Page 421 of 2956

      NFL labor talks to go into September?

      February 25, 2011 /
      NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell address the media during a press conference in Dallas, Texas on February 4, 2011, one of the events leading up to Super Bowl XLV. The Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the Green Bay Packers on February 6, 2011. UPI/Ian Halperin

      Just when fans thought the owners and the NFLPA were getting somewhere with the CBA discussions, ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared this little nugget on his Twitter page on Friday:

      NFLPA Exec Dir De Smith addressing agents now. An agent in room texted: “Not close on one single issue. This WILL go into September.”

      AWESOME. I love doom and gloom with my lunch.

      Earlier this month when it was announced that the NFL was bringing in a mediator to help resolve some of the issues between the two sides, it was a positive sign that a lockout could be avoided. But apparently the lockout whisperer George H. Cohen was unable to work his magic and the two sides appear no closer to coming to terms.

      Perhaps what’s more bothersome than Schefter’s report is something super agent Drew Rosenhaus mentioned on his Twitter page:

      It is very disappointing that not a single NFL owner participated in the negotiations/mediation this week. The owners need to be there!

      Tell me the owners didn’t skip the mediation that was set up to help ensure that there’s a football season next year. Tell me that they were there and that Rosenhaus is an uninformed clown that doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Tell me that the owners have at least a minute interest in making the fans happy instead of constantly bending us over every chance they get.

      If Rosenhaus was right and not one single owner participated in the negotiations this week, then it’s safe to assume that the CBA discussions haven’t budged since Roger Goodell and the league announced that they were bringing Cohen in to help. How infuriating.

      External Sports, NFL

      Was Chris Bosh’s 1-for-18 night the worst ever?

      February 25, 2011 /
      Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh stands on the court during the second against the Chicago Bulls quarter at the United Center in Chicago on January 15, 2011. The Bulls win 99-96. UPI/Brian Kersey

      Chris Bosh missed 17 of his 18 shot attempts last night in the Heat’s 93-89 loss in Chicago. His shooting performance was so bad that it got me wondering — historically speaking, just how bad was it?

      Basketball-Reference has a ‘play finder’ that allows users to look up individual games or seasons based on a series of criteria. It only goes back to the 1986-87 season, but for our purposes, that’s probably far enough. I asked the site to generate a list of players that attempted 15 or more shots but had two or fewer makes, and list those results in order of ascending field goal percentage. The resulting list shows the very worst shooting nights over the last 25 years.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      The difference between Jayson Werth the National and Jayson Werth the Red Sox? One year.

      February 25, 2011 /
      Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth bats against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 2, 2010 in Denver. The Phillies lead the NL Wild Card race. UPI/Gary C. Caskey

      It’s cool, Jayson Werth. You signed with the Nationals because they offered you $126 million. Nobody will fault you for that. I’d probably smash my femur with a hammer for half that.

      But don’t spit in my face and tell me it’s raining.

      When Werth signed with the Nationals back in December, he concocted this speech about how he’s always “been a fan of an underdog” and how he noticed that the Nationals had a “grittiness and a will to win.”

      Everyone knew he was blowing smoke but nobody cared, because how could anyone blame him for cashing in? Hey, it wasn’t his fault the Nationals paid him $127 million despite the fact that no other team was willing to offer him that much dough.

      But he shows up for Nationals spring training this week and the first things out of his mouth were about how the Phillies could have had both him and Cliff Lee had they not traded Lee away last year, and how he had a “great meeting” with the Red Sox and would have signed with them had they offered six years instead of five.

      For those scoring at home, he admitted that he would have signed with the Boston freaking Red Sox (a legitimate World Series contender) instead of the perennial doormats of the NL East (no offense Nationals, I think you’re beautiful on the inside) had the BoSox offered him six years instead of five. Holy mercenary, Batman.

      And talk about bitter: it’s not up to Werth to play GM of the Philadelphia Phillies. Maybe they could have had both him and Lee had they not traded Lee last year, but correct me if I’m wrong, the Phillies are the favorites to win the World Series this year because of Lee and Roy Halladay. I haven’t seen any respected analyst say, “The Phils aren’t World Series contenders this year because they don’t have Jayson Werth in right field.”

      Again, nobody cares that he took the money in Washington. Good for him. But considering they gave him a contract that nobody else was willing to give him, maybe he should spend more time being a National and less time sounding so greedy and bitter.

      External Sports, MLB

      Extension or no extension, Lovie Smith still needs to win next year

      February 25, 2011 /
      Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith (R) greets tight end Greg Olsen and wide receiver Devin Hester after Olsen scored on a 58-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter of the NFC divisional playoff at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 16, 2011. The Bears won 35-24. UPI/Brian Kersey

      The Bears made a wise decision on Friday by giving coach Lovie Smith a two-year contract extension. He had one year remaining on his contract and it wouldn’t have been prudent to make him a lame duck coach in 2011 after the success the team had last season.

      The team had to show a little commitment to a man that led the Bears to an 11-5 record and an appearance in the NFC title game. Regardless of whether or not you thought the Bears’ season was a fluke, Smith coached his ass off last year. He and Mike Tice were responsible for making mid-season adjustments to the offensive line, which paid off in the second half. He also had a hand in making Mike Martz his offensive coordinator when other teams stayed away, and promoted defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to coordinator (a move that worked out despite many people believing it was made out of desperation because there was nobody else to assume the role).

      Smith also seemed to hold his players more accountable last year, which is something that hadn’t happened in the past. He’s always been a mild-mannered coach and he’ll never be someone that rules with an iron fist (a la Mike Dikta), but the players certainly responded to his change in temperament.

      But with all that, Smith still needs to win next season. The fact that the Bears won a division title and hosted the NFC Championship Game only puts more pressure on Smith to succeed next year. Let’s not forget that he was on the hot seat heading into 2010 and had a poll been conducted on whether or not fans wanted him gone after the ’09 season, I’m willing to bet that over half of Bears Nation wanted him replaced.

      Just because he’s compiled a 63-49 record and has taken the Bears to the Super Bowl doesn’t mean that fans are willing to forget the three-straight years of mediocre football between 2007-2009. He and GM Jerry Angelo seemed to amp up their games last season and the results earned Smith an extension. But make no mistake, Smith, and possibly Angelo as well, is still on a de facto hot seat heading into 2011. The Bears need to win again.

      External Sports, NFL

      Learning to appreciate B.J. Penn

      February 25, 2011 /

      Spencer Kyte of HeavyMMA.com believes it’s time to stop arguing about B.J. Penn’s legacy and just enjoy the ride.

      Every time B.J. Penn prepares to enter the Octagon, the same string of stories and commentaries surface, describing the former multi-divisional champion as “an enigma” or “polarizing,” discussing whether not “the real B.J. Penn” will show up.

      I should know, having followed those paths half-a-dozen times myself here at HeavyMMA.com.

      While all of those angles are valid and a result of a career spent alternating between amazing and underwhelming, there comes a time when you have to step back from wondering what could have been or what might come next, and simply enjoy Penn for what he is, a truly one-of-a-kind fighter.

      This new way of looking at Penn is a shift in perspective for me, having spent a long time being frustrated by the duality that is “The Prodigy,” a fighter who can go from unbeatable to uninterested from one fight to the next. That possibility still exists; he could just as easily follow up his 21-second knockout win over Matt Hughes with a sub-standard showing against Jon Fitch on Saturday.

      Read the full article.

      External Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑