The Sporting News articles from November 2000

The Sporting News archives from November 2000

Big week with a Big Man.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... THE SPORTING NEWS wanted to find out what it's like to be a Big Man on Campus. And this year, there are few college players as big as Purdue quarterback Drew Brees. Not only is Brees in the Heisman hunt, he and his fellow Boilermakers are...

Voice of the Fan.(Letter to the Editor)
November 6, 2000... Choice voice `It is written that there is a season for everything. When is the season for the Cubs to be in the World Series?' --William Carsley, Chicago Spare A-Rod Are we ever going to hear the end of this nonsense about...

Caught on the Fly.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be amazin'? * Hey-yo, 14 points and seven boards a game're as common in the NBA as cell phones-n-posses. S'why NBA personnel wonks're ssstunned at the Joe Smith risk taken vs. reward expected by the T-pups, who're...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... 1 New York. It was self-absorbed in the Subway Series. Now that the show is over, the city can return to normal: ignoring the rest of us for no reason whatsoever. 2 The Bruins. They swear they didn't hire Mike Keenan because he was...

DUSTBIN.(baseball historycon)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... November 9, 1960 Manager Casey Stengel led the Yankees to seven World Series titles in 12 years, picking up 10 pennants along the way. But the Yankees fired him anyway in 1960. He returned to the game in 1962, as the first manager for the...

OCTOBER BEST.(World Series and the Yankees)
November 6, 2000... The Yankees go through a World Series like a Mercedes on the autobahn. TV viewers may prefer an economy car, but the team from the Bronx handles well on rough roads and is quick to replace any worn-out parts. "You've just got to tip your...

Managers with no experience are a risky proposition.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... The job is the most difficult in sports: Managing 25 egos. Managing 162 games. Managing the demands of owners, agents and the media. Everyone wants to find the next Jerry Manuel, but hiring a first-time manager is risky business, and even...

Pitchers need help to get the game back in balance.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... Baseball is becoming adult T-ball--the strike zone is so small that batters can get exactly the pitch they want to hit. In another 10 years, earned-run averages in the 7.00-range are going to be the norm, and that kind of offense destroys...

The seventh-inning stretch.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... 1. The Baha Men. They played their single, "Who Let the Dogs Out?" on the Shea Stadium infield before Game 4. With them and Mike Bordick, that was two one-hit wonders at the World Series. 2. Experience. Joe Torre has gotten so used to these...

AMERICAN LEAGUE.
November 6, 2000... Anaheim OPTIONAL MOVES: Though the team is not expected to pick up the 2001 options on SS Gary DiSarcina ($3.45 million) and RHP Tim Belcher ($5.1 million), it hopes to renegotiate contracts with both for much lower base salaries and give...

NATIONAL LEAGUE.(baseball team analysis)
November 6, 2000... Toronto SHORTSTOP NEEDED? G.M. Gordon Ash wants to re-sign free-agent SS Alex Gonzalez, but so far, the feeling isn't mutual. In response to Gonzalez's rejections of contract proposals, Ash began trade talks at the World Series and may try...

ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP.(journalists follow National Football League games)
November 6, 2000... Those folks from Survivor are a bunch of amateurs compared to our Road Trippers. We stuck three young journalists in a car for four months and gave them a mission: Attend 30 NFL games in 17 weeks--one stop at every stadium in the league. Write...

Midseason report.(professional football)
November 6, 2000... As the second half kicks off, we distribute our halftime awards and identify the pivotal players and spoiler teams that will shape the finish of the season It's tough coming up with a summation of the 2000 season at the midway point. This...

INSIDE THE NFC EAST.
November 6, 2000... FIRST-HALF AWARDS OFFENSIVE MVP Stephen Davis, RB, Redskins. Davis has helped the Redskins go 5-0 in the toughest stretch of their schedule, providing a steadying influence after the team's 1-2 start. Look for Davis to continue to be...

INSIDE THE NFC CENTRAL.
November 6, 2000... FIRST-HALF AWARDS OFFENSIVE MVP Daunte Culpepper, QB, Vikings. Despite not throwing an NFL pass before this season, Culpepper has been outstanding, vindicating coach Dennis Green's decision to make him the starter. In addition to his...

INSIDE THE NFC WEST.
November 6, 2000... FIRST-HALF AWARDS OFFENSIVE MVP Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams. With 1,326 total yards, Faulk is on pace to break his NFL record for total yards from scrimmage (2,429). His ability to juke tacklers is unparalleled and his receiving skills...

INSIDE THE AFC EAST.
November 6, 2000... FIRST-HALF AWARDS OFFENSIVE MVP Vinny Testaverde, QB, Jets. His overall numbers are unspectacular (13 TDs, 11 INTs and a 74.3 passer rating), but make no mistake--the Jets are tied for first place because of Testaverde and his gutsy...

INSIDE THE AFC CENTRAL.
November 6, 2000... FIRST-HALF AWARDS OFFENSIVE MVP Eddie George, RB, Titans, How important is George to the Titans' success? They are 21-5 when he rushes for 100 or more yards and 18-0 when he carries the ball 27 times in a game. The Titans may win a...

INSIDE THE AFC WEST.
November 6, 2000... FIRST-HALF AWARDS OFFENSIVE MVP Rick Gannon, QB, Raiders. The division has three of the NFL's nine top-rated quarterbacks, but Gannon gets the nod because his Raiders "Just win, baby." He has passed for 10 touchdowns and run for four....

STATS.(football)
November 6, 2000... RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. James, Ind. 200 921 4.6 8 R. Williams, N.O. 205 826 4.0 7 Garner, S.F. 156 808 5.2 4 Davis, Was. 191 802...

ZEROING IN.(team and player statistics of professional football teams)(Statistical Data Included)
November 6, 2000... Overshadowed by all the points being scored this season by certain teams are the number of points not being scored in certain games. Thanks to some superb defensive performances, NFL teams have already recorded eight shutouts, surpassing last...

TSN SCOREBOARD.(professional football team standings)(Statistical Data Included)
November 6, 2000... NFC NFC EAST W L T Pct. PF PA Div. NFC New York 6 2 0 .750 144 112 4-1-0 6-1-0 Washington 6 2 0 .750 149 115 2-1-0 4-2-0 Philadelphia 5 4 0 .556 188 134...

Size of the matter comes up big on these offensive lines.(size of offensive linemen affects play of game)
November 6, 2000... From the Bible's David down through the ages, the lesson has been taught time and time again: Size may be the most over-rated quality in the history of mankind. The Buccaneers endorsed this theory when they downsized their offensive line...

Draft watch.(evaluations of college football players)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... GUARDS Typically, teams don't prioritize guards in the draft. But seeing that there are a few decent prospects at the position, we could see a run on guards in the second and third rounds in 2001. 1. Steve Hutchinson, Michigan, 6-4,...

A WEEK IN THE LIFE.(Purdue University football player and Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Brees)
November 6, 2000... DREW BREES, THE BIGGEST MAN ON ANY COLLEGE CAMPUS, WAS PREPARING FOR PURDUE'S GAME OF THE YEAR. WE WERE THERE. COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE. Drew Brees is carrying his little sister, 10-year-old Audrey, who clings tightly to his neck. Purdue...

Norman is back to normal, thanks to Stoops' magic.(University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops)
November 6, 2000... It's deep in the night in Norman, Okla., thunderstorms are dumping buckets of rain, and cars crawl up and down Boyd Street on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. A radio station is replaying the Oklahoma-Nebraska game. Again. A few...

BIG GAME PREVIEW.(University of Miami vs. Virginia Tech)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... Virginia Tech at Miami Why to watch: The first piece of the BCS puzzle could be solved in the old Orange Bowl in downtown Miami, with the winner getting a clear road to January's Orange Bowl game in suburban Miami. Get it? Here's a simpler...

TSN'S Power Poll.(college football teams)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 6, 2000... Rk. Team (last week) W-L 1. Oklahoma (2) 7-0 2. Miami (3) 6-1 3. Virginia Tech (4) 8-0 4. Florida State (5) 8-1 5. Nebraska (1) 7-1 6. Florida (7) ...

CONFERENCE CALL.(college football teams)
November 6, 2000... THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT: Coaches on the hot seat The first rule on the unofficial list of warning signs for a coach on the hot seat: He's forced to change coordinators. The second, and usually last: It doesn't work. Now, let us introduce...

Inside recruiting/Defensive ends.(high school football players)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... Recruiting analyst Bobby Burton ranks the top 25 senior prospects. Rk. Name Ht./Wt. 40 Yd. 1. Shaun Cody 6-5/253 4.85 Cody may be the best high school football player in the country. Through...

CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
November 6, 2000... Yes, they're vital to fans By Steve Greenberg Inasmuch as their results are directly factored into the Bowl Championship Series equation, the Associated Press media poll and the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll are important. Because the...

Larger than life.
November 6, 2000... Whether he's facing an opposing shooter or working with local children, Olie Kolzig is a mighty big presence in Washington The ice at the MCI Center looks as if it's tilted toward Olie Kolzig. It's clear that the defending champion Devils...

Will the new NHL, mix with the old Mike Keenan?
November 6, 2000... It was seemingly just another couple of games in late February of a fractured, lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. But the music in the St. Louis locker room was louder and the smiles were not forced, as they had been for much of the season. ...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... WHO'S HOT Peter Forsberg, we hardly knew ye. Underneath this very same space many weeks ago, we lambasted Mr. Forsberg for his lack of energy and proficiency with a wooden stick. All he has done since is lead the Avs on a monster unbeaten...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.
November 6, 2000... WHO'S HOT Proof that a hot player doesn't have to be playing on a hot team is seen this week in Donald Audette. The Sabre and King castoff, whose checks are now signed by Ted Turner, went on a hot streak not seen in the Peach State since...

The MEAN STREETS of DREAMS.
November 6, 2000... Basketball isn't just a game in Flint, in a town fraying under its dying auto industry, a grinding brand of hoops has united its people--and created a way out. They have taken untold millions, That they never toiled to earn But without our...

Pratice up on patience--whistles are sure to blow.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... You didn't need to be a coaching genius or basketball purist to be unsettled by the first 20 minutes of the 2000 Final Four. You only needed to know the simplest troth about the game: The object is to put the ball in the basket. Wisconsin...

The Bucks as Beast?(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... George Karl looked like he needed a nap. As Game 2 of the World Series played on a television in the background, Karl sat, relaxing in the Bucks' locker room while his players' bags were loaded onto a cart following Milwaukee's victory...

Stern's punishment delivers clear message to owners.
November 6, 2000... Stern's punishment delivers clear message to owners Once again, we have witnessed the wrath of Stern the Meddlesome, whose icy hand came down upon the Minnesota franchise and essentially smashed it into fine bits. You might say the...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.
November 6, 2000... Atlanta SMITH FRENZY: The Hawks have made it known they are interested in signing PF Joe Smith, who was declared a free agent. The former No. 1 draft pick could help fortify the team up front, where it is hurting (literally). C Dikembe...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.
November 6, 2000... Dallas ROOKIE IMPRESSES: The story of camp was rookie SF Eduardo Najera's climb up the depth chart. Najera opened workouts with a decent shot at winning the last roster spot, but that was about the best he could hope for. The more the...

There's no crying in baseball.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2000... Al Leiter fell. The Mets' pitcher fell reaching for the silly little ground ball. He fell on his hind end, as if in a hurry to sit down only to miss the chair. Another foot this way, the ball so close, he'd have grabbed it, and everything would...

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL FUTURES.(ROTC members who are student athletes honored)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... THE SPORTING NEWS and Army ROTC salute today's top college performers who are leaders in sports and in the ROTC program. Congratulations to the students athletes in this week's issue. Ohio native Steve Fox is an Army ROTC scholarship cadet...

Follow the bouncing ball.(Editorial)
November 13, 2000... Nowhere has the landscape in sports changed as much over the last few years as college basketball. The days of patiently waiting for a player to develop are long gone, replaced now by the days of the biggest stars stopping briefly on the...

Voice of the Fan.(Letter to the Editor)
November 13, 2000... Choice voice `Who would've thought the Yankees would win the World Series with only a $112 million payroll? The only drama for me was seeing if any more bats would get broken.' --Nate Winkleman Lakeville, Ohio Small-market shaft...

Caught on the Fly.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... Hey, didn't you used to be Petr Svoboda? * Yo, Cowboy fans, '00 playing time or not, read between the (offensive) lines: Kiss yer achy-breaky QB adios. Troy Boy wants to play for postseason berths and champeenships, and you got no shot this...

Bob Hille's Starting Five.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... 1 NFL owner's meetings. They ignored the climate and awarded the 2006 Super Bowl to Detroit. One concession: Instead of the Lombardi Trophy, the winner will get the Really Gray Cup. 2 Penn State. Faculty senators' "no-booing" resolution is...

DUSTBIN.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... November 8, 1978 It was an NBA game that began in early November but wasn't decided until late March. The New Jersey Nets were playing the Philadelphia 76ers when an official pinned three technical fouls on Nets coach Kevin Loughery and...

POWER Struggle.
November 13, 2000... Portland's collection of Ali-Star big men hasn't helped the Blazers close the gap on Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers That brick the Trail Blazers threw up in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals last season landed with a thud. The...

Ewing a role player? That's OK with him, Sonics.(Interview)
November 13, 2000... Patrick Ewing can't dunk anymore with his right hand. Got a problem with that? He doesn't. He also runs from rim to rim like he's got a motor home on his back. Just a minor inconvenience. Oh, and there's also the likelihood he won't be...

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... Philadelphia PG Allen Iverson might be the only player in the league who can be hot while shooting only 36.4 percent in his team's first three games. Iverson always has gaudy scoring stats--he averaged 26 points in those games--but now his team...

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... WHO'S HOT Fantasy team owners love The Glove. Seattle PG Gary Payton began the season with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and followed that game with 35, 4 and 10. Payton is too old to be touted as the next Michael Jordan, but he...

EASTERN CONFERENCE.(National Basketball Association teams and matches)
November 13, 2000... Atlanta WOUNDED BIRDS: The season could not have started any worse for new coach Lon Kruger. Injuries decimated the roster, leaving the team without all-star C Dikembe Mutombo, PF Lorenzen Wright, SG Dion Glover and F Cal Bowdler. In...

WESTERN CONFERENCE.(National Basketball Association teams and matches)
November 13, 2000... Dallas LAETTNER HAVING TROUBLE: C Christian Laettner is straggling to fit into the offense. The team is used to having Shawn Bradley on the floor for defense, and rebounding and integrating Laettner's offensive abilities into the mix will...

'Cane do.(University of Miami's football team's progress towards national championship participation)
November 13, 2000... Miami can play for the national championship only if it beats the BCS computer. The Hurricanes made their case by thrashing Virginia Tech, giving them victories over teams once ranked No. 1 and No. 2. Ken Dorsey looked relaxed sitting on a...

We all cheer the underdog--even when it's Notre Dame.(University of Notre Dame's football team)
November 13, 2000... Admit it. You find yourself cheer, cheering for old Notre Dame under your breath every Saturday. I know, you're afraid to 'fess up. But you aren't alone. There are more closet Notre Dame fans out there than you think. And it's hard for even the...

BIG GAME PREVIEW.(University of Nebraska and Kansas State University's football teams; includes related notes)
November 13, 2000... Nebraska at Kansas State Why to watch: This is the game of the year in the Big 12 North, with the winner likely getting another shot at No. 1 Oklahoma in the league championship game. The last time Nebraska went to Manhattan, K-State got...

CONFERENCE CALL THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT: Overhyped players.(performance of players in college football conferences)
November 13, 2000... It took one play--his first punt return of the season--for wide receiver Freddie Milons to live up to all his preseason hype. It took two months of wallowing in the dysfunctional Alabama program to deflate it. So that leaves Milons as the...

Overtime needs an overhaul.(revision of tie-braking system in college football)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... They don't want to be like the NFL. We've heard it over and over from the power brokers of college football who insist on protecting the sanctity of amateurism. Gimme a break. Nearly everything college football has done over the last...

Out on a limb.(brief notes on college football)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... * The BCS folks will send a bouquet of flowers to San Jose State for beating TCU, 27-24. The loss knocked the Horned Frogs from the unbeaten ranks and wiped out their chances of finishing in the top six of the BCS standings, which carries an...

Inside recruiting/Defensive tackles.(notes on recruiting of college football players)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... Recruiting analyst Bobby Burton ranks the top 25 senior projects. Rk. Name Ht./Wt. 40 Yd. 1. Tommie Harris 6-3/275 4.8 2. Orien Harris 6-4/270 4.8 3. Marquise Hill 6-8/300 5.2 ...

The life of a gunner.(University of Florida's football player Vannez Gooch)(Interview)
November 13, 2000... In Vannez Gooch's perfect world, enemy punt returners would awaken in the wee hours, soaked with the sweat of fear, knowing the Florida gunner was coming to get them. "I'm not slowing down," Gooch says. Each time a return man circles a...

CLOSING ARGUMENTS.(Alabama's next coach)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... Where does Alabama look for its next coach? Tide's man is at Clemson By Tom Dienhart Keep it in the family, Bama. A fresh perspective isn't always the best thing. Only next of kin understand the trappings, pressures and nuances of...

BRAINIAC BUDDIES.(Oakland's coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Rich Gannon)
November 13, 2000... The combination of smarts and preparation--yep, we're talking about the Raiders here--from quarterback Rich Gannon and coach Jon Gruden fuels Oakland's ascent to the top of the NFL Jon Gruden says the word, and you have to pinch yourself a...

A quiet front allows Saints to rise.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... Mike Ditka was right. He was right about Ricky Williams. He was right about how Williams would be the foundation of the Saints' resurrection. He was right that Williams would be the power of the future. Too bad Ditka couldn't bring the...

Jets' heart is strong, but it won't beat long in playoffs.
November 13, 2000... The patient, the New York Jets, appears to be reasonably healthy but is complaining of having problems passing things, and also of an irregular heartbeat. It's time for the Jets to change into a hospital gown, have a seat on the doctor's...

Coaches' ability to adapt separates Titans, Ravens.
November 13, 2000... They're separated by only a couple of games in the win column, but the gap between the Titans and Ravens is more significant than a few botched red-zone trips. In the AFC Central, the difference between realized and wasted potential has been...

Tape measures.(Mark Fields studies video tapes of practice sessions)(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... Most nights when Saints outside linebacker Mark Fields gets home from work, he pops a tape in the VCR. But hold the popcorn. Fields won't be seeing the latest special-effects-filled action flick. It won't be a Disney film for Fields to...

O for October, but it's over.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... The streak had to end sometime, and only a killjoy would point out that it ended against the Bengals. Forty-six seconds into the second quarter of last Sunday's game at Cincinnati s Paul Brown Stadium, Ravens wide receiver, Brandon Stokley...

INSIDE THE NFC EAST.
November 13, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK St. Louis at N.Y. Giants. In a possible NFC title game preview, the Giants figure to go right after the Rams with a running attack led by Ron Dayne and a passing game that is finally starting to click with QB Kerry Collins...

INSIDE THE NFC CENTRAL.
November 13, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Green Bay at Tampa Bay. This is the type of game Tampa Bay simply has to win. With Dorsey Levens banged up, the Packers don't have a running game, and the Bucs' defensive line should have a field day, Warren Sapp will have...

INSIDE THE NFC WEST.
November 13, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK St. Louis at N.Y. Giants. The Giants' defense appears to be catching St. Louis at the perfect time. Without RB marshall faulk and QB Kurt Warner, the Rams' offense suddenly looks mortal. But the Giants may be without CB...

INSIDE THE AFC EAST.
November 13, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis. This is the first of two games teams will play in the next four weeks, The pressure is on Peyton Manning and Co. to home at home and prove they deserve to be preseason favorite in division. The...

INSIDE THE AFC CENTRAL.
November 13, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Baltimore at Tennessee. When these teams met in Baltimore a few weeks ago, the Titans' offense sputtered without injured RB Eddie George but managed to win anyway, largely because the Ravens had no offense at all. Was last...

INSIDE THE AFC WEST.
November 13, 2000... GAME OF THE WEEK Oakland at Denver It's a Monday night game, and the Raiders' impressive record in these affairs is often cited: 33-17-1 But they were 611 on Monday night during the '90s, with five of the losses to Denver So far, Denver is...

STATS.
November 13, 2000... RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. James, Ind. 217 989 4.6 9 Davis, Was. 242 988 4.1 10 R. Williams, NO. 232 907 3.9 8 Garner, S.F. 169 857 5.1 ...

THE total PACKAGE.(football player statistics)(Statistical Data Included)
November 13, 2000... Perhaps it was just a coincidence that the Rams failed to score 30 points for the first time in 15 regular-season games the first time they took the field without injured running back Marshall Faulk. But perhaps not. Assuming his sore right...

TSN SCOREBOARD.(football statistics)
November 13, 2000... NFC NFC EAST Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 New York W-ARI W-at Phi W-at CHI L-WAS Philadelphia W-at Dal L-NYG L-at GB W-at NO Washington W-CAR L-at Det L-DAL(*) ...

The Lindros alternative.(Eric Lindros)
November 13, 2000... What if Eric Lindros had been awarded to the Rangers instead of the Flyers? We explore that and three other alternative-reality possibilities It's often said the NHL landscape would have been far different had Eric Lindros made other...

Great Scott! What has gotten into Blues' Young?
November 13, 2000... It is rare when a player visits a chiropractor before training camp. But Blues right winger Scott Young says he wouldn't be averaging a goal a game without that visit-and it's not because he was worried that his back or neck might bother him...

NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE.
November 13, 2000... WHO'S HOT Last week Ed Jovanovski had the game of his life against Colorado, During 26:09 of ice time, he knocked Adam Deadmarsh silly in a fight (Deadmarsh suffered a concussion), crunched seven Avs with solid hits and blocked four shots....

EASTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)
November 13, 2000... WHO'S HOT They don't call him Roman for nothing. Islanders imported star (when was the last time that phrase was written?) Roman Hamrlik has been wandering all over the place while helping his club storm to the top of the Atlantic. He has...

Looking like a Billion.(Statistical Data Included)
November 13, 2000... The price of this year's free-agent class may be staggering, but a breakdown of the talent reveals a few bargains Where is A-Rod going? That's not the million dollar question this offseason. More like the $200 million question. Baseball s...

One-dimensional Ramirez is no $18 million man.(Statistical Data Included)
November 13, 2000... If I were paying a player a minimum of $18 million a year, here would be a few of my requirements: * Steady defense. * Attentive baserunning. * Clubhouse leadership. * Marketing potential. Alex Rodriguez meets those...