The Sporting News articles from September 2002

The Sporting News archives from September 2002

Looking for an edge? (sportingnews.com).
September 2, 2002... SportingNews.com's Pro Football Matchups provide ultimate insight all season long. The War Room breaks down every game and scouts each team, and our staff of experts lets you know who it's picking to win. Go to http://ultimate.sportingnews....

Get in the game. (Sportingnews.com).
September 2, 2002... The NFL season is only a week away, so now is the time to sign up for the best fantasy game on the Internet: SportingNews.com's Ultimate Football. There's more than $15,000 in prizes, plus weekly features such as e-mail team reports and fantasy...

Wake up with SNR. (Sporting News Radio).
September 2, 2002... Set your dial to Sporting News Central with Bill Lekas, weekday mornings from 6-7 a.m. ET. Catch up on all the scores, big-name interviews and news from the night before, plus hear what's on tap for the day ahead with reports from Sporting News...

`Hey, didn't you used to be a baseball fan?' (Caught On The Fly).
September 2, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where no one can cut the fat like Fly, well, except for Bob Whitsitt and Mo Cheeks. * It's a given the Steelers'll a) play stout `D', b) ride the Bus, and c) block the snot outta people. But people still aren't sure what...

On the lack of interest in baseball. (Sound Bites).
September 2, 2002... On the lack of interest in baseball: "When is the last time I got a phone call on major league baseball? When is the last time I got an e-mail on major league baseball that isn't strike-related, that isn't steroids-related? Regardless of...

On the importance of the running game in the NFL. (Sound Bites).
September 2, 2002... On the importance of the running game in the NFL: "Having a strong running back is a must in the NFL. Clearly, Marshall Faulk is the best all-around player in the league. I mean no disrespect to Kurt Warner, but make no mistake about it,...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (TSN Sights).
September 2, 2002... (1) NFL predictions. You want a can't-miss pick? OK, here it is: Once a game, that's what Trent Green will throw. (2) August 30. You can set your watch by baseball's labor woes. So let's see, if a strike lasts into next season,...

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
September 2, 2002... Choice voice `August 30, 2002, would have been Ted Williams' 84th birthday. How appropriate to disgrace the memory of a legend from the days when baseball was a game.'--Tedy Dewey, Portsmouth, N.H. Cruel and unusual punishment I know...

Rookies to watch.
September 2, 2002... Austing Kearns Outfielder, Cincinnati After making his big league debut in April, Austin Kearns has proved he belongs in Cincinnati. The 220 year old from Lexington Kentucky has hit for power and average, and even hit a grand slam on May...

Aikman: the hair apparent. (Remote Patrol).
September 2, 2002... John Madden shuffling off to Monday Night Football really, really rocked the NFL announcing industry. You can tell because Troy Aikman has a Mohawk on his head. Appearing in costume in promos is one of the responsibilities in filling...

Child's play. (Static).
September 2, 2002... * Child's play: Amateur psychologists are on duty again, decrying ESPN/ABC for exploiting our youth via the Little League World Series. After examining a Harlem player waving bye-bye to a home run, Dr. Jim Rome diagnosed on Fox Sports Net, "If...

The buzz. (Static).
September 2, 2002... * The buzz: Steve Stone, our fave superstation analyst, will return to Cubs TV in 2003; Joe Carter is out.

Vital stats. (Static).
September 2, 2002... * Vital stats: ABC is asking $2:25 million for 30-second ads during Super Bowl 37--$300,000 beyond Fox's rate for SB 36. Selling them with Monday Night Football, ARC has cleared 80 percent of its inventory.

FYI. (Static).
September 2, 2002... * FYI: Fox Sports Net was making final edits on a September 8 Terrell Davis Beyond the Glory when the Broncos running back retired.

Hello, walls: twins gold glove center fielder Torii Hunter will run through walls to make a catch, but he doesn't mind going over them either. (Baseball).
September 2, 2002... If Torii Hunter isn't leaping over a wall to snatch back a home run, he's diving flat out across some outfield to rob someone of extra bases. Hunter is the best defensive center fielder in the American League--"It's no contest," says one...

A guide to glove work.
September 2, 2002... THE SETUP: Know the real estate People ask me all the time, "Why are you always running into walls?" Well, if they watch me in Seattle or at Fenway, they won't see me running into any walls. Those walls are hard. At most major league...

Hawks make labor deal difficult. (Insider: baseball).
September 2, 2002... Ask any player if he wants a strike, and he would say no. Ask most owners, and their answer would be the same. But then there are the "hawks," the hard-line owners who would risk destroying Major League Baseball while claiming they're trying to...

Glove at first sight. (The Closer).
September 2, 2002... During batting practice at home, I like to go out to shortstop and take a few ground balls with our infielders. They let me mix in. I try to look fluid but to no avail. Sometimes I ask our infielders to let me use their gloves, and almost all...

Fantasy source. (TSNumber 10).
September 2, 2002... Whether it's fantasy baseball or major league baseball, every team is in search of young arms--guys who can give a team a new look. Granted, young pitchers' inconsistency has been known to put dents in many an ERA and WHIP category. But who can...

A.L. (Baseball).
September 2, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 76-52 2nd in West HELP FROM BELOW: With RHP Aaron Sele (shoulder) going on the D.L., the team replaced him in the rotation with RHP Mickey Calloway, who was called up from...

N.L. (Baseball).
September 2, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 82-47 1st in West STREAK FREE: After missing seven games because of irritated cartilage in his rib cage, LF Luis Gonzalez returned last Thursday, but it is...

The mother roads: one weekend, two highways--and more games than we know what to do with. (College Football).
September 2, 2002... Welcome to the dawn of civilization as the BCS knows it. As far as the Fiesta Bowl is concerned, Lake City, Fla., is Mesopotomia--the place where it all begins--or to paraphrase former Monday Night Football analyst Dennis Miller, the Tigris and...

The incredible shrinking spread. (Insider: college football).
September 2, 2002... It's the ultimate game of cat (defense) and mouse (spread offense). And right now, the cat is winning. That hasn't always been the case. Just a few years ago, the spread was a team's lottery ticket to winning fast. Defenses seemed...

Conference call. (Insider: college football).
September 2, 2002... Derek Anderson, Oregon State Fair or not, Oregon State, coming off a 5-6 season, suddenly is being considered a one-hit wonder in college football. That's where Derek Anderson, a strapping 6-6, 234-pound question, enters the mix. He...

This week's spotlight: quarterbacks on the spot. (Insider: college football).
September 2, 2002... Rasheed Marshall, West Virginia. Marshall, who coach Rich Rodriguez hoped would win the job as a freshman last season, is athletic, has a strong arm end is dangerous when he breaks containment. But can he make all the throws and direct the...

As clear as Rudd: the jockeying that landed Ricky Rudd with the Wood Brothers left Winston Cup fans' heads spinning. (NASCAR).
September 2, 2002... Ricky Rudd never has been one to do things the easy way. His first time driving a stock car, for example, wasn't until the practice session before his first NASCAR race. And after four top-10 points finishes in four-years with Rick Hendrick's...

One week off--it's not too much to ask. (Insider: NASCAR).
September 2, 2002... When I overheard a couple of crew guys complaining about the grind of the second half of the season, it didn't dawn on me at first that they were talking about the Winston Cup schedule for next year. Once again, the season will close with races...

Driver report. (NASCAR).
September 2, 2002... Exclusive NASCAR team 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 title contenders. Sterling Marlin 40 HOW HE'LL WIN: Marlin's crew has...

The trade that keeps giving. (Insider: NHL).
September 2, 2002... Looking back on the celebrated Eric Lindros trade 10 years later, it's easy to raise the arm of the Quebec Nordiques/ Colorado Avalanche and declare the franchise the clear winner. On June 30, 1992, Lindros was sent to the Flyers for Peter...

A world of undiscovered talent is on display in Indy. (Insider: NBA).
September 2, 2002... It's a rare day in Indianapolis when you have to fight through a crowd of Angolans for a beer down at the Slippery Noodle, when a Brazilian, a German and a Kiwi are sipping Cosmopolitans at Nicky Blaine's and when an actual Mongolian drops in...

Freshmen carry full loads of hope. (Insider: college basketball).
September 2, 2002... Among the many dangerous side effects of expanded recruiting coverage--successful coaches fired for failing to sign big-name prospects, players gaining an unreasonable opinion of their abilities--is the expectation every significant prospect...

Taking it to the Max Q: all systems are go for the Rams to perform at the highest level--and complete their mission this time. (Scouting The NFL).
September 2, 2002... Max Q, the NASA goal of having all systems performing at their highest levels simultaneously, may be an impossible dream for even an idealistic football coach. But Mike Martz's Rams have the capacity to get closer to Max Q than any other...

AFC East. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Dolphins 10-6 * 2. Patriots 9-7 3. Jets 8-8 4. Bills 7-9 * Playoffs team BUFFALO BILLS REASONS FOR HOPE: The offense could be explosive. Look for coordinator Kevin Gilbride...

Clevan Thomas: San Jose SaberCats. (Arena Football League Defensive Player of the Year: Advertisement).
September 2, 2002... Not since Orlando's Kenny McEntyre burst onto the scene in 1998 has a rookie defensive back evoked such panic. Welcome to the world of Clevan Thomas, defensive leader of the San Jose SaberCats. He is the first player ever to be voted...

AFC North. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Steelers 10-6 * 2. Browns 9-7 * 3. Bengals 6-10 4. Ravens 4-12 * Playoffs team CLEVELAND BROWNS REASONS FOR HOPE: Coach Butch Davis enters his second season with...

AFC South. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Colts 10-6 * 2. Titans 8-8 3. Jaguars 6-10 4. Texans 3-13 * Playoffs team When coach Tony Dungy arrived with the cover 2 scheme in Indianapolis, veteran tackle Ellis Johnson was there to...

AFC West. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Raiders 10-6 * 2. Chiefs 9-7 * 3. Broncos 9-7 4. Chargers 7-9 * Playoffs team OAKLAND RAIDERS REASONS FOR HOPE: The Raiders don't have any glaring weaknesses, are talented enough to...

NFC East. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Eagles 10-6 * 2. Redskins 9-7 3. Cowboys 9-7 4. Giants 6-10 * Playoffs team DALLAS COWBOYS REASONS FOR HOPE: The team spent the off-season trying to upgrade a defense that...

NFC North. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Bears 10-6 * 2. Packers 10-6 * 3. Vikings 6-10 4. Lions 3-13 * Playoffs team GREEN BAY PACKERS REASONS FOR HOPE: As fortunate as the team is to have the best quarterback in the...

NFC South. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Buccaneers 11-5 * 2. Saints 8-8 3. Falcons 7-9 4. Panthers 5-11 * Playoffs team CAROLINA PANTHERS REASONS FOR HOPE: The arrival of coach John Fox has brought an energy, and...

NFC West. (NFL: preview).
September 2, 2002... POMPEI'S PREDICTIONS 1. Rams 11-5 * 2. 49ers 10-6 * 3. Seahawks 9-7 4. Cardinals 7-9 * Playoffs team SEATTLE SEAHAWKS REASONS FOR HOPE: RB Shaun Alexander is the best offensive option until QB...

T.D. should touch down in Canton.
September 2, 2002... All dressed up with nowhere to run, Terrell Davis yet lit up the place with his glorious smile. One last time he had put on the Broncos uniform, stood tall and snapped off a Mile High salute. He'd come to tell his friends good-bye. Though...

The old college try. (Sportingnews.com).
September 9, 2002... Need an inside edge on the college football season? SportingNews.com's Ultimate College Football provides matchups and predictions for every Big Ten, SEC and Notre Dame game--all the way through the bowl season. Plus, you'll get the latest...

Prove your NFL expertise. (Sportingnews.com).
September 9, 2002... Think you can evaluate talent better than your favorite team's general manager? Show us what you're made of and sign up for Ultimate Fantasy Football, SportingNews.com's salary-cap-style fantasy game. We'll even help you out by providing...

Back in business. (Sporting News Radio).
September 9, 2002... The Bill Parcells Football Show kicks off again on Thursday with a live show from 5-6 p.m. ET. Bill Parcells, Will McDonough and Bruce Murray talk game analysis and strategy for the weekend's biggest NFL matchups. Plus, get the insider...

Hey, didn't you used to be Jeff Gordon's drought? (Caught On The Fly).
September 9, 2002... * Welcome to COTF, where Fly's alwaaays ready for some football. * The Spies say it wasn't just the Ohowihateohiostate fans in the stands going ga-ga over Maurice Clarett's debut. That was Archie Griffin's dropped jaw on the Horseshoe...

On what he thinks of baseball. (Sound Bites).
September 9, 2002... "I loved baseball.... I played the game, and I think a lot of the game, but I've got to tell you, as I've grown, I could really care less. They could nuke it, blow it up.... I don't really care." Tim Brando can be heard from 3-6 p.m. ET...

On settling the labor dispute. (Sound Bites).
September 9, 2002... "So MLB gets new, fresh cash, new revenue sharing, in its deal with the players. What does it mean if a cheapskate like Carl Pohlad in Minnesota isn't going to use his dough to sign free agents or boost his farm system?" Chet Coppock can...

On the fans' impact on the strike. (Sound Bites).
September 9, 2002... "Congratulations, fans, you just made rich owners richer.... Keep whining about player salaries. A lot of good it has done you." Peter Brown can be heard from noon-3 p.m. ET Monday-Friday.

Bob Hille's starting 5. (Caught On The Fly).
September 9, 2002... (1) NFL Week 1. The season is here, yet I still have a nagging question from camp: On Ham' Knocks, was that a dimple in Jerry Jones' chin or his navel after that face lift? (2) Baseball labor. Ripple effect on the game's ancillary...

The digital difference. (Remote Patrol).
September 9, 2002... The first rule of Fight Club: You don't talk about Fight Club. But now that little fraternity of high-definition TV (TSN, 10/24/01), heretofore honing its wares quietly and privately in quest of the ultimate sports theater experience, is...

The price of stardom. (Static).
September 9, 2002... * The price of stardom: Troy Aikman has been an avid viewer of HBO's Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys. He applauded the inside look at players' lives. Add it up, though, and "It's a very negative thing for the team," says the...

The buzz. (Static).
September 9, 2002... * The buzz: ESPN and Fox, seemingly with much to lose in an MLB strike, were no-shows at negotiations. "Sometimes the role of TV in sports is exaggerated," a Fox rep says.

Vital stats. (Static).
September 9, 2002... * Vital stats: MLB.com's first live webcast of an entire game attracted 30,000 users. But 12,000 were denied access because their ZIP codes came from local TV markets.

Soundbitten. (Static).
September 9, 2002... * Soundbitten: "There's a whole generation that doesn't know there are long, dull periods in games."--Bill Conlin of Sports Reporters on the impact of highlights over 25,000 episodes of Spot/scanter.--F.Q. FRITZ QUINDT/REMOTE PATROL...

Voice of the fan. (TSN Sights).
September 9, 2002... Choice voice `I don't understand the luxury tax. Why should a team that spends the money to get a superior product out to their fans pay to make the competition better? It's Mercedes-Benz paying Yugo because Yugo can't compete" --Reggie...

Golden bond: coming off a standard-setting three-year run in the Rams' prodigious offense, Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk go 1-2 in our annual list of the top 100 players. (NFL)(Cover Story).
September 9, 2002... The most difficult part of picking the best player in the NFL is deciding which St. Louis Ram is most deserving. On the one hand, you have Kurt Warner, the quarterback whose 103 career passer rating is the best in the history of the league...

Some change for the better--and some not. (Insider).
September 9, 2002... With the season upon us, we are about to find out if the various system changes instituted by coaching staffs around the league will work. Some look promising; others just don't appear to be the right fit. Baltimore's 3-4 defense ...

AFC. (NFL).
September 9, 2002... Baltimore Ravens www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/ravens GOING ON FAITH: The team made a smart move in re-signing free-agent LB Conrail Brown. He eventually will become a starter and does a great job of taking on tight ends on running...

NFC. (NFL).
September 9, 2002... Arizona Cardinals www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals LINE ADJUSTMENT: RT Anthony Clement's triceps injury forced two changes in the offensive line and stripped the club of depth. RG Leonard Davis moves to right tackle, and backup...

Four more years: baseball has a labor agreement, but the balance of power still hinges on the balance in George Steinbrenner's checkbook. (Baseball).
September 9, 2002... It's over. You've received your last lecture from union chief Donald Fehr, heard your last tantrum from management attorney Rob Manfred, witnessed your last grimace from commissioner Bud Selig--at least until the new labor agreement is close to...

The new labor deal needs work. (Insider).
September 9, 2002... The new labor agreement doesn't assure competitive balance. It doesn't offer the "myriad" solutions promised by commissioner Bud Selig. It doesn't even come close. In the view of one club executive, MLB needed to build a house to protect...

Deal gels done behind the scenes. (The Closer).
September 9, 2002... The deal was completed at 11:45 a.m. ET on Friday, August 30. I think that would be described as cutting it close. I was optimistic the whole time. We were talking about the same issues. We just had to get over the thresholds and tax...

Maddux redux. (Insider: Baseball).
September 9, 2002... Cloning supposedly is (a) not perfected, (b) untried on humans, (c) highly unethical or (d) all of the above. So surely Kirk Saarloos is not a laboratory reproduction of the Braves' Greg Maddux. Still, you have to wonder. Saarloos, the...

Contraction the old-fashioned way. (Insider: Baseball).
September 9, 2002... First, the Twins survived the threat of contraction. Then their storybook season was saved by the labor agreement. Up next: the postseason, which will be nearly as great a challenge. Can they make it to the end of October?. Yes, they can:...

Fantasy source. (TSNumber 2).
September 9, 2002... Cue the organ: Ba-da-da-da da-da--CHARGE! The rookies are here. The September call-ups breathe new life into the game of baseball. A hustling rookie can pump up tired vets and provide the missing piece to the stretch-run puzzle. For teams not...

Straight A's. (TSNumber 2).
September 9, 2002... While the Yankees coasted, the Twins stumbled and the Mariners tumbled, the A's did what any good opportunist would do: They took advantage. All of a sudden, this looks like the year of the A's in the American League. Of course, that could...

A.L. (Baseball).
September 9, 2002... Anaheim Angels www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/angels 81-54 2nd in West HOT HITTER: Soon after getting enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting race, 2B Adam Kennedy moved among the league leaders. His average...

N.L. (Baseball).
September 9, 2002... Arizona Diamondbacks www.sportingnews.com/baseball/teams/diamondbacks 84-51 1st in West PAIN IN THE NECK: IF Craig Counsell could miss the rest of the season because of a pinched nerve in his neck. A second opinion last week...

Six figures: now that the games are under way and your appetite is whetted, you want more. Crunch these numbers. (College Football).
September 9, 2002... 6 It's ridiculous. Flat-out unfair, unreasonable and, let's face it, unlikely. But it's so intriguing. "Do you realize what you're saying?" says one NFC scout. Yep, and here it is: The quarterback draft class this year--drum roll,...

Georgia needs a man for all season. (Insider: College Football).
September 9, 2002... So Georgia plans to use two quarterbacks this season, and everybody in Athens is saying all the right things. "I have no problem," says sophomore David Greene. "As long as it's working out and we're winning games, I'm all for it." "We...

Pin the tail on the right donkey. (Insider: College Football).
September 9, 2002... I've seen, heard and read countless supposed experts on the radio, on TV, in newspapers and online rip into the NCAA for being hypocritical by allowing teams to play an extra game this year. "If teams will play 12 or even 13 regular-season...

Conference call.
September 9, 2002... Dewayne White, Louisville Coach John L. Smith didn't know what impact Dewayne White would have at Louisville, but Smith knew he had to have him. White's stepfather was shot and paralyzed when White was 9; his mother died of cancer when...

This week's spotlight: best speed rushers.
September 9, 2002... Greg Gathers, Georgia Tech. Though he was overshadowed the last two seasons by conference mate Julius Peppers, who reaped All-American honors at North Carolina, Gathers has more sacks (30) after three seasons than Peppers did. Antonio...

Pickin' & grinnin'. (Insider: College Football).
September 9, 2002... The funny bone... Boise State (1-0) at Arkansas (0-0): This is what happens, boys and girls, when football coaches try to become educators. Arkie coach Houston Nutt--could there be a better last name for this story?--wanted to take...

Scouts' views: observations from the sidelines. (Insider: College Footbal).
September 9, 2002... The only way to win a battle against Virginia Tech's eight-man front is to control the point of attack. You have to challenge their defensive tackles with your guards. Otherwise, you're in trouble because they do an awesome job of teaching...

Why using cover 2 make sense. (Closeup).
September 9, 2002... Modern offenses have become so sophisticated, the threat of blitz or man-to-man coverage is no big deal. Enter the cover 2. It's simply a zone cover that requires four rush men. In a 4-3 defense, the four down linemen rush the passer; in a...

It takes time to build. (Insider: College Football).
September 9, 2002... During a period when most coaches were trying to squeeze in vacation or were introducing their players to preseason workouts, Iowa's Steve Alford and Washington's Lorenzo Romar inadvertently stumbled into the sports pages. A basketball program...

Team USA needs a sense of urgency. (Insider: NBA).
September 9, 2002... There never was any real anxiety on the part of the Americans during a 104-87 win over Germany in their second game of the 2002 World Championship, the 55th straight Dream Team win. There was no concern even as German forward and Dallas...

Yao, the romantic. (Insider).
September 9, 2002... Oh, take out those hankies and be prepared to swoon, ladles and gentlemen, because when the Rockets made Chinese star Yao Ming the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, they did not just draft a 7-5 center. They drafted a basketball Casanova. ...

A long, strange trip.
September 9, 2002... So you think you know hoops? Try this 3-point quiz: 1. Who was the long-haired, sharpshooting big guard from the SEC who led the NCAA in scoring in 1970-71? 2. Who turned pro as a college sophomore, became a millionaire at 19 and...

One on one with ... Antonio Davis.
September 9, 2002... It was 12 years between appearances on a USA Basketball team for Raptors power forward Antonio Davis, one of the best big men in the Eastern Conference. But the wait was worth it. Davis, 33, is the second-oldest player on Team USA (Reggie...

Thinking outside the box: there's more to pit-stop strategy than just getting out of the stall as quickly as possible. (NASCAR).
September 9, 2002... Ah, for those long-ago days when pit-stop strategy was simpler. You know, back in the days when pit strategy included a driver smiling diabolically underneath his goggles and closely buzzing opposing crews to spook them out of their routines....

The search for power has its price. (Insider: NASCAR).
September 9, 2002... Few people experience life-changing circumstances as Jack Roush did April 19, when the plane he was piloting went down in a lake outside of Troy, Ala. On his 60th birthday, of all things. But Roush was given a temporary reprieve, and it has...