The Slav's Baseball Blog - BASEBALL 24-7-365
The Slav's Blog about anything relating to the great game of baseball
- and other less important issues from outside the diamond.
The best baseball blog that you have never heard of.
THE BIG ZIT - CLOSING IN ON HIS PRE-SEASON PREDICTION OF NUMBER OF LOSSES HE WOULD START THE SEASON WITH
Barry Zito continued his torrid march toward ignominity yesterday versus the Chicago White Sox yesterday, a team he used to own.
Zito continued to try to mask his oozing pus of a fastball (84 MPH tops), with a change-up (74 MPH). This appears to be some sort of a change-up on top of a change-up strategy, with the occasional shadow of his knee-buckling curve-ball mixed in.
Painful to watch. I wonder why nobody asks the question, "why would a pitcher, with no prior record of injuries, all of a sudden lose 8-9 MPH off his fastball?" What happened? Is his Fastball a PED testing casualty? Is this a big contract, I don't give a shit about my legacy shutdown?
In related Gigante news, Owner Peter Magowan will step down, however he will not take GM Brian Sabean with him. So Giants fans will continue to be cursed.
Your 2008 San Francisco Giants - 54 Years of World Series futility and counting.
If there was any doubt before that the thirty year drought between Triple Crown winners is about to end in three weeks at Belmont Park, Big Brown laid them to rest today at Pimlico Race Track.
Once again, this horse turned it up a notch as the horses came down the back stretch, just as he finished twenty opponents in the Kentucky Derby.
That makes it two straight races that this beautiful horse evoked images of Secretariat, barreling down the back stretch and Belmont Park and obliterating the assembled field.
BIG BROWN - PREAKNESS:
THE AERIAL VIEW OF HIS STRETCH RUN BLOWOUT IS AWESOME - HE JUST HAS ANOTHER GEAR THE OTHER HORSES DO NOT
Folks, these are not horses recruited from outside the glue factory that Big Blue is passing like they are standing still. These are quality, stakes winners from all over the world.
So unless there is some horse bred and trained to run the distance the Belmont offers, or there is some sort of jockey error that costs them the race, this horse seems poised to take his place alongside "Big Red" Secretariat, as one of the all-time great horses.
This horse Big Brown is a beauty, in that he is a classically beautiful thoroughbred and he is a beast to his opponents. Nobody has yet figured out how to handle him. Like the greats before him, he apears to have a remarkable will to win, to run up front and in the lead.
His jockey's only problem to date seems to be to keep from spending himself too early.
That will be an even more important skill to have come the third leg of the Triple Crown in New York.
Stay tuned, it might be thirty years before we see another Triple Crown winner after this one. Go Big Brown, bring it home.
------------------------------------ SECRETARIAT KENTUCKY DERBY FACTS:
On his way to a still-standing track record (1:59 2/5), he ran each quarter-mile (approximately 400 m) segment faster than the one before it.
The successive quarter-mile times were: 25 1/5, 24, 23 4/5, 23 2/5 and 23.
This means he was still accelerating as of the final quarter-mile of the race.
It would be 28 years before any other horse would run the Derby in less than 2 minutes (Monarchos in 2001).
------------------------------ SECRETARIAT v. BIG BROWN - TALE OF THE TAPE
Kentucky Derby:
Year Time Purse Field
1973 Secretariat 1:59.40 $155,050 13
2008 Big Brown 2:01.82 $1,451,800 20
Preakness:
1973 Secretariat 1:54.40 $129,900 6
2008 Big Brown 1:54.72 $600,000 12
Kentucky Derby:
1973 Secretariat 2:24 $90,120 5
2008 Big Brown ???? ????? ??
---------------------------
NBC did a good job with their round table discussion of some of the problems the industry faces as a result of the Eight Belles tragedy. They brought up genetics and training as issues, but really seemed to zero in on the use of "permissible medications" such as Lasix, anti-inflammatories and steroids.
To the panelists, steroids were not considered a "performance enhancer" so much as a tool to enhance recovery. Very interesting and here you have a pool of athletes, some who use and some who do not, legally by the way, since most states allow the use of steroids for race horses. It doesn't seem as if that during the 20-30 years that this pool of athletes have been using steroids, that the winning times (performance) have been declining dramatically (enhancement), if at all.
Veteran analysts Randy Moss said pointedly that you could draw a clear link to the increased use steroids and anti-inflammatories and the increased numbers of break downs on the track. Very interesting and provocative points indeed.
It was also rather humorous to see Bob "The Midget" Costas in the jockeys room conducting interviews with subjects that he literally towered over. Now he knows what Shaq feels like.
------------------------------- SECRETARIAT'S IMMORTAL BELMONT RUN:
New York Post columnist Larry Merchant (now better known as HBO's sharp-tongued boxing analyst) clicked off his words in Broadway staccato:
"Secretariat," said Merchant, "is the kind of Big Horse that makes grown men weep, even when they are flint-hearted bettors, even when he goes off at 1-10. He is the apparently unflawed hunk of beauty and beast they search for doggedly in the racing charts every day, and never seemed to find. His supporters rhapsodize over him as though he is a four-legged Nureyev, extolling virtues of his musculature, his grace, his urine specimens." If he were to lose the Belmont, Merchant warned, "the country may turn sullen and mutinous."
ONE OF THESE COACHES IS A WINNER - AND ONE IS A LOSER - ANY QUESTIONS???
This story really illustrates what is wrong with the MSM, talk radio mentality we have today in sports and politics as well. The part of the story that received the most attention, the most airplay was Coach Dungy's closing remarks as reported below:
Then someone asked if anything happened last season that he wished he could include in the book. What followed was vintage Dungy. He seized the opening. He brought up the videotaping scandal with the New England Patriots.
"We talk about how important it is to do things the right way and have integrity so that when you do win, people can never ask that question," he said. "That's the great thing that I'm happy about with our team.
"Yes, we won. But no one is really going to ask, 'Did they cheat? Did they do things the right way?' I think our record speaks for itself and if you're a true champion, that's the way you'd like it to be."
Now as I read it, he did not mention the Patriots directly, but I agree with his message entirely. I think it is a joke how virtually every mouthpiece and talking head has put the whitewash to the Matt Walsh tapes saying they didn't reveal anything new, they didn't have any impact on the Patriots Super Bowl, etc. etc.
Well, there was new information in that they were taping the offensive signals as well. That was new information. They taped a team before an AFC Championship Game. The argument that it had no impact begs the question posed by those who do not accept the "steroids don't help you hit HR's" argument, "Then why did they do it?"
I suppose they did it because "everybody else was doing it". I'm not sure why everyone else was doing it if it didn't work though. I'm still having trouble reconciling those two arguments. Besides, like my Mom used to say, "If everyone else was jumping off a bridge, would you jump off too?" You gotta love a Mom's wisdom.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
The Patriots and Belli-cheat must have thought it would help or he would not have committed valuable team time and resources in doing it. THEY CLEARLY THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP. They weren't taping these signals for posterity. Or if the opposing coaches all forgot their own signals they could just requisition the Patriot for their tapes and they could re-learn them.
I think it's time that we institute the same types of disclosure rules that we impose on analysts and CEO's when they go before the media and talk about a particular stock or company. They have to completely disclose any relationships they have with the company that could cloud or impact the information being dispensed.
So before these talking heads pontificate and editorialize about these issues they would have to disclose that "my station is a corporate partner of the NFL". Instead, we get the nonsense that these ass-clowns are legitimate reporters who would never let buckets of money cloud their stated opinions. Or that of their bosses. Give me a break. I believe the relevant phrase that describes the situation is "You don't shit where you eat". You might as well refer to ESPN News as the ESPN Spin and Promote our Corporate Partners Department. Those boys can spin a story like a top.
But don't listen to just my opinion. Here is the opinion of former Sports Illustrated journalist and author Rick Reilly before he jumped over to the dark-side that is ESPN. I'm guessing you won't hear nearly the same opinions from Mr. Reilly in the future. A $12 million dollar salary (hush-money) buys a shitload of silence:
RICK REILLY RELEASING HIS INNER NOAM CHOMSKY
After listening to that, every time I see Mr. Reilly on ESPN, I'm sure I'll be reminded of that joke that ends "....we know what you are, we're just deciding on the price."
(for those who are old-joke handicapped, it rhymes with bore, only with the H-sound instead of the B-)
And to the idiot ex-players on ESPN who say it makes no difference that the Pats taped (cheated): Why then when you played did you have signals and audibles in the first place? Why didn't you just go up to the line and, instead of barking out signals or pointing like spasmodic idiots, just yell at the defense "We're going to run a toss sweep to left and you can't stop us, you pansies." And then the middle linebacker could yell back, "That's fine bucket-head, we have a run blitz called, we're going to stuff your toss sweep right back up your butt."
It doesn't work that way because there is a large advantage in disguising coverages and blitzes, etc.
Oh and I love how the fall back argument is "Well who cares? Everybody was doing it."
I just love how these hypocritical idiots pick and choose how and where to apply their ethics. Great lesson for the kids. Luckily for us adults, it seems as if the kids from Jefferson High School see through the mixed messages they're getting. They should be applauded for that.
What gets lost in the story is the impact that Coach Dungy still has among Tampa's youth and he's not even the current football coach of the local team. The impact his book has had on that group makes Dungy a Hall of Fame coach and a HOF human being. That's why he'll always be a better coach, unless you only look at wins/losses, Super Bowl rings. And even that metric can be deceiving.
I'm glad to see the book get it's just due as well. I've mentioned the book before here and it's listed as one of my favorite books, I would give it high marks. It is one of the best books I've ever read by a coach. Like a John Wooden, Dungy doesn't just teach the sport, he doesn't just build the skills of the players he coaches, he builds the inner strength and character of the individual.
That's what great coaches do. It's clear that he and Coach Bellicheat move in different circles and operate from opposite ends of the spectrum ethically and morally.
Dungy's 'Quiet Strength' Fires Up Jefferson Students
By JOE HENDERSON
Published: May 9, 2008
TAMPA - Both sides of the Jefferson High gymnasium were packed with stomping, cheering, chattering students early Thursday afternoon. They weren't there for a pep rally or a big game, although you couldn't have guessed that by how excited everyone seemed.
They were there because of a book.
Tony Dungy's book.
"This is a little hard to believe here," he said with a look that suggested he wasn't quite ready for how big this had become. "When we wrote the book, you hoped it might get into the hands of young people and maybe have an impact for good, but to hear how the whole school here read it and how it turned out - it's overwhelming."
(click on the link above to read the entire article)
In the aftermath of the tragedy at the Kentucky Derby involving the filly Eight Belles, comes PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), to get some national media face-time and engage in some all important fund-raising.
The spokeswoman for these clowns apparently did not even know that Eight Belles was a filly, referring to her in the male gender in interviews I heard. Apparently, she also could not explain to ESPN's Mike Tirico what it was that the jockey did differently or incorrectly, which in PETA's mind, led to the tragedy.
Word of advice to these media-whoring organization's, at least send a spokesperson who has am iota of understanding of the issue you are protesting. It really hurts your organization and its credibility when they can't answer the most basic of questions or botch basic details that even a casual horse-racing fan has knowledge of. Your front-person should be able to think on their feet and speak from knowledge not included in your talking points or media packaged handouts.
Also have a bit of a sense of decency and decorum before you rush before the cameras within twenty four hours of the tragedy splashing accusations against the horse's owner and jockey, both of whom were clearly still grieving.
What was another organization going to get out in front of you in the attention/money grab game?
Or does your experience show that these stories have a short shelf life such that you feel you have to get your name out front and center or you can't rally the troops and ring the cash register as effectively 48-72 hours later as opposed to 24 hours?
I guess there has not been a more over blown story than the White Sox Inflatable Doll fiasco. The Chicago Sun Times feminists at large Carol Slezak and Jay Mariotti are taking turns skewering the organization for the players clubhouse conduct.
The Sox hitters have been in a bit of a slump lately and were clearly using the prank as a device to get some laughs and loosen up a tight bunch. That Mariotti and Slezak would get their panties in a bunch over the issue shows how far political correctness and hypocrisy have drifted.
To my knowledge, no actual women were disrespected during the prank(s). Thank goodness the fellas didn't resort to the more traditional form of "slump-busting", where actual women are involved.
Ladies, it's a doll for crying out loud. If anything they are disrespecting themselves a bit. I don't remember "Bud" Bundy beaming with pride when his sister Kelly teased him about his inflatable girlfriend in the "Married with Children" sitcom. And Kelly sure didn't appear offended that her brother had such a "friend". It's called perspective people.
Also, it's really unusual for any Chicago Sun Times employee to call the White Sox organization to task for degradation and humiliation of women when in the Sun Times sports section, just a few page turn from Mrs. Slezak's column in the Sunday edition are the following advertisements:
XXX-Rated - Adult Video Clearance - Over 5,000 movies must be sold
2 for 1 Come Take Advantage
Buck Wild Girls - 24/7 - We can do what you want - $60 for first-timers
Full Pleasure Massage - 24/7 - www.naughty247.com
$225 All Inclusive - VIP Service - Adult Massage Bi-Reverse - 24/7 Free Limo Service
WOW!!! I almost had to take a cold shower after breezing through the sports section. Wonder what's in the rest of this rag?
So maybe the girl power duo should clean up their own house before they go condemning the behavior of others. I'm not sure you really have the moral authority to be telling other people what they should be doing and thinking.
I'm sure they will make some weak-assed First Amendment argument or say there is some sort of legal reason that they simply have to accept these advertisements, but sorry sisters Slezak and Mariotti, we're not buying your arguments here. This smacks of more hysterical attempts to get readership from what most people view as a company and industry that's slowly dying and currently on life-support. And these are the same idiots that look down their noses at the blogoisphere and the information and integrity contained therein.
------------------------------------- Here are some of my favorite lines/scenes from the movie. After twenty years it seems the are rumblings of a sequel. Not sure they can really top this one, but it will be interesting to see what they come up with.
[Opening narration] Annie Savoy: I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I heard that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring... which makes it like sex. There's never been a ballplayer slept with me who didn't have the best year of his career. Making love is like hitting a baseball: you just gotta relax and concentrate. Besides, I'd never sleep with a player hitting under .250... not unless he had a lot of RBIs and was a great glove man up the middle. You see, there's a certain amount of life wisdom I give these boys. I can expand their minds. Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. 'Course, a guy'll listen to anything if he thinks it's foreplay. I make them feel confident, and they make me feel safe, and pretty. 'Course, what I give them lasts a lifetime; what they give me lasts 142 games. Sometimes it seems like a bad trade. But bad trades are part of baseball - now who can forget Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, for God's sake? It's a long season and you gotta trust. I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball. ------------------------------------------------------ [On playing in the "show" - major league baseball] Crash Davis: Yeah, I was in the show. I was in the show for 21 days once - the 21 greatest days of my life. You know, you never handle your luggage in the show, somebody else carries your bags. It was great. You hit white balls for batting practice, the ballparks are like cathedrals, the hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains. ----------------------------------------- [to Crash] Annie Savoy: Oh, where are you going? Crash Davis: After 12 years in the minor leagues, I don't try out. Besides, uh, I don't believe in quantum physics when it comes to matters of the heart. Annie Savoy: What do you believe in, then? Crash Davis: Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. [pause] Crash Davis: Goodnight. Annie Savoy: Oh my. Crash... ------------------------------- Crash Davis: Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think? ---------------------------------- [Larry jogs out to the mound to break up a players' conference] Larry: Excuse me, but what the hell's going on out here? Crash Davis: Well, Nuke's scared because his eyelids are jammed and his old man's here. We need a live... is it a live rooster? [Jose nods] Crash Davis: . We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose's glove and nobody seems to know what to get Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present. [to the players] Crash Davis: Is that about right? [the players nod] Crash Davis: We're dealing with a lot of shit. Larry: Okay, well, uh... candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she's registered and maybe a place-setting or maybe a silverware pattern. Okay, let's get two! Go get 'em. --------------------------------------------- [Crash calls for a curve ball, Ebby shakes off the pitch twice] Crash Davis: [stands up] Hey! HEY! [walks to meet Ebby at the mound] Crash Davis: Why are you shaking me off? Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: [Gets in Crash's face] I want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority! Crash Davis: Announce your fucking presence with authority? This guy is a first ball, fast ball hitter! Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Well he hasn't seen my heat! Crash Davis: [pauses] Allright meat, show him your heat. [Walks back towards the box] Crash Davis: [to the batter] Fast ball.
ZITO ESTIMATING HOW MANY MORE STARTS HE WILL NEED BEFORE HE WINS A GAME THIS YEAR
Good to see The big Zit-o back in the rotation again. I see they tried to select a team they thought he could beat, the Pirates.
Unfortunately, the Buccos found a way to win, or Zit found a way to lose, whatever.
At least there is comfort in knowing that Zit-o doesn't cause any problems in the clubhouse. He's not a cancer there, although it could be argued that his salary is a malignant cancer on the Giants future plans to be competitive.
Thankfully he doesn't take up more than one locker in the clubhouse too.
And being a laughing-stock nationally for signing Zit-o, to what will go down as the worst free-agent signing in history, is much more than preferable to being a national whipping boy for the PED scandal, isn't it?
All these factors must have been weighed carefully by GM Brian Sabean and Owner Peter McGowan when they signed Zit-o and declined to re-sign the best baseball player on the planet. Don't you think?
Yes, life is good being a Giants fan. You sure don't have to worry about wins and losses on a daily basis. You can reflect on a day in the future--in the very, very, distant future--and dream of your favorite team being competitive again. With a nice shiny new GM who knows a little more about building a franchise and less about destroying one. Ah, perchance to dream. I can only hope I live so long.
55 YEARS AND COUNTING. LOOK OUT CUBS, HERE COME THE GIANTS.
Maybe instead of counting the number of splash hit into the Bay, the Giants could put one of those stick counters, like the ones the prisoner scratch on the walls of their jail cells, counting the number of years of futility the fans of SF have endured.
Opponents carry injured home run hitter around the bases
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Associated Press
With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of
Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she
had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared
the center-field fence.
--------------
I was going to post a diatribe about the state of sportsmanship in youth sports until this story, an early ESPY favorite in the tear-jerker category came out. And it's really a great story. I can safely say you would not have seen anything of the sort happen on the men's side, say at Omaha for instance.
The survey cited below from the Josephson Institute concludes that there are gender differences to account for in athletes perceptions and actions regarding sportsmanship, cheating and fair play. Having umpired and refereed both boys and girls basketball and baseball/softball, again I can vouch for that. So there are gender differences now and hopefully there always will be and for that I say "Viva la difference". As I'll try to illustrate in a future post, we're different sometimes for very good reasons and at times we just need to recognize that for what it is, not so much good or bad--it just IS.
But to get back to my original reason for writing the blog on this subject and the appearance of this story, I had to re-think my premise a bit. Is it possible that due to the fact that this incident happened somewhat off the beaten path, away from the bright lights and cameras influence the behavior? Would this have happened during the College World Series of Softball if it were broadcast on ESPN?
Does the increased intensity of the competition and the lure of the perceived prize, whether it be a national or regional championship or a potential college scholarship, lead to a decreased emphasis on this type of behavior?
I think it does. Coming from Florida, where youth travel teams are more prevalent than Palmettos bugs, to Illinois, where the travel team phenomena is still in its relative infancy, I've found the premise I've just outlined to in fact be the case.
True, this is just one person's observation. And I would like to see what the effect is on sportsmanship in this area as the travel team phenomena grows and spreads. But until I see a story like this in a high-profile, high-stakes environment, I'm afraid stories like this will be more the exception than the rule.
Below the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has put together a great web-site with some documents you can download to learn how to improve the climate within your program. It has great advice for administrators, coaches, parents, players, officials and fans. They have really covered the topic well.
The NASO site highlights some of the years low-lights regarding incidents where sportsmanship took a turn for the worse with tragic consequences for parents, players and/or officials.
And finally, the Josephson Institute survey “What Are Your Children Learning? The Impact of High School Sports on the Values and Ethics of High School Athletes,” highlights gives an overview of the state of sportsmanship and values at the high-school and youth levels.
Every day in America and around the world, sports officials are physically and verbally harassed. Most incidents do not require police or medical assistance, but in some cases, the harassment turns violent.
The fact that such behavior occurs at sporting events involving youth participants is appalling in itself, but the frequency in which these reports now occur is even more disturbing.
------------------------------------ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS WEB SITE
NASO receives more than 100 reports annually that involve physical contact between coaches, players, fans and officials. The nearly 18,000 member organization is not the "clearinghouse for bad behavior," says NASO President Barry Mano, but it is the belief by NASO that the reports it receives is only the "tip of the iceberg."
The following are examples of some incidents.
• Pennsylvania (Basketball) — A parent body-slammed a high school referee after he ordered the man’s wife out of the gym for allegedly yelling obscenities during a basketball game. The referee was treated at a hospital for a concussion and released after the Feb. 6 attack. Charged with simple assault, assault on a sports official, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct is Peter J. Dukovich, 47, Hampton, Pa. (Contributing source: CNN.com) UPDATE: RaeLynn Dukovich was levied the maximum fine of $300 and court costs for her involvement in the incident. (Contributing source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Pennsylvania (Basketball) — A parent body-slammed a high school referee after he ordered the man’s wife out of the gym for allegedly yelling obscenities during a basketball game. The referee was treated at a hospital for a concussion and released after the Feb. 6 attack. Charged with simple assault, assault on a sports official and disorderly conduct is Peter J. Dukovich, 47, Hampton, Pa. (Contributing source: CNN.com, 2/10/04)
--------------------------- Survey of high school athletes: 2006
Are coaches teaching our young athletes the right way to play?
According to a national survey of high school student-athletes by Josephson Institute, the values of young athletes are dramatically impacted by their sports experience.
The report, “What Are Your Children Learning? The Impact of High School Sports on the Values and Ethics of High School Athletes,” a biennial national survey conducted by Josephson Institute, contains both good and bad news for parents and school administrators.
“The good news is, the majority of high school athletes trust and admire their coaches and are learning positive life skills and good values from them,” said Michael Josephson, founder and president of the Institute. “The bad news is, many coaches – particularly in the high-profile sports of boys’ basketball, baseball, and football – are teaching kids how to cheat and cut corners without regard for the rules or traditional notions of fair play and sportsmanship."
Among the highlights:
* Major gender differences. There are dramatic differences in the attitudes and behaviors of male and female athletes. On virtually every question, girls expressed a deeper commitment to honesty and fair play than boys and were much less likely to endorse cheating or other questionable practices in the pursuit of victory.
* Hazing is widespread. Nearly one-third of the boys and 21 percent of the girls say that degrading hazing or initiation rituals are common at their school.
* Some sports are worse than others. Boys engaged in baseball, football, and basketball are considerably more likely to cheat on the field and in school and to deliberately injure, intimidate, or break rules than boys involved in other sports. Likewise, girls involved in basketball and softball are more likely to engage in illegal or unsportsmanlike conduct than girls involved in other sports.
* Athletes steal less. Twenty-seven percent of the male athletes admit stealing from a store in the past 12 months compared with 32 percent of the boys not involved in sports. Female athletes measured the same: twenty percent of them engaged in theft compared to twenty-three percent for all high school girls.
* Athletes cheat more. Nearly two-thirds of the boys and girls participating in sports say they cheated on an exam in the past year compared with 60 percent of the total high school population.
* Athletes respect coaches. The vast majority of high school athletes say their coaches “consistently set a good example of ethics and character” (90%) and that their current coach “wants them to do the ethically right thing, no matter what the cost” (91%).
* Coaches teach negative lessons. Despite athletes’ positive views of the character and intentions of their coaches, they’re often taught negative lessons about cheating and bad sportsmanship.
o Two-fifths of the boys and one-fourth of the girls see nothing wrong with using a stolen playbook sent by an anonymous supporter before a big game.
o Thirty percent of all boys and 20 percent of girl softball players think it’s okay for a softball pitcher to deliberately throw at a batter who homered the last time up.
o Fifty-four percent of male football players, 49 percent of male basketball players, and 18 percent of females in all sports approve of trash-talking.
o Thirty-four percent of all the boys and 12 percent of all the girls approve of a coach trying to pump up the team by swearing at officials to get himself or herself thrown out of a game.
The report is based on written surveys administered by randomly selected high schools throughout the country in 2006. It includes responses from 5,275 high school students. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent.
------------------------
THIS ISN'T GOOD - THE COACH LAYS HIS HANDS ON THE UMP - THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THE UMP GIVES HIM A MASK IN THE FACE - H.S. PLAYOFFS
Today is the 25th anniversary of the Lee Elia tirade, which surprisingly did not make the mainstream media sports highlight shows. Too many bleeps.
To celebrate, lets review some of the all-time favorite coaching tirades.
WARNING: THIS BLOG POST IS UNCENSORED - DO NOT WATCH ANY OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OR READ ANY OF THE NARRATIVE IF YOU HAVE VIRGIN EARS--OR IF YOU'RE A PANSY--OR A LIGHTWEIGHT--OR YOU'RE LIMP-WRISTED--OR YOU DON'T LIKE TO HEAR GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CUSSING BY THE GUYS WHO MADE IT AN ART FORM. BECAUSE THIS ONE HAS IT UP THE OLD WAZZOO!!!!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LEE.
LEE ELIA ENDEARS HIMSELF TO THE CUBBIE FAITHFUL
ROBERT MONTGOMERY KNIGHT AT HIS FINEST.
TOMMY LASORDA TAKES UP A FIVE MINUTE HIGHLIGHT FILM OF TIRADES - A REAL HALL OF FAMER
COLORADO FB COACH DAN HAWKINS ON DEDICATION TO THE PROGRAM AND MOTIVATION.
OKLAHOMA STATE FB COACH MIKE GUNDY DEFENDS HIS BOYS AND HATES ON THE MEDIA
HERMAN EDWARDS PUTS IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE
DENNIS GREEN KNOWS THE BEARS BETTER THAN THE BEARS KNOW THEMSELVES.
JIM MORA QUESTIONS HIS TEAMS POST SEASON CHANCES
JOHN CHANEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO CHOKE A BITCH
HAL MCRAE TIDYS UP HIS OFFICE AFTER A MEDIA BITCH ASKS A STUPID-ASS QUESTION
GOOSE GOSSAGE LOVES THE MEDIA AS MUCH AS I DO. A HALL OF FAME TIRADE.
KERWIN DANLEY TAKES A DIRECT HIT - 96 MPH FASTBALL TO THE GRILL
The equivalent of a line drive come backer to the pitcher. At least on a foul tip, some of the speed is taken off. This was a direct hit, the catcher totally whiffed on it, looks like he got crossed up, but he bailed on it and let the umpire take it right on the jaw. A 95-MPH fastball would be the rough equivalent of a Mike Tyson right cross to the jaw, or getting kicked by a donkey.
IT'S NO BARGAIN GETTING HIT HERE EITHER - THIS GUY IS A PRO - HE SHAKES IT RIGHT OFF
Of course, I haven't been hit all season so far, but today, I got drilled in the mask (luckily it bounced off the ground, no block by the catcher), took a foul straight back rigt below the elbow and numerous shots to the shins. Darn Freshman catchers.
1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.
2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects
1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.
2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects
1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.
