Extra Point/ESPN Sportsbeat for Oct. 1-15, 2003
Plays? Too crowded. Nobody goes there anymore
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2003
Extra Point -- Stuart Scott (morning): "On the same night the NFL decides it's OK for Brian Urlacher to go off on referees -- say, 'They suck' -- on the day the league decides not to fine him, they do fine Warren Sapp for abusive treatment of officials. They say it's different, because Sapp's offenses in their eyes were repeated. Maybe, but I saw the same videotape of Sapp bumping the ref as everyone else did. The league said, 'It's obvious it was intentional.' I disagree. It's not obvious. Sapp's in pregame, tunnel-vision mode, bouncing down the field. The referee was also moving forward. Two men, different speeds, same direction but different angles. The bump was slight; no way to say for sure it was intentional. And $50,000 with the threat of a suspension? Again, I don't know what the first two offenses were, and I do know that Sapp had been warned, but I don't think Sunday's ref bump should be part of the conversation."
Extra Point -- Jay Mariotti from Chicago (afternoon): "On any other night in any other season, I'd feel sorry for the poor sucker in the Cub cap and headset radio. But five outs from a World Series that his team hasn't sniffed in 58 years, sorry there, Billy, I have no sympathy for you. I'm sure that's his name, too -- Billy, as in goat. Call it 'The Curse of the Idiot Fan,' 'The Revenge of the Nerd,' the misguided reflexes of a party pooper more outrageous and ridiculous than any billy goat or black cat. We thought we'd seen every imaginable heartbreak in Cubdom, disposed of the resident demons and ghosts and toxins. Then came the eighth inning Tuesday night, the tease of all Cubby teases. This was a sequence you couldn't have contrived in your sickest, darkest moment, a wretched twist in which some of the fans who've waited eons for a championship turned out to be matadors for an eight-run Florida inning. In most cases, when a ball is hit into the stands, you might understand why a fan would instinctively reach out for the ball. But with Wrigleyville braced for a quivering celebration, the guy had one and only one responsibility as Moisés Alou drifted over. Get the hell out of the way! The Cubs have one last chance tonight with Kerry Wood pitching, but if they lose, face the ultimate reality of Cub life: The park is cursed, the corner of Clark and Addison is cursed, the entire culture is cursed. Curses!"
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Curses? I don't believe in any curses. No such thing. So what if my Chicago Cubs were five outs away from their first World Series since '45. So what if a fan tries to do what any fan would do with a ball about to hit him in the lap. Catch the damn thing! Curses? I don't believe in any curses. Mark Prior throws a wild pitch on ball four. Yes, the same Mark Prior who's been the best pitcher in baseball. Curses? I don't believe in any curses. Oh, a routine, high-hop, double-play grounder heads toward the best defensive player the Cubbies have. Inning over, right? What? He botches it? Curses? I don't believe in any curses. A manager frozen with a pitcher he left in too long in the previous game. A chance to take him out before more damage is done goes awry? Curses? I don't believe in curses. Oh, who is this guy, Mike Mordecai, who clears the bases with a three-run double. Until then, I had as many postseason hits as he did. Curses? I don't believe in curses. Besides, we've got tonight. We'll talk about it in a minute.
"We all know about Kerry Wood, and Cubs fans are hoping he simply does to the Florida Marlins what he always does, and that's win. In five starts against 'The Fish,' Wood is 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA. But let's not forget who's on the other side. Big lefty Mark Redman may not have a postseason decision, but he's got a track record worth noting. For one, he beat the Cubs 6-0 back on July 18. For another, he may have bounced around between the Twins and Tigers before coming to Florida last winter, but he's proven he can pitch in big games. Nine years ago he went 5-0 in tournament play to help Oklahoma win the College World Series. But curses? I don't believe in curses. In fact, I'm even holding my Sports Illustrated right now, the one with Wood on the cover and the caption, 'Bring It On.' Curses? I don't believe in curses. 'Bring it on' for another century, why don't you? Any team can have a bad century -- or two."
Plays? Too crowded. Nobody goes there anymore
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2003
Extra Point -- Jeremy Schaap (morning): "They are the great roles of Western theater: Hamlet. Willy Loman. Yogi Berra? Arguably the greatest catcher ever, inarguably baseball's most-quoted wit, Berra is the unlikely subject of a new, one-man, off-Broadway show -- Nobody Don't Like Yogi, starring Ben Gazzara. Nobody Don't Like Yogi takes place on opening day 1999 -- the day Berra returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time since he was fired as New York's manager 14 years earlier -- but the play is about much more than Berra's long feud with George Steinbrenner, the man who fired him. Mostly, it's about forgiveness and love of family and how a first-generation Italian-American shaped like a fire hydrant became one of America's most beloved public figures. Berra is beloved because, unlike the melancholy Dane or the suicidal salesman, he makes us happy, never sad."
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "The people who operate the Atlantic Coast Conference are not bad people. They have destroyed the Big East Conference but only because they had to, we are told. The problem with this ugly business which has taken place is that the people who are supposed to make sure this sort of thing doesn't happen are nowhere to be found. The NCAA has a great, conference-room table, and they've been hiding under it all summer, claiming, wrongly, that it's not their fault. Excuse me, but if the NCAA cannot do something about the misconduct of conferences in the realm it governs, who can? Are we to believe that this piracy cannot be stopped? How absurd; of course, it can. If some college coach smiles too much at a high-school phenom, the almighty NCAA will act like greased lightning to punish that coach's school. Here, a major conference gets wrecked, and they do nothing. A very fair question here is once a handful of super-conferences have destroyed all the rest, what do they do the next time they need $12 million? And you know that time will come."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "It's been raining today in the Windy City, but the weather gods have not cut loose the way they did in Boston on Sunday. Translation: Game on. They're still planning to play Game 6 of the National League Championship Series tonight at Wrigley Field. The Cubs and Marlins are still set to tee it up tonight at 7:45 Eastern on ESPN Radio. No matter what the weather forecast says, the baseball forecast is much cloudier for Florida. The reality is the Marlins still trail three-games-to-two, and they still have to beat both Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in back-to-back games. Here's a stat the Marlins might want to chew on. When the Braves had to face the Cubs in the first round, outfielders Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Gary Sheffield were a combined 1-for-29 against Prior and Wood. The Marlins should consider themselves fortunate if they can score even two runs in Game 6 against Prior. In other words, good luck. The Cubbies are a strong, 5-2 favorite to get this thing over with sooner rather than later.
"I'm going to be in Columbus, Ohio, this Saturday for the Big Ten matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the defending BCS-champion Ohio State Buckeyes. The Bucks' first loss came three nights ago at Wisconsin, and it underscored a huge weakness. Without suspended running back Maurice Clarett, Ohio State can't move the ball effectively on the ground. But here's the ultimate irony about Clarett: Not only did he file a $2.5 million lawsuit against Ohio State, he also has one on file against the National Football League, trying to force an early entry into the pros. If Clarett beats the NFL, Ohio State is going to lose a lot more than just a football game. Over the last decade, the Buckeyes have recruited some of the best blue-chip talent in the country, and believe me, a lot of those players will duck out early and follow Clarett to the pros. I've watched it happen to college basketball, and folks, it ain't pretty."
Le Batard: What a way to go
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (morning): "So this weekend gave us, ho-hum, your average playoff baseball game involving Pedro Martínez, Roger Clemens, head-hunting, bench-clearing, a 72-year-old looking for a brawl and a groundskeeper fighting with the Yankee relievers. Here's how baseball violence is different from, say, football violence: At the height of tension, at the very highest levels of this sport, the fight involves a 72-year-old and a groundskeeper. Now I love Don Zimmer, who actually looks like baseball, and I don't want to make light of Grandpa Roundhouse's injuries, but I ask you this, honestly, sincerely: If Don Zimmer were to die, don't you think the only way he'd want to go is trying to fight Pedro Martínez in Fenway Park during a Yankees-Red Sox playoff game? I mean, honestly, how much closer to heaven on earth can 'Zim' get than that? And honestly, if you were to wrack your brain searching all of sports for the funniest people who could be involved in a fight, how high would Zimmer be on that list? He'd be right at the top, no? Anyway, God bless the Yankees and Red Sox for somehow overshadowing that. What? The Cubs are going to the World Series?"
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (afternoon): "Can't we all just get along? Saturday's skirmish at Fenway between the Yankees and the Red Sox went along way in this corner toward no longer hoping for a Cubs-Red Sox World Series. The storyteller in me wants it to be so -- 1908 vs 1918, the 'Curse of the Bambino' vs. the 'Curse of the Goat' -- and then about a million curse words at Fenway by the Red Sox ruined it. Boston's players on Saturday again proved they're not classy enough to win. Remember, before the got to the ALCS the Sox distinguished themselves with a Manny Ramírez home-run trot timed with a calendar and a Derek Lowe crotch grab at the A's. Then in Game 3, which should've been about Pedro and Roger in a classic game, Martínez goes head-hunting, and Manny goes ballistic on a pitch that was over the plate. I give Pedro a pass for knocking down 72-year-old Don Zimmer. Zimmer did swing at him first, but to point to his head as if to tell the Yankees he was going to do it again? No class. Right now my World Series position is pretty clear. 'A.B.B.' Anybody but Boston."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Everybody take a deep breath, smile, even chuckle a little bit. No one was seriously injured in Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon. Yes, that idiot groundskeeper in the bullpen should remember he's a baseball employee and not a fan. Yes, Don Zimmer had no business charging Pedro Martínez, but you have to admit it was rather humorous seeing 'Zim' tossed aside by 'Martínez the Matador.' Still, let me repeat something I've said for years: The American League should do away with the designated hitter for one reason and one reason only -- the headhunter. Let's see how brave these pitchers would be when they have to duck a 90 mph fastball. And folks, clearly, the biggest abuser of this protective cover is Pedro Martínez. Even though he obviously has lost his high heat, Pedro still throws hard enough to permanently damage a hitter -- a human being -- who digs in against his chin music. I like the DH when it adds offense to the game, but I hate the DH when it allows headhunters like Martínez to hide in the dugout rather than come to the plate and get their just rewards.
"With last night's rainout, both Joe Torre and Grady Little changed their rotation headed into tonight's fifth game of the American League Championship Series. Boston's Tim Wakefield will try to duplicate his Game One victory when he is matched up again with New York's Mike Mussina. The Yanks and Sox from Fenway -- tonight at 7:45 Eastern on ESPN Radio.
"Oh, to the legion of adoring Cubs fans who are developing Red Sox-style jitters: Shut up and sit down. So you lost Game 5. Folks, I don't know a single baseball man this side of Miami doesn't think Mark Prior or Kerry Wood will deliver the Cubs to the promised land either tomorrow or Wednesday.
"By the way, there's a football game tonight between the Rams and the Falcons. This could be one of those rare occasions when baseball bloodies football in the TV ratings. Aren't the Yanks and Red Sox are a better attraction than the 2-2 Rams and the 1-5 Falcons?"
Smith: Naming names
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2003
Extra Point -- Shelley Smith (morning): "Pamela Mackey's feigned apologies for using the full name of the alleged victim in the Kobe Bryant case on Thursday were laughable. A supposed educated, respected, seasoned lawyer uses the woman's name not once but six separate times, and we are to believe it was by accident? As she threw up her hands in exasperation and apologized profusely to the judge, it was clear she wasn't sorry nor was she sincere about her pledge to not do it again. What Mackey did was go against an ethical code women have fought long and hard to preserve. I could recite a well-worn litany of reasons why the victim's name in a sexual assault case should not be released, but I'd be boring myself. What Mackey did was stoop lower than anyone thought possible, except then, she topped herself by suggesting the woman accusing Bryant of rape was promiscuous, using the woman's injuries as a way to get past the Colorado rape-shield law. Either Mackey has no moral or ethical standards, or she's fighting a desperate battle for a desperate man."
Davis: End is nigh
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2003
Extra Point -- Rece Davis (morning): "Get your life right. If there's sin in the camp, you'd better get it out. Whatever your faith or belief system, it's time to evaluate your life. Make it right. The end might be near. The good book says before the end of time there will be wars and rumors of war, earthquakes and famines, and ye will know the end is near if the Cubs and Red Sox play in the World Series. OK, so that's in the very fine print. Should the Cubs and Red Sox meet to end decade upon decade of frustration, it's not a feel-good story. Winning carries a price. Nearly century-old 'World Champion' T-shirts must be replaced, and the cocoon of general negativity and hopelessness, which has become a comfy home for the Cubs and Red Sox, would be torn asunder. It's not always easy to be the butterfly. There are still expectations, but now they expect success. But nothing's decided now. The LCSs are in doubt; plenty of time for bizarro baseball to be averted -- or for the Seventh Seal to open."
Extra Point -- Chris Fowler (afternoon): "Jarrett Payton is thinking about his father a lot this week. Memories of Walter Payton, the late, great, Bears Hall of Famer, remain a source of strength for the son who makes his first start at the University of Miami on Saturday in the Hurricanes' biggest game -- at Florida State. Jarrett is filling in for the injured Frank Gore. He is certainly no 'Sweetness.' He's also no Gore or Willis McGahee or Clinton Portis -- guys that he's played behind in Miami, waiting patiently. Is he ready for the featured-back role? Well, nobody's sure. We do know this: He is smart, classy, dedicated, well-liked -- stands for a lot of things in college football. It is doubtful that Jarrett Payton's play will be the key to Miami's chances. This is the most anticipated in the most anticipated weekend of the regular season. It's about fast, talented players selling out on each play, something for fans to savor, something for dads watching wherever they are to take pride in. Jarrett, like his dad, wears No. 34. I'll be rooting for him."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger from Dallas (afternoon): "We're here at the State Fair for the annual Red River Shootout, and there's no question why top-ranked Oklahoma is favored to beat Texas for the fourth year in a row. Bob Stoops told me this year's Sooners are much better right now than the national championship team was at this time three years ago. Now they just have to play up to his expectations. They have the top defense in college football featuring tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Teddy Lehman and safety Brandon Everage. Combine this with the improved play of quarterback Jason White, and you can see why everyone is hopping on the Sooner Schooner. But the Longhorns have a chance for an upset here. From what I saw in last week's over Kansas State, this Texas team is again outstanding on defense. Linebacker Derrick Johnson is the equal of Lehman, and Nathan Vasher is a shut-down defensive back. If Mack Brown's Texas defense hangs tough and keeps the score down, the 'dog has a chance to howl.
"Aside from Oklahoma, eight other unbeatens from BCS conferences tee it up this weekend, starting tonight when Minnesota hosts Michigan at 8 Eastern on ESPN. The Gophers are in trouble here, since they haven't beaten Michigan for the Little Brown Jug since 1986.
"The big one tomorrow has Miami visiting Florida State. The 'Canes have to fill the void left by injured running back Frank Gore. Otherwise, their three-year run against the 'Noles is over.
"Virginia Tech may have lost a triple-overtime thriller at Syracuse last year, but the Hokies should expect to gain revenge at home tomorrow.
"Undefeated LSU hosts Florida, and if Ron Zook can't handle Ole Miss' defense, good luck against Nick Saban and the 'Bayou Bengals.'
"A week off should help Arkansas when it hosts an Auburn team that had to work hard to upset Tennessee.
"The best news for Ohio State when it visits Wisconsin? Craig Krenzel is back at quarterback.
"Nebraska may have trouble with Brad Smith when it visits Missouri, but the Black Shirts should come away from this one unscathed."
Cohn: Cartwright and wrong
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2003
Extra Point -- Linda Cohn (morning): "You gotta love 'The Daddy,' Shaquille O'Neal. While chaos has suffocated his teammate and friend, Kobe Bryant, the Laker giant has been doing his best to take the attention away from Kobe and put it on himself. Whether intentional or not, it's refreshing to hear a pro athlete say what's exactly on his mind. Let's begin with Shaq's take on the likelihood of Michael Jordan joining the Lakers if Bryant had to take an extended leave. O'Neal was quoted as saying the Lakers don't need M.J. Said Shaq: 'We're already a nice car with nice wheels on it. It's perfect. If you try to put bigger wheels and try to make a convertible, then you mess it up.' That's not all. Shaq has called out his coach, Phil Jackson. Said O'Neal: 'He has to let me be me, and don't turn me into Bill Cartwright.' You see, Jackson would like Shaq to be slimmer and more finesse-oriented like Cartwright, the former Bulls center. Shaq says he's just fine tipping the scales at 345, 350. Pound for pound, no matter how many, Shaq is worth his weight on and off the court."
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "My how times have changed. One day last week on ESPN Radio, football great John Riggins recalled really getting into Game 1 of the Twins-Yankees series on TV. Riggins said the game brought him back -- way back -- to his childhood, when virtually everybody in his Kansas town would gather around TV sets to watch the October games. It was a common bond. It truly was the national pastime. Not anymore. These days baseball's no pastime; it's a money-grabbing tool. That's the No. 1 objective, no matter how, no matter when. That, of course, is why baseball is no longer there for our youngsters. It is only there for people who are willing and able to stay up all hours of the night to watch it, and many Americans, mindful of the real objective here -- see paragraph 1 -- are much less passionate in rooting for a given team this time of year. Too bad. That's what it is. Too bad. Even when the games are great, they are missed by over half the population, and that continues to be a bad thing."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "These are the most unlikely four teams you could imagine having perfect records. Who would have thought when the season began that Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minnesota and Carolina would be standing as the only unblemished teams in the National Football League? Think about it. Aren't these the same Indianapolis Colts who were crushed by the Jets 41-0 last January? The same Carolina Panthers who had an eight-game losing streak in 2002? The same Kansas City Chiefs who gave up 399 points last season? The same Minnesota Vikings who, at this time last year, were 0-4? While the Vikings have the week off, the ranks of the unbeaten will be cut to no more than three, because Carolina travels to Indianapolis. You've got to like the Panthers this week, because Indy's Monday night miracle against the Bucs was draining. It's hard enough to rebound from an extra quarter against the Super Bowl champs, let alone have one less day to do it. As for the fourth unbeaten, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Green Bay, and it says here the Chiefs could be in trouble. The Chiefs are coming off a tough victory over one division rival -- the Broncos -- and they face another one a week from Monday when they travel to 'The Black Hole' to meet the Raiders.
Excuse me, but why is Quincy Carter playing like Donovan McNabb, and Donovan McNabb like Quincy Carter? As they prepare to host Philadelphia on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys have a three-game winning streak for the first time in five years, and Carter may be the biggest reason why. His trio of wide receivers -- Joey Galloway, Antonio Bryant and Terry Glenn -- are as good as any in the NFL, Troy Hambrick is running better than Emmitt Smith did last year, and Carter is playing like Bill Parcells is getting through to him. The Eagles are still beat up, especially in the defensive backfield. The Cowboys are the pick this time around as we ask this burning question: Is Parcells about to take his fourth NFL franchise to the playoffs?"
Scott: 'Dog, ease up on the Colts man'
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2003
Extra Point -- Stuart Scott (morning): "It's official; I'm a moron -- like the baseball player who got the August call-up. My teammate's throwing the no-hitter. Fifth inning, he's sitting by himself. I go up and say, 'Goooolly, jeeeepers. You're pitching a great game. Matter of fact, you got a no-hitter going, but, uh, why are you over here sitting by yourself?' Sounds crazy. I basically did the same thing, and I feel horrible. About a week ago Warren Sapp left me a message. Just called to say, 'What up?' I hadn't gotten around to calling him back, so watching the Monday nighter, seeing Warren and his defenders beatin' the Colts down reminded me to call. So at halftime, with the score 21-0, I left Warren a message on his cell. 'Yo, big fella. Just wanted to holla at you. Dog, ease up on the Colts man. Twenty one-zip? That ain't right. At least let 'em breathe.' It was a congratulatory call -- at halftime. There was no way that a Bucs defense giving up only seven points a game would let a team come back from 21-0 and win, right? Aaaargh. I jinxed 'em. Warren, I'm sorry."
Extra Point -- Jeremy Schaap (afternoon): "So it seems that Arnold Schwarzenegger will soon be the governor of our most populous state. If Schwarzenegger, a serial groper of women and abuser of steroids, can become the governor of California, then why shouldn't others with similar skeletons in their closets be elected to higher office? For governor of Florida, I nominate José Canseco. Like Schwarzenegger, Canseco's an immigrant -- he was born in Cuba -- and should have the support of at least some of the Cuban community. Of course, if elected, Canseco will have to run the state from Miami, not Tallahassee, because he's currently under house arrest, but that shouldn't pose too big a problem. So many people work from home these days. And it's about time that Canada forgave Ben Johnson and elected him prime minister. After all, he's an immigrant, too -- from Jamaica -- and as far as we know hasn't used steroids since the Seoul Olympics. Schwarzenegger has proven that bygones can be bygones."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "It's the bitterest rivalry in baseball, so don't expect any kind words to be flying around Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park over the next week. The American League Championship Series opens tonight in the Bronx when the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees. It's the Curse of the Bambino versus the swagger of 'The Boss.' On the mound, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield goes for the Sox against Mike Mussina. Folks, there are five reasons to like the Yankees in Game 1.
"1. They're the rested team, not having played since Sunday while the Red Sox had to go coast-to-coast-to-coast to take care of business in that grueling fifth game against Oakland.
"2. Johnny Damon's absence leaves a huge hole atop the Red Sox lineup.
"3. Wakefield has a career playoff record of 0-3 for Boston. He was slapped around by the A's last Thursday, and he hasn't exactly been a big mystery to the Yankees He was slapped around by the A's last Thursday, and he hasn't exactly been a big mystery to the Yankees
"4. The Boston bullpen is in considerable disarray.
"5. The New York pitching staff is coming off an overwhelming series against Minnesota, giving up only six runs in 36 innings.
"The Chicago Cubs should even their National League Championship Series tonight against the Florida Marlins behind their virtually unbeatable ace, Mark Prior. As for last night, three Marlins deserve high-fives for their performance:
"1. 'Pudge' Rodríguez. Not only has he been a hitting machine in the playoffs, but this guy is like having a manager behind home plate. It's a joy watching him catch -- and run a game.
"2. Shortstop Alex González. We said the Marlins had a much better middle-infield defense than the Cubs, and González proved it last night.
"3. Relief pitcher Braden Looper. He had lost his job as the Marlins closer, but last night in Game 1, he looked a lot tougher to me than Ugie Urbina. Look for him to get a few more appearances against the Cubs.
"You'll hear baseball at 7:45 Eastern tonight on ESPN Radio. Check your listings for the game in your area."
McKendry: Carter producing
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2003
Extra Point -- Chris McKendry (morning): "Quincy Carter is running the NFL's most productive offense. Because he's efficiently throwing the deep ball, Carter and the Cowboys average a league-best 383 yards per game. Dallas is 3-1 and leads the NFC East, not bad for the second-round draft pick who the critics swore would crumble under the harsh direction of Bill Parcells and make a fool of Jerry Jones. So could life be any better for Carter? Trick question, because yes, it could be. Carter spent two seasons in the Chicago Cubs minor-league system before enrolling at Georgia and pursuing a football career. The Cubs just won their first postseason series in 95 years and sit four wins away from the World Series. Sports fans who love the Cubs even when they lose are going crazy for them now. Ironically, Carter is helping to restore the luster in Dallas while his one-time franchise, the Chicago Cubs, are becoming 'America's Team.'" Extra Point -- John Anderson (afternoon): "Oh, if only the Oakland A's had a curse. A Hall of Fame slugger they had traded off to a hated rival. A farm animal that had put a hex on the team and vexed their playoff fortunes for 100 years. But alas, they do not, and so the A's are again left to answer for another brilliant regular-season that ended with another maddening playoff loss. That's four straight series, four straight Game 5 loses, and an even more remarkable nine straight losses in games when they could have clinched the series and advanced to the ALCS. Perhaps because of their budget constraints the Athletics simply can not afford any postseason good luck. No, in this latest case anyway, the A's trouble is offense -- or a lack thereof. The same Achilles heel that plagued the team all season ultimately proving to be their doom at ultimately the worst time. There is the great pitching to be sure, so the A's will be back, but the failures of falls past will continue to haunt and be increasingly difficult to overcome in coming Octobers. Just ask the Atlanta Braves."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "If there's one thing the baseball lords want from the National League Championship Series, it's a seven-game run. The more the Chicago Cubs are playing, the more everyone is watching, and judging by the ratings for the Cubs' Game 5 victory in Atlanta, the word 'everyone' is not far off the mark. Baseball carried the Nielsens on Sunday night, so not only will the Cubs' fortunes be riding on Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, so will baseball's. Simply put, the Cubs are rapidly becoming America's new team. So as the NLCS gets started tonight at Wrigley Field, where does this leave the Florida Marlins? With all due respect to folks in South Florida, the public clearly regards them as a supporting player. Just check out the odds in Nevada. While the Yankees are an even-money favorite to win the World Series, the Cubs are 2-1, the Red Sox 3-1 and Florida a 5-1 long shot. Still, that doesn't mean you should overlook these Marlins. I'll tell you why in a minute.
"Just because the Marlins are a wild card, don't think they won't be a team to be reckoned with as they begin their series with the Cubs tonight at Wrigley Field. For one, they have the best defensive team left among baseball's final four, and up the middle, shortstop Alex González and second baseman Luís Castillo may be the best double-play combination in the business. Oh, let's not forget 'Pudge' Rodríguez. If he keeps playing the way he did against San Francisco, he could take the Marlins right into the World Series. Because the Cubs were pushed to the limit by Atlanta, they will not have Kerry Wood or Mark Prior going tonight. Instead, it's Carlos Zambrano, who has struggled in recent weeks. But before you say 'advantage Marlins,' remember this: Zambrano held 'The Fish' to only one run in 12 1/3 innings he pitched against them this summer. Meanwhile, Josh Beckett goes for Florida, having allowed a season-high six runs in a loss at Wrigley in July. As for me? I'm picking the Cubs to win this series, but because Chicago is my old hometown, this emotional prediction is worthless."
Wingo: Pudge perfection
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2003
Extra Point -- Trey Wingo (morning): "He was let go in Texas because they considered him too old and too slow. In the Division Series win over the Giants, Ivan 'Pudge' Rodríguez was neither. He was single, most important Marlin in Florida's win over San Francisco that pushed 'The Fish' into the National League Championship Series. And on that subject, it makes you wonder: Do the Rangers have a clue? During his 12-year stay in Texas, 'Pudge's' Rangers were an abysmal 1-9 in the postseason, so the future Hall of Famer settled on a one-year deal with the Marlins. Keep in mind he's only 31, Rangers owner Tom Hicks thought it was much more important to spend a quarter billion dollars on 'A-Rod' and keep losing than to keep a mainstay of their franchise in 'Pudge.' And by the way, 'A-Rod' was in his Miami home over the weekend, but he was watching playoff baseball while cast-off 'Pudge' was playing and excelling in playoff baseball. When 'Pudge' tagged out JT Snow at home, he held that ball up and started talking a blue streak. I wonder if, subliminally, he was saying, 'Hey, Tom Hicks, this ball's for you."
Extra Point -- Dan Le Batard (afternoon): "The magical, mystical Marlins are the best story in baseball. If they go 4-3 in their next seven games and make it to the World Series, they will be the oddest collection of players to get that close to the trophy since the 1969 Mets named after a miracle. Consider this: Florida's highest-paid player pitches for the division-rival Braves. This club is run by such coupon-clipping that its highest-paid player for this season and next will be Braves pitcher Mike Hampton. Yet here they are, still playing, having an inordinate amount of fun, innocent and joyful as something straight out of Little League -- but good enough to end the season of Barry Bonds. Upon arriving with this team Jeff Conine said he spent the first three innings laughing uproariously in the dugout because of how silly and childlike everything was. Name-tag seating arrangements on the bench like elementary school. Heckling the opposing pitcher. Pouring out of the dugout to celebrate runs. This team put the 'ball' in 'baseball' and the 'play' in 'playoffs.'"
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger (afternoon): "Is Chicago our kind of town or what? I can't tell you how happy I am for the old hometown. First the Bears stage one of the most improbable victories this NFL season. At halftime, the lock of the day was the Oakland Raiders, but they evaporated right before our eyes in the second half at Soldier Field. Did your 'suicide' pool get torpedoed by the Chicago Bears? Then last night the Cubbies win a postseason series for the first time in 95 years. Folks, what are the chances the long-suffering Red Sox could meet the longer-suffering Cubs in the World Series? That possibility could look a little bit more real tonight if Boston can finish off its comeback in Oakland against the A's. You have to like the Sox' chances with Pedro Martínez on the mound. Then again, the A's counter with a Cy Young winner of their own in Barry Zito, who pitches on only three days' rest. On the one hand, you have a team that's lost in its last eight tries to close out a playoff series. On the other hand, you have the Curse of the Bambino. If you flip a coin, it might just land on its side. You can hear the deciding game of the Boston-Oakland series tonight at 7:45 Eastern, 4:45 Pacific, on ESPN Radio.
"So many storylines tonight in Tampa when the Bucs host the Colts. Tony Dungy comes back to play against the defensive monster he created. He brings in one of the NFL's four remaining unbeatens, an Indy squad that is coming off a 55-point outburst at New Orleans. Then you have Warren Sapp trying to dance the 'Big Man's Boogie' as a defensive tackle and as a backup tight end. All that aside, it's been my observation that when you turn loose a great defensive team under the lights at home on Monday night, you've got to like that team, because defense thrives on emotion. The only chance the Colts have is a healthy Edgerrin James give them some offensive balance, but don't count on it. You can see the Bucs and Colts tonight at 9 Eastern on ABC."
Davis: Gap shots
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2003
Extra Point -- Rece Davis (morning): "Think the generation gap is widening? Think kids today -- players today -- can't relate to the old school way of doing things? Think again, and look at the Florida Marlins. When card-carrying senior citizen Jack McKeon was hired as manager of the Marlins, jokes were made. OK, I made jokes; the Marlins would play their games at noon, so McKeon wouldn't miss the early-bird specials at South Florida eateries. Ha ha. Who's laughing now? At 72 years old the cigar chomping McKeon is one win away from lighting a victory cigar for a trip to the NLCS. Florida can get there behind the left arm of a 21-year-old throwback, Dontrelle Willis, whose style and flair on the mound is reminiscent of old-school guys Vida Blue or Luís Tiant. How about that? A guy who was supposed to be too old potentially led by a guy whose supposed to be too young to pitch. The ultimate bridge to the generation gap -- and one the Marlins may just cross today."
Smith: Truth from Niners spokesman
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2003
Extra Point -- Shelley Smith (morning): "The San Francisco 49ers ought to hope Terrell Owens throws a sideline tantrum every Sunday. All it did last week was completely overshadow the team's bigger problems -- a defensive line that can't pressure anyone, a defensive secondary that can't cover anyone and an overall team performance that ranked among the worst in franchise history. The Niners are is spinning desperately out of control but not because Terrell Owens is mouthing off. He should mouth off. Jeff Garcia is hurt and ineffective. The defense is playing the wrong scheme. The coaching staff is in over its head. Like it or not, Owens is the most powerful offensive weapon the 49ers have. That's something Steve Mariucci figured out before team ownership ran him off after last season. He comes back in this Sunday knowing the 49ers can't win unless they get the ball in Owens' hands. If they don't, they'll be hiding behind T.O.'s mouth the rest of the season, because I don't think he's planning on taking 'The Fifth' anytime soon."
Extra Point -- Chris Fowler (afternoon): "Here's a news flash: There is no coaches' magic formula for winning big games -- getting your staff to coach its best, your team to play its best when it matters most in those games that define seasons and shape legacies. Of course, at Texas, Mack Brown would like to rewrite his legacy in big games. His record against Texas' best opponents is well-chronicled, but this is a 58-second commentary; we can't solve Texas' problems right here. And here's the rub: Great coaches like Tom Osborne and Phil Fulmer who used to get that 'Can't Win the Big One' label, they don't have any magic answers, either. I spoke to both this week, and here's rub: They don't even disagree. Osborne says no, the biggest games you give extra preparation. Other coaches believe no, you can't treat a big game any differently. This one? This is on the Texas players. They have to step up and make the big plays against Kansas State, and guess what, guys? An even bigger game next week when Oklahoma comes in. That'll help rewrite your coach's legacy."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger from Las Vegas, Nev. (afternoon): "The biggest game of the young NFL season unfolds Sunday in Kansas City, where two of the six remaining unbeatens go head-to-head -- the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos. Dick Vermeil's offense received a big assist from the defense last Sunday in Baltimore, but it was All-Pro return specialist Danté Hall who spelled the difference with a kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Remarkably, Hall has returned a kick or a punt for touchdowns in three consecutive games. As for the Broncos, they may have missed the playoffs for a second straight season last year, but head coach Mike Shanahan appears to have made some excellent moves. In case you didn't catch it last week, Jake Plummer played by far his best game yet as a Bronco. If Plummer continues his progress in the Shanahan system, this will be a tough team for anyone else to deal with this year. However, you've got to like the Chiefs in their college-like environment at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
"Tomorrow I'll be in Austin, Texas, for the Longhorns' Big 12 opener against Kansas State. This looked like a potential battle of unbeatens, but Texas got ambushed at home by Arkansas, and K-State, playing with a backup quarterback, lost at home to Marshall. Tomorrow Ell Roberson returns from a broken bone in his right hand, and the presence of this very mobile quarterback is reason enough to think K-State is primed for an upset. The Longhorns are loaded at the skill positions, but observers say the offensive line has been unable to play with the toughness that's needed both this week against the Wildcats and next week against Oklahoma. The 'Horns and 'Cats tee it up tomorrow at 3:30 Eastern on ABC.
"Oh, you'll also want to keep an eye on the SEC, where unbeaten Tennessee has a toughie at Auburn. The Tigers were one of the season's early disappointments, but a win here could erase a lot of ugly memories, and you can see the game tomorrow night at 7:45 Eastern on ESPN."
Cohn: George watch
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2003
Extra Point -- Linda Cohn (morning): "Think about it. Can we even begin to imagine the implosion by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner if the Yankees go on to lose their American League Divisional Series to the Minnesota Twins. That would be back-to-back, first-round losses by the Bronx Bombers. That's unheard-of for a team that has a tradition of saving their best for October. Game 1 took place on Sept. 30. That might explain the Yankees' looking awful in the series-opening loss to the Twins. Yankee haters across the nation are drooling over the prospect of the Twins doing the unthinkable. Even Yanks GM Brian Cashman was quoted as saying the Minnesota Twins were better than Anaheim was a year ago, when the Angels beat the Bronx Bombers en route to winning the World Series, but Wednesday manager Joe Torre told his team not to panic. Bernie Williams vows he and his Yankee teammates will be on their best behavior beginning Thursday for Game 2. If not, they'll be blinded by Homer Hankies and give their owner something to do this off-season -- other than making a credit-card commercial with his star shortstop."
Extra Point -- Dan Davis (afternoon): "A friend who is a New York Yankee diehard has been griping the entire season about the Yankee defense, and sure enough, sloppy defense has put the Yankees in a hole against the revved-up Minnesota Twins. The Yankees blew Game 1 with fundamental lapses afield. Even in Japan they teach left fielders to come up throwing to third on a single to left with a runner breaking from first. You cannot hesitate. And if you've played a zillion games in center field there, you have to know that a slicing liner right at you is going to skip to your left. The Yankees looked in Game 1 like the team with the least postseason experience rather than the most. That is not to suggest they will lose the series to Minnesota, but as they play Game 2 tonight, the Yankees are more than reminded of the fact that these Twins are every bit as determined to erase memories of the last postseason as they are. And, so far, they are a better-prepared ballclub -- not the sort of comment which usually describes Joe Torre's Yankees."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger from Las Vegas, Nev. (afternoon): "The tabloids are smeared with huge, back-page headlines. The radio talk shows are crackling with gloom and doom. The bars and coffee houses are awash in fear and loathing. Hey, New York, start spreading the noose. It's dangling for the Yankees, who face an absolute, must-win situation in Game 2 tonight at home against the Minnesota Twins. Now before you tell me not to panic, that the Yankees have come back from an 0-2 deficit before, remember this: These are not the Oakland A's that they're playing this year. These are the Minnesota Twins, whose all-time, postseason record back home at that manic madhouse called the Metrodome is 13-3. At the very best the Yankees have to think they can only escape with a split and force a deciding game back home on Monday. Joe Torre has to be thinking who he'll send to the mound in Game 5, but to get there, he has to win Game 2 with Andy Pettitte going against Brad Radke. By the way, I'm not a Yankee fan, and I'm not trying to make a case for them, but don't you think a seven-game series would be a better way to decide who's the better team? Since we can't change that, we'll settle in for tonight's game at 7:45 Eastern on ESPN Radio.
"Second-ranked Miami is a heavy favorite to win its 36th consecutive regular-season game tonight at 7:30 Eastern when it hosts West Virginia on ESPN. There's no reason to think they won't get the job done, unless ... That's right, folks. There's an 'unless' -- a snake lying in wait -- and that's the dreaded 'look ahead' to a week from Saturday. That's when the 'Canes have to play fifth-ranked Florida State in Tallahassee. Still, there's only one other chance of the Top Five changing this weekend. That's because Ohio State and Florida State are both idle, and Virginia Tech has a scrimmage at Rutgers. The only other potential land mine is in Ames, where Oklahoma will try not to lay an egg against Iowa State."
Scott: Loving a grand old game
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2003
Extra Point -- Stuart Scott (morning): "I'm feeling pretty guilty. First of all, let me say I love football. I do. I've been in love with her chop blocks, shoulder pads and stutter-go pass routes since I was 4 years old. But today I felt like I was cheating on football, being a little unfaithful. But I think she'll understand. She knows at the end of the night I'll go home with her, stroke her pigskin laces, whisper sweet John Facenda quotes in her ear. But for today I fantasized about the other woman, the crack of the bat, the thump of a 98 mph fastball, the majesty of Bonds, the legend of pinstripes, the excitement of the Fish, the exuberance of the Twins, the might of the Braves and the hope of the Cubs and Red Sox. I don't mean to covet my neighbor Karl Ravech's sport, but today, boy, baseball looked good all dressed up. I admit, if only for one night, I fell in love with baseball. This weekend I'll go back home. I've built a life with football. I won't leave her, but for a moment baseball playoffs were right."
Extra Point -- Chris Fowler (afternoon): "I get this question all the time: Where is your favorite 'College GameDay' location, the best place to watch a football game? I'm not trying to be political, but I can't give an answer. I'll break it down into categories. As far as the night before the game -- the buildup -- it's a tie: Austin, Texas, for the nightlife on Sixth Street, the great restaurants and the live music; and Texas A&M, for the tradition of Midnight Yell Practice. The pregame scene? You can't beat Baton Rouge, La., tailgating with roast pigs and all that good Cajun food, especially fun when it's a night game. Once the game kicks off? It's hard to beat Florida's 'Swamp.' I love that JumboTron audio-visual presentation, 'Gators in The Swamp,' before the team takes the field. Tennessee would be a close second. Saturday night after the game? It's hard to beat O Street in Lincoln for postgame festivities. And the most beautiful setting for college football: Well, it's a tie: Boulder, Colo., the alma mater, and the Air Force Academy and the Rampart Range. Hey, sorry. You can't take the mountains out of the kid."
SportsBeat -- Brent Musburger from Las Vegas, Nev. (afternoon): "The big payrolls may not matter one bit, folks. Odds are that the either the New York Yankees or the Atlanta Braves will not make it to the next round of the playoffs. Since baseball expanded the playoffs to eight teams in 1995 and added the first-round series, 21 of the 32 Game 1 winners have captured the divisional series. That's 66 percent. The math is lined up against both the Yankees and Braves coming back. We've already talked here about the potential for the Cubs behind Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, but as the Cubs try to go up 2-0 tonight, they send Carlos Zambrano against Atlanta's Mike Hampton. Hampton beat the Cubs back in July, but he wasn't sharp, allowing five runs on 11 hits, two home runs and three walks in 7 1/3 innings. Zambrano lost to the Braves two days later, and he got banged around, too, giving up seven runs in five innings. This game has all the earmarks of a high-scoring, 3½-hour contest at 'The Ted,' and if the Braves come up short, they can kiss their season good-bye for the eighth year in a row. That's because Mister Prior awaits on Friday back at Wrigley. You can see the Cubs and Braves tonight at 7 Eastern on ESPN, and you can hear them on many of these ESPN Radio stations.
"The Boston Red Sox and the Oakland A's are very aware of the importance of tonight's Game 1 at 10 Eastern tonight on ESPN Radio and television. The A's could not recover from last year's playoff-opening loss to the Twins, the same team that did it again yesterday at Yankee Stadium. Never mind the Yankees' loss. The most shocking development in yesterday's three games was their sloppy performance. That relay throw from Alfonso Soriano to the third-base dugout had Lucy and Charlie Brown written all over it. The Little Leaguers I had at Williamsport never had a play that looked that bad. Somewhere 'Boss George' is thinking about the new faces he'll greet at spring training next year at Tampa."
