The Sporting News articles from October 2002

The Sporting News archives from October 2002

Tom Brady: a Super Bowl trophy and MVP honors. Not a bad way to end a season he entered having completed only one career pass. Last season, Brady showed the world that there's a reward for hard work, persistence and, most of all, being prepared. (Advertisement).
October 7, 2002... What a difference a year makes. Last year, he could walk the streets of Boston virtually unnoticed. Now he's a household name. He's the guy coaches talk about when they motivate not only their second- and third-string players, but their entire...

Game on. (Sportingnews.com).
October 7, 2002... Who says all the fun has to be on the ice? Fantasy hockey (or hockey pools, for folks north of the border) gets everybody into the game. If you're worried about selecting players, you'll get all the help you need with SportingNews.com's Fantasy...

Look who's back. (Sportingnews.com).
October 7, 2002... Notre Dame is back in the spotlight after an impressive start to the season. Each week, SportingNews.com's College Football Matchups analyze whether the Irish will be able to keep its momentum going. Plus, get exclusive Big Ten and SEC coverage...

Be an NFL insider. (Sporting News Radio).
October 7, 2002... Tune in every week to The Bill Parcells Show as Bill, Will McDonough and Bruce Murray hit the biggest NFL matchups with their unparalleled game analysis. The show is your best source for insider perspective on the latest news from around the...

`Hey, didn't you used to be Mike Holmgren/Martz?' (Caught On The Fly).
October 7, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, which this week stands for: "Come October, Twins fall." * Speaking of the play-offs, Fly's Top 5 or "For openers, the closers are the key because their questions about health, confidence or postseason inexperience are...

On 49ers receiver Terrell Owens. (Sound Bites).
October 7, 2002... "Terrell, shut up. Play football. Be a good teammate. Do what you do well.... You are the team leader based on your ability and the way you come through in big-time situations. Let that do the talking. The rest of this stuff is...

On Vikings receiver Randy Moss. (Sound Bites).
October 7, 2002... "Pile on Randy Moss? No, absolutely not! Anybody who does is a coward. Moss is pathetically sick.... He needs extensive psychiatric care. Moss is crying for help--help he'll never get. Look for him to wind up in the gutter." Chet Coppock...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sight).
October 7, 2002... (1) Randy Moss. To recap: Ill-advised decision making... slow moving the wrong way... one person knocked down. In short, the typical Vikings drive. (2) The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Are college football coaches...

The American way: after years of winning with an N.L. style, the Yankees have rediscovered their heavy-hitting A.L. roots. (Baseball).
October 7, 2002... Back in 1996, after Joe Torre became manager, the Yankees resembled a National League club more than modern-day Bronx Bombers. Their proficiency at situational hitting made them more apt to advance a runner than hit a three-run homer, but it's...

Brewers take positive steps. (Insider: baseball).
October 7, 2002... If new Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and club president Ulice Payne Jr. aren't the best thing to happen to Milwaukee since Laverne and Shirley, they certainly will be an improvement over the failed comedy team of Dean and Wendy. That...

A fantastic, and sometimes difficult, season. (The Closer).
October 7, 2002... Wow, what an amazing year, in so many ways. The good teams are where they are supposed to be, and the pretenders are saying, "Wait till next year." As we look back at the year on the field, it was good, as always. In the American League,...

Award-winning performances. (Insider: baseball).
October 7, 2002... Baseball awards always produce lively debates, and several of this year's races are especially heated. After considerable thought--and a few coin flips--TSN Insider Ken Rosenthal weighed in with his choices. A.L. MVP: Miguel Tejada, SS,...

N.L. (Baseball).
October 7, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 98-64 1st in West OFFSEASON PRIORITIES: The decision on potential free agents--other than 1B Mark Grace, who will return--and contract extensions will not be...

A.L. (Baseball).
October 7, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 99-63 2nd in West OFFSEASON PRIORITIES: Getting RHP Aaron Sele back up to speed is a top priority. Sele struggled to get through the season because of shoulder trouble and...

Where everybody knows their game: the folks at Dale Earnhardt Inc. have mastered restrictor-plate racing. With Talladega looming, the team shares a few secrets. (NASCAR).
October 7, 2002... This story begs for a prologue. Or at something along the lines of how an episode of a TV serial drama opens. You know the deal. A deep voice rolls mellifluously through your speakers and says, "Previously on..." whatever the show is. Then...

TSN 10: the 10 big races to watch this year. (NASCAR).
October 7, 2002... "Survival is as important as anything. Restrictor-plate racing is a whole different type of racing. You have to have a dance partner, and he really has to stick behind you and help you. It seems like the DEI cars have the advantage." ...

New shoes don't always fit. (Insider: NASCAR).
October 7, 2002... They came, they raced, they floundered. That's what happened to three teams that sought quick fixes by changing drivers in 2002. Certainly, a lot of thought goes into selecting the right "shoe." Although a driver must pass the sponsor...

The pit stop. (Advertorial).
October 7, 2002... Kirk Almquist As a youth, Richard Childress Racing's Kirk Almquist raced street stocks in southern California and Arizona, and pumped gas at a local service station in the desert town of Blythe, Calif. Almquist took his budding automotive...

Burton's back with a vengeance. (NASCAR).
October 7, 2002... Jeff Burton won the NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award in 1994, and he has been a strong competitor ever since. Burton's four trips to victory lane and 15 top-five finishes made him a strong contender for the Winston Cup...

Driver reports. (NASCAR).
October 7, 2002... NASCAR driver reports are written by Lee Spencer. They appear in the first issue of each month and provide the lowdown on the teams TSN considers the top five title contenders. For the most recent TSN Power Poll and the Winston Cup standings,...

Showing their stripes: they don't coach, but they obsess over mistakes. They don't play, but they study film meticulously. A week inside the lives of an NFL referee and his crew reveals there is much more to the job than throwing flags on Sunday. (NFL).
October 7, 2002... It is another day in paradise for referee Mike Carey and his crew. They officiate a sloppy, plodding game between the Texans and Chargers that includes 16 penalties, three instant-replay challenges and two near-safeties. Chargers fans...

The NFL's last great defense. (Insider: NFL).
October 7, 2002... The troubles of the Rams' offense have diverted our attention, but the St. Louis defense can't do it anymore, either. All it took to expose the Steelers' defense was a simple spread offense. The Miami defense's only hope is if Ricky...

Making it official.
October 7, 2002... Darrell Green is retiring after this season, his 20th in the NFL. I have a serious suggestion for a new career: NFL game official. The league needs more minority officials. It knows it, and so does the union representing the officials. Mike...

Week 5 matchup.
October 7, 2002... Vaugh Parker RT/Charger vs. Trevor Pryce LE/Broncos Broncos defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes looks like a genius for his decision to move Trevor Pryce from tackle to end before this season. At 295 pounds, Pryce is one of the...

Cinderella 2002. (Insider: NFL).
October 7, 2002... At some point, first-year coach John Fox will feel comfortable installing his full defensive play-book in Carolina. When that happens--and that might not be until next year--the Panthers' defense will be downright scary. For now, he'll have to...

QBs look better and better. (Draftwatch).
October 7, 2002... The senior quarterback class is improving as the college season goes on because several unproven players appear to be coming of age. The highest-rated prospects: 1. Byron Leftwich, 6-6, 240, Marshall. Has been compared with Daunte...

League leaders.
October 7, 2002... LEAGUE LEADERS RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. Tomlinson, S.D. 101 506 5.0 5 B. Williams, Mia. 82 460 5.6 4 Holmes, K.C. 97 ...

TSN scoreboard.
October 7, 2002... TSN SCOREBOARD NFC EAST PHI NYG DAL WAS W-L 3-1 2-2 2-2 1-2 Pct. .750 .500 ...

Fearless forecast. (Insider: NFL).
October 7, 2002... Packers at Bears. The small-town Pack should feel comfortable at the Beers' temporary home in Champaign, Ill. Brett Favre, who has a career record of 16-4 against the Bears and a career passer rating of 93.2 against them, will compensate for...

Fantasy source. (Insider: NFL).
October 7, 2002... Be skeptical whenever you're told about a sure thing. If the subject is fantasy football, the only thing you can be sure of is uncertainty. Never has that been more apparent than this season. Sure, Ricky Williams, Donovan McNabb, Priest...

AFC. (NFL: First Quarter Reports).(American Football Conference, National Football League)
October 7, 2002... Baltimore Ravens www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/ravens READY TO GO: The team is looking for improvement in the play of its inexperienced secondary now that it is finally back at full strength. Second-year CB Gary Baxter missed...

NFC. (NFL: First Quarter Reports).(National Football Conference, National Football League)
October 7, 2002... Arizona Cardinals www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals FIT AGAIN: SS Adrian Wilson is close to full strength after coming back quickly from a dislocated shoulder suffered in the preseason. Wilson was tentative for the first few...

Among exciting QBs, there are no cons, only non-pros. (Insider: college football).
October 7, 2002... The NFL has no tune for a quarterback like Iowa State's Seneca Wallace. Ditto for Minnesota's Asad Abdul-Khaliq, Wisconsin's Brooks Bollinger, Clemson's Willie Simmons, Air Force's Chance Harridge, Iowa's Brad Banks, Notre Dame's Carlyle...

There is no defense for Florida State. (Insider: college football).
October 7, 2002... The driving rain last Thursday night in Louisville played a part in the Cardinals' wild overtime upset of Florida State--a tiny part. Far more relevant is the harsh truth that Bobby Bowden worshippers don't want to accept: He's not bringing in...

Conference call.
October 7, 2002... Kansas State's quarterbacks One was supposed to be the next Michael Bishop. The other was poised to revolutionize--or at least subtly tweak--coach Bill Snyder's safe and steady offensive philosophy. Instead, Ell Roberson and Marc Dunn have...

This week's spotlight: most overrated.
October 7, 2002... Florida State's return to dominance. The `Noles can't rush the passer, can't cover in the secondary and can't keep quarterback Chris Rix from making game-turning mistakes, It's still early, but the meat of the ACC schedule looms--as do Miami...

Pickin' & grinnin'. (Insider: college football).
October 7, 2002... Frank Beamer (.624 winning percentage) vs. His Ego (batting 1.000): Tech is off this week, but if you're looking for inside info on Hokies football, log onto www.beamerball.com, where, for only $39.95, you can receive daily practice and injury...

Scouts' views: observations from the sidelines. (Insider: college football).
October 7, 2002... Maurice Clarett has great vision, and he hits the hole very precisely--at the right time--as the blocks are developing. One of the things that separates him from other outstanding backs is that he has another gear in the open field. He can run...

On the slant with Washington. (Closeup).
October 7, 2002... Short, concise patterns by big receivers, such as the ones Washington runs with 6-4 Reggie Williams, now are the norm in college football. Williams and quarterback Cody Pickett have mastered the slant--Williams angles about 5 yards deep to...

Transfers often transform. (Insider: college basketball).
October 7, 2002... Georgia coach Jim Harrick sounds as if he is stumping for an aspiring senator rather than an SEC Newcomer of the Year candidate when speaking of Bulldogs junior forward Damien Wilkins. "He's mature beyond his years, unselfish, motivated,...

Duncan Derby won't be run. (Insider: NBA).
October 7, 2002... Spurs general manager R.C. Buford won't say it. Can't say it. Shouldn't say it, really, not if he has even the most remote acceptance of notions such as hubris, karma and jinxes. "Nothing is ever for certain." Buford says. "I am hopeful, yes,...

On the hot seat: as the season opens, every team has hopes and fears, but no players are under more scrutiny than Red Wings goalie Curtis Joseph and Capitals center Robert Lang. (NHL: season preview).
October 7, 2002... Western: Curtis Joseph By Tim Wharnsby The Red Wings are a determined bunch. In 1996-97, they were determined to end their 42-year Stanley Cup drought. They did. The next season they were determined to win a Cup for defenseman...

Cherry picking: we asked for it. So former Bruins coach and current Hockey Night in Canada personality Don Cherry put in his two cents worth on every team in the league. As he says in his best-selling videos, "Let's go!".
October 7, 2002... Eastern Conference Bruins Robbie Ftorek is going to miss Bill Guerin. But they should have enough firepower with my favorite player, Joe Thornton. Canadiens They've got Jose Theodore and have a great leader in Saku Koivu, who won a...

The seven wonders of the NHL. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... When the NHL raises the curtain on the 2002-03 season next week, several things are sure to occur. You can expect a daily progress report on how the crackdown on obstruction and interference is sitting with the players, coaches and general...

Atlantic division. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... Philadelphia Flyers 2001-02 42-27-10-3 2ND 2002-03 PROJECTION 2ND LIE: The players have gotten over being shown up by G Roman Cechmanek during their surprising first-round ouster by the Senators in last season's playoffs. ...

Northeast division. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... Boston Bruins 2001-02 43-24-6-9 1ST 2002-03 PROJECTION 7TH LIE: The club will find a suitable replacement for G Byron Dafoe among former backup John Grahame, journeyman Steve Shields and prospect Andrew Raycroft. TRUTH: The...

Southeast division. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... Atlanta Thrashers 2001-02 19-47-11-5 15TH 2002-03 PROJECTION 14TH LIE: The Thrashers have upgraded their stagnant offense to the point that they can be considered a serious contender in the Southeast. TRUTH: Coming off a...

Central division. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... Chicago Blackhawks 2001-02 41-27-13-1 5TH 2002-03 PROJECTION 9TH LIE: This team will return to prominence with Jocelyn Thibault in goal. TRUTH: After starting strong and logging some of his best numbers in years, Thibault...

Northwest division. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... Calgary Flames 2001-02 32-35-12-3 11TH 2002-03 PROJECTION 12TH LIE: Signing free-agent LW Martin Gelinas gives the Flames a desperately needed viable second line, taking much of the pressure off RW Jarome Iginla's unit. ...

Pacific division. (NHL: preview).
October 7, 2002... Anaheim Mighty Ducks 2001-02 29-42-8-3 13TH 2002-03 PROJECTION 11TH LIE: G Jean-Sebastien Giguere is the second coming of Avalanche G Patrick Roy after finishing fifth in goals-against average in 2001-02. TRUTH: Let's get to...

Koufax and Rose: there's no comparison.
October 7, 2002... Whatever Pete Rose and Sandy Koufax had in common 40 years ago, it long since has disappeared. They were great at what they did. They moved with a certain dignity. No longer is that true of Rose, and to say baseball is the poorer for that is to...

There's always next year. (SportingNews.com).
October 21, 2002... The NFL season isn't even halfway over, but your team already is out of the playoffs. Don't worry--we're gearing up for next year's draft. SportingNews.com's Draft Central provides weekly mock drafts, player rankings, positional rankings and...

Ultimate hoops. (SportingNews.com).
October 21, 2002... The NBA season tips off in just over a week, which means it's time to get to work on your fantasy team. Don't miss out on SportingNews.com's Ultimate Fantasy Hoops. It's your chance to be the general manager of a 10-player roster--and we're...

Check in with Chet. (Sporting News Radio).
October 21, 2002... Coppock on Sports is your source for the most comprehensive postgame coverage of the NFL. Not only does Chet Coppock bring you the day's news makers and gamebreakers, you'll hear from former NFL coach Jim Mora, NFL Films producer Greg Cosell,...

Hey, didn't you used to be TV ratings? (Caught On The Fly).
October 21, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where, trust us, hitting the windshield from either side hurts like heck. * Big AFC West showdown out SoCal way this weekend, as the Raiders and Bolts do battle on the 70-degrees-and-sunny -every-freaking-day tundra....

Bob Hille's starting 5.
October 21, 2002... 1 The ALCS. It was great to see Twins fans show Bud Selig and Carl Pohlad which all-time baseball moment they voted No. 1. But why were they using that finger? 2 Midnight Madness. OK, the novelty officially has worn off when the highlight...

On the Raiders' offense. (Sound Bites).
October 21, 2002... "How can a team with two 40-year-old receivers, a journeyman running back, a quarterback who can't throw the ball over 20 yards, a makeshift line... be averaging 40 points a game? It's sports' greatest modem-day mystery." Chuck Powell can...

On locker room dissension. (Sound Bites).
October 21, 2002... "There am three things in football you have to fight every day. The first one, and the killer, is division from within. The second one is your opponents.... And the third one is the public perception.... But that divisiveness from within is a...

On netting in NHL arenas. (Sound Bites).
October 21, 2002... "When a puck flies out on the side and dings somebody in the head, can't a lawyer make a case that the NHL has admitted to danger by hanging nets behind the goal and that they didn't protect my client who sits on the side?" Papa Joe...

Open season: Oklahoma's dazzling defense, which pummeled Texas in another clutch win, puts the Sooners near the top of a jumbled heap of national title contenders. (College Football).
October 21, 2002... Chris Simms isn't sporting that fresh-pressed look. His right hand is propping up the chin of his flush-red face as he stares forward at nothing. You can make out the pad marks from his helmet on the Texas quarterback's forehead. Oklahoma's...

It's inevitable--FSU is going down. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... This has to be some sick joke. There is Florida State kicker Xavier Beitia, kneeling and sobing on the Orange Bowl turf after yet another Seminoles dream sailed outside the uprights. A missed FSU field goal in a loss to Miami--how many times do...

TSN Power Poll. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... Rank Team (last week) W-L Last week 1. Miami (1) 6-0 W, 28-27 vs. Florida State 2. Oklahoma (3) 6-0 W, 35-24 vs. Texas 3. Georgia (4) 6-0 W, 18-13 vs. Tennessee 4. ...

Iowa State's Wallace is the real deal. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... I'm a Heisman Trophy voter, which makes me guilty by association. We always reward the player--usually the quarterback--from the higher-profile school. We're too provincial. We don't give props to the guys on the defensive side of the ball. ...

RB Quentin Griffin, Oklahoma. (Player of the Week).
October 21, 2002... Griffin has a way of breaking Texas hearts. Two years after scoring six touchdowns an a victory over the Longhorns, Griffin rushed for 248 yards and two fourth-quarter scores to help lift the Sooners to a 35-24 win last Saturday in the Red...

Heisman watch.
October 21, 2002... * 1. QB Seneca Wallace, Iowa State, Sr.: Wallace's Heisman highlight: a twisting, turning, 12-yard touchdown against Texas Tech that covered about 60 yards A perfect example of his dynamic and dangerous style * 2. RB Maurice Clarett, Ohio...

Conference call. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... Bud Foster, Virginia Tech Bud Foster became one of the best defensive coordinators and assistant coaches in the country because of calculated, concise moves. Why should he approach his career choices any differently now? Foster, in his...

Pickin' & grinnin'. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... Washington (4-2) at USC (4-2): The NCAA recently wrapped up its recruiting violations case against Colorado and former coach Rick Neuheisel. Let's assess the damage: Colorado will lose five scholarships over the next two years, and the...

Fan mail. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... How can I get a job like yours? If all I had to do was write baseless, mindless thoughts about college football, life sure would be good.--J.D., West Palm Beach, Fla. **J.D.: A friend of mine once told me, "For a guy who knows everything,...

Scouts' views: observations from the sidelines. (College football: insider).
October 21, 2002... Notre Dame plays a very basic defense and isn't trying to do a lot of things, but they are so sound fundamentally. Their inside guys play with their pads very low and have great hands. They don't stretch you mentally, but they make you think...

Faking it with Iowa State. (Closeup).
October 21, 2002... Iowa State runs a misdirection series as welt as any offense. When the Cyclones run a zone play, or inside handoff, quarterback Seneca Wallace hands the ball to the running back, then continues and fakes to the crossing slot receiver behind...

Declaration of end dependence: an influx of athletic pass-catching tight ends is revitalizing the position and giving many teams a new weapon. (NFL).
October 21, 2002... Todd Heap, like Tony Gonzalez, is a tight end who went to a Pac-10 college and loved playing basketball when he was growing up. Given those common denominators, it's no surprise Heap, four years younger, has eyeballed Gonzalez, who came into...

Forces are conspiring against Moss. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... Oliver Stone should get a load of this. An alleged friend plants a joint in his car ashtray. A meter maid throws herself on the hood of his Lexus, claiming he ran into her. His quarterback repeatedly overthrows and underthrows him....

Making a bad decision worse. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... You're the Bengals, and you have a quarterback decision to make. You are choosing among two veterans, Gus Frerotte and Jon Kitna, and a youngster, Akili Smith. You once valued Smith so much that you used the No. 3 overall draft pick to take...

Scouts' views: observations and opinions from two NFL pro scouts, one from each conference. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... Patrick Ramsey brings a lot of good things to the table for the Redskins. He can throw the ball down the field, but he can also throw it with touch and accuracy. He's got good size and he brings an unusual toughness that he got from his days at...

Week 7 matchup: by the war room. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... Keyshawn Johnson WR, Buccaneers vs. Bobby Taylor CB, Eagles Zone coverage schemes are all the rage in the NFL right now, which makes a throwback mano a mano matchup like this one even more appealing. In an NFC wild-card game...

TE class of '03: help wanted. (Draft Watch).
October 21, 2002... This class would have been much stronger had Jeremy Shockey and Jerramy Stevens stayed for their senior seasons. As it is, this is a pedestrian group that could use a boost from some of the top junior prospects. 1. Aaron Walker, 6-6, 261,...

Good mileage as a fullback. (I-Formation).
October 21, 2002... I represent a sharp left turn in the positional evolution of the fullback. Football fans of the past marveled at the acceleration and top speed of Jim Brown's scoring jaunts, while current Raiders fans struggle to recall if I've ever tallied a...

League leaders. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... LEAGUE LEADERS RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. Holmes, K.C. 143 653 4.6 9 Tomlinson, S.D. 135 632 4.7 6 R. Williams, Mia. 138 614 4.4 6 McAllister, N.O. ...

TSN scoreboard. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... TSN SCOREBOARD NFC EAST PHI NYG DAL WAS W-L 3-2 3-3 3-3 2-3 Pct. .600 .500 .500 .400 PF ...

Fearless forecast. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... Tampa Bay at Philadelphia. Donovan McNabb made the Bucs dizzy while leading the Eagles to wild-card victories the last two years. He sliced up the Bucs' cover 2 as a passer and runner in the two playoff games, and look for more of the same....

Fantasy source. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... Terrell Owens is grumbling, Randy Moss is in trouble with the law, and the Bengals are winless. And we haven't even reached the season's midpoint yet. Too bad the rest of this league isn't as predictable. Still, there is something we can...

Magic man. (NFL: insider).
October 21, 2002... Much has been made in recent years about the rise of the athletic quarterback, and rightfully so. No defensive coordinator relishes the opportunity to figure out how to stop a player such as Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick. But the fact is, a...

AFC. (NFL).
October 21, 2002... Baltimore Ravens www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/ravens INSIDE RESULTS: NTs Kelly Gregg and Maake Kemoeato are giving the team consistent play in the middle of the line. They combined for six tackles, including two sacks, in the loss to the...

NFC. (NFL).
October 21, 2002... Arizona Cardinals www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals DANDY ON DEFENSE: The biggest improvement from 2001 is on defense. The club is yielding just 3.3 yards per rushing attempt, a yard less than last season. Unlike recent seasons, when...