.

FYI. (Static).
May 6, 2002... * FYI: Al Michaels is replacing Pat Summerall on EA Sports' Madden NFL 2003.

Soundbitten. (Static).
May 6, 2002... * Soundbitten: "My biggest concern was I had to get his Italian leather shoes out of the car."--Mike Fratello, on surviving a limo accident with Mary Albert after a TNT game.

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
May 6, 2002... Choice voice `How ironic that "The House that Bledsoe Built," CMGI Field, will never see this great warrior in a patriots uniform.'--Sean O'Neil, Halifax, Mass. Moving the masses Thanks much for the inspiring story of Johnny Oates'...

Rearmed forces: once, elbow trouble meant the end of a pitcher's career. Now, Tommy John surgery has become the salvation of scores of players, as vital to the game as late-inning relief. To understand the impact, follow the comeback trail with an ace, a former ace and the lefthander who started it all. (Baseball).
May 6, 2002... When he enters the room to examine yet another baseball player's ailing arm, Dr. James Andrews always starts with the same question: Shoulder or elbow? "I'm almost relieved when I hear it's an elbow," Andrews says. If the uncertainty...

Every outing is a win. (The Ace).
May 6, 2002... Every day, I see the scar, and I know where I've been and what I've been through. Three years after having Tommy John surgery, I can say I'm a better pitcher than I was when I first came up. It's a blessing in itself, just to come back from...

`I'm a miracle. (The Former Ace).
May 6, 2002... Jose Rijo, 36, had four elbow operations in three years, including Tommy John surgery on August 22, 1995. He returned to the majors last August after a six-year absence. I thought about quitting a lot. In the spring of '99, I went to...

John, chapters 1 and 2. (The Pioneer).
May 6, 2002... What often is forgotten about my comeback Is the fact that it took two surgeries, and the second one was every bit as Important as the first. For several weeks after Dr. Frank Jobe replaced the ligament in my elbow, there still was numbness in...

For Boston, the new century begins now. (Insider: baseball).
May 6, 2002... The Red Sox are better than people thought. They're happy, they're healthy, much improved defensively, more balanced offensively. One scout predicts, "I think they can stay with the Yankees all season." Well, the Yankees' rotation is...

Life in the majors: how sweet it is. (The Closer).
May 6, 2002... Do you remember the movie Bull Durham? It's basically on the mandatory viewing list for baseball players. The best scene is when Crash Davis, played by Kevin Costner, explains what it was like to be in the show. "Yeah, I was in the show. I...

Fantasy source. (TSNumber .129).
May 6, 2002... Opponents' batting average against Derek Lowe, the lowest among starters in the majors. Lowe, who threw a no-hitter last Saturday against Tampa Bay, has allowed only 15 hits while facing 116 batters in 35 1/3 innings. Even the most...

A.L. (Baseball).
May 6, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 9-14 3rd in West QUICK STUDY: Now that Mo Vaughn is with the Mets, 1B Scott Spiezio is getting a chance to shed his tag of utilityman. Spiezio doesn't have the power of a...

N.L. (Baseball).
May 6, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 15-9 1st in West SLOW START: 1B Mark Grace stumbled in April. Through 24 games, he was hitting .227--disappointing for a career .307 hitter. He isn't normally a...

A little bit louder: Tim Duncan still exudes quiet confidence, but he's learning to speak up more as the Spurs try to erase the memory of last season's playoffs. (Playoffs: NBA).
May 6, 2002... Forget? Who could forget? Better yet, who would want to forget? This is something that, at worst, you let terrorize you, hoping it scares you straight. At best, you hope it motivates and provides some unrelenting voice in your head, like Mick...

One on one with ... Michael Finley. (Insider: NBA).
May 6, 2002... When shooting guard Michael Finley was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in December 1996, he became the best player on one of the league's worst teams. But owner Mark Cuban has surrounded Finley with talent, and the Mavericks are in the...

Jazz's future has a face.
May 6, 2002... Jerry Sloan has had little use for rookies during his 14 years as the Jazz's coach. Sure, he puts up with them, but few newcomers have had an impact for Sloan's veteran-heavy clubs. That is, until Andrei Kirilenko showed up this season. Now...

West is not what's best for the Grizzlies. (Insider: NBA).
May 6, 2002... An obvious set of questions arises when the topic of Jerry West packing up his surfboard and sunscreen to head back East, this time as head honcho of the Grizzlies, is broached. Mostly, these questions have the same plaintive word attached:...

The race before the race: the ABCs of qualifying, an event that is more important than you think. (NASCAR).
May 6, 2002... Dale Earnhardt's auto racing expertise was [beyond reproach. Larry McReynolds' remains close to that. Yet when the two men were working together as driver and crew chief, there was one rather large aspect of their sport over which they...

Shaken Martin drives on with optimism. (Insider: NASCAR).
May 6, 2002... Ask Mark Martin about his team owner, Jack Roush, and you'll uncover a deep feeling of respect and admiration. Their bond formed more than 15 years ago. Roush, then a 40-something former Ford engineer, wanted to expand his racing pursuits...

Driver reports.
May 6, 2002... Exclusive NASCAR team reports were 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 at that stage of the season, plus a report on a team to watch. Sterling...

The switch: how does a player turn it on in the playoffs when the season is on the line? (NHL).
May 6, 2002... You understand their significance even as you're watching them, the kinds of playoffs performances that define a player, a team, an era. Yet like love or beauty, the genesis of playoffs greatness is equally difficult to grasp. How did they...

Small players, big playoffs. (Insider: NHL).
May 6, 2002... Media guides add inches to a hockey player's height like a movie camera adds pounds to an actor's frame. Do you really think Paul Kariya is 5-10? On skates, maybe. The media-guide inflation is more rampant than disguised playoffs injuries....

Eastern conference were expectations met? (NHL).
May 6, 2002... Atlantic Division NEW JERSEY DEVILS: The team failed to live up to expectations after being one game away in 2001 from its third Stanley Cup win. How a team handles adversity after a successful season can be more telling than how it...

Western conference were expectations met? (NHL).
May 6, 2002... Central Division CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: The team started fast and never looked back, exceeding expectations by a country mile. Brian Sutter's first year as coach was a success because the team played hard all season, a stark contrast to...

`You got to coach, coach, coach': the Redskins' new boss is devoting great time and effort to shape a starting quarterback out of an unspectacular assortment of candidates. And Steve Spurrier wouldn't have it any other way. (NFL).
May 6, 2002... He's a quarterbacks coach disguised as a head coach. That is lesson No. 1 to remember about Steve Spurrier. The most important lesson. Everything else that comes with the bigger job--the motivational talks, the logistics, the interviews, the...

One club's `reach' is another club's treasure. (Insider: NFL).
May 6, 2002... Being cited for "reaching" is a violation on a basketball court and an admonition at the dinner table. But in an NFL draft room, it is a nasty, harsh criticism. The criticism isn't always fair. Some teams--take the Colts and their...

AFC. (NFL).
May 6, 2002... Baltimore Ravens www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/ravens INSURANCE PLAN: The team signed veteran QB Jeff Blake to a one-year, league-minimum contract, and coach Brian Billick designated Blake the backup to projected starter Chris Redman....

NFC. (NFL).
May 6, 2002... Arizona Cardinals www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals TRY, TRY AGAIN: For the third time in four years, the team has used a second-round pick to address its problems at outside linebacker. The latest acquisition is Levar Fisher,...

Questions abound for children of the corn. (Insider: college football).
May 6, 2002... Nebraska's spring game has just ended. It's time for quarterbacks coach Turner Gill and head coach Frank Solich to account for what I spied from my vantage point perched high in Memorial Stadium: an offense in trouble. Question: Can Jammal...

A safety net for high schoolers. (Insider: college basketball).
May 6, 2002... At last June's NBA draft, Kwame Brown looked sharp strolling across the stage in a fine new suit to shake the hand of commissioner David Stern. Brown, from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga., was the No. 1 overall pick. Bill Walton, Hakeem...

A sweep of Bud's team sure is sweet.
May 6, 2002... April is only the first chapter in the novel that is a major league baseball season. But don't you love it so far? The orphaned and abandoned Expos are the game's hottest team. The Twins, marked for extermination, again are championship...

Play the back nine. (Sportingnews.com).
May 13, 2002... It's your best chance to be Tiger... or Phil or Ernie. A second season of Ultimate Fantasy Golf is just around the corner, so now's the time to sign up if you're looking to get in the game. Go to: http://fantasygames. sportingnews.com/golf/...

Gooooall! (Sportingnews.com).
May 13, 2002... The World Cup kicks off May 31, and sportingnews.com's Global Soccer Challenge gives you the chance to manage your own 11-man squad over the course of the tournament. It's the best fantasy game of its kind, and it's free! Sign up at:...

The Zen Master arrives Mondays. (Sporting News Radio).
May 13, 2002... Get inside the mind of the thinking man's coach as Phil Jackson and co-host Chris Myers bring you The Phil Jackson Show. Throughout the NBA playoffs, go in the paint for in-depth insight and analysis from the Zen Master during the hourlong show...

`Hey, didn't you used to be Lopes, Muser, Bell, Garner...' (Caught On The Fly).
May 13, 2002... If defense wins cham-peen-ships, then Fly can pick (shaddup!) the name next to the Lakers' in the Western finals bracket: Bye. * When Kevin Harvick says, "Sometimes I come home and mess with my remote-control cars or play with my dogs,"...

On Tiger Woods' influence upon major league baseball. (Sound Bites).
May 13, 2002... On Tiger Woods' influence upon major league baseball: "Baseball's popularity is waning. Part of the reason is because of the popularity of golf. Tiger Woods has brought people who never thought they would follow golf, and now they are." ...

On the NBA potential of Yao Ming. (Sound Bites).
May 13, 2002... On the NBA potential of Yao Ming: "Yao Ming will not be and should not be drafted to defend the likes of Shaquille O'Neal. He doesn't have enough meat on his bones. He does have other assets that make him an extremely attractive candidate...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sights).
May 13, 2002... (1) The NBA playoffs. Did TV prolong the first round? Team jerseys from the opening series are on sate as throwback uniforms. (2) The NHL playoffs. Upsets in the Eastern Conference have left ESPN with a new programming concept:...

Reflecting on NBA 2003. (Remote Patrol).
May 13, 2002... It's May 13, 2003--time to look back on Year 1 of the NBA's brave new TV world. It was an improvement over 2002, but it took some getting used to. Scheduling was the big change after a decade of status quo. The NBA is playing on five...

Ghostbusters. (Static).
May 13, 2002... Ghostbusters: Fox introduced Joe Buck-Troy Aikman-Cris Collinsworth, its new-age NFL A-team, with reassuring candor--division head Ed Goren acknowledging three-men booths have unique foibles; Collinsworth saying he abdicated the pregame show...

FYI. (Static).
May 13, 2002... FYI: Dan Fouts has accepted Monday Night Football's severance package; he'll work ABC college games with Keith Jackson. FRITZ QUINDT/REMOTE PATROL fquindt@sportingnews.com

Soundbitten. (Static).
May 13, 2002... Soundbitten: "I think the average person thinks I'm a (expletive) nut, and I deserve whatever happens to me."--Mike Tyson on ESPN's Sunday Conversation. FRITZ QUINDT/REMOTE PATROL fquindt@sportingnews.com

Do not adjust your set. (Static).
May 13, 2002... Do not adjust your set: Because of to a journalists' lockout, the CBC's French telecasts of Bruins-Canadiens had no announcers, just in-arena audio. And viewership doubled. FRITZ QUINDT/REMOTE PATROL fquindt@sportingnews.com

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
May 13, 2002... Choice voice `As bad as things have gone for the Red Sox over the years, it was only appropriate that the team's highlight of the year was actually a Lowe light.--Joe Kapear, Bradley Beach, N.J. Calling umpires out Dave Kindred hit a...

Back to the future: the Kings and Mavericks are ahead of their time in acquiring European talent, which enables the teams to play a throwback, high-scoring style. (NBA).
May 13, 2002... Let us hearken back to an era when fundamentals were more than just the sad, sad refrain in the ballad of NBA coaches, when players went through more picks than Jimi Hendrix on a long night, when giving up the ball was not considered a personal...

His flair is winning; Hornets point guard Baron Davis has been at his best in the playoffs, revealing another layer of his talent. (Insider: NBA).
May 13, 2002... During a season-ticket promotion last fall, Hornets officials arranged for Baron Davis to film a television commercial with professional wrestling legend Ric Flair. It was a clever bit, with Flair coaching Davis on the fine art of...

Forget tae bo; Yao's workout is the rage. (Insider: NBA).
May 13, 2002... I am standing in Loyola's Alumni Gym in north Chicago, surrounded by an odd mix of NBA personnel evaluators, writers and broadcast types, all here for one reason: To justify our cushy jobs. Oh, and to watch an NBA-produced workout for Yao...

Spring flings: will Ishii slow? Which way will the Cardinals go? What about Livan and Lotion? Four early surprises could have big impacts on the races. (Baseball).
May 13, 2002... Every season has its surprises. The game would be boring without them. If we want to be bored, we'll join the Rotary Club. If we want anything from baseball, we want to be shocked, bemused, befuddled. We want to wonder how we didn't see that...

Two years is too early to judge Griffey deal. (Insider: baseball).
May 13, 2002... When Mike Cameron and Ken Griffey Jr. switched teams in February 2000, it was easy to imagine one of those center fielders winning a Gold Glove, making an All-Star team and appearing in two straight League Championship Series. It was even...

Hurry up and wait. (The Closer).
May 13, 2002... Ever wonder what players do during a rain delay? I bet if I gave you three guesses, you'd be way off. I'm almost ashamed to tell you. Sitting through a rain delay is part of the game, but--believe it or not--it takes practice. After all,...

Fantasy source. (TSNumber 17).
May 13, 2002... Mark Prior has amazing stuff: a mid-90s fastball and baffling off-speed arsenal. It won't be long before his performances force the Cubs to give him a chance in the majors. In his first five starts at Class AA this year--his first experience as...

A.L. (Baseball).
May 13, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 14-15 3rd in West GOING DOWN SWINGING: OF Jeff DaVanon was optioned to Class AAA Salt Lake and replaced by OF Julio Ramirez. DaVanon homered, singled and drove in four runs...

N.L. (Baseball).
May 13, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 19-11 1st in West BULLPEN WOES: When closer RHP Matt Mantei (elbow surgery) returns, probably later this month, RHP Byung-Hyun Kim should move into a setup...

The France connection: NASCAR president Mike Helton is among the most powerful figures in sports--and the pivotal link between stock car racing's founding family and its future. He also must deal with rising expectations from fans and sponsors. Follow him around, though, and you'll see `a pretty average guy.' (NASCAR).
May 13, 2002... Pulling alongside a motorcyle cop, Mike Helton says, "Wanna race?" The cop does a double take, one of those exaggerated looks from a bad sitcom. He looks at Helton, then at his vehicle, which is hardly the stuff of racin.' "What is...

Early seasons to remember--and forget. (Insider: NASCAR).
May 13, 2002... Making predictions is a fickle art. The best auto racing aficionados didn't forecast some of the strange goings-on early in the 2002 Winston Cup season. With 11 races in the books, five drivers are in the top 10 in points who weren't there...

What's in the Box? (Beyond the Checkered Flag).
May 13, 2002... Question: Have you ever attended a stock-car race and wondered what purpose a team's "Pit Box" serves? Answer. The "Pit Box," among other things, is the command center for a team throughout the course of a race. Popularly referred to...

Who are these guys? Four little-known goaltenders have pushed their teams forward in the playoffs, sometimes in spectacular fashion. (NHL).
May 13, 2002... The English poet John Keats once wrote that we should not be discouraged by a failure because it can be a positive experience. According to Keats, failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, and as we travel it, we learn from our mistakes....

Power structure. (NHL: Playoff insider).
May 13, 2002... The Avalanche's power play was one of the league's best even before Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk came back from injuries. The Avs' success hinges on two words: Joe Sakic. Colorado's approach is to take advantage of Sakic's playmaking skills,...

A low-down, dirty shame. (Insider: NHL).
May 13, 2002... When terms such as mutual respect, ethical code and honor are used in the context of hockey, the casual fan usually laughs sarcastically, while "hockey people" shake their heads, knowing that most just don't get it. The unwritten rules:...

The complicated issue of character. (Insider: NFL).
May 13, 2002... June 1998--Arrested and charged with two counts of assault for kicking a man in the face and hitting him with a baseball bat. Pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault for kicking the man in the face and is sentenced to probation. While on house...

Building a `D' that's proud and poised. (Insider: NFL).
May 13, 2002... Maybe you've seen it plastered on the wall of a high school locker room. Or on the back of a peewee football coach's T-shirt. "Offense wins games, defense wins championships." It's a fundamental principle, but even NFL teams sometimes...

AFC. (NFL).
May 13, 2002... AFC East BUFFALO BILLS: RB Curtis Alexander's performance in NFL Europe might give the Bills something to think about. A practice squad player a year ago, he has been one of the best players in that league, exhibiting an explosive burst...

NFC. (NFL).
May 13, 2002... NFC East DALLAS COWBOYS: QB Chad Hutchinson split time with starter Quincy Carter at minicamp, so that Hutchinson--a minor league pitcher since 1998--could begin adapting to the speed and nuances of the NFL. Out of a quarterback group that...

Attention, please, for QBs. (Insider: college football).
May 13, 2002... Don't feel sorry for UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas. He knows he had an awful 2001 season following a great 2000 campaign and has grown weary of bring consoled. "People come up to me and go, `J.T., it's OK' and give me a pat on the back,"...

Lost ring, found opportunity. (Insider: college basketball).
May 13, 2002... Although he did not play a minute for Notre Dame this past season, Danny Miller was entitled to one of the watches awarded by the NCAA to commemorate the Irish's tournament appearance. He considers it a welcome substitute for the championship...

Taking a chance on love--and horses.
May 13, 2002... Ten years ago, or maybe 11 or 12, a black Labrador retriever ran loose along the rail of a thoroughbred race track in Kentucky. There began a romance, for the Lab scampered up to a woman shooting pictures of horses working out, and behind the...

Hardcore hardball. (Sportingnews.com).
May 20, 2002... Need a little help to get the extra edge in your fantasy league? SportingNews.com's In-season Fantasy Baseball Guide offers daily updates and information in a convenient, printable package that provides quick access to key player stats and...

Hardcore soccer. (Sportingnews.com).
May 20, 2002... MLS Fantasy Challenge, the official fantasy game of Major League Soccer, begins May 22. Sign up to build your own 11-man roster, make trades throughout the season and have a chance at winning a trip to MLS Cup 2002. Go to:...

Get on the basepaths. (Sporting News Radio).
May 20, 2002... Looking to show off your baseball knowledge and win prizes? Tune in to the Tim Brando Show, weekdays 2-6 p.m. ET on Sporting News Radio, and play "Beat Timmy B. Around the Bases." The rules: Predict who will have the most hits, RBIs and...

`Hey, didn't you used to be known as Jason Williams?' (Caught On The Fly).
May 20, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where The Answer to the question, "Who needs practice?" is fairly obvious on a weekly basis. * Speaking of Philly, Pat Burrell's Ks (better than a whiff per... again) are overpowering his power, but the Spies say he's...

On Yao Ming's salary. (Sound Bites).
May 20, 2002... "This guy would be better off if he was handled by Don King. By the time the Chinese Federation and the rest of the leeches dig their way into the big guy's pockets, he's going to play NBA basketball this year for about seven bucks an hour."...

On Allen Iverson. (Sound Bites).
May 20, 2002... "I think Larry (Brown) is trying to get across the idea to Allen that you have to do the right things if things are going to work out for you. if your team is going to succeed, you have to follow the team rules, you have to practice, you have...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sights).
May 20, 2002... (1) Junior Griffey. He implied last week that Cincinnati fans should get off his back. In a related announcement, the Reds shifted him hem the 15-day D.L. (knee) to the 60-day D.L. (back). (2) The Sixers. Coach or superstar, who's more at...

A pricey seat: the couch. (Remote Patrol).
May 20, 2002... I know. Your cable bill is out of control. According to the latest FCC Statistical Report on Cable Programming Service and Equipment, eightymillionsomething households average $37.13 a month for "expanded basic," i.e., 50 to 60 channels and the...

Two ways to spell j-u-x-t-a-p-o-s-i-t-i-o-n. (Static).
May 20, 2002... * Two ways to spell j-u-x-t-a-p-o-s-i-t-i-o-n: With NHL approval, during Avalanche-Sharks playoffs games at the Compaq Center, ABC is pasting ads for Sun Microsystems over the arena's dasher-board signs for... Compaq. And Outside the Lines...