UCONN Women lose to Stanford, Snap Long Win Streak

The Stanford Lady Cardinal gave the University of Connecticut Lady Huskies their last loss one thousand days ago...Tonight, they snapped UCONN's NCAA Men & Women's Collegiate Basketball record of 90 consecutive wins, with a 71-59 victory at Maples Pavilion on the campus of Stanford University. Stanford extends it's own home winning streak to 51 games. Jeanette Pohlen led the Lady Cardinal with 31 points and 9 rebounds. Perhaps the greatest Women's player in the world right now, Maya Moore, was held to just 14 points on 5-15 shooting.

I don't care what level of sports you are in, or if it's men or women, UCONN's win streak is one of the greatest in all of sports and should be celebrated. Stanford was the better team on the floor tonight, but what the UCONN women did for their sport was a good thing. It brought attention to all of women's college basketball like it has never seen before.

John Lennon & Monday Night Football

December 8, 2010, will mark the 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. As everyone knows, Lennon was shot and killed by obsessed fan, Mark David Chapman, outside of Lennon's apartment building in New York City. What does Lennon have to do with Monday Night Football you may wonder?

In 1970, Monday Night Football (MNF) began on ABC. Throughout the 1970s, it elevated the exposure of the NFL and made Monday nights must see television. The first broadcasters of MNF were Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith. In 1971, Frank Gifford replaced Jackson. As the young MNF franchise began to grow, guest appearances by sports, movie, and music stars in the booth, became commonplace. On December 9, 1974, Lennon was interviewed by Cosell (click here to see interview) during the game that night. What no one knew was that exactly six years and one day later, Lennon would be shot, and his shocking and tragic death would be told to the world on football's biggest stage by the man who interviewed him that night, Howard Cosell.

Farewell to a Cubs Legend

Over the past two summers, while driving across Northern Michigan for my job, I'd often tune my SiriusXM radio in to listen to Chicago Cubs games. The reason I listened wasn't because I was necessarily a Cubs fan, but it was to hear Ron Santo. Santo spent 14 of his 15 seasons, as a player, with the Cubs. A nine time All-Star and five time Gold Glove winner, he was one of the greatest third baseman of his generation. He should be in the Hall of Fame, but that is a conversation for another time. As a color commentator, however, he was not a Hall-of-Famer, but his game analysis wasn't his draw. Santo began broadcasting for the Cubs in 1990, and his appeal was his unapologetic passion and enthusiasm that he displayed during every Cub broadcast. He represented every Cub fan in the radio booth by cheering loudly for a homerun or expressing his disgust and disappointment when they committed an error. No one loved his team more than Santo loved the Cubs. His radio partner, play-by-play man Pat Hughes, was the perfect compliment to Santo's style. Hughes would set him up perfectly for a rant, or a story, without taking anything away from the flow of the game. They played off each other very well. Their partnership sadly ended, as we learned this morning, that we lost Ron Santo.

Santo suffered from several health issues. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 18. He ended up having both legs amputated, one in 2001 and the other in 2002. Despite this, he continued to broadcast and also became a spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). On Wednesday, it was reported that he lapsed into a comma and ended up dying Thursday due to complications of diabetes and bladder cancer. He was 70 years old.

The Cubs lost it's biggest fan. For me, driving across Northern Michigan in the summer will never be the same.

Spark is Gone

Hall of Fame Cincinnati Reds & Detroit Tigers manager, George "Sparky" Anderson, passed away today at the age of 76. Anderson was the first manager in Major League Baseball history to win a World Series in each league and was sixth all-time in wins.

Anderson began his managerial career with the Reds in 1970 at the age of 36. He lead the Reds that year to the National League Pennant, with his team winning 102 games. The Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Championship Series, but lost in the World Series, to the Baltimore Orioles in five games. He lead the Big Red Machine to four National League Pennants and back-to-back World Series Championships in 1975 and 1976. He won 863 career games in nine seasons before being fired after the 1978 season. After a great career with the Reds, he moved on to the Detroit Tigers, where my generation remembers him best.

Anderson was hired in June of 1979 by the Tigers, replacing Les Moss. He guided Detroit to a 56-50 record after taking over mid-season. The Tigers finished 5th in a very tough American League East that year, with an overall record of 85-76. That '79 season marked the second full season of the great double play combination of Lou Whitaker & Alan Trammell, the first full season of Jack Morris and Dan Petry, and the debut of Kirk Gibson. After a solid second place finish in 1983 to the eventual World Champion Baltimore Orioles, 1984 turned into a magical year for the Tigers.


Sparky's Bless You Boys of 1984 (as the Tigers were nicknamed), started out 35-5, a mark that still stands as the best 40 game start to a season in MLB history. They lead the AL East wire-to-wire, finishing with a 104-58 record, which is the most wins for a season in franchise history. The Tigers went on to sweep the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series and defeated the San Diego Padres in the World Series. It was the Tigers first World Championship since 1968. The Tigers won the American League East in 1987, but lost in the ALCS to the Minnesota Twins in five games. The Tigers finished no higher than 2nd place (1988, 1991) in his remaining years as their manager. After the strike year of 1994, and heading into the 1995 season, Anderson refused to manage replacement players in Spring Training. After the shortened '95 season, he retired. In his 17 seasons as the Tigers manager, he finished with a 1331-1248 won/loss record.

Anderson managed 26 years overall, compiling 2194 wins, and posting a winning percentage of .545. He won a total of five pennants and three World Championships. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000, by the Veteran's Committee. He was also known for making some outrageous statements when evaluating young talent, like calling Kirk Gibson the next Mickey Mantle or that little known Chris Pitaro would replace Lou Whitaker at second base. He was also given the moniker, Captain Hook, for his propensity to be quick in pulling pitchers. Sparky also was philanthropic, starting CATCH (Caring Athletes Teamed for Childrens and Henry Ford Hospitals) in 1987. It was a charity he was still active in through his retirement and the end of his life.


His big smile, and enthusiasm for the game of baseball will be sorely missed. The game has lost one of its' greatest ambassadors. Rest in peace Sparky Anderson, there will not be another like you ever again.

Giants Go Up 2-0 On Rangers

I'm really not surprised that the San Francisco Giants have taken a two games to none lead over the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series which began on Wednesday. What I am surprised about is the amount of runs they have scored, especially in Game 1 off of the seemingly unbeatable, Cliff Lee.

The Giants scored only 697 runs this year (9th in the National League) which was 16 runs fewer than the Arizona Diamondbacks who finished with 97 losses and 27 games behind San Francisco in the National League (NL) West Division. The win on their great pitching, lead by starters Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, and their lights out closer, Brian Wilson. They won so many agonizing, one run games that the Giants television announcers, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, dubbed their offense and they way they win, "Torture". With the way the Giants have crushed the Rangers in the first two games in San Francisco, the only torture anyone is feeling is the Rangers and their fans.

In Game 1, with the score tied at 2-2, the Giants broke the game wide open in the 5th inning by scoring 6 runs, 5 off of starter Lee, knocking him out of the game. The Giants added 3 more runs in the 8th inning and ended up winning 11-7. Lee suffered his first post season loss (9 starts, 7-0, 1-No Decision, before loss) which could also have served as a huge psychological let down to the Rangers.

Game 2 started off as a great pitching duel between the Rangers' C.J. Wilson and the Giants' Matt Cain. Cain hadn't allowed an earned run in three postseason starts in 14 1/3 innings going into the game. The game was scoreless until the 5th, when Edgar Renteria hit a high pitch deep into the left field stands to put the Giants up 1-0. The Giants added another run in the 7th on a walk to Cody Ross and an RBI single by Juan Uribe. In the 8th inning, the wheels fell off the wagon for the Rangers, as none of their pitchers could find the plate. Darren O'Day started the 8th inning pitching for the Rangers, and got two strikeouts (Andres Torres & Freddy Sanchez). Buster Posey singled and then lefty Derek Holland came in relief of O'Day to face Nick Schierholtz (who was a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell in the 7th). Holland walked Schierholtz on four straight pitches. He then walked Ross on four straight pitches as well to load the bases. After three straight balls to Aubrey Huff, Holland finally threw a strike, but ended up walking Huff on the very next pitch, forcing in a run. Holland was relieved by Mark Lowe who then walked Uribe to force in the 4th run of the inning. Renteria worked the count full, and then drove a pitch down the left field line, driving in two runs to put the Giants up 6-0. Lowe was then relieved by Michael Kirkman, who became the fourth pitcher of the inning for Texas. Aaron Rowand pinched-hit for Mark Fontenot (who was announced as a pinch-hitter but did not hit) and hit a triple to drive in two more runs. Torres came up for the second time in the inning, and doubled in a run. Finally, Kirkman was able to strike out Sanchez (2nd time he struck out in the inning) to put out the fire. The Rangers were retired quietly in the 9th (David Murphy walked, but was stranded on second). The Giants took Game 2, 9-0, and Cain increased his streak of not giving up and earned run to 21 1/3.

While the Rangers may be down, they are heading back home to Arlington for Game 3 on Saturday. I think this series will come down to the Giants and Rangers starters in Games 3 and 4. In Game 3, the Giants will start Jonathan Sanchez, who lead the NL in walks with 96. The Rangers will give the ball to Colby Lewis, who pitched the game of his career, leading the way to eliminating the Yankees in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. Game 4's probables will be Madison Bumgarner for the Giants and Tommy Hunter for the Rangers. There is an outside possibility, Cliff Lee could pitch Game 4 on short rest, but Rangers manager Ron Washington indicated before the series that he had no intention of doing so.

I think if the Rangers can get a solid start out of Lewis and Sanchez struggles like he did against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, the Rangers could take Game 3. Plus the Rangers have put up good offensive numbers at hitter friendly Rangers Ballpark at Arlington, which could give them an advantage as well. Game 4 will be interesting if both Bumgarner and Hunter face each other. Both are young pitchers who have very little experience. If the Rangers do take Game 3, it would make Game 4 that more pivotal, and whatever one of these youngsters handles the big stage better, could change the course of the series for their team.

In case you haven't heard by now, the Texas Rangers have never been to the World Series in their franchise history (1961-present) and the San Francisco Giants have never won a title since moving to San Francisco, from New York, back in 1958. Whoever wins, it will mean so much for their respective cities as both have been starving for a Major League Baseball World Championship for more than 50 years.

Game 3 is set for Saturday. First pitch will be at 6:57pm, on Fox.

Outcry over Jeter Play Ridiculous

The media is making a big deal about Derek Jeter acting like he got hit by a pitch and "fooling" the umpire last night in the New York Yankees - Tampa Bay Rays game last night. They are calling him a cheater and charging him with poor sportsmanship. This is ridiculous and I couldn't disagree more.

In a sport that has officials, an athlete has no obligation to tell an umpire or an official if they have made the wrong call or not. For example, in the Cleveland Indians - Detroit Tigers game earlier this year when the Tigers' pitcher Armando Galarraga beat the Indians Jason Donald to the bag and was ruled safe and ruining his Perfect Game, you didn't hear ANYONE get on Donald for not admitting to the umpire that he was actually out. Jeter's job is to get on base any way he can. If it meant acting a little to sway the umpire into making a call, then you do it. Every professional athlete has made some attempt in their careers to deceive an umpire or an official, that's the way it is. It's not unsportsmanlike, it's part of the game. It would be different if they were playing an individualized sport where policing yourselves is the right thing to do. Team sports is not like that and there is no place for athletes to correct officials & umpires calls, it's simply not their job and they should not be expected to do it.

Brett Favre Please Just Retire

Brett Favre has done it again...No, not thrown another TD pass or interception. No, not scrambling around the field, avoiding tacklers, and firing a ball to a receiver for a first down. No, what I'm talking about is Favre has reportedly, according to good old text messaging to his Minnesota Viking teammates of last year, said that he is going to retire...for the THIRD time. No other sport, besides maybe boxing, has seen a single athlete announce he's retiring and then coming back, more often than Favre. He is either a guy who cannot stick with a decision, or he just likes the attention he brings to himself around this time every year.

It's obvious that he doesn't want to be part of training camp. A veteran like he is, doesn't need a long training camp and I can understand that. What I don't like is the fact that he holds his team hostage every year by not making a decision until the last minute. Just last year, on July 28, Favre said he was retiring only to comeback in late August. Granted he had probably the best year of his 19-year NFL career, but the way he goes about things is not fair to the team he is playing on and their fans.

I have nothing but respect for what Favre has done on the field. He has established himself as the most prolific passer in the history of the National Football League. His passion for the game is evident just by watching him play. He is a Hall of Famer. What he also seems to be is a guy who is either so oblivious to the effects of his decision on others or is so arrogant that he expects teams to wait around for him or wants them to come crawling to him and get on their hands and knees and beg him to comeback. It's sickening to me. What's even worse, ESPN is doing a special dedicated to his retirement...again. I truly think most of ESPN's talent is synical about if this is truly the end of his career. ESPN's brass, however, are airing a special knowing it will draw ratings, whether you hate Favre or not, people are watching. Just like when they aired Lebron James self-indulging special, "The Decision", last month.

I think Favre has tainted his Hall of Fame career by the way he has handled his off seasons. I think it's a shame that what he may be known for most, especially if he decides to comeback again this year, is waffling on retiring, instead of all the records he's set and the way he played the game on the field. I truly hope this retirement is the final chapter to a storied career. I suspect he will be back again at the end of August, further tarnishing a great career.