TIS A GLORIOUS TIME OF YEAR by ST

If you have even basic cable TV you get March Madness games from 9am until around 10pm. On top of that we have the countdown to MLB season, and the NHL & NBA stretch runs to fill out the fields for those respective championship tournaments. Sprinkle in some serious NFL off season news and notes and you have a paradise for sports nuts.
Had an opportunity to see Washington Nats rookie flamethrower Stephen Strasburg. Hitting 100 mph on the guns is impressive and will woo the scouts and land a guy as the #1 draft pick. What will make him a great big leaguer is the devastating curve. He threw an inning ending hook that was measured at 81 miles an hour and left Tiger rookie Brent Dlugach standing. It was what he did to one of the best pure hitters in the game, Miguel Cabrera, that made me do a double take. After freezing him with one of those eye popping curves, he just blasted one past a guy who hit .324 last season with 34 homers and more than 100 ribby's.
Former Red Sox shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra has announced his retirement. Never tested positive or came clean, but I think we all know he juiced. He's the ultimate eye test, production drop-off once testing hit player, like Brett Boone. During the 2004 season, he was traded by Boston and it might have been the most significant in year move in franchise history. The arrival of Orlando Cabrera solidified the Sox infield, plus he was a clutch player. The curse ended and the rest is history. His best productivity came at the peak of the steroid era, and no, no a thousand times no, he's not a Hall of Famer.
Let's give away our last $50 gift certificate to Roaring Rapids Pizza.
E-mail the correct answer to stevetannen@live.com
In 1997 Garciaparra was the American League Rookie of the Year. Who was the runner-up that season in the A.L?

HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY by ST

So the anti-Ernie patrol has their way. The most successful coach in program history, by far is out. The arena which should be on Ernie Kent Way will feature a new guy in a suit roaming the sideline. I'm exhausted debating this issue. I will offer these words of caution. Do not for one single second think it's a guarantee the next coach will make things better. Do you think when Gary Payton left Oregon State after their 1st round NCAA tournament exit 20 years ago they'd become the worst Pac 10 program by a mile? Haven't had a whiff of the Dance since. The only conference team who has failed to make the field multiple times over that period. Save Arizona State, the only league program that hasn't at least advanced to the Sweet 16. Let's move on.
I love this time of year. I'm sitting here watching the early part of the Big East tourney with UConn taking on St. Johns. I'm also thinking about baseball. Season is less than 4 weeks away, but already the 1st bit of damaging news. The Twins, my pick to win the AL Central likely have lost their stud closer, Joe Nathan, for the year with a tear in his throwing elbow ligament. The top closer in the game wears pinstripes. Next you have the Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon. Nathan is in that league. This is a freaking killer. Okay, here's a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Roaring Rapids pizza. Great night out. Joe Nathan was originally drafted by the S.F Giants and made his M.L debut as a starter. He was traded to the Twins after the 2003 season and became a top flight closer. Who was he traded for?
E-mail the answer to stevetannen@live.com

FIRST OR RIGHT by ST

From history we all know the incorrect headline from the Chicago Tribune back on election night, 1948, "Dewey Defeats Truman". Turns out Harry Truman became president. More recently we had network TV declaring Al Gore had won Florida and with it the 2000 U.S. Presidency. During Saturday's Oregon win over Washington State at Mac Court, KVAL TV reported Ernie Kent was already fired. Is anyone as sick of the "annonymous" source angle as me? Would Mike Bellotti really leak information like this before making it publicly known? I simply detest sensationalistic journalism. Sportscasters and reporters who state opinion as fact and make blanket unconfirmed statements contribute to the National Enquirer, low end gossip mentality that drag us all through the mud. I'm not saying coach Kent will keep his job, but is it asking that much to wait until someone with the actual authority to make this decision is willing to go on record? Pathetic.
Check out today's headlines from the world of sports. Ben Roethlisberger has hired a high powered Atlanta lawyer to defend him from another sexual assault accuser. Can you say smoke = fire? The Eagles have decided to give that piece of useless dirt Michael Vick his 1.5 million dollar roster bonus so his career remains firmly back on track. I take such pride in being an NFL fan today. Maybe Tony Dungy can mentor Big Ben. He's already climbed into bed with a despicable scum of the earth who confessed to grisly, horrific crimes against the innocent, why stop there?
What's with the Lakers? Looked locked and loaded to ice the top seed in the West and position themselves exceptionally well to defend their title, but have hit the skids. This 3 game losing streak has sliced their advantage in half to 3 games over the sizzling hot Mavericks. See if they can regain their edge with Toronto in town tomorrow night as the trio of defeats have come on the road.
Okay, let's give away some freebies. I have a $50 gift certificate to Roaring Rapids Pizza and Poppi's Anatolia downtown so we'll have 2 winners. E-mail the correct answer to the following question to stevetannen@live.com
The season before last when the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship, they had the league's best record. Who was the last team prior to that to enter the post season as the overall one seed and roll to a title? Good luck.

ST THEORY OF MICROCOSM by ST

As a rule if you use the term, "in a nutshell", it's not good. 2 different sequences from last night's loss to Washington at Mac Court fall into that category and it's all you need to know about the Duck basketball season. Time winding down in the 1st half, UO ball, up 3 points. You figure they head to the break up at least by the three, perhaps 5 with a deuce or 6 if they drain one from downtown. Tajuan Porter gets his pocket picked by Isaiah Thomas who lays it in at the gun, slicing the advantage to a point. Fast forward to the 2nd half. Dawgs by 9, about 11 1/2 remaining, Oregon ball. Malcolm Armstead takes it to the rack, highlight reel attempt, just off. At the other end, Quincy Pondexter makes a move to the hole and slams home a perfect alley oop pass. Ducks race downcourt and Teondre Williams tries a one handed tomahawk jam, blows it but gets fouled. Misses both and in transition, the Huskies zip the ball around perfectly, culminating in another Pondexter slam. Game, set, match! No need to waste time looking at 20+ games of film, that's how this season has gone. Oregon ALMOST does something good, but get it emphatically rubbed in their faces by the opponent who does it better. For anyone who was in attendance, are you as astonished this UW team hasn't won more games? For pure talent, speed and athleticism there are maybe a dozen teams I've seen who are in their league. They just don't have a really high basketball I.Q. Ton of mistakes, not a whole lot of discipline and some really shaky decision making. At 20 & 9 with a winnable game in Corvallis tomorrow, they grab their 1st round game in the Pac-10 tournament and I think they'll be rewarded with an at large bid.
Quick thought on the NFL as the free agent period is underway and teams are making those harsh veteran cuts to make room financially and roster-wise. Carolina has flat out dumped QB Jake Delhomme. The guy who took them to their only Super Bowl following the 2003 season. He was so horrifying last year he got benched despite signing a ridiculously large contract. The Panthers, in essence, are paying him 12.5 million in guaranteed dollars to NOT play. Ouch! We will cover the whole gamut of insane bucks being tossed about when we rally the troops for SportsTalk at 3pm.

PROPER FORMULA? by ST

This has not been the lone conversation, but certainly part of it. Since the end of last season's disaster for the Oregon men's basketball team we questioned the proper steps for Ernie Kent to keep his job. I felt, and many agreed, that they'd have to be playing meaningful games this time of year. At .500, with 2 games left, a 2 game winning streak, plus the Pac 10 tournament it's possible this team could make the N.I.T. It's going to be tough to gauge how many of those at Mac Court will be there in support of the coach & his program, to grab a final shot at seeing Pac 10 hoops at the Pit or to pay homage to beloved former coach Dick Harter. As mentioned in a previous post, I sincerely believe it's that close. How this team finishes the stretch run will have a say in Mike Bellotti's final decision on who runs the show when the curtain rises on the new arena. Here's hoping the Ducks hit the wire in an all out sprint, winning games and securing another year for E.K.
Since my track record of predictions is spotty at best, I really need our NBA loyalists to give it up. After 3 games I did a segment on the Dallas Mavs and the impact of the trade that brought Brendan Haywood over from the Wiz to bolster their front line defense and rebounding. Last night the winning streak hit 9 since the trigger was pulled on the deal. Sure they beat the T-Wolves who are a league punching bag, but it was without floor general Jason Kidd. The Mavericks have taken down some weak teams during the streak, but also in there the Lakers & Suns at home and Orlando and Atlanta on the road. Impressive. Right now they, not Denver, might be the biggest threat to LA's dominance in the West. Over their next 6 games they play just 2 games against teams with a winning record and they're both with the Bulls who are slightly better than .500 at 31 & 29. They won't catch the Lakers for the #1 seed, but have now pushed in front of the Nuggets for the #2 in the race to avoid the Lakers until the Western Conference finals.
Okay, let's give away a couple pair of tickets for tonight's ball game at the Pit with the Huskies as the University honors Dick Harter. The last time the Ducks swept the season series against UW was their 1st Elite run in 2002. When was the time BEFORE that? E-mail the correct answer to stevetannen@live.com
We'll have the drawing just before 5 o'clock. The tickets will be available at
Will Call just past 6:30. Good luck.

WHY I LOVE JOHN DALY by ST

It's a heck of an effort for someone to make me feel really, really intelligent. When I overhear people talk about watching "Survivor", "American Idol" or their love of country radio I get that feeling. It also happens whenever XXXXL golf idiot John Daly speaks. Turns out he's sicking his trailer park fans on a reporter for the Florida Times-Union for having the audacity to "report" facts. Turns out J.D has one of those permanent record files middle school teachers used to threaten us with. The PGA put together more than 450 pages of his mis-steps from fines, to his acting in a completely unprofessional manner to suggesting(7 times) he needs rehab. The only reason this information went public is because Piggy Boy realized his lawsuit for defamation against the parent company of the newspaper was a joke and dropped making all that information available to the public. Daly is a classic case of entering a battle of wits unarmed. He's an abusive, low character imbecile who has figured out that the 13th, 14th and 15th steps are blaming others, excuse making and quitting. Guy has totally whizzed away some incredible talent and opportunity. But natually, it's not his fault. Daly posted his request for people to attack reporter Garry Smits on his twitter account. Anyone who follows John Daly on twitter needs to put down the empty can of Gator Brew, brush their tooth and fill out a resume at the Homestead convenience store. What a loser!

BASEBALL IS HERE AND COMING by ST

I find a few things about sports really hopefull. A brand new, untouched, March Madness bracket. I also love the home opener for baseball, regardless of the level. The whole thing about springing eternal. Ducks & Huskies today to christen the now completed PK Park. It ties in with the Grapefruit & Cactus leagues getting rolling as opening day for MLB approaches. Today on the show we will pick and choose a few teams and see what will make this year different, better, or worse based on what took place during the off season.
First, a bit of clarification. I have in fact changed my opinion on what MIGHT happen with Ernie Kent. I've never changed my opinion that I think he should be coaching when the new Knight Arena opens. I also think that from week to week his status alters in the minds of those who will make the final decision. Thought I made that clear. Obviously not. My bad. If the team rolled over on him and got punished in So-Cal then got torched at home this Thursday & Saturday it would have sent a horrible message. I honestly believe it's that delicate & touch and go.
Last week we had some fun with the news that John Daly was offering up advice to Tiger about getting his life back in order. Today we got a view of JD's track record with the PGA Tour and the story gets absolutely hysterical. He's been cited nearly a dozen times for "conduct unbecoming a professional". Six times on probation. On 7 seperate occasions he's been ordered into rehab or counseling for alcohol. Throw in 21 times being reprimanded for not giving his best effort. Yup, I'd definitely want this guy guiding me back from the disgraced. He's clearly the man for the job. I'd also like to see Nate Kaeding do a lecture tour on clutch field goal kicking.
If you want to see today's home opener versus Washington, drop me a line at
stevetannen@live.com
I'll have a drawing & hook a few of you up with tickets at will call. We'll announced & e-mail the winners late in the 3 o'clock hour. Good Luck