It's a nightmare for the broadcasters and the fans.
No, they are not worried about the chaos broken out on the field, and they don't have the slightest concerns over the maddeningly boring games that we often see.
It's the unrelated namesakes on the same team that will give them the greatest headache of all.
When Real Madrid lost Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra for the season due to a knee injury, their unimaginative scouts simply looked up the footballing directory and signed the player whose entry was directly in front of him: French international Lassana Diarra, probably the second-best known soccer-playing Diarra in the world.
Sooner or later, we are going to hear commentary like this during Real's matches:
"Diarra loses possession ... strong tackle by Diarra ... back to Diarra ... a nice one-two between Diarra and Diarra ... Diarra looking for Diarra ... excellent pass by Diarra ... great first touch by Diarra ... Diarra's running unmarked into the middle ... Diarra's found him ... Diarra scores ... with an assist from Diarra!"
At this rate, it won't take long for Real to snap up all the Diarrra's in the world, only if their scouts could find them.
In fact, Real is not the only team with a fondness for unrelated namesakes. In Serie A, Internazionale once boasted two Zanetti's, Javier of Argentina and Cristiano of Italy, in the same midfield for five seasons in a row. In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys went one step further by acquiring wide receiver Roy Williams from the Detroit Lions in the mid-season, just as their star safety Roy Williams was headed for the injured reserve.
Finally, we go back to Spain. Seven years before Real took the Diarra's out of circulation, their arch-rival, Barcelona, set the bar so high that it is unlikely to be matched by any team. With Dutch midfielder Phillip Cocu firmly entrenched in their starting line-up, they decided to bring in reinforcement from Italy on loan from Milan during the 2001-02 season.
The name of that player? Francesco Coco.
Cocu and Coco ... sounds like something a child sings, and I wonder how the Real fans were taunting them.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Cowboys Questions
Some questions on my beloved Dallas Cowboys lingering in my mind:
Why aren't they getting any interceptions?
Why doesn't Terrell Owens use his arms more often to get away from defensive backs who jam him at the line of scrimmage?
Why isn't Bobby Carpenter playing more?
What is Zach Thomas, with who-knows-how-many concussions and counting, doing in the middle of the defense?
And finally, how on earth are they going to get into the playoffs when they still have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens?
Why aren't they getting any interceptions?
Why doesn't Terrell Owens use his arms more often to get away from defensive backs who jam him at the line of scrimmage?
Why isn't Bobby Carpenter playing more?
What is Zach Thomas, with who-knows-how-many concussions and counting, doing in the middle of the defense?
And finally, how on earth are they going to get into the playoffs when they still have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Clueless Wonder
After failing to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the lowly Cincinnati Bengals and had to settle for a 13-13 tie, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb made a startling revelation.
He had no idea that a regular season NFL game can end in a tie.
"I've never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book," McNabb said after the game. "It's part of the rules, and we have to go with it. I was looking forward to getting the opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game. But unfortunately, with the rules, we settled with a tie."
Now prepare for an even more stunning revelation.
"In college, there are multiple overtimes, and in high school and Pop Warner. I never knew in the professional ranks it would end that way. I hate to see what would happen in the Super Bowl and in the playoffs."
Are you kidding?
For the record, playoff games and the Super Bowl never end in ties. The game will go on until one of the team wins.
I don't expect players to know every rule in the game, especially some obscure ones like the tuck rule. But when your quarterback is not aware of such a widely-understood rule, that could be a huge problem.
The current OT rule has been in place since 1974, and 17 regular season games have ended in a tie, the last one coming in 2002. There is no way anyone can say that it is an obscure rule.
Imagine the Eagles have the ball late in OT. If the quarterback thinks that there will be a second OT, do you really believe that his decision-making will be unaffected?
To his credit, Eagles coach Andy Reid firmly stood behind McNabb. Some other veterans of the team also claimed that they had no idea of the OT rule either, in a blatant attempt to diffuse media attention.
Yet McNabb will forever be remembered as the quarterback who does not know the rules.
He had no idea that a regular season NFL game can end in a tie.
"I've never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book," McNabb said after the game. "It's part of the rules, and we have to go with it. I was looking forward to getting the opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game. But unfortunately, with the rules, we settled with a tie."
Now prepare for an even more stunning revelation.
"In college, there are multiple overtimes, and in high school and Pop Warner. I never knew in the professional ranks it would end that way. I hate to see what would happen in the Super Bowl and in the playoffs."
Are you kidding?
For the record, playoff games and the Super Bowl never end in ties. The game will go on until one of the team wins.
I don't expect players to know every rule in the game, especially some obscure ones like the tuck rule. But when your quarterback is not aware of such a widely-understood rule, that could be a huge problem.
The current OT rule has been in place since 1974, and 17 regular season games have ended in a tie, the last one coming in 2002. There is no way anyone can say that it is an obscure rule.
Imagine the Eagles have the ball late in OT. If the quarterback thinks that there will be a second OT, do you really believe that his decision-making will be unaffected?
To his credit, Eagles coach Andy Reid firmly stood behind McNabb. Some other veterans of the team also claimed that they had no idea of the OT rule either, in a blatant attempt to diffuse media attention.
Yet McNabb will forever be remembered as the quarterback who does not know the rules.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Faulty-Niners
The way how the San Francisco 49ers ran their two-minute offense against the Arizona Cardinals was simply mind-boggling.
And an apparent miscommunication between the officials and the 49ers' coaches in the final seconds didn't help them either.
Down 24-29 in the final minutes in their Monday Night game, the 49ers were marching down the field and with 30 seconds to go, they got a first down inside the 5-yard line.
Out of time-out, they had to spike the ball the stop the clock. All they had to do was to spike the ball and the clock would stop running.
But for some reason, they decided to have not one, but numerous substitutions for that single play. The result: at least 20 seconds were lost.
Then on second down, Frank Gore ran left and was down just short of the goal line. The officials marked the ball at the 1-yard line, and the 49ers had to spike it again.
But just as they spiked the ball, the officials decided to review the play to see if Gore was indeed down by contact. When the replay showed that Gore's knee touched the ground after a Cardinals defender tapped his back, albeit slightly, the officials put two seconds back on the clock and it was now third-down with four seconds to go. The play clock would start at the referee's signal.
Only for one problem: The officials moved the ball back to the two-and-a-half yard line, apparently without informing the 49ers' coaches.
That's why we got to see a goal line offense at the 3-yard line and the play call was a typical one for goal line play: A plunge by the running back over the offensive linemen.
Michael Robinson simply didn't have a chance. Game over, and the Cardinals won.
After the game, Mike Martz, the offensive co-ordinator of the 49ers, claimed that he never realized that the ball was not on the 1-yard line for the final play. He also added that once the play call had been sent in, there was no way to change it.
In other words, Martz's mind was frozen in the final seconds.
To me, his mind was already frozen way before that.
After spiking the ball on first-down inside the 5-yard line, there was enough time for them to run three pass plays. All they had to do was to avoid throwing the ball in the middle of the field, and the clock would stop soon enough to give them three shots a the game-winning touchdown.
Instead, they ran on second-down and had to burn third-down on a spike play. And they didn't get to fourth-down as the clock ran out.
Meanwhile, if there was no way for them to change the call on the final play, shouldn't Shaun Hill have done something?
Hill, the 49ers' quarterback, should have noticed that something was wrong when he got the play call. Instead of questioning the call or changing the play by audible, he did nothing and allowed Robinson, the back-up running back, to become the culprit.
I hate to be blunt, but perhaps that is exactly the reason why he had been limited to only two kneel-down plays during his first six seasons in the league.
And an apparent miscommunication between the officials and the 49ers' coaches in the final seconds didn't help them either.
Down 24-29 in the final minutes in their Monday Night game, the 49ers were marching down the field and with 30 seconds to go, they got a first down inside the 5-yard line.
Out of time-out, they had to spike the ball the stop the clock. All they had to do was to spike the ball and the clock would stop running.
But for some reason, they decided to have not one, but numerous substitutions for that single play. The result: at least 20 seconds were lost.
Then on second down, Frank Gore ran left and was down just short of the goal line. The officials marked the ball at the 1-yard line, and the 49ers had to spike it again.
But just as they spiked the ball, the officials decided to review the play to see if Gore was indeed down by contact. When the replay showed that Gore's knee touched the ground after a Cardinals defender tapped his back, albeit slightly, the officials put two seconds back on the clock and it was now third-down with four seconds to go. The play clock would start at the referee's signal.
Only for one problem: The officials moved the ball back to the two-and-a-half yard line, apparently without informing the 49ers' coaches.
That's why we got to see a goal line offense at the 3-yard line and the play call was a typical one for goal line play: A plunge by the running back over the offensive linemen.
Michael Robinson simply didn't have a chance. Game over, and the Cardinals won.
After the game, Mike Martz, the offensive co-ordinator of the 49ers, claimed that he never realized that the ball was not on the 1-yard line for the final play. He also added that once the play call had been sent in, there was no way to change it.
In other words, Martz's mind was frozen in the final seconds.
To me, his mind was already frozen way before that.
After spiking the ball on first-down inside the 5-yard line, there was enough time for them to run three pass plays. All they had to do was to avoid throwing the ball in the middle of the field, and the clock would stop soon enough to give them three shots a the game-winning touchdown.
Instead, they ran on second-down and had to burn third-down on a spike play. And they didn't get to fourth-down as the clock ran out.
Meanwhile, if there was no way for them to change the call on the final play, shouldn't Shaun Hill have done something?
Hill, the 49ers' quarterback, should have noticed that something was wrong when he got the play call. Instead of questioning the call or changing the play by audible, he did nothing and allowed Robinson, the back-up running back, to become the culprit.
I hate to be blunt, but perhaps that is exactly the reason why he had been limited to only two kneel-down plays during his first six seasons in the league.
Monday, November 03, 2008
An Epic Finale
I didn't sleep much last night for watching the Brazilian Grand Prix, the last race of this Formula One season. And I didn't regret it a bit, 'cos it was truly one heck of a race.
In a race affected by showers early and late in the race, Lewis Hamilton emerged as the World Champion by sneaking into the vital fifth place at the very last corner of the final lap, when it looked as though local hero Felipe Massa, who had won the race, had done enough to be crowned champion of the world.
I simply had no idea where to start.
With a seven-point lead, all Hamilton needed was a fifth-place finish. As for Massa, he had to win the race and hoped that someone somehow would get into Hamilton's way.
With less than ten laps to go, Massa was leading the race and Hamilton was running a comfortable fourth. But when the shower returned, most cars decided to duck into the pits to change into intermediate tyres, but not for the Toyota duo of Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli.
When Hamilton emerged from the pits with just a handful of laps to go, he was in fifth place having been demoted by Glock and was now hotly pursued by Sebastian Vettel. And when Robert Kubica decided to unlap himself amidst the chaos, Vettel seized the moment and snatched fifth-place. Moments later, as Vettel gradually pulling away from Hamilton, Massa crossed the line for his sixth win of the season.
While Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen finished second and third, all eyes were on Hamilton as he simply could not match Vettel's pace. And when Vettel crossed the line before Hamilton, the local fans erupted in a thunderous roar as they believed that Massa had pulled the unthinkable.
The joy didn't last long though.
A quick glance at the finishing order showed that Vettel was fourth and Hamilton fifth, which meant that Hamilton, not Massa, is the World Champion.
What exactly had happened?
TV replay showed that Glock, while nursing his dry weather tyres in deteriorating conditions, was overtaken by both Vettel and Hamilton just before the final corner of the last lap. No one noticed it because we all thought that the only way for Hamilton to win the title was to catch and overtake Vettel. In fact, Glock lost some 20 seconds on his last lap and had become a sitting duck, as he came home virtually limping in sixth just over six seconds behind Hamilton.
In a matter of 30 seconds, both drivers had the roller-coaster of their lives. Massa thought that he had won it, but was cruelly denied when the dust eventually settled. As for Hamilton, just when we thought that he had blown it for the second year in a row, he had pulled a Houdini of equally miraculous and stunning proportion.
It has been a fantastic season, with the title decided at the last possible moment. Seven drivers from five teams have won this season which has been one of the best in recent years. With the possible introduction of customer cars next season, let's hope that it is going to be a great as this season.
In a race affected by showers early and late in the race, Lewis Hamilton emerged as the World Champion by sneaking into the vital fifth place at the very last corner of the final lap, when it looked as though local hero Felipe Massa, who had won the race, had done enough to be crowned champion of the world.
I simply had no idea where to start.
With a seven-point lead, all Hamilton needed was a fifth-place finish. As for Massa, he had to win the race and hoped that someone somehow would get into Hamilton's way.
With less than ten laps to go, Massa was leading the race and Hamilton was running a comfortable fourth. But when the shower returned, most cars decided to duck into the pits to change into intermediate tyres, but not for the Toyota duo of Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli.
When Hamilton emerged from the pits with just a handful of laps to go, he was in fifth place having been demoted by Glock and was now hotly pursued by Sebastian Vettel. And when Robert Kubica decided to unlap himself amidst the chaos, Vettel seized the moment and snatched fifth-place. Moments later, as Vettel gradually pulling away from Hamilton, Massa crossed the line for his sixth win of the season.
While Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen finished second and third, all eyes were on Hamilton as he simply could not match Vettel's pace. And when Vettel crossed the line before Hamilton, the local fans erupted in a thunderous roar as they believed that Massa had pulled the unthinkable.
The joy didn't last long though.
A quick glance at the finishing order showed that Vettel was fourth and Hamilton fifth, which meant that Hamilton, not Massa, is the World Champion.
What exactly had happened?
TV replay showed that Glock, while nursing his dry weather tyres in deteriorating conditions, was overtaken by both Vettel and Hamilton just before the final corner of the last lap. No one noticed it because we all thought that the only way for Hamilton to win the title was to catch and overtake Vettel. In fact, Glock lost some 20 seconds on his last lap and had become a sitting duck, as he came home virtually limping in sixth just over six seconds behind Hamilton.
In a matter of 30 seconds, both drivers had the roller-coaster of their lives. Massa thought that he had won it, but was cruelly denied when the dust eventually settled. As for Hamilton, just when we thought that he had blown it for the second year in a row, he had pulled a Houdini of equally miraculous and stunning proportion.
It has been a fantastic season, with the title decided at the last possible moment. Seven drivers from five teams have won this season which has been one of the best in recent years. With the possible introduction of customer cars next season, let's hope that it is going to be a great as this season.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Corluka's Luck
I know I shouldn't be laughing, but what happened to Vedran Corluka in Tottenham Hotspur's match at Stoke City was simply hilarious.
With the Spurs down 1-2 and defending late in the game, Corluka was kneed in the chest by his goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, in a goalmouth scramble and had to leave the field for treatment. After being treated at the sideline for a couple of minutes, a grimacing Corluka was sent back onto the field, just as Stoke City was having another free-kick deep in the Spurs' half.
As soon as the ball as sent in and punched clear by Gomes, Corluka was once again lying on the pitch. Just as everyone was feeling for him, TV replay showed us how unlucky he really was.
This time, he was kneed in the head by Gomes and was knocked out cold. It took some 10 minutes for the paramedics to get him off the pitch and onto a waiting ambulance. Luckily he's okay.
If you think that someone being injured twice in quick succession is unlucky, then Corluka simply had no luck at all. To make matters worse, Corluka's replacement, Michael Dawson, was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge in the sixth of 11 minutes of stoppage time.
There must be some sort of jinx on the Spurs, which has just two points in the opening eight matches, and the highly-touted manager Juande Ramos, who has brought so much expectation with him but produced so little on the field.
Now if there is really a jinx, let's hope that Corluka's black day has finally broken it.
With the Spurs down 1-2 and defending late in the game, Corluka was kneed in the chest by his goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, in a goalmouth scramble and had to leave the field for treatment. After being treated at the sideline for a couple of minutes, a grimacing Corluka was sent back onto the field, just as Stoke City was having another free-kick deep in the Spurs' half.
As soon as the ball as sent in and punched clear by Gomes, Corluka was once again lying on the pitch. Just as everyone was feeling for him, TV replay showed us how unlucky he really was.
This time, he was kneed in the head by Gomes and was knocked out cold. It took some 10 minutes for the paramedics to get him off the pitch and onto a waiting ambulance. Luckily he's okay.
If you think that someone being injured twice in quick succession is unlucky, then Corluka simply had no luck at all. To make matters worse, Corluka's replacement, Michael Dawson, was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge in the sixth of 11 minutes of stoppage time.
There must be some sort of jinx on the Spurs, which has just two points in the opening eight matches, and the highly-touted manager Juande Ramos, who has brought so much expectation with him but produced so little on the field.
Now if there is really a jinx, let's hope that Corluka's black day has finally broken it.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Seabass Speaks
"I don't know what I was supposed to do basically. I could have unrolled the red carpet and given him the corner. That is the only thing I could have done."
Said Sebastien Bourdais, who was penalized 25 seconds for colliding with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, when the latter crashed into the Frenchman who was exiting the pitlane and had nowhere to go, during the Japanese Grand Prix.
Said Sebastien Bourdais, who was penalized 25 seconds for colliding with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, when the latter crashed into the Frenchman who was exiting the pitlane and had nowhere to go, during the Japanese Grand Prix.
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Oakland Bleak Raiders
This is going to be the shortest post I've ever made.
Al Davis, please either sell your beloved Oakland Raiders or hire someone to run it for you. Just stay away and your team will be fine.
Thank you.
Al Davis, please either sell your beloved Oakland Raiders or hire someone to run it for you. Just stay away and your team will be fine.
Thank you.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Helmet Rules
As an insult to the spirit of news reporting, I would like to talk about something which took place almost a year ago.
That is, Fernando Alonso swapping drives with Heikki Kovalainen.
No, I'm not going to talk about politics or any backroom stuff. I want to go back in time as I have finally found the real reason behind the swap.
Their helmet colours.
The good news is, I'm not going to say much this time around. Just check the pictures below and you'll understand why Alonso was so eager to return to Renault, while McLaren was more than happy to take on Kovalainen.
Alonso's helmet while with Renault, the first time around. See how well they mesh with one another.
Alonso with McLaren in 2007. The clash in his original helmet's colour scheme meant that he had to change his helmet design.
Now Alonso is back with Renault. He has gone back to his original helmet design with a little twist.
As for Kovalainen, this is how he looked like while driving for Renault in 2007.
And this is how he looks like with McLaren this year. See how well they fit with one another.
Moral of the story: Having a helmet with a colour scheme of blue, yellow and red will increase the likelihood of driving for Renault. If you want to drive for McLaren, try a lot of red, silver and black in your helmet design.
That is, Fernando Alonso swapping drives with Heikki Kovalainen.
No, I'm not going to talk about politics or any backroom stuff. I want to go back in time as I have finally found the real reason behind the swap.
Their helmet colours.
The good news is, I'm not going to say much this time around. Just check the pictures below and you'll understand why Alonso was so eager to return to Renault, while McLaren was more than happy to take on Kovalainen.
Alonso's helmet while with Renault, the first time around. See how well they mesh with one another.
Alonso with McLaren in 2007. The clash in his original helmet's colour scheme meant that he had to change his helmet design.
Now Alonso is back with Renault. He has gone back to his original helmet design with a little twist.
As for Kovalainen, this is how he looked like while driving for Renault in 2007.
And this is how he looks like with McLaren this year. See how well they fit with one another.
Moral of the story: Having a helmet with a colour scheme of blue, yellow and red will increase the likelihood of driving for Renault. If you want to drive for McLaren, try a lot of red, silver and black in your helmet design.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Quick Hits
Home Run - 1, Run Scored - 0: Something very strange happened last Friday in a game between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. In the sixth inning, Giants catcher Bengie Molina had an apparent single off the outfield wall, and then was immediately pulled for a pinch-runner, Emmanuel Burriss. However, the umpires decided to review the hit and changed the ruling from a single to a home run. But it was Burriss, not Molina, who was credited with the run scored. The umpires, citing the archaic rule book, ruled that once Burriss touched the bases, the player he replaced cannot return. So Molina has become the first baseball player ever to have hit a home run but was not credited with the run scored.
Sweet Street Racing: The Singapore Grand Prix is probably one of the most fascinating races in recent years. We had a winner, Fernando Alonso, who started from 15th on the grid, but should have started way further in front but for a mechanical problem. We had a front-runner, Felipe Massa, who looked like he was going to take an easy win, but hit his throttle a little too early and took the fuelling hose with him, thus giving him a 13th-placed finish. We had an under-performing driver, Nelsinho Piquet, who had a crash while running in the back of the field, which brought out the safety car and somehow propelled his teammate, Alonso, to the front and an unlikely victory. We also had a front-runner, Kimi Raikkonen, who was trying too hard and crashed into the wall, therefore not having scored a point for the fourth consecutive race. And we also had a spectator, Yours Truly, who got glued to the TV because of the jam-packed action, and forgot that his baby was hungry.
Busch League: What's going on with Kyle Busch? He had been dominating the NASCAR field for months, but when it was time for the Chase for the Cup, he simply disappeared and had had consecutive lowly finishes. It was cruel for Busch, who was in such a good form earlier in the season. But the unique format for the Chase will very likely cost him the title.
Sweet Street Racing: The Singapore Grand Prix is probably one of the most fascinating races in recent years. We had a winner, Fernando Alonso, who started from 15th on the grid, but should have started way further in front but for a mechanical problem. We had a front-runner, Felipe Massa, who looked like he was going to take an easy win, but hit his throttle a little too early and took the fuelling hose with him, thus giving him a 13th-placed finish. We had an under-performing driver, Nelsinho Piquet, who had a crash while running in the back of the field, which brought out the safety car and somehow propelled his teammate, Alonso, to the front and an unlikely victory. We also had a front-runner, Kimi Raikkonen, who was trying too hard and crashed into the wall, therefore not having scored a point for the fourth consecutive race. And we also had a spectator, Yours Truly, who got glued to the TV because of the jam-packed action, and forgot that his baby was hungry.
Busch League: What's going on with Kyle Busch? He had been dominating the NASCAR field for months, but when it was time for the Chase for the Cup, he simply disappeared and had had consecutive lowly finishes. It was cruel for Busch, who was in such a good form earlier in the season. But the unique format for the Chase will very likely cost him the title.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Departure Long Overdue
Yesterday, I questioned the Detroit Lions' decision to retain team president and general manager Matt Millen.
Earlier today, Millen was finally fired, after a run of seven dismal years.
Good call by the Lions. Admitting your mistake and rectifying it is the first step towards righting your ship, which has been going down pretty quickly under Millen.
No, I don't expect the Lions to improve dramatically after Millen's departure. But I'm darn sure that no one will be able to match him in terms of ineptitude in building and leading a football team.
Earlier today, Millen was finally fired, after a run of seven dismal years.
Good call by the Lions. Admitting your mistake and rectifying it is the first step towards righting your ship, which has been going down pretty quickly under Millen.
No, I don't expect the Lions to improve dramatically after Millen's departure. But I'm darn sure that no one will be able to match him in terms of ineptitude in building and leading a football team.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hibernating Raiders, Crying Lions
Al Davis and William Clay Ford, Sr. Two national icons in the United States.
The former being the one-time coach of the once mighty Oakland Raiders, who is now their owner and general manager. The latter is a magnate in the car manufacturing industry who is the owner of the Detroit Lions.
Their contribution to society and the game of football is indisputable. But after years of making all the right decisions, they are both making the same mistake at this very moment.
They are both meddling with their football team, and making a big mess of it.
Under the tutelage of Davis, the Lions were once one of the mightiest teams in the NFL. Their black and silver jersey once struck fear into opposing teams, and their three Superbowl wins in the late 70s' and early 80s' were evidence of their excellence.
But Davis, now nearly in his 80s', still retains his role as the team's general manager, and has made some curious decisions in recent years. The prime examples are the signing of virtually unknown defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to a lucrative contract, and his open and public undermining of head coach Lane Kiffin who, despite improving the team in many aspects, is likely to be fired at any moment.
For Ford, his sins is much simpler: He has placed his trust on the wrong person but is not willing to admit it, despite everyone inside (including his son) and outside the organization knows that Matt Millen, the general manager of the team, is probably the worst in any sports. Under Millen, the Lions have a lousy record and his personnel moves were equally questionable, which is epitomized by his drafting of three wide receivers in the first round in three consecutive years, and none of them really pans out.
Two once-proud franchises, two franchises that could have been run in a much better way.
Only if the owners were willing to listen.
The former being the one-time coach of the once mighty Oakland Raiders, who is now their owner and general manager. The latter is a magnate in the car manufacturing industry who is the owner of the Detroit Lions.
Their contribution to society and the game of football is indisputable. But after years of making all the right decisions, they are both making the same mistake at this very moment.
They are both meddling with their football team, and making a big mess of it.
Under the tutelage of Davis, the Lions were once one of the mightiest teams in the NFL. Their black and silver jersey once struck fear into opposing teams, and their three Superbowl wins in the late 70s' and early 80s' were evidence of their excellence.
But Davis, now nearly in his 80s', still retains his role as the team's general manager, and has made some curious decisions in recent years. The prime examples are the signing of virtually unknown defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to a lucrative contract, and his open and public undermining of head coach Lane Kiffin who, despite improving the team in many aspects, is likely to be fired at any moment.
For Ford, his sins is much simpler: He has placed his trust on the wrong person but is not willing to admit it, despite everyone inside (including his son) and outside the organization knows that Matt Millen, the general manager of the team, is probably the worst in any sports. Under Millen, the Lions have a lousy record and his personnel moves were equally questionable, which is epitomized by his drafting of three wide receivers in the first round in three consecutive years, and none of them really pans out.
Two once-proud franchises, two franchises that could have been run in a much better way.
Only if the owners were willing to listen.
Friday, September 19, 2008
What Were They Thinking?
DeSean Jackson, a rookie wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, snuck behind the Dallas Cowboys secondary for an easy touchdown, and casually flipped the ball behind him to celebrate. One problem: He never crossed the goal line with the ball, therefore nullifying the touchdown. Luckily for him, none of the Cowboys on the field expected him to be that stupid and didn't pick up the ball, and the Eagles retained possession on the one-yard line and punched it in on the very next play. It wasn't the first time Jackson did this. In a high-school game a couple of years ago, he tried to swan-dive into the endzone for a touchdown, but came up just short of the goal line.
Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur, both former Kansas Jayhawks and draft picks in the NBA Draft this year, were expelled from the league mandated Rookie Transition Program earlier in the month for inviting guests (a.k.a., girls) into their rooms and being suspected of marijuana use. They have both been fined $20,000 and required to repeat the symposium next summer.
And speaking of marijuana use, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, who has openly admitted that he still uses it occasionally, was captured in a video making disparaging remarks about the US national anthem and presidential candidate Barack Obama, during a charity flag football game.
Despite their physical prowess, athletes can be, dare I say, idiots.
Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur, both former Kansas Jayhawks and draft picks in the NBA Draft this year, were expelled from the league mandated Rookie Transition Program earlier in the month for inviting guests (a.k.a., girls) into their rooms and being suspected of marijuana use. They have both been fined $20,000 and required to repeat the symposium next summer.
And speaking of marijuana use, Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, who has openly admitted that he still uses it occasionally, was captured in a video making disparaging remarks about the US national anthem and presidential candidate Barack Obama, during a charity flag football game.
Despite their physical prowess, athletes can be, dare I say, idiots.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Fine Vettel
I am simply lost for words.
For a diehard underdog supporter like me, Sebastian Vettel's victory at the Italian Grand Prix was too good to be true.
The 21-year-old Vettel has long been known as an excellent racer in the rain. But for a momentary lapse in concentration in last year's Japanese Grand Prix, he could have notched up his first podium finish or even victory back then.
When rain came down hard during qualifying for this year's Italian Grand Prix, I was extremely excited as I knew a wet race would spring up surprises. But I just didn't expect Vettel to snatch pole and victory at the same time.
A win by "minnows" like Toro Rosso (formerly Minardi) is good for the sports, which has been dominated by big guns like Ferrari and McLaren. The last time a "minnow" won a race was in 2003, when Giancarlo Fisichella won the wet Brazilian Grand Prix in a Jordan, in a much more chaotic fashion when virtually all the usual front runners had spun out.
This time though, Vettel beat all the pre-race favourites fair and square. In fact, the Toro Rosso team was so strong over the weekend that had Sebastien Bourdais not stalled his car on the grid, they could have both drivers celebrating on the podium with their team boss Gerhard Berger, who took an emotional victory here for Ferrari 20 years ago, just weeks after the death of Enzo Ferrari.
(By the way, with a Sebastian and a Sebastien on the team, Toro Rosso should seriously consider changing its name to Seabasses.)
The race itself could not be said as a thriller, as the expected jammed-pack action failed to materialize. But who cares when an underdog emerged victorious?
For a diehard underdog supporter like me, Sebastian Vettel's victory at the Italian Grand Prix was too good to be true.
The 21-year-old Vettel has long been known as an excellent racer in the rain. But for a momentary lapse in concentration in last year's Japanese Grand Prix, he could have notched up his first podium finish or even victory back then.
When rain came down hard during qualifying for this year's Italian Grand Prix, I was extremely excited as I knew a wet race would spring up surprises. But I just didn't expect Vettel to snatch pole and victory at the same time.
A win by "minnows" like Toro Rosso (formerly Minardi) is good for the sports, which has been dominated by big guns like Ferrari and McLaren. The last time a "minnow" won a race was in 2003, when Giancarlo Fisichella won the wet Brazilian Grand Prix in a Jordan, in a much more chaotic fashion when virtually all the usual front runners had spun out.
This time though, Vettel beat all the pre-race favourites fair and square. In fact, the Toro Rosso team was so strong over the weekend that had Sebastien Bourdais not stalled his car on the grid, they could have both drivers celebrating on the podium with their team boss Gerhard Berger, who took an emotional victory here for Ferrari 20 years ago, just weeks after the death of Enzo Ferrari.
(By the way, with a Sebastian and a Sebastien on the team, Toro Rosso should seriously consider changing its name to Seabasses.)
The race itself could not be said as a thriller, as the expected jammed-pack action failed to materialize. But who cares when an underdog emerged victorious?
Friday, September 12, 2008
One Hectic Week
This NFL season could not have kicked off with a better start.
During the pre-season, the New York Giants lost starting defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a knee injury. That simply rubbed salt into the wounds of the defending champion, who had already lost their marquee defensive end Michael Strahan to FOX.
While many believed that the New England Patriots will go unbeaten in the regular season for the second year running, their confidence was cruelly shattered midway through the first quarter of their opening game against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, when All-World quarterback Tom Brady suffered a torn ACL and MCL and is done for the season. His replacement is Matt Cassel, who last started a football game at high school.
Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts lost at home to the Chicago Bears. Not only was their star quarterback Peyton Manning ineffective (probably due to pre-season knee surgery), they also lost key tight end Dallas Clark to a knee injury. Luckily, Clark's injury appeared to be minor and he should be able to play next week.
Also in San Diego, the Chargers lost to the Carolina Panthers on a last-second touchdown by little-known tight end Dante Rosario (who?). And after the game, All-Star linebacker Shawne Merriman finally decided that enough is enough and will undergo knee surgeries which will cost him the rest of the season.
On the happier side, we also witnessed the emergence of some high-profile rookies.
Matt Ryan threw a 62-yard touchdown on his very first pass in leading the Atlanta Falcons to a comfortable victory over the hapless Detroit Lions.
The first time Felix Jones touched the ball, he ran for an 11-yard touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys completely dominated the Cleveland Browns. He oh-so nearly added another touchdown on his very next carry, but was stopped by a shoelace tackle.
And although Matt Forte and Eddie Royal were not first-round draft picks like Ryan and Jones, they both excelled in their debut for the Bears and the Denver Broncos.
And finally, who would have thought, just a couple of months ago, that Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers would be the winning quarterbacks on the same week?
So many storylines, so much happening on Week One. Looks like Week Two has a tough act to follow.
During the pre-season, the New York Giants lost starting defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a knee injury. That simply rubbed salt into the wounds of the defending champion, who had already lost their marquee defensive end Michael Strahan to FOX.
While many believed that the New England Patriots will go unbeaten in the regular season for the second year running, their confidence was cruelly shattered midway through the first quarter of their opening game against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, when All-World quarterback Tom Brady suffered a torn ACL and MCL and is done for the season. His replacement is Matt Cassel, who last started a football game at high school.
Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts lost at home to the Chicago Bears. Not only was their star quarterback Peyton Manning ineffective (probably due to pre-season knee surgery), they also lost key tight end Dallas Clark to a knee injury. Luckily, Clark's injury appeared to be minor and he should be able to play next week.
Also in San Diego, the Chargers lost to the Carolina Panthers on a last-second touchdown by little-known tight end Dante Rosario (who?). And after the game, All-Star linebacker Shawne Merriman finally decided that enough is enough and will undergo knee surgeries which will cost him the rest of the season.
On the happier side, we also witnessed the emergence of some high-profile rookies.
Matt Ryan threw a 62-yard touchdown on his very first pass in leading the Atlanta Falcons to a comfortable victory over the hapless Detroit Lions.
The first time Felix Jones touched the ball, he ran for an 11-yard touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys completely dominated the Cleveland Browns. He oh-so nearly added another touchdown on his very next carry, but was stopped by a shoelace tackle.
And although Matt Forte and Eddie Royal were not first-round draft picks like Ryan and Jones, they both excelled in their debut for the Bears and the Denver Broncos.
And finally, who would have thought, just a couple of months ago, that Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers would be the winning quarterbacks on the same week?
So many storylines, so much happening on Week One. Looks like Week Two has a tough act to follow.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
One Sport, One Language?
Of all the regulations or policies governing players' "conduct" in all major sports, this has to be one of the most ridiculous ever.
The LPGA requires all players to pass an oral English exam, or face a suspension.
Years ago, the LPGA was dominated by players from the USA and countries like Sweden, who can speak fluent English. But with the recent emergence of Asian players, especially the South Koreans, one can often find that English is not the official language in the playing field.
Up steps the LPGA with a new mantra: Speak English or perish.
Why does speaking fluent English matter? The LPGA doesn't stand for Ladies Professional Grammar Association. It's the game of golf it should take care of, not its players' language ability. You cannot bar capable players from playing in tournaments because of it. It's simply wrong.
Imagine FIFA requiring all soccer players to be able to speak fluent English. That would probably be the only way for England, as the sole participant, to win the World Cup.
Worse still, some believe that such a policy reflects the stance of the LPGA: Those who can't speak English are not welcome. They should stay home and not take away the prize money.
It's just a bad PR move. Even Lorena Ochoa, one of its top players from Mexico, said the move is "a little drastic."
They should rescind the policy and welcome players from all over the world, whether they speak fluent English or not, with open arms.
Then again, the LPGA won't listen to me because I don't speak fluent English either.
The LPGA requires all players to pass an oral English exam, or face a suspension.
Years ago, the LPGA was dominated by players from the USA and countries like Sweden, who can speak fluent English. But with the recent emergence of Asian players, especially the South Koreans, one can often find that English is not the official language in the playing field.
Up steps the LPGA with a new mantra: Speak English or perish.
Why does speaking fluent English matter? The LPGA doesn't stand for Ladies Professional Grammar Association. It's the game of golf it should take care of, not its players' language ability. You cannot bar capable players from playing in tournaments because of it. It's simply wrong.
Imagine FIFA requiring all soccer players to be able to speak fluent English. That would probably be the only way for England, as the sole participant, to win the World Cup.
Worse still, some believe that such a policy reflects the stance of the LPGA: Those who can't speak English are not welcome. They should stay home and not take away the prize money.
It's just a bad PR move. Even Lorena Ochoa, one of its top players from Mexico, said the move is "a little drastic."
They should rescind the policy and welcome players from all over the world, whether they speak fluent English or not, with open arms.
Then again, the LPGA won't listen to me because I don't speak fluent English either.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Quick Thoughts Again
How does the Grape Taste? During the last couple of days of the Beijing Olympics when it was certain that the USA could not overtake China in the number of gold medals, I found some interesting polls on some leading US sports websites, such as "What is a better indicator of overall sporting prowess, the number of gold medals or number of total medals?" Hm, very interesting indeed.
Keyman's Key Words: Shortly after the conclusion of the closing ceremony of the Olympics, Keyman Ma, a former colleague of mine some 12 years ago who is now the leading sports anchor at TVB, was asked by his crew his thoughts on the 8-minute show by the London representatives during the ceremony. And as usual, he nailed it right on the money. He said, in Cantonese, that the show put up by London「有啲留（流）...力」. (Translation: Had he not added the final word「力」, that would have meant that the show was a bit shoddy. But with the belated addition of that single word, that entire comment became "London didn't show its true colours in the show".) Nicely put.
Racing at the Dock of the Bay: The new circuit at Valencia for the Formula One European Grand Prix was simply fantastic. With the handful of cruises, yachts and containers as the backdrop, as well as the pretty white bridge being part of the circuit, there was nothing more an F1 enthusiast like me to ask for, except for the introduction of more street circuits in future. I'm now eagerly waiting for the upcoming Singaporean Grand Prix next month.
The Smaller the Better? A quick glance at the midfield of Arsenal made me wonder if they are fielding a team of under-aged players. Neither Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri nor Tomas Rosicky can be regarded as big and physical. No wonder they couldn't win the ball in the midfield and lost to Fulham 1-0 over the weekend.
Keyman's Key Words: Shortly after the conclusion of the closing ceremony of the Olympics, Keyman Ma, a former colleague of mine some 12 years ago who is now the leading sports anchor at TVB, was asked by his crew his thoughts on the 8-minute show by the London representatives during the ceremony. And as usual, he nailed it right on the money. He said, in Cantonese, that the show put up by London「有啲留（流）...力」. (Translation: Had he not added the final word「力」, that would have meant that the show was a bit shoddy. But with the belated addition of that single word, that entire comment became "London didn't show its true colours in the show".) Nicely put.
Racing at the Dock of the Bay: The new circuit at Valencia for the Formula One European Grand Prix was simply fantastic. With the handful of cruises, yachts and containers as the backdrop, as well as the pretty white bridge being part of the circuit, there was nothing more an F1 enthusiast like me to ask for, except for the introduction of more street circuits in future. I'm now eagerly waiting for the upcoming Singaporean Grand Prix next month.
The Smaller the Better? A quick glance at the midfield of Arsenal made me wonder if they are fielding a team of under-aged players. Neither Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri nor Tomas Rosicky can be regarded as big and physical. No wonder they couldn't win the ball in the midfield and lost to Fulham 1-0 over the weekend.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Sitting is the Best Way to Learn
Mark my words: The Green Bay Packers will be fine this season with their new quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
And they'll win more games than the New York Jets, now led by their former star QB Brett Favre.
Many wonder if Rodgers, who has never started an NFL game since being drafted in the first-round in 2005, will be ready for the job.
For the doubters, remember two words:
Tony Romo.
Romo was an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois in 2003. After sitting on the bench and holding the clipboard for the Dallas Cowboys for more than three seasons, he finally got a chance to start when he replaced an ineffective Drew Bledsoe midway through the 2006 season.
And the rest is history.
The same can also be said for Steve McNair. The former Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans QB spent his first two seasons on the bench, then became an All-Pro QB and led his team to the Superbowl.
Unlike players of other positions, QBs aren't expected to have any impact immediately. The best way to nurture them is to let them sit on the bench, and learn by watching how the incumbents play. If you throw them into the fire immediately, the result can be very disappointing, and so many once-promising careers have been ruined because of it.
Before the 2005 Draft, scouts were debating whether Rodgers or Alex Smith should be drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers. While Smith went to the 49ers as the top pick, Rodgers slipped all the way down to 24th, and snapped up by the Packers as the heir apparent for Favre.
While Smith started immediately for the 49ers, his play has been so erratic and disappointing that many have already labeled him as a bust. As for Rodgers, thanks to the "Learning through sitting" approach adopted by the Packers, scouts still have very high hopes on him as he did flash the occasional brilliance during his short stints while replacing Favre last season.
Some may say the Packers have betrayed Favre by trading him to the Jets. But with such a promising QB ready to take over the reins, you can't argue that they have made a bone-headed move.
And they'll win more games than the New York Jets, now led by their former star QB Brett Favre.
Many wonder if Rodgers, who has never started an NFL game since being drafted in the first-round in 2005, will be ready for the job.
For the doubters, remember two words:
Tony Romo.
Romo was an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois in 2003. After sitting on the bench and holding the clipboard for the Dallas Cowboys for more than three seasons, he finally got a chance to start when he replaced an ineffective Drew Bledsoe midway through the 2006 season.
And the rest is history.
The same can also be said for Steve McNair. The former Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans QB spent his first two seasons on the bench, then became an All-Pro QB and led his team to the Superbowl.
Unlike players of other positions, QBs aren't expected to have any impact immediately. The best way to nurture them is to let them sit on the bench, and learn by watching how the incumbents play. If you throw them into the fire immediately, the result can be very disappointing, and so many once-promising careers have been ruined because of it.
Before the 2005 Draft, scouts were debating whether Rodgers or Alex Smith should be drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers. While Smith went to the 49ers as the top pick, Rodgers slipped all the way down to 24th, and snapped up by the Packers as the heir apparent for Favre.
While Smith started immediately for the 49ers, his play has been so erratic and disappointing that many have already labeled him as a bust. As for Rodgers, thanks to the "Learning through sitting" approach adopted by the Packers, scouts still have very high hopes on him as he did flash the occasional brilliance during his short stints while replacing Favre last season.
Some may say the Packers have betrayed Favre by trading him to the Jets. But with such a promising QB ready to take over the reins, you can't argue that they have made a bone-headed move.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
A Missing VIP
Mark Spitz has every reason to be pissed.
While Michael Phelps sets his sight on winning eight gold medals in this year's Olympic Games, Spitz, the current record holder with seven at the 1972 Munich Olympics, is not at the Games.
Instead, he's in Hong Kong on a promotional tour as no one invited him to Beijing, and he's spoken about how disappointed he is.
"I never got invited," Spitz told The Standard. "I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost – it is."
He also said that the IOC, Fina or any US TV network should have brought him to the Games.
Look, Beijing is only a couple of hours' flight from Hong Kong, and there is still ample of time before the swimming events draw to a close.
If there is someone who should witness the record-breaking performance of Phelps, it has to be Spitz.
Just bring him to the Games, please.
While Michael Phelps sets his sight on winning eight gold medals in this year's Olympic Games, Spitz, the current record holder with seven at the 1972 Munich Olympics, is not at the Games.
Instead, he's in Hong Kong on a promotional tour as no one invited him to Beijing, and he's spoken about how disappointed he is.
"I never got invited," Spitz told The Standard. "I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost – it is."
He also said that the IOC, Fina or any US TV network should have brought him to the Games.
Look, Beijing is only a couple of hours' flight from Hong Kong, and there is still ample of time before the swimming events draw to a close.
If there is someone who should witness the record-breaking performance of Phelps, it has to be Spitz.
Just bring him to the Games, please.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
A 17-Year Itch
The Brett Favre saga is finally over.
After months of drama and speculation, the Green Bay Packers have finally traded their star quarterback to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick.
Funny how things finally worked out for the Jets.
In 1991, the Jets were looking for a quarterback in the draft. Going into the second-round, the two quarterbacks they liked were still available: Browning Nagle and Favre. But when the Atlanta Falcons, drafting one spot ahead of the Jets at 33rd, plucked Favre right under their nose, they had to settle for Nagle who would only play for the team for three forgettable years, before ending his NFL career with, yes you've guessed it, the Falcons.
Meanwhile, the Favre kid from Southern Mississippi went on to have a nice little career out in the frigid Green Bay.
Regarding the deal, the Packers got what they wish by sending Favre far away from their division (that is, away from their rival Minnesota Vikings). As for the Jets, they finally get the quarterback they were looking for, albeit 17 years too late.
And I just can't wait to watch the two games between the Jets and the New England Patriots, a rivalry which has suddenly become the most interesting in the NFL given the bad blood that already exists between their head coaches, Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick.
After months of drama and speculation, the Green Bay Packers have finally traded their star quarterback to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick.
Funny how things finally worked out for the Jets.
In 1991, the Jets were looking for a quarterback in the draft. Going into the second-round, the two quarterbacks they liked were still available: Browning Nagle and Favre. But when the Atlanta Falcons, drafting one spot ahead of the Jets at 33rd, plucked Favre right under their nose, they had to settle for Nagle who would only play for the team for three forgettable years, before ending his NFL career with, yes you've guessed it, the Falcons.
Meanwhile, the Favre kid from Southern Mississippi went on to have a nice little career out in the frigid Green Bay.
Regarding the deal, the Packers got what they wish by sending Favre far away from their division (that is, away from their rival Minnesota Vikings). As for the Jets, they finally get the quarterback they were looking for, albeit 17 years too late.
And I just can't wait to watch the two games between the Jets and the New England Patriots, a rivalry which has suddenly become the most interesting in the NFL given the bad blood that already exists between their head coaches, Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Rossi's Mind Games
Valentino Rossi has finally drawn the ire of Casey Stoner.
Stoner was unhappy with Rossi's over-aggressive driving in the United States Grand Prix, where Rossi won at the Laguna Seca circuit for the very first time in his illustrious career.
Ever since Stoner emerged as a genuine threat to Rossi last year, the feud was something waiting to happen.
In the past, Rossi has had feuds with riders such as Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau, both were his main contenders for the World Championship at the time. If history is going to repeat itself, Stoner has to keep his fingers crossed and brace for the worst.
He's not going to do well in the foreseeable future.
The feud between Rossi and Biaggi was legendary, and the pair even came to blows at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2001. Biaggi's career petered out shortly afterwards and he is now racing in the all-but-forgotten World Superbike Championship.
Meanwhile, the feud with Gibernau was no less controversial. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2004, Gibernau's team complained to the officials about Rossi's attempt to leave tire marks on his starting spot. Rossi was then (justifiably) sent to the back of the grid. Legend has it that Rossi then put a curse on Gibernau, saying that he will never win a race again.
And he hasn't won a race since then. The closest Gibernau came to a win was the opening race at Jerez in 2005, when he got punted off the track at the very last corner by, who else, Rossi himself. Since then, he had survived a major start line accident at Catalunya in 2006, and is now out of MotoGP but close to a return to racing full time next season, as a teammate of Stoner.
And in both cases, Rossi was the lone beneficiary as he picked up five straight World titles between 2001 and 2005.
Stoner, after a slow start in the season, has been in excellent form with three victories on the trot. But if there is a lesson to be learnt, it would be not to fall victim to Rossi's mind games.
Rossi's photogenic and larger than life personalities have won him fans over the world. But underneath his innocent smiles lies something more complicated and calculated which should never be underestimated.
Stoner was unhappy with Rossi's over-aggressive driving in the United States Grand Prix, where Rossi won at the Laguna Seca circuit for the very first time in his illustrious career.
Ever since Stoner emerged as a genuine threat to Rossi last year, the feud was something waiting to happen.
In the past, Rossi has had feuds with riders such as Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau, both were his main contenders for the World Championship at the time. If history is going to repeat itself, Stoner has to keep his fingers crossed and brace for the worst.
He's not going to do well in the foreseeable future.
The feud between Rossi and Biaggi was legendary, and the pair even came to blows at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2001. Biaggi's career petered out shortly afterwards and he is now racing in the all-but-forgotten World Superbike Championship.
Meanwhile, the feud with Gibernau was no less controversial. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2004, Gibernau's team complained to the officials about Rossi's attempt to leave tire marks on his starting spot. Rossi was then (justifiably) sent to the back of the grid. Legend has it that Rossi then put a curse on Gibernau, saying that he will never win a race again.
And he hasn't won a race since then. The closest Gibernau came to a win was the opening race at Jerez in 2005, when he got punted off the track at the very last corner by, who else, Rossi himself. Since then, he had survived a major start line accident at Catalunya in 2006, and is now out of MotoGP but close to a return to racing full time next season, as a teammate of Stoner.
And in both cases, Rossi was the lone beneficiary as he picked up five straight World titles between 2001 and 2005.
Stoner, after a slow start in the season, has been in excellent form with three victories on the trot. But if there is a lesson to be learnt, it would be not to fall victim to Rossi's mind games.
Rossi's photogenic and larger than life personalities have won him fans over the world. But underneath his innocent smiles lies something more complicated and calculated which should never be underestimated.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Cars, Cars and Football
Does It Rain in Brazil? I'm amused (yes, amused, as I am not a Ferrari fan, which you may know) by Felipe Massa's total inability to drive in the rain. Of course I understand how difficult it is to race in wet condition. But spinning your car five times in the entire race and finishing dead last? And he did so in a Ferrari and was leading the Championship coming into the race? That is simply inexcusable.
Winless Wonder: When will Nick Heidfeld win a race? He's been with the BMW Sauber team seems like forever now, and all he does is keep picking up second-place finishes (he picked up his sixth at Silverstone). Even his young teammate Robert Kubica has picked up a victory in Canada. When will the stars align for Quick Nick?
Winless Wonder, Part 2: The same predicament is also staring squarely in the face of Vitor Meira who, despite a strong run, was inexcusably punted off the track by EJ Viso in the Indycar race at Watkins Glen. The number of winless races for Meira now stands at 86.
Gone But Not Forgotten: When Ryan Hunter-Reay took the chequered flag at Watkins Glen for his first ever win in the series, I couldn't help but think of Paul Dana, who was driving Hunter-Reay's car with the same sponsors and number, when he was killed while practising for the opening race in 2006. After a barren run of four long years, Rahal Letterman Racing is finally back to the victory lane.
Just Go, Baby! And finally, Brett Favre, please don't come back and just enjoy your well-deserved retirement. I know it is tough to say goodbye to the game you love oh-so much, but flip-flopping your decision to retire is not one that a good leader should make. Just stay out of the limelight and allow Aaron Rodgers to take over the team, please.
Winless Wonder: When will Nick Heidfeld win a race? He's been with the BMW Sauber team seems like forever now, and all he does is keep picking up second-place finishes (he picked up his sixth at Silverstone). Even his young teammate Robert Kubica has picked up a victory in Canada. When will the stars align for Quick Nick?
Winless Wonder, Part 2: The same predicament is also staring squarely in the face of Vitor Meira who, despite a strong run, was inexcusably punted off the track by EJ Viso in the Indycar race at Watkins Glen. The number of winless races for Meira now stands at 86.
Gone But Not Forgotten: When Ryan Hunter-Reay took the chequered flag at Watkins Glen for his first ever win in the series, I couldn't help but think of Paul Dana, who was driving Hunter-Reay's car with the same sponsors and number, when he was killed while practising for the opening race in 2006. After a barren run of four long years, Rahal Letterman Racing is finally back to the victory lane.
Just Go, Baby! And finally, Brett Favre, please don't come back and just enjoy your well-deserved retirement. I know it is tough to say goodbye to the game you love oh-so much, but flip-flopping your decision to retire is not one that a good leader should make. Just stay out of the limelight and allow Aaron Rodgers to take over the team, please.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Love is Blind
I can't say I am a huge fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves. But since my favourite player Kevin Garnett spent 10 frustrating years with the team, I do hope them to do well.
That's why I am absolutely pissed by what their GM Kevin McHale had done on draft night.
Drafting at the third spot, there had been rumours before the draft that the T'wolves would pass over O.J. Mayo, the consensus third-best (some would say the best) player in the draft and select UCLA center Kevin Love instead, believing that Love would be the answer to their search of a quality big man in the middle.
On draft day, common sense prevailed as the T'wolves drafted Mayo, who has star potential written all over him, at number three.
But just as I was thinking which number Mayo would put on for the T'wolves, something happened late in the night.
Turned out that their love for Love never died as they pulled off an eight-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, which had selected Love at number five.
In short, the T'wolves sent Mayo and pieces to the Grizzlies, and received Love, sharp-shooting Mike Miller and pieces in return.
While many believed that McHale had done a good job in landing Love, a player he covets, plus a sharp shooter in Mike Miller who could boost their outside shooting, my initial thought was, "Shoot! McHale has done it again."
I don't have grudges against Love, who I believe will be a solid player. But I just don't see him being an excellent player that Mayo will definitely turn out to be.
And Mike Miller is, well, just Mike Miller.
Time and again teams have fallen into the trap of selecting players with LOTS OF height but LIMITED skills, for believing the age-old axiom of "You can't teach height". Players with lots of height and lots of skills do not come by often, so teams keep rolling the dice on big men, hoping that they would someday become solid players. But very often these big men simply can't play and that's why big players drafted in the first round more likely turn out to be busts than the smaller guys.
Remember Michael Jordan? When you have good perimeter players, why on earth do you still need big men in the middle? Quick: Name any of the anonymous and replaceable big men that have played with MJ. Try Will Perdue, Bill Wennington, Bill Cartwright or even Joe Kleine.
I'm not saying that Love will become a bust or a stiff. But McHale has simply exaggerated the need of a big man in the middle and has given up a star way too early.
And hopefully this will be his last draft for the T'wolves.
That's why I am absolutely pissed by what their GM Kevin McHale had done on draft night.
Drafting at the third spot, there had been rumours before the draft that the T'wolves would pass over O.J. Mayo, the consensus third-best (some would say the best) player in the draft and select UCLA center Kevin Love instead, believing that Love would be the answer to their search of a quality big man in the middle.
On draft day, common sense prevailed as the T'wolves drafted Mayo, who has star potential written all over him, at number three.
But just as I was thinking which number Mayo would put on for the T'wolves, something happened late in the night.
Turned out that their love for Love never died as they pulled off an eight-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, which had selected Love at number five.
In short, the T'wolves sent Mayo and pieces to the Grizzlies, and received Love, sharp-shooting Mike Miller and pieces in return.
While many believed that McHale had done a good job in landing Love, a player he covets, plus a sharp shooter in Mike Miller who could boost their outside shooting, my initial thought was, "Shoot! McHale has done it again."
I don't have grudges against Love, who I believe will be a solid player. But I just don't see him being an excellent player that Mayo will definitely turn out to be.
And Mike Miller is, well, just Mike Miller.
Time and again teams have fallen into the trap of selecting players with LOTS OF height but LIMITED skills, for believing the age-old axiom of "You can't teach height". Players with lots of height and lots of skills do not come by often, so teams keep rolling the dice on big men, hoping that they would someday become solid players. But very often these big men simply can't play and that's why big players drafted in the first round more likely turn out to be busts than the smaller guys.
Remember Michael Jordan? When you have good perimeter players, why on earth do you still need big men in the middle? Quick: Name any of the anonymous and replaceable big men that have played with MJ. Try Will Perdue, Bill Wennington, Bill Cartwright or even Joe Kleine.
I'm not saying that Love will become a bust or a stiff. But McHale has simply exaggerated the need of a big man in the middle and has given up a star way too early.
And hopefully this will be his last draft for the T'wolves.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Euro 2008 Afterthoughts
Spain Dancing in the Rain: Spain, the eventual winner of Euro 2008, appeared to be always playing in the rain during the tournament. But the slippery surface never hampered their fluid style of play as the brilliant Andres Iniesta and Xavi thoroughly controlled the midfield, while the formidable duo of Fernando Torres and David Villa gave the opposing defence all sorts of trouble. The remarkable Iker Casillas was their hero when they beat Italy in the quarter-final on penalties, and Sergio Ramos, despite a nervy start, gradually improved his play and became a reliable stalwart in the end. A thoroughly-deserved win for them, after a wait of 44 frustrating years.
Sacrificial Lahm: There have been talks, before the tournament started, that linked German defender Philipp Lahm to a big-money move to Manchester United. But thanks to his poor play in the semi-final (although he did score the game-winning goal, he was the culprit which allowed Turkey to equalize at 2-2 just minutes earlier) and in the final (he poorly misjudged Fernando Torres' pace and allowed him to slip through for the championship-winning goal), chances are that move will more than likely fall through.
Two is Not Better Than One: UEFA had better stop allowing countries to co-host the European Championship in future. I agree that the host country (or countries) should be allowed direct entry to the finals without the need for a qualifying campaign. But co-hosting means that two (or possibly more) countries will take up places belonging to other more-deserving countries. While Switzerland did pick up a (meaningless) win in the group stage, one point and a single goal were all Austria could muster in three group matches. Many fans would prefer having England, Denmark or even Ukraine in the finals instead, even though there is no guarantee that they would have done any better.
A Lesson for All: For teams which have won their first two group matches and have secured a quarter-final berth, bear this in mind: Never ever ease up on the final group match by resting your regulars and sending in your reserves. Netherlands and Portugal were victims of their complacency and duly went out in the quarter-final, while Spain survived thanks to the heroics of Iker Casillas.
Sacrificial Lahm: There have been talks, before the tournament started, that linked German defender Philipp Lahm to a big-money move to Manchester United. But thanks to his poor play in the semi-final (although he did score the game-winning goal, he was the culprit which allowed Turkey to equalize at 2-2 just minutes earlier) and in the final (he poorly misjudged Fernando Torres' pace and allowed him to slip through for the championship-winning goal), chances are that move will more than likely fall through.
Two is Not Better Than One: UEFA had better stop allowing countries to co-host the European Championship in future. I agree that the host country (or countries) should be allowed direct entry to the finals without the need for a qualifying campaign. But co-hosting means that two (or possibly more) countries will take up places belonging to other more-deserving countries. While Switzerland did pick up a (meaningless) win in the group stage, one point and a single goal were all Austria could muster in three group matches. Many fans would prefer having England, Denmark or even Ukraine in the finals instead, even though there is no guarantee that they would have done any better.
A Lesson for All: For teams which have won their first two group matches and have secured a quarter-final berth, bear this in mind: Never ever ease up on the final group match by resting your regulars and sending in your reserves. Netherlands and Portugal were victims of their complacency and duly went out in the quarter-final, while Spain survived thanks to the heroics of Iker Casillas.
Monday, June 23, 2008
More Thoughts on Euro 2008
We Should Have Welcomed You, Bros: Germany will lose to Turkey in the semi-final of the Euro 2008. Remember how Germany's Lukas Podolski, their Polish-born striker, was instrumental in sealing its Group B win against Poland? Germany rarely calls up any German-born players with Turkish ancestry to the national team. My bet is: Hamit Altintop, one of two German-born players on the Turkish squad (defender Hakan Balta being the other), will score the winning goal (in the last minute, no less) to secure Turkey their first ever final place in a major soccer tournament.
Marco's (Too) Quick Reflexes: When Khalid Boulahrouz, just days after the death of his prematurely born daughter, was cautioned early in the second half against Russia in the quarter-final, Dutch coach Marco Van Basten immediately replaced him with fellow defender Johnny Heitinga. It may have prevented the Dutch from going a man down (and given Boulahrouz a much needed rest), but it did cost them the match as the Dutch defence was visibly exhausted by the amazing pace of the Russians. And in hindsight, the three Dutch substitutes (Robin Van Persie, Ibrahim Afellay and Heitinga) all fared worse than the players they substituted (Dirk Kuyt, Orlando Engelaar and Boulahrouz).
Down But Definitely Not Out: History predicted that Spain should have lost to Italy as they always crashed out of a major tournament on penalties on June 22 (they lost to Belgium and South Korea in World Cup 1986 and 2002 respectively, and fell victim to England in Euro 1996). Had they lost that match, all the group winners would have lost in the first knockout stage. If history holds true from now on, it would not be good news for Spain, the sole surviving group winner. The last two European Championships were won by a team that came second in their group and had lost a group match in the process (France in 2000, and Greece in 2004).
The Precision of Turkish Watches: One minute was added to the end of extra time in the game between Croatia and Turkey. And when Semih Senturk's speculative shot hit the back of the net, the clock shown by the local TV broadcast read exactly 121:00. Not a second earlier, not a second later.
Marco's (Too) Quick Reflexes: When Khalid Boulahrouz, just days after the death of his prematurely born daughter, was cautioned early in the second half against Russia in the quarter-final, Dutch coach Marco Van Basten immediately replaced him with fellow defender Johnny Heitinga. It may have prevented the Dutch from going a man down (and given Boulahrouz a much needed rest), but it did cost them the match as the Dutch defence was visibly exhausted by the amazing pace of the Russians. And in hindsight, the three Dutch substitutes (Robin Van Persie, Ibrahim Afellay and Heitinga) all fared worse than the players they substituted (Dirk Kuyt, Orlando Engelaar and Boulahrouz).
Down But Definitely Not Out: History predicted that Spain should have lost to Italy as they always crashed out of a major tournament on penalties on June 22 (they lost to Belgium and South Korea in World Cup 1986 and 2002 respectively, and fell victim to England in Euro 1996). Had they lost that match, all the group winners would have lost in the first knockout stage. If history holds true from now on, it would not be good news for Spain, the sole surviving group winner. The last two European Championships were won by a team that came second in their group and had lost a group match in the process (France in 2000, and Greece in 2004).
The Precision of Turkish Watches: One minute was added to the end of extra time in the game between Croatia and Turkey. And when Semih Senturk's speculative shot hit the back of the net, the clock shown by the local TV broadcast read exactly 121:00. Not a second earlier, not a second later.
Friday, June 20, 2008
It's Panini Time
I thought I was not going to do it this time, but I'm now in the thick of it.
I'm talking about collecting the Panini stickers for the Euro 2008 album.
I had my first World Cup sticker album in 1986, and I also did the ones for the World Cups in 1990 and 1994. I vividly remember how I was trading stickers with my schoolmates at a torrid pace during the five-minute recess break at school. It was a fun experience, as I wonder which stickers will emerge from the packs my parents had just bought me (after hours of persuasion and days of behaving like a good son), and it is simply fascinating to see the empty spaces in my album gradually being covered by the stickers obtained in trades. When the album was done, a sense of emptiness oozed in as I wondered, "Hm, what am I going to do next?"
I missed the albums for the World Cup in 1998 and 2002. The reason? Girls. Put it simply, I was devoting all my energy and time to my girl (sometime girls), and just didn't have enough spare time for the albums. More importantly, I didn't want my girl (sometime girls) to think that I had never grown up. A macho thing, you know.
When my pregnant wife was admitted to the hospital for an emergency check-up just weeks before the start of the World Cup in 2006, I couldn't be more worried. Luckily she turned out to be okay, and gave birth to Daryl on the third day of the tournament. Yet anyway, I decided to do something to please myself.
Entered the sticker album again.
Unlike the previous times when I had great difficulties in completing the albums, I found lots of allies and friends from the Internet. Thanks to their help, I managed to finish it in just a couple of weeks' time, right before the start of the tournament.
You know, I'm definitely not the richest guy in the world, and every penny means a lot to us. That's why when I knew that the sticker album for the Euro 2008 was out, I didn't go get it as I wanted to save money and spend more time with Daryl. But when my wife's younger sister picked up an album during her trip in Europe and gave it to me as a souvenir, I knew I was destined to do it.
My advice on the sticker album? Never buy too many stickers. Take this year's album as an example. There are 535 slots to be filled, and there are five stickers in each pack ($3 per pack). So I just bought 107 packs (i.e., 535 stickers in total) and then started trading, buying and selling. That way I won't have to carry too many stickers around, but will theoretically have enough ammunition for trades that will complete the album. Luckily for me, my album was more than 70% completed after my 107 packs, and trading partners have been easy to find thanks once again to the Internet. At this pace, I will be able to finish it at the end of the week.
Some would say it's a waste of money, but I think it's an absolute bargain as my $321 worth of stickers has once again given me the long-lost joy that I have been looking for.
I'm talking about collecting the Panini stickers for the Euro 2008 album.
I had my first World Cup sticker album in 1986, and I also did the ones for the World Cups in 1990 and 1994. I vividly remember how I was trading stickers with my schoolmates at a torrid pace during the five-minute recess break at school. It was a fun experience, as I wonder which stickers will emerge from the packs my parents had just bought me (after hours of persuasion and days of behaving like a good son), and it is simply fascinating to see the empty spaces in my album gradually being covered by the stickers obtained in trades. When the album was done, a sense of emptiness oozed in as I wondered, "Hm, what am I going to do next?"
I missed the albums for the World Cup in 1998 and 2002. The reason? Girls. Put it simply, I was devoting all my energy and time to my girl (sometime girls), and just didn't have enough spare time for the albums. More importantly, I didn't want my girl (sometime girls) to think that I had never grown up. A macho thing, you know.
When my pregnant wife was admitted to the hospital for an emergency check-up just weeks before the start of the World Cup in 2006, I couldn't be more worried. Luckily she turned out to be okay, and gave birth to Daryl on the third day of the tournament. Yet anyway, I decided to do something to please myself.
Entered the sticker album again.
Unlike the previous times when I had great difficulties in completing the albums, I found lots of allies and friends from the Internet. Thanks to their help, I managed to finish it in just a couple of weeks' time, right before the start of the tournament.
You know, I'm definitely not the richest guy in the world, and every penny means a lot to us. That's why when I knew that the sticker album for the Euro 2008 was out, I didn't go get it as I wanted to save money and spend more time with Daryl. But when my wife's younger sister picked up an album during her trip in Europe and gave it to me as a souvenir, I knew I was destined to do it.
My advice on the sticker album? Never buy too many stickers. Take this year's album as an example. There are 535 slots to be filled, and there are five stickers in each pack ($3 per pack). So I just bought 107 packs (i.e., 535 stickers in total) and then started trading, buying and selling. That way I won't have to carry too many stickers around, but will theoretically have enough ammunition for trades that will complete the album. Luckily for me, my album was more than 70% completed after my 107 packs, and trading partners have been easy to find thanks once again to the Internet. At this pace, I will be able to finish it at the end of the week.
Some would say it's a waste of money, but I think it's an absolute bargain as my $321 worth of stickers has once again given me the long-lost joy that I have been looking for.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Initial Thoughts for Euro 2008
Sit down and Keep Your Mouth Shut: Big applause for Luis Felipe Scolari for his sportsmanship. When one of his strikers (I don't remember who he was. Parkinson's must have set in.) was bundled down by a Turkish defender in the penalty area, Scolari, just like everyone else on the sidelines, jumped up and yelled for a penalty. But when Nuño Gomes picked up the loose ball after the non-call and shot on goal, Scolari swiftly asked his assistants and substitutes to return to their seats, despite the ball hitting the post and not going in.
Where are the Strikers? The two central defenders, Pepe and Raul Meireles, were the scorers of the two goals for Portugal against Turkey. In fact Pepe should have opened the scoring in the first half but had his header ruled out for offside.
Inspired Substitutions: On the opening day, both Raul Meireles and Vaclav Sverkos (for Czech Republic against Switzerland) came on as second-half substitutes and went on to score.
You Just Knew It Would Happen: Polish-born striker Lukas Podolski scored twice against his home country in Germany's 2-0 win, while the second goal was set up by Miroslav Klose, another Polish-born German striker.
Joke of the Week: Gerhard Kapl, Chairman of Austria's refereeing commission, backed the referee for not ruling out Ruud Van Nistelrooy's opening goal against Italy. Kapl claimed that Van Nistelrooy was onside as Christian Panucci, who was lying injured BEHIND the goal line at the time, was the "one of the last two defenders" according to "article 11.4.1 of the refereeing code".
Where are the Strikers? The two central defenders, Pepe and Raul Meireles, were the scorers of the two goals for Portugal against Turkey. In fact Pepe should have opened the scoring in the first half but had his header ruled out for offside.
Inspired Substitutions: On the opening day, both Raul Meireles and Vaclav Sverkos (for Czech Republic against Switzerland) came on as second-half substitutes and went on to score.
You Just Knew It Would Happen: Polish-born striker Lukas Podolski scored twice against his home country in Germany's 2-0 win, while the second goal was set up by Miroslav Klose, another Polish-born German striker.
Joke of the Week: Gerhard Kapl, Chairman of Austria's refereeing commission, backed the referee for not ruling out Ruud Van Nistelrooy's opening goal against Italy. Kapl claimed that Van Nistelrooy was onside as Christian Panucci, who was lying injured BEHIND the goal line at the time, was the "one of the last two defenders" according to "article 11.4.1 of the refereeing code".
Friday, June 06, 2008
A Much Needed Break
Nothing special happened recently. I'm now waiting for the start of Euro 2008, and will resume my habit of writing long but pointless articles really soon.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tempting Fate
When I picked up this week's edition of Sports Illustrated, I was worried.
I was desperately worried and panic as I found the lovely Danica Patrick on the cover, for the preview of the 92nd Indianapolis 500.
Two words came up in my mind at that very instant: Cover jinx.
And the combination of the jinx with the sport that Danica is in can be fatal.
And I am not joking.
In 1958, Pat O'Connor was on SI's cover for that year's Indianapolis 500 preview. On the very first lap of that race, he was killed in a 15-car pile-up.
As many of you may have heard, there is indeed an unexplained phenomenon called the "SI Cover Jinx", where bad and VERY bad things happen to the person(s) shortly after they have appeared on SI's cover. According to a 2002 article written by SI's Alexander Wolff, there had been 913 jinxes out of a total of 2456 covers at that time, at a staggering rate of 37.2%.
Notable and fatal jinxes include (courtesy of Wikpedia):
- In 1955, during the week when she was on SI's cover, skier Jill Kinmont struck a tree in practice and was paralyzed from neck down.
- In 1961, just two days after an issue of SI featuring her hit the stands, Laurence Owen, a promising young figure skater, perished in a plane crash together with the entire United States figure skating team. That year's World Championship would be cancelled as a mark of respect.
- And in 1989, the then Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti had just finished the investigation on the illegal gambling of Pete Rose, the all-time hit king in baseball. Just days after Giamatti's words appeared on SI, he died suddenly from a heart attack.
Of course, no one wants anything bad to happen to Danica. But why put her in such a life-threatening risk? Why do that to her, especially when she does have a good chance of winning the race this year?
I'd better keep my fingers crossed for her for the entire 200 laps.
I was desperately worried and panic as I found the lovely Danica Patrick on the cover, for the preview of the 92nd Indianapolis 500.
Two words came up in my mind at that very instant: Cover jinx.
And the combination of the jinx with the sport that Danica is in can be fatal.
And I am not joking.
In 1958, Pat O'Connor was on SI's cover for that year's Indianapolis 500 preview. On the very first lap of that race, he was killed in a 15-car pile-up.
As many of you may have heard, there is indeed an unexplained phenomenon called the "SI Cover Jinx", where bad and VERY bad things happen to the person(s) shortly after they have appeared on SI's cover. According to a 2002 article written by SI's Alexander Wolff, there had been 913 jinxes out of a total of 2456 covers at that time, at a staggering rate of 37.2%.
Notable and fatal jinxes include (courtesy of Wikpedia):
- In 1955, during the week when she was on SI's cover, skier Jill Kinmont struck a tree in practice and was paralyzed from neck down.
- In 1961, just two days after an issue of SI featuring her hit the stands, Laurence Owen, a promising young figure skater, perished in a plane crash together with the entire United States figure skating team. That year's World Championship would be cancelled as a mark of respect.
- And in 1989, the then Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti had just finished the investigation on the illegal gambling of Pete Rose, the all-time hit king in baseball. Just days after Giamatti's words appeared on SI, he died suddenly from a heart attack.
Of course, no one wants anything bad to happen to Danica. But why put her in such a life-threatening risk? Why do that to her, especially when she does have a good chance of winning the race this year?
I'd better keep my fingers crossed for her for the entire 200 laps.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Draft Larceny
Now it's getting interesting.
For the umpteenth time, the NBA lottery failed to give the top three picks to the three worst teams. Instead, the Chicago Bulls, which finished with the ninth-worst record last season, managed to beat the odds (1.7%) and stole the prized top pick away from the Miami Heat, Seattle Supersonics, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.
Now they are in an enviable dilemma: Choose from the homegrown Derrick Rose and the high-flying Michael Beasley.
Last season, it was the Portland Trailblazers and the Supersonics who were the biggest beneficiaries, as by winning the lottery they were able to draft college phenoms Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. And I vividly remember the disappointment and frustration of Jerry West, the President of Basketball Operations of the Grizzlies, when his worst-placed team could only come up with the fourth pick.
You'll have to bet that West will have more complaint this time around.
Ever since the current system began in 1994, only twice (in 2003 and 2004) did the worst team come up with the top selection. More often than not, the better teams were able to find a way to sneak up the draft order.
People have been crying foul for years, and many believe that there is a conspiracy going on in favour of the Knicks, as well as teams from other big cities, by the league.
But if that is the case, the Knicks should have won the lottery every year. And with a roster of players like Yao Ming, LeBron James and Chris Paul, they should have been a force in the league, but not the laughingstock they have been for years.
I see no problem in the current system, which is mainly to deter teams from throwing games late in the season, but also ensure that the worst team will pick no lower than fourth. In fact, after seeing how crazily the ping-pong balls have been going year in year out, teams will finally realize that tanking games will: 1. Annoy your fans; and 2. Not give you the much-coveted top pick.
After all, it's a lottery, where anything can happen.
For the umpteenth time, the NBA lottery failed to give the top three picks to the three worst teams. Instead, the Chicago Bulls, which finished with the ninth-worst record last season, managed to beat the odds (1.7%) and stole the prized top pick away from the Miami Heat, Seattle Supersonics, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.
Now they are in an enviable dilemma: Choose from the homegrown Derrick Rose and the high-flying Michael Beasley.
Last season, it was the Portland Trailblazers and the Supersonics who were the biggest beneficiaries, as by winning the lottery they were able to draft college phenoms Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. And I vividly remember the disappointment and frustration of Jerry West, the President of Basketball Operations of the Grizzlies, when his worst-placed team could only come up with the fourth pick.
You'll have to bet that West will have more complaint this time around.
Ever since the current system began in 1994, only twice (in 2003 and 2004) did the worst team come up with the top selection. More often than not, the better teams were able to find a way to sneak up the draft order.
People have been crying foul for years, and many believe that there is a conspiracy going on in favour of the Knicks, as well as teams from other big cities, by the league.
But if that is the case, the Knicks should have won the lottery every year. And with a roster of players like Yao Ming, LeBron James and Chris Paul, they should have been a force in the league, but not the laughingstock they have been for years.
I see no problem in the current system, which is mainly to deter teams from throwing games late in the season, but also ensure that the worst team will pick no lower than fourth. In fact, after seeing how crazily the ping-pong balls have been going year in year out, teams will finally realize that tanking games will: 1. Annoy your fans; and 2. Not give you the much-coveted top pick.
After all, it's a lottery, where anything can happen.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Hammering Success in Advertising 101
While watching how Catania avoided relegation on the last day of the Serie A season, and witnessing the all-too-familiar scene of fans stomping the pitch to snatch whatever they could from the players who have not escaped in time, my better half found it quite amusing to see players being stripped to their underpants, in an act of comic and barbaric proportion.
And while we were marveling on the colours of underpants the players were wearing, my better half said, "Why don't they sell advertising space on the underpants?"
I never have a sharp sense of business, but now I know for sure my better half does have a better acumen for (potential) commercial success.
If I were to maximize the exposure of my products or service through advertising, I would try something outrageous, something no one has ever tried before, and something inexpensive.
Then there should be no better place to place an advertisement on the players' underpants. It's definitely outrageous, for sure no one has ever tried before, and for Christ's sake inexpensive as it only covers a small amount of space with limited time of exposure, no pun intended.
But of course, you can't be cheap and sponsor one team only. You have to target all teams playing the final game at home (i.e., those who are most likely to fall victims to the grand theft of jerseys and shorts), and those home teams with a good chance of achieving something good (e.g., winning the title, securing a Champions League or UEFA Cup spot, or avoiding relegation) should be on top of your wish list.
If you have sponsored, say, Parma only, for the past weekend, the name of your product would never be shown to the crowd, as they could not avoid relegation and the players decided to weep instead of strip on the pitch.
And I heard that locksmiths and pile-driving companies are itching to give it a shot next season.
And while we were marveling on the colours of underpants the players were wearing, my better half said, "Why don't they sell advertising space on the underpants?"
I never have a sharp sense of business, but now I know for sure my better half does have a better acumen for (potential) commercial success.
If I were to maximize the exposure of my products or service through advertising, I would try something outrageous, something no one has ever tried before, and something inexpensive.
Then there should be no better place to place an advertisement on the players' underpants. It's definitely outrageous, for sure no one has ever tried before, and for Christ's sake inexpensive as it only covers a small amount of space with limited time of exposure, no pun intended.
But of course, you can't be cheap and sponsor one team only. You have to target all teams playing the final game at home (i.e., those who are most likely to fall victims to the grand theft of jerseys and shorts), and those home teams with a good chance of achieving something good (e.g., winning the title, securing a Champions League or UEFA Cup spot, or avoiding relegation) should be on top of your wish list.
If you have sponsored, say, Parma only, for the past weekend, the name of your product would never be shown to the crowd, as they could not avoid relegation and the players decided to weep instead of strip on the pitch.
And I heard that locksmiths and pile-driving companies are itching to give it a shot next season.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Enemy Heskey
For those who are looking for the reason for Chelsea's failure to capture this year's Premiership title, look no further than a stocky former English international in Emile Heskey.
Heskey has a well-deserved reputation of squandering chances. But much to the chagrin of Chelsea players and fans, he somehow managed to sneak in a late equalizer for Wigan at Stamford Bridge a couple of weeks ago, which gave the Latics a valuable point which would eventually ensure their survival in the Premiership, but at the same time cost the Blues two vital points in the standings.
And when the Blues needed him the most, he reverted to his old self and failed to deliver again. When Wigan was down by a goal in the final match of the season against Manchester United, Heskey had a number of golden chances to equalize. If the match finished in a draw and the Blues beat Bolton Wanderers, the Blues would be crowned the Champions.
But things didn't go the Blues' way. Heskey squandered a number of chances and the Latics lost, while Bolton forced in a late equalizer when Chelsea players were distracted by the fact that their fate had been sealed by the Red Devils' victory.
The final standings showed that Manchester United beat Chelsea by two clear points. But just imagine what might have happened had Heskey not equalized against Chelsea, or had taken any of the golden chances against Manchester United.
Heskey has a well-deserved reputation of squandering chances. But much to the chagrin of Chelsea players and fans, he somehow managed to sneak in a late equalizer for Wigan at Stamford Bridge a couple of weeks ago, which gave the Latics a valuable point which would eventually ensure their survival in the Premiership, but at the same time cost the Blues two vital points in the standings.
And when the Blues needed him the most, he reverted to his old self and failed to deliver again. When Wigan was down by a goal in the final match of the season against Manchester United, Heskey had a number of golden chances to equalize. If the match finished in a draw and the Blues beat Bolton Wanderers, the Blues would be crowned the Champions.
But things didn't go the Blues' way. Heskey squandered a number of chances and the Latics lost, while Bolton forced in a late equalizer when Chelsea players were distracted by the fact that their fate had been sealed by the Red Devils' victory.
The final standings showed that Manchester United beat Chelsea by two clear points. But just imagine what might have happened had Heskey not equalized against Chelsea, or had taken any of the golden chances against Manchester United.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Firing on All Cylinders
I have watched a little snooker lately, and am mightily amused by the way Liang Wenbo, the latest Chinese sensation, plays.
This kid definitely has talent, and is always aggressive when it comes to potting. More than often the potted balls would go straight into the pocket. Yet not infrequently, he would miss his pots and the resulting ricochets would leave behind a mess on the table.
Snooker has always been a conservative sport. Players play in vest and bow-ties, and only recently are they allowed to take off their bow-ties when competing in some of the lesser tournaments.
Players are mostly conservative too. They all take their time before making a shot, and we often see a player taking ages to deliberate what the best possible shot is. It appears that not giving a good thought before making a shot and thus creating a mess on the table is a cardinal sin.
But not for Liang.
Liang always shows signs of impatience, which is fitting for his age. When he sees the faintest of opportunity, he simply pounces on it, regardless of how tight the angle is, or how many balls are involved in the combination shots. Such attack-mindedness, audacity and creativity have never been seen before in the snooker scene. Even the impetuous Ronnie O'Sullivan in his earlier years knew when to play a defensive shot.
And Liang is probably the first snooker ever to display any joy and excitement during a match, when his waved his fist and let out a big yell in the deciding frame against Joe Swail in the last 16 of this year's World Championship. However, his premature celebration almost turned into one of the biggest embarrassments of all-time when he missed his next shot, only for Swail to fail to capitalise.
Of course, luck was definitely on his side when his missed shots somehow avoided presenting opportunities to his opponents during his run in the World Championship. TV coverage more than once showed the frustration of his opponents for the mess, but not any chances, he had left behind on the table.
I just hope that his cavalier approach will give him major victories before his luck finally runs out.
This kid definitely has talent, and is always aggressive when it comes to potting. More than often the potted balls would go straight into the pocket. Yet not infrequently, he would miss his pots and the resulting ricochets would leave behind a mess on the table.
Snooker has always been a conservative sport. Players play in vest and bow-ties, and only recently are they allowed to take off their bow-ties when competing in some of the lesser tournaments.
Players are mostly conservative too. They all take their time before making a shot, and we often see a player taking ages to deliberate what the best possible shot is. It appears that not giving a good thought before making a shot and thus creating a mess on the table is a cardinal sin.
But not for Liang.
Liang always shows signs of impatience, which is fitting for his age. When he sees the faintest of opportunity, he simply pounces on it, regardless of how tight the angle is, or how many balls are involved in the combination shots. Such attack-mindedness, audacity and creativity have never been seen before in the snooker scene. Even the impetuous Ronnie O'Sullivan in his earlier years knew when to play a defensive shot.
And Liang is probably the first snooker ever to display any joy and excitement during a match, when his waved his fist and let out a big yell in the deciding frame against Joe Swail in the last 16 of this year's World Championship. However, his premature celebration almost turned into one of the biggest embarrassments of all-time when he missed his next shot, only for Swail to fail to capitalise.
Of course, luck was definitely on his side when his missed shots somehow avoided presenting opportunities to his opponents during his run in the World Championship. TV coverage more than once showed the frustration of his opponents for the mess, but not any chances, he had left behind on the table.
I just hope that his cavalier approach will give him major victories before his luck finally runs out.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Numbers Game 2008
I know I have done it before, and so I am going to do it again.
I am really crazy for the Dallas Cowboys, and the NFL Draft too.
After spending two full nights listening to the webcast of the draft, and I have once again finished typing the information of all draftees into a neatly-prepared Word file.
Thanks to the Wikipedia and the internet, I no longer have to wait for months to find out what the jersey numbers of the draftees are.
So please indulge me for listing the jersey numbers of their draft class of 2008:
28 RB Felix Jones
31 CB Mike Jenkins
80 TE Martellus Bennett
29 RB Tashard Choice
32 CB Orlando Scandrick
53 DE Erik Walden
Now there is one more happy man in the world.
I am really crazy for the Dallas Cowboys, and the NFL Draft too.
After spending two full nights listening to the webcast of the draft, and I have once again finished typing the information of all draftees into a neatly-prepared Word file.
Thanks to the Wikipedia and the internet, I no longer have to wait for months to find out what the jersey numbers of the draftees are.
So please indulge me for listing the jersey numbers of their draft class of 2008:
28 RB Felix Jones
31 CB Mike Jenkins
80 TE Martellus Bennett
29 RB Tashard Choice
32 CB Orlando Scandrick
53 DE Erik Walden
Now there is one more happy man in the world.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Draft Thoughts 2008
- Being a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, I'm thrilled with their top two picks in Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins. However, I was miffed when Jerry Jones kept trading down on Day 2. His wheeling and dealing had cost the team the chance to draft some of the receiving talents like Mario Manningham and Andre Caldwell, who were both available at the time.
- Jake Long was delighted to be drafted first overall. And he must have thought that he's living in a dream when the Miami Dolphins stole quarterback Chad Henne, Long's buddy at Michigan and one of the top QBs in this year's draft, with the 57th pick.
- The wide receiver crop this year is weak, but that isn't an excuse for the Tennessee Titans not to draft one until Round 4. Vince Young is desperate for WR help, but the Titans keep drafting running backs on Day 1 for the third year in a row. Perhaps they should consider converting some of them into WRs.
- Gutsy move by the Washington Redskins, who drafted two WRs (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly) and a tight end (Fred Davis) with their top three picks, despite glaring needs in other areas. I wonder if the Redskins could work out a trade with the Titans ...
- Jake Long was delighted to be drafted first overall. And he must have thought that he's living in a dream when the Miami Dolphins stole quarterback Chad Henne, Long's buddy at Michigan and one of the top QBs in this year's draft, with the 57th pick.
- The wide receiver crop this year is weak, but that isn't an excuse for the Tennessee Titans not to draft one until Round 4. Vince Young is desperate for WR help, but the Titans keep drafting running backs on Day 1 for the third year in a row. Perhaps they should consider converting some of them into WRs.
- Gutsy move by the Washington Redskins, who drafted two WRs (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly) and a tight end (Fred Davis) with their top three picks, despite glaring needs in other areas. I wonder if the Redskins could work out a trade with the Titans ...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Deservedly Danica
On her 50th try, Danica Patrick finally won her first race in the IndyCar Series.
With that, she has finally thrown that gigantic ape off her back, and will no longer be remembered as another winless wonder, a la Anna Kournikova.
And she's also become the first woman to win a major American open-wheel race.
Danica (only the most famous are better known by their first names than their last names) was among the top six at the race in Motegi, Japan all day. When the green flag was about to be shown after the final caution period on lap 148, her team called her in to top off the tank, hoping that she could save enough fuel without having to pit again for the final 52 laps of the race.
And when all the front runners had to duck into the pits for a splash-and-dash with just laps to go, Danica took over the lead for the final three laps and won easily by over five seconds.
For those who say that Danica was lucky to emerge victorious, think about this: Just a week before, Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR race at Phoenix by using the same fuel strategy, and no one was complaining.
And Danica was not the only driver to refuel on lap 148. Helio Castroneves and Ed Carpenter both pitted with her, but she was the only one who could save enough fuel to go the distance.
As for Danica's apparent struggles in road courses, remember this: Sam Hornish Jr. is always terrible in road courses, and he's driving for Penske Racing.
In short, give Danica a break. She deserves her seat in one of the top IndyCar teams.
And Sunday's race showed that she has both the speed and wit to be a successful racer.
With that, she has finally thrown that gigantic ape off her back, and will no longer be remembered as another winless wonder, a la Anna Kournikova.
And she's also become the first woman to win a major American open-wheel race.
Danica (only the most famous are better known by their first names than their last names) was among the top six at the race in Motegi, Japan all day. When the green flag was about to be shown after the final caution period on lap 148, her team called her in to top off the tank, hoping that she could save enough fuel without having to pit again for the final 52 laps of the race.
And when all the front runners had to duck into the pits for a splash-and-dash with just laps to go, Danica took over the lead for the final three laps and won easily by over five seconds.
For those who say that Danica was lucky to emerge victorious, think about this: Just a week before, Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR race at Phoenix by using the same fuel strategy, and no one was complaining.
And Danica was not the only driver to refuel on lap 148. Helio Castroneves and Ed Carpenter both pitted with her, but she was the only one who could save enough fuel to go the distance.
As for Danica's apparent struggles in road courses, remember this: Sam Hornish Jr. is always terrible in road courses, and he's driving for Penske Racing.
In short, give Danica a break. She deserves her seat in one of the top IndyCar teams.
And Sunday's race showed that she has both the speed and wit to be a successful racer.
Monday, April 21, 2008
A Modest Proposal
Next time there are talks on revising the soccer rules, the following should be at the very top of the agenda:
Regard the frame of the goal as a member of the defending team. (For the sake of simplicity, the off-side rule will remain unchanged, despite this new interpretation.) So when a shot hits the post and goes out of play, the attacking team will maintain possession.
The rationale is simple:
- The frame of the goal usually prevents the attacking team from scoring, which is just like an extra defender.
- Shots on target should be rewarded. For an on-target shot which threatens to go in, hitting the post is unlucky enough, and not having anything as a reward (i.e., a corner kick) is just bloodily cruel.
The rule is simple and easy to interpret. It doesn't cost anything to implement, but can definitely increase the number of goals scored.
Can you hear me, Mr Blatter?
Regard the frame of the goal as a member of the defending team. (For the sake of simplicity, the off-side rule will remain unchanged, despite this new interpretation.) So when a shot hits the post and goes out of play, the attacking team will maintain possession.
The rationale is simple:
- The frame of the goal usually prevents the attacking team from scoring, which is just like an extra defender.
- Shots on target should be rewarded. For an on-target shot which threatens to go in, hitting the post is unlucky enough, and not having anything as a reward (i.e., a corner kick) is just bloodily cruel.
The rule is simple and easy to interpret. It doesn't cost anything to implement, but can definitely increase the number of goals scored.
Can you hear me, Mr Blatter?
Friday, April 18, 2008
One Shattered Olympic Dream
Ng Fong-wing, the legendary sports anchor in Hong Kong, passed away after a sudden and short illness yesterday.
He was the Chris Berman of Hong Kong. His humourous and laid-back style had made the three-minute sports news session his personal playground and, more importantly, the most highly anticipated segment of the 30-minute daily TV news broadcast.
He was a unique sports anchor way ahead of his time. While we idolize the Dan Patricks, Keith Olbermanns and Kenny Maynes of ESPN's SportsCenter for their humourous and sometimes hysterical style, he had been having fun on his daily sports news show since 1982.
At a time when no one thought that sports news could or should be presented this way, he was determined to become the pioneer. It didn't take long for his witty and sometimes sarcastic style to become a massive hit, and his catchphrases like "The frame of the goal is the best buddy of goalkeepers" and "Ball is round" have achieved legendary status.
He continued working for the TV station after his retirement in 2005, including doing the commentary work for the World Cup in 2006. He also said that he would love to be one of the hosts for the Olympics Games in Beijing for the TV station later this year, if his health conditions permit.
But with the opening ceremony just 112 days to go, and only 15 days before the Olympic torch visits Hong Kong for the first time since 1964, a major organ failure resulting from leukemia cruelly took his life, at the age of 67.
He will be sorely missed, as no one will ever come close to imitating his unique style.
He was the Chris Berman of Hong Kong. His humourous and laid-back style had made the three-minute sports news session his personal playground and, more importantly, the most highly anticipated segment of the 30-minute daily TV news broadcast.
He was a unique sports anchor way ahead of his time. While we idolize the Dan Patricks, Keith Olbermanns and Kenny Maynes of ESPN's SportsCenter for their humourous and sometimes hysterical style, he had been having fun on his daily sports news show since 1982.
At a time when no one thought that sports news could or should be presented this way, he was determined to become the pioneer. It didn't take long for his witty and sometimes sarcastic style to become a massive hit, and his catchphrases like "The frame of the goal is the best buddy of goalkeepers" and "Ball is round" have achieved legendary status.
He continued working for the TV station after his retirement in 2005, including doing the commentary work for the World Cup in 2006. He also said that he would love to be one of the hosts for the Olympics Games in Beijing for the TV station later this year, if his health conditions permit.
But with the opening ceremony just 112 days to go, and only 15 days before the Olympic torch visits Hong Kong for the first time since 1964, a major organ failure resulting from leukemia cruelly took his life, at the age of 67.
He will be sorely missed, as no one will ever come close to imitating his unique style.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Have Gloves (and Helmet), Will Travel
Like his fellow injury-plagued Czech goalkeeper Petr Kouba a decade ago, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech is definitely cursed.
First, he nearly lost his life when Reading's Stephen Hunt kneed him in the head in a dubious challenge earlier in the season. The result, a rugby-style head gear for Cech, and a spat between his sponsor Adidas and New Zealand sporting goods manufacturer Canterbury, which made the head gear for Cech.
Then, in a training session while recovering from an ankle injury in recent weeks, he collided with teammate Tal Ben Haim and suffered a deep gash on his cheek and lips, which needed some 50 stitches to close. When he made his shocking return against Wigan, he had to put on a mask over his cheek and lips IN ADDITION TO the head gear.
At this rate, he will be wearing a full-face helmet in a game very soon.
First, he nearly lost his life when Reading's Stephen Hunt kneed him in the head in a dubious challenge earlier in the season. The result, a rugby-style head gear for Cech, and a spat between his sponsor Adidas and New Zealand sporting goods manufacturer Canterbury, which made the head gear for Cech.
Then, in a training session while recovering from an ankle injury in recent weeks, he collided with teammate Tal Ben Haim and suffered a deep gash on his cheek and lips, which needed some 50 stitches to close. When he made his shocking return against Wigan, he had to put on a mask over his cheek and lips IN ADDITION TO the head gear.
At this rate, he will be wearing a full-face helmet in a game very soon.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Long Lost Twins
In the world of sports, there are lots of lost twins at birth. Just check out the odd couples below:
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan;
Alain Prost and Robert Kubica; and
Ronaldo and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Interestingly, the following non-sports guys are rumoured to be pursuing a second and secret career in sports, as the following photographic evidence shows:
Sylvester Stallone;
Matt Damon;
David Duchovny;
Omar Epps of House;
Crayon Shin-chan; and most amazingly
The Principal in the McMug comics.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan;
Alain Prost and Robert Kubica; and
Ronaldo and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Interestingly, the following non-sports guys are rumoured to be pursuing a second and secret career in sports, as the following photographic evidence shows:
Sylvester Stallone;
Matt Damon;
David Duchovny;
Omar Epps of House;
Crayon Shin-chan; and most amazingly
The Principal in the McMug comics.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Mind-boggling Numbers
When McLaren were stripped of all their Constructor's points for the 2007 Formula One season due to a spying scandal, they were relegated to the bottom of that year's Constructors' standings. Under FIA rules, McLaren, being the "worst" team in the previous year, would be assigned the final two numbers (22 and 23) for the 2008 season.
A year ago ...
Fernando Alonso was having a clash with rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton on and off the track. The result was a disastrous divorce between two of the best drivers in the world, and McLaren would have to find a replacement for the Spaniard in short notice.
Back in April 2005 ...
The inaugural GP2 season kicked off at Imola, and the first thing they did was to assign numbers to the teams. They decided to do so by running a practice session to assign numbers according to the teams' practice speed. Arden, with Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen on board, was regarded as one of the favourites to land the highly coveted numbers 1 and 2. Alas, gremlins ran riot in Kovalainen's car, which meant that he could not set any competitive times, while his teammate Nicolas Lapierre was not in good form on the day. Eventually, Arden was the second-worst team in the field and was thus assigned with numbers 22 and 23. Despite the "setback", Kovalainen would drive his number 22 car to become the first ever winner of a GP2 race.
Fast forward to 2008 ...
Just weeks before the 2008 Formula One season was to start, Kovalainen was named as the replacement for Alonso, and would drive the number 23 car for the season.
...
In a matter of four years, Kovalainen, through no fault of his own, twice has the "misfortune" of driving for a top team assigned with numbers 22 and 23, unusually high numbers for a top team. In fact, until Hamilton's victory at the season-opening race in Melbourne, no car numbered 22 or 23 has ever won a Formula One race since the current numbering system had been in place.
The moral of the story? Nothing special. It is just another strange coincidence in this big world of sport.
A year ago ...
Fernando Alonso was having a clash with rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton on and off the track. The result was a disastrous divorce between two of the best drivers in the world, and McLaren would have to find a replacement for the Spaniard in short notice.
Back in April 2005 ...
The inaugural GP2 season kicked off at Imola, and the first thing they did was to assign numbers to the teams. They decided to do so by running a practice session to assign numbers according to the teams' practice speed. Arden, with Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen on board, was regarded as one of the favourites to land the highly coveted numbers 1 and 2. Alas, gremlins ran riot in Kovalainen's car, which meant that he could not set any competitive times, while his teammate Nicolas Lapierre was not in good form on the day. Eventually, Arden was the second-worst team in the field and was thus assigned with numbers 22 and 23. Despite the "setback", Kovalainen would drive his number 22 car to become the first ever winner of a GP2 race.
Fast forward to 2008 ...
Just weeks before the 2008 Formula One season was to start, Kovalainen was named as the replacement for Alonso, and would drive the number 23 car for the season.
...
In a matter of four years, Kovalainen, through no fault of his own, twice has the "misfortune" of driving for a top team assigned with numbers 22 and 23, unusually high numbers for a top team. In fact, until Hamilton's victory at the season-opening race in Melbourne, no car numbered 22 or 23 has ever won a Formula One race since the current numbering system had been in place.
The moral of the story? Nothing special. It is just another strange coincidence in this big world of sport.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
CR7's Secrets
For those who are crazy about how Cristiano Ronaldo's free kicks swerve, just relax.
There is no big deal about it, and it's definitely NOT his invention.
It's just a knuckleball. Plain and simple.
If you could avoid spinning the ball (so that the patterns of the ball remain clearly visible when it travels) when you throw or kick it, it would "stutter" in the direction of the fluctuating air current. Instead of kicking across the lower side of the ball and bend it like Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo kicks straight at it, and the ball will not spin as it travels but moves like crazy.
It is a simple principle of physics. Ironically, too many commentators call it "physics-defying".
Knuckleball has been in existence in baseball since the beginning of the last century. Instead of throwing as hard as one can and hurting their arms, throwing a knuckleball allows pitchers to rest their arms, and the unpredictable movement of the ball makes it difficult for batters to make clean contact. While traditional pitchers need three to four days of rest between starts, knuckleballers generally have "rubber arms" and can pitch on very short rest.
Knuckleball is one of the most interesting aspects in the world of sports. In what other sports can you see some soft-tossing old guys a member among the starting line-up?
There is no big deal about it, and it's definitely NOT his invention.
It's just a knuckleball. Plain and simple.
If you could avoid spinning the ball (so that the patterns of the ball remain clearly visible when it travels) when you throw or kick it, it would "stutter" in the direction of the fluctuating air current. Instead of kicking across the lower side of the ball and bend it like Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo kicks straight at it, and the ball will not spin as it travels but moves like crazy.
It is a simple principle of physics. Ironically, too many commentators call it "physics-defying".
Knuckleball has been in existence in baseball since the beginning of the last century. Instead of throwing as hard as one can and hurting their arms, throwing a knuckleball allows pitchers to rest their arms, and the unpredictable movement of the ball makes it difficult for batters to make clean contact. While traditional pitchers need three to four days of rest between starts, knuckleballers generally have "rubber arms" and can pitch on very short rest.
Knuckleball is one of the most interesting aspects in the world of sports. In what other sports can you see some soft-tossing old guys a member among the starting line-up?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sometimes, It Doesn't Matter How You Look ...
I have never been an NCAA basketball guy, as they are seldom on local TV.
But in a matter of minutes, I have become a Tyler Hansbrough fan.
When I flipped to ESPN after a long-run of channel-surfing, North Carolina was trailing to Virginia Tech by some six points late in the second-half of the semi-final of the ACC Tournament.
That's when Hansbrough came through.
Hansbrough is definitely not the prettiest player on court, in terms of playing style and how he looks (Think Forrest Gump with mad hops). But he is darn good and smart, and has a knack of being at the right place at the right time. First, he sneaked behind a couple of day-dreaming Hokies to put in his teammate's missed free throw to tie the game late on. Then in the dying seconds, Hansbrough, normally and nominally a post player, drifted way from the post to the right baseline for an offensive rebound, and then coolly drilled a 15-foot jumper for the game-winning basket with just 0.8 seconds to go.
That helped the Tar Heels escape from an embarrassing upset at the hands of the Hokies, which they had annihilated earlier in the regular season, and pretty much shows the nation just how good Hansbrough really is.
Hey, if Forrest Gump could star for Bear Bryant, Hansbrough can definitely star for anyone in the NBA.
But in a matter of minutes, I have become a Tyler Hansbrough fan.
When I flipped to ESPN after a long-run of channel-surfing, North Carolina was trailing to Virginia Tech by some six points late in the second-half of the semi-final of the ACC Tournament.
That's when Hansbrough came through.
Hansbrough is definitely not the prettiest player on court, in terms of playing style and how he looks (Think Forrest Gump with mad hops). But he is darn good and smart, and has a knack of being at the right place at the right time. First, he sneaked behind a couple of day-dreaming Hokies to put in his teammate's missed free throw to tie the game late on. Then in the dying seconds, Hansbrough, normally and nominally a post player, drifted way from the post to the right baseline for an offensive rebound, and then coolly drilled a 15-foot jumper for the game-winning basket with just 0.8 seconds to go.
That helped the Tar Heels escape from an embarrassing upset at the hands of the Hokies, which they had annihilated earlier in the regular season, and pretty much shows the nation just how good Hansbrough really is.
Hey, if Forrest Gump could star for Bear Bryant, Hansbrough can definitely star for anyone in the NBA.
Monday, March 17, 2008
A Toast to the Toad
For those who have been following this blog, you may have noticed that I'm a huge Liverpool fan. But that has nothing to do why I hate some of the comments by Manchester United's boss Sir Alex Ferguson and his Arsenal counterpart Arsène Wenger.
They are simply bad losers.
In sports, you win some, and you lose some. You would definitely love to see your team win, and certainly be disappointed when your team loses. But can't they just be gracious enough to acknowledge that for once, their team was second best on the field, or simply luck was not on their side?
I don't recall exactly what Sir Alex said after his team lost at home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup quarter-final. In a match thoroughly dominated by the United, Portsmouth took a smash-and-grab victory thanks to a second-half penalty. After the match, Sir Alex was absolutely furious with the referee, and launched a scathing attack on his competence by not awarding his side a penalty in the first half.
As a matter of fact, it has become a routine for Sir Alex in recent years: A loss, a scathing attack on the referee, and then a huge fine slapped on him.
When Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva had his leg horribly broken by a badly mistimed tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor, Wenger's, in his post-game comment, suggested that players such as Taylor should be banned for life (a comment which he later retracted). Now I totally understand his anguish and despair over the loss of his star striker, but hasn't it got a little too far?
And just like Sir Alex, Wenger always complains about the referee for not giving them penalties when he side drops points. Worse still, you can actually see his angry facial expressions when he confronts the other team's manager after the match, and he has become notorious for refusing to shake hands with them on occasion.
When Chelsea was humbled by Barnsley in the FA Cup quarter-final, their boss, Avram Grant was gracious enough to acknowledge the good job done by his opponent.
Perhaps next time when Manchester United or Arsenal loses, Sir Alex or Wenger should bear in mind the following: WWTD?
In other words, What Would the Toad Do?
They are simply bad losers.
In sports, you win some, and you lose some. You would definitely love to see your team win, and certainly be disappointed when your team loses. But can't they just be gracious enough to acknowledge that for once, their team was second best on the field, or simply luck was not on their side?
I don't recall exactly what Sir Alex said after his team lost at home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup quarter-final. In a match thoroughly dominated by the United, Portsmouth took a smash-and-grab victory thanks to a second-half penalty. After the match, Sir Alex was absolutely furious with the referee, and launched a scathing attack on his competence by not awarding his side a penalty in the first half.
As a matter of fact, it has become a routine for Sir Alex in recent years: A loss, a scathing attack on the referee, and then a huge fine slapped on him.
When Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva had his leg horribly broken by a badly mistimed tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor, Wenger's, in his post-game comment, suggested that players such as Taylor should be banned for life (a comment which he later retracted). Now I totally understand his anguish and despair over the loss of his star striker, but hasn't it got a little too far?
And just like Sir Alex, Wenger always complains about the referee for not giving them penalties when he side drops points. Worse still, you can actually see his angry facial expressions when he confronts the other team's manager after the match, and he has become notorious for refusing to shake hands with them on occasion.
When Chelsea was humbled by Barnsley in the FA Cup quarter-final, their boss, Avram Grant was gracious enough to acknowledge the good job done by his opponent.
Perhaps next time when Manchester United or Arsenal loses, Sir Alex or Wenger should bear in mind the following: WWTD?
In other words, What Would the Toad Do?
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