Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1003 of 1503)

      Dodgers interested in Dunn and Abreu, Manny still first choice

      December 30, 2008 /

      The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly interested in free agents Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu, although Manny Ramirez remains their top priority.

      Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said Manny Ramirez is the team’s first choice. Colletti hasn’t heard from Manny’s agent Scott Boras since Mark Teixeira signed a week ago. As reported yesterday, the Dodgers have interest in Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu as backup plans. Pat Burrell and Garret Anderson are not on the team’s radar.

      At this point, I think it would be wise for Boras to sit down with Colletti and figure out a reasonable contract. The biggest spenders – Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets – aren’t interested and I doubt Manny’s going to find a better deal than the one the Dodgers are offering him.

      Go be an icon in L.A., Manny.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Top 10 Erroneous Columns of 2008

      December 30, 2008 /

      In one of the coolest features I’ve seen compiled in a long time, RealClearSports.com put together a list of the top 10 erroneous columns of 2008.

      Patriots-Giants Super Bowl XLII1. Pats Can’t Lose

      “Crown them Now. Pats Can’t Lose” – Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times

      “…[I]f you’re expecting a Super Bowl…please be aware that the New England Patriots already have won their fourth Vince Lombardi trophy in seven years. They clinched it Sunday, while sitting around their TV sets, watching the only team that possibly could have beaten them, the Indianapolis Colts, lose at home to the San Diego Chargers … Beyond a mass kidnapping, nothing will stop the Patriots from their destiny. They’ve overcome close calls with great escapes, and now, just two wins short of the greatest season in American team sports since the Bulls’ 72-10 title year, no opponent in this solar system will beat them … Crown them. We know exactly who the Patriots are: the perfect football team.”

      Sorry, Jay. Take solace in the fact that you were one of millions who was very, very wrong. Unfortunately, your words got printed.

      I love when Jay Mariotti is called out. I don’t know, it just makes me feel all warm inside.

      Some of the other erroneous columns discussed:

      “Mets Won’t Collapse Again” – Mike Vaccaro, New York Post
      “Rays Won’t Make Playoffs” – Mike Vaccaro, New York Post
      “Picking Ryan ‘Highly Debatable'” – Terence Moore, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
      “Lakers Will Win Title” – Michael Ventre, NBC Sports
      “McNabb’s Reign Likely is Over” – Ashley Fox, Philadelphia Inquirer

      General Sports, MLB, NBA, NFL, NFL Draft

      Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan wins AP Offensive Rookie of the Year

      December 30, 2008 /

      Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide.

      Matt RyanMatt Ryan is more than the face of the sensational turnaround by the Atlanta Falcons. He also is the best member of a superb rookie crop, earning The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award Tuesday.

      The quarterback from Boston College, selected third overall in April’s draft, was a landslide winner in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Ryan became the third quarterback in five years to win the award; before that, no QB ever took the honor.

      He joins Ben Roethlisberger (2004) and Vince Young (2006) as top rookie quarterbacks.

      Well deserved. Ryan stepped in right from Week 1 and played like a veteran for 16 games. I realize Joe Flacco was equally impressive this season, but he benefited from playing for a team with one of the best defenses in the league. The Falcons’ defense is a bit underrated, but they didn’t give Ryan the same scoring opportunities as the Ravens did Flacco. Ryan didn’t get to play the Bengals and Browns twice a year, either.

      It’ll be nice to see Ryan on a national stage for the first time this season when the Falcons head to Arizona to play the Cardinals this Saturday for Wild Card Weekend. Check this kid out if you haven’t seen him play yet – he’s amazing. (Although, as I wrote last Sunday, he seems to be hitting that rookie wall because he hasn’t been as sharp lately as he had been earlier in the year.)

      NFL

      Bill Cowher turns down Jets

      December 30, 2008 /

      Jet fans hoping that the firing of Eric Mangini would lead to the hiring of Bill Cowher will be disappointed to know that the former Steelers head coach will not be in green and white next year.

      Bill CowherFormer Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who rejected a chance to become head coach of the Browns last weekend, is not going to interview for the head coaching position of the New York Jets, according to multiple sources.

      Cowher, according to a source, has been contacted by the Jets. Although he is interested in the Jets job, he told the team he would not be a candidate because he would like to bring in his own personnel director. Jets owner Woody Johnson plans to keep Mike Tannenbaum as his general manager after firing Eric Mangini as head coach Monday.

      With Tannenbaum as the general manager, Cowher is willing to pass on the Jets opportunity, stay in broadcasting for another year and wait to return to coaching in 2010.

      Cowher has told friends the Jets job interested him for several reasons. First, Cowher would love to coach in the New York market. Second, two of his daughters are either going to school or working in the New York-New Jersey area.

      Cowher does plan to coach in 2010. In 2009, though, he was only willing to return if every situation was right for him. He wanted to have a two-year break from coaching to be with family and recharge.

      I think several hundred Jet fans just dove head first off the Hudson Bridge.

      Maybe Johnson can convince Tannenbaum to take another position within the front office and then give Cowher complete control. Although to be fair, Tennenbaum has landed D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold and Leon Washington in recent drafts, so he’s not a complete dud as a general manager. (Of course his latest first round pick, Vernon Gholston, looks like a complete bust considering he was inactive for most of the season because he can’t learn the playbook.)

      The Jets will probably wind up with one of the hot coordinators considering they already have a GM. Like Cowher, one would think that Marty Schottenheimer would want complete control as well, so I bet he passes on the Jets too if offered the position.

      UPDATE: The Daily News is reporting that Cowher and the Jets will now sit down to discuss the team’s head coaching vacancy. There’s hope yet Jet fans.

      NFL

      Who’s stupid idea was this?

      December 30, 2008 /

      Apparently the 2010 Pro Bowl will be played one week before the 2010 Super Bowl.

      The Pro Bowl will be played one week before the Super Bowl in 2010 and both games will be staged in Dolphin Stadium, a person directly involved in the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

      The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced the move, but Hawaii’s governor and Honolulu’s mayor both confirmed the situation later Monday.

      “While I am disappointed the Pro Bowl likely will not be played in Hawaii in 2010, I respect the NFL’s decision to play the post season all-star game in the same city as the Super Bowl, one week before the Super Bowl, on a one-year test basis,” Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle said in a statement.

      It’s not a new notion to have the game moved up to take place between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. The NFL has discussed it multiple times in recent years, and commissioner Roger Goodell told the AP last month that having the game precede the Super Bowl would avoid a “somewhat anticlimactic” ending to the season.

      “Plans for future Pro Bowls are not final, but we have stated publicly several times that we are giving strong consideration to moving the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “We also have been exploring playing future Pro Bowls at the site of the Super Bowl as well as in Honolulu.”

      So what happens with those players that were voted into the Pro Bowl but are also playing in the Super Bowl? They obviously can’t play in the Pro Bowl and risk injury, so they just lose out on the honor of making the All-Star game? (Not that it’s much of an honor for players these days.)

      This is a stupid idea and it’s sad that Hawaii is going to lose even more tourism that year than it already has because of the bad economy.

      NFL, Super Bowl

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