Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Myron Rolle chooses Oxford over FSU
Myron Rolle awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, just over a week ago, has decided to for go his final year of eligibility and attend Oxford University next fall. In an interview on ESPN's PTI Rolle said he still has dreams of the NFL but after his scholarship is up. In the same interview Myron Rolle also has some medical dreams: helping with infrastructure in impoverished country's, a medical clinic in his parents home town and just becoming a world citizen.
You to can only admire a young man who has accomplished so much in such little time, who's has a vision of his future and possible a new world vision. Best of luck to you Myron Rolle. Its such a breath of fresh air to have a student-athlete actually chose academics first. I wish this was a core family, community and societal value that was instilled more often. Teaching athletes what the difference between right and wrong is something has been lost, Plaxico Burress. That is another blog.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Blyleven waiting for that call from the Hall
"I still feel my numbers are Hall of Fame numbers," said Bert Blyleven, who ranks fifth all-time in big league history with 3,701 career strikeouts.
Some of Blylevens accomplishments really can leave you scratching your head, why hasn't he gotten in already. He is 27th on the all-time win list, with 287. Fifth in all-time strikeouts, and he is 11th in all time game starts 685. There are two categories for which no modern era pitcher will ever reach. Shutouts, Blyleven is 9th all-time with 60, and 13th in innings pitched 4,970. Granted the game has changed considerable since Blylevens rookie season in 1970. You have keep some of these stats in perspective, these tally's were accomplished with some of baseballs worst teams. The Rangers, Angels and Indians, even the Twins were horrible during some of his time.
Unlike past ballots, Blyleven has goods reasons to be optimistic. Every year he has garnered more votes last season finishing with (61.9%). Only Andre Dawson and Jim Rice were ahead of him. How and Why baffles me, especially Jim Rice. I'm old enough to have grown up with both players being there team leaders. But can someone really tell me why Jim Rice is even receiving votes? The almost 62% he received last year was a 14% jump from the previous season. Meaning every year he gains more and more respect. If Blyleven can at least reach the 70% total, then it will just a matter of when he gets elected. All players who have reached the 70 percentile have all been elected into the Hall. Since 1980 only four players who reached 60% did not eventually end up in the Hall of Fame.
"It's a nice positive in what I feel is negative situation," Blyleven said after last year's ballot result were released.
Live coverage of the Hall of Fame's announcement on Jan. 12 can be seen on MLB.com.
2009 candidates• Harold Baines• Jay Bell• Bert Blyleven• David Cone• Andre Dawson• Ron Gant• Mark Grace• Rickey Henderson• Tommy John• Don Mattingly• Mark McGwire• Jack Morris• Dale Murphy• Jesse Orosco• Dave Parker• Dan Plesac• Tim Raines• Jim Rice• Lee Smith• Alan Trammell• Greg Vaughn• Mo Vaughn• Matt Williams
Blyleven who doesn't understand what or why for the increasing support he's gotten over the years. "I don't know what the writers look at and why, all of a sudden, one year you don't vote for a guy and next year you do," Blyleven said. "It seems I always find myself this time of year defending my numbers more that admiring them."
The big knock against Blyleven has been his lack of benchmark achievements: 300 victories, no CY Young Awards, and only one 20 win season. What he does have is three, yes three World Series rings. Two with the Twins and one with the Pirates.
Even former players and Hall of Famers believe that he should already be in Cooperstown. "The writers never had to face him," George Brett said a few years ago about Blyleven. "If they did, they'd vote for him. He was a good as there was for a long time. Bert is up there with the toughest four or five guys I faced in my career."
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Testimonies Unsealed
Some of the more damning evidence thought to be coming out in the files are many of Bonds' test results for anabolic steroids.
Judge Susan Illston has ordered that the threat of prosecution and jail time be removed from any BALCO witness of source who wants to leak information. There are three categories of evidence covered by the order: transcripts, medical records, and laboratory results all stemming from search warrant affidavits.
In all this could start to paint a more clear picture for us bystanders/sports fans. Of the more than 30 witnesses who testified, almost all had little tidbits leaked in the San Francisco Chronicle years ago.
Victor Conte, BALCO mastermind, believes that the release of testimony and lab results may hold a silver lining for defense lawyers in the Bonds case. Because it could appear the government engaged is selective enforcement by focusing on Barry Bonds.
Absolutely it looks selective, when Bonds was so defiant to the Federal Prosecutors. It would only seem logical to build a case against him, for his actions. I believe the Federal Government isn't in the habit of coming after just anybody. They only do this when they think they have enough evidence, what's the old saying, where there is smoke there is fire. We still do not know everything in the sealed court documents, but come March, when the Bonds case goes to trial we'll all learn a heck of alot more.
Maybe by the end of this they will put an asterisk next to his name in the record book, "All-Time HR Leader*".
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
2 Florida State players arrested in campus fight - Yahoo! News
University officials say 20-year-olds Bert Reed and Cameron Wade turned themselves in Wednesday at the Leon County Jail and were released after posting bond. They and three other players who participated in the fight were suspended for Florida State's last game against Boston College. No suspensions have been announced for Saturday's game against Florida.
Campus police still are investigating the Nov. 12 fight between football players and fraternity members.
(This version CORRECTS that players were suspended for game against Boston College not Florida.)"
This is a perfect example of why Myron Rolle is a brilliant shining star and a roll model that young black men should try and emulate. I know there are many more examples but this is just the latest and best example for the young student athlete.
With the recent election of President Barrack Obama, whom I did vote for. I do have a question for the black community, is it fair to ask or to expect more/meaning to raise the bar of expectations higher for themselves? I would hope the answer is yes. And that America can move even closer to being unified, in more than in name its self.
"The Mitchell Report" One Year Later
The Mitchell Report created a sense of all players being on some kinda of drug or hormone, and that the clubhouses were just teeming with performance -enhancers. This did lead to a more strict drug agreement between the owners and the players union. Which was uncommon for the two sides to come to such a quick agreement, something fans are not used to. Because the player union Representative Donald Fehr had always fought tooth and nail to keep such things out of the collective bargaining agreement. In the past, I think the owners never fought hard enough, but they have always had there own internal problems.
In a half-hour interview last week, from his midtown Manhattan office, The former Senate Majority Leader stated. "The impression I get is that it's had a significant impact of reducing usage, although that still remains very difficult to measure with any complete precision." In all Mitchell's 409-page report implicated seven former MVPs and 31 All-Stars--one for every position. It also identified 85 other ball players to differing degrees.
Most players like Troy Glaus and Andy Pettitte bounced back with remarkable ease. But others like Roger Clemens and Rafael Palmero are still reeling from the sting of this report. Palmero who did, in front of Congress no less, say he didn't use drugs. He later tested positive for banned substances.
The biggest question now that these players are retired is what to with them when there Hall of Fame vote comes up? I personally think they should all be banned for life. I believe this to be as severe of an infringement to the game as gambling is. Only problem, there isn't much proof. So what should be done? Unfortunately they will be allow in to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Student Athlete
The Rhodes Scholarship was created in 1902 by British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes. Winners are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor, among other attributes. Past winners include President Bill Clinton, U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, Singer Kris Kristofferson, Former U.S. Senator and New York Knick Bill Bradley, and General Wesley Clark (ret.). In all 3,142 Americans have won Rhodes Scholarships representing 307 colleges and universities
Myron Rolle a defensive back at Florida State was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship today. He not your typical student athlete, especially if you are playing at this program. Florida State is not synonymous with athletics and higher education, as they seam to have their fair share of field troubles year in and year out.
Myron Rolle who should be made an example to the next generation of student athletes. "In the midst of the trouble that have gone on here at Florida State academically there are still student athletes doing the right thing," Rolle said. " Possibly we can move that perception from being a school that's just focused on partying and athletics.
Rolle who is one FSU's top defensive backs was allowed to miss the beginning of Saturday's game vs. Maryland for his interview with the Trust committee. Bowden was quoted as saying, "It's a no-brainer," and I know academics come first." One can only wish that Bowden and other coach staff's around the country would recruit more players like Rolle.
Myron Rolle is coach Bowden's first Rhodes Scholar athlete, in a career that has spanned six decades.
I would like to commend Rolle in his pursuit of a higher education. I wish the NCAA promoted more of this type of student athlete. I'm not crazy to believe every player is going to win a Rhodes Scholarship, but can they not strive for this type of excellence? These athletes have a gift, and for the most part are rewarded with some kind of aide form there respective schools.
I do not believe these same institutes always have the best interests of the there student athletes. If they did than the amount of academic fraud, we have all heard, or read and even may have first hand knowledge of, is appalling. We all know it goes to some extreme at every major program.
Why does the NCAA allow this to continue? They catch only those who are blatantly cheating, a bigger question maybe why to people turn a blind eye to this. One very large reason is greed, the revenues these programs generate appear to allow this cycle to go on and on. How or when does it stop or end. One way would to be actually foster and promote the student athlete, and maybe just maybe, we as Americans could find the leaders we desperately need at this time.
contributing The Associated Press
Friday, November 21, 2008
Why did we expect more?
I've had a request to write a blog on my beloved Minnesota Vikings. I didn't want to start my blogs about the my favorite teams. There pathetic play is calling to me and other readers to write something.
There are so many things to rant about I don't know where to start. So, let me start with the offense, the skill positions, ha. The Viking wide receivers have got to be the worst group in the NFL, absolutely horrible. A great example of this is week 5 vs. the Saints. Peterson had only 32 yds rushing on 21 carries. 32 yds. against one of the leagues worst defenses, are you kidding me. I know the Vikings won this game but is wasn't because of how they played. It doesn't get any easier for the Vikings who play 5 of there next 6 games against strong run defenses.
To say the Vikings have tried to build the WR position through the draft maybe fair to say. They did spend two first round picks at the position. Both came from the same University, South Carolina- Steve Spurriers gamecocks. There first pick was Troy Williamson. I still don't why they drafted him at all. They knew he had an eyesight problem, depth perception, and couldn't catch a ball. As any Viking fan can tell you. Next came Sidney Rice, also from South Carolina. I think Spurrier has a spell on the Vikings.
Besides poor draft choices there are the free agents they have signed, Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian. Bobby freaking Wade was there big free agent signing a few seasons back. I hated Wade at the University of Arizona and still hate him today. I'd like to say thanks to the Chicago Bears for letting them go. What were the Vikings thinking? Lets raid the Bears WR's because they have such a vaunted passing attack. Yes that vaunted Bears passing attack, can they even get the ball down by passing it? Alright, Vikings way to go, sign there free agents. Have the Bears even had a passing attack since the Ditka Bears of the mid 80's.
Poor poor Dante Culpepper, its to bad he wore out his welcome in the Twin Cities. This has given us Tarvaris Jackson, doesn't exactly strike fear into opposing teams. Then there is Gus Frerotte, I don't even say about this guy. A career back-up, who is now a starter, with only one play maker around him-(Adrian Peterson). Should we have really expected more than what we are getting from him, no. Frerotte is a nice back-up, fill-in for a half, but not a lead your team for the entire season. So far in 8 wks. as starter he is 143-246 with 1757 yds. 11 tds and 11 ints. and a passer rating of only 76.6. Is this honestly good enough, I think not.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Mike Mussina, Hall of Famer or not?
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's just the fifth pitcher since 1900 to win 20 games or more in the final season of his career--and the first since Sandy Koufax in 1967. He's the only pitcher of the five to win his 20th game in his final start of the season.
With only one twenty win season in 18 stellar years, does this merit a HOF nod? In an era of steroids and the long ball. Mussina had only given up 376 career hrs with a 3.68 era during the same period. That works out to less than 21 hrs a season on avg., that is remarkable.
The most noticeable drawback for Mussina, would be lack of awards. Mussina has never once won a CY Young award, he has finished 2nd several time, but has never won the award. He does have 6 Gold Glove Awards to his credit. He 3 in a row starting in 1996-1998, 2001, 2003 and his last one coming this last season 2008.
Peter Gammons commented on the Mike and Mike radio program, that he will vote for Mussina. Who will be eligible for the Hall in 2013. Gammons believes we need to seperate this era's pitchers from pitchers of the pre-steroid era, i.e. Bert Blyleven. Who in my opinion deserves to be voted into the Hall of Fame.
While looking at Mike Mussina's 18 year career the question still remains. Does he get into the Hall of Fame? After looking at what he done gold gloves, world series rings, etc. I think, ultimately I think he will be this era's Bert Blyleven. He will be close with no cigar, a bridesmaid but never the bride, just like most of his career.