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Rob Durkee's thoughts on...well, whatever is on his mind...AT40 or otherwise...
FOR INSTANCE...
ANOTHER MANAGERIAL CHANGE...AND SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS DOESN'T CHANGE
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2009 -- Some things never change...
Like the baseball managerial merry-go-round. Manny Acta, gone as Washington Nationals manager but the team's 26-61 was a telltale sign. Is Eric Wedge next to go as Indians' manager? Probably not.
Something else that hasn't changed is our biased sports news media. I couldn't believe the BLATANTLY BIASED story by a woman writer who wrote about Mrs. Hospenthal visiting the Stewart-Haas Shop. I thought this article was so damn ridiculous that I shot an e-mail to that writer. Here's what I wrote...
Your article about Mrs. Hothead visiting the Stewart-Haas shop is absolutely stupid, totally biased and just another example of our horribly biased sports news media when it comes to Mrs. Overexposed.
Is this the reward this driver gets for finishing SIXTH last weekend? And ELEVENTH the previoous weekend? And for her 1-72 record?
If you're going to write about Mrs. Overrated, why not tell the WHOLE truth? Such as...she hasn't won a race in 15 months, she's NEVER won a race conducted in the USA and she's NEVER won a 500-mile race anytime, anywhere. SHE HAS MORE SPEEDING TICKETS (TWO) THAN AUTO RACING WINS. Put all of the above in your next article about Mrs. Hothead!
Disgustingly Yours,
Robert Theron
***
DID YOU ENJOY THE SILENCE?
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009 -- I enjoyed the silence surrounding the LPGA U.S. Women's Open golf tournament. Did you? After all, without Michelle Weak there, our biased sports news media actually HAD to find other women's pro golfers to interview.
Like Eun-hee Ji, who won the tournament with an exciting birdie putt. Imagine, a whole week without having to read about the Winless Wonder and her 0-75 record as a pro.
Oh, and she's made her share of enemies over in Korea. She wanted to play with her caddy during a pro-am tournament over in Korea but the event's organizers turned down her request. So what does she do? Refuse to play. And refuse to comment to the Korean news media. This caused many negative comments by the Korean media, which has label Miss Weak as arrogant. If there's one thing the golf world's winless wonder doesn't need, it's negative press like this on top of an 0-75 record.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hospenthal showed me she has MUCH more heart than Michelle Weak ever will. Despite starting 18th, she finished a respectable sixth at the IRL's Toronto Honda Indy. Still, it's not a vidtory, so Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've is at least 1-73 as a pro auto racer.
Combined, my two least favorite sports personalities are 1-148. (they may be 1-149, but I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt).
***
2009'S FIRST NO-HITTER
SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009 -- He makes $455,000, almost the major league baseball minimum wage of late. He'd never had a major league complete game in 50 starts. He hadn't started a game since June 22., And he hadn't won a game since May 25.
Oh, and his record was 2-8.
so how do y ou explain Jonathan Sanchez pitching a no-hitter in the Giants' 8-0 blanking of the San Diego Padres Friday night?
You don't.
It's baseball.
And the Giants' first no-hit pitcher since John "The Count" Montefusco in 1976.
What made this no-no all the more memorable was how Sanchez's father was there to see it.
***
TWO WINNING PITCHERS--AND NEITHER THREW A PITCH!
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009 -- You don't have to throw a pitch to become a major league baseball winning pitcher. Sometimes, you don't even have to be there at the park!
Tuesday night, Alan Embree didn't have to throw a pitch. He picked off Austin Kearns of the Washington Nationals...and became the pitcher of record...and the winning pitcher. This hadn't happened since B.J. Ryan did it in 2002. Ironically, the Toronto Blue Jays released Ryan this week.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Joel Hanrahan of the Pittsburgh Pirates was enjoying a day off while learning he was the winning pitcher for his former team, the Nationals. Washington beat Houston, 11-10, to complete a suspended game originally played when Hanrahan was still a National.
Only in baseball!
***
TAKE THAT, BIASED MEDIA (AS THEY "IMPROVE" TO 1-148
SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2009 -- Our biased sports news media, particularly the Associated Press, again got exactly what it deserved.
When Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, posted the seventh best qualifying time, the AP Saturday ran a separate story with the headline "Danica almost did it."
A typical example of sports news media bias for Auto Racing's Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've. Oh, how'd she do at the IRL race today at Watkins Glen?
ELEVENTH!!!!
Needless to say, our biased news media won't tell you her record. It's 1-73. Nor will it tell you that Mrs. Overrated hasn't won an auto race in 15 months. Nor will it tell you that she's NEVER won an auto race held in the USA. And she's NEVER won a 500-mile race held ANYWHERE.
Meanwhile, the sports world's other overpublicized person, Michelle Weak, DID shoot a final round 64 to place third at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. But she was nine strokes off the winner of the leader after 3 rounds. A non-victory is still a loss. So Miss Winless is 0-75.
Oh, and she HAD to win that tourney to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open that starts this Thursday. Thus, she won't be there. That means we WON'T be reading on Wednesday or Thursday a "this is her week to win" or a "Wie eyes first pro victory" story. And we WON'T be reading those ridiculous "Wie six strokes back" kinda headlines after the early rounds.
Instead, we get a full week's vacation from stories about golf's winless wonder...and her 0-75 record.
Combined, Mrs. Hospenthal and Miss Weak are 1-148.
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 -- Since when does somebody who qualifies with the EIGHTH best qualifing time in ANY auto race gets a headline and story about THAT?
Simple, when it's Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division. Never mind that SEVEN other drivers fared BETTER. It's not how BAD you are, just how GOOD LOOKING you are!
Needless to say, Mrs. Hospenthal's record wasn't mentioned in this Associated Press article. It's 1-72.
And you're wondering why I've written Yahoo requesting that they change their "IRL" link to the "All-Danica Patrick All The Time Every MInute Every Second of Every Day" section?
***
STEVE McNAIR, 1973-2009
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 -- The 4th of July 2009 weekend has turned to a day of mourning with the passing of ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair. He was found shot to death at what's believed to be his Nashville complex. A unidentified woman was also found shot to death. McNair was fatally wounded in the head.
This is so very sad. McNair will be remember for almost pulling off the 200 Super Bowl, when he and his Tennessee Titans fell to the St. Louis Rams, 23-16, with the game ending with the ball a yard away from a possible TD.
McNair turned into a NFL standout QB despite playing a Alcorn State. And he'll be missed.
***
IT'S OFFICIAL -- THEY'RE 1-146
SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2009 -- This shouldn't be all that shocking...but my two least favorite sports characters un-improved their combined record to 1-146.
Mrs. Hospenthal finished a so-so fifth at her latest ILR race to un-improve to 1-72. Miss Weak finished tied for 10th at the Wegmans LPGA golf tournament to un-improve her record to 0-74.
***
SHE'S HEADED FOR 0-74...AND HER HOMETOWN PAPER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HER COLLEGE!!
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009 -- How BAD is it for Michelle Weak, the former child prodigy who's turned into a colossal failure as a pro golfer?
And is still a teenager? At 19?
For starters, she's tied for 21st after three rounds of the Wegmans LPGA tournament in Rochester. The news media had her "in contention" after one round...but she was already five strokes back of the leader.
The second round Friday, included FIVE bogeys and a three-over-par 75. A FULL TWELVE STROKES OFF THE LEADER, Jiyai Shin. Oh, and the Winless Wonder's falling out of concention made one sentence in the THIRTEENTH paragraph of the AP story surfacing today. Cheyenne Woods, Tiger's niece, got all the headlines despite missing the cut.
But here's the ULTIMATE putdown for golf's Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've...her hometown newspaper, the Honolulu Advertiser, called her "the UCLA sophomore." Unless she's transferred to UCLA, she's attending STANFORD!
If that story were submitted in a journalism class at my school, Ohio University, it would've automatically been given an F. But then, that's the grade Miss Winless gets from golf scouts, too....
***
JUNE 25, 2009 -- A DAY TO REMEMBER
The day began with word that my Cleeeeeveland Cavaliers had obtained Shaquille O'Neal in a trade.
Then came word that Farrah Fawcett died.
And then the news of Michael Jackson's death.
And we already were hurt by Ed McMahon's passing.
I was wrapping up my work week at 3 p.m. or so Pacific time when I heard some people at Fox Sports mention Michael Jackson. Then a co-worker said to me that it would be a shame of Michael Jackson's death was true. Then my best friend, Matt Wilson, e-mailed me one link to a news source saying it was true that the King of Pop had died. Another news source said it was true...but two others, including CNN, said he was in a coma.
By 4 p.m. Pacific time, Michael Jackson's passing was made official. What a shame. He'll be missed.
For me, the NBA draft served as an escape from the bad news of the day.
***
A NINTH PLACE FINISH--AND STILL A STORY ABOUT HER
SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2009 -- Have you EVER heard of the NINTH place finisher getting a separate story in ANY sporting event? I haven't...but I have now.
Of course, you have to understand.
This is Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division. Our news media will stoop to anything to publicized this overrated person.
Even when she finishes ninth.
There's some consolation. The story DID point out that Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has NEVER won an auto race held in the USA. And the Yahoo IRL section actually DIDN'T have a photo of her.
Still, Mrs. Overexposed now has a 1-71 record. Combined with Michelle Weak of golf infamy and those two overrated characters are a combined...
1-144
Meanwhile, another loss for my Indians, who were swept this weekend by the Chicago Cubs. After being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers. There's a team in dire need of a total overhaul of its bullpen as it heads for 100 losses.
****
SPORTS NEW MEDIA BIAS (CONTINUED)...AND TRIBE BULLPEN COLLAPSES AGAIN...
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009 -- Just go to Yahoo sports, click on the "more " section (just ot the right of "action sports") and then click on "IRL" and...
Lo and behold...
There she is!
As usual.
And she's not even MENTIONED in the story her photograph is attached to!
Oh, I forgot.
This is Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division. Our biased news media will do anything to display her photographs. Or write another "she may go to NASCAR but there's nothing new" stories.
As I've suggested before to Yahoo, I've suggested they change their link from "IRL" to the "Danica Patrick All-The Time Every Second Of Every Day" section.
Might as well.
Meanwhile, the Indians' 8-7 loss Friday was excruciating. The bullpen flat blew a 7-0 lead...
***
SUDDENLY, SHE'S 0-73!
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2009 -- It didn't take my least favorite golfer to see her record go to 0-73. Michelle Weak today failed to qualify for the USA Women's Open by a stroke...but half an inch is as good as a mile.
Besides...
We WON'T be reading stupid biased "Wie Eyes First LPGA Tournament title" stories this week...
And we WON'T be reading "Wie In Contention" stories after the first round...
Or "Wie five strokes back" subheadlines.
Or stories about her record...which is...
0-73
***
COULD A SHACK-LEBRON COMBO WIN A LA LAKERS? AND GUESS WHO IS 0-72?
SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009 -- The Los Angeles Lakers are the 2008-9 NBA champions..and rightfully so. I figured they would beat the Orlando magic in five games, but with tonight's 99-86 win, the Lakers win it all in five games. Kobe Bryant won the MVP but Pau Gasol made it possible with his up-front play. Which reminds me....
Now that the NBA season's over, the draft is next in 11 days...and on the way, trade talk. One of the big trade rumors is the Cleveland Cavaliers obtaining Shaquile O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns. The Cavs would have to probably give up a big guy (Varejo?) and maybe a guard.
Could a Shack-LeBron (James) combo be enough to give Cleveland an NBA title? Maybe. However, Shack turns 38 next March...and he can't shoot free throws.
Meanwhile...
My least favorite golfer is now 0-72 what with Michelle Weak's finishing tied for 23rd at the LPGA championship. So what if she had an eagle and a hole-in-one? Twenty two women golfers fared better. And it also means Michelle Weak (0-72) and Mrs. Hospenthal of auto racing infamy (1-69) are a combined 1-141.
***
A HOLE-IN-ONE NOT ENOUGH!
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2009 -- The good news for my least favorite golfer is that she got a hole-in-one today. The bad news is that Michelle Weak is ten strokes behind the leader...and is a day away from improving her pro record to 0-72.
***
SHE'S IN CONTENTION ALL RIGHT--TO BEING 0-72
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2009 -- How can you be "in contention" for a golf tournament championship when you're five strokes off the leader after one round?
Beats me!
But that's what happened after one round of the LPGA Championship tournament Thursday. Our highly biased Associated Press ran this "Wie in contention" story...just the latest example of the AP's blatant bias.
Oh, how's that golfer "in contention" doing after two rounds?
A two-over 72...a tie for 32nd ... and SEVEN strokes off the leader.
Translation: Michelle Weak is en route to improving her pro record to 0-72.
If you don't believe me about the AP bias for this golfer, check this out...and pay close attention to the people posting messages about how sick and tired they are of reading about Miss Overrated/Overexposed...
http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-lpgachampionship-notebook&prov=ap&type=lgns
***
IT'S OFFICIAL..SHE'S 0-71 (AND THEY'RE 1-140)
SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2009 -- Gee, do you suppose Michelle Weak is going to talk about competing in the MASTERS again?
I mean, after all, she STILL hasn't won a WOMEN'S pro golf tournament. Since turning pro, she's participated in 71 events...without a win. So...she's 0-71 in the aftermath of finishing TIED FOR FIFTY FOURTH at the LPGA State Farm Classic.
And remember, Miss Overrated STILL has NEVER won a 72-hold stroke-play tournament held anywhere at any time.
That means Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division (Michelle Weak, 0-71) and Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division (Mrs. Hospenthal, 1-69) are a combined 1-140.
***
WHAT NEXT, TOP 10 FINISHES INSTEAD OF TOP 5 FINISHES?
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 -- Our biased sports news media is SO hard up to come up with stories about Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, that somebody wrote about her top 5 finishes. The writer sure as hell couldn't write about her wins, because she hasn't had one in nearly 14 months.
Well, that writer may have to resort to top 10 finishes. Guess where Mrs. Hothead finished in tonight's IRL race in Fort Worth. Sixth! And she fell a notch in the IRL standings to fifth.
And here's more of what they won't say about her...
Her record is 1-69.
She has NEVER won a 500-mile auto race conducted anywhere.
She has NEVER won any race of any kind conducted in the USA.
When she won the IRL "Rookie Of the Year" in 2005, she did it by defeating two people.
She got at least two speeding tickets in 2008.
She had to attend driving school in 2008.
***
EGG ON THE FACE OF OUR BIASED NEWS MEDIA (AS USUAL)
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 -- Our TOTALLY BIASED sports news media once again for the uympteenth time is getting what it deserves...egg in its face and then some.
Who was the single-most publicized golfer BEFORE the start of the LPGA State Farm Classic? It wasn't defending champion Ji Young Oh. Or ANY of the LPGA tourney winners so far. Instead, it was the golfer who...
Was DISQUALIFIED for failure to sign a scorecard a year ago...and...
Was prominently displayed with a story and photo and headline that said, "she returns to scene of the crime."...and...
Was TOTALLY played up with a story, photo and headline about how "Wie shoots for first LPGA title."...and....
Has NEVER won a 72-hole stroke play tournament of any kind at any level EVER....and...
Took an 0-70 pro record into this weekend's tournament.
Uh-huh, It's Michelle Weak. Wondering how Miss Overexposed-Overrated is doing?
Saturday, she shot a 5-over-par 77 which puts her ELEVEN STROKES off the leader...and...oh by the way...
She's tied for 62nd...
SIXTY SECOND!!!
Translation...she's a day away from improving her record to 0-71.
Stick THAT in your biased stories, BIASED SPORTS NEWS MEDIA!!!
***
WHY NOT CHANGE THE IRL YAHOO LINK TO WHAT IT IS?
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2009 -- If you check out Yahoo's sports section, click on "other" sports and then click on "IRL". I PROMISE you that when you do that, you'll see a prominent photo and story of one of the sports world's two most overexposed people ever. So, I took Yahoo to task with this e-mail...
When are you going to rename your "IRL" link and section the "Danica Patrick All The Time Every Second Every Day" section? Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe and Dario Franchitti all finished BETTER than Mrs. One-Hit Wonder at the last IRL race, are higher in the IRL standings than Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've...and yet they're totally ignored? Why?
Oh, I forgot...the person getting all the headlines, stories and video clips is Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division. Your total bias for this person...along with that of the entire sports news media, is disgraceful.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee
***
CAVALIERS LOOK EVEN WORSE!!!
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2009 -- What could be worse for the Cleveland Cavaliers than to win the most NBA regular season games (66), then lose in the Eastern Conference finals to the Orlando Magic?
Answer: When the Magic go on to lay an egg in the first game of the NBA finals. That's what happened in Thursday night's 100-75 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Magic had no anwer in stopping Kobe Bryant (40 points) but who does? The Lakers, meanwhile, held Dwight Howard in check, holding him to one basket on 1-for-6 shooting that included no dunks. Suddenly, the Magic discovered that when you're guarded closely, those three-point shot attempts aren't as successful. The Magic was 8-for-23 from the arc and shot 30% overall. You live by the three, you die by the three.
The Magic had no answer up front as they were out-rebounded, 55-41.
Originally, I felt this NBA finals series would go 7 games...but now I'm wondering if the Lakers will sweep 'em. Stay tuned....
Meanwhile, my least favorite LPGA golfer has a shot at improving her record to 0-71. She's four strokes off the pace at the State Farm Classic but here's the catch. She's tied for 36th, so 35 golfers fared better. It would be fitting to see the golfer who was prominently featured prior to this latest tournament by the news media...misses the cut?
***
SPORTS NEW MEDIA BIAS--NOTHING'S CHANGED
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009 -- Once again, our disgracefully biased sports news media has nothing better to do than to preview the latest LPGA golf tournament...with another Michelle Weak story. How many times can the Associated Press run another "this is her week to win a tournament" story?
And, of course, the story doesn't tell you the truth. Such as...
* -- The Winless wonder is 0-70 as a pro golfer and has NEVER won a 72-hold storke play golf tournament at any level at any time.
* -- Michelle Weak is coming off a tie for 26th in her last tournament.
* -- Golf's Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've isn't in the LPGA's Top 5 money list. Or the top 10. Or even the top 15. She's 16th.
* -- Miss Overhyped is ranked 46th in the LPGA's latest Rolex Ratings.
* -- Syndicated sports talk show host Steve Czaban has labeled Miss Weak as "a failure."
I totally agree.
Why can't our biased sports news media?
Answer: Because she's Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division, so the TOTALLY BIASED stories will never end.
***
SHE SAID WHAT????????????????????
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2009 -- One of the sports world's two most overexposed people got put in her place by, of all people, women's lib sports columnist Christine Brennan of USA Today. Brennan took Mrs. Hospenthal to task for openly admitting during an interview with Dan Patrick that it's OK to cheat. It's right there in the latest Sports Elevated. Sportscaster Dan Patrick, live on his sports talk show, asked Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've if she'd take a performance-enchancing drug if she weren't caught.
Mrs. Overexposed replied, " Well, then it's not cheating, is it? If nobody finds out?"
Dan Patrick: "So you would do it?"
Mrs. Hospenthal: "Yeah, it would be like finding a gray area. In motorsports we work in the gray areas a lot. You're trying to find where the holes are in the rule book."
To her credit, Mrs. Overpublicized apologized to Brennan for the mistake, saying she was only kidding but in retrospect realizing it was a bad joke. OK, I'll give her a free pass on this one. Nobody's perfect. Long long ago, I remember a fraternity brother advising me to "think before you speak." I've never forgotten it.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hospenthal is still 1-68 as an auto racer. The other overrated sports personality, Michelle Weak, was actually featured as the one-year anniversary is here. It's been a year since she was disqualified from a golf tourney got not signing her scorecard.
Needless to say, her record as a golf pro wasn't mentioned. It's 0-70. That means my two least favorite sports personalites are a combined 1-138.
***
'FAN FAVORITE GLAMOUR GIRL" IMPROVES TO 1-68.
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 -- Just another day at the office for the world of biased sports news media. My least favorite sports personality finishes a mere fifth at the latest IRL auto race...and gets lauded for moving to FOURTH PLACE in the standings. When's the last time you read about a sports person moving into fourth place? With that in mind, here's what I said in that article's comment section...
Once again, our biased sports news media says what it wants to say about today's fifth place finisher...and conveniently neglects to tell the truth regarding this overexposed person. Wow, FOURTH PLACE in the standings for "fan favorite glamour girl" --and when's the last time a sports person of any kind was lauded in a story for moving up to fourth place in anything? Translation--our biased sports news media is runing out of things to say about Mrs. Hospenthal....and never mind telling all of the truth. For instance...
In all the articles leading up to the 2009 Indy 500, NEVER was Miss Overrated's 2008 Indy 500 finish mentioned. It was 23rd. Her average finish at Indy is eighth.
Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've
-Would've has never won a 500-mile race of any kind anywhere at anytime; has never won a race of any kind conducted in the USA and hasn't won a race in 13 months. Her record is 1-68.
At least they're not calling her the 2005 IRL Rookie Of The Year anymore. BTW, she gained that honor by defeating exactly two people.
And why has the sports news media conveniently neglected to mention that Mrs.Hothead received at least two speeding tickets in 2008...and, according to Sports Illustrated, had to attend driving school?
Oh, I forgot. This is Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division.
***
ANOTHER BLACK EYE FOR CLEVELAND SPORTS
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 -- In 1954, the New York Yankees won 103 games...and didn't play a single postseason game. That's because there were no wild cards and no divisional playoffs then. The only teams that went to the World Serious were the winningest teams in the American League and National League.
That year, the winningest American League team was the Cleveland Indians, who won an incredible 111 games...in a 154-game season! So the Indians lost only 43 regular season games....and then got swept in four games by the then-New York Giants.
I can't help but compare the Indians' 1954 meltdown with the 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers, whose own meltdown culminiated with Saturday night's 103-90 loss to the Orlando Magic. The Cavaliers won more games than any other NBA team in the regular season with 66. And yet they couldn't even make it to the NBA finals series.
Give the Orlando Magic credit. They were by far the better team. The Cavalier had no answer to stopping Dwight Howard. Or Howard's stellar three-point-shooting teammates. Will the three's keep dropping for the Magic vs. the Lakers in the NBA finals. We'll find out starting Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers' meltdown will go down in history along with the other Cleveland sports team failures. Like, the Drive, the fumble, the Josa Mesa meltdown and the 2007 Tribe meltdown...And LeBron James made it all worse by refusing to shake hands with anyone after the final buzzer, then boycotting the news media.
***
CAVALIERS: WIN THREE OR GO FISHING
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009 --- The Cleveland Cavaliers played an improved game...but they STILL lost to the Orlando Magic in overtime, 116-114. Now the Cavs must win 3 playoff games in a row to make the NBA finals. It's possible...but very unlikely.
Why? The Magic are the better team. A better inside game. Better shooters. A better bench. The first thing the Cavaliers have to do is win at home Thursday. Don't discount the Magic winning Thursday to end this series.
***
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 -- Privately speaking, the NBA hierarchy want their league's finals to be a Laker-Cavalier matchup. You know, the old Kobe (Bryant) vs. LeBron (James) battle.
Guess what?
Yeah, it may instead be the Nuggets and Carmel Anthony vs. the Magic and Dwight Howard.
For the Cavaliers to have ANY chance of winning the NBA Eastern Conference finals, they MUST win Tuesday night's game at Orlando. Otherwise, they'll be down 3-1 and a loss away from elimination.
It doesn't look good. The Cav bench is almost non-existent. The Magic' bench outscored the Cavs' bench, 20-8, on Sunday. And Cleveland seemingly has no answer to stopping Dwight Howard. Stay tuned.
***
THIRD PLACE AT INDY 500 = SO WHAT?
SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2009 -- I will concede only ONE thing regarding Mrs. Hospenthal. Yes, she finished third at the this year's Indy 500. That's an improvement over her fourth place finish four years ago. It's the highest Indy 500 finish for a woman ever. But...
BUT...
BUT...
Is THAT really a big deal? I don't think so. Remember, this is someone Sports Illustrated boldly put on its cover a little over a year ago...and boldly said she could win the Indy 500. But...
She didn't win it last year. She didn't win it this year. A WOMAN HAS NEVER WON THE INDY 500 EVER!!!!
And here's some MORE facts our biased news media refuses to say....
Mrs. Hothead is 1-67, has NEVER won a 500-mile race of any kind anywhere at any time, and has NEVER won an auto race conducted ANYWHERE in the USA. Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've hasn't won an auto race in 13 months...and yet she's been by far the most publicized Indy 500 contestant...and as far back as 20 days before the race!
Oh, and her two speeding tickets from last year...totally ignored along with her having to attend driving school.
And the sports media bias continued in the Indy 500 aftermath. Check out these headlines...
"Helio edges Danica for Indy 500 title."
"Helio wins Indy 500. Danica third."
"Patrick comes close to win at Indy" (Gee, the last time I checked, "close" still only counts in horseshoes, grenades, bombs and drive-ins)
Point of information: Dan Wheldon finished second, yet HE'S almost totally ignored. Last year's Indy 500 runnerup has been likewise ignored. Remember Vitor Meira? That's what I thought!
Meanwhile, the sports world's other overexposed person finished tied for TWENTY SIXTH at the LPGA Corning Classic. Yani Tseng won with 267, a full eight strongs better than Michelle Weak, who's now 0-70.
OH AND SEVENTY!
Together, Mrs. Hospenthal (1-67) and Miss Weak are a combined 1-137.
***
THANK YOU LEBRON!!!
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009 -- I can't believe the Cavaliers won that game...
I can't believe the Cavaliers won that game...
I can't believe the Cavaliers won that game...
Cavs 96, Magic 95. Instead of being down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavaliers have a shot at winning that series...and ultimately bringing Cleveland its first major pro sports champion in 44 years.
THANK YOU, LEBRON!
***
SHE'S HALFWAY TO 0-70.
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009 -- The world's most overhyped sports personality is halfway to improving her pro golf record to 0-70. At last check, Michelle Weak was trailing the Corning Classic leader by 10 strokes. She was projected to make the cut by two strokes. .
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--WHAT ELSE IS NEW? (and they're 1-135)
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009 -- Nearly three weeks ago, I predicted that today's edition of our nation's weekday newspaper would run a story and photo of Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division.
And guess what?
Yup, a story, a photo...and ANOTHER photo of Mrs. Hospenthal on the first overall sports page. Same old sports media bias. And no mention of her real name, her 1-66 record, her two speeding tickets and her having to attend driving school.
And no mention of three other key facts: She's never won an auto race held anywhere in the USA, she's never won a 500-mile auto race of any kind anywhere...and NO WOMAN HAS EVER WON THE INDY 500 EVER.
There was some consolation. Mrs. Hothead wasn't on the overall front page...and I actually got to see what Scott Dixon looks like. Imagine, a story and photo on Scott Dixon, the defending Indy 500 champion, and Dario Fracnchitti, the 2007 Indy 500 winner. Needless to say, the 2008 Indy 500 runnerup, Vitor Meira, is the biggest kept secret. And the other two women in the Indy 500 field, Melka Duno and Sara Fisher, are also being totally ignored by the news media.
Meanwhile, speaking of overrated overpublicized sports figures...In what has to rate as an unprecedented first, Michelle Weak got her name mentioned in the story about the Corning Classic, the latest LPGA golf tournament, FOR BEING TIED FOR 104TH PLACE AND BEING NINE STROKES ALREADY OFF THE PACE. This mention was appropriately made where it belonged...as the last sentence. Fitting, seeing how I also call her Miss Last Place.
However, Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've Golf Division...actually had her PHOTOGRAPH published in one sports daily web site...FOR BEING TIED FOR 104TH! UNBELIEVEABLE!
Miss Winless is 0-69. She and Mrs. Hospenthal are a combined 1-135. "Nuf said.
***
SHE'S ON HER WAY TO 0-70
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 -- In case you were wondering what our biased sports news media ISN'T running teaser headlines like...
"Wie in the mix."
OR
"Wie in position to win first tournament..."
OR
"Wie in contention."
There's a good reason. Michelle Weak is already NINE strokes off the leader, only six strokes off of last place and TIED FOR ONE HUNDRED AND FORTH at the latest LPGA tounnament, the Corning Classic.
If she misses the cut, her record will "improve" to 0-70. Stay tuned...
***
NBA FINALS: NUGGETS VS. MAGIC?
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 -- If we had the NBA finals right now based on who's got home court advantage right now...
It would be...
The Nuggets vs. the Magic.
I kid you not.
Both teams have won a key away game in their respective NBA conference finals series. Stay tuned.
***
LEBRON'S 49 NOT ENOUGH FOR CAVALIERS
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 -- Why are the Cleveland Cavaliers suddenly 0-1 in the Eastern Conference NBA finals? After sweeping their first two series?
Well, there's the rub. The Cavaliers hardly worked up a sweat in sweeping the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks. The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, had to go the seven-game maximum in disposing of the defending champion Boston Celtics.
And there's more. Granted, LeBron James was super with 49 points, but he can't do it all himself. He needs help. He didn't get it Wednesday night. Orlando's bench outscored Cleveland's bench, 25-5.
The Cavaliers will need to win at home Friday night, then win at Orlando at least once. Plus, they'll need more production with players not named LeBron James, especially the bench players.
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS UPDATE (AND SHE'S STILL 0-69)
MONDAY, MAY 18, 2009 -- Just when you think you've heard everything regarding our biased sports news media, you find out you haven't.
I mean, Ji Young Oh WON last weekend's Sybase LPGA Classic. And Suzann Pettersen was the runnerup. So whose photograph was aired to accompany one article summarizing the tournament?
Yup, the golfer who tied for third. The one and only Michelle Weak, whose pro record is now 0-69 in spite of getting all the ink, photographs and headlines before, during and, yes, after that tournament. Oh, and Miss Winless has NEVER won a 72-hole stroke-play golf tournament at any level. Ever.
Meanwhile, Miss Overexposed has fans who simply cannot deal with the truth. One of them had the gall to take me to task by comparing Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've with three others, all of whom have won at least one LPGA tournament. Here's my response to that person.
Dear (never mind his alias),
You wrote...
"- Michelle Wie in her Rookie year as an LPGA member has finished 2nd, 3rd, 10th and 15th in her first six (6) events and has not missed a cut. "
Would you mind telling me how Miss Winless fared in the other two tournaments that you conveniently neglected to mention?
I'll even help you out.
Hint Hint #1: At the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International held March 26-29, Miss Overrated finished in a tie for somewhere between 56th and 58th place.
HINT HINT #2: In the Kraft Nabisco Championship held April 2-5, Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've finished in a tie for somwhere between 66th and 68th place.
***
THE SPORTS BIAS BEAT GOES ON...AS SHE'S NOW 0-69
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009 -- Once again, our biased sports news media got what it deserved. Ditto for some foul-mouthed jerks who can't live with the truth.
Which golfer was mentioned the MOST in the stories and headlines surrounding the LPGA's Sybase Classic this past weekend? I'll give you a few hints in the form of the teaser headlines displayed over the weekend....
"Wie in contention for first LPGA title."
"Oh leads Sybase tourney as Wie lurks..."
"Oh leads Sybase, Wie six stroke back."
"Oh wins Sybase, Wie finishes third six stroke back."
Imagine, a headline about a golf tournament, where the winner is mentioned and THEN the golfer in THIRD place. No mention of the runnerup. No mention that there was a TIE for third. Just another example of the outlandish BIAS displayed by the national sports media.
For the record, Ji Young Oh won the Sybase tournament with a final 274. She now has two LPGA wins. That's two more than Miss Overrated. Runnerup Suzann Pettersen, who was four strokes back at 278, didn't even rate the courtesy of being in a teaser headline with one web site despite finishing second. Pettersen has five LPGA wins, by the way, and that's five more than Miss Winless.
Paula Creamer finished with a 280 and tied for third. She has eight LPGa wins. That's eight more than Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've, who was tied with Creamer for third. Needless to say, this means Michelle Weak is...
0-69 as a pro...
Has NEVER won anything since turning pro.
Has NEVER won a 72-hold stroke-play event at ANY level.
Needless to say, our biased news media always had Michelle Weak in its headlines, its stories and its photographs in spite her record. Why? Because she's Miss Sports Media Darling, Pro Golf Division. Our BIASED news media will continue to give her an unprecedented amount of unwarranted undeserved publicity.
Just as pitiful, though, are Miss Weak's fans, who CANNOT deal with the truth. Whenever they see they're losing the debate, they resort to foul-mouthed character assassinations against someone like me, who's simply exercising his First Amendment rights. I won't go into what some of those people said about me...and I won't go into some of the things sportscaster Steve Czaban has said about Miss Winless.
At least for now.
***
FIX THAT BULLPEN! NO NBA PLAYOFFS TODAY? IS 0-69 NEXT?
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009 -- In the small-type agate on sports pages where transactions are listed, you'll sometimes see a major league baseball team has "designated for assignment" a player.
That's a nice way of saying the team's given up on that player. The team has 10 days to trade, release or outright to the minors that player that's been taken off the 25-man big league roster. It the player's outrighted to the minors, that means he's at the minor league level, not on the team's 40-man roster and thus stuck in the minors. A player can refuse that outright assignment and become a free agent, thus making him able to sign with any major league team.
The Chiago Cubs DFA-ed reliever Luiz Vizcaino April 23. So WHY are the Cleveland Indians signing HIM? Simple. Their bullpen is so horrible that this is seemingly the only way to fix the problem. Maybe not. In his first Tribe outing Friday, he allowed the game-winning HR in Tampa Bay's 8-7 win. Thus, the Indians blew a 7-0 lead thanks mostly to their inept bullpen.
A better way to fix that bullpen? Start with next month's draft and FIND pitchers who're closers at THAT level. It won't be easy. Most high school and college pitchers like to start. Most major league baseball closers are developed AT the major league level. This needs to change. Drafting youngsters and keeping them as closers right from the get-go is the way to go. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, both NBA playoff second round series were tied at 3-all Thursday. So why are BOTH the Lakers-Rockets and Celtics-Magic games tomorrow and not today? Simple. TV rules along with the advertisier and the hell with the fans. Mark my words...we're going to someday have an NBA finale series Game 7 on July 4.
Finally, my least favorite woman golfer is tied for sixth at the tourney's halfway mark. That means FIVE golfers fared better, yet this golfer STILL gets headline mention. The second through fifth place golfers? No headline. Typical sports news media bias..along with this: The one golf writer saying that (and I'm paraphrasing this here) " it's a good thing that Miss Weak wasn't closer to the leader." Huh? There's a reason why Miss Overrated is tied for 6th. She's 0-68 as a professional! And maybe headed to 0-69 by Sunday night.
***
SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS FOR MICHELLE WEAK--WHY?
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2009 -- If I had a Long Distance Dedication song to dedicate to Michelle Weak, it would be "You Haven't Done Nothing" by Stevie Wonder.
I don't know which is worst...HER saying she thinks she can win a men's PGA tourney and play in the MASTERS. Or the biased New York Post writer who wrote the latest "she's on her way back" story. The story ended with him quoting her on saying she's moving forward, THEN writing:
"Hopefully forward for Wie will soon lead to victories and a return of that same exuberance I saw in her eyes six years ago."
I have news for that writer...what happened six years ago was then...what has been happening lately is NOW. Here's my response/posting to that article...
AllTitleist#7s is absolutely correct about Miss Overrated being horribly overexposed by our highly biased sports news media. Miss Winless is 0-68 as a pro golfer, #64 on the Rolex ratings list and #22 on the money earnings list. Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division, has an average finish of 31st, finished 15th in her last outing and 7th at the LPGA qualifying tourney. Then, to top it all, Miss Overpublicizied has the gall to say she can win a MEN'S tournament and play in the Masters. Mind you, EVERY men's tournament she plays in is one without Tiger Woods and about 25 of the top 30 men's $ leaders for that matter. There's only one way Michelle Weak makes the Masters. As somebody's caddy."
***
THE WORST TEAM IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL--AND SHE'S 0-68
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2009 -- It simply can't get any worse for my Cleeeveland Indians.
They're now the worst team in major league baseball, period. The Tribe slipped to 11-21 and an MLB worst .344 average with Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Washington Nationals are only one percentage point better at .345 with a 10-19 record.
Why is my Tribe so bad? Pick your poison.
Start with the pitching. It's almost the worst in baseball with a horrible 5.86 ERA. Only the Yankees are worst at 5.88. Offensively, the Tribe has a team total of 250 strikeouts. Only four other MLB teams have had their hitters strike out more.
Center fielder Grady Sizemore has 34 strikeouts in addition to a disappointing .227 average. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta is next with 33 K's and an even-worse .210 average. Catcher Kelly Shoppach has 22 strikeouts and a .216 average. Travis Hafner is hitting a respectable .270 but he has 18 K's and is on the disabled list. Matt LaPorta was brought up from the minors to add punch to the lineup. Instead, LaPorta's hitting .154 and belongs back in AAA.
What makes the Tribe's situation appear hopeless is how many of its key players are locked up to contracts that'll make them hard to trade. In 2006, Sizemore signed a three-year $23.45 million pact that may climb to $31.45 million. Peralta signed a 5-year $13 million pact the same year Sizemore signed his biggie.
Hafner is making $11.5 million and is due to make the same amount next season. His 2012 salary? A projected $13 million. In 2014, he's due to make another $13 million although that year there's a possible $2.75 million buyout. Hafner's now 32 plus had shoulder problems. Stay tuned.
I still love my Indians, but the outlook is bleak...
And speaking of bleak outlooks...
My least favorite golfer finished tied for 15th at the Michellob Ultra Open, 11 strokes off the winner. Thus, Michelle Weak is 0-68 since turning pro. Thus, she and the other most overrated sports personality, Mrs. Hospenthal of auto racing fame, is 1-66. Thus, the two most overpublicized people of the world of sports today...
Are a combined 1-134.
***
MANNY BEING MANNY--AND STILL A HERO IN LA-LA LAND
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 -- Mark it down on your calendar...July 3.
The Los Angeles Dodger fans will then welcome Manny Ramirez back with cheers and open arms. Manny's loved out here. Manny loves Los Angeles. Los Angeles loves Manny. He'd've been vilified had he been with the Mets and been forced to undergo the current 50-game suspension.
Why didn't Manny make sure via a second doctor to make sure what he was prescribed was legal and OK? He WILL the next time.
***
SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS--IT CONTINUES AND IT MAY GET WORSE
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009 -- The world's most overrated, overexposed and overpublicized personality just added to her unimpressive resume.
How else can you describe her getting a SIX-PAGE, SIX-PHOTOGRAPH spread in the latest issue of a famous every-other-week sports magazine?
The gist of the story? Oh, she's in the last year of her current contract...and she has to decide if she wants to move up to the tougher competition in NASCAR. BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH HER FOR EONS. IT'S NOTHING NEW!
Oh, and here's what else isn't new: The facts that are conveniently and deliberately NOT mentioned. They include...
* -- Her real name is Mrs. Hospenthal.
* -- Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has a 1-66 record.
* -- Mrs. Hothead hasn't won a professional auto race in over a year, has NEVER won a race held ANYWHERE in the USA and has NEVER won a 500-mile race held ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME.
* -- Mrs. Overrated received at least two speeding tickets last year plus had to attend driving school.
* -- Mrs. Overexposed finished fifth in her last auto race after starting THIRD...and at last year's Indy 500, she was 22nd.
So why does this woman get SO MUCH undeserved exposure and publicity for accomplishing essentially nothing? Because she's Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division. In the past week to 10 days, we've had one story about her wearing a bikini on the cover of a magazine...another story about her changing her car's colors...and a video-like feature about how badly she wants to win the Indy 500.
And now, a 6-page, 6-photograph spread in a magazine.
Trust me, it's going to get worse as we near the Indy 500.
Mark my words...On Friday, May 24, two days before the Indy 500, our nation's newspaper will run a feature article on her that'll include a photo...and it'll be the same old story. The old "this is her year to win the Indy 500."
But, in my opinion, it isnn't.
The FACTS speak for themselves.
***
SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS -- SAME OLD STORY
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2009 -- The Indy 500 is still 20 days away..and yet I'm already sick to death of reading about what has to be the only person entered in the race. After all, I'm not reading about anybody else but HER....
So...I fired off the following feedback note to Yahoo...
Yahoo,
Is the Indy 500 a one-participant race? Has the race been renamed the Mrs. Hospenthal Invitational? I mean, all I'm reading about is one auto racer...a story about Mrs. Overrated making the cover of a magazine in a bikini here...a story there about Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've changing the colors of her car (a total waste of internet space) and then today you guys running a silly plethora of stories and video about Mrs. Hothead saying why it's so important to win the Indy 500.
The SAME person...who finished 22nd last year. What happened to the 21 racers who did better? Did they all retire? Quit auto racing? Why am I not reading about THEM?
And, for that matter, why aren't the important pertinent facts brought out...like her record (1-66), her speeding tickets (at least two last year), her having to attend driving school, her NEVER winning a race in the USA and her NEVER winning a 500-mile race anywhere?
Enough already with all this horrible sports media bias! For starters, how 'bout a story about Scott Dixon. After all, he won the Indy 500 last year.
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
STOP THE PRESSES! MRS. HOSPENTHAL CHANGES CAR COLORS! (BUT SHE'S STILL 1-66)
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2009 -- Just when we thought our national sports media came to its senses, we find out that it hasn't.
It's the same old biased sports news media.
Here's the proof...The Associated Press running an entire story about Mrs. Hospenthal of auto racing infamy....and her car changing colors.
I kid you not. Since Mrs. Hothead can't win an auto race--something she hasn't done in over a year--she instead has her PR department pushing the news media for stories and photos on things like her swimsuit modeling and her car changing colors. THAT'S how hard up our biased news media is in its efforts to keep in the limelight Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've.
But remember this: You can change the colors of the car Mrs. Overrated drives, but you can't change these facts...
Her record is 1-66. That's ONE auto racing victory in 66 races covering some 5 years...and that only win was some 54 weeks ago...and it happened in Japan, where 5 of the top 12 IRL racers didn't participate.
She has NEVER won a 500-mile auto race EVER.
She has NEVER won ANY auto race conducted ANYWHERE in the USA.
Despite being a professional auto racer, she had to attend driving school last year, when she had AT LEAST two speeding tickets.
Lastly, NO WOMAN has EVER won an Indy 500.
***
HO-HUM...NOW THEY'RE 1-133
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009 -- My two least favorite sports personalities did it again today.
Neither won, so they're now a combined 1-133.
Michelle Weak "improved" to 0-67 by finishing tied for 10th at the Corona Championhsip at Morelia, Mexico. Lorena Ochoa was the winner...and that gives her 26 titles. That's 26 more than Weak.
Meanwhile, at the IRL Road Runner Turbo Indy 500 in Kansas City, Mrs. Hospenthal started third and finished fifth. That drops her record to 1-66. More importantly, this was the last race prior to the Indy 500...and this year we hopefully won't hear that silly talk about how "this could be the year a woman wins the Indy 500."
A woman has NEVER won the Indy 500. And Mrs. Hospenthal/Mrs. Hothead has never won a 500-mile auto race anywhere ever. And she's never won an auto race of any kind in the USA.
***
THE SI COVER JINX STRIKES AGAIN...DITTO BROWNS' DRAFT HISTORY
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009 -- The latest Sports Illustrated issue's cover has the three standout linebackers from Southern Cal...and the accompanying story notes how all three would be picked in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Not quite.
Brian Cushing (Houston Texans) and Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers) were first round choices, but Rey Maulaluga slipped to the second round, where the Cincinnati Bengals took him.
My Browns, meanwhile, traded their first round draft choice three times and collected more Jets' players. However, it appears the Browns got at least two starters in DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam.
When the Browns finally made a choice, it was C Alex Mack of Cal-Berkeley as the overall #21 pick. Sound familiar? It should. Six years ago, the Browns made another center, Notre Dame's Jeff Faine, their first round draft choice...with the #21 overall pick.
We can only hope this is a coincidence!
Surely Day Two of the NFL draft Sunday will move faster than Day One. Imagine, two rounds and 64 picks...in SEVEN HOURS!
I had to chuckle, meanwhile, when DB Michael Mitchell of my alma mater, Ohio (as in Ohio University) was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the second round. After all, ESPN and the NFL network had NO highlights of this player to show! He was that much of an unknown!
***
THE NFL DRAFT'S START IS FOUR HOURS LATER!
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009 -- At last, we can put away the so-called Mock Drafts for the 2009 NFL draft. The REAL NFL draft is here. Only problem, though, is that we have to wait an additional FOUR hours!
Thinking about it. Usually the NFL draft starts at noon Eastern time. This year?
Try 4 p.m. Eastern time.
Why?
Probably the same reasons why we have a World Serious game not ending until the 1 a.m. hour in the Eastern time zone. Or the possibility of the Super Bowl being pushed back to President's Day weekend. Or how a 7-game NBA playoff series can last nearly 2 weeks.
TV.
What TV asks for, TV gets. And it's a damn shame.
Oh, and I believe we'll only have two rounds of the NFL draft today anyway. That's like starting the Super Bowl...and having the second half played the next day.
Oh well, ya can't please everybody.
***
"AT LINEBACKER FOR THE BROWNS, CLAY MATTHEWS JR."
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009 -- Don't dismiss the above statement. I think it could happen.
Imagine, the son of the one of the Browns' greatest defenders...playing for the Browns! ANYTHING can happen on draft day. Clay Matthews Jr. is projected to be picked in the middle of the first round, maybe late in the first round. However, he's shot up so many teams' draft boards that selecting him in the top 10 or top 5 wouldn't surprise me. The Browns picking him at the #5 overall slot wouldn't surprise me.
Remember, the Browns need linebackers and defensive ends. And a DB. And WR's...which reminds me...
With Donte Stallworth headed for prison and Braylon Edwards headed (maybe) to the New York Giants, a receiver must be drafted. But, please, not Michael Crabtree. I don't think it'll happen, though, especially since it's been reported that Crabtree turned off Browns' officials with his attitude.
Me...I've been turned off by Crabtree in other ways. He's injury-prone, he wouldn't be timed at the combine and is a product of the Texas Tech spread offense. Plus, he's been listed as being 6-foot-3...but, actually, he's 6-1 3/8. Stay tuned.
***
SHE'S NOW "MISS LAST PARAGRAPH" (and 1-65)
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009 -- HOW bad are things going for Mrs. Hospenthal, she of the world of auto racing?
Not very good.
Mrs. Overrated placed fourth at the latest IRL auto race last Sunday, the Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach, California. Dario Franchiiti got the headline, the lead mention and the photograph...but that makes sense. After all, he won the race.
Even the AP's Mike Harris, one of Mrs. Hothead's biggest supporters, appears to have realized that SHE is not all that cracked up to be. In Harris' AP story on the race, Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've was mentioned in the LAST paragraph. Rightfully so, what with her record now is 1-65.
Needless to say, that means Mrs. Last Paragraph and Miss Last Place (a/k/a Michelle Weak, who is 0-66 as a pro golfer) are a combined 1-131. That's a batting average of 0.0076335.
***
ARE THE YANKEES THAT BAD? FOR ONE DAY, YES!
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2009 -- Gee, and we thought the Indians were in for a 100-loss season a few days ago. Maybe not.
Imagine, the Tribe again humbled the Yankees, 22-4...and it's the SECOND time the Indians have scored 22 runs vs. the Bronx Bombers.
Remember, there was that 22-0 win a coupla years ago. FOURTEEN RUNS IN ONE INNING THIS DAY! And if it wasn't for that one-run loss Friday, the Tribe would be sweeping the Yankees. Scoring 37 runs in three games ain't bad, though....
Meanwhile, you couldn't help but be impressed with Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Celtics for the first time ever in an NBA playoff game, 105-103. Rose scored 36 points as a rookie in the first NBA playoff game. That ties the rookie mark set in 1970 by Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1970, when he was still known as Lew Alcindor!
Also, if you live on the East coast, you probably missed the Rocket-Trail Blazer game Saturday night. Too bad. In the first half alone, Yao Ming already has scored 24 points. He hasn't missed a shot (9-for-9 field, 6-for-6 line).
***
ARE THE GIANTS THAT BAD? SO FAR, YES!
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009 -- Bruce Bochy didn't have a happy 54th birthday. After the San Francisco Giants manager saw his team lose at the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2, he was asked if his team is that bad.
"Are we this bad? No," replied Bochy, "But right now, we are."
Consider the following...
The Giants ended an 0-6 road trip, the first time in 62 years that they lost their first six road games. Their rotation is 1-6, 7.42. In their 2-7 start, the Giants have had 20 walks, only five homers and have struck out 74 times.
And starter Barry Zito began 0-2 for the fifth straight season.
***
BREAK UP THE TRIBE!
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009 -- ANYTIME the Cleveland Indians beat the New York Yankees, it's a plus. And, after the Tribe's not-so-great start, Thursday's 10-2 win is even more encouraging. Imagine, the Yankees got bombed in their first game at their new $1.5 BILLION park! And the Tribe's on a 2-game winning streak!
I was especially happy for Grady Sizemore, who clubbed a grand slam homer. Maybe he's out of his early season slump.
***
LARRY FEESE, 1937-2009
SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2009 -- If you check the acknowledgments early in my book, "American Top 40: The Countdown Of the Century," you'll find his name.
I had SO many people to thank for making that book possible...and Larry Feese was one of them. Sadly, Larry died Saturday, April 11, 2009, from complications of cancer. He was 71 and nearly made it to 72 as he was born on May 3, 1937.
Larry Feese was a tremendous friend and mentor to me. When things weren't going good for me, he TWICE helped me land two newspaper jobs. He helped me stay overnight in Fort Worth at his apartment...and his recommendation also helped me get the Fort Worth Press job in 1972. Then, his recommendation helped me land my next newspaper job with The Elyria (Ohio) Chroncle-Telegram about two years later.
I first met Larry while working part-time for The Shreveport Times in the late 1960's. He put the fun into the job with his funny fake letters from an unpopular co-worker. Those "letters" was so damn funny that I can still remember Larry saying this a lot: "Who has more fun than we do?" It was TRUE! Nobody had more than we did.
Somewhere along the line, Larry told a co-worker that he wished he could take me under his wing and teach me all about newspapers. He got his wish when I joined him at The Fort Worth Press.
That's when Larry taught me how to write with clarity and how to do newspaper page layout. I used many of these principles Larry taught me throughout my newspaper AND radio career.
Larry's up there in heaven and probably chatting regularly with his favorite singer, Elvis Presley. Who's having more than than those two?
NOBODY!
***
WHY IS THE TRIBE 0-4? READ ON!
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2009 -- Why are my Cleeeveland Indians 0-4 for the first time since 1985? After Friday's action, here's some reasons why...
The Tribe pitching staff ERA is an major-league worst 11.18. Allowing 42 runs in the first four games means the defense is allowing an average of 10 runs a game.
Offensively, the Indians are hitting .219 but, believe it or not, five other teams are hitting worse. The Tribe's first two hitters in the batting order--Grazy Sizemore and Mark DeRosa--are hitting a combined .142 (5-for-35). Both are expected to snap out of their funks.
***
BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL'S #1 TEAM...IS IT A HIGH SCHOOL?
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 -- The latest Sports Illustrated with tyler Hansbrough on the cover includes a highly disturbing article about the #1 boys high school basketball team (at least according to our nation's newspaper).
But is Findlay College Prep even a high school in the first place? Consider the following...
The players take their classes at Las Vegas area private school, Henderson International School. Thus, the players tell everyone that they're a team but not a school. And they all live together in a "near-million-dollar house" with "wireless internet, full cable TV and two refrigerators kept full."
Oh, and the school isn't sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations...or any other high school organization. Translation: No rules regarding grades, travel, transfers, practice time...and, presumably, open recruiting. This prep version of the Harlem Globetrotters traveled over 30,000 by airplane and played in eight different states.
Findlay Prep recently won the first ESPN RISE National High School Invitational Tournament with eight players...and it's believed they were all recruited and all will play for Division I programs. One player left his one high school team in the east in a spat with his coach. How long did it take him to quit his one team...and end up with Findlay Prep? About 10 days.
Amazingly, there's nothing illegal over what Findlay Prep does. nevertheless, the whole thing is a disgrace to me...
***
TRIBE IS 0-3...AND NOT LOOKING GOOD
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2009 -- OK, it's EARLY in the 2009 major league baseball season. Still, the Cleeeeeveland Indians' 0-3 start is filled with scary statistics that suggest a 100-loss season is underway.
The Indians' pitching staff has an ERA of 9.56...but so do the Yankees.
The Indians have been outscored 9-1, 8-5 and 12-8...and the starting pitching is dreadful. Today, for instance, Carl Pavano allowed 9 runs in the first inning. His ERA is 81.
EIGHTY ONE!
The Tribe so far is hitting .179. Only the lowly San Diego Padres (.163) are worse. Stay tuned...
***
NORTH CAROLINA -- #1 AND NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009 -- Way back in October when the college basketball preseason publications came out, North Carolina was pretty much ranked #1 in all of them.
No wonder.
The Tar Heels were by far the better team in Monday night's 89-72 NCAA title game win over Michigan State. Nobody came within 12 points of them in six tourney games. And remember, North Carolina scored a record 55 first half points.
What impressed me the most about North Carolina was its team quickness. Michigan State was simply no match, committing at least 20 turnovers.
***
0-66 + 1-64 = 1-130
SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2009 -- The two most overrated and most overpublicized sports personalities once again did their thing this weekend. Both lost.
Mrs. Hospenthal's car crashed when she was ninth, so she had to settle for 19th. So WHO got the headline for the AP story covering the race at St. Petersburg? Not the winner, Ryan Briscoe. In fact, in one AP story, he's not even mentioned as the race winner until the SEVENTH paragraph.
One reader known as DoctorGringo wrote this message/posting that made the most sense...
Anybody notice that it took seven paragraphs in this "story" to get to the name of the actual winner of the race?
That's the IRL's problem in a nutshell. As long as their biggest "star" is someone with ONE win (but gets attention because of her gender and/or her temper), the IRL isn't a lot better than the WWE. Maybe the Indy League should remove all doubt as to what they're about and name Vince McMahon as Commissioner.
Anyway, Miss Hothead is 1-64. She has NEVER won a race ANYWHERE in the USA and she has NEVER won a 500-mile race ANYWHERE EVER IN THIS WORLD. Meanwhile...
Michelle Weak finished tied for SIXTY SEVENTH and TWENTY FIVE STROKES OFF THE PACE at the latest LPGA golf tournament. That's even WORSE than the week before, when she finished 22 strokes off the winner. Needless to say, Miss Last Place finished a mere strokes ahead of...last place! And her professional golf record is now 0-66.
That gives those two women a combined 1-130 record.
***
NORTH CAROLINA VS. MICHIGAN STATE FOR ALL THE MARBLES
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 -- One Managing Editor I worked under wouldn't let us say two teams are "playing for all the marbles". After all, as he explained, "This isn't a marbles tournament."
Nevertheless, North Carolina and Michigan State won today, so they're playing Monday night for the national men's college basketball title. Yeah, I say they're playing for all the marbles!
What impressed me about Michigan State's 82-73 win over Connecticut was the Spartans' utilizing their depth and controlling the boards. With some 42,000 supporters, MSU could give North Carolina a battle. Still, North Carolina toyred with Villanova, 83-69, and I believe will still defeat Michigan State Monday night in the title game. Too much talent, quickness and depth. Plus, North Carolina's on a mission after losing to eventual champion Kansas a year ago. Stay tuned.
***
MISS LAST PLACE IS (WHERE ELSE?) IN LAST PLACE!!! (AND HEADED FOR 0-66)
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 -- Once again, our biased sports news media is getting exactly where it deserves. All we read about was Michelle Weak Thursday before, during and after the first round of the latest LPGA tournament. One site, for instance, had the headline "Wie In The Mix" when, in fact, Miss Overrated was already tied for EIGHTEENTH. SEVENTEEN women golfers were already AHEAD of her after the first round!
Gee, why aren't we seeing photographs of her and accompanying stories since Thursday? Simple. The world's most overrated woman pro golfer whose nicknames I've given her include "Miss Last Place"--is...
In Last place!
Imagine, TWO straight rounds of NINE-OVER 81's. Last weekend, she trailed the winner by 22 strokes. With still another round to go, she's already TWENTY FIVE STROKES BEHIND! And that means her pro record will "improve" to 0-66.
People are noticing this trend. Here's just some comments being left at one sports web site after the latest LPGA article...
Ms. Wie is not a top notch professional. She is just another regular player that struggles with her game every week....All this hype about Ms. Wie is a joke. She is no better than your average golfer at your home course. On the rare occassion that she does have a good round, she always follows it up with a pedestrian round. In other words she CHOKES...
***
MISS LAST PLACE--HEADED FOR 0-66 (AND PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT HER)
FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 -- Usually when I write news organizations about their bias regarding Michelle Weak, I don't hear from them. Today, though, I heard back from TWO of them! Essentially, both said the same thing...that Miss Overrated has appeal...and that people actually care about a 19-year-old $20 million spoiled brat!
Meanwhile, today she fired a NINE-OVER 81 to fall 14 strokes off the lead...but she made the cut by a stroke. But that's OK. It just gives Miss Last Place a shot at finishing...in last place!
Imagine, she was 22 strokes off the lead last weekend...and at the halfway point this week is 14 strokes off...and yet people actually still want to follow her and her soon-to-be 0-66 record.
Amazing.
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS---SAME OLD STORY
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009 -- Some things you can absolutely count on.
Like the sun coming up in the morning...
And setting in the West in the evening...
And Michelle Weak getting all the photos, headlines and stories...NO MATTER HOW BAD SHE IS!
It happened today before and during the latest LPGA tournament. At least TWO stories on Miss Winless beforehand...and a separate story on her EVEN THOUGH SHE IS TIED FOR 18TH ALREADY. Imagine, 17 golfers did better...and they're almost ignored altogether. So...
I wrote one of those biased organizations which, to no surprise, still hasn't answered my e-mail, which follows...
Hello,
Why is Mark Lamport-Stokes writing about a golfer who...
Has never won a professional tournament in her life....and...
Is 0-65 as a pro...and...
Finished tied for 54th last weekend, 22 strokes off the leader and only five better than the WORST golfer there...and...
Is ranked #81 in the latest LPGA Rolex ratings.
Surely you can find better and more qualified golfers to write about!!!!
Regards,
Robert Theron, North Hollywood
***
MSU AT "home", NORTH CAROLINA'S IN, TOO...AND SHE'S 0-66
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2009 -- Imagine, when Michigan State meets U-Conn in the Final Four, it amounts to a HOME GAME. North Carolina's in, too, and meets Villanova. In my office pool, I had North Carolina beating U-Conn in the title game with 154 total points scored. Stay tuned.
MEANWHILE....
Guess who kept getting the headlines in the early rounds of the latest LPGA tournament? Yup, Miss Overrated...and she's now 0-66 after placing TIED FOR FIFTY SEVENTH! And 22 strokes off the leader. And only five strokes outta last place. And she didn't shoot par on ANY of the four rounds.
Wow, she made $3989! Considering she's worth $20 million or so, that's like you and me making a dime!
Oh, by the way, Miss Weak's people made a big deal about her joining a new professional sports promotiong agency recently. What they DIDN'T tell you was that Miss Almost-Should've-Would've-Could've was essentially rejected by her former agency!!!!
***
THERE IS A BIG EAST MONOPOLY! (AND MISS LAST PLACE IS ONLY FIVE STROKES OFF OF...LAST PLACE!)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009 -- Well, we DO have a Big East monopoly so far in the Big Dance so far. Two Big East teams in the Final Four...and one a lot of us didn't figure to make it in Villanova. Connecticut also advanced.
Villanova's run is amazing, especially its free throw shooting (22-for-23) in that 78-76 win over Pitt, which hasn't made the Final Four in 68 years. Yeah, 1941.
Meanwhile, Miss Last Place (a/k/a Michelle Weak) is only SEVENTEEN strokes off the lead at the LPGA Phoenix International. And only five strokes away from last place. Another Last Place finish for Miss Last Place? Stay tuned.
***
NO BIG EAST MONOPOLY...AND SHE'S EN ROUTE TO 0-66
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009 -- We won't have an all-Big East Final Four. Syracuse saw to that with a horrible first half 3-point shooting performance (around 0-for-10) in an 84-71 loss to Oklahoma.
We could have three Big East teams make the Final Four...or perhaps two from the Big 12. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, the world's most overrated golfer, Michelle Weak, is headed for an 0-66 record. After all, she's 13 strokes off the lead.
***
THE TOUGHEST COLLEGE CAGE COACHING JOB? MAYBE KENTUCKY
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009 -- The toughest job in sports is probably managing the New York Yankees. Coaching the Dallas Cowboys could be next.
The toughest men's college basketball job? Maybe Indiana but probably Kentucky. Just ask Billy Gillespie, who today was fired after only two years. Kentucky ONLY made the NIT this season. Not good enough for avid Wildcat fans. The buyout is reportedly $6 million. Not bad. Gillespie could probably use the time off and the less stress.
Who'll replace Gillespie? My prediction: John Calipari.
***
TIED FOR 37TH, HEADED FOR 0-66
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009 -- How does somebody tied for THIRTY SEVENTH manage to be headlined and profiled for ANY sports event of any kind?
Easy.
After all, we're talking about Michelle Weak, a/k/a The Winless Wonder. Our biased news media simply won't let go with its endless undeserved sgtories and headlines about golf's rendition of Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've. So, I will continue to point out that after shooting a 73, five strokes already off the lead, Miss Overrated is in a position to improve her record to 0-66....
MEANWHILE...
How about second seeds Duke and Memphis going down in the Big Dance? Duke's inability (or refusal) to have any 1-season-and-done players who'll bolt for the NBA...and the Big East's superiority all showed in Villanova's 77-54 win. And we've got some Paper Tigers in Memphis, which fell to Missouri, 102-91. That weak Memphis schedule showed. Missouri and the Big 12 are both much stronger...
What a shock to see Michael Sarver booted off the Idol Island. I thought he was a damn good singer...
****
IT'S BEEN A JOY TO KNOW YOU, BUT....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 -- The excitement has picked up considerably now that "American Idol" is down to a top 10. After tonight's show featuring Motown song, my pick to be thrown off the Idol island is Megan Joy. Nice girl, good singer, but her rendition of "For Once In My Life" was lame.
Besides, "For Once In My Life" wasn't a Motown original anyway. Tony Bennett hit with the song a year before Stevie Wonder did.
Danny Gokey remains my choice to become 2009's "American Idol" and his rendition of the Temps' classic, "Get Ready" helped back me up. Adam Lambert got rave reviews for "Tracks Of My Tears" but the ballads seemed boring overall for the night.
Among the other strong performances were those of Matt Giraud ("Let's Get It On"), Kris Allen ("How Sweet It Is"), Lil Rounds ("Heat Wave") and Allison Iraheta ("Papa Was A Rolling Stone").
***
DID ANYBODY IN THE EAST NOTICE?
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009 -- St. Mary's and Patty Mills defeated Davidson and Stephen Curry, 80-68, in Monday's NIT action. Did you catch the ending?
Probably not if you live in the Eastern time zone.
After all, the game didn't end until about 10:15 p.m. Pacific time. That's 1:15 a.m. in the East! Oh well, they've played World Serious games in the middle of the night, so playing an NIT game at that ridiculous time shouldn't come as any sort of surprise!
***
THE BIG DANCE, DAY FOUR
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009 -- There's no longer any arguement as to whether Arizona deserved to make the Big Dance. The Wildcats disposed of pesky Cleveland State, 71-57, to advance to the Sweet 16. All the #1's, #2's and #3's advance, too.
Ah, but will all four #1's make it to the final four? I don't think so, because all four #2 seeds are very strong. Duke, Michigan State, Oklahoma and especially Memphis are all capable of beating the respective #1 seeds in their regions. Stay tuned.
***
THE BIG DANCE, DAY THREE
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009 -- Saturday's first day of round two had the higher seeds showing their stuff....and two leagues showing their stuff different ways. U'Conn and North Carolina showed why they're #1 seeds as did the #2's, Duke and Memphis. Memphis impressed me the most with its 89-70 dismantling of Maryland.
The PAC-10 impressed me the least. Washington (4th seed) was outsted by fifth seed Purdue, 76-64, while 6th seed UCLA was embarrassed in its 20-point loss to Villanova.
I'm saddened to see LSU eliminated. On that LSU is Garrett Temple. Did Temple the school know about Temple the player when he was in high school. What a fit had Temple attended Temple!!!
THE EARLY "YOU KNOW" CHAMPION? NOW YOU KNOW...
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2009 -- Whenever a men's college basketball player is interviewed after a game on TV or radio, listen carefully to how many times he says "you know." After he led Villanova to an 89-69 second round win over UCLA, Dante Cunningham's 2-minute radio interview included his saying "you know" at least 17 times. Not to be outdone Friday, Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph said "you know" at least 20 times after the Sun Devils disposed of Temple, 66-57.
Now, you know.
***
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009 -- First, the good news.
For me, anyway.
I correctly predicted that Sienna would defeat Ohio State in the Big Dance in the office pool. In spite of playing what amounted to a game game in Dayton, I figured that Ohio State would find a way to blow that game. And it did.
Now, the bad news.
I had picked Wake Forest to make the FINAL FOUR!
So much for the office pool.
Ah, but give Cleveland State the credit it truly deserves just like Sienna....and Wisconsin, too. Imagine, two 12th seeds (Arizona and Wisconsin) are advancing. Along with a 13th seed (Cleveland State).
And to think everyone was complaining about a lack of upsets after day one!!!
Oh, and I'm saddened Boston College was eliminated by Southern Cal. After all, one BC reserve is named Reggie Jackson.
***
THE BIG DANCE, DAY ONE
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009 -- The most inspiring team play for the first day of the Big Dance belonged to Cal State-Northridge. Mind you, this is a team that lost its leading scorer due to legal issues and lost its point guard to injuries suffered in an auto accident.
The Matadors were 19-point underdogs to second seeded Memphis, yet led much of the second half before losing, 81-70....
Did you noticed that Akron has a player named Steve McNees? I did...because I'm wonder if McNees was recruited by McNeese State...
I'm convinced that ABC-ESPN would do a much better job of covering the Big Dance. One game could be shown on ABC, another on ESPN, a third on ESPN2 and a fourth on ESPN-U. There's no way one channel like CBs can adequately cover this extravaganga. In the meantime, the best way to follow it is to pay $70 to Direct TV for its March Madness package...
***
CBS TV CHANNEL 2/LOS ANGELES--SELFISHNESS BEYOND BELIEF
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009 -- Amazingly, at a few minutes after 9 a.m. Pacific time this morning, a newscaster for KCBS Los Angeles Channel 2, a CBS affiliate, proclaimed his channel is " your source for complete coverage" of the Big Dance (the NCAA men's basketball tournament).
When he said that, the CBS network's pre-game show was going on! And Los Angeles viewers were kept from seeing the first nine minutes of the CBS pre-game show! In its wisdom, Channel 2 in Los Angeles decided it was more important to continue to air local news instead of the start of the CBS network's pre-game show. And that LA station had already aired FOUR HOURS of local news!
This is unprofessional journalism, greed and selfishness behind belief.
Oh, and there's more. In the middle of the day, the only game going on was Washington-Mississippi State. I mean, Washington's in the PAC-10 along with two La-la land teams, Southern Cal and UCLA. And yet, that game wasn't shown at all on KCBS-Channel 2 in Los Angeles. Why? So they could air "The Price Is right," "Judge Judy" and a CBS Newcast.
***
BRING ON THE BIG DANCE!!!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2009 -- Gee whiz, we've already had the biggest name in the 2009 Big Dance eliminated before it even started!
Oh, so you didn't catch the name of the center for Alabama State, which fell to Morehead State Tuesday night in the play-in game?
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing....
Chief Kickingstallionsims!
Oh well, we still have Dionte Christmas of Temple.
Will Channel 2 in Los Angeles go to the CBS Network's pregame show that begins at 9 a.m. Pacific time? Probably not. It's been this station's custom to categorically refuse to join the CBS network pregame show feed when it starts...and instead continue with 9-10 more minutes of local news.
After all, FOUR hours of local news starting at 5 a.m. Pacific time isn't enough.
Meanwhile, will Arizona prove it belongs in the Big Dance with a win over Utah? Perhaps, but Utah will play with passion, too. The Utes have won 12 of their last 14 games. Arizona, meanwhile, got its 12th seed via a so-so 9-9 PAC-10 record and an overall record of 19-13. Stay tuned.
OK, what are my upset specials? How about Siena over Ohio State? And Temple over Arizona State? Two hunches. A third hunch...is fourth seeded Wake Forest making it to the Final Four and beating Louisville along the way.
***
SPORTS BIAS--NOT WITH MISS WEAK, BUT THE BIG DANCE...
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2009 -- I stand corrected regarding my previous blog. Miss Weak wasn't at that LPGA tourament last weekend. Plus, it appears she's not competing this weekend, either. But we can use the break from the constant undeserved stories about Miss Winless.
Meanwhile, I've fired my first salvo at Channel 2/Los Angeles, which categorically refuses to air the start of the CBS network's NCAA men's basketball tournament pre-game show. Here's what I wrote that station...
Dear Channel 2,
The NCAA men's basketball tournament is among the most popular sporting events...and your station/network carries it. So why, when the CBS Network's pre-game show starts at 9 a.m. local time on the first two full days of coverage on a Thursday and Friday, does your station NOT carry the pre-game show and elect to continue local news instead?
Your station already has FOUR HOURS of news! Isn't FOUR HOURS of news enough?
Please please PLEASE carry the CBS network's NCAA men's basketball tournament pre-game shows when they START!
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
***
BRACE YOURSELVES! MORE SPORTS MEDIA BIAS DUE TO HAPPEN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 -- I hate to say it, but the LPGA's next tournament, the Honda LPGA in Thailand, is due to start in 2 days (Thursday, 2/24/09).
You KNOW what that means. Right?
That's right, more horrible sports media bias for the Winless Wonder of women's golf and the world's most overrated overpublicized person.
And you WON'T be reading about Suzann Pettersen. Who is she? Why, only that LPGA tournament's defending champion. Instead, I'm sure we'll be reading more about Michelle Weak. For instance...
"This is going to be her first pro win..."
"She ALMOST won the last tournament..."
"This is her week..."
And NOWHERE will those biased articles mentioned how she is 0-65 as a pro golfer...and finished ranked #237 in 2008...and finished an average of #32 in 2008....and was bad he had to go through the LPGa qualifying school, where she finished only SEVENTH vs. the beginners!!!
***
AND THE MICHELLE WEAK BLATANT BIAS CONTINUES!!!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009 -- For roughly four days after the conclusion of the LPGA SBS tournament that ended six days ago (Saturday February 14, 2009), all we were reading about was the tournament runnerup. The one who BLEW A THREE-STROKE LEAD WITH EIGHT HOLES TO PLAY!!!
THE ONE WHO IS 0-65 AS A PRO GOLFER!
THE BLATANT bias for Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has been ridiculous. On ESPN's Sports Center, they reported NOT how Angela Stanford WON the tournament by coming from behind, but how Stanford managed to "hold off" Michelle Weak.
Even Sports Illustrated got into the act, running a photo of the runnerup and no photograph of Stanford. Which makes me wonder...if the Winless Wonder of golf ever DOES win a tournament, will Sports Illustrated run a photo of THAT tournament's runnerup?
A Yahoo! writer also got on the Miss Overrated bandwagon. So, I wrote him and asked why he and the rest of the biased sports news media continues to habitually write about the Winless Wonder.
I never got an answer.
***
SHE'S 0-65...AND STILL THE WINLESS WONDER (and they're a combined 1-129)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2009 -- Our biased news media got EXACTLY what it deserved. Again.
For the past four days, all I've seen, heard and read was how Michelle Weak was finally going to win an LPGA professional golf tournament. One publication referred to her "stellar finishes" and "stunning teenage success."
All during the tournament, our biased golf writers wrote how The Winless Wonder was "in a position to win" this latest tournament.
Well, guess what?
That's right, Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've is STILL The Winless Wonder. She CHOKED! And is now 0-65. The tournament champion who won by three strokes, Angela Stanford, has been treated as a virtual unknown. Almost no photos or followup stories on her.
Meanwhile, all this means Miss Overrated/Golf Division and Miss Overrated/Auto Racing Division...are are a combined 1-129.
***
"STUNNING TEENAGE SUCCESS" + "STELLAR FINISHES" = 0-64
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009 -- The first LPGA 2009 tournament, the SBS Open, has barely started and I'm already sick to death of seeing, hearing and reading over Michelle Weak. For instance...
In one major newspaper today alone, it talks about the Winless Wonder and her "stunning teenage success". And how "in her short career, she has some stellar finishes."
Huh?
How can you have ANY "stunning teenage success" and "stellar finishes" when you haven't won a damn thing? So, when the Associated Press ran an advance story on the SBS Open where 95% of it was devoted to Miss Overrated, I decided to e-mail this to the Associated Press...
Dear AP Sports Department,
Stacy Lewis was the medalist and the BEST at the LPGA Qualifying School late last year.
Amy Yang was next best.
Then came Anna Grzebien.
And Beth Bader.
And Sophie Giquel.
And Shiho Oyama.
These six women golfers ALL finished BETTER than the golfer whom your writer, Jaymes Song, decided to spent virtually his entire article on with your wire service's advance story today on the SBS Open.
An entire story...on the golfer who...
FINISHED TIED FOR 7TH AT THE LPGA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT?
IS RANKED #236 IN THE LATEST ROLEX RATINGS?
FINISHED AN AVERAGE OF 32ND LAST YEAR?
AND HAS NEVER WON A PRO GOLF TOURNAMENT IN HER LIFE...WITH A RECORD OF 0-64?
What an absolutely horrible disgraceful example of bias this represents.
Coldest regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
BRACE YOURSELVES--THE MICHELLE WEAK BIAS CONTINUES
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11, 2009 -- Michelle Weak's first official LPGA tournament starts Thursday, 2/12/09, on our biased news media is on the Miss Overrated Bandwagon. One writer posted in part this on line...
"I want to see Michelle Wie win, and I think she will. She deserves to win."
My opinion: No, she doesn't deserve to win. I hope she never wins. This is someone who's openly lied about an injury to avoid being barred from further LPGA action a coupla years ago. She's 0-64 as a pro, finished an average of 32nd last year and was ranked #237 in one statistical ratings list.
Oh, and she finished SEVENTH in the LPGA qualifying tournament against the beginners! Finally, just think...if she DOES win this tournament, she'll go from 0-64 and winless to 1-64, a one-hit wonder and a 0.015 batting average.
***
A-ROD = BASEBALL'S LATEST DISGRACE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2009 -- Gee, and we all thought A-Rod would someday become the Home Run king and push Mr. 38 Cents (a/k/a Barry Bonds) to second place...and e'd all be happy.
Not anymore.
Today comes word that A-Rod tested positive for TWO steroids when tested in 2003. So what if it doesn't count towards punishment? A drug cheat is a drug cheat.
A-Rod and Mr. 38 Cents are both drug cheats.
Just like Mark McGuire and Rafael Palmiero.
None of them should EVER be even CONSIDERED for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ever.
Just like Pete Rose isn't and shouldn't.
***
DAVID BECKHAM + MSL = DISASTER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2009 -- Surely you remember all the David Beckham mania in July 2007. Front page photos and huge articles in two major publications. A "welcome to L.A." news conference attended by maybe 5000...but stupidly compared to the arrival of the Beatles by one La-la land TV stations. And for two ensuing weeks, endless photos and stories...
Suddenly, it's over.
The Mr. Overrated Era is over.
Mr. Overpaid wants to stay in Europe and play there. He doesn't want to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, with whom he signed a $32.5 million contract.
All along I wasn't comfortable with this DB Era. He didn't even score a goal for the Galaxy in 2007. And only five last year. And at his "welcome To L.A." press conference, he didn't admit he'd been hampered by injuries. And that he wouldn't be able to play in all the Galaxy games due to Euopean commitments.
I can still remember MSL fans being forced to not only buy tickets to MSL games Beckham MIGHT play in, but to buy tickets for other games where DB would be nowhere to be found. In at least one instance, he not only didn't play in the away game city, he didn't even show up to sign autographs.
Good riddance to the DB Era.
***
ONE REACTION TO XM70'S HORRENDOUS BUTCHING OF BT40...
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2009 -- Here's an interesting e-mail response I received from AT40 fan John Bass, who wrote in part...
What the management of Sirius XM is doing is lying to new listeners, in effect telling them that those are the original AT40 shows as they were heard at the time of their original broadcast, which they are not.
The whole idea of allowing the merger was wrong, now all Sirius XM has to do is to compete with terrestrial radio. But terrestrial doesn't eliminate jingles, intros and outros while Sirius XM does-therefore terrestrial is the better source of the two.
Having said that, why would anyone want satellite radio anymore? If XM70''s keeps botching up AT40 and cutting the playlists to the bone, I'm going to unsubscribe and I'm already checking out the alternative sources of music that Steve (Orchard) is suggesting.
Thank goodness I have the AT40 and CT40 shows from my collection, none of which are botched up like those broadcast on Sirius XM...
***
STUPID XM70'S SHAMEFUL BT40, CONTINUED...
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2009 -- Once again, XM70's has taken words like "shameful" and "ridiculous" to a new dimension.
The station's 1/31/76 replay of "American Top 40", which I call "BT40" as in "Butchered-American Top 40", contained at least 31 edits, including one complete song ("Sounds of Silence" by Simon And Garfunkel), 26 jingles and eight teases.
By the way, the 2/14/76 AT40 show will air next weekend as part of the "American Top 40 the 70's" feature. I invite you to hear it. You'll actually hear the show the way it was intended to be heard.
Meanwhile, here are all 31 edits for the 1/31/76 show...
1. The jingle to start hour 1, segment #2 was edited out. 3 seconds
2. The jingle to start hour 1, segment 3, was edited out. 3 seconds
3. After his backsell of Cleddus Maggard's "White Knight" at #34, Casey's tease to a question about solo women with the most top 10's was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 18 seconds + 3 seconds = 21 seconds.
4. After his backsell of "Slow Ride" (Foghat, #32), Casey's tease to an upcoming extra, "Sounds Of Silence" was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 24 seconds + 3 seconds, 27 seconds (54 seconds total). A stupid XM jingle was thrown in.
5. "Sounds of Silence," which was only a #1 single in the first place, is edited out completely. 3:10 edited out completely. Total edit time so far, 4:04.
6. After his backsell of "Golden Years" (David Bowie, #30), Casey's "29 hits to #1 and counting 'em down" was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 7 seconds. Total edit time, 4:11. Note: the only reason why the station mentions weren't edited out was because they would've had to edit out the intro/ramp into #29, "Country Boy (You've Got Your Feet In L.A." by Glenn Campbell at #29.
7. After his backsell of "Fox On The Run" (Sweet, #28), this is edited out: "this is Casey Kasem in Hollywood countin' 'em down on American Top 40, we've got 27 of the biggest hits in the USA including #1, so stay right there." The show's instrumental theme to end hour 1 is edited out as is the show's original instrumental theme song to start hour 2 along with this: "OK, let's get on with American top 40. I'm Casey Kasem and the countdown rolls on." 10 seconds + 6 seconds = 16 more seconds edited out. Total edit time so far, 4:27
8. After his backsell of "La Paloma Blanca" (the George Baker Selection, #27), Casey's tease to the extra "We Can Work It Out" along with Casey's all-time favorite chart fact--the Beatles holding all 5 of the top 5 singles for 4/4/64--is edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 18 seconds + 3 seconds = 21 seconds. Total edit time so far: 4:48.
9. After backselling "Take it To The Limit" (Eagles, #), this is edited out, "23 hits to #1 as we count 'em down" along with the next 2 jingles. 4 + 3 = 7 seconds edited out. Total edit time so far: 4:55. Again, the station mentions aren't edited out because the ramp/intro to "Baby Face" (the Wing and A Prayer Fife and Drum Corps, #23) was included. A stupid XM jingle replaced what was edited out.
10. After his backsell to #22, "Somewhere In The Night" (Helen Reddy), Casey's tease about a question letter involving hits where the title and artists were the same, was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 23 seconds + 3 seconds. total edit time so far: 5:21.
11. The jingle to start the segment that starts with "Love Hurts" (Nazareth) was edited out. total edit time so far: 5:24.
12. After the backsell to #17, "Theme From SWAT" (Rhythm Heritage), Caesy's tease about the Miracles having a 17-year string of making the pop charts was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 13 seconds + 3 + 16 seconds. total edit time: 5:40.
13. After the backsell to "Love Machine" (Miracles, #15), this Casey-ism is edited out: "This is Casey Kasem in Hollywood. We'll be right back. We have the top 14 most popular songs in the USA, including #1, coming right up." The show's original theme song to close out hour 2 was edited out as well as the start of hour 3. Plus, Casey's opening hour 3 with welcoming a new affiliate, WAUG/Augusta, Ga., was edited along with his patented "if you're listening to 'American Top 40' for the first time, my name is Casey Kasem and we welcome you to our weekly countdown of the 40 most popular songs in the USA." 12 seconds + 17 = 29 seconds edited out. total edit time: 6:09
14. After his backsell to #13, "Fly Away" (John Denver), Casey's tease to Diana Ross having sung lead on the most #1's for a female artist is edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 16 seconds + 3 seconds = 19 seconds. total edit time so far 6:28. Again, the station mentions aren't edited out because they were part of Kiss' hit, "Rock and Roll All Night."
15. After the backsell to #10, "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" (Paul Simon), the jingle to start the next show segment is edited out. 3 seconds total. total edit time: 6:31.
16. After the backsell to #8, "Times Of Your Life" (Paul Anka), Casey's tease to a question letter about the act with the most #1's in a calendar year other than the Beatles and Elvis Presley (the Jackson Five) was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 19 seconds + 3 seconds = 22 seconds edited out. total edit time: 6:53.
17. After the backsell to "Convoy" (C.W. McCall, #6), this is edited out: "the 5 biggest hits in the USA coming right up" along with the next 2 jingles. 5 seconds + 3 seconds = 8 seconds. total edit time: 7:01.
18. After the backsell to #3, "You Sexy Thing" (Hot Chocolate), Casey's tease to Barry Manilow's having to follow Bette Midler on stage was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. 21 seconds + 3 seconds = 24 seconds. Another stupid XM jingle is thrown in. Total edit time 7:25.
***
XM70's SHAMEFUL BT40 EDITING CONTINUES...
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2009 -- XM70's new "BT40" feature continues. As in "Butchered American Top 40." Here are most of the edits done on last weekend's presentation of the January 23, 1971 show...
1. The jingle to start the second segment of hour 1 was edited out. (3 seconds)
2. After Casey's backsell of "Most Of All" by B.J. Thomas at #38, his tease about the extra "Sounds Of Silence" (Simon And Garfunkel) was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. (14 seconds)
3. After backselling Curtis Mayfield's "If There's A Hell Below" at #37, Casey's short-distance tease about the next record, "If You Could Read My Mind" (gordon Lightfoot) was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. (11 seconds)
4. After backselling "Sounds Of Silence", the next 2 jingles were edited out. (6 seconds)
5. After backselling #35, "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" (James Brown), Casey's 8-second-long tease to the Osmonds' "One Bad Apple" was edited out along with the show's minute-long commercial about the "Cruisin' Series". (another 60 seconds zapped)
6. After his backsell of #34, "One Bad Apple," (Osmonds) Casey's tease about Bobby Goldsboro's contract clause that keeps him from recording on the day of a World Series game was edited out along with the next 2 jingles (20 seconds)
7. After his backsell of #32, "Watching Scotty Grow" (Bobby Goldsboro), Casey's tease about how "Amazing Grace" is a Salvation Army song was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. (22 seconds)
8. After his backsell of #31, "Mr. Bojangles" (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), the next 2 jingles were edited out. (6 seconds)
9. After his backsell of #30, "Amazing Grace" (Judy Collins), this Casey-ism was edited out "from Hollywood, this is Casey Kasem & the countdown doesn't stop until we get to our new #1 song in the nation." The segment's closing jingle was also edited out. (9 seconds)
10. The 1-minute long commercial for Bobby Bloom's hit "Make Me Happy" is edited out between #29-28. Also edited out was Casey's station mention of KPOI/honolulu. After Casey's backsell of #28, "One Man Band" (3 Dog Night), the show's theme song to end hour 1 and to start hour 2 were edited out. Also edited out was what Casey said to open hour 2..."Here we go with the second hour of "American Top 40" and this week's best selling hits on the national pop charts of Billboard magazine. My name's Casey Kasem and the countdown continues." (22 seconds total)
11. After his backsell of #26, "Stop The War Now" (Edwin Starr), Casey's tease to the extra "Wonderland By Night" (Bert Kaempfert) was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. (21 seconds)
12. After his backsell of #25, "Pay to The Piper" (Chairmen of the Board) ,the next 2 jingles were edited out. Plus, the #24 jingle was added so some of Casey's intro to Elvis Presley's "There Goes My Everything."
13. His Casey's backsell to "Wonderland By Night," the next 2 jingles were edited out.
14. After his backsell to #23, "Born To Wander" (Rare Earth), the jingle to start the next segment that begins with Runt's "We Got To Get you A woman" was edited out. Also edited out was the "Cruisin' Series" ad that was part of the show.
15. After Caey's backsell to #21, "Remember Me" (Diana Ross), Casey's saying "The Countdown continues" is edited out along with the next 2 jingles were edited out.
16. After Casey's backsell to #19, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is," his tease to a song from the #1 LP is edited out along with the next 2 jingles. (11 seconds). Oh, and some stupid Sirius-XM jingle was inserted.
17. After Casey's backsell of #18, "immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin), Casey's tease to the latest Miracles' song was edited out along with the next 2 jingles. (13 seconds)
18. After Casey's backsell of George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass," his tease to the biggest mover was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
19. Another minute-long spot was edited out just before song #15. After his backsell to #15, "Love the One You're With" (Stephen Stills), this Casey-ism to end hr. 2 was edited out..."Well that wraps up the second hour of 'American Top 40' with the top 14 tunes in the nation yet to come. We'll be back in just a moment." Then, what Casey said to open hour 3 was edited out, "We're heading into 14 most popular songs in the 50 states. And 3 tunes moved into the top 10 this week. There's a brand new #1. My name's Casey Kasem and the countdown continues."
20. After his backsell of "If I Were Your Woman" (Gladys Knight And The Pips at #13), Casey's tease to Perry Como's 1949 chart success and upcoming hit, "It's Impossible" was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
21. After his backsell to "Stoned Love" (Supremes, #12), "and the countdown continues" is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
22. After his backsell to #11, "I Think I Love You" (the Partridge Family), the jingle to end the segment is edited out.
23. After his backsell of Perry Como's #10, "It's Impossible," Casey's tease about the #1 country chart song is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
24. After his backsell of #8, "Your Song" (Elton John), the Casey-ism is edited out, "7 hits away from a new #1 song in the USA" is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
25. After his backsell of #6, "Stoney End" (Barbra Streisand), this is edited out: "this is Casey Kasem and the countdown continues" is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
26. After his backsell of #4, "Lonely Days" (the Bee Gees), this is edited out..."and we're just 2 hits away from the new #1 song in America." Also edited out were the next 2 jingles.
27. After his backsell of #3, "One Less Bell To Answer" (5th Dimension), the next jingle to end that show segment was edited out.
***
ACTUALLY, THERE WERE 74 EDITS (AT LEAST). SHAME ON XM!!!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009 -- What could be more ridiculous than XM Radio's making 74 edits in last weekend's replay of the January 13, 1979 show?
Why, making three edits that I missed! Of the four station mentions that were aired on that 1/13/79 show, three were edited out by XM70's. My thanks to James Delatch of Spring Hill, Florida, for updating me. Which means...
74 EDITS!!!
***
ONE RESPONSE TO MY XMFAN.COM POSTING....
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2009 -- I liked this response to my postings at XMfan.com. Someone responded this about the person deemed responsible for the XM butchering of the 1/13/79 AT40 show...
"Given the chance, (he) would edit the Gettysburg Address so "it flows better". His penchant for re-writing musical history is now at the point of absurdity."
***
BT40--ONLY ON XM70's!!!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2009 -- Until recently, XM Radio's 70's channel didn't receive a single solitary complaint about its airing of past "American Top 40" shows.
Until recently, that is.
Recent past 70's AT40 shows, however, have been edited--make that BUTCHERED--so badly, that I now have renamed the XM 70's feature BT40. As in "Butchered-American Top 40."
Oh, you think I'm kidding? The facts speak for themselves. The January 13, 1979 show that aired today on XM 70's had...
71 EDITS!
ALL DOZEN TEASES BY CASEY...EDITED OUT!
40 JINGLES...EDITED OUT!!!
ANOTHER DOZEN CASEY-ISMS ("35 hits to #1 and counting 'em down")...EDITED OUT!!!!
CASEY'S STATION WELCOMES TO START HOUR 3...EDITED OUT!
THE INSTRUMENTAL CLOSING TO HOURS 1, 2 AND 3...EDITED OUT!!!
THE SHOW THEME "SHUCKATOON" that began hours 2, 3 and 4...ALL EDITED OUT!
IF YOU'RE AS OUTRAGED AS I THINK YOU ARE, THEN PLEASE E-MAIL AND/OR CALL XM RADIO TO EXPRESS YOUR DISGUST!!!
ROB
PS Here is the ENTIRE list of edits done on the 1/13/79 show...
1. After Casey's outro to #39, "Love Don't Live here Anymore" (Rose Royce), Casey's tease for the upcoming extra, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," is edited out along with two jingles.
2. After Casey backsold the extra, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," (Temptations-Supremes hit), Casey's tease about Cheryl Lynn making it to the top 40 via "The Gong Show" is edited out along with two jingles.
3. Following Casey's outtro to #36, "Got To Be Real," his saying "35 hits to #1 and we're counting down" was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
4. After Casey's outro to #34, "Take Me To The River," Casey's tease regarding Kenny Rogers not listening to songs until he's in the studio....was edited out along the jingle that ended that show segment.
5. After Casey 's outro to #32, "The Gambler" (Kenny Rogers), Casey's "31 hits to #1 and we're counting 'em down" was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
6. After Casey's outro of "Theme From Shaft" (Isaac Hayes), this was edited out: "I'm Casey Kasem on AT40 and we'll continue our countdown of the 40 most popular songs in America this week, according to Billboard magazine, in just a moment. We've got the top 30 tunes in the nation coming up." The show's hour 1 closing theme song was edited out along with the "Shuckatoom" theme that opened hour 2.
7. After #29, "Instant Replay" (Dan Hartman), Casey's tease about Barry Manilow being a recluse was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
8. After #27, "Somewhere In The Night" (Barry Manilow), Casey's tease about an upcoming LDD was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
9. After playing the LDD song, "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" (the Supremes), this Casey's saying was edited out, "the 25 biggest hits in the nation this week as just around the corner as we count 'em down to #1." Also, the next 2 jingles were edited out.
10. After Casey's outro to #24, "Bicycle Race" (Queen), Casey's tease about whatever happened to the Kalin Twins was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
11. After Casey's outro to #22, "Da Ya think I'm Sexy" (Rod Stewart), the segment's closing jingle was edited out along with the jingle that began the next show segment.
12. After Casey's outro to the past #1, "Family Affair" (Sly & The Family Stone," this was edited out: "this is Casey Kasem in Hollywood on 'American Top 40,' We're counting down the biggest hits in the USA on our way to the #1 song in the nation this week. We've already heard survey songs 40 through #1. And we're counting down." The show's hour 2 closing theme song was edited out along with the "Shuckatoom" theme that opened hour 3. Also edited out is Casey's station welcomes to WHNc (Henderson, NC), "WSEI-WVLN (Olney, Ill.), WHWV (Rutland, Vt.) and WEVA, Empria, Va.), KVL (Lancaster, Calif.), KIOMW, Omack, Wash.) & DWRT (Manilla, the Philippines) was all edited out.
13. After #19, "Fire" (Pointer Sisters), Casey's tease about one of the 5 #2 songs by the only act to have that many #2's without a #1 (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
14. After his outro of the CCR extra, "Looking Out My Back Door," this was edited out: "We'll continue in just a moment with the 17 biggest hits in America as we countdown to #1." Also, the next 2 jingles were edited out.
15. After Casey's outro #16, "Lotta Love" (Nicolette Larson), this was edited out: "15 big ones to #1 and we're counting down". Ditto the next 2 jingles.
16. After Casey's backsell of #14, "September" (Earth, Wind And Fire"), the tease to Casey's famous story about the Alan Freed rock and Roll concert fiasco was edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
17. After Casey's backsell of #12, "How You Gonna See Me Now" (Alice Cooper), this Casey statement was edited out: "11 hits to #1 and we're counting down." Also, the next jingle.
18. After Casey's outro of "Brand New Key" (Melanie), this was edited out: "In Hollywood, this is Casey Kasem on 'American Top 40' and we're on the way to the most popular song in the nation. We'll continue in just a moment with the 10 biggest records in the USA." The show's hour 3 closing theme song was edited out along with the "Shuckatoom" theme that opened hour 4. Also edited out is what Casey first said to open hour 4, which was "And we raise the curtain on the fourth hour of 'American Top 40' with the 10 hottest records in the nation. We're counting down to the most popular song in America this week."
19. After his backsell of #9, "Our Love (Don't Throw It All Away") by Andy Gibb, Casey's tease about the YMCA being unhappy with the Village People song, "YMCA" is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
20. After his backwell of #7 "YMCA", Casey's tease to a Long Distance Dedication is edited out along with the next 2 jingles.
21. After his backsell of the LDD song, "You Made Me Believe In Magic" (Bay City Rollers), this is edited out: "wer'e rolling toward the most popular record in the USA and we've got 5 to go." Ditto, 2 more jingles.
22. After Casey's backsell of the extra, "#9 Dream" (John Lennon), this is edited out: "We've got the 4 most popular songs coming up, as we count down to #1." Ditto, the next 2 jingles.
23. After Casey's backwell of #3, "My Life" (Billy Joel), this is edited out..."Next up, a recent #1 disco record, a #1 soul record and #1 pop record" The fade of the Joel record was thus also edited out. Also edited out, the next 2 jingles.
40 JINGLES WERE EDITED OUT
12 TEASES WERE EDITED OUT
12 OTHER CASEY-ISMS EDITED OUT
3 HOUR-CLOSING SHOW THEME INSTRUMENTALS EDITED OUT
3 HOUR-OPENING SHOW THEMEs (a/k/a "Shuckatoon") edited out.
1 SET OF STATION WELCOMED EDITED OUT.
71 EDITS!!!!
Oh, I apologize for being "a radio enthusiast" that noticed all of this!
Rob
***
MRS. HOTHEAD = TRAFFIC CLASS LAST YEAR!!!!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009 -- The TRUTH is starting to come out regarding Mrs. Hospenthal and her speeding ticket(s) caper. You can't thank the biased Associated Press or our nation's weekday newspaper for that.
Instead, thank the latest Sports Illustrated in its latest issue dated January 12, 2009. On Page 20 in the last item mentioned in "The Beat," there's a VERY TELLING item. It points out that not only did Mrs. Overrated get at least two speeding tickets in 2008, but that after the first ticket in January, 2008, and before winning her only IRL race, she was "finishing a court-ordered traffic class."
SHE'S ALREADY HAD TO ATTEND TRAFFIC SCHOOL!
A LOT OF GOOD IT DID. AFTER TRAFFIC SCHOOL, SHE GOT ANOTHER SPEEDING TICKET!!!
Which brings up at least one key unanswered question: How many speeding tickets has Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've received? We know of at least two. And one AP story said she's received "several."
Oh, and another question. If somebody has enough speeding tickets to have to attend driving class, then gets ANOTHER speeding ticket, why is that somebody allowed to drive at all?
***
OKLAHOMA--#5 BUT NO BETTER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009 -- Just as I predicted elsewhere, the Oklahoma football team lost by 10 points to Florida in the national title game Thursday night, January 8, 2009, 24-14. I said Florida would win by 10 or more and I was right. Team speed kills.
Here are my top 5 teams in the USA: 1. Florida; 2. USC; 3. Texas; 4. Utah; 5. Oklahoma.
Yes, the Sooners are no better than #5. They lost two games EACH by TEN POINTS on neutral fields. Texas also beat Oklahoma by 10. And the Sooners have lost 5 straight major BCS bowl games. Utah is for real. The Utes beat Alabama in the Sugar bowl in New Orleans, which amounted to winning a road game...and by 31-17. Impressive. Meanwhile...
If both Tim Tebow (Florida) and Mark Sanchez (USC) decide to stay in school and delay their NFL plans for at least a year, then look for those two teams to play for the national title a year from now.
***
AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T IGNORE IT! (AND THE LITTLE ELEVEN WAS 1-6)...
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009 -- Our nation's weekday newspaper all but ignored Mrs.Hospenthal's paying a $196 fine to settle a speeding ticket. The news item was deeply buried in the Monday paper's back page that's devoted to small news items...but that's no surprise.
That biased newspaper and our equally biased Associated Press pretty much made it a point to almost ignore the whole story that broke New year's Eve. Those two news outlets didn't even acknowledge the whole thing until two days later on Friday, January 2, 2009.
Why, you ask? Simple. Total bias in favor of Mrs. Hothead who, according to one AP Story, has had "several" speeding tickets. Well, HOW MANY SPEEDING TICKETS? Whatever the number, it was sufficient enough to the point where she was ordered to attend driving school. Paying the fine, though, apparently helped her avoid THAT embarrassment.
And, trust me...this is one story Mrs. One-Hit Wonder and her people want you to forget about along with the biased AP and USA Yesterday. But I won't forget about it...and neither should the news media. Some day, it's going to come out about how speeding tickets Mrs. Almost-Should've-Would've-Couldn've has been issued.
MEANWHILE...
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!!!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009 -- It took the Associated Press and USA Yesterday's web site two days, but those two biased organizations FINALLY reported the story of Mrs. Hospenthal's speeding tickets. Mrs. Hothead has reportedly settled the latest of her so-called "several" speeding tickets by paying a $196 fine.
HOW MANY SPEEDING TICKETS HAS SHE HAD?
***
MRS. ONE-HIT WONDER = A 2-SPEEDING TICKET WONDER!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2008 -- If you thought our horribly biased sports news media was going to suddenly make a New Year's resolution and be horribly unbiased, guess again.
Certainly not the kings of sports media bias, the Associated Press and our nation's weekday newspaper. NEITHER of those news outlets reported what UPI.com, Fox Sports, the Arizona Republic and the Indianapolis Star reported...that...that...
Mrs. Hospenthal, alias Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division...has been ticketed for speeding in the Scottsdale, Arizona, area in 2008.
TWICE!
On December 9, Mrs. Overrated was ticketed for allegedly driving 54 mph in a 35 mph zone. And nearly a year ago (January 5, 2008), Mrs. Hothead got a speeding ticket for allegedly driving 57 mph in a 40 mph zone.
Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've MAY HAVE TO ATTEND DRIVING SCHOOL!
WHY hasn't the AP or USA Yesterday NOT reported all of this?
Simple. Another blatant example of our horribly biased sports news media that wants you to think that Mrs. Overpublicized is perfect when she is not.
But this is nothing new....and certainly not limited to the ladies in sports. Back in the fall, Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards was stopped for driving 120--YES, A HUNDRED AND TWENTY MILES PER HOUR!!!
And get this...the dumb-dumb cop initially let him off with a WARNING!
Thanks to some dandy detective work by at least one Cleveland TV station, the whole thing came out, Edwards was cited and fined.
And then there's the latest "news" surrounding Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division. At least one prominent newspaper wasted its space with a headline and story that Michelle Weak is not expected to compete in the Sony Open coming up in Hawaii. Big deal. Who cares?
At least there's some consolation...at least the Sony Open will now be publicized the way a golf tournament SHOULD be reported. I mean, we may actually get to read about the WINNER. And not the seventh place finisher like what happened with the LPGA qualifying school tournament.
Oh, and let's not forget the combined record of Mrs. Hospenthal and Miss Weak, a/k/a the Winless Wonder. It's 1-127. Mrs. Hothead has NEVER won a professional auto race conducted ANYWHERE in the USA and has NEVER won a 500-mile pro auto race held ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. And Miss Weak has NEVER won a professional golf tournament, was ranked #237 in the LPGA Rolex 2008 ratings and finished an average of 32nd in 2008...and had to go through that LPGA qualifying school after being a pro for some 3 years.
***
THE LITTLE ELEVEN--1-6 IN BOWLS?
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2008 -- If you saw Wisconsin's 42-13 loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl today, you probably saw the beginning of another disastrous Bowl Season for the Little Eleven (a/k/a the Big Ten).
Six Little Eleven teams are in bowls to come...and five are underdogs. And Iowa is only a 3.5-point favorite to beat South Carolina in the Outback Bowl Thursday (New Year's Day) morning.
Michigan State is a 7.5-point underdog to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. Meanwhile, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota and Northwestern are all underdogs by AT LEAST nine points. Everyone's talking about the Rose Bowl game between Southern Cal and Penn State, but look for USC to handily beat a Little Eleven team again. In its four last games vs. Little Eleven Teams, USC has won by 32, 32, 14 and 14 points.
One big reason why the Little Eleven is down is its recruiting disadvantage. Most Little Eleven teams play in cold weather climates, a huge recruiting advantage for USC along with many Big 12 and SEC teams.
***
2008 CLEVELAND BROWNS--A MESS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2008 -- On August 1, 2008, the Carolina Panthers sent their talented but troubled receiver home. Steve Smith had punched teammate Ken Lucas during practice as part of a troubling pattern of behavior. Six years earlier, Smith had attacked one teammate in camp and later on that year punched another during a film session.
For his 8/1/08, actions, Smith was suspended two games without pay, a move which cost him about $205,000.
Now, fast forward to Monday, December 22, 2008, when we find out a different Smith has misbehaved. DE Shaun Smith of the Cleveland Browns was reported to have punched Brown QB Brady Quinn a few days earlier. The punch wasn't reported and the only known discispline saw the DE being deactivated for the 12/21/08 14-0 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
If Shaun Smith was fined and/or otherwise disciplined, it hasn't been announced. What, no fine? No suspension? In Browns coach Romeo Crennel's defense, it might've privately happened as one Brown player said the coach reacted to this situation quickly and firmly.
Still, this is merely another chapter in a Browns' season that has spiralled downhill.
The Browns have lost their top 3 QB's to injury, have gone 20 quarters without an offensive TD and will finish 4-12 if they lose at Pittsburgh. It doesn't look good. Crennel is 0-7 vs. Pittsburgh. Romeo swore at his latest team press conference that he can turn the Browns' program around. It's doubtful he'll get the chance.
***
MISS OVERRATED IMPROVES TO 0-64
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2008 -- The sports news bias for Michelle Weak reached its anticipated climax today...and I'll let my latest salvo to the Associated Press speak for itself...
Dear Michelle Weak Daily Update Newsletter,
Isn't the most important aspect of ANY golf tournament or ANY sports event for that matter who WAS THE BEST????
Stacy Lewis was the BEST at the LPGA qualifying tournament and yet...
SHE'S NOT EVEN MENTIONED UNTIL THE SIXTH PARAGRAPH OF YOUR AP STORY?
REALLY?
And the participant you chose to highlight FIRST and devote nearly the whole article to... is the one who shot a two-over 72 and finished TIED FOR SEVENTH?
REALLY?
Oh, I forgot.
Stacy Lewis isn't an attractive teenage girl.
And we're dealing with Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division.
Needless to say, Miss Overrated is now 0-64 in pro golf competition.
Miss Almost-Should've-Would've-Could've is ranked #237 in the latest Rolex ratings.
Miss Snob finished an average of 32nd in 2008.
Miss Weak missed the cut by nine strokes vs. the weakest PGA competition imaginable.
There's REASONS why Miss Winless had to go through that LPGA qualifying school. Namely, SHE STINKS!
That LPGA qualifying school had 143 participants.
SHAME ON YOU, DOUG FERGUSON AND THE AP, FOR VIRTUALLY IGNORING 142 OF THEM.
YOUR BIASED REPORTING IS DISGRACEFUL .
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
BASED REPORTING, CONTINUED....
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008 -- Who are Mollie Fankhauser and Shiho Oyama?
That's what I thought.
You DON'T know who they are...and the REASON you don't know them is because of the biased sports news media, starting with the Associated Press.
Mollie Fankhauser is the leader of the LPGA qualifying tournament after three rounds. Shiho Oyama is in second place.
So WHY weren't THEY mentioned FIRST in the AP story on that tournament? Simple. Sports news media bias!!! After all, that AP story just HAD to lead off with Michelle Weak, who is in THIRD PLACE!!!!
Typical AP bias. After all, Miss Should've-Would've-Could've was tied for SIXTH PLACE after the first round and STILL got the headline, 90 per cent of the story and, in the case of another biased outlet, our nation's newspaper, a photograph.
Oh, and let's not get all excited over this golf event anyway. This is an LPGA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT. If Miss Overrated wasn't competing in it, we probably wouldn't even be reading about it. And this is merely a qualifying tournament for all the LPGA BEGINNERS!!!
MICHELLE WEAK HAS BEEN PLAYING LIKE A BEGINNER IN 63 PRO GOLF TOURNAMENTS BECAUSE SHE'S 0-63 IN THEM!
***
A QUESTION TO THE BIASED ASSOCIATED PRESS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008 -- My e-mailed question to the AP regarding its biased reporting says it all...
Dear Associated Press, a/k/a Michelle Weak Daily Update Newsletter,
Question...
Now that Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've is tied for first place after two rounds (in the LPGA qualifying tournament), how come you didn't give a headline and nine tenths of the story to the sixth place golfer?
That's what you did for the first round!
Just curious.
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
MORE BIASED REPORTING...FOR MISS SHOULD'VE-COULD'VE-WOULD'VE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008 -- Here we go again.
Once again, our biased news media is at again...all because the world's most overrated and overpublicized golfer, Michelle Weak, stepped onto a golf course. It starts with the biased Associated Press and I'll let my e-mail to that ridiculously biased news media outlet speak for itself.
Dear Associated Press,
Isn't it customary in covering ANY round of ANY golf tournament that the FIRST PERSON mentioned in ANY such golf tournament story is the one who SHOT THE BEST SCORE????
That's what I always thought.
So WHY then, was Shiho Oyama almost COMPLETELY IGNORED in Doug Ferguson's AP story about the LPGA qualifying golf tournament? I mean, all she did was shoot a SIXTY FOUR. She's the LEADER after one round and yet...
She's not even mentioned until the FIFTH paragraph.
There's no quotes from her.
There's no background on her.
And there's no quotes, no background and no mention AT ALL of the second through fifth place scorers, either!
DOUG FERGUSON SHOULD HAVE HIS HEAD EXAMINED!
WHY does Doug Ferguson's story spend the FIRST FOUR PARAGRAPHS and NINE TENTHS of his story on the participant who's TIED FOR SIXTH PLACE? And someone who refused to be interviewed by him?
FIVE PARTICIPANTS FARED BETTER AND WERE IGNORED.
Oh, there is one bit of consolation. Doug Ferguson did find the time to point out that Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT IN HER LIFE. However, he neglected to point out some other key facts, such as...
1. Miss Overrated is ranked #237 in the LPGA Rolex Ratings....and...
2. Finished an AVERAGE of 32nd in 2008....and...
3. Was disqualified from one tournament and missed the cut on three others in 2008...and...
4. Missed the cut by NINE STROKES against the weakest PGA competition possible in August....and...
5. Is so bad she's had to go to LPGA qualifying school.
SHAME ON YOU, ASSOCIATED PRESS AND DOUG FERGUSON, FOR YOUR DISGRACEFUL BIASED REPORTING!!!!
Coldest regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
WELCOME BACK TO SPORTS MEDIA BIAS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008 -- Stacy Lewis is a 23-year-old aspiring woman golfer who's perhaps the best among the 143 participants vying for an LPGA card this week at the LPGA qualifying tournament.
She was an impressive third place finisher at the U.S. Women's Open...and is ranked #74 in the 2008 Rolex Women's World Golf ratings. Plus, she's overcome at least two serious health maladies (spinal fusion and a back injury).
So WHY wasn't SHE featured prominently with a photograph of her in our nation's newspaper today?
Because that BIASED publication chose instead to publish a photograph of the teenage girl golfer who...
1. Is ranked #237 in the Rolex ratings.
2. Has never won a professional golf tournament in her life.
3. Is 0-63 in professional golf tournaments.
4. Finished an AVERAGE of 32nd in 2008.
5. Was disqualified from one tournament and missed the cut on three others in 2008.
6. Missed the cut by NINE strokes in the weakest PGA male tournament field last summer.
Yup, it's the one and only Michelle Weak. Welcome to the world of biased sports journalism. None of the above mentioned six key facts was mentioned in the newspaper article.
Instead, that newspaper's article mentioned how Miss Weak "nearly won three major tournaments when she was 16." The key word is "nearly."
That qualifies Miss Weak for the title of "Miss Almost-Should;ve-Could've-Would've, Golf Division."
***
BILL DRAKE, 1937-2008
SUNDAY, NOV. 30, 2008 --Bill Drake, who voiced the famous "History Of Rock and Roll" 52-hour series in the late 70's and early 80's, has died of lung cancer. He was 71. Drake was part the famous Drake-Chenault team...and "The History Of Rock and Roll" will never sound the same again....
***
BCS MESS CONTINUES
SUNDAY, NOV. 30, 2008 -- The WRONG team is playing for the Big 12 football championship. Clearly, it should be Texas. In the Big 12 South Division's 3-way tie, you first eliminate Texas Tech. It's loss to Oklahoma was an embarrassment.
Then you look at the other two teams. Texas BEAT Oklahoma by TEN points on a neutral field. And lost its only game to Texas Tech on the road on the last play of the game.
WE NEED AN 8-TEAM OR 16-TEAM TOURNAMENT TO SETTLE WHO'S #1 IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! NOW!
***
NO BIG TEN TEAM IN THE BCS TITLE GAME!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2008 -- To the delight of many college football fans, especially those in the Big 12 and SEC, we will not have a Little Eleven (a/k/a the Big Ten) team playing in the BCS national title game. Penn State lost at Iowa, 24-23, and that's that.
In my opinion, the two best college football teams are USC (Southern California) and Florida.
IT'S OFFICIAL--HER SEASON'S OVER--AND SHE'S 1-64...AND 63 PER CENT WERE RIGHT!!!!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 -- NOW I can officially say it for sure.
Mrs. Hospenthal's 2008 pro auto racing season is over.
And, fittingly, with another typical finish that solidifies her reputation as Mrs. Flash In The Pan.
An EIGHTEENTH place finish!
It happened at the IRL (Inept Racing League) season finale, the non-points Surfers Paradise race...and ABOVE ALL this was the fitting finale of a season in which our nation's newspaper (a/k/a The Danica Patrick Daily Update Newsletter) had the gall to ask back in April if Mrs. One-Hit-Wonder would win another race after her tainted win in Japan last April.
Sixty three percent answered with a resounding "no"--and that 63 per cent of those who responded was absolutely CORRECT.
With a little luck, we won't be hearing about Mrs. Hothead for a long time. I mean, how overrated can you be? For instance...
Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has NEVER won a 500-mile auto race conducted ANYWHERE in this world.
Mrs. Overexposed has NEVER won an auto race held in the USA. She's never won the Indy 500, finishing 8th, 8th and 22nd in her last three. In fact, NO WOMAN HAS EVER WON THE INDY 500.
When Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, won the 2005 IRL Rookie of the Year award, she did so by defeating exactly TWO people.
Mrs. Overrated has raced 65 times and won just once. Her only win in Japan came when 5 of the top 12 IRL pointers leaders didn't compete. Thus, her record is 1-64 (0.0156525). And since Michelle Weak, that teenage "phenom" who's horribly overrated and overpublicized, is 0-63 in pro tounament, that means those 2 overexposed sports personalities are a combined 1-127.
That's a batting average of 0.0079365.
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--IT'S BAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 -- Scott Dixon is the CHAMPION of the 2008 IRL (Indy Racing League) season. He won SIX races AND the Daytana 500. And he's competing in this week's non-points Surfers Paradise race over in Australia.
So WHY then, ISN'T there a photograph of HIM accompanying our nation's newspaper story today about this meaningless race and the IRL attempts to have it run earlier in the year?
WHY weren't the photographs of the race's three returning former champions not published, either?
And WHY weren't any of the FIRST TEN PEOPLE mentioned in the story photographed.
WHY, instead, was the ELEVENTH person mentioned in the SIXTH paragraph of the story have her photograph published?
If you guessed that our nation's newspaper just HAD to publish a photo of Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, you are correct!
Welcome to the latest example of biased news media journalism.
And you're just going to LOVE the reason WHY Mrs. Hothead's photograph was published. It was SO timely...the fact that Mrs. Should've-Would've-Could've was "excited" about her first race in Australia. "I've heard about this race for a number of years, and I'm looking forward to finallly driving in it."
End of quote.
Oh, this publication just loves to mention how Mrs. Overexposed "became the first woman to win a major open-wheel event in Japan in April." What this newspaper DOESN'T like to mention are the FACTS, namely...
Mrs. Overrated's ONLY victory was over six months ago...and it came when five of the top 12 IRL points leaders didn't bother to go over to Japan to compete. The field began with 18 cars and ended with only SEVEN cars!
SINCE her tainted win, Mrs. One-Hit Wonder has finished 19th, 22nd, 9th, 10th, 6th, 6th, 14th, 5th, 12th, 18th, 11th, 5th, 16th and 10th. In the first of the two 5th place finishes, Mrs. Flash-In-The-Pan started THAT race in SECOND, right beside the pole-sitter.
Mrs. Over-Everythinged has NEVER won a race conducted ANYWHERE in the USA and has NEVER won a 500-mile race conducted ANYWHERE in this universe.
Mrs. Overhyped has professionally raced 64 times, so her record is 1-63 for a batting average of 0.015873. And since Michelle Weak is 0-63, that means these two overpublicized sports women are a combined 1-126 for a batting average of 0.0079365.
PS If you think I'm the only one who's sick to death of hearing about Mrs. Hospenthal, then check this out...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1421665/posts
***
IF YOU CARED IN THE FIRST PLACE, SHE WON'T BE ON "DANCING WITH THE STARS"
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2008 -- Meet the new Miss Sports Media Darling, Beach Volleyball Division.
Misty May-Treanor.
Who?
Misty May-Treanor.
Yeah, I know. I'd never heard of her, either.
OK, so she's won two golf medals in Olympic beach volleyball. Big deal.
Anyway, in a move that would make Michelle Weak and Mrs. Hospenthal proud, our nation's weekdays-only newspaper decided the fact that May-Treanor ISN'T going to be on "Dancing With the Stars" due to a leg injury was one of the BIGGEST news stories of the day.
I kid you not.
It was the top story in that paper's Life (entertainment) section, complete with story, headline and photo.
It was teased on the overall front page, complete with headline and photo.
It was teased on the first sports page, too, with a headline and two sentences.
What, no photo on the sports page tease?
What, no tease on the money page?
This is the same woman whom our nation's newspaper elected to run a huge color photo on the paper's first sports page 12 days ago. For planning to be on "Dancing With the Stars."
When our nation's newspaper has another Sports Media Darling, it DOES NOT let up one iota.
Disgraceful!
***
IT'S OFFICIAL--O.J.'S A CROOK--AND WE'RE ALL "HORRIBLE" PEOPLE "LIVING IN CAGES"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008 -- For 13 years, we felt O.J. Simpson was a crook, but we really couldn't say it.
Now, we can.
Forever.
O.J. Simpson is a crook. Late Friday night, October 3, 2008, O.J. Simpson was convicted of a dozen charges, the most serious of which were kidnapping and armed robbery. Armed robbery alone carries a minimum sentence of two years in the slammer. Kidnapping could mean at least 5 years in prison.
Suffice to say...barring a dramatic appeal and/or change of heart by a judge, O.J. could easily spend the rest of his life in prison. Too bad he can't share a jail cell with Rae Carruth and/or Michael Vick and/or Darryl Henley. All ex-NFLers. All crooks.
Amazing, though, was the gall of Simpson's attorney, who said, quote, "Any people who are happy with these verdicts against O.J. are horrible people who live in cages."
Well, there's millions of us "horrible" people living in cages!
***
AND THE SPORTS MEDIA BIAS GOES ON...
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 -- Let's see, we have the #1 team in collge football playing (and would lose). And we have unbelievably tight wild card races in Major League baseball.
So what was the LEAD STORY and PHOTOGRAPH in our nation's newspaper?
Oh, a blown up color photo of somebody named Misty May-Treanor, who's on the TV show "Dancing With the Stars."
I kid you not.
Does ANYBODY out here know who the hell Misty May-Treanor is? Or CARE?
For what it's worth, she's an Olympic beach volleyball player. And she's been on "Dancing With The Stars." And "Dancing With the Stars" ISN'T EVEN A SPORTS TV SHOW!!!!
Welcome to the world of biased sports media.
Oh, and our nation's newspaper also decided to start covering Funny Car competition...but THE TOP FIVE POINTS LEADERS WEREN'T MENTIONED on Tuesday. The #6 person was. Oh, it's Ashley Force...and another case of a woman getting the photos and headlines...and the hell with the five men who're ranked higher than her.
At least Michelle Weak and Mrs. Hospenthal weren't featured along with their combined 1-125 record....
***
BLATANT OBVIOUS SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS (CONTINUED)...
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 -- How would you like it if you shot an amazing 12-under-par round to tie for first or even fired a nine-under-par to be in third place in a golf tournament, only to see your name TOTALLY UNMENTIONED AND IGNORED in the newspaper the next day?
Now you know how Sun-Ju Ahn, Anna Nordqvist and Miki Saiki feel in the aftermath of the LPGA qualifying tournament. The first two were at 12-under-par and Saiki was nine-under...but NONE OF THEM WERE MENTIONED IN OUR NATION'S NEWSPAPER TODAY.
Guess who was mentioned? That's right, the one and only Miss Overrated Snob...a/k/a Michelle Weak, a/k/a Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division. Imagine, a headline and story...for being in FOURTH PLACE.
And all this is for someone who's been a professional golfer for three years...and yet is SO BAD she has to go to the LPGA qualifying school. And here's the capper: She refused to speak with the news media afterwards! What an arrogant jerk!>br>
Welcome to the world of horribly biased sports news reporting. Our nation's newspaper and the wire service that starts this mess, the Associated Press, need to have some heads roll.
Here's what I wrote the AP...
Dear AP Sports Department (a/k/a Michelle Weak Daily Update Newsletter),
When covering the Masters, the U.S Open or virtually ANY golf tournament, would you even THINK of devoting the FIRST FOUR paragraphs to the golfer in FOURTH place?
And virtually IGNORE the co-leaders who've shot a TWELVE UNDER PAR until the FIFTH paragraph?
That's what your service did with the Thursday round at the LPGA tour sectional qualifying tournament.
WHY?
And how much money is Michelle Weak's parents PAYING your service to continually publicize her?
DO YOU KNOW OUR NATION'S NEWSPAPER DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE TOP 3 (Sun-Ju Ahn, Anna Nordqvist and Miki Saiki)? THAT IS DISGRACEFUL!
And why do your wire service categorically refuse to tell the truth and give all the facts about the golfer you're over-publicizing....such as...
She has been a pro for THREE YEARS and yet is SO BAD that she has to go through the LPGA qualifying school?
She is 0-63 as a pro, which means SHE HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
She finished an average of #32 this year.
She is ranked #213.
Your service's blatant obvious BIAS for this grossly overrated golfer is TERRIBLE, DISGRACEFUL AND A SLAP IN THE FACE TO OBJECTIVE JOURNALISM!!
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS LIVES ON
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 -- Once again, our nation's newspaper has shown its incredible bias for women in sports. The publication might as well change its name to "The Ladies Home Journal Daily women In Sports Update."
For one thing, Shirley Muldowney, probably the first significant woman auto racer, wasn't even mentioned in the paper's "Women In Sports" special section honoring successful women in sports.
Worse yet, though, was how the paper played up Billie Jean King's victory over Bobby Riggs in 1973. However, the paper conveniently left out a rather important fact. THIS WAS THE SECOND TENNIS BATTLE OF THE SEXES...AND BOBBY RIGGS WON THE FIRST ONE!
Here's what I told that paper in an e-mail:
USA Today,
Billie Jean King's September 20, 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs was neither the first nor the only "Battle Of The Sexes" tennis match of 1973 as was implied by your publication in the September 18 "Women In Sports" Special section.
The very first tennis "Battle Of The Sexes" came on May 13, 1973, when Riggs posted a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Margaret Court in Ramona, California. Court was considered the top woman tennis player at the time. As the result of his historic victory, Riggs made the cover of Sports Illustrated and Time magazine.
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
***
SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS...FOR MOS...MISS OVERRATED SNOB
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17, 2008 -- Sadly, our sports news media keeps showing its bias for a certain teenage girl golfer. After all, Michelle Weak has been a pro golfer for 3 years...and yet, she's REWARDED by the news media for having to attend the LPGA qualifying school.
Then came the latest, with the Associated Press and our nation's newspaper, the latter of which ran a first-Sports-page headline, photo and story about Weak, WHO WAS TIED FOR EIGHTH PLACE! AND THE PAPER MENTIONED NOTHING ABOUT HOW MOS (MISS OVERRATED SNOB) REFUSED TO SPEAK TO THE NEWS MEDIA.
Meanwhile, Here's what I wrote the AP...
Dear Associated Press, A/k/A Michelle Weak Daily Update Newsletter,
Isn't it commonplace in covering ANY sporting event to lead off with the person who did the BEST? That's what I thought.
So why did your wire service LEAD OFF its story on the PGA sectional qualifying tournament Tuesday action with the player who was TIED FOR EIGHTH PLACE?
SEVEN golfers fared better!!!!
You almost completely failed to mention the leader, Sun-Ju Ahn. Doesn't SHE deserve the headlines, the photos, the lead story mention???
Oh, I forgot. You instead decided to lead off with the golfer who...
Has been a pro for THREE YEARS and has NEVER won a golf tournament...
Is ranked #213...
Finished an average of 32nd this past year....
And...
Snubbed you the news media afterwards.
Why do you continue to give ALL the headlines, stories and photos to MOS? (Miss Overrated Snob)?
Your BIAS for that golfer is DISGRACEFUL and RIDICULOUS!
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
OHIO STATE: NO BEANIE, NO TOUCHDOWNS, NO PRESTIGE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008 -- Ohio State lost more than just a football game Saturday night. The Buckeyes' 35-3 loss to USC (Southern Cal) was simply the latest evidence that they're not good enough to be considered a national title contender. Whatever chance the Buckeyes had to regain some prestige wilted and disappeared on the Los Angeles Coliseum turf.
In Ohio State's last two national title games and against what could be the next national champion (USC), it's been outscored 114-41. It's the first time in 141 games that the Buckeyes failed to at least score a touchdown. It's also the time in MY memory that I could clearly see in OSU coach Jim Tressel's eyes that he was frustrated.
No wonder. The Buckeyes were without RB Bernie Wells, but even with him, they wouldn't have won Saturday night. You simply can't expect any Division I college football team to start its season with two cupcake games, then expect it to turn up the intensity for a team the caliber of USC. Woody Hayes was right in never playing in-state Ohio schools. For Ohio State to become a national title contender that would be a good place to start. No more Youngstown States, Ohio U's, Bowling Greens and Cincinnati's on the the schedule. Please.
Above all, though, Tressel must strongly consider handing the full-time QB reins to Terrelle Pryor. He's talented. And he's the Buckeyes' future. He needs ALL the snaps possible. Todd Boeckman simply doesn't have it. He lacks quickness and, above all, confidence. His arm strength appears average at best. And his decision-making is questionable.
The best Ohio State can expect now is a BCS bowl...but certainly not the national title game.
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS UPDATE--AS IN MISS WEAK NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 -- Can you imagine C.C. Sabathia being sent back down to the Rookie League--because he had to learn pitching all over again? Or how about LeBron James going back to Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (Ohio) High School... because he had to learn how to play basketball all over again?
Yeah, I know...it's crasy...BUT...
A PROFESSIONAL golfer who's BEEN one for about THREE YEARS...has to go through the LPGA qualifying school.
Yup, Michelle Weak.
Man, you talk about the ultimate putdown.
And YET, for her total INEPTNESS, she gets REWARDED!
A first sports page story about this in our nation's newspaper, complete with a headline and photograph.
Welcome to the latest edition of sports media bias gone mad.
Oh, the story mentioned that Michelle Weak hasn't won anything since being an amateur five years ago. What the story DIDN'T say and SHOULD HAVE said was...
She is 0-63 in professional golf tournaments.
She is ranked #224 among LPGA golfers.
Her AVERAGE finish this year was 32nd.
When she tried to go up against the men in the weakest PGA men's golf tournament this year, a tournament where the TOP FIFTY men's money leaders weren't there...SHE MISSED THE CUT BY NINE STROKES!!!
TRUST ME...when I tell you that people are starting to "get it" regarding Miss Weak. After all, Miss Weak and Mrs. One-Hit-Wonder of auto racing...are a combined 1-125.
Just look at ONE of the readers' posts regarding Miss Weak! For instance...
Michelle Wie is the Danica Patrick of golf.
Danica Patrick is the Anna Kournikova of auto racing.
Anna Kournikova is the Manon Rheaume of tennis.
Manon Rheaume is the...
The media (and public in general?) tolerates a lot of mediocrity in a female athlete as long as she's a piece of a$$.
***
SPORTS PROMOTING BIAS (CONTINUED)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 -- I almost barfed when I heard it.
The IRL (Inferior Racing League) ends its season with a 300-mile race this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. There's a dandy race going on for first place in the points department for the season between the top 2 point leaders (Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves), but that's hardly even mentioned in the radio promo ads. In fact, Helio's not mentioned at all! So who INSTEAD is promoted PROMINENTLY in the advertisement promoting the race?
That's right, Mrs. Hospenthal/Overrated/Hothead/One-Hit-Wonder/Flash-In-The-Pan. A/K/A Mrs. Almost-Should've-Would've-Could've.
So, I decided to write PEAK antifreeze...and here's what I told 'em...
PEAK,
Why is your company promoting your sponsored IRL race this weekend by prominently mentioning the racer who is in SIXTH place in the IRL standings, finished SIXTEENTH last weekend and has a professional racing record of 1-62?
Oh, now I've got it. You're not only sponsoring that race but also Mrs. Hothead/Overrated/One-Hit Wonder/Flash In The Pan. That's the most ridiculous example of BIASED promoting! You don't even mention the #2 man on the IRL standings!
I will NEVER buy ANY of your products EVER!
And you know why!
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
WOW! WHAT A TERRIFIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND ENDING!!!!!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 -- No. I haven't gone away or anything. I've been on vacation from work...and getting caught up on lost sleep!I can't remember the last time I was able to sleep in until 7:20 a.m., 8:40 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. I NEEDED THAT!
Meanwhile, UCLA's stunning 27-24 overtime football win over Tennessee was a fitting ending to this past Labor Day weekend. It was almost Tuesday in the Eastern time zone when it ended (11:57 p.m.).
In case you missed it, UCLA was a 7.5-point underdog, lost three senior starters int he first half and saw its starting (and third string) QB throw FOUR first half interceptions...
And STILL WON!
This was a HUGE victory for the UCLA football program under new coach Rick Neuheisel, who's back in college football after being fired as Washington's coach in a gambling controversy a few years back. Neuheisel couldn't really replace his starting QB, Kevin Craft, because there wasn't really anyone else available to replace him! The other two available QB's have zero college experience!
Besides, Neuheisel came up with the perfect inspiration for Craft, who was 12-for-his-last-14 passes in the second half. Neuheisel remembered how he did in HIS first college game, when HE threw FOUR interceptions!!!! "I threw four interceptions in my first college game, too," is what Neiheisel told Craft.
Monday was also a special day for Cleveland Indians fans. Cliff Lee pitched a five-hit 5-0 shutout at the White Sox to become the franchise's first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry in 1974.
The Labor Day weekend got off to an early bad start for me. My high school, Mentor (Ohio), had been ranked #3 in Cleveland and #41 in the USA after its season-opening 34-20 win over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. All that success went all for naught, though, with the Aug. 28 30-27 loss at Strongsville which was marred by Mentor having six turnovers and a disaster area of a kicking game. Two botched extra points didn't help the Mentor Cardinal cause.
Meanwhile, what was Beanie Wells DOING playing in the third quarter of Ohio State's 43-0 cakewalk win over Youngstown State? His foot injury is scary. He'll probably sit out OSU's game vs. Ohio U. (my old college) this Saturday...and he'll be less than 100% for the Sept. 13 biggie vs. Southern Cal.
Not that it's going to matter anyway. Even a fully healthy Wells won't make much of a difference anyway. USC is simply too talented, deep and loaded. The Trojans will show it Sept. 13 by beating Ohio State by 2-3 touchdowns. In USC's 52-7 win over Virginia, eight Trojans carried the ball and nine Trojans caught it. Which reminds me...
Anyone bad-mouthing the Big Ten in college football circles needs to notice how horrible the Atlantic Coast Conference is. There was Virginia's blowout loss to USC; North Carolina State's 34-0 blanking by South Carolina; and Clemson's embarassing 34-10 loss to Alabama.
Finally, the weekend may have signaled the end of the season and maybe the career of possible Hall of Fame second baseman Jeff Kent. Kent was scheduled to undergo knee surgery today, when both L.A. newspaper found different ways to put him down. A Los Angeles Times columnist called Kent a "jerk" while a L.A. Daily News writer wrote how the Dodgers may be playing better without Kent and his surly attitude towards the younger generation players.
In case you missed it, Kent popped off a few weeks ago when it was suggested by the L.A. news media that he was hitting better since the Dodgers had obtained Manny Ramirez. Among the quotes attributed to Kent was his tirade against the Dodgers' legendary radio voice, Vin Scully. Kent said Scully "talks too much."
***
THE BEST THING ABOUT THE OLYMPICS?
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008 -- The best thing about the Olympics?
They're over with!
***
SHAME ON THE BIASED AP! SHAME ON STUPID NBC!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2008 -- Which is worse, our incrediably biased AP (Associated Press) when it comes to its coverage of LPGA golf tournaments...or the brainless people at NBC, who chose NOT to carry live in some markets Michael Phelps' unprecedented eighth gold metal in the Summer Olympics?
Take your pick.
In covering the final round of this weekend's LPGA tournament, the Canadian Women's Open, the AP writer elected to NOT mention the seventh through eleventh place finishers but DID mention one tied for TWELFTH!!!
You guessed it...the golfer tied for #12 was Michelle Weak who, incredibly said, "I feel like I gained a lot of confidence in myself this year. Being pain free in the latter part of the year, I started feeling confident. From May on, it's getting better and better and now in the offseason, I know what to work on for next year."
Confidence? Really? After going 0-9 in golf tournaments, with one disqualification, three missed cuts and an average finish of #32? For her professional career, she's 0-34. Nearly half the time (16X), she's been disqualified, missed the cut or withdrawn. She has A LOT to work on.
So does Stupid NBC. SHAME on that network for not showing live Phelps' history-making Olympic feat Saturday in all markets! That's comparable to televising the Super Bowl, a World Series seventh game or an NCAA national title game via taped delay.
I have one question for NBC. It's the same question my one band director would ask us if we made a marching mistake.
"WHERE ARE YOUR BRAINS AT?"
***
LOS ANGELES TV STATIONS' NEWS JUDGEMENT -- HORRIBLE!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2008 -- I wrote two Los Angeles TV stations to let them know what I felt of their woefully poor news judgement...Here goes...
K-CAL 9 (and KTLA, too),
We had a historical first in Olympic history with Michael Phelps winning an EIGHTH gold metal...and that ISN'T your lead story on the 10'clock news? REALLY? All of you need to go back to Journalism school! Your judgement as to the lead story of the day is DISGRACEFUL!
Coldest regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
GOOD NEWS--HER SEASON SHOULD END THIS WEEKEND!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008 -- First, the good news...
The season could actually END this weekend for one of the world's most overrated, overpublicized people in the history of sports journalism. If Michelle Weak misses the cut today at the Women's Canadian Open In Ottawa, her season could end TODAY!
More good news: I didn't even know she was AT this tournament until I saw her name in the scores. Translation: The sports news media is starting to get it. No pre-tournament stories, photos or headlines.
Now, the bad news. Not ALL of the sports news media gets it regarding this abysmal golfer with the even more abysmal attitude. I did a double-take when I saw the same basic lead paragraph about the Canadian Women's Open in a Los Angeles newspaper and our nation's newspaper. So, I wrote the LA paper and the Associated Press (which, I'm afraid, will never get it). Anyway, here's what I wrote those 2 outlets...
Dear Sports Media Outlet,
Why would ANY story covering the first round of ANY golf tournament have a lead paragraph with the top two performers and THEN mention the golfer who...
Is tied for 86th place?
Is ranked #309?
Has never won a professional golf tournament in her life?
Who is on her way to "improving" her dismal record to 0-34, with half of her "losses" being a withdrawl, missed cut or disqualification?
Who recently missed the cut against a PGA field so weak that NONE of the top 50 PGA money leaders weren't even there?
Hey, just curious! After all, I know I'm not alone when it comes to people who're sick to death of hearing about Miss Last Place, Miss Overrated, Miss Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've, Miss Classless and Miss Spoiled Brat...all of whom can pertain to the same person.
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
SPORTS NEWS MEDIA BIAS--AT IT AGAIN!
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2008 -- Why would ANY story about an auto race FAIL to mention the fifth through tenth place finishers...but WOULD mention the ELEVENTH and FIFTEENTH place finishers?
Simple. The #11 and #15 finishers were women. And our biased sports new media, such as our nation's newspaper, continues to write about them no matter how low they finish and how bad they are.
After all, that eleventh place finisher is Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, a/k/a Mrs. Hothead, a/k/a Mrs. Hospenthal...but her racing record is always conveniently omitted. Well, it's 1-60.
Actually, I didn't mind the story mention that Sarah Fisher placed #15. Fisher's fighting to keep going with sponsorships and she's a battler. She said at the 2007 Indy 500 that the novelty of women racing in that event has worn off. And she's right...so I wouldn't mind seeing her win a race. Even the Indy 500.
Not so with racer #11. I openly cheer for Mrs. One-Hit-Wonder's weekly defeats. She's horribily overrated and overpublicized. She never gives credit to the racers who win...and she's always bellyaching when things don't go her way. Mrs. Hothead is 1-60, has never won a race conducted anywhere in the USA and has never won a 500-mile race conducted anywhere.
***
THEY'RE A COMBINED 1-93
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008 -- Guess who didn't an auto race again?
Yup, Mrs. Hospenthal. With her 11th place finish at this weekend's IRL action at Kentucky Speedway, she's now 1-60. Interestingly, AP auto racing writer Mike Harris didn't mention who finished 9th or 10th...but he DID write who finished 11th. But that's par for the course.
Harris is among the very few sports news media people left who still don't get it. About a month ago, he wrote an entire AP wire story about Mrs. Hothead, who at that race qualified TWENTIETH!!!
Suffice to say that in compiling her 1-60, Mrs. One-Hit-Wonder has never won an auto race ANYWHERE in the USA and has NEVER won a 500-mile race.
Meanwhile, sportscaster Steve Czaban and I are both delirious with NO stories, photos or headlines AT ALL of Michelle Weak in the past week. Without a doubt, her decision to play vs. the men two weekends back was a horrible decision. She missed the cut vs. the weakest PGA competition and hasn't been heard from since.
But that's what happens when you're 0-33 as a professional golfer.
Imagine, of those 33 "losses", over half (17) are BAD losses. Two qualifications, three withdrawls and TWELVE missed cuts.
Miss Weak and Mrs. Hothead are now 1-93 combined.
***
WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE NOT HEARING ABOUT THEM!!!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2008 -- First, the good news.
We actually haven't heard anything in the past 5 days about my two least favorite sports personalities...Michelle Weak and Mrs. Hospenthal, who are a combined 1-121. Sadly, though, all we're hearing about is Mr. Jerk. the problem child the Green Bay Packers FINALLY got rid of with a trade to the New York Jets.
But we're STILL hearing about him! That said, here's what I wrote the NFL Network and ESPN...
Dear Brett Favre Network,
There are about 2560 players in NFL camps. Is it possible for you to profile, mention and feature the other 2559? Instead of your round-the-clock never-ending profiling of Mr. Jerk?
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
AND SHE'S CLASSLESS, TOO...
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008 -- Michelle Weak continues to show why sportscaster Steve Czaban's assessment of her is correct. In his latest blast on July 30, Czaban described her as "graceless, tactless, lying, dishonest, greedy and selfish."
You can add the word "classless." Do you think she could've stuck around to give a few autographs to what's left of her fans?
You know the answer.
Check out THIS message board posting I found on the Reno newspaper's web site...
"So good to see you go. You had the largest galleries anyone at the RTO has ever seen on a Thursday and Friday. We were all cheering for you. You had a very bad round on Friday. It happens. You were upset. It happens to all of us. You could not take the time to sign autographs AFTER the round for the many young girls for whom you are an idol. Please come back when you are an adult and can behave like a highly paid professional, but not until then."
***
WEAKEST PGA TOURNEY EVER...AND SHE STILL MISSED THE CUT!!!
"There are going to be criticisms entering this tournament, but at the same time I'm just doing what I feel like I want to do and it's going to be a lot of fun"--Michelle Wie on July 30, 2008.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008 -- It ranks as one of the WEAKEST fields EVER in PGA tournament history with FIFTY of the top PGA money leaders NOT there. And she STILL missed the cut!
If making a fool of yourself by missing the cut in ANOTHER woefully weak PGA tournament field is fun, then Michelle Weak had fun. Imagine, a PGA tournament SO BAD that only about 17 per cent of the top PGA money leaders were there...and she STILL missed the cut! She shot a NINE on one hole that included TWO penalty strokes. Santa Claus needs to give her a golf rulebook!!!
She was TERRIBLE, INEPT AND HORRIBLE....and she got EXACTLY what she deserved. For that matter, so did the Legends-Reno Tahoe Open for allowing her to play in the first place. Eleven days ago, I wrote in a blog how this was going to be a freak show, a farce and the latest example of greed.
Our BIASED sports news media got what IT deserved, too. All I read in the past 24 hours were things like Miss Weak being "in a position to make the cut" and "has a shot at making the cut." WELL, GUESS WHAT SPORTS NEWS MEDIA? NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY INTERVIEW THE TOP MALE GOLFERS IN THIS TOURNAMENT.
And NOT Miss Overrated.
I wonder...The tourney director introduced Miss Weak at a press conference a week ago and labeled it as "a momentous occasion." WELL, HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION TODAY???
Sportscaster Steve Czaban is correct when he describes Miss Weak as arrogant, greedy and selfish. And she's lousy, too. Since turning pro, she's 0-62. SHE HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT.
Not bad work for someone worth $30 million...and the tide has CLEARLY turned against her. Our nation's newspaper had NOTHING in its sports section today about HER or that tournament for that matter. And the previous two days? Only stories about Miss Weak's peers criticizing her for competing vs. a weak men's field when she SHOULD HAVE been competing with the gals.
Even a woman sports writer wrote how Miss Weak was making a mistake in going up against the men. That woman sports writer was right.
***
HE EVEN USED THE B-WORD TO DESCRIBE HER....
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 -- On the day before the start of the controversial Legends-Reno Tahoe Reno Open PGA golf tournament, sportscaster Steve Czaban publicly blasted Michelle Wie for participating in this tournament vs. the men. Czaban's "First Team" show is heard weekdays on the Fox Sports Radio Network.
"I heard her press conference a whole week before (this tournmament starts)," said Czaban, "and I was just disgusted...because she is a petulant, graceless, tactless, lying, little privledged B-I-T-C-H. She is NOT good people.
"She is NOT appreciative of what she is being given. She has a sense of entitlement. She has NO respect for her peers. She has NO respect for the game itself. She's dilussional. She's dishonest. She's greedy. She's selfish. This is the Michelle Wie that the full picture has emerged on with me."
Czaban then pointed out how LPGA standout Annika Sorenstam is starting toget it regarding Wie. Sorenstam said, "We have a major this week and, if you can't qualify for a major, I don't see any reason why you should play with the men.” Others in the LPGA are also questioning Wie's decision to play in a weak men's tournament where almost all of the top 50 PGa money leaders are not competing.
Czaban also noted how Joe Williamson of the PGA tour said it was "a joke" that Wie is participating in this week's weak PGA tournament.
Czaban also labeled Wie as "an arrogant entitled ingrate."
***
I FELT THE EARTHQUAKE, BUT I"M FINE
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008 -- I felt that earthquake at about 11:42 a.m. Pacific time. I'm fine and, as best I can tell, there's been minimal damage and minimal injuries.
****
BRACE YOURSELF--FOR THE BIASED SPORTS MEDIA ONSLAUGHT (AND THE LACK OF THE FACTS)
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008 -- The mens' PGA Legends Reno-Tahoe Open golf tournament opens play Thursday. It's an event designed to boost the careers of the younger up-and-coming men golfers...but you WON'T BE READING ABOUT THEM.
Why, you ask? Well, it's because the teenage girl golfer dubbed "one of the biggest sports frauds ever" by sportscaster Steve Czaban is participating is in this tournament. You know what THAT means, right?
Yup, countless stories, photographs and stories about Miss Sports Media Darling, a/k/a Michelle Weak. Surely she'll be quoted about how she thinks she can win and how her game is improved. And if she makes the cut, you'll be reading about that...BUT NOT THE FACTS!!!
Here are the FACTS...
* -- Miss Weak has NEVER won a professional golf tournament of ANY kind, ANYWHERE.
* -- EVERY TIME Miss Weak competes vs. the men, it's ALWAYS a golf tournament in which the PGA field is extremely weak. On average, about 25 of the top 30 PGA male money leaders AREN'T THERE. And this week, the field is weaker than EVER because...
* -- NONE of the top 31 PGA money leaders will be at the Legends-Reno Tahoe golf tournament.
* -- Only TWO of the top FIFTY PGA money leaders will be there.
* -- Only 17 of the top 100 PGA money leaders will be there.
* -- Two weekends ago, Michelle Weak was disqualified from an LPGA tournament for failing to sign her scorecard. There's a REASON why she was going so well in that tournament. Two thirds of the top 30 LPGA money leaders weren't there. Nor were 8 of the top 10 money leaders.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...this golf tournament will be a freak show. SHAME on the Legends-Reno Tahoe Open to allow this farce to happen. SHAME on Michelle Weak and her arrogant entourage for allowing this to happen. SHAME on both parties in the name of greed.
***
MRS. HOTHEAD (1-59) + MICHELLE WEAK (0-32) = 1-91
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008 -- Unless she gets into another fight, we won't be hearing or reading anything about Mrs. Hothead in the next few days.
Mrs. Hospenthal has now raced 60 times and won once. Her EIGHTEENTH place finish at the IRL race in Edmonton drops her record to 1-59. Together with my other least favorite sports personality, golfer Michelle Weak (0-32), they are now a combined 1-91.
One sports writer claims Miss Weak is 0-61 now. If true, it would mean the combined record of Miss Weak and Mrs. One-Hit-Wonder would be 1-120.
***
RECOVERING...BUT I'M OK!
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008 -- I'm recovering nicely from Friday's colonoscopy. My deepest thanks to my best friend, Matt Wilson, for his providing transportation to and from this testing. One polyp was discovered and removed.
Still feeling a little woozy from being put to sleep, but I'm recovering OK today. No driving for me today, though. Doctor's orders. I was told I can drive to and from work AND work Sunday.
I experienced some cramps right after the colonoscopy, but the pain subsided about an hour later. Onward!
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--WITH THE MEN, TOO
SATURDAY, July 26, 2008 -- Yes, there really IS sports media bias with the MEN, too.
Nowhere was this more blatant than in Wednesday's weekday national newspaper. There was a front page photo and teaser headline of Mr. Posh (my nickname for soccer star David Beckham, who's married to ex-Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" Spice)
Mr. Posh was the lead story in the sports section with the headline "In year 1, Beckham on target for MLS." The story said, "When Beckham plays, the TV ratings and attendance go up."
NOT SO!!!!!!
The VERY NEXT day, in the Los Angeles Daily News, the lead story was a column by Scott Wolf that told an entirely different story of the Mr. Posh situation. The one headline said it all: "Galaxy star's impact on soccer in L.A., America hasn't been what many expected."
In his column, Wolf pointed out many key facts that our nation's newspaper REFUSED to divulge. For instance...
* -- Last weekend, at the Galaxy game in New York against the Red Bulls, how many fewer fans were there compared to a year earlier?
TWENTY ONE THOUSAND!!!
* -- Last month, in Washington D.C., how many fewer fans were there at THAT Galaxy game compared to a year earlier, when the soccer match was played in a rainstorm?
TEN THOUSAND!!!
That's THIRTY ONE THOUSAND less fans at just TWO Galaxy games this year compared to last year!
And Wolf had plenty more to say. For instance...
Wolf quotes Steven Cohen extensively. Cohen hosts a World Soccer Daily radio show...and Cohen remembered how, when Mr. Posh arrived in Los Angeles amid considerable hoopla, there was NOTHING said that day that Mr. Posh was hurt. It was only AFTER the July 14, 2007 hoopla press conference that it came out that Mr. Posh was hurt...and that he wasn't going to play in all the Galaxy games anyway due to committments to his European teams.
"I'm angry with them about this," said Cohen in Wolf's column. "If you bring over someone you know is injured, and make hoopla about it and try to get the non-MLS fan and all you've got it is Beckham injured, you just lay an egg. They deserve failing because they set themselves up to fail.
"It was a smash-and-grab," continued Cohen. "They wanted the money and season-ticket sales and didn't take into consideration he was injured. It was fraudulent and disingenuous to sell Beckham (ticket) packages when he didn't play. Go and ask the average American sports fan about giving MLS a chance this year and they say the MSL overpromised and underdelivered. You can't do that in American culture."
Wolf's column didn't mention something I remember about the Mr. Posh fiasco. Namely, that when soccer fans in cities where Mr. Posh was to play wanted tickets, they were blackmailed into buying other MSL game tickets IN ADDITION to the ones where Mr. Posh was supposed to show.
And THEN, for the topper, Mr. Posh didn't show up for some of those games. I can remember a whole helluva lotta people in Dallas mad about paying tons of money for tickets to see the Galaxy on July 31, 2007...only not to see Mr. Posh at all!
Welcome to the world of sports news media bias, greed and overpromotion.
***
THE $30 MILLION "SPORTS FRAUD" -- AND A WRITTEN REQUEST
FRIDAY, July 25, 2008 -- Sportscaster Steve Czaban this week called Michelle Weak "one of the biggest sports frauds" ever. And he's 100% right. After all, she's never won a professional golf tournament and yet has raked in $30 Million, almost entirely from endorsements. She certainly isn't making this money from golf wins, because she doesn't have any.
I've figured Miss Last Place's record to be 0-32, but according to one writer, it's actually 0-61. If true, it would mean the combined records of Miss Weak and Mrs. Hothead would be 1-119. And yet, despite their awful records, they get more publicity than the President and the Pope combined.
Since I can't stop Miss Weak turn next weekend's Legends-Reno Tahoe Open into a circus and farce, but I CAN do two things...
One, point out how many of the top PGA money leaders aren't participating. That's forthcoming, but look for that stat to be something like 25 of the top 30 PGA money leaders NOT being there. Par for the Miss Weak course. Playing vs. the third team in the men's competition and/or the weakest male field possible.
Nevertheless, she has NEVER made the cut in a men's tournament.
Additionally, I can do what I just did, which was submit to the tournament director in writing this e-mailed request...
Dear Mr. Stearns,
I have one request to pass along to you, Mr. Stearns.
PLEASE instruct your women/woman participants to NOT wear ear-rings. In my opinion, and I believe in the opinion of many others, the wearing of ear-rings by women/woman participants is HIGHLY TACKY and HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL.
This is a sporting event! This is a golf tournament!
NOT A FASHION SHOW! NOT A PEEP SHOW!!!
Thank you very much for taking my request under consideration.
Warmest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind...and...
Author, "Amercan Top 40: The Countdown Of The Century"
****
NOTE; The next blog item was an e-mail to a sports writer, who chose not to answer me.
***
MY LATEST LETTER TO A BIASED AP SPORTS WRITER
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008 -- The Los Angeles Daily News thought so little of the spat between the IRL's two women racers...that nothing was said it at all. Meanwhile, it's been non-stop stories and columns about it...and when one writer wrote that these displays of poor sportsmanship were "good" for the IRL, that's when I decided to write him as follows...
Mr. Serrano,
Sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more when you write that Mrs. Hothead's spat with Milka Duno is "good" for the IRL.
Shame on you and the rest of the TOTALLY BIASED sports news media for glorifying Mrs. Flash-In-The-Pan, who is nothing more than a hot-headed sore loser and a poor sport. THIS is the way Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've INSPIRES young girls?
I think not.
Personally, I think if Mrs. One-Hit-Wonder pulls another bush league stunt like Saturday, a one-race suspension from the IRL is merited. All she does is whine and display poor sportsmanship by always wanting to confront her competitors. Ridiculous.
Ryan Briscoe WON last weekend's IRL race, so why is he being treated as top secret by the sports news media? Simple. Someone else is getting more publicity than the President and the Pope combined. Ryan Briscoe has won twice as many races as Mrs. Overexposed despite competing in nearly half as many races (31 to her 59).
Oh, I forgot. He doesn't wear a dress or pose for SI in a swimsuit. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BAD YOU ARE, JUST HOW ATTRACTIVE YOU ARE.
You're right about one thing. Mrs. Hospenthal's temper tantrums help HIDE her horrible racing record. But this isn't the only way Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, has her ineptness hidden from the public. You and the rest of the biased sports news media categorically REFUSE to tell the truth...and here it is...
Mrs. Overrated has raced 59 times and won ONCE. Her only victory came in Japan, where at least 5 of the top 12 IRL point leaders didn't even attend. The field was a paltry 18 cars and only seven finished.
Mrs. Overpublicized has NEVER won a 500-mile race conducted ANYWHERE.
No woman has EVER won the Indy 500.
Mrs. Flash In the Pan has NEVER won a race conducted ANYWHERE in the USA.
Mrs. You-Know-Who and the other most overrated, overpublicized woman in sports, Michelle (0-32) Weak, have a combined record of 1-90.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
Too bad you and the rest of the sports news media won't tell it. Another of your AP writers, Mike Harris, is every bit as bad when it comes to writing about Mrs. Hospenthal. It's horrible bias that needs to stop.
Sorry if I'm overreacting, Mr. Serrano, but enough already of two horribly overrated women!
Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind...and...Author, "American Top 40: The Countdown Of the Century"
***
MICHELLE WEAK (0-32) + MEN'S TOURNEY = GREED
MONDAY, MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008 -- Why would the #244 ranked woman golfer, a teenage girl, even THINK of entering a men's golf tournament, let alone actually ENTER it?
Answer: GREED!!!
SHAME on Michelle Weak for entering next week's Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. She has never made the cut in past men's tournaments where, on average, she's competing in a field where roughly 25 of the top 30 men's money winners aren't competing. Is THIS what she has to do make the LPGA Top 80 money winners list to qualify full time for LPGA full-time action? I'm afraid so.
SHAME on the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open tournament for allowing this farce and freak show to happen. Oh, but they'll make LOTS of money!
Imagine, a men's golf tournament field of lower ranked men players, many of whom struggle financially just to make ends meet...and who'll be upstaged by a millionaire of an overrated, overpublicized teenage broad who'll no doubt show up dressed in promiscuous-looking ear-rings and shorts. Sportscaster Steve Czaban is right when he calls her "one of the greatest sports frauds."
And for the sports news media to label Michelle Weak as last weekend's LPGA State Farm tournament "marquee" player is an insult to women's professional golf and the LPGA. She STILL was mentioned in at least one Associated Press story about Sunday's final round..even though she was gone. After all, 24 hours earlier, she was DISQUALIFIED. And in her FIRST pro golf tournament ever, she was also DISQUALIFIED. Over and over again, she has shown little respect to golf's rules and etiquette. Remember, her pushy father has been close to breaking rules regarding prompting his daughter during tourney play.
Here's hoping that Miss Weak misses the cut...or, if she DOES make the cut, finishes in last place. After all, she's Miss Last Place.
In more ways than one.
***
MRS. HOTHEAD...AT IT AGAIN...AND 1-58
SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008 -- Are you getting sick and tired of Mrs. Hothead losing her temper and picking fights with her IRL auto racing contempories?
I know I Am.
Mrs. Hospenthal is, simply stated, one hot-tempered sore loser. She has now raced 59 times professionally and won ONCE. And with her 12th place finish at today's Mid-Ohio race in Lexington, Ohio, her record now stands at 1-58.
But WHAT will we hearing about and reading about in the sports media?
Her spat with Milka Duno. I think it's about time the IRL put an end to these seemingly weekly confrontations. A one-race suspension would suffice.
Gee, doesn't it seem like EONS since her only IRL victory over in
Japan? When five of the top 12 IRL point leaders didn't even compete?
That was April.
SINCE that win, she has finished 19th, 22nd, 9th, 10th, 6th, 6th, 14th, 5th and 12th. Don't let that 5th place finish fool you. She started THAT race in SECOND, right beside the pole-sitter.
Remember, Mrs. Hospenthal has NEVER won a race of ANY kind in the USA and has NEVER won a 500-mile race conducted ANYWHERE! Her record is 1-58...and she and Michelle Weak are a combined 1-90.
***
MICHELLE WEAK -- 0-32 AND COUNTING...
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008 -- Good teams find ways to win games. Bad teams find ways to lose.
So do BAD GOLFERS!!!!
Michelle Weak never NEVER had a better chance to land her first pro golf tournament victory at this weekend's LPGA State Farm Classic. She was tied for the lead...at a tournament where two of the top 10 LPGA money leaders skipped this tournament...as did 20 of the top 30!
And she STILL found a way to lose!
DISQUALIFIED! For failure to immediately sign her scoreboard after Friday's second round!
Remember how Miss Weak did in her FIRST pro golf tournament?
That's right, she was DISQUALIFIED!!!
Sadly, we're going to hear nothing but sob stories regarding this latest incident. This is part of the totally biased sports news media. But our biased sports news media can eat their hearts out! Their precious Miss Sports Media Darling, Pro Golf Division, WILL NOT WIN THIS WEEKEND. And those biased golf writers will actually have to find someone else to interview Sunday.
But do you think I'M feeling sorry for Miss Weak, one of the world's most overrated, overpublicized people EVER?
NO WAY!!
SHE HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT!
SHE IS 0-32!
And maybe...just MAYBE--if she worried less about "which sexy ear-rings do I wear today?" perhaps she might be a whole lot better off!
It couldn't have happened to more deserving golfer!
***
UPDATE--ON SPORTS MEDIA BIAS!!!
FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008 -- Our HORRIBLY BIASED sports new media will try to BRAINWASH you into thinking that Michelle Weak is SUDDENLY an improved golfer.
That is, until you look at the FACTS!
And these IMPORTANT FACTS will NOT be pointed out by our biased sports news media!
Remember how Miss Weak participated in men's tournaments? Those were the tournaments where Tiger Woods was nowhere to be found...and, on average, 26 of the top 30 men's money winners weren't there, either!
Same old story with this weekend's LPGA State Farm Classic.
NONE of the top five LPGA money leaders is competing in this tournament.
Only ONE of the top ten LPGA money leaders is competing in this golf tournament.
TWO THIRDS of the top 30 LPGA money leaders (20 of 30) ARE NOT competing in this golf tournament.
So when you read all that propaganda about Miss Weak "being back" and "Improving her golf game" etc., please be advised that she is essentially playing vs. the LPGA third team!
***
HOORAY FOR SARAH FISHER, ANA BEATRIZ!! (AND MORE BOOS FOR MICHELLE WEAK)
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008 -- I am THRILLED for Sarah Fisher and Ana Beatriz! Honest!
I'm happy for Fisher because she landed a two-race sponsor. I've liked this gal from the get-go when she made it to the Indy 500. Why? Because she said that novelty of women making it to the Indy 500 field has worn off. Fans have actually raised $51,000 in donations to help Fisher. Now THAT'S fans!
Meanwhile, Beatriz last weekend became the first woman to win a Firestone Indy Lights Series race. I'm happy for her and Fisher because...they have EARNED the publicity they have gained!
Miss Last Place, a/k/a Michelle Weak, has not. She's 0-31 in pro golf tournaments. And yet she STILL gets the ink, especially from the Associated Press. Here's my latest letter to the AP:
Dear AP Sports Department,
Why are you constantly writing about the female golfer who...
Is ranked #248?
Finished TIED for 46th last week?
Has NEVER won a professional golf tournament?
Your organization's bias for this golfer is so OBVIOUS. I mean, she's tied for TENTH after one round, and yet she's the THIRD person mentioned in a story!!!
Why are the SEVEN golfers who fared BETTER than her virtually ignored?
YOUR BIAS FOR THIS OVERRATED GOLFER IS DISGRACEFUL!!!
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
OTHERS ARE STARTING TO GET IT!!!!
SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2008 -- People are starting to GET IT about my blogs! And in a BIG WAY! Check out this e-mail I got from fan Mark Johnson of Cedar Falls, Iowa...
Hey Rob,
Here is something I thought you might like. I was scrolling through the channels when I stopped on the Golf Channel to see how people finished today and I stumbled upon this. They were listing the placewinners for whatever the LPGA tournament was this weekend which Paula Creamer won by the way. Nicole Castrale was 2nd, Karrie Webb was 5th I think.
Somebody that was on the Golf Channel's show The Big Break finished tied for 7th. After the top ten they had, in a tie for 46th place, you guessed it, MISS WEAK!!!!! I just kinda thought, do people really care? Call me when she wins something.
Mark.
***
MRS. OVERRATED IS 1-57...AND MISS LAST PLACE IS ON HER WAY TO 0-31...
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2008 -- It was another good weekend for me, if only because my two least favorite sports personalities did their thing.
Which is, of course, LOSE!
Mrs. Overrated (a/k/a Mrs. Hospenthal, a/k/a Mrs. Hothead, a/k/a Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've) STARTED Saturday's latest IRL beside the pole sitter, having had the second best trial time.
But it's where you FINISH that counts. She only placed fifth in the rain-shortened IRL race...which means her record falls to 1-57.
Meanwhile, even though Miss Last Place barely made the cut Friday, her name STILL made the Los Angeles Daily News. Amazing. After all, she went into this weekend's LPGA action ranked #247. After Saturday's third round, she is NINETEEN strokes off the leader...and five strokes out of last. I don't call her Miss Last Place for nothing.
Thus, Miss Last Place is en route to "improving" her pro tourney record to 0-31. So, together, my two least favorite sports personalities will more than likely be a combined 1-88 by late Sunday night.
***
SHE'S 0-30 AS A PRO GOLFER, RANKED #247...AND GETS HER NAME IN A NEWSPAPER
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2008 -- How can ANY professional golf tournament preview include mentioning the golfer ranked #247? And who's never won a professional golf tournament? And who missed the cut in her previous golf tournament?
Believe it or not, it happened for Miss Last Place (a/k/a Michelle Weak), who was mentioned as a participant due to a sponsor's exemption for this weekend's Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. How can a golfer who's so inept STILL get mentioned in a certain weekday newspaper's Corning Classic preview?
ANSWER: For the same reason that that newspaper decided it was important to include on Monday in its IRL race coverage the racer who finished FOURTEENTH! Yup, Mrs. Hospenthal (a/k/a Mrs. Hothead, a/k/a Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-would've).
Welcome to the world of sports media bias and then some.
And what the biased news media WON'T tell you...
Is that Miss Last Place is 0-30 in pro golf tournaments, has thus NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT; had to play vs. other NOVICES in a QUALIFIER just to MAKE IT into the U.S. Women's Open; and is ranked #247 among her pro women's golf peers. Oh, and Miss Weak has participated in five pro touraments. She's finished sixth and 24th in two of them. She's missed the cut in two others...and in another finished DEAD LAST (72nd) among those who made the cut. I don't call her Miss Last Place for nothing.
Mrs. Hospenthal, meanwhile, has raced professionally 57 times. Her only win came in Japan, when 5 of the top 12 IRL racers didn't compete. She has NEVER won a race of ANY KIND ANYWHERE in the USA. She has NEVER won a 500-mile race ANYWHERE. And NO WOMAN has EVER won the Indy 500.
Add it all up. Miss Last Place is 0-30. Mrs. Hospenthal is 1-56. They are a combined 1-86.
And they STILL get a ton of news media stories and photos...
TRIBE (37-54) HOISTS THE SURRENDER FLAG WHILE MRS. MENACE FALLS TO 1-56
SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2008 -- That's not an American League pennant hoisted on a flagpole outside the Cleveland Indians' office. After all, since coming within a game of the World Serious last October, the Tribe has free fallen to a horrible 37-54 record...so that flag hanging there...is all white.
Yes, the flag of surrender was hoisted when the Indians gave up on signing soon-to-be-free-agent C.C. Sabathia, trading him to the Milwaukee Brewers. It's a two-fold trade. A salary dump trade because the Tribe was never going to come up with the kind of money C.C. could command. AND, it's a "we give up on the season so we start to blow up the roster" trade.
Look for the Tribe to dump more players eventually. Andy Marte, as evidenced by his batting average hovering in the .125 area, can't hit big league pitching. And look for the bullpen to be changed dramatically. Granted, injuries have killed this 2008 Tribe season. Two starters--Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook--are on the Disabled List. Westbrook may be finished. The Indians' catcher (Victor Martinez) and dh (Travis Hafner) are also on the DL.
No wonder the Tribe's in last place! Speaking of losers...
How does ANY auto race story include mention of the FOURTEENTH place finisher? Answer: For the same reason why the Associated Press two weekends ago ran three IRL racing stories, two on the race itself...and one on the SIXTH place finisher!
Yes, Mrs. Hospenthal placed FOURTEENTH in the latest IRL race today and the previous weekend was sixth. But that doesn't stop our biased news media from mentioning her. Why? Because she's Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division.
Oh, and our BIASED news media won't tell you these important facts...that Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has raced 57 times and won only once for a 1-56 record. Mrs. Hothead has NEVER won a race conducted ANYWHERE in the USA. And Mrs. Menace has NEVER won a 500-mile held ANYWHERE in this world. And a woman has NEVER won the Indianapolis 500.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
***
MISS LAST PLACE (0-30) + MRS. MENACE (1-55) = 1-85
SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008 -- Some things never change.
The sun comes up in the morning...and sets in the west...death...taxes...and our BIASED news media with its endless stories and photographs of two of the most overrated women in the history of sports media.
That is, until they have to compete.
Michelle Weak predictably missed the cut at this weekend's LPGA U.S. women's Open. All we heard Wednesday and Thursday was how she was "back" and would actually compete. SHE even said she believed she would WIN!
Then the golf tournament began.
Miss Last Place shot a NINE on one hole, was horribly out of it by the end of round one (FOURTEEN strokes back) and missed the cut. She's now 0-30 in pro golf tournaments. Since turning pro, SHE HAS NEVER WON A PRO GOLF TOURNAMENT ANYWHERE.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Menace (well, some drivers labeled her "a menace" a few days ago) finished sixth at the IRL race in Richmond. Since posting her non-historic only victory over in Japan in April, she hasn't finished in the top five. She's finished last (19th), last (22nd), 9th, 10th, 6th and 6th.
And she STILL hasn't won ANY race of ANY kind in the USA. And she STILL hasn't won a 500-mile ANYWHERE.
She's raced professionally 56 times, so she's 1-55. Combined, Miss Weak and Mrs. Menace are 1-85.
Doesn't it make you wonder why they're constantly written about? And having photographs of them constantly published?
***
FINALLY! I CAN READ MY FAVORITE SPORTS MAGAZINES WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO!!!
SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008 -- Today, and Friday for that matter, I was actually able to read the LATEST Sports Illustrated and the LATEST Sporting News.
You might be asking yourself, "Isn't that normal if you're a subscriber to them"?
It SHOULD be! Yes, I had been subscribing to both of them.
But a week ago, I cancelled my subscriptions to both of them. And it wasn't because I disliked either of them. In fact, I love BOTH of them.
But...
Maybe you've guessed it by now...but I simply COULD NOT receive both publications at a decent time...which was supposed to be by no later than a Saturday. However...
The Sporting News pre-NCAA selection issue during the last college men's basketball season...wasn't received by me until AFTER the brackets for the big dance were compiled. I switched my mailing address from my home address to my PO Box address...and the lousy USPS mail service got worse!
The Sporting News pre-draft issue? Forget it. That papers's pre-draft and post-draft issues didn't arrive until eons later. The SI issue that included the NBA draft preview? Didn't arrive until Thursday...FIVE DAYS PAST THE DEADLINE. AND ON THE DAY OF THE NBA DRAFT.
Last weekend, I made FOUR trips to my PO Box on a Friday and three more times the next day, a Saturday, hoping to receive at least ONE of those two sports magazines. And neither arrived. That was the last straw. So I cancelled my subscriptions to both TSN and SI. But I'm still reading them. And when they're fresh and hot off the presses. HOW, you ask?
To assure that I'm reading the latest Sports Illustrated and Sporting News, I AM NOW BUYING THEM AT NEWSTANDS!!!!!
THANKS FOR NOTHING, USPS!
***
SHE MISSED THE CUT, IS 0-30 AND GUESS WHAT?
SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008 -- That's right, we're still reading about her and seeing photographs of HER! Miss Last Place missed the cut in the LPGA U.S. Women's Open Today! But guess whom we were seeing when when clicked on the "golf" part with Yahoo sports for a while today?
That's right, Miss Last Place. A/k/a Michelle Weak. This is someone who shot a NINE on one hole Thursday, was 14 strokes behind the co-leaders after one day and is ranked #187. And she STILL gets the photos, the headlines, the stories.
This time, though, I fought back. Here's my letter to that writer writing about Miss Last Place...
Mr. Arkush,
Why do you and the rest of the BIASED news media continue to write about and defend Miss Last Place? She's ranked #187. When I looked up "washed up" in my Thesaurus, it said "Michelle Weak."
Just to MAKE it to the LPGA U.S. Women's Open, she had to compete vs. NOVICES in a QUALIFIER. She is within 24 hours of missing the cut and "improving" her pro tournament record to 0-30. The world's most overrated and overpublicized human being HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES!
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
THE LATEST SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--AND YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT! (ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU WILL)
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008 -- I didn't just do a double-take when I saw this one weekly national newspaper's first-Sports-Page tease for the ongoing LPGA U.S. Women's Open. I did a triple take. And a quadruple take!
Maybe you will, too.
What is HORRIBLY WRONG with the following first sports page tease...
The U.S. Women's Open has Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie, but Pat Hurst and amateur Maria Jose Uribe make early waves, 12C
OK, let's break it down...
Pat Hurst...shot a first-round six-under 67 to tie for first. Check!
Maria Jose Uribe...shot an opening round four-under 69, tied for fourth. Check!
Cristie Kerr...THIRTEEN pro wins and #7 ranked, so her one-under 72 and tie for #21...yeah, I can live with that. Check!
Lorena Ochoa...TWENTY THREE pro wins! Including TWO majors! #1 ranked money leader and #1 ranked pro golfer in terms of stats. She's EARNED any mention, even if it's an even-par 73 and a tie for #33. Check!
Annika Soremstam...NINETY career professional golf victories, the #2 money leader and the #2 ranked pro golfer. Absolutely NO argument here, no matter WHAT she shoots (which on Thursday, was a two-over 75 and a tie for #66). Check!
So, guess who's left? Yup, Miss Sports Media Darling, Pro Golf Division. Miss Overrated. Miss Last Place...so read 'em and weep...
Michelle Weak (pun intended)...Is ranked #187 (NUMBER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN!)...Has an 0-29 pro golf tourney record and thus has ZERO golf tournament victories...Shot a NINE on ONE hole Thursday...and shot an EIGHTY ONE to tie for ONE HUNDRED FORTY SIXTH...and after one round, is FOURTEEN strokes off the leader's pace.
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBILY INCLUDE MICHELLE WEAK IN THE SAME SENTENCE WITH THE OTHER GOLFERS MENTIONED!?!?!?!
Beats me...
And there's more...
Ji Young Oh shot an amazing 67 to tie Hurst for first place...and Song Hee Kim fired a 68, good enough for third place after the first round...AND NEITHER OF THEM IS EVEN MENTIONED IN THAT NEWSPAPER'S FIRST SPORTS PAGE TEASE!!!!
Welcome to the latest example of HORRIBLE BIASED REPORTING!
THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!!!
***
OUR BIASED NEWS MEDIA GETS WHAT IT DESERVES--EGG ON THE FACE!
"It's a safe bet that the biggest gallery Thursday will follow American Michelle Wie."--The Associated Press 6/24/08
Michelle Wie is back at the U.S. Women's Open. Her game is back, too."--Writer Steve DiMelgio in a certain weekday national newspaper, 6/25/08
"I think I can win,"--Michelle Wie in that same weekday national paper, 6/25/08.
Our TOTALLY BIASED sports media got EXACTLY what it deserved today...and then some. Egg on their faces and embarrassment galore. Was I right or was I right about what would happen? Please read my blog from the dag before if you haven't already!
I haven't been calling her Miss Last Place for nothing!!
She's also known as Michelle Weak, one of the world's most overpublicized people EVER. And she opened today's LPGA U.S. Women's Open by shooting a NINE on hole #9. She is ALREADY OUT OF IT! She ended today with an embarrassing 81, FOURTEEN strokes off the leading scores!
Take that, biased Associated Press! And the same to that weekday national newspaper. Ditto ESPN.
How could these news organizations be so DAMN WRONG? Easy. They REFUSE to realize the FACTS, which are...
Miss Last Place is ranked #187, had to participate in a QUALIFIER with over NOVICES just to MAKE it to this tournament, was tied for #24 last weekend...and HAS NEVER WON A PRO GOLF TOURNAMENT EVER!
***
OUR BIASED NEWS MEDIA STRIKES AGAIN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008 -- It's the same old story with our biased news media this week. After all, it's the LPGA's U.S. Women's Open Golf Tournament that starts Thursday...and ALL we're going to hear about is how the golfer ranked #187 is doing. Never mind the 186 golfers ranked higher than her, Ms. Michelle Weak (a/k/a Miss Last Place, a/k/a Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division)
Already today, the day before the tournament, I've seen an exclusive story by the Associated Press on her. And since a certain weekday national newspaper has ITS story AND a photo of her on its website, you can bet the house that the same will be true in that biased newspaper's Thursday edition.
Haven't we heard this song and dance routine before? Articles and photos before a tournament proclaming how she's "back" and "ready."
Then the tournament starts.
Then, she's back to normal, which means missing the cut altogether...or barely making it...but then finishing -- where else? -- usually in last place! Mark my words, no matter HOW BAD she is, it'll be given PROMINENT mention in AP stories.
In the meantime, here's what I wrote in my latest e-mail to the AP...
Dear AP Sports Department,
Why are your writers wasting their time (and, thus, internet space) with a story about an LPGA U.S. Women's Open participant who...
Had to compete with other NOVICES in a qualifier just to get INTO this tournament...and...
Finished TIED FOR #24 last weekend...and...
Is ranked #187...and...
HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT?????
TWENTY THREE women finished with BETTER scores than her last weekend!
There are ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX golfers ranked HIGHER than her!!!
Come on, AP, surely you can do a Wie bit better than this!!!
Your BLATANT BIAS for that OVERRATED #187 golfer...is DISGRACEFUL!!!
Coldest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
MICHELLE WEAK + MRS. HOTHEAD = A 1-83 COMBINED RECORD
SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2008 -- Why would ANY golf tournament story include who finished tied for 24th?
Answer: For the same reason why a national newspaper would publish a story about the IRL's upcoming auto races without mentioning who the top five racers are.
And wouldn't even mention who won the last IRL race.
But WOULD mention FIRST who finished TENTH in that last IRL race.
Welcome to the world of our BIASED sports news media. And the auto racer whose real name is Mrs. Hospenthal leads the way.
Meanwhile, Michelle Weak, whom I've often also dubbed as Miss Last Place, finished tied for 24th today in the latest LPGA tournament...and the AP story STILL mentioned her. After all, she's also known as Miss Sports media Darling, Golf Division...and that prominent national weekday publication will probably mention her just the same in its LPGA tourney roundup Monday.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hospenthal, a/k/a Mrs. Hothead, a/k/a Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing, finished a paltry 6th in the latest IRL auto race, a mere 250-mile race held somewhere in Iowa.
Hardly the Indy 500. Or Daytona 500.
Still, you watch...that weekday newspaper will find a way to mention her SIXTH PLACE finish. It may not even mention the racers who finished ahead of her at second through fifth.
What that newspaper WON'T mention are the following facts...
Mrs. Hospenthal, a/k/a Mrs. Flash In The Pan, has NEVER won a race of ANY kind in the USA, has NEVER won a 500-mile race conducted ANYWHERE and needed to race FIFTY times before finally winning one, when 5 of the top 12 IRL racers didn't compete. Since her non-historic win in Japan, she's finished last (19th), last (22nd), 9th, 10th and 6th. Oh, she's raced 55 times and won one for a 1-54 record.
Ms. Weak, meanwhile, has NEVER won a professional in 29 tries. She's 0-29...so together, Mrs. Flash In The Pan and Ms. Weak are a combined 1-83.
***
TIME TO BLOW UP TRIBE ROSTER? MAYBE
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2008 -- Last October, when the Cleveland Indians were one game away from the World Serious, the thinking was simple. Win one more over the Boston Red Sox, then sweep or at least polish off the Colorado Rockies in six games.
Since then, though, the Tribe has gone 33-43, at least as of Thursday night. They're eight and a half games out away from the first place White Sox...and only two games better than the last place Royals. And the team I felt they should've maybe swept in the 2007 World Serious, the Colorado Rockies, just swept the Tribe in 3 games.
What's HAPPENED? Well, the hitting's horrible and the bullpen's also not as good. Plus, there are the injuries. Two starting pitchers (Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook) are on the disable list. So are dh Travis Hafner and C Victor Martinez. Hafner's looked lost at the plate the last two seasons. Martinez may have been hurt all season...and his failure to hit even one home run is an eye-opening stat.
The trading deadline is only a little more than a month away. C.C. Sabathia and Casey Blake are among those who can become free agents after this season. C.C. is particularly glaring...because the Tribe gets nothing if he signs with another team.
Thus, I anticipate Tribe GM Mark Shapiro to blow up the Tribe roster. C.C. could go to the hated Yankees in exchange for the dreaded word "prospects." Blake may return...but his backup, Andy Marte, simply cannot hit big league pitching.
Sadly, Cliff Lee has comeback player credientials...and it's all but forgotten.
Bottom line...C.C. will probably be pitching for the Yankees or someone else by August 1. And look for Shapiro to make more moves.
***
HERE WE GO AGAIN... MORE SPORTS MEDIA BIAS
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008 -- Trivia question of the day: Who are Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Briscoe?
Answer: They are the current top 5 point leaders in the IRL auto racing league. Which brings up an interesting question...
WHY ARE NONE OF THEM MENTIONED IN ONE PROMINENT WEEKDAY NEWSPAPER'S STORY TUESDAY ABOUT THE UPCOMING IRL RACES???????
Why, instead, is the sixth place racer the first one quoted? And has a PHOTOGRAPH published of HER. After all, that racer finished TENTH in her last race?
Ah, now you know. The giveaway word is "her"--and, yes, it's Mrs. Hospenthal, a/k/a Mrs. Hothead, a/k/a Mrs. Flash In The Pan, a/k/a Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division!!
Answer: Simply the latest case of our sports media bias gone wild.
Needless to say, nowhere does that biased article mention how Mrs. Flash In The Pan has done in her last four races...19th, 22nd, 9th and 10th.
But there's hope. The publication had the gall to ask readers how many races Mrs. Hospenthal would win. A solid 62 per cent said "none."
Finally, the usual IMPORTANT facts weren't included. They are...
She has NEVER won a 500-mile race of ANY KIND ANYWHERE.
She has NEVER won an auto race ANYWHERE in the USA.
And NO WOMAN has EVER won the Indy 500, period.
***
STUPID TIME-WARNER FOULS UP AGAIN--WITH TOTAL RUDENESS
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008 -- If you've read my past blogs, you know I'm thrilled with my DirecTV (dish) service. I've been able to enjoy the past two March Madnesses (NcAA men's basketball tournament), the NFL package, the MLB package, the NFL Network, WGN, ESPN-U, Fox Sports Ohio and Sports Time Ohio.
Stupid Time Warner offers none of the above...and they have incredibly rude dumb workers. One of them knocked on my door Monday night at 8:23 p.m. It was almost pitch dark...but he didn't care. Neither does his employer, Stupid Time Warner (STW). The following is my e-mail to STW which, so far, has not been answered...
Dear Time-Warner Cable,
Why are your people so terribly rude?
One of your people rudely and unprofessionally knocked on my door.
At 8:23 p.m. tonight.
Almost pitch dark. And I told him so.
And I asked him to leave the premises.
He refused.
Is THIS the way you think you can get people like me back?
Guess again.
I wouldn't go back to your horrible service if you offered it for free.
What a DISGRACEFUL way to run a business.
That employee who knocked on my door at such an awful time SHOULD BE TERMINATED. IMMEDIATELY.
DISGUSTINGLY YOURS,
Rob Durkee
6432 Troost Ave. #2
North Hollywood, California 91606
818-506-1872
***
TRIVIA--AND MORE NEWS BIAS
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2008 -- Trivia question #1: Who are Tony Kanaan, Hideki Mutoh, Vitor Meira, Buddy Rice and Ed Carpenter?
Answer: They were the fifth through ninth place finishers at the June 7 IRL Bombardier Learjet 550 race in Fort Worth. A national weekday newspaper neglected to mention them in its coverage of that race but it DID mention the tenth place finisher, Mrs. Hospenthal (a/k/a Mrs. Flash In The Pan, a/k/a Mrs. Hothead).
Was THAT fair? Of course not, but it's the state of the sports news media's BIASED world.
Trivia question #2: Who is Kelli Kuene?
Answer: She was the TOP qualifier and shot the BEST score at the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament qualifier with a 136 on Monday, June 9, 2008, at Rockville, Md.
Why DON"T you know about her? Because our BIASED news media chose instead to lead off their stories about this qualifier with the second place finisher. In one national weekday newspaper, the second place finisher got a two-column photo, a two-column headline and lead paragraph mention. Who is she? Need I elaborate? It's Miss Last Place, a/k/a Miss Overrated, a/k/a Michelle Weak.
Needless to say, our BIASED news media coveniently neglected to point out that Miss Last Place participated in this QUALIFIER tournament because her game has deteriorated SO BADLY. She had to participate in a QUALIFIER along with OTHER NOVICES!!! At least the Los Agneles Daily News got it right. It published NOTHING about this golf event.
MARK MY WORDS: MISS LAST PLACE WILL GET HEADLINES, LEAD PARAGRAPH MENTION AND THE LIKE AT THE JUNE 26-29 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN.
NO MATTER HOW BAD SHE IS!
***
NEWS MEDIA BIAS--WITH THE AP LEADING THE WAY
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2008 -- The Associated Press continues to lead the way with its woefully biased reporting. The AP story about the U.S. Women's Open Qualifying tournament led off NOT with who had the best score, but the one with the second best score.
Of course, you have to remember that the second place golfer is none other than Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division. Alias Miss Last Place. Alias Michelle Weak.
Are you as tired of hearing about the 172nd ranked woman golfer in the world as I am?
So...here's what I wrote to the AP about this matter....
Dear Associated Press Sports Department,
Isn't it commonplace that the most important aspect of any golf event is the performer with the BEST score?
That's what I always thought!
So WHY, in your AP story about the U.S. Women's Open qualifying round held in Rockville, was the participant with the BEST score TOTALLY IGNORED and not even mentioned until the TENTH paragraph?
Your TOTAL BIAS for that OVERRATED second place finisher who, at least check, was ranked #172 and had to play in a qualifier just to participate in the U.S. Women's Open, is ATROCIOUS.
Unwarmest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
WAS MRS. HOSPENTHAL RIDING BIG BROWN? OR WAS IT MICHELLE WEAK? (Oh, and they're now 1-81)
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2008 -- I have exactly ONE question regarding Big Brown.
After all, this was the horse our illustrious news media proclaimed would win EASILY today's Belmont Stakes..and thus become a Triple Crown winner. I mean, his trainer, Rick Dutrow, predicted that a Big Brown Belmont States win was "a foregone conclusion."
HA!
Big Brown finished DEAD LAST! For an infamous first time, a horse going for the triple crown finished DEAD LAST! So...
Was Mrs. Hospenthal (a/k/a Danica Patrick) riding Big Brown?
Or was the rider Michelle Weak (a/k/a Miss Last Place)?
P.S. Since posting what the biased news media describes as her "historic" win in Japan, Mrs. Hospenthal has finished dead last (19th), dead last (22nd), 9th and 10th. Her record is 1-53. Thus, the combined records of Mrs. Hothead and Michelle Weak are now 1-81.
***
MRS. HOSPENTHAL + MISS WEAK = A COMBINED 1-80 MARK
SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2008 -- And the biased sports media beat goes on....
In women's golf, the SIXTH PLACE finisher got more ink then the second through fifth place finishers combined at the German Women's Open. Need I even mention her name?
Michelle Weak, a/k/a Miss Last Place, got a separate story and headline from the Associated Press for finishing SIXTH. Another AP story mentioned the winner (Amy Yang) in passing, then went right to talking almost entirely about Miss Weak. Admittedly, the second (Louise Stahle) and third place (Gwladys Nocera) finishers were mentioned, but in one sentence. The fourth through sixth place finishers? They weren't even mentioned at all in the biased AP story
Nor was Miss Weak's professional golf tournament record of 0-28.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a certain weekday national publication publish her photo Monday. And give her a headline, too.
Needless, our biased news media is going to be hard up to mention the latest on Mrs. Hospenthal, who finished NINTH at the latest Mickey Mouse IRL 225-mile auto race. Since her so-called "historic" IRL win in April, she's finished 19th, 22nd and ninth. HER record is 1-52. Thus, Mrs. Hospenthal and Miss Weak are a combined 1-80.
How do you fight all this biased news media BS? You write the organizations that are biased...like I did with the following short-but-to-the-point E-mail to the Associated Press:
Associated Press,
Since when does ANY golf tournament's coverage center on the SIXTH place finisher? And the second through fifth place finishers are virtually ignored?
Your TOTAL BIAS towards the SIXTH place finisher at the Ladies German Open is as bad the TOTAL BIAS shown towards the Indy 500's TWENTY SECOND place finisher.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
GUESS WHO WAS MENTIONED IN THE HEADLINE FIRST...AND WAS IN THE MAIN PHOTO...IN SI'S INDY 500 ARTICLE?
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2008 -- And the sports media bias beat goes on...
So, it shouldn't surprise you to find out the main focus of Sports Illustrated's Indy 500 article in its new issue was Mrs. Hothead, a/k/a Mrs. #22.
Remember, it doesn't matter how BAD you are, just how good looking you are. What a sad state of sports media affairs. Here's what I couldn't help but tell SI in a short e-mail...
SI,
Since when does ANY sporting event's coverage have a headline where the #22 finisher is mentioned first? Likewise, since when does ANY sporting event's coverage lead off with the main photo that has the #22 finisher? You needed a microscope to find that photo of the WINNER. Your TOTAL BIAS towards that #22 finisher of the Indy 500 is DISGRACEFUL.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
And here's what I wrote SI a few days earlier...
SI:
I agree that we should "Forget The Hype" regarding Mrs. "Yes-She-Can" (Forget The Hype, May 19). We instead need to focus on the facts. Writer Lars Anderson wrote that Danica Patrick's IRL victory "wasn't a fluke" but failed to mention that five of the top 12 IRL racers didn't participate. It took her 50 races covering a four-year period just to win one...and it only covered 300 miles.
She thus has never won a 500-mile race and has never won a race in the USA. Her 22nd place finish at the Indy 500 drops her record to 1-51. Since her only victory, she's twice failed to even finish a race.
The idea of a woman winning an auto race over a predominantly male field is hardly news anyway. It's happened already over 100 times.
Nevertheless, a woman has never won the Indianapolis 500.
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood, California
***
MRS. HOSPENTHAL BECOMES MRS. HOTHEAD
SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2008 -- Our nation's HORRIBLY BIASED news media got EXACTLY what it deserved today.
The ABC Network, whose promos for today's Indy 500 auto race ALL included a photo of the defending eighth place finisher, wanted you to tune in and THINK that SHE, Mrs. Hospenthal, would win. A weekday national newspaper Friday said that Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've was coming off her "historic" victory...and that an Indy 500 win would be "monumental."
Sports Illustrated had her on its cover with the headline "yes she can" with a novel about how Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, could win the Indy 500. The Associated Press dubbed her "a proven winner" and said she, Mrs. Overrated, could win. During Friday's NBC news, only ONE auto racer was featured as part of ITS coverage of the Indy 500. Care to guess who?
When all was said and done, though, the ABC network and the biased news media got egg on its face. A TWENTY SECOND PLACE FINISH. Twenty one racers fared BETTER. And, just as I correctly predicted, Mrs. Overrated was no match for the best male auto racers in the world. This wasn't the Mickey Mouse IRL field she was up against.
As a bonus, we got to see the real Mrs. Hospenthal, someone whom I've read many times is Mrs. Rude when it comes to giving out autographs. She tried to pick a fight with the racer (and/or his crew) responsible for putting her outta the race.
What a sore loser and poor sport. And THIS woman is a role model for young girls? Oh well, that temper tantrum (which she has shown before) just gives her another nickname.
Mrs. Hothead.
Even if her car WASN'T disabled, she'd've probably finished seventh. OR, the position I predicted she would finish...eighth! She was NEVER in the race, period!
But that's par for the course with Mrs. Hothead. After all, here are some DEFINITIVE FACTS that our biased news media WILL NOT tell you...
A woman has NEVER won the Indy 500.
Mrs. Check Me Out has NEVER won a 500-mile auto race.
Mrs. Hothead has NEVER won an auto race conducted in the USA.
Mrs. Overrated's ONLY victory came when five of the top 12 IRL racers didn't even show up.
SINCE posting her so-called "historic" victory, Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've has failed to finish the next two--also her last two--races.
She's raced 51 times professional, so she's 1-51.
And when she was named the IRL 2005 Rookie of the Year, she did so by defeating exactly TWO people.
Thank you, Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx.
P.S. I do feel sorry for one woman racer...and that's Sarah Fisher. She deserved better than to have her car disabled. Remember, a year ago, she publicly stated that the idea of having women racing at Indy is a novelty that's worn out. Bravo, Sarah! I wouldn't mind seeing you win a race! Yes, EVEN the Indy 500. You have a billion times more class than another woman racer that I think we're all tired of hearing about.
***
ONE MORE DAY TO WAIT!
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 -- OK, so Mrs.Hospenthal's photo didn't make the front page of that one weekly only newspaper Friday. The publication more than made up for it...with FIVE photos of her one way or another in its special Indy 500 section. Oh, and it's still calling her only victory "historical" when we all know it isn't (and why). Plus, it says if she wins the race, it'll be "monumental."
I'm praying she doesn't win...because we'll never hear the end of it. Remember, we've had over 100 instances of women winning auto races in a predominantly male racing field.
I stick to my belief that she won 't win...and will finish eighth.
Meanwhile, an article in an Indianapolis newspaper was brought to my attention. Essentially, it deals with Mrs. Check Me Out's second guessing her former team. The comments from readers that followed were quite revealing. Not only is te driver of the Princessmobile second guessing her former team, she's not exactly winning over fans with her temper tantrums when asked for autographs.
Check it out yourself at...http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=comment&key=20080524.indystar.805240429.article.SPORTS0107&s=a
***
PREDICTION: HE WILL WIN THE INDY 500, SHE WILL NOT (AND WILL FINISH EIGHTH)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008 -- Our horribly sexually biased news media--especially a weekday national newspaper, the Associated Press, Sports Elevated and the 4-lettered Sports Cable network--all WANT a certain woman to WIN Sunday's Indianapolis 500 auto race. In fact, they want you to THINK and BELIEVE that she can and will win Sunday's race.
In fact, I POSITIVELY GUARANTEE you her photo will grace the front page of that weekday national newspaper Friday. And maybe on Thursday, too. That Friday paper will have at least three photos of her.
But don't believe all the hype. Instead, believe what I believe...that a man will win the 2008 Indy 500 and that a woman will not. And when you look at the facts, perhaps you'll believe what I believe...that Mrs. Hospenthal will finish in eighth place. Just like she did in the Indy 500 last year. And the year before, too.
So what if I'm wrong and Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, actually wins? If so, big deal. We've had AT LEAST 104 instances where women won auto races over a predominantly male lineup. It's now ancient news. And it's been THIRTY ONE YEARS since we've had women compete in the Indy 500. Isn't it about TIME a woman DID win one? Perhaps, but I don't think it'll happen this year and when you see the FACTS the news media REFUSES to tell you, maybe you'll agree with me.
Our biased news media wants you to think Mrs. Flash In The Pan will win the 2008 Indy 500 on the strength of her ONE IRL "victory" last month. That "victory" came in a 300-mile race in Japan in which five of the top 12 IRL racers didn't even bother to compete. In fact, the field was a watered down 18 racers. Only seven finished. Mrs. Almost-Should've-Would've-Could've thus had to beat only SIX cars. And it took her exactly FIFTY races covering FOUR YEARS to finally win one.
Oh, and make no mistake about the IRL. It's auto racing's minor leagues compared to NASCAR. Sunday, Mrs. 1-50 (that's her record) will be going up against not just IRL competition, but the BEST in the auto racing world. And it's a 500-mile race, not 300. And the news media refuses to point out how she did in her last race. She finished dead last.
Remember, the woman the news media wants to win defeated exactly TWO people to earn 2005 IRL Rookie Of The Year honors. She has NEVER won a 500-mile race. And has NEVER won an auto race held in the USA.
The facts in those previous two sentences will remain the same after Sunday.
***
SHAME ON THE NBA AND THE NEWS MEDIA
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008 -- The San Antonio Spurs tied their NBA playoff series with a Thursday night win over the New Orleans Hornets. So WHEN do you supposed they'll actually PLAY the deciding game 7?
Saturday?
Nope.
Sunday?
Nope again!
Yep, they play MONDAY.
Meanwhile, Cleveland tied ITS series vs. Boston Friday night...and guess when THAT deciding game 7 is played.
Not Saturday.
Not Monday.
SUNDAY!
So....
We have one game seven played some 96 hours after game 6...and another game seven played less than 48 hours after the game 6.
What in hell is going on here? The answer is simple. It's TV ratings. It's corporate greed. And it's TV and NBA greed for the sake of ratings.
And I think it stinks.
***
SHAME ON THE BIASED NEWS MEDIA...AND SHAME ON ESPN!!!
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2008 -- Shame on the #1 wire service in its totally biased coverage of the Indy 500 trials. After all, the pole position was decided Saturday and awarded to Scott Dixon. And yet...
In one wire service story, you actually don't find out that it was DIXON who won the pole...until the FOURTHTEEN paragraph. The first 13 paragraphs...you guessed it...were devoted to Mrs. Hospenthal. A/k/a Mrs. Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division. And I've given her still another nickname...
Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've. After all, all the BIASED news media does is write about how she "almost' or "should've" or "Would've" or "Could've" accomplished something. And all the BIASED news media talks about is that driver's lone victory last month and that driver's 2005 Indy 500 showing (fourth place).
But here's what the BIASED news media WON'T say about Mrs. Almost-Should've-Could've-Would've...
She has only finished EIGHTH in the last two Indy 500's.
Her record is 1-50. Fifty one races, one win.
Her only victory came in Japan...and 5 of the top 12 IRL point leaders weren't there.
She has NEVER won an auto race in the USA.
She has NEVER won a 500-mile auto race.
MEANWHILE...
Shame on ESPN for having Juan Marichal on its sports center. How quickly the news media forgets the 1965 incident where Marichal hit Dodger C Johnny Roseboro in the head with a bat. Marichal was suspended for nine days...and at the time, many people felt that was a light punishment.
Admittedly, Marichal and Roseboro ironed out everything and became friends...but that still doesn't obliterate the horrible act Marichal committed. He's a thug. Ray Lewis and Leonard Little of the NFL would be proud.
***
Here's what I wrote ESPN...
ESPN,
Shame on you, ESPN, for having a thug on your sports center.
HOW can you justify having on Sports Center someone who hit a C (Johnny Roseboro) in the head with a bat? He was suspended for 9 games and many at the time felt it should've been a lot more days.
Shame on you, ESPN, not only for having that thug on, but for ignoring his past horrible misdeed.
Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
THE WEEKEND GOLF SCENE--BACK TO NORMAL!!!!
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2008 -- Rejoice!!!!
I know I"M rejoicing!
Why, you ask? Because with the golf scene, we're back to normal...
Because...
That overrated woefully overpublicized teenage girl millionaire golfer got what she deserved...and the biased news media tht won't stop publicizing her got what IT deserved...because she missed the cut!
Hooray! It means we won't have to read any more this weekend about Miss Last Place. Alias Miss Sports Media Darling, Golf Division. She's now 0-27 in professional golf tournaments. Yes, SHE HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
Oh, and the combined records of Miss Last Place and Mrs. Hospenthal (a/k/a Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division)...
Is 1-77.
That's a 0.013 batting average if you're keeping score.
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS....HERE WE GO AGAIN
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008 -- Some things never change. The sun will rise in the east, the sun will set in the west...and...
A certain teenage girl golfer will somehow get the media spotlight no matter HOW BAD she is. A prominent national newspaper ran her photo two days ago despite the item being the second item among some golf notes. The lead item's golfer...didn't even have her photograph run.
The teenage girl golfer whose photo WAS run...was the FIRST golfer shown on ESPN, the FIRST golfer mentioned in the Associated Press story and the FIRST golfer quoted in that AP story...despite shooting a 75 and finishing the first round tied for 126th.
How quickly our biased news media forgets...that she is en route to being 0-26 in golf tournaments, and in about half of them, she's been disqualified, missed the cut or withdrawn. SHE HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT. NOT EVER!
With all that said, here's what I wrote to the AP...
Dear Associated Press Sports Department,
In your AP wire story covering the first day of the LPGA Michelob Ultra Open in Williamsburg, why is the FIRST participant mentioned and quoted the one who is TIED FOR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIXTH? Likewise, why is the LEADER after the first round almost totally ignored in the same AP wire story despite shooting a course-tying 63? Mhairi McKay certainly deserved much better. That participant tied for ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIXTH (a/k/a Miss Last Place) did not.
Your COMPLETE TOTAL BIAS for Miss Last Place is ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood, California
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
NOT TO BE OUTDONE, I ALSO WROTE ESPN...
ESPN,
When you led off your coverage of this week's LPGA tournament, why was the FIRST person shown the participant who is tied for 126th? Why wasn't it the LEADER who shot a course-record tying 63?
Mhairi McKay was practically ignored and deserved much better. That golfer tied for 126th, a/k/a Miss Last Place, did not.
Your COMPLETE TOTAL BIAS for Miss Last Place is ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL!
Disrespectfuly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid to Speak His Mind
***
THE GAME NOBODY WANTED
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008 -- Sunday's Atlanta Hawks-at-Boston-Celtics seventh and deciding first round NBA playoff game...
...is the game nobody wanted.
Certainly not the TV hierchy. After all, those guys want nothing more than an NBA championship series with a megamarket team and superstar (Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant) playing against a megamarket team and superstar (Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett).
So...if the Atlanta Hawks were to upset the Celtics, then that plan would go up in smoke. It's a matter of TV ratings and money generated from them...
And such things aren't generated from smaller market teams like the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz.
P.S. Celtics 99, Hawks 65
AND THE BIAS GOES ON...
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2008 -- OK, so maybe I'm beating a dead horse. So why do I continue to write about the blatant obvious bias the news media shows for a certain auto racer?
Well, SOMEBODY'S gotta do it!
Last Sunday, for instance, when a certain sports network began its report on a certain IRL auto race, who was shown FIRST?
Yup, the one who finished dead last.
As noted in the previous day's blog, a certain prominent newspaper ran her photo as a reward for finishing dead last the day before. And guess what?
That same newspaper ran her photo today. Again. Boggles the mind, doesn't it? The reason for the photo? Oh, to mention that she's got a talk show on an XM station.
The article mentioned how Mrs. Hospenthal finished fourth in the 2005 Indy 500...and led for a lap. It also mentioned how she won her first race two weekends ago.
But was there any mention of how she did LAST weekend? When she finished dead last?
You know the answer!
Thus, in the interest of balancing the scales of biased reporting on the part of our news media, here are some facts that need to be pointed out...
Mrs. Hospenthal finished DEAD LAST in her last IRL race last weekend.
Her record is 1-50.
She has NEVER won a 500-mile race.
And she has NEVER won a race conducted in the USA.
Finally, mark my words...no news media outlast will mention the facts brought out in the previous four sentences....that one newspaper will run her photo AGAIN Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (April 30, May 1-2) of this week....and that one newspaper will run a front-page story on her either Thursday, May 22, 2008, or Friday May 23, 2008. Or Both.
And remember, she's only finish EIGHTH in the last two Indy 500's.
***
YOU WANT BIAS? WITH OUR NATION'S NEWSPAPER, YOU GET BIAS!
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008 -- You want a really REALLY good example of what news media bias is? Well, here goes...
Ashley Force became the National Hot Rod Association's first female funny car winner Sunday. And she beat her dad en route to winning the NHRA Summitt Racing Equipment Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
A certain weekday national newspaper today...had NO photograph of her at all. Thus, no five-photograph spread. No mention on the overall front page or the first sports page. Just a modest 1-column headline and 3-paragraph story.
Meanwhile...
Just as I predicted, our nation's newspaper had a PHOTOGRAPH of Mrs. Hospenthal...AND her former last name in the headline for the latest IRL race. THAT was her REWARD for her car conking out and finishing NINETEENTH!!
Admittedly, the photograph had nothing to do with Mrs. Hospenthal earning a new nickname of "Mrs. Flash In The Pan." After all, her record now is 1-50. Instead, the photo accompanied a short article where she said "the door never has been shut" to moving to NASCAR. BUT THIS IS OLD NEWS!! She's always said that. In the same breath, though, she said in the article, "I'm knee deep in IndyCar."
No news there...but a photograph nevertheless. Oh, and a chance to mention her now-old IRL victory and how she's "The IRL IndyCar Series' most popular driver." (Opinion about that so-called popularity...ONLY IN THE MINDS OF THE BIASED NEWS MEDIA)
Some things to remember...
It doesn't matter how BAD you are...just how attractive you are.
Mrs. H has NEVER won a 500-mile auto race.
She's NEVER won an auto race in the USA.
And her record is 1-50.
***
OH HOW I LOVE ALL THIS NORMALCY!!! (AND GUESS WHO IS 1-50?)
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2008 -- Hey, we're back to normal with the world of sports!
There's the NFL draft!
The NBA playoffs! Baseball!
And NOT a whole lotta talk about women auto racers and their "history-making" feats!
As I've been trying to say for roughly a week, there's nothing new with women auto racers excelling. Before two weekends ago, I found over 100 instances of women auto racers winning races.
Yet, last week all we heard about after two weekends ago was how Mrs. Hospenthal made auto racing "history"... when, in fact, it was just another run of the mill auto racing victory for her. Besides, five of the top 12 point leaders in that league took that weekend off!
Now we can call Mrs. Hospenthal something else. As in "Mrs. Flash In The Pan." Perhaps you haven't heard about this, especially since the biased news media doesn't WANT you to know about this but...
On Sunday, she finished dead last in Kansas City. Her car conked out.
It couldn't have happened to a better person. Stick THAT on your front page, USA Today! Along with her 1-50 record and 0.020 average! Alng with these 2 important facts...She's NEVER WON a 500-mile race and she's NEVER WON a race conducted in the USA.
Still, don't be surprised if our nation's newspaper STILL mentions her in a headline AND has a photograph of her. When Mrs. H's car conked out in a race in 2005, that paper ran her photograph in 3 of the next 5 days.
***
ENOUGH ALREADY OF WOMEN AUTO RACERS, PERIOD!!!!
SATURDAY, April 26, 2008 -- First, and foremost, I didn't post a blog Friday. I could have. But I decided to let go as a freebie our nation's newspaper's Friday sports page include a full-page ad paid for by Honda congratulating Mrs. Hospenthal on what I think is a highly-tainted auto racing victory.
If Honda wants to waste thousands of dollars on Mrs. Hospenthal, then that's the firm's prerogative. BUT, it's also my prerogative to never buy any of Honda's products. Ever. I wrote and tell them so via e-mail.
Still, I figured all the unwarranted hoopla about Mrs. H would end now that the NFL draft is today.
Boy, was I ever wrong.
Our biased news media simply will not let go of this business of women excelling in auto racing. But it's ancient news! I know of at least 102 instances of women beating the men in auto races.
Anyway, the Los Angeles Daily News just plain set me off today...and I'll let my e-mail to that publication speak for itself....
Dear Los Angeles Daily Ladies Home Journal News,
The NUMBER ONE sports story for today and this weekend is...
Hands down...
No ifs, ands or buts about it...
And no doubt about it...is...
The NFL draft. This is WITHOUT QUESTION the biggest off-season extravaganza of them all!
So why in the name of Jake Long does your sports page of today, April 26, 2008, have NOTHING about the NFL draft? No stories or lists about area players who're going to be waiting next to their phones to hear from NFL teams? No NFL draft lists of ANY kind? No NFL draft story of any kind outside of one pre-draft trade?
Well, you DID mention what time it starts with your Page 2 list of "on the air' Radio-TV listings...but I needed a microscope to see that.
At the the same, why did your paper elect to make the BIGGEST sports story of the day a piece of ANCIENT news? Contrary to what the biased news media thinks, Mrs. Hospenthal's Irrelevant Racing League win was NOT historic, NOT precedent setting and NOT trend-setting...simply because before last weekend, women had won a MINIMUM of 102 professional auto races. THIS IS ANCIENT NEWS.
Additionally, that "unparalled success" about women auto racers neglected to point out some very important facts. Four of the women mentioned--Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher and Sara Christian--have NEVER won a professional auto race. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hospenthal's "victory" was in a race in which five of the top 12 IRL points leaders didn't participate...and there was a watered down field of merely 18. Plus, she has NEVER won a 500-mile race and NEVER won a race of ANY kind in the USA.
Oh, and to add insult to injury, you had more ANCIENT NEWS... a photo from LAST YEAR of Mr. Posh, who so far is making roughly $2.5 million per goal scored. Since his overpublicized arrival in LA, he's scored exactly two goals for the LA Galaxy.
Maybe this is a new direction your paper is taking. Perhaps your slogan is "Last weekend's and last year's ancient news...this weekend."
GEEZ, I think you can do better than this!
Warmest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor To Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
THE MISCONCEPTIONS--AND THE TRUTH, PART III
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008 -- Here we go again with our nation's newspaper today. I mean, Mrs. Hospenthal's Irreveleant Racing League win is five days old--ancient history--and yet our nation's newspaper comes up with another lame excuse to keep Mrs. Hospenthal's name on its first sports page.
This time, Mrs. Hospenthal's name was attached to a tease about a column appearing on the third sports page. The headline said "our view" but I think the more appropriate headline would've been "Our biased view." Oh, and the column was one I predicted would appear in Monday's edition of our nation's newspaper. I was three days off.
Anyway, it was USA Today's Women's Lib writer herself, Christine Brennan. "Generation of girls gets new mentor," was what the column said. Essentially, the column talked about today's young girls being inspired by Mrs. Hospenthal's victory...but is THAT news?
OF COURSE IT ISN'T! We've had AT LEAST one generation of young girls being inspired by numerous women athletes. And it's BEEN that way for some 36 years. Or, since the infamous Title IX began in 1972.
One sentence Brennan wrote, though, contains facts that I question. Here's the sentence: "Competing successfully against the men already is the legacy of not only (Danica) Patrick and (Lyn) St. James, but also Janet Guthrie, Shirley Muldowney and Sarah Fisher."
Here's my question: How can St. James, Guthrie and Fisher be part of this so-called "legacy" when NONE of them have won an auto race?
Also, why didn't Brennan mention Angelle Sampey, who's won 41 auto races, more than any woman in history?
At least THIS column made some kind of sense. For one by Brennan that didn't, see my Blog of March 24, 2008.
***
THE MISCONCEPTIONS--AND THE TRUTH, PART III
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008 -- From the beginning, I've stated emphatically that Mrs. Hospenthal's victory last weekend was hardly anything new, historic or precedent-setting for auto racing. I mentioned one example alone with Shirley Muldowney and her MANY victores that came long before Mrs. Hospenthal was born, for instance.
And guess what?
I was right.
In a six-paragraph bit buried deep on its sixth sport page today, our nation's weekday newspaper ran what could be construed as a retraction to make up for Monday's highly unwarranted front-page photo, front page sports story and FIVE-photograph treatment according Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division (alias Mrs. Hospenthal).
Simply stated, USA Today pointed out how MANY other women have defeated the men in auto racing. FIVE women were mentioned and as many as SEVEN more could have been mentioned. My math came up with a MINIMUM of SEVENTY FIVE women auto racing victories.
Most noteworthy, though, was how a woman auto racer named Angelle Sampey has chalked up FORTY ONE auto racing wins, the most among women. Which leads to some intriguing questions....for instance....
WHY have we never heard of Angelle Sampey and her FORTY ONE auto racing victories BEFORE today?
WHY hasn't our nation's newspaper NEVER mentioned Angelle Sampey before today?
WHY hasn't our nation's newspaper gone haywire with FIVE photographs and a first sports page story about Angelle Sampey?
Is it because Angelle Sampey hasn't taken off her clothes for Sports Illustrated?
Or is it because the editors at our nation's newspaper don't think Angelle Sampey is young and attractive?
Just curious...
***
THE MISCONCEPTIONS--AND THE TRUTH, PART II
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008 -- Our biased news media strikes again!
Just when you thought our nation's newspaper couldn't come up with another example of BIASED reporting, it comes up with more of the same today. The publication chose to compare Mrs. Hospenthal's IRL (Irrelevent Racing League) victory last weekend to that of the 1973 "Battle Of The Sexes" tennis match win by Billie Jean King over Bobby Riggs.
There's PLENTY wrong with that. The Riggs-King match WAS NOT the only such "Battle Of The Sexes" match in 1973. It was the SECOND. And Riggs won the FIRST. But allow me to submit my letter to that paper's editor, a letter which I'm afraid the publication won't publish....
Editor, USA Today:
I think it's unfair that your publication chose to compare Danica Patrick's first IRL auto racing victory to Billie Jean King's 1973 "Battle Of The Sexes" tennis win over Bobby Riggs.
After all, that was 1973's SECOND such tennis "Battle Of The Sexes." In the FIRST on May 13, 1973, Bobby Riggs WON. He DECISIVELY defeated Margaret Court, 6-2, 6-1, in Ramona, California.
THAT, to paraphrase your headline, was a "triumph for men" that your publication conveniently neglected to point out.
Warmest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood, California
THE MISCONCEPTIONS--AND THE TRUTH, PART I
MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008 -- Once again, our horribly biased news media has blown totally out of proportion one particular sporting event held this past weekend. Namely, the so-called win posted by Mrs. Hospenthal and her Princessmobile in someplace in Japan called Motegi.
CBS News was among the worst offenders, making a big deal over the race during its 10 a.m. Eastern Time news roundup. That was roughly 34 hours after the race was run. And CBS news never said that this race was won by somebody who needed FIFTY races to post a win.
Needless to say, it was NO surprise that our nation's weekday newspaper was positively the worst with its overhype of this sporting event, with no less than FIVE photographs of Mrs. Overrated. One headline alone contained at least two potentially erroneous facts.
"Popular Patrick makes motor sports history."
Popular? Only in the minds of the biased news media, which makes it a point to ignore Mrs. Hospenthal's hissy fits that have included slapping an opponent and trying to pick a fight with a male driver by touching him on the shoulder from behind. Can you imagine if a MALE touched HER on the shoulder from behind? You'd probably have a lawsuit. During those FORTY NINE defeats, you rarely heard Mrs. Hospenthal give credit where it was due to the race winners. Only talk about how she's gonna win some day. What an egomaniac.
"Motor sports history"? Again, this is the figment of the biased news media. The IRL (Invisible Racing League to many detractors) has only been around full-time since 2003. And the IRL is CLEARLY a minor league compared the more powerful and more prestigious NASCAR circuit. If this was such a "milestone" or "trend-setting" or "pioneering" achievement, then what do you call the achievements of Shirley Muldowney, Janet Guthrie and four other women listed by our nation's weekday newspaper? Muldowney and Guthrie were trend-setters for women auto racers long before Mrs. Hospenthal was even born.
Sarah Fisher said it best at last year's Indy 500...that the novelty of women making that race has worn off. But--mark my words--the Thursday or Friday before the Indy 500, our nation's newspaper will have a front page article and photo of Mrs. Hospenthal--even though she's finished EIGHTH at the last two Indy 500's.
Plus, something that will never wear off is the news media's refusal to be objective and present all the facts. Remember how the news media played up Michelle Weak's playing in the men's golf tournaments? And how the fact that upwards of 26 of the top 30 men's winners weren't even competing? Or how Michelle Weak's choice of tournaments would NEVER include in the field somebody called Tiger Woods?
Well, the same kinda thing happened with last weekend's IRL race. FIVE of the top 12 IRL point leaders didn't even bother to compete. Only 18 drivers began the race and only seven completed it. A CONSIDERABLY smaller and watered-down field...so NO WONDER MRS. HOSPENTHAL WON.
And, finally, let's not forward two other key facts. Mrs. Hospenthal has never won a professional auto race held in the USA and has never won a 500-mile professional auto race.
***
SHE'S BATTING .020 (1-49)...AND SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY SHE IS NOT!
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008 -- I hear Mrs. Hospenthal and the Princessmobile finally won an auto race.
Big deal.
That just means that she's now batting .020. It only took her FIFTY races to actually win one. And the IRL is strictly the minor leagues anyway. No way is the IRL comparable to NASCAR.
So she's 1-49.
Oh, not only was this "victory" in a minor league auto racing organization, it came in a city in Japan I've never heard of. I mean, do YOU know what Motegi, Japan is located? That's what I thought.
This business of women winning auto races is hardly news anyway.
Shirley Muldowney won three National Hot Rod Assn. Top Fuel championships and 18 NHRA national events...starting back in the 1970's...long before Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division, was even born. Shirley Muldowney...now SHE is the one who deserves the accolades, not that overrated racer who's 1-49 and had to take off her clothes for Sports Illustrated.
Shirley Muldowney...she is NOT!
***
CLEVELAND INDIANS---THEY'RE BAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!
FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008 -- One of the greatest attributes about baseball is simply this: If you've had a bad game, you often get a fast chance for redemption with a game the next day. That, combined with a pre-game soul-searching meeting, led to the Cleveland Indians' 11-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Tribe manager Eric Wedge didn't elaborate about that pre-game meeting, but there's a darn good chance he simply told his players something like this: "Guys, I KNOW we're capable of playing better baseball than what we showed Wednesday night. We're a better team that that."
Then, the Tribe went out and proved Wedge correct. Fausto Carmona got the win and walked only one. EVERYONE in the starting lineup scored. Eight of the nine starters scored...and the only one who didn't, Jason Michaels, more than made up for that fact with a key sacrifice fly and a dandy assist throw that led to a key out. Thank you, Gary Sheffield, for not sliding.
Jamey Carroll hustled to a key infield hit...Franklin Gutierrez clubbed a key double and Casey Blake got a key hit, too. Oh, and Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko homered. GO TRIBE!
***
CLEVELAND INDIANS--IN THE AL CENTRAL BASEMENT!!!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008 -- How bad are the 2008 Cleveland Indians?
Plenty bad. With Wednesday night's 13-2 home loss to the Detroit Tigers, we find the Tribe and Tigers tied for last place in the AL Central at 5-10. Since the Indians were within one game of the 2007 World Serious, they're 5-13.
And it's been a team effort. Let's start with the pitching. As of last Sunday, the Tribe pitchers have a 4.74 ERA. Only Detroit's 5.94 was worst. The 2007 Indians were among the leaders in major league baseball in terms of fewest walks issued. In 2008, the Tribe pitching staff is among the teams with the most walks issued.
C.C. Sabathia is a mess. The 2007 Cy Young Award winner is 0-3 and looks lost on the mound. Fausto Carmona, the Tribe's #2 starter, issued eight walks in his last start. The Tribe's closer, Joe Borowski, is on the disabled list with a strained triceps injury the team knew about in spring training.
Offensively, as of Sunday, the Tribe was hitting .242. Only two other AL teams (Oakland, Detroit) were hitting worse. Just look at a typical Tribe boxscore and you'll see anemic batting averages by the
second baseman, third baseman and the corner outfielders. One of those corner outfielders got picked off of second base Tuesday night.
***
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS ONE...AND THEN SHE'S OH-FOR-50!!!
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2007 -- You'd think the IRL would learn from the MSL mistake. Major League Soccer, after all, put all its eggs into one basket when it promoted the hell out of Mr. Posh and nobody else. Since joining the Los Angeles Galaxy last 7/14/07, he's scored exactly two goals. If my math is correct, Mr. Posh's current salary is $1,625,000 per goal scored.
So what does the IRL do? Promotes the racer who was SEVENTH last year and has NEVER won a race? And Mrs. Winless' only other claim to fame of late is making the SI swimsuit issue. But that figures. After all, as I've been saying all along...it doesn't matter how BAD you are...but how good looking you are?
It makes me wonder how bad the sports medium has become when good looks mean seemingly everything...and excelling and winning means nothing. Anyway, I was moved to write XM Radio as to why Mrs. Winless is the only person seen when you go to the IRL channel's site:
Here goes...
XM,
Why in the world would your IRL channel's web site promote itself with the photo of the auto racer who finished TENTH last weekend and has NEVER won a race, period? And Is oh-for-49 in races? Graham Rahal WON last weekend's IRL race. Why isn't HE featured? The TOTAL BIAS for that other racer is disgraceful.
Regards,
Rob Durkee, N. Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
KANSAS PROVES ME WRONG!
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008 -- Well, I predicted a team would run out of gas. I was right about that...but picked the WRONG team!
And when they talk about the Kansas 75-68 overtime win over Memphis for the 2008 NCAA men's basketball championship, they'll talk about how Kansas pulled it out...and how Memphis blew it.
Imagine, Memphis held a 60-51 lead with about two minutes left...and then got outscored 24-8 down the stretch. Mario Chalmers' three-point basket to send the game into OT will be talked about for years. So will Memphis finally having its poor free throw shooting catching up to it. Four missed free throws down the stretch.
Kansas DID NOT run out of gas despite playing the late Saturday semifinal game, an 84-66 win over North Carolina. Memphis DID NOT take advantage of having had more rest in between its 78-63 semifinal win over UCLA and Monday night's title game. And with Joey Dorsey on the bench through the OT after having fouled out, I could sense Kansas had the momentum to pull it out in the extra period.
Finally, why didn't Memphis foul somebody in the closing seconds of regulation with a 63-60 lead? We'll never know...
MEMPHIS WILL BENEFIT FROM CBS NETWORK'S "BIAS"--AND WIN IT ALL
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008 -- Once the NCAA men's basketball tournament's final four was decided, the higher-up's at the CBS TV Network decided the North Carolina-Kansas matchup would be played second.
And I think it's a decision that will help propel Memphis to the national championship.
The bottom line...is that Memphis went into its Final Four semifinal game favored to win over UCLA. And thus, in the minds of those CBS higher-ups, the bridesmaid in terms of prestige and potential ratings success. After all, North Carolina was favored to beat Kansas. And CBS deemed North Carolina to be THE marquee team...the one with the ratings punch.
Well, guess what? The marquee team lost...and the team that beat the marquee team, Kansas, didn't complete its 84-66 win over North Carolina until about 11 p.m. Eastern time. Kansas will thus have less than 48 hours rest before the 9:15 p.m. Eastern time title game Monday vs. Memphis.
Meanwhile, Memphis will have had well over 48 hours rest in between its 78-63 final four semifinal win over UCLA and the national title game Monday night. Memphis will be well rested PLUS have the 1-2 punch of Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts.
Memphis is on a roll...PLUS gets big assist thanks indirectly to the bias displayed by CBS...and that's why I think it will beat Kansas for the national title Monday.
***
LESS BIAS? PERHAPS!
SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008 -- OK, it's a judgement call. Based on the facts, though, you could say today's Los Angeles Daily News actually showed LESS bias for one of what I feel is the three most overrated and over-publized sports personalities. To wit...
Dear Mr. Posh Daily Update Newsletter,
CONGRATUATIONS! Your Sports Department actually showed IMPROVEMENT in the area of bias towards Mr. Posh.
Instead of two photos and two headlines, ZERO headlines and one photograph.
Not bad for somebody who scored ZERO goals. And has only scored ONE goal since joining the team I now call the Los Angeles ZEROS.
Warmest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S OH-FOR-48
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2008 -- Whether it's an auto race, a golf tournament or a bowling tournament, who's the FIRST person you expect to see when the event's being recapped?
That's right, THE WINNER!
This wasn't the case for the Gainsco Auto Insurnace Indy 300, the first of the 19 IRL IndyCar Series events. At least not on ESPN. Instead, it was the SIXTH PLACE finisher who was shown first! Ridiculous!
Just the latest instance of TOTAL BIAS for Mrs. Hospenthal, alias Mrs. Winless, alias Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division.
Oh, did I mention that she's in her fourth year of auto racing professionally, has raced 48 times and NEVER WON A RACE? She's oh-for-48.
Thus, I wrote ESPN the following...
(DEAR ESPN),
In ESPN's wrapup of the IRL IndyCar Series opener, the VERY first person mentioned and shown was the SIXTH PLACE finisher. THAT...is BIASED COVERAGE OF A SPORTING EVENT.
Oh, the winner was shown and mentioned next....but why were the second through fifth place finishers ignored? The SIXTH PLACE finisher sure as hell wasn't. YOUR BIASED AUTO RACING COVERAGE IS DISGRACEFUL.
Disrespectfully Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
PS I forgot to tell ESPN that's she's...
Oh-for-48!!!
***
SPORTS MEDIA BIAS--FOR MR. POSH...
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008 -- Just when you think the blantant bias in the sports news media couldn't get any worse...
It does!
I'll let my feedback letter to the Los Angeles Daily News speak for itself....
Dear Mr. Posh Daily Update Newsletter,
Let's see if I've got this straight.
Mr. Posh nearly gets kicked out of the game, gets a yellow card, plays 62 minutes, takes as many shots as the number of goals scored by his team (ZERO)...
And for ALL THAT he gets TWO PHOTOGRAPHS, TWO HEADLINES AND A NINE-PARAGRAPH STORY???????
REALLY????
This is ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL BIAS.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
AND SHE (OH-FOR-47) STILL HASN'T WON A RACE!!
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008 -- Anytime you're reading a story about that one woman IRL racer whom I call by her real name, Mrs. Hospenthal, there's two things you need to remember.
She's never won a professional auto race. Raced 48 times. Never won. Oh-for-47.
And when she won the "coveted" IRL 2005 Rookie Of The year award, keep in mind that she defeated exactly two people to win it.
Today, our nation's newspaper showed its usual bias towards Mrs. Hospenthal. A headline, article and photo on the first sports page. ANOTHER headline, article and photo on the SECOND sports page.
And her record is 0-47.
What was the story about? It sure as hell wasn't about her winning a race. Instead, it was about Mrs. Hospenthal's bellyaching about a new IRL rule which states a car's minimum weight must include the driver's weight. Makes sense to me! NASAR's been enforicng this equalized-weights rule for YEARS!
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Just think, Mrs. Hospenthal's been auto racing with an unfair advantage because she's the lightest driver. And she STILL couldn't win a race!
I found it amusing that our nation's newspaper labeled Mrs. Hospenthal as the IRL's "most popular driver." Can somebody explain to me how that distinction can go to the SEVENTH PLACE finisher for the season?
Oh, and did I mention that she's OH-FOR-48?
***
DUMB, DUMBER AND DUMBEST...
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008 -- There's dumb things said...and dumber...and dumbest of them all.
What women's lib columnist Christine Brennan wrote in the Thursday, March 20, 2008 edition of USA Today simply HAS to rank among the dumbest things I've ever read.
What inspired me was when this/Monday morning's Steve Czaban first team show on Fox Sports Radio, when he said that Bobby Knight's suggestion about turning off the shot clock with three minutes left in NCAA tourney games was a horribly dumb thing to say. That's when I decided to first WRITE Steve Czaban, then TRY to get on his show to talk about it.
Amazingly, I not only GOT THROUGH on his sports call line, I actually got ON to his show. We talked about Brennan's column on the air for about a minute or two.
Here's what I wrote Steve...
Hello Steve,
There really REALLY was something said that was DUMBER than Bobby Knight's suggestion about turning off the shot clock late in games.
Perhaps you missed it, Steve.
In Thursday's USA Sports Section, We had a Christine Brennan column with THIS headline...
"One site, two Final fours: Give It A Shot."
I kid you not.
Brennan actually wrote...
"If the NCAA truly wanted to try to elevate the women's game, all it has to do is put the two Final Fours together."
Let's see if I've got this straight. The NCAA Tournament (a/k/a the Big Dance) and the Final Four probably ranks now as the second most popular sporting event next to the Super Bowl.
And NOW Brennan says we should COMBINE the men's and women's final fours...and why?
Oh, just to appease whiners like Brennan and University of Miami President Donna Shalala who are frustrated that the women's college basketball tournament doesn't have the interest or exposure compared to the men's. Among the Shalala quotes were, "I think it's time...You'd have the whole press corps there to cover the men, so they could cover the women, too."
Mind you, Brennan came up with this idea. Even SHE admitted the interest in the men's tournament far outdistances the women's. She pointed out that at USATODAY.COM, the men's bracket received 50,541 views on Monday, March 17, compared to 6,428 views for the women's tournament on Tuesday, March 18. A RATIO OF EIGHT TO ONE!!!!!
What to do? Oh, according to Brennan, let's just have the women's and men's tournaments at the same place and FORCE the boring, inferior competition of the women's game down everyone's throats.
To THAT, I have a five-word response.
NO NO NO NO NO
Warmest Regards,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
Author, "American Top 40: The Countdown Of The Century" AND...
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
ME WATCH 60 MINUTES TONIGHT? NO WAY!
SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2008 -- No way will I watch "60 Minutes" tonight, even though I'm on vacation...and when you see what I posted on the CBSNews.com web site, perhaps you'll understand why...
(Dear CBSNews.com)...
I for one WILL NOT watch 60 Minutes tonight. I am sick to death of hearing about Mr. Posh, whom I feel is among the most over-rated and over-publicized people in the history of sports journalism. When Mr. & Mrs. Posh arrived in Los Angeles, one LA TV station compared the arrival to that of the Beatles in 1964. How stupid is that? Then, AFTER Mr. Posh''s arrival, he missed a TON of LA Galaxy games. In fact, he scored exactly ONE goal for the Galaxy in 2007. ENOUGH ALREADY OF MR. POSH!
DOCTORROB7
KCBS-TV/LOS ANGELES AND CBS--SAME LOUSY AWFUL NCAA TOURNEY COVERAGE...
SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2008 -- Just when you think the CBS Network and its brainless Los Angeles affiliate couldn't do a worse job of covering the NCAA men's basketball tournament...
They do!
Here's my latest letter to KCBS...
KCBS/Channel 2,
Once again, your station and the CBS Network in particular are both doing an ATTROCIOUS job of covering the NCAA tournament. It's bad enough your station categorically refuses to air the tourney pregame show from the start at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday.
But there's more...and even with a DirecTV package, I can't see what I want to see. I wanted to see the start of the Stanford-Marquette game...but was shut out. That game was blacked out on the DirecTV channel...because YOUR station was supposed to be airing it...but WASN'T. Your station was carrying the Purdue-Xavier game...all the while totally ignoring TWO games involving Pac 10 teams (Washington State-Notre Dame was the other).
WHERE ARE YOUR BRAINS AT?
OH, I know. You're too busy gathering "important" news stories like a man with a coo-coo clock collection and kitty litters.
Your station is a DISGRACE to sports journalism!
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid to Speak His Mind
KCBS-TV/LOS ANGELES...BRAINLESS AS USUAL...
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008--Some things never change. The sun continues to come up mornings...We'll be in Iraq for another 50 years....and Stupid Classless Channel 2 TV in Los Angeles refuses to air the start of its network's NCAA tournament pregame show.
Here's what I wrote to the CBS Network...
CBS Network,
At 9 a.m. Pacific time today, instead of showing the start of your network's NCAA tournament pregame show, your stupid, brainless and classless Los Angeles affiliate chose instead to do local news.
Your network spends millions to carry the NCAA tournament and does a TERRIBLE job.
Your LA affiliate's decision NOT to air the start of the NCAA tourney pregame show is bush league, unprofessional, ridiculous, unfair and FIRST CLASS SELFISHNESS.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
BSJ, Ohio University 1968
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid to Speak His Mind
KCBS/LOS ANGELES...STILL LIVING IN THE DARK AGES
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2007--Well, the 2008 NCAA men's basketball got underway today with Mount St. Mary's defeating Coppin State, 69-60, in the play-in game. Needless to say, the action picks up considerably Thursday.
But not in Los Angeles.
Why, you ask?
Because here in Los Angeles, when the CBS network starts airing its pregame show getting you psyched up for the extravaganva Thursday at noon Eastern time--and 9 a.m. Los Angeles time--there's no CBS pregame show to be seen. INSTEAD, KCBS/Los Angeles REFUSES to air this show, opting to continue with its local news.
I kid you not. This TV station is simply living in the dark ages...unless it changes its ways. So...I've tried to GET that station to change its ways with this letter...
Dear Channel 2/Los Angeles,
The NCAA men's basketball tournament ranks among the most popular and most-watched sporting events. It is probably second only to the Super Bowl. And I wouldn't be surprised to discover that more people watched last Sunday's show announcing the brackets....than the NBA finals.
With all that in mind, please please PLEASE air the CBS network's pregame shows that start at 9 a.m. sharp! Please please PLEASE do not continue to show local news at 9 a.m., when the CBS network's NCAA tournament show is going on. The NCAA tournament's numerous fans DESERVE to see the CBS Network's NCAA tournament coverage Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. and NOT LOCAL NEWS.
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
***
A VERY SPECIAL LDD TO A VERY SPECIAL CO-WORKER
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2008 -- I'm very proud to announce that this weekend's Long Distance Dedication on both Casey's AT10 and AT20 Hot AC shows is a letter I wrote in tribute to a former co-worker, Michael Kelly. Michael died of cancer in August, 2005, but his memory lives on. If you lived in Detroit in the 1970's, you heard him as Mike Kelly on CKLW. The song I selected to honor Michael is "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart.
***
THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IS COMING...ALONG WITH CBS' LOUSY COVERAGE OF IT...
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2008 -- The Men's NCAA basketball tournament is just around the corner...along with the lousy coverage provided by CBS. With that in mind, here's what I wrote Los Angeles Daily News Sports Media columnist Tom Hoffarth...
Mr. Hoffarth,
I'm not sure if what I have to say is fodder for your next Media column, but here goes....
The NCAA tournament is just around the corner and I can say is THANK GOD FOR MY DIRECTV MARCH MADNESS PACKAGE!
I can't imagine being without it.
After all, the CBS network and our local CBS affiliate (a/k/a Stupid Channel 2) do such a LOUSY POOR job of covering the tournament. For instance...
The CBS Network kicks off festivities with a pregame show at 9 a.m. Pacific time on the first day, which this year with be Thursday, March 20, 2007. Last year, Stupid Channel 2 refused to air the pregame show, opting to go with local news instead. In the middle of the day, when a Pac-10 team was playing (Oregon), Stupid Channel 2 didn't even air the game, opting to go with shows like "The Price Is Right".
If you don't have the DirecTV package, you can't even see all the regional semifinal games! How ridiculous is THAT?
PLEASE ask Stupid Channel 2 in your column to air the CBS TV networks pregame shows!
While you're at it, why not ask CBS to just give up covering the NCAA tournament and give it to a network that CAN.
Just think if ABC covered that tournament. You could have one game on Channel 7, another on ESPN, another on ESPN2 and still another on ESPN-U. What a concept! It sure as hell is better than the lousy current CBS network setup!
The Big Dance is such a spectacular sporting event...and it deserves a network that can adequately cover it better than CBS does.
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Who's Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
***
MIKE SMITH (OF THE DAVE CLARK FIVE): 1943-2008
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2008 -- Sad news in the world of oldies music...Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five has died at the age of 64. The group will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame on March 10. For more on this passing, check out my lengthy obit written and posted on this site's message board (under latest news)....
SERVER PROBLEMS? MAYBE...
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008 -- I wasn't able to update this site until very early this morning. Sorry 'bout that, but I tried at least 10 times to log in Monday night with no luck. Probably a server problem. Oh well...onward...and happy Fats Domino's EIGHTY-TH birthday today!
***
BIASED STORIES + MISS LAST PLACE = LAST PLACE FOR MISS LAST PLACE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2008 -- Our nation's biased news media got EXACTLY what it deserved.
Ever since Wednesday, February 20, at least 95 per cent of the news media's coverage of the LPGA Fields Open has been centered around exactly one participant.
Miss Last Place...a/k/a Miss Sports Media Darling, Pro Golf Division...a/k/a Michelle Weak.
So what did the biased news organizations like the Associated Press and USA Today get when all was said and done?
Yup, another last place finish for Miss Last Place.
Well, she was TIED for last place...but being tied for last place is still...well...last place!
It couldn't have happened to a nicer person or a nicer group of biased people.
The worst of it came Friday, the day after Miss Last Place shot a 69 but was five strokes off the lead after one round. The AP's article was 95 per cent about Miss Last Place. USA Today even ran a PHOTOGRAPH of her. A week earlier, when the paper ran its LPGA preview section, somebody actually predicted that Miss Last Place would win a tournament.
Yeah, and I'm going to win the lottery, too...
And just think...all this undeserved publicity for a teenage girl just because she's attractive...and...
AND WHO HAS NEVER WON A PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT!
BIASED REPORTING GONE AMUCK...
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2008 -- Once AGAIN, we have our biased news media. Organizations like the Associated Press, USA Today and ESPN are DETERMINED to give this one teenage girl golfer exposure no matter how bad she is. Why?
Because she's an attractive teenage girl.
Certainly it's not because of her ability to play golf. Since turning pro, Michelle Weak (pun intended) is oh-for-25 in tournaments. In over half of them, she's either been disqualified, missed the cut or simply withdrawn.
So what happens when she posts a 3-under-par 69 and a tie for SIXTEENTH PLACE Thursday? Headlines, stories that devote 95 per cent of the content to HER and, in the case of our nation's newspaper, a PHOTOGRAPH!
Some things never change.
Nevertheless, here's what I wrote the AP...
Dear Associated Press,
Isn't it customary to give the PRIMARY ATTENTION to the LEADER of a golf tournament in an AP story about it? Jeong Jang shot a first round SIXTY FOUR and yet was almost ignored in your story on the Fields Open! Instead, you chose to devote 95 per cent of your coverage to a participant who is tied for SIXTEENTH PLACE.
And has NEVER won a professional golf tournament.
THAT kind of BIASED REPORTING is DISGRACEFUL.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
****
TWO COACHES WHO SHOULD RESIGN. NOW
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2008 -- If the facts that have recently surfaced regarding two prominent coaches, then both need to resign. Immediately.
The NFL's "Spygate" controversy surrounding New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick hasn't been limited to last season's illegal taping of an opponents' defensive signals. Word surfaced during the recent Super Bowl that the St. Louis Rams' final walk-through practice was secretly taped. All courtesy of Belichick, according to reports.
Now comes word that Belichick's been illegally taping opponents' signals since 2000. Unbelievable!
Meanwhile, Indiana men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson has been alledged to have committed five major recruiting violations. And THOSE allegations on ON TOP of Sampson's having come to Indiana from Oklahoma, where he was alleged to have committed recruiting violations.
ENOUGH ALREADY. Belichick and Sampson need to BOTH do the world of sports a big favor...and resign. Now!
PS--For more on what former Hoosier basketball think of Sampson, which out this...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3244783
YES, I'M 62
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2008 -- Yup, it's true. I'm now 62...and my thanks to all of you for your e-mails and/or e-mail birthday cards!
THANK YOU, NEW YORK GIANTS!!!
Sunday, February 3, 2008 -- Will you EVER see a BETTER Super Bowl then Super Bowl 42? The New York Giants' 17-14 win over the no-more-undefeated New England Patriots?
I seriously doubt it.
Imagine, the winning TD coming with 25 seconds left, thus ruining the Patriots' season and quest to join the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 1948 Cleveland Browns as the only undefeated pro football teams ever. I felt all along that the Patriots were overrated and beatable...and the Giants proved me right.
Ironically, the Giants were presented the Vince Lombardi Trophy, symbolic of pro football excellence. And Lombardi began his pro football career as a Giant assistant...and would later turn down an offer to be the Giants head coach. After the Packers lost to the Eagles in the 1960 NFL title game, Lombardi turned down the Giant coaching job offer...and vowed he'd never lose a championship game again.
***
I'M BACK...WELL, SORT OF....
MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2008 -- Sorry you haven't seen me post any blogs over the past 2 weeks, friends. It's a combination of my fighting a cold PLUS my having DSL problems. For the past 3 days in particular, I've had to take extra steps just to get online with the internet and to have my e-mail system working. Please bear with me, gang.
OHIO STATE--EMBARRASSED AGAIN
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2008 -- Instead of taking advantage of the BCS ratings for Ohio State to atone for its embarrassing national title game loss to Florida a year ago, the Buckeye football team instead indulged in another embarrassment Monday night.
There's simply no other way to describe Ohio State's 38-24 national title game loss to LSU. Other than taking a 10-0 lead, the Buckeyes were simply outclassed by the Tigers. And Ohio State remains winless vs. the SEC in bowl games.
It's hard to pinpoint the biggest Buckeye disappointments because there are so many of them. A dropped TD here. A blocked field goal try there. Thirty yards in penalties on LSU's first TD drive. The roughing the kicker penalty. THREE missed tackles on another LSU score. And seemingly non-existent defensive coverage on the LSU tight ends.
The bottom line, though, was that LSU was by far the better team. More team speed as the result of winning in the premiere SEC. This wasn't Youngstown State, Kent State, Northwestern, Minnesota or Akron that Ohio State was playing...and its weak schedule finally caught up to it.
Sadly, the Big Ten has fallen way behind leagues like the SEC, Big 12 and Pac-10. Only Michigan's 41-35 Capitol One Bowl game win over Florida salvaged any Big 10 prestige. Wisconsin also lost to a SEC team (Tennessee, Outback Bowl).
And it's hard to get excited about Penn State's 24-17 win over a 7-6 Texas A&M team in the Alamo Bowl. Or Purdue's 51-48 Motor City Bowl win over Central Michigan of the lowly MAC, which took a HUGE beating. Or didn't you notice that Tulsa beat Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl, 63-7?
And PLEASE let's devise a legitimate 16-team playoff system. Ohio State, Illinois and Hawaii were TOTALLY UNWORTHY of getting major BCS bowl bids. BCS stands for Bowl Choosing Stupidity.
Sadly, Ohio State would struggle to break even in the SEC. Ohio State would've lost to Southern Cal, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas and West Virginia in bowl games. THAT'S how badly the Big Ten has fallen.
AS PREDICTED HERE 55 DAYS AGO...
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2007 -- Why should you be surprised that Rick Neuheisel's been named head football coach at UCLA? If you look back at my past blogs, you'll noticed that I correctly predicted this way back on November 4...
FIFTY FIVE DAYS AGO!!!!!
****
THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS SPORTS JOKE OF THE YEAR
SATURDAY, DECDEMBER 29, 2007 -- The Los Angeles Daily News started its first annual Sports Joke Of the year extravaganza today. How else do you describe that publication's decision to name soccer's Mr. Posh (a/k/a David Beckham) as "Los Angeles Sportsman Of the Year 2007."
I kid you not. What the news media will do to publicize sports figures who don't deserve it at all. And Mr. Posh is at the top. Consider...
When Mr. Posh was welcomed to Los Angeles on Friday, July 13, 2007 with a horribly overpublicized press conference, it conveniently coincided with Mrs. Posh's dumb boring TV show that aired 3 days later...and did so badly that the two competing networks fared better ratings-wise with repeats.
During that Press Conference, Mr. Posh conveniently neglected to mention that he was nursing a hurt ankle. He didn't even PLAY in the Galaxy's next game! In fact, for the season, he played in only five games and missed FOURTEEN! His "Sportsman Of the Year" statistics?
One goal. Three assists.
Meanwhile, the number of soccer fans angered by having to purchase tickets for non-Beckham games just to see ONE Beckham played game is hard to determine. Suffice to say that he angered a lot of people in Dallas July 31, 2007. Mr. Posh not only didn't play, he didn't even show up in Dallas to sign autographs! There were a number of instances where Mr. Posh refused to talk to the news media regarding his injuries.
The number of photos in LA newspapers when Mr. Posh just showed up and practiced...too many to mention. Oh, and Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas spoke out over the resentment of Mr. Posh's huge salary.
Finally, it's amusing to see the LA Daily News mention how Mr. Posh helped promote the sale of MLS jerseys. Of COURSE he did! After all, who's the one person probably making the most $ off those jersey sales...what with his huge salary in the millions?
Yup, Mr. Posh.
The Los Angeles Daily News simply doesn't get it. Mr. Posh was undoubtedly the most overrated overpublicized pro athlete in 2007...but his unwarranted publicity continues. Ironically, I read about Mr. Posh with an edition that I refuse to pay for. I dropped my Daily News subscription 11 days ago. Today, there's another reason why I won't read that paper's ridiculous pro-Mr. Posh propaganda.
DECEMBER 13, 2007 -- BASEBALL'S SHAME-FILLED DAY
Friday, December 14, 2007 -- Thursday, December 13, 2007, will go down in history as major league baseball's most shameful day in 87 years. Or, since the Black Sox Scandal of 1920.
As many as 90 current and past major league baseball players were named in the Mitchell Report outling steroid abuse. One of them, Ken Caminiti, is dead. He was only 41 when he died of a heart attack. Lyle Alzado of NFL fame was only 43 when he died of a brain tumor caused by steroid use.
As the Kingston Trio and Johnny Rivers sang on the song, "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"...
"When will they ever learn?"
You watch...the ramifications of Thursday's blockbuster report will be long-term. Don't be surprised if Mr. 38 Cents (a/k/a Barry Bonds) or Roger Clemens don't live to see 50.
IKE TURNER, 1931-2007
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2007 -- Ike Turner sadly has died. He was half of the legendary married duo Ike and Tina Turner, had a group named after him (the Ikettes) and was an integral part of what might've been the first rock and roll record. He wrote "Rocket 88" for Jackie Brenston in 1951 and played piano on it. For much more on Ike Turner, check out this site's message board under "latest news."
THE POLITICALLY CORRECT NEWSPAPER DOES IT AGAIN
Our nation's weekday national newspaper--a/k/a the National Ladies Home Journal--lived up to its a/k/a name Monday (December 3, 2007). Believe it or not, that publication's Monday edition included a front page photo of two members of the Southern California women's soccer team after it won the national title.
Who in hell outside of Los Angeles cares?
For matter, who inside of Los Angeles cares other than the members and parents of the USC soccer team? By comparison, the Los Angeles Daily News had NOTHING about this team on its overall front page. Yes, a banner headline on the top of the first sports page...and a photo of the trophy presentation on Page 2 of the sports page. Makes sense to me.
But a FRONT PAGE photo of two members of a women's soccer team?
ANY women's soccer team. Makes no sense at all.
All that...so a newspaper can be politically correct.
TIM TEBOW--2007 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2007 -- The Heisman Trophy voters ABSOLUTELY got it right.
Florida's Tim Tebow got my vote privately for the 2007 Heisman Trophy award. He's the first sophomore to win it...and it's no fluke. Tebow was the first Division I-A player to have 20+ TD's passing (29) and running (22). His 51 TD's were more than 87 other Division I-A teams.
Case closed.
HISTORIC CASEY SHOWS AIRING THIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007 -- A pair of highly historic Casey shows will be airing all over the USA airwaves this weekend.
On "American Top 40 The 80's." the 12/13/80 show is being rebroadcast. That's the show that contains Casey's stirring salute to John Lennon only a matter of days after the ex-Beatle was murdered. There's also Casey's story about how a Christmas carol temporarilly stopped a war. On this show, Casey said it happened during the Franco-Prussian war of 1880. In recent years, Casey's told the same essential story...but says it happened during World War I!
On "American Top 40 The 70's," the 11/8/75 show airs. That's the first time "Shuckatoom" opened the show as the theme song. And during a question letter about the highest debuting non-#1, Casey means to tell you that it's "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" by Elvis Presley. Trouble is, he forgets to tell the title!! All of which reminds me that in promoting these old shows, that if Casey flubs on one of them, the flub is heard AGAIN!
NOT EVERYBODY'S BOWLING
Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- Six wins doesn't guarantee Division I college football teams a bowl invitation. In fact, EIGHT wins doesn't.
In spite of an 8-3 record, Troy of the Sun Belt Conference will not be in a bowl game. Nor will Western Kentucky (7-5) although this is the first time the school's in Division I football.
Six other 6-6 teams will be home for the holidays--South Carolina (SEC), Louisiana Monroe (also Sun Belt) and two each from the Big Ten and Mid-American...Iowa, Northwestern, Miami (Ohio) and my alma mater, Ohio University.
OHIO STATE--A CHANCE TO REDEEM ITSELF
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2007 -- The Ohio State football team gets a chance at redemption after all. Thanks to Saturday's losses by Missouri and West Virginia, the Buckeyes will play LSU for the national title.
Thus, the Buckcyes can atone for their home loss to Illinois and their loss to Florida in last season's title game...but it won't be easy.
The LSU game will be played in New Orleans, so it'll be a home game for LSU. Ohio State will be an underdog and will be degraded for its weak schedule. BUT...
If there's ONE coach I'd want on my side for a national title game, it's Ohio State's Jim Tressel.
Meanwhile, I think Hawaii is an unworthy BCS bowl game participant. The Rainbows' toughest game was a home come-from-behind 35-28 win over Washington, the Pac-10's LAST PLACE team.
Georgia will win handily over Hawaii.
ENOUGH ALREADY OF STEPHEN A. SMITH!!!!
Here's what I wrote ESPN Radio regarding this alleged radio announcer...
ESPN Radio,
Please remove that horrible sounding alleged sports talker that is heard at noon Pacific time weekdays on your network. He is terrible, he yells all the time, he insults listeners, he butchers the English language and he should change his legal name to Snoop Doggy Dogg.
This is sports talk radio. Not Street Corner Ghetto Rap 101.
Whenever he's on, I'm switching to another station. ANY station.
I will not listen to a terrible sounding person on the radio.
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
WHAT I TOLD FOX SPORTS RADIO (SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007)...
Fox Sports Radio,
During the 8 a.m. Pacific Time hour today (11/24/07), your announcer used extremely poor language. I don't know his name because he never identified himself. He used the words "boring-ass" to describe a top 10 college football team...and I think that's disgraceful, unprofessional and in very poor taste.
Thank you,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An Ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid to Speak His Mind
TIME-WARNER CABLE AND MR. 38 CENTS--TWO LOSERS
Friday, NOVEMBER 23, 2007 -- If you're looking forward to this Thursday's Dallas Cowboy-Green Bay Packer game, maybe you shouldn't. Especially if you're a cable TV kinda person.
Barring a last-second gesture by Time-Warner and other cable TV companies, chances are very good you won't be seeing the Cowboy-Packer game. Essentially, the cable TV companies refuse to carry the NFL Network because they won't give in to the NFL Network's desire to be part of basic cable TV packages a la ESPN. The cable people want you to have to pay more to see the NFL Network. Ditto the Big Ten Network.
Of COURSE this is greed. The NFL already is raking in $3.75 BILLION plus to air its games. And when Time-Warner replaced Adelphia last year in LA's San Fernando Valley alone, it conveniently arranged to have Adelphia up its rates by $4 a month per person in its last day of existence. There are 2 million people getting cable in the San Fernando Valley alone. That translates to $8 millon more per month and $96 million more per YEAR. And that's JUST with the San Fernando Valley and JUST with the INCREASE. Think of what Selfish Time-Warner is raking in altogether!
Actually, there's now 1,999,999 people in the San Fernando Valley subscribing to cable. Almost a year ago, I dumped cable in favor of DirecTV and I've never been happier. I now get the NFL Network, the Big Ten Network, ESPN-U, WGN, Fox Sports Ohio and Sports Time Ohio. As far as I know, Time-Warner offers NONE of those stations...but they DO have a TON of non-English speaking channels!
If you're a sports fan, my advice is simple...dump cable, go dish. Me...I wouldn't go back to Time-Warner Cable if they offered it to me for free.
Meanwhile, another loser, Mr. 38 Cents (a/k/a baseball's career HR leader) is reportedly having two people close to him...turning against him. A close friend and an ex-Mistress are both reportedly ready to testify against him if his trial for perjury and obstruction of justice ever starts.
(For the uninformed, Mr. 38 Cents got his name for his gross arrogance displayed while visiting a sports TV channel circa 1992-93. He bitched throughout the taping and then initially refused to do a simple promo for the station after it was over. When a producer pulled all the change from his pocket and said it totaled 38 cents, you-know-who said that would be what it would cost the station to do the promo. Hence, Mr. 38 Cents)
What I want more than anything from this Mr. 38 Cents mess...is the truth. Once and for all, it's time for Mr. 38 Cents to confess not only that he lied to a grand jury, but that he did go the steroid route.
And when THAT happens, it's time to put an asterisk (*) after his home run total of 762.
THAT ONE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER GOOFS AGAIN...AND AGAIN...
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2007-- Our nation's weekday-only newspaper continues to make mistakes.
In Wednesday's sports page, it said that for the so-called BCS era (1998-present), "Southern California of the Pacific-10 is the only team with two titles."
However, that is not entirely correct. Southern California has officially won only one national title in the BCS era...the 2004 team.
I personally recognize ONLY the team that wins the annual BCS title game as the national champion. And for the 2003 season, Southern California was ONLY named #1 in the Associated Press poll. The team that officially won the BCS title game...and thus the national title...was LSU.
If you're going to give Southern California a tainted national title, then you should do the same thing for the 2004 Auburn team, which likewise missed the BCS title game, but finished 13-0.
Meanwhile, USA Today goofed again Tusday November 20, 2007 on Page C-4, where the Miami Dolphins were described by writer Larry Weisman as "the Fish."
That is totally incorrect.
Dolphins are NOT Fish.
Dolphins are MAMMALS.
Big difference
OHIO STATE WINS AT MICHIGAN, 14-3...AND IT WAS "DIFFERENT"
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007 -- When Ohio State beat Michigan at Columbus, 42-39, during last (the 2006) season, all the post-game talk seemed to center on a bowl game rematch with the two teams. It was the "let's give Michigan a second chance" game. Oh, and a Michigan player said if there WAS a rematch for that season, that it would be "different." Presumably, he meant the next game between the two teams would be "different."
Well, he was right.
Along came the 2007 "rematch"...and it WAS "different." Instead of winning by three points at home, the Buckeyes won by ELEVEN at Ann Arbor. And limited Michigan to NO touchdowns and under 100 yards total offense (95). And outrushed Michign, 230-15.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's 6-1 record vs. Michigan is no illusion, It's the truth. Sadly, Lloyd Carr may be finished as Michigan coach. How quickly we forget that he coached Michigan to a national title 10 years ago.
Who'll be the new Michigan football coach? Les Miles, now the LSU coach, has Michigan ties. He's my #1 choice. Next would be Cal's Jeff Tedford.
I'm glad Ohio State took a knee at the Michigan five to end the game and DID NOT try to score another touchdown. The game was decided. No sense in rubbing salt into someone's wounds.
Oh, and that Michigan player who said things would be different? Already, he's described on one message board as "Mike Hart, Mr. 0-4" He's among the Michigan football seniors who NEVER beat Ohio State.
Forever is a long time....
***
THE CROOKS LOSE...AND MAYBE BASEBALL'S ALL-TIME HR LEADER IS A CROOK, TOO
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007 -- Here's an e-mail I sent to sportscaster Steve Czaban. Perhaps it'll interest you...
"Steve,
I am THRILLED to see Mr. 38 Cents perhaps being finally put in his place by a grand jury. Maybe the truth will finally come out. Why couldn't this have happened 4 months ago?
OJ Simpson and Mr. 38 Cents deserve to share the same prison cell.
I am also THRILLED to see the Oregon Crooks lose. No national title game for the Crooks. There is NO place in ANY kind of sport for someone who pleads guilty to a FELONY to play for any college team, there is no place in ANY kind of sport for a coach to try to sweep under the rug the fact that his player AND son had TWO DUI's...and there is no place in ANY kind of sport for a coach's wife to try and intimidate a writer for exercising his fifth amendment rights. Shame on USA Today, Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News for NOT pointing out these improprieties!
E ya!
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
An ex-Sports Editor Not Afraid to Speak His Mind"
FILLING IN FOR CASEY NEXT WEEKEND IS....
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2007 -- Mike Kasem is filling in for Casey Kasem on American Top 10 and on American Top 20 Hot AC. Yup, it's Casey's son!!!
OHIO STATE'S CRITICS WERE RIGHT (AND THE BIG TEN IS WEAK)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2007 -- Ever since the BCS ratings came out, I kept hearing the same vibes...
That Ohio State was not worthy of being ranked #1. That Ohio State played a weak schedule. That Ohio State would struggle if it played in the Southeastern Conference. Critics (a/k/a sports talk show hosts) said it. SEC fans said it.
Guess what?
The critics and the SEC fans were right.
Ohio State was exposed and then some in today's 28-21 home loss to Illinois, a now-8-3 team and 15-point underdog. To its credit, Illinois showed why it's a team that's turned the corner under coach Ron Zook. A superb game plan, super poise and no turnovers. So....
Illinois was flat out the better team. Period.
I truly wanted Ohio State get another shot at the national title game with an undefeated record...and to atone for the embarrassing 41-14 loss to Florida in last season's national title game. Now...
Forget it. The BEST that Ohio State can hope for is a win at Michigan and a Rose Bowl date vs. maybe Arizona State. That's it. Look for LSU and Oregon to play for all the marbles.
Meanwhile, Ohio State's not all that far away from returning to national title contention. The Buckeyes have landed one of the top LB's in the USA...and if they land the #1 player overall, then they're a contender for national title honors.
However, Ohio State MUST upgrade its schedule. Playing the likes of Youngstown State, Akron and Kent State simply doesn't cut it. No wonder people say the Buckeyes couldn't compete in the SEC. A current Ohio State team in the SEC would struggle to finish above .500. And let's not forget Ohio State's bowl record vs. the SEC (0-9).
Admittedly, though, Ohio State will be playing Southern Cal next season in a home-and-home series. That's a start.
In the meantime, though, the Big Ten will continue to be bad-mouthed...and, sadly, the league's stigma of being weak and lacking team speed...is the truth. Perhaps the most telling game wasn't Michigan's 34-32 season-opening home loss to Appalachian State...but, rather, its next home game. Michigan was an eight-point favorite but got torched, 39-7, by Oregon. Remember, not only is the Big 10 WEAK...but its members lack TEAM SPEED.
Not only would Ohio State and Michigan struggle to fare better than .,500 in the SEC, but the same could be said for the Pac 10 and Big 12.
The Big 10 is THAT weak.
***
THANK YOU, PELE!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007 -- Thank you, Pele, for telling it like it is about the most overrated, over-publicized and overexposed male athlete of 2007.
Pele is CORRECT in saying that American soccer fans were misled in what Mr. Posh would bring to Major League Soccer. Mr. Posh (a/k/a David Beckham) signed a $32.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy, then was overhyped from Friday, July 13, the day he arrived in Los Angeles. ON that day, Mr. Posh NEVER admitted that his playing time would be hampered by an ankle injury AND his commitments overseas. He was also hampered by a knee injury. In the end, he scored exactly ONE goal for the Galaxy.
As Pele pointed out, Mr. Posh made an impact with ticket sales and merchandise sales, but not on the field. "They announced him as a scorer of goals," said Pele. "He isn't a goal scorer. That was a mistake. Beckham wants to be the star and that's his big problem. It is not easy to play in American soccer, because it is very tough."
Essentially--and this is me, Rob, speaking--MSL tried to put all its eggs in one basket with Mr. Posh. It proved to be a HUGE failure and public relations disaster. MANY soccer fans were forced to buy not only tickets they THOUGHT would be of a game Mr. Posh would play in, but for other games involving teams other than the Galaxy, Mr. Posh's team. In Dallas alone, Mr. Posh not only didn't play, but he didn't even accompany the team to Big D if only to sign autographs.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHING CHANGES ARE A'COMING....
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2007 -- Look for head football coaching changes at Nebraska and UCLA. Both teams have been huge disappointments and will be hard pressed to become bowl eligible.
Nebraska has lost five straight games, including Saturday's 76-39 embarrassment to Kansas. Never in its storied history had a Nebraska team allowed so many points. Who will replace Bill Callahan as head coach?
Turner Gill.
He's now the head coach at Mid-American Conference member Buffalo. He's turned that school from a doormat to a MAC contender. Oh, and he played at Nebraska.
UCLA has to beat Arizona State (8-1), Oregon (8-1) or Southern Cal (7-2) to become bowl eligible. Right now, this team is in shambles after being favored by a point and a half to win at Arizona, and losing, 34-27.
That's nothing new for UCLA, which has made it a habit of losing in embarrassing fashion to teams it was favored to beat.
The week before the Arizona State loss, the Bruins were six-point favs to win at Washington State. They lost 27-7. Earlier, they were 22-point favs at home to beat Notre Dame. They lost, 20-6. And 14-point favorites to win at lowly Utah. They lost, 44-6.
I look for Karl Dorrell to resign or be fired. His replacement as UCLA head football coach?
Rick Neuheisel.
***
THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON CROOKS, ER, DUCKS...
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2007 -- Since the University of Oregon football team defeated Southern California, 24-17, on October 27, 2007, all you're reading about is how great the Duck football team is. At least that's what Sports Elevated and Our Nation's Weekdays-Only newspaper wants you to think.
But the whole truth isn't and hasn't been told. This is a school that tried to hide under the rug that its backup kicker has been nailed for DUI not once, but TWICE. Oh, did I tell you he's the coach's son? And how the coach's wife (ex-wife?) tried to intimidate a columnist in the pressbox during the USC-Oregon game? Lots of swearing and threats...
And there's more. This is the same Oregon football team that ALLOWED a player on its team who had a felony reduced to a misdemeanor. I mean, somebody DIED at a party's aftermath and this guy was an accessory to this death. He pled guilty to a felony charge of assault!!!
Think I'm kidding around? If so, check this out:
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/LAW/02/28/athlete.fatal.beating.ap/
Interestingly, John Canzano, the columnist for the Oregonian who blew the whistle on the school's hiding the two-time DIU kicker, tells me that Rodney Woods NEVER got his degree...
Anyway, when Our Nation's Weekdays-Only Newspaper had the Oregon football team as its lead story, well, I had to write that paper. I could easily have written Sports Elevated the same latter. Here it is...
USA Today,
I find it highly ironic that your paper makes the University of Oregon football team its lead sports story today (11/2/07), yet fails to include all the news surrounding that school.
In the pressbox during the Oregon-USC game, the Oregon coach's wife accosted and berated a newspaper columnist...and why? For exercising his first amendment rights and telling the truth.
In this case, the writer had pointed out in a column that a backup kicker on the Oregon football team had been nailed for DUI not once, but TWICE. And the school tried to shove all this news under the proverbial rug.
The kicker is the coach's son. This is the same coach who lobbied to get one Rodney Woods to be eligible as an Oregon football player a few years ago. This was made possible when a judge changed a felony on Woods' record to a misdemeanor.
If THESE are the ways Oregon's football team has risen to its current "power" status, I can only wish nothing but bad luck in all its games.
Disgustingly Yours,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
***
WHO WILL SIGN A-ROD? I SAY IT'LL BE...
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2007 -- I predict the team that'll sign A-Rod...will be the Los Angeles Dodgers.
***
RED SOX ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS...BROWNS WIN...SMU FIRES COACH....
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2007 -- While it was a galliant effort by the Colorado Rockies in Game 4, the Boston Red Sox won, 4-3, to sweep the 2007 World Serious as this writer had predicted.
The Red Sox were simply the better team. Take heart, Rockie fans: It took fans of my Cleeeeveland Indians eons to get over being swept by the then-New York Giants in the 1954 World Serious.
Hey, a road win for the Browns, 27-20 at St. Louis. So what if the Rams are the worst team in the NFL? A win is a win. Browns are 4-3 and a blocked FG away from being 5-2.,,,
Sad news in college football. SMU fired coach Phil Bennett a day after falling to Tulsa, 29-23, to fall to 1-7. The loss also eliminated the Mustangs from bowl contention. Sadly, winning is the name of the game in big-time college football, and SMU was only 18-48 under Bennett. Keep in mind that SMU suffered the ultimate embarrassment in 1987, when its program was completely shut down by the NCAA...and it seems like the school has yet to recover...
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS...AND OHIO STATE'S LOOKIN' GOOD
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2007--Red Sox 10, Rockies 5 in game 3...break out the World Serious brooms...
Considering that they were a scant four-point favorite, Ohio State's Buckeyes looked very impressive with a 37-17 win at Penn State. This Jim Tressel-coached team continues to improve weekly. Still, there's formidable games vs. Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan ahead. No room for a letdown. So what if Penn State scored on a Kickoff return? It's permitted when you're up by 27.
For sure, Southern Cal WILL NOT be playing for the national title. I thought it would be USC vs. LSU for the national title but the Trojans lost at Oregon, 24-17. Since USC's already lost to Stanford, there's no way a two-loss team plays for the national title.
The best bets to make the national title game? Ohio State, Boston College, LSU and Oregon in that order...
***
FOX SPORTS OHIO--A ROYAL SCREWUP
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007--On Thursday, October 25, 2007, at 7 p.m. Eastern time, Fox Sports Ohio was SUPPOSED to televise a high school football game between Strongsville and Solon.
And they did.
For about 10 minutes.
If that.
When I first tuned in, there was a blank screen with the notation "channel not purchased" along the bottom of the screen. Then, some action from the game, then the same scene of the stands, complete with announcer talk and the words "technical difficulties" along the screen's bottom. Then, some action...and then nothing.
But a blank screen and the notation again of "channel not purchased."
Here's what I think happened: Fox Sports Ohio has affiliates in Cleveland and Columbus. The football game out of the Cleveland station was probably deemed a total disaster, so the Cleveland station had to air what the Columbus affiliate was airing, which was a hockey game. BUT...because of DirecTV hockey packages, you couldn't see the hockey game at all! Hence, the blank screen.
Needless to say, I've written the station asking for an explanation. And not getting it. No explanations on the air or on the station's web site. AND THE STATION DIDN'T EVEN GIVE OUT THE FINAL SCORE OF THE STRONGSVILLE-SOLON GAME!!!!
In my last e-mail to the station, I wondered, "Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing with your station?"
P.S. The station replayed the Strongsville-Solon game Saturday, so this makes me believe that there were never technical difficulties there at the game. SOMEBODY FLAT OUT GOOFED!
***
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BAD YOU ARE...JUST HOW ATTRACTIVE YOU ARE!
OCTOBER 25, 2007 -- A certain weekdays-only national publication did it again.
Another story and photo of Mrs. Hospenthal. Why? Oh, because Miss Winless is, quote, "taking aim at a new competitive sphere: the world of high fashion."
Stop the presses! Hey, let's change the name of that paper's sports section to "The Ladies Home Journal."
Needless to say, the article contradicts itself. On one hand, it says Miss Winless "has become the face of IndyCar racing and a darling of Madison Avenue." Two paragraphs later, a marketing director ADMITS that the so-called "fever" over Miss Winless "has cooled among potential sponsors."
Gee, I wonder why. It wouldn't have anything to do with her pro auto racing record, would it? After all, she's oh-for-47.
OH-FOR-47!!!
Want more laughs? How about the article mentioning how Miss Winless was named "2005 IRL Rookie Of The Year." How many people did she defeat for this "honor"?
TWO!
Oh, and here's another laugh. Miss Winless says about her possible switch to NASCAR: "If I felt like like I had a better chance to win races there, I would do it."
So why not do it? She hasn't and she won't. At least not for this offseason. Why?
Because she's OH-FOR-47!!!
Finally, in the photo caption, it notes "she doesn't have a problem with athletes, male or female, who use their looks for commercial gain." Miss Winless is then quoted as follows "God gave you certain things, and you should use them. If it's beauty, go for it."
Yeah, and take it off the sports pages, where it doesn't belong...and take it where it DOES belong...to the Ladies Home Journal.
***
I'M NOT ALONE!!!!
Check out this blog someone submitted immediately after the 2007 Indy 500...
This is the Indy 500!
May 27, 2007 | 5:39PM | report this....
"Amidst all this sloppiness, the most grating thing about it was the excessive overhype for (you-know-who). Listen, ESPN on ABC, we already know she looks hot, and we know she (is) the new girl on GoDaddy, but the main point is that (I'll try not to overstate it) SHE HAS NEVER, EVER WON A RACE SHE FINISHED!!!! Why do we need to keep the hype machine going when she hasn't proved worthy of it?"
***
SPORTS BULLETIN! SPORTS BULLETIN! SPORTS BULLETIN!!!
WILLIAMSPORT, PA., OCTOBER 25, 2007 -- A Little League Baseball franchise was today awarded to the Colorado Rockies.
***
SO FAR, I'M OK...(and my take on the World Serious, an ungrateful NFL player and our sexist nation's newspaper)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007 -- My thanks to ALL of you for your concern about me regarding the plethora of fires in southern California. So far, I've been fortunate to not be all that close to those fires. Most of them are well south of where I live, but I confess I can see red in the horizon, especially when I look to the south during sunrise and sunset. We must be getting back to normalcy. One Los Angeles TV channel that was in a all-fires-all-the-time mode, actually went back to normal programming.
***
The Boston Red Sox will not only win the 2007 World Serious, but they will do it by sweeping the Colorado Rockies. The 8-day layoff will be too much for the Rockies. Good pitching beats good hitting. The Red Sox have better pitching, especially Josh Beckett (who has World Serious experience)...
***
I find it HIGHLY ironic that the Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker has the GALL to publicily second-guess his coach (Brian Billick) in the aftermath of Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The MLB did the second-guessing on his radio show. He also called former teammate Adalius Thomas "a coward" for leaving the Ravens to sign with the New England Patriots as a free agent.
I'd prefer not to name that MLB because I have little or respect for him. Remember, this person was an accessory to not one, but two people who were murdered in early 2000. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice. And was fined a record $250,000 by the NFL. Why the NFL didn't suspend him is beyond me.
And when the news media demanded answers from this person about his questionable past in the days leading to Super Bowl 35 about a year later, who was the ONE person who protected that person from the inquiring news media? Yup, the same one whom that MLB is now second-guessing, Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick.
As for that player calling Adalius Thomas "a coward"--no comment. I'd better quit while I'm ahead.
***
Finally, who is Essence Carson?
Can ANYBODY tell me?
That's what I thought.
For the uninformed--and there's lots of you--Essence Carson plays the Rutgers women's basketball team. Her photo was found on the FRONT page of our nation's newspaper today. And on the first sports page. And on Page 3C as part of a FULL PAGE spread. If it wasn't for Don Imus and our nation's newspaper, we'd've never ever heard of Essence Carson.
Needless to say, our nation's newspaper simply HAS to have full-blown yet undeserved photos, headlines and stories of women-in-sports personalities just so the paper can be politically correct. That's why this publication is relentless in publicizing the likes of Mrs. Hospenthal and Miss Last Place (who are a combined oh-for-72 in their pro sports endeavors).
Opinion: Ridiculous!
***
THE COLLAPSE...
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007 -- You have to be TOUGH to be a Cleveland sports fan. Cleveland hasn't had a championship team in nearly 43 years. On December 27, 1964, the Cleveland Browns shocked the then-Baltimore Colts, 27-0. This happened over two years BEFORE the FIRST Super Bowl.
Since then, the Browns have had "the drive," "The fumble" and red Right. The Cavaliers have had the Michael Jordan shot and last summer's NBA finals sweep by the San Antonio Spurs. The Indians 10 years ago had the Jose Mesa meltdown...and now...
THE COLLAPSE.
In 3 games covering 5 days, the Indians went from holding a 3-1 American League championship series edge over the Boston Red Sox to...
THE COLLAPSE.
THREE TIMES the Tribe had a shot at winning another game to oust the Red Sox and go to the World Serious (pun intended). And three times, they lost.
Big Time.
By scores of 7-2, 12-2 and 11-2. That's a combined 30-5 romp.
What happened? The biggie in this el foldo mess...The Tribe's top two starters who both won 19 games suddenly pitched like they each had lost 19 games. Combined, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona had four starts, zero wins, an ERA of 12.68 and an opponents' batting average of .403.
Cleveland's dh, Travis Hafner, almost disappeared. He hit .148.
Bottom line, the Tribe didn't deserve to win the ALCS and the Red Sox were the better team. I predict the Red Sox will sweep the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Serious.
***
IS THE MR. POSH-MANIA OVER WITH? LORD, I THINK AND HOPE SO!
OCTOBER 23, 2007 -- Well, there WAS some good sports news as far as I was concerned on Sunday, October 21, 2007. The Chicago Fire defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy, 1-0, to eliminate the Galaxy from the MLS playoffs.
Why is that good news? Because it means the Mr. Posh-Mania is over with at least for 2007! Mr. Posh is my nickname for David Beckham, who in just 102 days has become one of the world of sports' three most overpublized, overrrated personalities EVER! Oh, did I mention that Mr. Posh is married to Victoria (Posh) Adams of the Spice Girls?
For the uninformed, Mr. Posh signed a huge contract with the Galaxy worth a total of about $250 million. He was paid $5.5 million in base salary and had $6.5 million guaranteed.
And what exactly did the Galaxy get from Mr. Posh for all that money?
Six matches played, four starts, ONE goal and three assists. He made $5.5 million per goal and $1,833,333.30 per assist. Admittedly, Mr. Posh was hampered by knee and ankle injuries BUT...BUT...
Mr. Posh first hurt his ankle around June 6 over in Europe. On July 14, 2007, when Mr. Posh was introduced to the Los Angeles news media in a gala news conference, he never NEVER told the crowd of 5000 soccer fans, "Oh, by the way, I'm still bothered by this ankle injury, so I may not be able to play much. Oh, and since I'm bound by contract to play some more soccer games in England, I'm not going to be able to play much here in the USA anyway."
As it turned out, Mr. Posh missed the next Galaxy game 4 days later. He made his "debut" for the Galaxy 8 days later, playing only about 16 minutes and, of course, not scoring a goal.
That July 14 news conference was highly coincidental...because it came three days before Mrs. Posh's fashion TV show debuted. And bombed. The competing top two networks far outdrew Mrs. Posh's TV show. With re-runs.
That July 14 news conference also sparked the start of Mr. Posh-Mania, complete with unheard-of news media overhype. He'd already made the cover of Sports Illustrated. And the front page of USA Today. And one Los Angeles TV sportscaster that night actually compared Mr. Posh's arrival to Los Angeles to that of the BEATLES' arrival to the USA. I personally e-mailed that TV station, calling that statement, "the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life." After all, as I pointed out, only 5000 people came to greet Mr. Posh. The Beatles, meanwhile, probably had 20 to 40 times that many when they first stepped onto USA soil on February 7, 1964.
For a while, the Mr. Posh-Mania seemed endless. Photos and stories of him every day, even for just practicing. A full page spread on soccer rules and strategy one day. A list of Mr. and Mrs. Posh's favorite LA-area stores to shop in on another. I wrote and thanked that newspaper for that list and pointed out, "After all, those are stores that I'll always avoid."
Meanwhile, MLS all but extorted its fans. In many cities of opposing MLS teams, fans were forced to pay HUGE prices for tickets AND had to buy tickets to other non-Galaxy games. Just to see Mr. Posh. In Dallas on July 31, 2007, the Galaxy played there. But not Mr. Posh. He didn't even make the trip, so fans couldn't even get his autograph.
Last week, when it was announced that Mr. Posh MIGHT PLAY after being out for over a month, one newspaper ran his photo twice. He did play at the game last week. Afterwards, though, he refused to talk to the news media.
In summary, let's just say that MLS put all its eggs into one basket regarding its promotion of Mr. Posh. It did work to an extent. Attendance increased. Sales of Mr. Posh jersies skyrocketed...but with Mr. Posh's contract calling for a total or $250 million, guess who's getting most of the money from the jersey sales? And, remember, that Mr. Posh is 32 and coming off ankle and knee injuries. His best playing days are likely behind him. Ahead of him...perhaps pro soccer's biggest promotion failure ever.
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THOSE OTHER TWO OVERRATED SPORTS PERSONALITIES...
OCTOBER 23, 2007 -- Oh, I did say Mr. Posh was "one of the world of sports' three most overpublized, overrrated personalities EVER!" So who are the other two?
Well, for starters, NEVER forget this adage...It's not had BAD you are, it's how young and attractive you are!!!
Take, for example, Mrs. Hospenthal. Need I even say her real name? You've been hearing about her since she made the cover of Sports Illustrated...for finishing FOURTH in the 2005 Indy 500.
FOURTH.
Somebody wrote SI with a damn good question: "If she wins next year's Indy 500, are you going to put on the cover the fourth place finisher?"
Ah, but there's the bottom line with Mrs. Hospenthal. How many races HAS she won?
The answer is...
NONE. ZERO. NADA.
Mrs. Hospenthal has finished EIGHTH in the past 2 Indy 500's. Judging by the unprecented stories and interviews with her, you'd think she'd won that race. But she hasn't. Even when she's finished SIXTEENTH, the Associated Press has run separate articles on her.
But that's nothing compared to USA Today's treatment of her. A front page story prior to the last Indy 500. The year before, a huge story accompanied by a full-page color photo of her...and color photos of her on the overall front page and on the first sports page. Oh, and earlier in 2005, when she finished dead last in a race, that paper ran her photo three times in the next five days.
Oh, I forgot.
She's Miss Sports Media Darling, Auto Racing Division.
BUT...
She's oh-for-47 in auto races....
But the news media will do ANYTHING to publicize her. In 2005, she was dubbed the IRL "Rookie Of the Year." Constantly. This got me to wondering. I wrote the IRL asking for a list of the 2005 rookies. And I got it back. Three people.
Translation: Mrs. Hospenthal earned her IRL "Rookie Of the Year" award by beating out TWO people!
Which brings us to...Miss Sports Media Darling, Pro golf Division.
Another case of an overrated, overhyped sports personality. The day she turned 18, Michelle Weak (pun intended) had her photo on the front page of USA Today. And a story inside. Not bad for somebody who, up to that point for 2007, had a 69th-place finish, an 84th-place finish, four withdrawls, two missed cuts and exactly one under-par round. Is it any wonder why I often refer to her as Miss Last Place?
When she actually MADE PAR, the Associated Press actually ran a STORY ABOUT THAT!!!!
Oh, and after Miss Last Place actually finished 19th in a women's tournament for SECOND to the last place 3 days after her birthday, USA Today "rewarded" her with a full-page feature, complete with three photos. Par for the course. No matter WHERE Miss Last Place is in a golf tournament, the Associated Press mentions her. Often in the lead paragraph. And let's not forget all the hoopla the news media gave Miss Last Place for competing against the men. All were sponsors exemptions. All were in tournaments where Tiger Woods and roughly 26 of the 30 top money winners WEREN'T competing.
Let's see, since turning pro, Miss Last Place is oh-for-25 in tournaments. In over half of them, she's either been disqualified, missed the cut or simply withdrawn.
THE BOTTOM LINE...
The two most overrated overpublizied women in the world of sports--Mrs. Hospenthal and Miss Last Place--are a combined oh-for-72.
It doesn't matter how BAD you are. Just how young and good-looking you are!
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