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.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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.
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