From Pat
More corrupt: boxing, FIFA or AAU?
Thanks and I'll hang up and listen.
Pat -
Well, there's certainly a compelling argument for each.
It's almost like trying to pick between Charlie's Angels when we were kids.
OK, in that dialog, FIFA is Farrah Fawcett. The easy choice right off the gate because of the linger aftershocks of the international bribery investigation that spanned decades and detailed hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud. As for Farrah, well this poster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrah_Fawcett#/media/File:Farrah_Fawcett_iconic_pinup_1976.jpg sold more than 20 million copies. A poster selling 20 million copies.
Side note: In truth, while the internet has completely altered the business model of countless business, is there one that has been more devastated than the poster industry? Seriously, the 5-at-10 is 44 and we had a bunch of posters on the walls of our room growing up. (The George Gervin "Iceman" poster was a personal fav.) Where were we?
Boxing is Jackie Smith. It's easy to forget how corrupt/impressive boxing/Smith are/were in their heydays.
AAU is Kate Jackson. Underrated in regards to this discussion and a fine answer regardless the question. Still, AAU, like Jackson, just doesn't measure up to the other choices because of how awesome the other two choices are. Plus, in AAU all sides - shoe dealers, handlers, players, parents, coaches and even the NCAA turning an all-too-often bling eye - are complicit and fine in the corruption. While that does not make it moral or right, if everyone is willing to swim in the same dirty water, do we really care as long they don't use our towel?
Great question.
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From Billy-In-Brainerd
Jay-G:
I am not in favor of best-of-7 series prior to the conference finals in any sport [NBA, NHL, MLB]. If the NBA 1ST round had been best-of-5, the Spurs would have advanced. Further, some of the teams looked tired + banged up in the 2ND + 3RD rounds [Hawks + Rockets]. I guess as long as TV networks want programming + are willing to pay for it, we will have extended series. I am glad the Warriors + the Cavs have a week off to get some rest + get healthy. Go GS! Your thoughts + your pick?
BiB -
We can see your rationale about early-round seven-game series being too much in the NBA and the NHL (we disagree in baseball simply because the injury rate is lower and a five-game series gives too much advantage to the team with a real ace starting pitcher). But you already answered your question with the reference to TV.
In fact, we'd suggest having fewer regular season games to help prevent the wear-and-tear than cutting games off the postseason.
We do concur that having a week for these teams to get healthy - Klay Thompson to shake off that nasty knee to the head; Kyrie Irving to continue to get better - is a good thing for the series and the fans.
We will breakdown the series in detail come Tuesday-Thursday of next week.
But here's our pick: Cleveland in 6, and you guys know the reason why we feel this way - LeBron James.
Also, there's this point: Since 2000, the only two teams to win titles without a Finals appearance in the previous five years were the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. Neither of these teams are what you would consider Finals experienced with the exception of one dude whose name sounds a lot like DeTron Fames.
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FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2014, file photo, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer looks on in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in College Park, Md. Most of his standout players from last year's national championship team are back. But that hasn't kept coach Urban Meyer from driving his Ohio State players hard during spring workouts to avoid complacency. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File) From Terry T.
I saw Foxsports.com ranked the top 25 coaches and had Urban Meyer #1 over Saban.
Do you agree with that and what's your top 10?
Thanks and you and Paschall keep up the good job on Press Row.
Terry -
Thanks for the kind words and for listening. Listen again today as we are going to give away some tickets to the Best of Preps banquet next Monday to hear John Smoltz.
We did see that ranking on Outkickthecoverage.com.
We likely would list them 1A and 1B but we would have Meyer on top. Dude has had success everywhere - as Saban has too - Urban is waving the most recent Natty so there's that.
Here's our top 10:
1A. Urban Meyer, THE Ohio State
1B. Nick Saban, Alabama.
3. Gary Patterson, TCU
4. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
5. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
6. Art Briles, Baylor
7. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
8. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
9. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
10. Jimbo Fisher, FSU.
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FILE - In this Wednesday, March 4, 2015 file photo, Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Miami. A person with knowledge of contract negotiations between Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat says talks are at an impasse, and that Wade is considering all options, including potentially leaving the team that drafted him 12 years ago, Thursday, May 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach, File) From Diesel
Did you read that Dewayne Wade may leave Miami? That would be awful.
Thank God Derek Jeter finished his career with the Yankees you know.
What's your Rushmore of current athletes that would be the biggest stink if they left their current teams?
If you use this on Press Row, can I get a shoutout?
Diesel -
Great question. Simply great.
And if we do this as Rushmore in days ahead, you certainly will get credit Diesel on Press Row from 3-6 p.m. on ESPN 105.1 FM and simulcast right here at timesfreepress.com.
OK, the all-time Rushmore (which we believe we have done on Press Row) is Johnny Unitas in a Chargers uni, Babe Ruth in a Dodgers uni, Jordan in a Washington uni and Willie Mays with the Mets.
As for current sports stars, the first two that jumped to mind are Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Then we'd go Tom Brady. As for the final spot, we'll go off the board and say Tiger Woods in anything but Nike.
Thoughts?
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From Jomo
Question for the mailbag : Is there any bigger crybabies in the sports world than SEC football coaches ? Satellite camps are an unfair advantage ? Please ? one year GRADUATE transfers are an unfair advantage against SEC coaches ? come on guys, really ? ( Maybe if you SEC coaches actually graduate your players, the worst graduation rate of the 5 major conferences and you have the most money budgeted for tutors, extra help, etc. ) Is this the same conference that has this huge TV network ? No, advantage there huh ? The SEC has millions and billions of dollars, yeah that's a disadvantage....Do SEC coaches just think that they should have every single advantage but yet whine about a "level playing field" ? And then whine because one school in the SEC is paying a larger cost of attendance and how that gives them an advantage ? So the SEC coaches are saying that they will lose a recruit because SEC school A pays $500 more dollars than SEC B ? Are you really that bad of a recruiter ? . . . .Or is it that SEC coaches think that since the SEC hasn't won the National Championship in 2 years that it is because they have a disadvantage ? Suck it up SEC coaches with your ridiculous salaries and private jets and win OR lose without whining and moaning !
Jomo -
OK, more times than not your anti-SEC rants are to stir the pot or pull the string of SEC fans - UT lovers especially - and that's fine as long as we're not getting personal.
That said, you are 100 percent spot on about how whiney and disconnected the entirety of the league sounded this week about various rules and wrinkles.
Disadvantaged? Seriously? By satellite camps and transfer loopholes? (That said, it's a lot puzzling how the SEC will let Alabama take Jonathan Taylor while he has a felony hanging over him just because he took a semester at a JuCo but won't admit Everett Golson, who had already graduated from Notre Dame. Forget disadvantage, that's just simply nonsensical.)
And your point about the SEC TV network as arguably the biggest advantage in all of college sports right now is spot on.
Across all sports and across the country - especially the smaller sports that do not get the TV air time of football or hoops - how awesome is an accessible TV station such as the SEC Network on which the folks back home can watch you play? That would be a monster recruiting hook, never mind the check the SEC commissioner will hand each institution some time today that will be in the $25-30 million range.
Yes, the cost of attendance should be made uniform - we're sad it's coming at all because once that toothpaste gets out of the tube it changes everything for everyone for ever - but not just across the SEC but the big five conferences. At least that way we're at least pretending to have some rules by which the power brokers will try to operate. (And for anyone who thinks the 'cost of attendance' stipend will stop the illegal payments or benefits, well, we have some property in Whitwell with a good view of the Gulf that you may be interested in. And the next discussion will be how the 'cost of attendance' stipend is not enough. The argument will move from 'exploiting the college athlete" to 'paying them slave wages' sooner rather than later.)
You have a multitude of questions Jomo, but the main one - SEC coaches sounding like Linus without his blanky this week - was spot on.