The Sporting News articles from May 2004

The Sporting News archives from May 2004

On the clock for 2005.(SportingNews.com)
May 3, 2004... The NFL draft is over, but our coverage continues. In addition to providing the most comprehensive analysis of this year's selections, we already are looking ahead to 2005 with The War Room's rankings of next year's prospects in Draft Central....

Follow the bouncing ball.(Radio)
May 3, 2004... Sporting News Radio is your home team for NBA Playoffs coverage. Kurt Rambis, Rick Barry and TSN's Sean Deveney join SNR hosts through the playoffs and go in the paint to deliver the inside scoop. Plus, hear interviews with the NBA's biggest...

Get out of the cheap seats.(Books)
May 3, 2004... Go behind the scenes of America's pastime with Baseball Chatter, as baseball's insiders tell the game's greatest stories. Get your copy in bookstores, by calling 800-825-8508 or online at www.sportingnews.com/books.

A good life lost; a good friend remembered: Pat Tillman (1976-2004).(Obituary)
May 3, 2004... Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis shares his thoughts on onetime Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, who was killed in action in Afghanistan last week McGinnis is now the linebackers coach for the Titans. I remember vividly the day Pat...

To know list: 4 strikes--more than Barry will see all week.(Know It All)
May 3, 2004... (1) GOLDEN DOMERS Twin-postors? Not these guys The Minnesota Twins have not been kidnapped. It only seems that way. Center fielder Lew Ford is the new toast of the Twin Cities. Catcher Henry Blanco, designated hitter Jose Offerman...

Starting 5.(Know It All)
May 3, 2004... (1) Stroke of Genius. Jim Caviezel, fresh off his role in The Passion of the Christ, plays Bobby Jones. How'd he get the role? Know anybody else who can hit a two-iron? (2) Mmm, chocolate. Not that I still have draft fever, but...

Get your winks at Wallace Wade Stade.(Caught on The Fly)
May 3, 2004... Worried that college students are becoming increasingly deprived of sleep, Duke plans to eliminate classes that start at 8 a.m. One school official estimates that many students on the Durham campus are trying to get by on four or five hours of...

On air.(Caught On The Fly)
May 3, 2004... Chet Coppock says: "NFL teams overspend on scouting. Pro football scouting was better 40 years ago when guys operated out of their hip pockets driving through hick towns. They knew players, not computers." ON AIR ...

Pump it up: in light of last week's Supreme Court decisions in favor of the NFL, a basketball lover hopes his game will seize the opportunity to save itself.(Know It All)(National Football League )
May 3, 2004... Final Four week was busy, as you might expect, for those gentlemen who make their living as NBA scouts. It began in Oklahoma City with practices for the McDonald's All American Game. It ended with the Nike Hoop Summit in San Antonio matching...

The night the Flyers lost their mojo.(Cup stories: our NHL playoff memories runneth over)
May 3, 2004... In the 1987 finals, the Flyers were losing to the Oilers three games to one after a dispiriting 4-1 loss at home in Game 4. Before Game 5 in Edmonton, Flyers coach Mike Keenan put the Cup in his team's dressing room as motivation. It worked:...

Grading on the curve, NBA playoffpalooza.(Static)
May 3, 2004... Grading on the curve, NBA playoffpalooza: --Uberprogrammer Mark Shapiro's honesty in confessing ABC/ESPN's scheduling predilection (1. Lakers; 2. Kings; 3. Mavericks):A. --Relegating the Pacers and their league-best record to the...

The buzz.(Static)
May 3, 2004... The buzz: Decorum suggests Charles Barkley, Steve Kerr and Sean Elliott turn in their network headsets if they proceed as minority owners of the Suns. ESPN/ABC might force Elliott's hand, but TNT doesn't mind the scent of a conflict of...

Vital stat.(Static)(Sports Emmys)
May 3, 2004... Vital stat: HBO captured the most Sports Emmys, eight. (Awards ceremonies are 9 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX Sports Net.) E-mail: fquindt@sportingnews.com.

Which of the rookie quarterbacks will have the best NFL career?(Counterpoints)
May 3, 2004... Don't overlook Prince Philip The draft debate this year has been dominated by one question: "Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger?" I have the answer: Philip Rivers. Manning is the heir apparent of quarterback royalty, but Rivers is the...

A reliever saves a life.(Sports Hero)(Ashley Roque)
May 3, 2004... While driving his truck in the early evening April 13, Jacksonville University relief pitcher Ashley Roque, 21, saw a silver Acura swerve to miss a car that was pulling onto the highway near St. Augustine, Fla. The Acura, driven by Laura Beth...

A reason to keep pitching.(My Turn)
May 3, 2004... During the season, I get a lot of e-mail responding to my column for the SPORTING NEWS. My editors say it's good to answer your readers because it strengthens your bond with them. Well, I've been getting one question quite a bit: What's up with...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
May 3, 2004... * Maybe it's just the fact that I live near Fort Myers, Fla., and every spring we're invaded by pasty snowbirds with strange accents flocking to see their beloved BoSox. But somewhere along the line, I've developed a true disdain for Red Sox...

No one is hungry like the Wolves: after seven straight years of first-round failures, Kevin Garnett and coach Flip Saunders are desperate to turn their ambition into success.(NBA Playoffs)
May 3, 2004... Kevin Garnett is sitting on the bench, a towel covering his legs, sweat and goose bumps covering his shoulders. His head is down, and his rib cage is heaving in a slow, steady rhythm. His Timberwolves just endured a meltdown of a first quarter...

The Nets are good enough to be second-best--for a third time.(Straight Shooting)
May 3, 2004... The Nets' on-court dramatis personae remain virtually unchanged from their back-to-back Eastern Conference championship squads. Even so, most NBA pundits certify that Detroit or Indiana will be the final victim of this year's eventual Western...

Junior's wild ride: he's 25. He was lured from American Samoa to the States under false pretenses and forced to work without pay. A year ago, he was barely a blip on Oregon's radar, much less the NFL's. Somehow, defensive tackle Junior Siavii survived it all to become the Chiefs' top draft pick.(Draft 2004)
May 3, 2004... You can't cry. That's what he keeps telling himself. Have to stay with your manhood. That's what he wants to do. But when the call comes, when team president Carl Peterson tells him, "Congratulations, you are a Kansas City Chief," the hell with...

Don't blame Manning for trying to steer his career.(Draft 2004)
May 3, 2004... Judging from the reaction from front offices, Madison Square Garden and cyberspace, it seemed as if Eli Manning had been given the lead role in the NFL's version of The Passion. Verbally, he was scourged, beaten, flogged and crucified. His...

Shrewd selections.(Draft 2004)
May 3, 2004... The most savvy picks on Day 2 of the draft: 1. Luke McCown, QB, Louisiana Tech (fourth round, 106th overall, Browns). McCown is the quarterback who coaches were trying to keep secret. A number of teams played their cards wrong and were...

Quantity vs. quality.(Draft 2004)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Sixteen offensive skill-position players were taken in the first round of this year's draft, more than in any other draft in the last quarter-century. The previous high in that span was 14 in 1987, when Vinny Testaverde went No. 1 to Tampa Bay....

Grading the draft.(Draft 2004)
May 3, 2004... Grading the draft By Dan Pompei Team Grade Comment [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A+ The Lions got the best receiver and running back in the draft, as well ...

The hot spot.(Draft 2004)
May 3, 2004... The 2004 wide receiver class was considered one of the strongest in years, so it wasn't surprising that seven wideouts were taken in the first round and 31 were drafted overall, the most at any position. Wide receiver has been a popular...

Draft 2004.
May 3, 2004... ARIZONA CARDINALS DRAFT DISH: WR Larry Fitzgerald will help coach Dennis Green mold an offense in the image of the high-powered ones he coached with Minnesota. With Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who caught a rookie-record 101 passes last...

Rookie challenge: the White Sox believe new manager Ozzie Guillen's enthusiasm means more than his lack of experience. Now it's up to him to prove it.(Baseball)
May 3, 2004... Looking for White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen? Here's a tip: Don't waste time stopping by the manager's office. Try the batting cage, where he often is found firing pitches to a handful of players or putting on a hitting show of his own....

Bolts out of the blue: more than a flash in the pan, the Lightning is an emerging powerhouse for seven major reasons.(NHL)
May 3, 2004... It's still hard not to think of the Lightning as an oddity, a playoff mirage in the scorching Florida sunshine. But these guys are for real. For six straight years, the Lightning has improved in the standings, the longest such streak...

Locked in and loaded with talent.(Baseball)
May 3, 2004... First come fastballs, then splitters to both sides of the plate, then two fastballs away, a fastball in and another splitter. Phillies reliever Roberto Hernandez, 39, is throwing 96 mph, looking for an inning-ending strikeout. The hitter...

Strange but true: Angels are flying around the bases.(Baseball)
May 3, 2004... I've seen some funny things happen at what used to be an alfalfa farm, an orange grove and a patch of eucalyptus trees. The real estate in question is now Angel Stadium, recently renamed when its corporate sponsor grew weary of supporting that...

A.L. reports.(Baseball)
May 3, 2004... ANAHEIM ANGELS RHP Ramon Ortiz needs to improve in a hurry. RHP Aaron Sole or RHP Kevin Gregg could take his rotation spot if he doesn't. Ortiz used to be too emotional at times, but now the team is concerned he's too passive.... RHP John...

N.L. reports.(Baseball)
May 3, 2004... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS LHP Randy Johnson has worked on hitting since moving to the N.L. but admits he commits early with his swing and hopes the bat runs into the ball.... 2B Matt Kate replaced Roberto Alomar in the lineup. Alomar suffered a...

These bosses get the job done.(NASCAR)
May 3, 2004... Based on numbers alone, it's a more selective fraternity than Skull and Bones. On any given race day, there are only 43 men who can call themselves Nextel Cup crew chiefs. Some chiefs are well-known among NASCAR fans, but others are...

One on one with ... Humpy Wheeler, President and G.M., Lowe's motor speedway.(NASCAR)(Interview)
May 3, 2004... TSN: As a promoter, you've done some pretty radical things over the years. Where do you get your ideas? HW: I really think a lot like a 12-year-old boy does. That's the last time that we males have unfettered fun. Hormones have usually not...

A matchup made in hockey heaven.(NHL)
May 3, 2004... The first round brought some memorable matchups-Bruins-Canadiens, Leafs-Senators, Devils-Flyers, Canucks-Flames. Now, the second round offers something great as well. Don't look ahead to a possible Avalanche-Red Wings rematch in the Western...

Yao's road to greatness has a few potholes.(NBA)
May 3, 2004... It's hardly Yao Ming's fault. He's a 7-5 center, a two-time All-Star, and his success is vital to the success of his team, the Rockets. It's a respectable team, and its presence in the playoffs is welcome after a five-year absence. But, despite...

X-factor: Matta's job is a keeper.(College Basketball)
May 3, 2004... Thad Matta drove Xavier further into the NCAA Tournament than it had ever been. The natural assumption, at that point, was he would keep going until he landed a job in a brand-name conference where they play football and pay their basketball...

Itching for a fight to the finish.(College Football)
May 3, 2004... Jason White basked in his Heisman Trophy win last week--months after he'd quietly accepted the award in a nationally televised ceremony--hoisting his prize at halftime of Oklahoma's spring game, signing autographs and taking a ride to the...

Fantasy source.(Fantasy)
May 3, 2004... ROTO RAP BRENDAN ROBERTS The major league season is roughly 12.5 percent complete. That's equivalent to one hour in a typical eight-hour workday. It's less than two miles into a 15-mile trip to work or school. It's about six...

Matchup heaven & hell.(Fantasy)
May 3, 2004... Favorable and unfavorable schedules a keep in mind when setting May lineups: HEAVEN Red Sox. Boston will encounter plenty of struggling pitchers, with seven against both the Indians and Blue Jays, three each against the Royals, Devil...

Let the circling Expos land at Dulles.
May 3, 2004... As for the poor, wandering Expos, those forlorn gypsies wandering from country to country, occasionally paddling a raft to a hospitable island, they have been locked in the N.L. East basement for most of April, dank and dark, losers three times...

You call the shots.(SportingNews.com)
May 10, 2004... Find out what it's like to manage a team for 162 games. Sign up for Strat-O-Matic Baseball, which is updated to include stats from the 2003 season. You'll draft a team and be responsible for setting lineups and rotations. Go to:...

Beat Timmy B around the bags.(SportingNews Radio)
May 10, 2004... Show off your baseball smarts on Fridays as Tim Brando gives you a chance to pick three players who will post better stats than his players in that day's action. Make your picks by calling the show or at sportingnewsradio.com. The Tim Brando...

Fast facts.(SportingNews Books)
May 10, 2004... The premiere edition of the NASCAR Record and Fact Book is overflowing with schedules, driver profiles, stats, records and more. Get your copy in bookstores, by calling 800-825-8508 or online at www.sportingnews.com/book.

To know list: 5 pieces of written expression--and not one rip on Eli!(Know It All)
May 10, 2004... (1) GEORGE STEINBRENNER, ONE OF A KIND Someday--maybe not soon--the Boss will be one tough act to follow George Steinbrenner turns 74 on July 4 and knows he won't live or work forever. Though his grip on the Yankees never has been...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)
May 10, 2004... (1) Spurs-Lakers. Can Kobe make L.A. forget his off-court problems? More important, can the Spurs make San Antonio forget Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett? (2) Minicamp. It's a college star's first chance to get acquainted with the NFL...

Caught on the fly.(Know It All)
May 10, 2004... BCS officials met in Phoenix last week to discuss how to tweak the system of deciding the national champion. So Arizonans had to deal with the heat--and the stupidity. Vote, then visit www.moveA-Rodtoshort.com Voting for the All-Star...

On air.(Know It All)
May 10, 2004... from the Century 21 studios We say, 'Eli Manning.' You say... Tim Brando, 3-6 p.m. ET, weekdays "It's all about perspective, and, as usual, very few in today's world think big picture. We are all too provincial in our thinking....

Kalsu, Tillman define heroism.(My Turn)
May 10, 2004... One of the great advantages of living in Washington, D.C., is having a front-row seat to history. In my eight years of representing my state of Oklahoma in Congress, I often ran on the National Mall, home to some of the most profoundly moving...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
May 10, 2004... * If there was a better story about a player in this draft than the Junior Siavii piece (TSN, May 3), I can't imagine it. Thank you for sharing with us something that would have probably gone unnoticed. What a tremendous story--not only how...

Are hockey handshakes a facade?(Counterpoints)
May 10, 2004... Yes--they are all about phoniness Say you've just annihilated an opponent. The last thing you'd want to do is shake hands with the pukes you had just pounded; you'd want to move on to bigger things. Similarly, if you had been humiliated,...

What was the deal with all those fans throwing stuff on the track last week?(Driver's ed: a stick-and-ball fan's guide to NASCAR)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... NASCAR has a bizarre and stupid rule that allows races to end under a yellow (caution) flag. If there are just a few laps left and a caution comes out, whoever is in the lead at the moment the yellow flag flies will win the race. The rest of...

Upon further review ...(Correction Notice)
May 10, 2004... * The Cincinnati Bengals were 8-8 in 2003. Their record was incorrect in the April 26 issue. * Patriots tight end Daniel Graham was a first-round pick in 2002. The year was incorrect in the May 3 issue.

Is that seat taken?(Fanscape: a lifestyle guide for dedicated nonathlete)
May 10, 2004... The old Chicago Stadium is where I became a seat sneaker. I bought a Level 300 ticket for a few bucks, went to my assigned seat for the obligatory half-minute and then walked down to Level 100 and sat in an empty seat that no doubt belonged to...

Bobby Jones: not a stroke of genius.(Fanscape: a lifestyle guide for dedicated nonathlete)
May 10, 2004... In an attempt to save you, the devoted sports fan, $10 that would be better spent on three cold ones at your local happy hour, I will now tell you everything that happens in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius in one sentence. Ready? Jones is born...

Say it ain't so, Joe.(Static)
May 10, 2004... * Say it ain't so, Joe: Joe Torre considers ESPN a four-letter word. After an April loss to the Red Sox--and there were many--he was asked by ESPN reporter Bob Holtzman if Alex Rodriguez was pressing or lacking in confidence. Torre pointed to...

Vital stats.(Static)
May 10, 2004... * Vital stats: ESPN's NFL draft coverage attracted more than 4.8 million viewers opposite 1 million for TNT's Heat-Hornets Game 3, which tipped off right about the time the rights to Eli Manning were dealt to the Giants. E-mail:...

FYI.(Static )
May 10, 2004... * FYI: Max Kellerman says I, Max--his new FOX Sports Net weeknight talk show, debuting Monday--will go around the horn with every sport "except golf, tennis and NASCAR." (James Brown's Head To Head, premiering Sunday on FSN, comes with no such...

Surprise, surprise: the new book of baseball tells us to expect the unexpected--and the early chapters of the 2004 have been filled with plot twists.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... The Cubs and the Red Sox are good. Barry Bonds, with great frequency, hits the ball really far. And this concludes the we-told-you-so portion of the program. The rest of this space will be spent on delving into the things that you weren't...

Fast friends: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth are rivals with vastly different images and backgrounds, but that doesn't stop them from hanging out together and admiring each other's work.
May 10, 2004... From the outside looking in, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. might seem to be NASCAR's odd couple. But from the inside, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, compared with Earnhardt, NASCAR's resident rock star--shooting a...

Secrets to playoff success: how do you win in the postseason? As the Lighting and Sharks have proved, you need more than just steady goaltending and razor-sharp special teams.(NHL)
May 10, 2004... These are the days when legends are forged. These are the days when heroes are born and reborn and goats are fitted with horns they might never shed. These are the NHL playoffs. Sixteen teams began the most demanding tournament in all...

Copy Pats: the 3-4--once nearly extinct--has been revived, mostly as part of multiple-look schemes. Why? Hey, it worked for New England.(NFL)
May 10, 2004... Rob Ryan has taken a lot from the Patriots--work ethic, a basic defensive philosophy... and Ted Washington. Ryan, the son of infamously feisty defensive guru Buddy Ryan and the Raiders' new defensive coordinator, probably knew more X's...

Out to prove a point: the matchup between Tony Parker and Gary Payton will decide the Spurs-Lakers series--and give each player a chance to make a statement about his future.(NBA Playoffs)
May 10, 2004... Two years ago, 19-year-old Tony Parker broke through. The Spurs were playing the Sonics at Key Arena in the third game of the 2002 playoffs' opening round, and the rookie Frenchman was having the game of his life. He had scored 13 points in the...

Summer forecast: hot seats, then falling coaches.(NBA)
May 10, 2004... Jerry Sloan, at least, will be back, trolling the Utah sideline for the 17th season. Nate McMillan, though he seems chronically unhappy coaching the Sonics, probably will return, too. The Nuggets' entry in the playoffs should ensure that Jeff...

Most collegians will face a long wait on draft night.(NBA Draft Spotlight)
May 10, 2004... Chris Duhon is relaxed. Why shouldn't he be? He is in the midst of the first off-night he has had in weeks--since the end of his illustrious Duke career, which included one national championship, three ACC titles and two Final Fours. He is in...

Wanted: Olympic basketball players.(NBA)
May 10, 2004... Yao Ming doesn't have a choice. Coming from China, he's obligated to play for his home country in the Olympics regardless of how worn out he might be now or will be in the future. That's not the case, of course, for the players invited to spend...

A slot for Vegas looms.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... Imagine walking out of a casino and into a ballpark. Imagine Celine Dion throwing out the first pitch one night and Wayne Newton the next. Imagine wedding ceremonies during the seventh-inning stretch. I don't know if major league baseball...

Tuning out the noise.(Closer)
May 10, 2004... Think players don't hear you? They do. They hear cheers and boos. Players get used to hearing both, but getting booed takes more getting used to. Every player has to deal with it. Fans in some cities are proud of making their place among...

Coming attractions.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Who was the best player of the 1990s? Many believe it was Barry Bonds, but some point to Ken Griffey. They'll go head to head this weekend in Cincinnati. After that, the Reds go to San Diego to check out Petco Park, and Griffey can ponder what...

Scouting report.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... Mark Redman, A's Ht/Wt: 6-5, 245. B/T: L/L. Age: 30. Sixth season. Vital stats: Entering the week, he had a career ERA of 4.20 in 112 games with an average of 6.05 strikeouts per nine innings. This season, his WHIP is 1.25 and his...

Scout's views: observations and opinions from major league scouts.(Baseball)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Ken Griffey doesn't look like he can turn on balls and drive them. He's doing a lot with his arms. His power to the opposite field, it's all wrist-generated rather than coming from his lower half and backside. Every year he looks more and more...

Statscape.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... Every general manager--from the majors to your office fantasy league--would love to know how age affects player performance. Is that 30-year-old slugger in his prime or over the hill? How productive might he be in two years? Four years? ...

Bigger dimensions a Royal pain.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... If Dick Clark were a ballpark, he'd be Kauffman Stadium. As he/it gets older, the changes are hardly detectable, and he/it is as sturdy as ever. The Royals' home often is forgotten when great parks are listed, but it remains a player favorite,...

A.L. reports.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... ANAHEIM ANGELS Utilityman Chone Figgins has shown dazzling speed and range in center field, and the Angels haven't skipped a beat since CF Garret Anderson (back) went on the D.L Figgins will play center and bat first, third or ninth until...

N.L. reports.(Baseball)
May 10, 2004... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS RHP Matt Mantei's arm is healthy, and his stuff has been good, but he has struggled because of shaky pitch selection and location. Mantei also is falling behind hitters too often.... RHP Jose Valverde's bout with wildness...

Fewer is better--behold of proof.(NHL)
May 10, 2004... You know you're hooked. And you like it. You sneak out of work early to get home in time for the first game. You stay up to watch late games. You wish you could hear every word Jarome Iginla says to Kirk Maltby between whistles. You rush to...

One on one with ... Phil Pritchard, keeper of the Stanley Cup.(NHL)
May 10, 2004... Phil Pritchard, who many people know from the MasterCard commercial that airs at this time of year, is formally known as curator and vice president of hockey operations at the Hockey Hall of Fame. TSN: The players are always happy to see...

Doors open when players leave.(College Basketball)
May 10, 2004... As the early entry list for the NBA draft grows longer, the panic grows louder. This has become a fixture on the spring sporting calendar, as much as pitchers and catchers reporting and the unearthing of Mel Kiper. The exodus of players...

It's a sellers market on pit road.(NASCAR)
May 10, 2004... Circle the fall race at Richmond on the schedule. That's where the field for the Chase for the Championship will become final and all but the teams in the top 10--and those within 400 points of the leader--will start planning for next year. ...

That superstitious feeling.(On The Fast Track)
May 10, 2004... There are two main superstitions you mainly hear about. First, there's the one about drivers not liking the color green. The second one is that drivers don't like having peanuts or peanut shells anywhere near them at the track. I've heard...

The diverse input on output.(NFL)
May 10, 2004... Whether you sell insurance or manufacture chocolate truffles for a living, production means everything. But in the NFL draft, spectacular production by college players--or the lack of it--routinely is ignored. A prospect's college statistics...

A rivalry bubbles up in the NFC South.(NFL)
May 10, 2004... We've got Rich McKay to thank for what's happening in Atlanta and Tampa. What's happening simply is delicious: two franchises moving furiously to position themselves for runs deep into the playoffs and, in the process, establishing a rivalry...

Choose your rookies carefully.(Play-Action)
May 10, 2004... Eli Manning went first overall in the draft, but he should be Mr. Irrelevant on your 2004 fantasy football draft board--unless, like the Chargers, you can swindle a fellow G.M. out of first- and third-round picks this year and first- and...

AFC reports.(NFL)
May 10, 2004... BALTIMORE RAVENS The team wants new WR Kevin Johnson to bring swagger to the offense. Johnson is brash and loud, just like coach Brian Billick. The club has lacked leadership on offense since TE Shannon Sharps left after the 2001 season....