Pitt to the Big Ten? What now, Mizzou?
The rumors are hot and heavy that the University of Pittsburgh is joining the Big Ten, perhaps as soon as this week. I don’t know if it will come to pass, but it would make sense. I was told that since Penn State’s admission to the Big Ten, it has felt a little like an outsider, on the far eastern edge of the conference. Pitt certainly would shift the league a little East.
All of which will make the University of Missouri a little uncomfortable. Mizzou wanted to join the Big Ten, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon even did a little politicking for the school, saying, “When you compare Oklahoma State to Northwestern, when you compare Texas Tech to Wisconsin, I mean, you begin looking at educational possibilities that are worth looking at.”
And when you compare a school whose officials — administrative or political — don’t trash fellow league schools with a school whose officials do just that, well, doesn’t do much for Missouri’s status in the Big 12. Good luck getting OSU or Tech — or anyone, really — to cut Mizzou any slack on any issue. Tech, OSU and Missouri are very similar in terms of status within the league and athletic budget. But Missouri’s obvious preference for the Big Ten, coupled with Nixon’s elitism, will make Missouri less than comfortable in Big 12 meetings for a long while.
Of course, the Pitt deal might not come through, and perhaps Missouri will bolt to the Big Ten. But if not, you won’t have to wonder who is the least popular member of the Big 12 Conference.
Emails in on NFL & media’s treatment of OKC
The new emails are in, and lots of talk about the NFL and the Thunder.
Rich: “St. Louis sports radio was talking Wednesday about Ndamukong Suh hiring Eugene Parker as his agent. They were discussing the propensity for Parker clients to be contract holdouts (Michael Crabtree ring a bell?), which is something the Rams could not afford to have happen if they want Suh to have an immediate impact on the team. They offered an alternative in Gerald McCoy if he did not hire the same agent. Of course, this is not known to be the Rams’ stance on the issue, just two talk show hosts’ observations on why Suh could possibly not be the first pick. The other Parker clients mentioned included Emmitt Smith (twice), Cedric Benson and Steven Jackson. Their reasoning was that Parker would play the No. 1 pick card to the hilt and demand more than Matthew Stafford’s six-year, $78 million ($41.7M guaranteed). They claimed that DTs don’t have long careers at a high level and could not last long enough to earn that amount of money.”
I think you’ve got to take Suh. He’s too much of a prime prospect. The surest way to get competitive is rebuild that defense. Draft a quarterback, and that only sets back the St. Louis rebuilding longer. Taking McCoy when you know Suh is the better prospect is no way to get good again. Heck, if you’re going to take McCoy, call Detroit and offer to swap the first two picks. Give the Lions the first pick and maybe get a third-round pick or something in return.
Dan wrote about my Rex Ryan column: “I had to write to ask you if you are really serious about Rex Ryan and all of the Ryans? Let me summarize what I learned from your article. 1. Buddy Ryan (known for punching a fellow coach on the sidelines, overseeing ‘Bounty Bowl’ and faking a take-a-knee only to throw deep against Tom Landry; his legacy of classlessness speaks volume as to his lack of character) had two sons, Rex and Rob. 2. Rex & Rob loved to ‘kick butt’ and ‘raise hell.’ 3. They were liked by all. 4. They are just like their dad. Wow, thanks for the journalism. Where do I sign up for the ‘I love Rex’ bandwagon? These guys are PUNKS, all three of them. Amazing as to how being void of character is admirable to some people. I KNOW you can’t write that with a straight face.”
New York City. That’s where you sign up for the bandwagon. Buddy Ryan was a heck of a football coach in the NFL, where you don’t go looking for boy scouts. And his sons are good coaches, too. Punks? Maybe. Tom Landry had a team full of them when he was going to Super Bowls.
Mike wrote about my column on parity. “I can explain why there won’t be an NFL team in LA anytime soon. Angelinos don’t have the bucks to spend on tickets for a pro football team. When you are taxed at the rate of about 85% of your income (and that is apparently no joke), all you can afford to live in is an apartment not much bigger than a Cadillac Escalade! And it won’t be as comfy, although you do have the benefit of indoor plumbing. You also have two NCAA football programs to compete with. Even more, USC could probably kick the crap out of any expansion team the NFL put there. While New York has two pro teams and the cost of living is higher than LA, New York doesn’t really have the competition of college football in its neighborhood, much less a successful one at that. LA has never really produced a homegrown winner as the Lakers came from Minneapolis and the Dodgers came from Brooklyn. LA, more than anywhere else, tends to have bandwagon fans and these folks just won’t support a loser trying to fight its way to the top. The other thing which is a real problem is where would the pro team play as the Coliseum and Rose Bowl probably aren’t what we will consider pro stadiums when we compare it to JerryWorld. While a new stadium would be great, where could you buy land cheap enough to build the stadium and parking lot and the roads to service the venue? It all comes down to putting people in those seats, at a price they are willing to pay and keeping the costs to minimum to have a profit. The reputation LA has enjoyed in the past is now becoming its own undoing as the price of real estate continues to soar and the Angelinos have no money in their pockets after paying rent and the cost of living.”
Well, that’s certainly an interesting take. Not one bit of it do I buy, other than the stadium issue, but it’s interesting. Let me get this straight. A metro area with two NBA teams, two MLB teams and an NHL team, all of them doing reasonably or very well compared to peers, can’t support an NFL team? The NFL works ANYWHERE. The NFL would work in Tulsa. The NFL would work in Omaha. The NFL would work in Albuquerque. All you need is a stadium. Los Angeles needs a new football stadium. That’s the only thing holding it back. It’s not USC and it’s not high taxes (the Bay Area has high taxes and two NFL franchises). It’s a stadium.
Jim: “As I’ve watched the NFL this year (and for, what, 50-plus years leading up to this year), something about the league bothers me. It’s the fact that out-of-the-box playcalling and gameplanning seem to be discouraged. Got a fourth and half a foot at the opponent’s 40-yard line? No question, you punt. Can’t take a risk to go for it. And if they do go for it, it’s never, ever anything around the ends. Always off tackle with a handoff deep in the backfield, with the results often like what happened with the Cowboys on that awful fourth down play when Switzer was coach. And I was surprised that Switzer would go for the conventional like that play. I can think of other situations where NFL creativity seems to be stifled in favor of doing what is expected. Never, ever, run any sort of option, especially if it’s the QB who makes a pitch. Maybe that’s why I like the Wildcat offense, because it gives a little variety to the game. And I sense that the game announcers buy into this, as well. They seem shocked, offended even, if a team tries something out of the norm. Am I wrong on this? It makes me appreciate the more open approach of the college game a lot more.
For all the glory of the NFL, it has one drawback. The size and speed of the players limits creativity. You can’t run the spread in the NFL, for example. The quarterback would be decapitated by the second quarter. Same with an option play. Can’t do it. Too risky. And you’ve got to set up a sweep just right. Those guys are too fast. That’s why 4th-and-1 is basically three options: 1. sneak; 2. hard off tackle; 3. play-action and throw, but you better do it quickly.
Marty wrote about my Uwe von Schamann column: “As a lifelong Dolphins fan, I would point out, as you noted, that Uwe is well-regarded by Dolfans. He has spoken to our civic club in Shawnee a couple of times in the past nine years. Each time I’ve reminded him that the biggest kick I recall is one he hit against the hated Jets on a Saturday in December 1982. Miami won 20-19 and Don Strock (the holder) did quite a celebratory dance. That loss to San Diego hurt, but beating the Jets, even in the regular season, is something Dolphin fans always remember.”
I don’t doubt it, but I also think Miami fans are probably a little more civil than some others. Giants. Jets. Bears. Eagles. Patriots. I wouldn’t go missing big field goals for those teams if you don’t want to be booed for the next 40 years.
Ed is the former college professor who is a big OU fan. He wrote about Tommy Brooker, who kicked the overtime field goal that won the 1962 AFL title for the Dallas Texans: “Tommy Brooker is a nice guy who talked to my football class two or three times at Alabama. He would tell the class Bear stories. And his favorite kick might be his 1960 field goal that beat Auburn, 3-0.”
Now there’s a dilemma. A field goal that won the Auburn-Alabama game or a field goal that won a professional league championship. Which is bigger? I know which one gets you bought the most dinners. And it’s not the ones that thrilled the fans of the Dallas Texans.
Georg wrote about Sports Illustrated’s treatment of OKC: “I thought I would check out The Oklahoman on a cold, snowy day in Kentucky. Good to see you are plugging away there. Did you respond to the recent SI story on Kevin Durant? I felt that the fellow who dissed OKC must be some latte sipping dude from NYC.”
Is it snowing everywhere? This snowstorm is one of our biggest in years and years, and it’s not even the biggest of the last 40 days. Anyway, no, I didn’t write anything about the Sports Illustrated story, which was an excellent piece on Duran but took the low-hanging fruit and trashed OKC. Just goes to show you that even guys with the prestigious jobs can be lazy.
Keith also had a problem with national media: “I was watching SportsCenter this morning and heard an interesting report. The reporter (I don’t remember his name) was talking about Ben Gordon returning to action from an injury. At the end of the report he said that Gordon will play against ‘the team that used be in Seattle,’ or something real close to that. What’s up with that? Can the guy not say Oklahoma City Thunder? In my opinion, every Thunder fan ought to contact ESPN to express their displeasure. Of course, ESPN will ignore the complaints and continue along their arrogant way.”
The best thing to do is ignore such stuff. Same as the dog-food reference in the Sports Illustrated story. The best response is to cheer like mad for the Thunder, laugh as OKC continues a playoff push and don’t let ESPN know you’re even mad.
Now, all kinds of stuff. Bruce wrote about fans’ treatment of college athletes: “Today’s paper brought up an interesting topic. Is it ever acceptable to boo a college level or lower athlete? Nothing sickens me more as a fan of college athletics than fans booing one of their own players. If you are fed up with the basketball team and certain players, go ahead and boo Jeff Capel during the pregame introductions, but don’t boo the kid. There was nothing worse than being at Owen Field in the mid ‘90s and hearing the crowd going after Garrick McGee and Eric Moore. I felt ashamed. It’s not like any amateur athlete is trying to do poorly. Fans of college athletics should show their displeasure by not buying tickets, calling the AD, not showing up, calling 640 and writing the paper, but a 60-year-old man booing a 20-year-old trying his best is just asinine.”
I agree. The mood at the Bedlam basketball game was unsettling. When Willie Warren struggled, the vile I heard from some OU fans was completely uncalled for. You know what’s interesting? In some ways, pro sports are a little more civilized than college sports. Some college fans feel a divine right to victory. Some pro fans feel that way, too, but not as many, I’d say.
Jeremy, a big boxing fan, was all fired up: “I really got to take you to task for blasting George Foreman for being a sham and fighting a bunch of stiffs. Michael Moorer was absolutely legit when Foreman decked him in 1994. Moorer was 35-0 and coming off a win over Evander Holyfield. Besides Moorer, Foreman was coming off fights against Tommy Morrison, Pierre Coetzer, Jimmy Ellis and Evander Holyfield, all in a row: combined record (when Foreman fought them) of 174-8. I know it’s not exactly Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, but it’s a pretty good stretch of fighters, who were all in their prime while Foreman was 40-plus years old.”
Archie Moore fought four bouts in 1954, when he was 40 years old, and it was considered a light year for him. Two of those bouts were against future Hall of Famers. And I’m supposed to be impressed by George Foreman’s lineup?
Jake, an OSU fan, wrote about Dusty Dvoracek’s arrest: “I thought I’d give you a quick insight on why people dislike Dvoracek. I think it stems from him getting the redshirt year at OU. Many OSU fans expressed their disbelief that the guy could get an extra year of eligibility after his suspension. It seemed pretty silly that a guy beat
his friend into a coma and then got to come back and play later. My brother is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic, so I get that addiction is a disease, but it definitely still has a stigma for most people. For OSU fans, Dvoracek is an easy shortcut to ‘Stoops and OU will do anything to win.’”
Sort of like OSU recruiting Chris Collins when he was under investigation for rape of a 12-year-old girl? Dvoracek was granted an extra year of eligibility not by OU, but by NCAA and Big 12 decision-makers. Both schools — all schools — have shady characters on their rosters. No one should be getting on their high horse.
Robert wrote about my interview with Barry Switzer, which is a video series on newsok: “That was a great video interview on Tales from the Trail. I learned details I’d never heard before on the recruiting of Kenny King and Billy Sims.”
I heard stories I’d never heard before, which frankly is saying something. My favorite is about Ricky Bryan. Shameless plug: You’ve got to follow the series on newsok. It’s really interesting.
Gary: “I saw Tommie Harris on TV at the Thunder game. He had these huge diamond earrings on. What does something like that cost? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Then I saw that Willie Warren had some on about the same size. Where does a poor college kid get that kind of money?”
It’s actually been several years since I interned with the jewelry exchange in New York City. So I have no idea what any of that bling cost. I would assume Harris’ go for four or five digits left on the decimal point, while Warren’s might be a little on the faux side.
Michael wrote about my list of the worst free-agent pitchers in baseball history: “Can’t forget Mike Hampton. Eight years, $121 million. Combined 56-52, 5.34 ERA with both Colorado and Atlanta. Works out to just over $2.1 million a win.”
I thought about Hampton. But I didn’t put him on the list for three reasons: 1. The pitchers I listed (Bruce Sutter, Russ Ortiz, Denny Neagle, Wayne Garland and Chan Ho Park) were truly awful. 2. Hampton at least had a winning record and won some games. Those four starting pitchers (discounting Sutter) were 45 games under .500 during their bloated contracts and combined for 77 victories over the 24 years of the contracts. That’s an average of 19 wins over six years. Hampton won 56 in eight years. Big difference. 3. Hampton was pitching in Colorado. Neagle was, too, but was way worse. Pitching in Colorado from about 1995-2005 was a career killer.
Barry wrote about my theory from last spring that Courtney Paris never really improved from her freshman season at OU: “You were right and I was wrong regarding Courtney Paris. I love what she did while at OU, but I think you were right in that she never did progress from her freshman year on.”
Think about it. When Paris arrived in Norman, and especially after she proved to be an immediate superstar, we tossed around words like transcendent and phrases like greatest ever. And Sherri Coale didn’t discourage anyone from talking like that. But 31/2 years later, all that kind of talk had drifted away, replaced by a simple, Courtney, think you can make a Final Four?
Chat with Berry at 11 a.m.
Some suggestions for Thunder broadcasts
I am a Thunder addict. If I’m not at the Ford Center, I’m watching on television. Even if it’s not convenient. I’ve only missed 3-4games all year. A couple when I was in El Paso for the Sun Bowl. Maybe 1-2 during football season when I was in Lubbock or someplace and unable to get KSBI.
True story. I covered the Dallas-Philadelphia playoff game on a Saturday night. Me and assistant sports editor Ryan Sharp left Cowboys Stadium around 11:45 p.m. that night and drove home. I pulled in to my driveway about 2:50 a.m. I set my alarm for 8 a.m. to make it to church. Then I went in the living room, flicked on the DVR and watched the Thunder game, having avoided the score all night by switching off ESPN radio whenever it listed NBA scores.
Anyway, I don’t know if I’m an expert on the team, but I most definitely am an expert on the broadcasts. My thoughts:
* Grant Long, please tell more stories. You played 15 seasonsin the NBA. We know when the Thunder needs a stop. We know when Russell Westbrook makes a good pass. What we don’t know is what it was like to play in Chicago Stadium against the early Jordan dynasty. We don’t know what it was like to guard a 22-year-old Shaquille O’Neal. We don’t know what it was like to play basketball games in Vancouver, a city seemingly more passionate about curling than basketball. You can tell us what it was like. The other night, you told a great story about being literally eclipsed by Shaq; you were standing behind him, your coach couldn’t see you and was mad because you weren’t at your post. It was great stuff. Give us more. Give us a lot more.
* Can someone please do something about the audio/video problem when the games are on KSBI? The audio and video never are in sync on KSBI, and it’s not one of those split-second differences. It’s like a three-second delay. Doesn’t really ruin the game action, since you’re watching the court, but in pre-game, it’s unwatchable.
* The sideline reporting situation isn’t working. Isn’t working at all. Brent Weber did it last year and was removed. This year, the Thunder has gone to a rotation. Tom Werme works all Wednesday games, home and away, though he lives in Ft. Mill, S.C. Elissa Walker-Campbell, who lives in Fort Worth, works most other home games but doesn’t want to commit to any more games because of her two children, which is perfectly understandable. But it’s a mess. Part-time, out-of-town sideline reporters don’t know the team well and don’t know the city well, although at least Walker-Campbell used to live here and played basketball at OU. During the Bulls game the other night, Werme interviewed Mark Clayton and Tommie Harris. He had to glance down at his notes to remember their names as he introduced them.
* The in-game production of Thunder telecasts is very solid. But I have a complaint about the stats. During the game, individual stats are given for players all the time. Very good work. But halftime is a mess. Give me player lists, points, rebounds, assists. And the halftime team stats are spotty. Never are turnovers listed. Turnovers are a huge factor with this team.
* The post-game interview with Scott Brooks is a keeper. The commitment to a 20- or 30-minute post-game show is great for fans. Brooks never says a whole lot — an NBA season can get long; you tend to repeat yourself — but you learn a little, which is all any fan really wants.
* Some have criticized Brian Davis, and I don’t get it. I think he’s a whale of an announcer. Sets a tone. Lets his voice announce big plays and big moments. Knows the team better than does Nenad Krstic, I’d say. I hope Davis is here forever.
* With that said, I’ve never heard anyone in Oklahoma or OKC refer to Oklahoma or OKC as “the Southern Plains.” And on road trips, Davis says that all the time. I wonder where he got that? Technically, it’s true, I suppose. We are on the southern Plains. But I’ve lived here 47 years and never heard another human refer to Oklahoma City or Oklahoma with that term.
* The pre-game interviews are virtually worthless. I always start out watching them and then fast forward within 10 seconds. It’s always about the development of the team or the development of the player. Which wouldn’t be bad for one-game-a-week sport. But 3-4 games a week? Give me some questions about the individual. Let us get to know these guys. That’s my biggest gripe about the Thunder in general. They’ve been here 18 months, and we still don’t really know a lot of the ballplayers. Don’t know their personalities. Don’t know their character. I’m in the locker room on a consistent basis and don’t know them. That’s got to change.
* Hey, Brian and Grant. Criticize these guys when they deserve it. The other night against Chicago, OKC got possession with like 26 seconds left in the quarter. Kevin Durant got the ball in the backcourtand signaled that he would take it all the way (which is a bad move in the first place; run some offense). Then Durant jacked up a shot with nine seconds left, and Chicago got a scoring opportunity. You don’t shoot that quickly, and it wasn’t like KD got a wide open look. Pop him when he needs it.
Switzer’s office: A tour through time
I spent Wednesday morning in Barry Switzer’s office in his home in Norman. We shot a video of Switzer talking about some of his favorite recruiting memories. The series begins on newsok.com on Thursday; I think you’ll enjoy it. But while the videographers were setting up, I just looked around Switzer’s office, which is full of memorabilia.
Switzer said he wasn’t really a collector, but over the years people have given him so much stuff, “you have to put somewhere.” Here are a few of the highlights:
* My favorite piece, and probably Switzer’s, is an old black and white photo, of a man standing on a docked boat. You can’t see the man’s face; the camera was quite far away. But it’s a great “feel” photo. Takes you back in time. The man? Frank Switzer, Barry’s father. The boat? Switzer’s first home. Frank Switzer in 1936-37 worked as toll collector for a bridge over the Ouachita River, and the Switzers lived under the bridge on that boat, which wasn’t really a house boat but served as one.
* A photo of Mike Shanahan working a practice, with the signature, “To Barry, thank you for giving me my start in football. Your friend, Mike Shanahan.” Shanahan was a graduate assistant on the 1977 OU squad.
* A framed Arkansas letter jacket. Sure looks small, but Switzer really hasn’t gained any weight over the years. Must have worn those things tight.
* Tons of photos of Switzer’s kids and grandkids.
* All kinds of action photos. My favorite: a Cowboy-Steeler Super Bowl picture, shot from the end zone, with Troy Aikman directing his offense just before the ball is snapped.
* A photo of Switzer, Larry Lacewell, Frank Broyles and Jerry Jones. A whole lot of Arkansas history in that picture.
* A photo signed by dozens of Heisman Trophy winners. Without taking the ball from its perch, two of the old-timer John Hancocks I recognized were John David Crow (1957 Texas A&M) and Dick Kazmaier (1952 Princeton).
* A 1956 Crossett, Ark., High School yearbook.
* Boxing gloves signed by Don King.
* A photo of a young Barry Switzer and Mickey Mantle. I always thought they sort of resembled each other.
* A late ’50s photo of a group of Razorbacks, still in uniform after an Arkansas practice. I love looking at old photos like that.
* A table full of championship rings and watches, placed under glass.
* A framed black and white photo of Jim Mackenzie, just his face. Mackenzie was Switzer’s great mentor. He’s been gone now 43 years this spring.
* An envelope signed, at different times over the years, by Barry Switzer, Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne, John McKay, Woody Hayes, Darrell Royal, Bud Wilkinson and Bear Bryant.
* A guitar signed by Tim McGraw.
* And maybe the coolest thing, which is a fan letter Billy Sims received in November 1978. Sims years later gave it to Switzer. “Dear Billy Sims: Even though we lost to Nebraska, you are still the greatest back in America. Love, Greg Switzer. P.S. No one can catch Billy. Vote Billy for Heisman.” Greg Switzer was 10 years old at the time.
Sabathia: Keep an eye on 300 wins
You never really know athletes you cover or cheer for, even the ones in your own town. So making judgments on a guy who stops by once a year is fool’s gold. But C.C. Sabathia certainly comes across as a solid guy.
Down to Earth. Humble. Friendly. Heck, just the fact that he comes to the Warren Spahn Awards Gala every year — three straight years now — shows some solid character in the guy. Lot of guys who shine on the pitching mound of Yankee Stadium would say no to a January trip to Oklahoma City.
But here’s what I learned yesterday researching some Sabathia stuff for my column. The guy could make a run at 300 wins.
It’s become common to claim the 300 club is about to close, that we’ll see no more members join the fraternity in in the next generation. Only 24 pitchers have reached 300, the most recent being Randy Johnson (2009), Tom Glavine (2007), Greg Maddux (2004) and Roger Clemens (2003).
New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia poses for a photo with the Warren Spahn Award trophy during a press conference before the Warren Spahn Award Gala at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Game & Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, January 26, 2010. This is the third consecutive year Sabathia has won the award, which honors the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Nobody else is within sniffing distance of 300. Heck, no one else is within a Polo Grounds home run of 300.
The remarkable Mike Mussina retired after the 2008 season, a year in which he went 20-9. At the age of 39, he had 270 wins. Hang on for three more years, get 10 wins a year, and Mussina would have been there. He was the last chance for probably a decade. David Wells is the next-highest winner on the recently-retired list, with 239 victories. He retired at age 44 in 2007. Curt Schilling retired after the 2007 season at age 4o; he had 216 wins.
Among active pitchers, Jamie Moyer is the closest, with 258 victories. But Moyer is 46 years old. He’d have to win 11 games a year until he’s 50. I guess it’s possible. Moyer the last three seasons with the Phillies — a real ballteam, not some franchise just filling out a roster — has gone 14-12, 16-7, 12-10. That’s 42 wins the last three years. Get 42 wins the NEXT three years, and Moyer will reach 300. He also will smash all known age barriers in baseball.
Past Moyer, there’s no one. Here are the next four active victory leaders:
* Andy Pettitte: 37 years old, 229 wins. Pettitte’s last five seasons have been unbelievably solid: 17-9, 14-13, 15-9, 14-14, 14-8. He’s not fooling anybody anymore; his ERA hovers over 4.00. But Pettitte can still win games with the Yanks. To reach 299, Pettitte would need five straight years of 14 wins. Possible, I suppose, but not likely. Probably about the same chance as Moyer.
* Pedro Martinez: 37 years old, 219 wins. Pedro once was the best pitcher in baseball, but that was in the decade before last. He seems to have nine lives; the Phillies signed him late in 2009, and he actually started two World Series games. But he hasn’t reached double-digit wins in five years. Virtually no chance at 300.
* John Smoltz, 42 years old, 213 wins: Smoltz’s mid-career move to the bullpen cost him his chance. I think he would have made it to 300 if he hadn’t spent four full seasons as the Braves’ closer. By the way, that was an awful move. You’ve got a Hall of Fame pitcher, a guy who throws anywhere from 180 innings to 250 inning a year, averaging about 18 wins a season, and you move him to the bullpen so he can average 71 innings a year. Teams that do that aren’t interested in getting batters out.
* Tim Wakefield, 42 years old, 189 wins: The knuckleball specialist can go for a long time, but let’s get real. Wakefield broke in with the ’92 Pirates — yes, the Pirates doomed by Sid Bream — and he’s been tossing up knucklers ever since. He got to 189 wins the hard way. Only four times has Wakefield posted more than 12 wins. If he gets to 300 by winning 11 games for the next decade, it’s the ultimate tortoise story.
And that’s everybody in the major leagues with more than 156 wins. Now you’re getting into the Livian Hernandez, Kevin Millwood, Bartolo Colon, Mike Hampton crowd. So we have to readjust and start long-range projecting. Here are five guys worth discussing.
1. Roy Halladay, 32 years old, 148 wins. Halladay does two things necessary. He pitches, and he wins. Rarely hurt, rarely hit hard. If Halladay can win 17 games a year for the next six years — a very difficult task — he’s at 250, age 38 and maybe he could hang on to reach 300.
2. Javier Vasquez, 32 years old, 142 wins: Latin pitchers are an interesting lot. They are unusually good in their 30s but don’t tend to hang on into their 40s. So Vasquez has a tough road. He’s six wins behind Halladay, the same age with nowhere near the established winning track. We asked Halladay to win 17 games a year for six years; Vasquez never has won 17 games yet.
3. Roy Oswalt, 32 years old, 137 wins: Another 32-year-old, but this one is a bigger winner. He got a later start; his first victory with the Astros came at age 23. His established performance level is greater than Halladay’s, not by much, but every little bit counts. He’s won 94 games the last six years. Win 94 the next six years, and he’s at 231 wins and age 38. A little behind Andy Pettitte.
4. C.C. Sabathia, 29 years old, 136 wins: Now we come to the crown jewel. A guy still in his 20s. That’s the key, you see. No one — with the exception of Phil Niekro and the possible exception of Jamie Moyer — reaches 300 wins from behind. You’ve got to get a good start. Sabathia has a good start. He’s pitched nine seasons in the big leagues and averaged 15 wins a year, often for bad teams. He’s no longer on a bad team. The Yanks are loaded for the future, and Sabathia never has shown a sign of breaking down. What if he wins 15 games a year for the next 10 years? Does that seem unreasonable? Sure, he might have an arm injury that limits him to 10 starts some year, but he’s also going to win more than 15 several times. I don’t think 150 wins the next 10 years is kooky talk about this guy, who is among the most consistent pitchers of recent decades. Sabathia won the Warren Spahn Award; he’s Warren Spahn light. Spahn seemed to win 22 games every season. Sabathia seems to win 17 games every season. If Sabathia wins 15 games a year for 10 years — which to me is the most likely of all these possibilities we’ve discussed — he’s 39 years old and has 286 wins. Which means he’ll make it.
So there you have it. Only 24 men have reached 300 wins in the major leagues. The most likely pitcher to be No. 25 is C.C. Sabathia.
Basketball overdrive: Checking in on Bedlam rivals
The magic of DVR has left me dreary-eyed but basketball-smart. Over the weekend, starting with early Saturday morning, when I watched the final three quarters of the Thunder-Grizzlies nailbiter, through Sunday night, I watched six basketball games and two NFL games. The hoops? Two Thunder tilts, plus four Big 12 games: OU-Kansas women, OSU-Kansas State men, OU-Texas Tech men and OSU-Colorado women.
Here’s what I saw:
* By far the most exciting player is OSU’s Andrea Riley. If you haven’t seen Riley this year, you’re missing it. Maybe you remember her as the little gunner who never saw a shot she didn’t like. Maybe you remember her as the punk who keeps getting in trouble and still will have to sit out a first-round NCAA Tournament game for punching that LSU player two seasons ago.
Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley (10) shoots in front of Kansas State's Brittany Chambers (2) in the second half during a women's NCAA college basketball game at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Oklahoma State won 66-56. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Nate Billings)
Either way, you’ve got to see Riley this year. She’s still a gunner — which is not a bad thing in women’s basketball, where getting up shots is always positive — but she’s turned into quite the passer. Seriously, she makes more nifty passes than Doug Gottlieb. No-look passes. Behind-the-back passes. Flick-of-the-wrist passes. And she’s got a couple of teammates, notably Tegan Cunningham, who corral them for easy buckets. Riley is our state’s must-see ballplayer this winter.
* Bedlam women in going to be a ball. The Sooners are at their best when they run. Danielle Robinson is a jet-stream point guard. She beats opponents down the floor and is actually a better closer than even Riley. The Sooners are at their best when they run at full blast, and I expect Sherri Coale sees that, too. I would expect OU to turn it up even more as the competition stiffens. Riley, a first-team all-American in 2008, is the nation’s best point guard, but Dani California isn’t far behind.
* Travis Ford’s coaching job in Manhattan is one for the ages. The Cowboys were without their point guard, the injured Ray Penn, against a Kansas State team that eats opposing backcourts for lunch. Then OSU was in supreme foul trouble, with State’s only two legit inside players, Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim, eventually fouling out. Yet the Cowboys survived an opening blitz by ninth-ranked K-State and survived a run midway through the second half that seemed to hand all momentum to the Wildcats in front of their rejuvenated crowd. Bramlage Coliseum has become the Big 12′s rowdiest arena; that’s the way KSU was in the old Ahern Fieldhouse days, but that was more 20 years ago.
The resulting OSU victory was stunning. A season-maker. OSU went from probably out of the NCAA Tournament to probably in, all in a two-hour span. Give total credit to Ford. You coach what you’ve got and put them in position to win. That’s exactly what Ford did.
* Not such a great coaching season for Jeff Capel. The Sooners’ problems continued in a loss at Texas Tech. OU had an 11-point lead, but that evaporated quickly. Tiny Gallon is a total mystery. With Willie Warren sidelined, the Sooners got little production outside Tony Crocker and Tommy Mason-Griffin. For whatever reason, this team is not cohesive and not improving. Capel did a marvelous job his first three years in Norman — Blake Griffin didn’t hurt — but this is not a great coaching job. This team has far more talent than an 11-8 record suggests.
Oklahoma's Tommy Mason-Griffin drives against Texas Tech's Mike Singletary during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Zach Long)
* James Anderson is the Big 12′s best player. He scored 30 points against Kansas State and kept the Cowboys in the game until Obi Muonelo came up big late. Anderson should be the Big 12 player of the year. No question.
* My favorite Cowgirl, other than Riley, is freshman center Toni Young. She’s the high-jump champion from Del City who can dunk, but what a solid player she is. Catches the ball inside and scores, without a hint of emotion. That’s a good player.
* With apologies to Warren, Mason-Griffin is the best OU men’s player. This team is fast becoming Mason-Griffin’s team. I don’t know all the stuff going on with Warren, and I suspect he’s a victim of circumstances as much as anything. But TMG is starting to take the reins of this team. There will be bumps in that transition, but in the long run, Mason-Griffin’s ascension will pay off for Capel and the Sooners.
* Coale’s OU women appear to be one player short of being really good. That one player, of course, is the injured Whitney Hand. But the Sooners go about four deep, maybe five if Carlee Roethlisberger is playing decent. But put Hand out there, and you’ve got four ballplayers running around with Abi Olajuwon, who really is getting better in the middle. That’s a team, right there. But without Hand, the Sooners sort of have to piece it together.
* Keiton Page can’t play point guard in the Big 12. The mighty mite OSU guard has struggled as a shooter this season, but the answer is clearly not at the point. The Cowboys survived with him playing 37 minutes against KSU, but that can’t continue. For OSU to progress, Page must fall back into a role, and that role is zone-buster. Otherwise, he’s just eating up minutes that could be going to someone productive offensively or defensively.
Ex-Sooner Hartley exorcises ghost of von Schamann
Garrett Hartley exorcised a lot of New Orleans Saints ghosts Sunday night, from bags on the head of fans to Katrina horrors in the Superdome to 43 years without a championship. But Hartley also exorcised the ghost of Uwe von Schamann.
Bob Stoops had to be happy for Hartley when Hartley nailed the biggest kick in Saints history. Happy, but also a little melancholy. Did you catch the length of the field goal that beat Minnesota 31-28 in overtime?
(AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Forty yards. The 38th parallel for OU football in 2009. The Sooners, hampered by field-goal failures all season, were solid from inside 40 yards: 17 of 20, and No. 1 kicker Jimmy Stevens was 11-of-11 from inside 40. But get to a field-goal length that started with a 4 or a 5, and the Sooners were awful. One of eight, with only walk-on Paddy O’Hara’s 47-yarder good, and by season’s end, O’Hara was shaky on field goals of shorter length.
Meanwhile, Hartley was Mr. Reliable in 31/2 seasons as the OU kicker. Stoops brought Hartley out of redshirt late in the 2004 season, and Hartley was excellent throughout his career. The Sooners’ quest for another Garrett Hartley continues.
Hartley’s kick Sunday night was pure. Straight down the middle, and it looked liked it would have been good from 60 yards out. Not bad for the biggest kick ever on the pro stage by an ex-Sooner. Most of the ex-Sooner kickers in NFL history never played in a playoff game. Scott Blanton, Tim Lashar, Tim Duncan.
But von Schamann did. von Schamann, the greatest kicker the Sooners ever had and an Oklahoma hero for his 41-yarder that beat Ohio State 29-28 in 1977, kicked in one of the greatest games in football history: the San Diego-Miami epic in the 1981 divisional round.
San Diego won 41-38 in overtime at the Orange Bowl, a marathon that lasted 13 minutes and 52 seconds past the fourth quarter. The Chargers had led 24-0 after one quarter, but a furious Miami rally forged overtime.
von Schamann, in his fourth year of kicking for Don Shula’s Dolphins, would last six seasons as the Miami kicker. But that game was his defining performance as a pro.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 38, Kellen Winslow blocked von Schamann’s 43-yard attempt. In overtime, after San Diego’s Rolf Benirschke missed a 27-yarder, the Dolphins seemed in command. Don Strock drove Miami into San Diego territory, and the Dolphins set up for a 34-yard field goal. But San Diego’s Leroy Jones blocked von Schamann’s kick, and the Chargers gave Benirschke another chance. This time, he delivered, and von Schamann was the goat of one of the greatest games ever played.
von Schamann would go on to make three field goals in Super Bowl 19. But he’s remembered more for that soggy night in Miami against San Diego. Oklahomans remember Ohio State. The rest of the country remembers the Chargers.
That fate does not await Garrett Hartley, a hero forever in the Who Dat Nation of New Orleans.
NFL kickers tighten up in the playoffs
The New York Jets are in the AFC Championship Game, and the reason is obvious. Field-goal defense. The Jets beat Cincinnati 24-14 and San Diego 17-14, and two of the NFL’s better kickers, Shayne Graham and Nate Kaeding, went a combined 0-of-5 on field goals. Only one of those kicks was from longer than 40 yards.
Truth is, NFL kickers have not delivered under pressure this post-season. Kickers are 15 of 26 on field goals in the playoffs, a 63.4 percent efficiency that is a far cry from the regular season. In 2009, NFL kickers made 81.3 percent of their kicks, which was the lowest since 2005 (81.0) but not all that far off the record 84.5 percent in 2008.
But it’s not the number of misses. It’s the length of the misses. It’s obvious the playoffs are a different animal.
The Chargers fought for survival against the Jets, but Kaeding missed field goals of 36 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter, and San Diego lost 17-14. He had made 69 straight from 40 yards or closer. This season, he had made 91.4 percent of his kicks; for his career, 87.2. Yet in the playoffs, Kaeding now is eight of 15 in his career.
A week earlier, the Jets beat Cincinnati 24-14, with Graham missing in the fourth quarter from 35 and 28 yards. Graham this season had made 23 of 28 and has a career percentage of 85.2.
Arizona’s Neil Rackers missed from 34 yards at the end of regulation, allowing Green Bay to make it into overtime, where the Cardinals won 51-45 on a defensive touchdown.
The Patriots were going to lose anyway to Baltimore, down 33-14 in the fourth quarter, but New England asked Stephen Gostkowski to kick a 44-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game. He missed.
It’s obvious that field goals are not so automatic in the playoffs. So who has the advantage in today’s title games?
Not the Saints. Ex-Sooner Garrett Hartley is the only playoff novice; his inconsequential field goal last week against Arizona is his only post-season attempt. But the other three title-game kickers have much more playoff experience. The Jets’ Jay Feely is 10 of 13 in the playoffs, the Vikings’ Ryan Longwell is 17 of 23 and the Colts’ Matt Stover is 21 of 26.
All are excellent regular-season kickers. Hartley, in just two seasons, makes field goals at a 91.7 percent rate. Stover is 83.7, Longwell 83.0 and Feely 81.6. But the playoffs bring a new pressure. The wind stiffens, the posts narrow and normally-reliable kickers get a little shaky.
Emails in on Gundy hire & NFL
The new emails are in, and lots of talk about OSU and the NFL.
Stan wrote about Mike Gundy’s hiring of Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator: “Man, you really had to go deep in the literary satchel to come up with Larry McMurtry, but it sure worked. You think the hire was Gundy’s decision or from somewhere up the food chain?”
Oh, I certainly believe it was Gundy’s decision. I don’t think Boone Pickens is micro-managing. Pickens wants two things. He wants to win, and he wants to be included in the process. But he doesn’t claim to know football.
Jim: “Thank you for finally agreeing with me that Gundy should hand over the reins!! Like I said in the past, his style of a hurry up offense is really a slowed down version. He seems like a nice guy and good head coach for his players, but an offensive coordinator he is not. He cannot be the quarterback of old his whole life, he has to give up reliving his past life.”
Hey, I’m the guy who brought up the problems back in October 2008, when the OSU offense was going good. But it’s a good point about reliving a past life. When you become head coach, some things have to be sacrificed. I think this is one of them.
Kash: “I still haven’t figured out how OSU has been able to usher in a new coach without showing someone else the door. Someone has to be removed as an on-field coach.”
Someone will be moved to office work. Administration, film, etc. Robert Matthews probably. We would be stunned if we knew the total number of people working in a football program.
Jim wrote about my list of the greatest seasons by 40somethings. “What about George Foreman? He became the oldest man ever to become heavyweight boxing champion of the world when, at age 45, he knocked out Michael Moorer, age 26, to reclaim the title he held 20 years earlier. To me that’s more impressive than Mark O’Meara winning the Masters at 41. Golf can be played at a high level when men are in there 40s. Boxing on the other hand, a different story.”
Boxing definitely is a different story. And here’s the story. It’s a sham. It’s unregulated. Foreman fought a bunch of stiffs, when and where he wanted. No way was I going to include a modern boxer on my list. Meanwhile, Mark O’Meara played on courses and against players not of his choosing. The point about golfers’ longevity is valid, but there aren’t a ton of major champions in their 40s. Much less a 40something winning two in a single year.
Doug wrote about me saying that I had 363 days left as a 40something: “Hmmm, you must have been born same day JFK was inaugurated. Right?”
Now that’s a dangerous man. A guy who knows his math and history.
Mac: “Dang, I thought I had ya. Early Wynn won the Cy Young Award in 1959 – when he was 39.”
Wynn was sort of a sad case. After that Cy Young win, he had 271 career victories. He got 13 in 1960 at age 40. That got him to 284. But it took him until July 13, 1963, to get win No. 300. Wynn was 1-2 that season.
David: “I know you must have forgot Jack, for winning the Masters at age 46. That has to be your No. 1.”
I was ranking best sports seasons. Nicklaus’ Masters victory was probably the greatest event or accomplishment by a 40something, but not the greatest season.
Jimmy: “What kind of a man writes opinion pieces in August very critical of Favre for being old and wanting to play football, that the Vikings are Peterson’s team, blah, blah, blah, then comes out with this beauty about how proud you are? No, you are a Favre-hater sports writer that was slapped in the head and again after most mainstream sports writers have long apologized and realized their error.”
The kind of man who earlier said I was wrong about Favre. Meanwhile, you pipe up after the games are played, which makes predictions much easier. In fact, I’ll bet you bat about 80 percent using that method.
Jason wrote about my blog concerning the Vikings’ running up the score: “Is it OK to be OK with the Vikings scoring that last touchdown and being OK with what Keith Brooking did afterwards? I was fine with both.”
Interesting take. I was basically bothered by both. But being bothered by neither is a live-and-let-live philosophy that works reasonably well.
Justin also wrote about the Vikings: “During Adrian Peterson’s time at OU and his first year at Minnesota, Adrian hit the line of scrimmage like a crazy man. Two out of three times, he would have no gain, but on the third try, he would run for 80 yards. Now he talks about being patient, which seems to me to mean being hesitant. Seems to take him too long getting to the line, then he gets tackled behind the line. Granted, Minnesota’s O-line stinks with the run (or he would not be getting tackled so often behind the line). However, his lack of explosion to the line seems to be hurting him. He is scary if he gets by the line of scrimmage, but it does not seem like he does that much anymore. Also, I have never thought Adrian had good vision. He does not seem to pick holes very well. Emmitt Smith was a master at it.”
You’re probably onto something. The hesitating could be linked to the fumbling, too. Fumble some, and you start slowing down, when in reality you should just be concerned with ball protection no matter how hard you’re running.
Budd wrote about my Wade Phillips column: “Good piece on Dallas. People like owner Jones bring little to the game but grief. He appears to have two moods, one for gloating and one for pinning blame. The team took a long time to get over North Dallas Forty. Now they need some quiet improvements to get back up where they belong.”
North Dallas Forty? The Cowboys had to get over North Dallas Forty? Are you talking about the 1979 movie or are you talking about the Michael Irvin/Nate Newton shenanigans? Jerry Jones brings a lot to football. Not much of it football acumen – the Cowboys still need a general manager or director of player personnel – but Jones most definitely is a shrewd businessman who keeps the Cowboys humming financially. If there’s no salary cap next season, no telling what Dallas might do.
Joe: “I agree with part of your column. Phillips has done a good job on defense, although Dallas allowed too many points yesterday in their biggest game of the season. Why not designate Phillips as defensive co-coordinator (only) for next season? Of course, he might not take it, but I think he’s had enough chances as their head coach to do better with the talent the Cowboys have. I also agree Jerry needs to make some other coaching changes. I don’t know who would be the best candidate for head coach, but with all his money, Jones can hire some skill people. And yes, calling on a guy who has missed a lot of field goals to make a 48-yard kick on 4th-and-1 was asinine!”
You can’t demote a guy from head coach. Way too many political problems would arise, in the staff meeting room and the locker room. Players have to know who the head coach is. A guy can come back a few years later – ala Dave Campo – but not like this. And besides, Phillips is a heck of a head coach. His record proves it. If he can just solve the playoff problem, which he partly did in 2009, the Cowboys have one of the league’s best.
Christopher: “You were dead on yesterday as to why Dallas should keep Phillips. I still thought Jerry would not think clearly on that one. I was wrong on the Gruden hire.”
Gruden remains in the broadcast booth. What if that’s a better job, calling the games instead of coaching them?
Jack wrote about Dusty Dvoracek’s arrest over the weekend: “Dusty Dvoracek is a punk! And a bully to go with it. Back when he was with OU, he literally beat up one of his close friends to the point of being near coma. Dusty has fallen in the category of past ex-OU players that have not matured into society after college and breaking the law. Now he has an arrest record and probably 10 years from now, you’ll see a V.P.O. filed against him for beating up his wife. He is a worthless excuse for a citizen and representing the University of Oklahoma, and not a trust worthy person who. He likes to get drunk and bully people so he can curb his demons in life. Take him off the list of past Sooner greats!”
Was Dvoracek ON the list of past Sooner greats? I don’t think he’s representing OU. I think he’s representing the Chicago Bears. This is a Roger Goodell issue, not a Bob Stoops issue. But I don’t understand the anger toward Dvoracek. The guy obviously has an alcohol problem that he can’t lick. He’s a tortured soul. Dvoracek is to be pitied as much as condemned.
Greg: “As I watched the Texas-Kansas State game Monday night that didn’t end until around 10:40 p.m., I noticed that David Hall, who I have never been a big fan of, was calling the game. Fast forward to OU’s game Tuesday and guess who’s calling that game as well? Neither Manhattan, Kan., nor College Station, Texas, are recognized as major transportation hubs, so I just wonder about how Mr. Hall made his way from Manhattan to College Station and was still fresh enough to call a second ballgame in less than 24 hours. Want to bet that he will be calling another Big 12 game Wednesday night? I find it hard to believe that these 50 something college refs can call ballgames up to 4-5 games a week and still be at the top of their game. We don’t ask that of 20-year-old players. But the refs are the only guys on the court that never get to take a seat or take a break from the action. These guys are either in terrific shape or there aren’t enough new guys entering the officiating ranks or what is probably more the case, these guys love the limelight and monopoly they have and they don’t want any others to join their ranks. Has anyone followed the schedule of a major college ref just to see how the do it? This week, there is no way David Hall got out of Manhattan before 11:30 p.m. or so and I doubt that there are any commercial airlines operating out of there, so he probably had to either stay the night or drive to Topeka or Wichita to catch a flight out and who knows where you fly into to get to College Station. Maybe Superman is in our midst.”
I think you’re being too hard on refs. First, I’ve always thought David Hall was pretty solid. But either way, refs don’t decide who calls what games. Conferences monitor officiating, and limelight has nothing to do with it. There probably is a shortage of quality officials, so corners are cut on travel. I don’t think it knocks officials off their game. I think the biggest worry is the risk in not making it to the arena, should a flight get canceled or something. College basketball officiating is better than it’s ever been. And I think that’s because we’ve got the better refs calling as many games as possible.
Jim also wrote about college basketball: “I have season tickets to the OU games. But I am far enough away from the court that I do not see the players up close. Watching the OU-A&M game last night, I was once again confounded by the appearance of some of the players. A closeup of Tommy Mason-Griffin shooting free throws revealed a young man , just barely out of high school, disfigured (in my opinion), potentially for life, with grotesque tattoos from his ears down. Unfortunately he is not an exception as this practice has become widespread among college players. College men’s sports claim to want to prepare young men for life. In my view this growing practice does not do that. I assume this practice is driven by what is seen on pro players. But we have young men marking themselves for life with emblems that are more common among gang members than successful participants in American society. I believe sports writers (using your national and state organizations) could begin to lead in an effort to diminish this practice. Coaches could be led to speak out against such practices. I suspect such an effort would lead to criticism of being insensitive to cultural and ethnic norms, but I believe it would be worth the effort.”
Here’s the deal. Athletes aren’t coming to college and getting tattoos. They’re getting tattoos long before that, and they’re not influenced by NBA players. They’re influenced by people around them. I don’t like tattoos, myself, and I think they close some avenues to the future, but the other group of Americans who are noted for their tattoos are World War II veterans.
