FINALLY TIME?

Alabama coach Nick Saban, known as Nick Satan in some circles, has had it. From USC to Florida to South Carolina to North Carolina, bad issues regarding sports agents. Nick's point is actually dead on the money. Why doesn't the NFL intervene? These sleazebag leaches hover around the campus looking to lock up some future cash cow regardless of rules. The schools faces the punishment. The player will reap the rewards of becoming a professional. The agent gets his cut. The NFL fills it's rosters. But when things sour there is no downside for the league, the agent or the player beyond the occasional wrist slap in college. An Alabama defensive end, Marcel Dareus, is being investigated for attending a party hosted by an agent. No $$ involved or extra benefits, just being there. I'd love to see NFL commish Roger Goodel announce a year suspension for any agent involved in sanctions or a punishment brought against any player where that particular agent played a role. Sounds simple doesn't it?
Been watching baseball for going on 45 years and saw a first last night in the Dodgers versus Giants. LA is nursing a 1 run lead with the bases loaded in the 9th with closer Jonathan Broxton hoping to shut the door. Earlier, during a mini bean ball fest, Dodger manager Joe Torre and his bench coach got thrown out so hitting coach Donnie Mattingly was running the show. Don paid a visit to the mound, turn to leave, but got called back and returned to speak with his pitcher and James Loney. Frisco skipper Bruce Bochy came out of the dugout to claim that constituted a 2nd visit meaning the pitcher had to go. Enter George Sherill who serves up a game winning hit to Andres Torres. It's baseball rule, 8.06D. There will be a quiz later on.
If you want to see the US Senior Open Golf Championship next week outside Seattle, drop me a line at stevetannen@live.com and I'll put your name in the drawing.

HYSTERIA & EXTREMISM by ST

We live in a hysterical society. One extreme group thinks if you want a ban on AK 47's in kindergarten classes you're a step away from losing their right to own a gun. Another thinks if you cut down a plant to build affordable housing, we're one step away from clear cutting the planet. It's spilled over to the insanity of talk radio and of course our coverage of sports. Dwayne Wade mistakenly makes a World Trade Center reference in discussing this very issue and in some circles gets lambasted. With the opening of the new Yankee Stadium in April of 2008, the lack of a Joe Torre presence rubbed some the wrong way. Over the weekend, FOX analyst Tim McCarver says it's similar to how Fascist Germany erased pictures of certain generals and leaders who were either killed or fell out of favor with those in power. Some have taken it as an over the top rip on the late George Steinbrenner. What they're forgetting is Big George relinquished control of the team to his sons, Hank and Hal the year before and it was they who allowed Torre to leave. We can't be sure George had his faculties together enough to render this kind of decision. More on this during today's programs for sure.
We'll also revisit the discussion Justin & I had about Michael Jordan's comments on Miami Thrice. Turns out MJ's thoughts, though in no way malicious, didn't really take some critical information into account, like even the remote chance he could have joined forces with Magic & Larry Bird. I'll explain.
Okay, the good folks at Tokatee are hooking 2 of you up with 2 passes to this week's US Senior Open at Sahalee which is just East of Seattle. Just drop me the correct answer to this question to stevetannen@live.com
Who won the initial U.S Senior Open, played in late June of 1980. Good Luck!

FEAR OF THE NOW by ST

It seems that every time a major event happens or a new champion is crowned, after a few hours we completely dismiss what just happened and try to figure out the future. With a dominating, unflappable performance, Louis Oosthuizen rolled to the British Open title. Already commentators are talking about his being the next to challenge Tiger & Phil and the game's elite. Really? None of us even knew the guy existed 5 days ago and now he's challenging world order in golf? Personally I found myself rooting for the guy. What we saw on the 12th hole usually happens in reverse. The unknown leader in a major like this has the tendency to be on the bad end of a 4 shot swing. Not this time. Not this day. Oosty makes birdie while Paul Casey, who had just cut the lead to 3 shots, exploded with a triple bogey and that was that. I truly admired the winner's speech where he acknowledged the 92nd birthday of Nelson Mandela, the former South African president as well as show his appreciation for St. Andrews. He's just an easy guy to root for.
The Trailblazers have hired a new General Manager. It's Rich Cho, who has been the assistant GM for the Thunder, formerly the Sonics for the past 9 years. The obvious connection is Portland coach Nate McMillian who worked for that franchise up until taking the Blazer gig 5 years ago. Gotta admit, while I think firing Kevin Pritchard was idiotic and short sighted, Cho has a terrific rep and has been hotly sought after by multiple franchises in recent years. This might work out after all.

A LITTLE OF THIS AND SOME OF THAT by ST

So we have a new athletic director at the University of Oregon. Comes here after an 8 year run in Lexington at Kentucky. Nice that we can get a first hand evaluation from a guy like Rich Brooks who has worked at UK during the entire time Rob Mullens was there. I'll categorize Brooks' evaluation of Mullens as filled with "praise". Cool. He's only 40 years old and according to current Wildcat and former Oregon State A.D Mitch Barnhart he's a numbers whiz so critical in these days of massive operating budgets. Duck coach Chip Kelly was on the committee that hired the new guy says he was impressed by those willing to provide a killer recommendation for Mullens. These are all people I've long admired and whose opinion I value, so I'm on board. Also, I'm not the type of person who delves too deeply so I'll concede to those more in the know.
Quite the day at St. Andrews. The South African Louis Oosthuizen(ooost-hoozen)has the big lead heading into the weekend. Guy has missed 9 of 15 cuts in the previous PGA events he's participated in. He's 12 under. Ties the 36 hole record for the The Open Championship. Last year it was 60 year old Tom Watson, a 5 time winner who nearly stole the title. Here in 2010, the 89 champ, Mark Calcavecchia in the hunt after following yesterday's 70 with a dazzling 67 to sit 2nd. He just turned 50 last month and obviously would be the oldest major winner ever. FYI, it's still Jack at age 46 when he won the 1986 Masters. Tiger and the 1st round leader, Rory McIlroy are still out on the course. The 21 year old McIlroy went in the tank under the conditions. His 63 tied the record for the best round ever at any major. Right now he's +8 on the day with just 3 holes to go. Ouch! Woods is even for the round, and while 7 behind Ooosty, just 2 out of 2nd place and a possible slot in the final pairing tomorrow.

RIGHT AS USUAL by ST

One of my all time fave movies is "Blazing Saddles". Mel Brooks is the Gov and his right hand man is Harvey Korman, aka Hedley LaMarr. In one scene Mel is struggling with one of those old toys where you hit the ball stapled to a wooden paddle. He whines that his isn't working because it's warped. LaMarr grabs it, goes into a smooth, repetitive paddling roll and says "Right as usual sir". Great sarcasm and perfectly describes my analysis of the British Open. On yesterday's show I mentioned a bit of surprise that 21 year old Rory McIlroy was one of the favorites as he'd missed the cut at the season's biggest events, the Masters, US Open and Players Championship. He tied a record for the best score in the history of major golf with a 63. I did semi-qualify by saying as a native of Northern Ireland he might benefit from a traditional links style, coastal course like St. Andrews. I did say Tiger was the guy to beat having won there the last 2 times it hosted The Open and he's right there. John Daly, the enigmatic 95 champ at this very locale had a huge round and is in the hunt. We'll cover the gamut on the show this afternoon.
Hip Hip hooray, baseball is back. I read that the TV ratings for the All Star game were the lowest ever. Not one bit surprised. Doesn't matter what that knucklehead Bud Selig does, it's a freaking exhibition. Put it this way, how many of you know much BIGGER baseball fans than me? I didn't watch. Putting a value on this game is idiotic. They refer to events like this as "showcase" events. Wrong! The regular season and playoffs are what it's all about.
I have 2 pair of tickets to Toby Keith at the Sleep Country Ampitheater in Ridgefield, Washington on Friday July 23rd. Send your response to the follow to my e-mail at stevetannen@live.com
According to Wikipedia, a single from Toby's 1st album was the most played country song of the 1990's. What was it?

THE BIG PLAN by ST

Being a sports junkie, we see life through a different set of eyes. Each year there are 2 days when we're guaranteed to have no NFL or college football, NBA or college hoops, MLB or NHL action that counts. The day before baseball's all-star game and today, the day after. Occasionally, depending on the day it falls, we'll get nothing on December 24th. It's why I pushed to get my wedding set for July 8th back in 1995. I did not offer an explanation but pulled it off. While the sports world grinded to a hault, I was sailing through the Carribean on a Carinval Cruise line more concerned with cocktails and the floating casino instead of the Yankee middle relief. So today is all about survival and counting down until the first guys tee it up at St. Andrews very early tomorrow morning.
Interesting trade in the majors today. Braves send Yunel Escobar to Toronto for Alex Gonzales, swapping shortstops. Escobar has clearly outperformed A-Gone the past 3 years but this season, Gonzo has been raking to the tune of 17 dingers already and he has a much better glove. The bottom line is this. When the opportunity is there to win now, teams will roll the dice. Escobar is 6 years younger but they have a legit shot to make a World Series run here in 2010. I'll further my case why this is a smart move on today's show.
I mentioned The Open Championship and despite his personal issues, don't sell Mr. Woods short this week. St. Andrews is a bombers course and Tiger has won the last 2 times the event was held at the legendary venue. John Daly won the time before. Jack Nicklaus, one of the long hitters of his generation captured 2 of his 3 Open titles at St. Andrews. He's a knucklehead and a philandering cheat, but Woods is the guy to beat.

BEYOND EXPLANATION by ST

Obviously the big national story in sports is the passing of George Steinbrenner. No need to say who he is as his presence since purchasing the Yankees in 1973 has loomed like an oncoming monsoon. In a lot of ways he represents the best and worst in us all. At times generous to a fault but under certain circumstances he could be a petty, vindictive ass. It's impossible to explain what it meant to pick up a New York paper during the mid to late 70's, through the 80's during baseball season. Would there be a new manager? What kind of rant was The Boss on? Nothing tells this story better than a simple look at Sports Illusrated's 1985 Baseball Preview issue. It was a picture of manager Yogi Berra from behind with the caption "Yogi's Back". 16 games into the season, with a 6 & 10 record, George canned Yogi. In a now infamous meeting, Berra cussed Steinbrenner out, threw a pack of cigarettes in his face and disappeared from Yankee Stadium until the successful Joe Torre era when George pleaded for Yogi's forgiveness. Over his first 23 years of ownership there were 20 managerial changes until the stability of Joe Torre upon his hiring before the 1996 season. Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on the show today.
Let's give-a-way another pair of tickets to Friday's Snoop Dogg/Ice Cube show. E-mail your answer to me at stevetannen@live.com
In the past 5 years, Snoop has appeared on a few of my favorite non-traditional network TV shows. One is on HBO, another on Showtime and the other on USA Network.
Name the three shows I'm referring to. Hint, one has finished it's run. The other just had it's season premiere and the other will begin next month. Good luck!