Recently in Sport Category
A bit of a follow-up to this post about Alexander Hleb of Arsenal and his clocking of Graeme Murty two weekends ago. In a BBC interview, Murty said that referee Peter Waldon's apology made all the difference:
Huzzah! to Mr. Waldon for keeping a lid on the situation.
He said: "He prevented me from taking the law into my own hands and kept 11 men on the pitch." Murty added: "He said 'I'm sorry Murts. I missed it. I apologise. You have a game to play.' That got me back.
Huzzah! to Mr. Waldon for keeping a lid on the situation.
Since Saintseester went out to her town's AA ballpark yesterday, I thought I'd toss in some local sports trivia that involves both the Saints and baseball.
We got the Zephyrs because, prior to moving to New Orleans, the team was the "Denver Zephyrs." The AAA-club was forced to move because the city had just been awarded a MLB franchise, the Colorado Rockies. The team had to find a new home, and New Orleans was a prime target.
The city's last dalliance with minor league baseball was the last incarnation of the New Orleans Pelicans, a AAA club that played in Da Dome. Problem was, like with the New Orleans Jazz, Da Dome isn't economical to use as a venue for events that don't regularly pull in 40K+ paying customers. The team's bottom line was a disaster, and they went through the whole thing about suburbanites not wanting to go downtown for night games. The team folded, and, at some point, Tom Benson bought the rights to the Pelicans name.
At the same time the Z's were negotiating with the city, Benson had a fit of pique that someone other than him might own a sports franchise in the city. The Z's had some things to iron out, particularly the commitment from the state to build the new ballpark (which was done under the auspices of the Superdome Commission and using the hotel-motel tax). In that timeframe, Benson went out and bought a AA team and announced he was going to move it immediately to New Orleans. Thinking he had squatter's rights on the city, Benson thought it was a done deal.
But that's not how baseball works. If The Show trumped AAA ball in Denver, then AAA ball can trump a AA club in New Orleans. The MLB commissioner refused to approve the Benson deal, because the Z's were the bigger/higher club. Not one for following tradition or really giving a shit about the city, Benson actually sued Major League Baseball. arguing restraint of trade and such. The courts summarily tossed the suit, because The Show has so many exemptions built into the law that the owners can pretty much do whatever the heck they want.
All this led to some serious bad blood between the Benson and the Zephyrs organization. I hesitate to say bad blood between the Saints organization and the Z's, because I don't think the people that work for the old man truly dislike the baseball folks. Still, when the team's move was approved and the deal to build the park was firmed up, the baseball club was hoping to acquire the Pelicans name from Benson. He steadfastly refused, and also proved to be a minor annoyance to the club over the ballpark, because his training facility and team office complex is next door on Airline Dr. When someone pointed out to the baseball folks that the "Zephyr" was the big roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach, that was it, there was a local connection, and we got our Z's.
Originally, the Zephyrs were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, which is why they started with a blue uniform. That blue became more of an indigo over time, so the teams colors could look like purple-green-gold for carnival. The mutual animosity betwee Benson and the Zephyrs was so bad that the Z's kept their blue colors even when they became part of the Astros farm system. Usually a team will adopt the colors of their MLB club, which is why you have teams like the Iowa Cubs and the Louisville Redbirds. The Z's steadfastly refused to switch to the Astros' livery.
The Astros' colors? Black and Gold.
We got the Zephyrs because, prior to moving to New Orleans, the team was the "Denver Zephyrs." The AAA-club was forced to move because the city had just been awarded a MLB franchise, the Colorado Rockies. The team had to find a new home, and New Orleans was a prime target.
The city's last dalliance with minor league baseball was the last incarnation of the New Orleans Pelicans, a AAA club that played in Da Dome. Problem was, like with the New Orleans Jazz, Da Dome isn't economical to use as a venue for events that don't regularly pull in 40K+ paying customers. The team's bottom line was a disaster, and they went through the whole thing about suburbanites not wanting to go downtown for night games. The team folded, and, at some point, Tom Benson bought the rights to the Pelicans name.
At the same time the Z's were negotiating with the city, Benson had a fit of pique that someone other than him might own a sports franchise in the city. The Z's had some things to iron out, particularly the commitment from the state to build the new ballpark (which was done under the auspices of the Superdome Commission and using the hotel-motel tax). In that timeframe, Benson went out and bought a AA team and announced he was going to move it immediately to New Orleans. Thinking he had squatter's rights on the city, Benson thought it was a done deal.
But that's not how baseball works. If The Show trumped AAA ball in Denver, then AAA ball can trump a AA club in New Orleans. The MLB commissioner refused to approve the Benson deal, because the Z's were the bigger/higher club. Not one for following tradition or really giving a shit about the city, Benson actually sued Major League Baseball. arguing restraint of trade and such. The courts summarily tossed the suit, because The Show has so many exemptions built into the law that the owners can pretty much do whatever the heck they want.
All this led to some serious bad blood between the Benson and the Zephyrs organization. I hesitate to say bad blood between the Saints organization and the Z's, because I don't think the people that work for the old man truly dislike the baseball folks. Still, when the team's move was approved and the deal to build the park was firmed up, the baseball club was hoping to acquire the Pelicans name from Benson. He steadfastly refused, and also proved to be a minor annoyance to the club over the ballpark, because his training facility and team office complex is next door on Airline Dr. When someone pointed out to the baseball folks that the "Zephyr" was the big roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach, that was it, there was a local connection, and we got our Z's.
Originally, the Zephyrs were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, which is why they started with a blue uniform. That blue became more of an indigo over time, so the teams colors could look like purple-green-gold for carnival. The mutual animosity betwee Benson and the Zephyrs was so bad that the Z's kept their blue colors even when they became part of the Astros farm system. Usually a team will adopt the colors of their MLB club, which is why you have teams like the Iowa Cubs and the Louisville Redbirds. The Z's steadfastly refused to switch to the Astros' livery.
The Astros' colors? Black and Gold.
I don't like his side, but Cristiano Ronaldo is a heck of a player:
And bravo Cesc!
It's good to see two players from the side I support get recognition. Of course, it's hard to ignore Torres and Gerrard, who have done so well for Liverpool, and James' performance in both league and FA Cup matches has been great to watch.
Congrats all, even the MUFC guy! :-)
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year.
The 23-year-old wins the award for the second successive season after another outstanding campaign that has seen him score 38 goals in all competitions.
And bravo Cesc!
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas picked up the young player of the year award.
Ronaldo beat off competition from Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, 20-year-old Fabregas and Gunners team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.
It's good to see two players from the side I support get recognition. Of course, it's hard to ignore Torres and Gerrard, who have done so well for Liverpool, and James' performance in both league and FA Cup matches has been great to watch.
Congrats all, even the MUFC guy! :-)
Once upon a time back in 1979 or so, the University of New Orleans Privateer men's basketball team played (I think) Dayton at the "Chamber of Horrors," the gym on the main campus. (This was years before the Lakefront Arena was constructed). One of the Dayton guards was engaging in a lot of off-the-ball harassment of one of the UNO guards. At one point near the end of the game (UNO was winning handily at the time), the UNO guard had enough of the other guy's antics. The referees were both down-court, the two guards closer to center court. The UNO guard goes to tie his shoe and the Dayton guy stands right behind him, just to piss him off. Next thing you know, the Dayton guard is on the ground after having been clocked by an elbow to the chin as the UNO guard stood up.
The Dayton coach and bench went nuts, with the coach threatening to beat the crap out of the UNO player. There was little the referees could do, because the the Dayton player was literally crawling up the UNO guy's butt. The guy had no business being that close to the UNO player, and neither of them saw the actual contact to determine if it was deliberate.
Fast-forward to last Saturday. A football pitch is pretty big, and there's a lot of things that three officials often don't see. English Premier Leagues are well-recorded, however, much to the chagrin of Arsenal's Alexander Hleb:
Hleb forgot that he wasn't at an amateur men's league game at some playground on Sunday morning, and now it's going to cut his season short early.
The Dayton coach and bench went nuts, with the coach threatening to beat the crap out of the UNO player. There was little the referees could do, because the the Dayton player was literally crawling up the UNO guy's butt. The guy had no business being that close to the UNO player, and neither of them saw the actual contact to determine if it was deliberate.
Fast-forward to last Saturday. A football pitch is pretty big, and there's a lot of things that three officials often don't see. English Premier Leagues are well-recorded, however, much to the chagrin of Arsenal's Alexander Hleb:
The FA has taken action after reviewing video evidence of an incident
involving Hleb and Reading's Graeme Murty in a game Arsenal won 2-0
last Saturday.
"The incident was not seen by referee Peter Walton," said an FA statement.
"Having now watched video footage, Walton has informed the FA
that, had he seen it, he would have shown Hleb a red card for violent
conduct."
Hleb forgot that he wasn't at an amateur men's league game at some playground on Sunday morning, and now it's going to cut his season short early.
Almunia has saved Arsenal's butt way too many times this season to let him get away. A contract extension at this point is a great vote of confidence in a good goalkeeper.
I'm at the airport, and was in the car before that, but my firstborn called to update me. Christiano Ronaldo was fouled by Roma players 9 times in the first half.
If they take him out now, FIFA will be pissed in a huge way at the Italians.
If they take him out now, FIFA will be pissed in a huge way at the Italians.
Fernando is such a prima donna, I don't know if that would be a foregone conclusion:
"I'm at Renault because I wanted to get back to winning, like in 2005 and 2006, if not this year then next year," Alonso told Spanish newspaper As. "But I have an option to leave so I can be in the best possible car, and it is clear Ferrari is one of the best."It's hard to see Ferrari buying out Kimi or Massa just to get Alonso.
but it's an odd weekend, because the four English teams in the Champions League face off in two EPL matches tomorrow. Arsenal was the last team to beat Chelsea at home in a league match, so I have a $5 bet with my son on that one. I'm pulling for the Scousers, mainly because denial of three points to MUFC helps Arsenal's cause.
The Beeb is a much better home for any sporting event:
The BBC has secured the television rights to show Formula One in the UK from the 2009 season. The five-year deal for an undisclosed fee marks F1's return to BBC screens 12 years after it switched to ITV. The contract covers all platforms and will see F1 broadcast on the BBC Sport website, as well as on TV and radio.I'm looking forward to much better on-line/streaming coverage from BBC.
On NPR's "Morning Edition" this morning, Frank Deford discusses how American sports champions are becoming younger and younger, citing in particular , who is the US Women's Figure Skating national champion. Nagasu is not at this week's world skating championships because she's too young to compete internationally. The worlds in figure skating require that competitors be at least sixteen. Deford argues that it makes no sense to not allow Nagasu to compete, since she won her national competition. At face value this makes sense, but he hits the nail on the head for figure skating in particular further on in the commentary:
This is well and truly the bottom line, that pre-adolescents don't make for exciting athletic competition. Under-14 futbol is fun for the kids and the parents, but it's not something I'm going to get up and go to the park to see on a Saturday morning, and it's not going to be on the boobtoob. The problem we have here is a conflict between the leaders of the various sporting federations, who want to maximize the exposure and profitability of their sports, and the parents of young athletes, who want them to do their thing, win high-level competitions, then cash in and get on with their lives. In sports like women's figure skating and gymnastics, the pre-adolescents have a decided advantage over older teens and young adults. Mirai Nagasu is a classic example of this. She's 4'11" tall, and weights 78 pounds. She can do the triple jumps and such that make her a world-class skater because she has so little body mass to move around.
This philosophy is almost the direct opposite of our thinking in male athletics. We would never dream of assembling a team of 14-year old boys to play in La Copa Mundial or in Olympic basketball. Women's sports gives the advantage to the littles, though. A 16- or 17-year old post-pubescent girl is putting on weight and developing curves. She's no longer the toothpick that she was at 12-14. If she is, it means she's deliberately maintaining a practice schedule that is delaying puberty. The belief is that these girls can grow breasts and hips after they win gold medals and get on the Wheaties box. If a girl like Nagasu can't compete internationally until 16, that means she's got to keep up the pace she's on now for 2 more years. Private coaches, tutors, travel to competitions, etc., aren't cheap, and this is all coming out of her parents' pockets now. The payoff will hopefully come but no doubt they'd rather it sooner than later.
But it's just not all that enjoyable to watch these little girls. One of the only saving graces of taking your kid to a "Disney on Ice" show is the grace and good looks of the female skaters. They're adults, and they look like the Disney Princesses they are portraying on the ice. While the young skaters at least wear outfits that are at least a bit girly-looking, the gymnasts are the really scary ones. Some of these girls look like they should be in a "Save The Children" ad. I don't care what they can do on the balance beam, or how many flips and twists they can do in the floor exercise, they look like little boys. If you want to see gymnastics as it should be, watch the SEC women's gymnastics tournament one year. You'll see grace, skill, talent, and curves. The young women in a collegiate competition are dance students. They're musicians. They've been around a bit longer on this planet and put their life experiences into their competitive routines.
That's what we went to see at "Disney on Ice." Nobody wants to see a toothpick on "American Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars." We want to see adults. Women don't want to look at 13-year old boys in tight shorts on a futbol pitch, they want to look at Christiano Ronaldo's ass. You have to put adults front and center if you want a good product on the television screen or in the arena.
Pushing little girls to be world-class athletes is greedy and wrong-headed.
Deford's thoughts on high school athletics are interesting as well, and I'll respond to them in another post.
Not everybody is happy with this development. In particular, women's figure skating, which was once the most popular female sport on TV, has plummeted in the ratings as the tiny teens have taken over the sport, jumping about the ice but unable to display the grown-up grace and elegance once displayed by Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill and Kristi Yamaguchi.Shorter Frank Deford: watching pre-teens in tiny outfits makes us feel like pedophiles, so we turn the TV off.
This is well and truly the bottom line, that pre-adolescents don't make for exciting athletic competition. Under-14 futbol is fun for the kids and the parents, but it's not something I'm going to get up and go to the park to see on a Saturday morning, and it's not going to be on the boobtoob. The problem we have here is a conflict between the leaders of the various sporting federations, who want to maximize the exposure and profitability of their sports, and the parents of young athletes, who want them to do their thing, win high-level competitions, then cash in and get on with their lives. In sports like women's figure skating and gymnastics, the pre-adolescents have a decided advantage over older teens and young adults. Mirai Nagasu is a classic example of this. She's 4'11" tall, and weights 78 pounds. She can do the triple jumps and such that make her a world-class skater because she has so little body mass to move around.
This philosophy is almost the direct opposite of our thinking in male athletics. We would never dream of assembling a team of 14-year old boys to play in La Copa Mundial or in Olympic basketball. Women's sports gives the advantage to the littles, though. A 16- or 17-year old post-pubescent girl is putting on weight and developing curves. She's no longer the toothpick that she was at 12-14. If she is, it means she's deliberately maintaining a practice schedule that is delaying puberty. The belief is that these girls can grow breasts and hips after they win gold medals and get on the Wheaties box. If a girl like Nagasu can't compete internationally until 16, that means she's got to keep up the pace she's on now for 2 more years. Private coaches, tutors, travel to competitions, etc., aren't cheap, and this is all coming out of her parents' pockets now. The payoff will hopefully come but no doubt they'd rather it sooner than later.
But it's just not all that enjoyable to watch these little girls. One of the only saving graces of taking your kid to a "Disney on Ice" show is the grace and good looks of the female skaters. They're adults, and they look like the Disney Princesses they are portraying on the ice. While the young skaters at least wear outfits that are at least a bit girly-looking, the gymnasts are the really scary ones. Some of these girls look like they should be in a "Save The Children" ad. I don't care what they can do on the balance beam, or how many flips and twists they can do in the floor exercise, they look like little boys. If you want to see gymnastics as it should be, watch the SEC women's gymnastics tournament one year. You'll see grace, skill, talent, and curves. The young women in a collegiate competition are dance students. They're musicians. They've been around a bit longer on this planet and put their life experiences into their competitive routines.
That's what we went to see at "Disney on Ice." Nobody wants to see a toothpick on "American Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars." We want to see adults. Women don't want to look at 13-year old boys in tight shorts on a futbol pitch, they want to look at Christiano Ronaldo's ass. You have to put adults front and center if you want a good product on the television screen or in the arena.
Pushing little girls to be world-class athletes is greedy and wrong-headed.
Deford's thoughts on high school athletics are interesting as well, and I'll respond to them in another post.
