Thursday, July 31, 2008

Buckeyes Ranked 3rd According to Rivals.com



This is Rivals.com review of the Ohio State Buckeyes whom they have ranked 3rd behind Georgia (2) and USC (1).

Coach: Jim Tressel (73-15 in seven seasons; 208-72-2 overall in 22 seasons). | Staff
In 2007: 11-2 overall, 7-1 in Big Ten (first in league). | Highlights
Returning starters: Offense—9. Defense—9. Special teams—2 | Depth Chart
Key losses: Offense—T Kirk Barton. Defense—E Vernon Gholston, LB Larry Grant.
Final 2007 Rivals.com ranking: 6th. | Complete Final 2007 Rankings
2008 Breakdown: Offense | Defense | Special teams | Coaching | Schedule | Depth Chart


OFFENSE
THE SCHEME: Jim Bollman is the coordinator, but Jim Tressel's fingerprints are all over the offense. The Buckeyes have come a long way from their "3-yards-and-a-cloud-dust" days, featuring a unit that has as many varied looks as anybody in the nation. The arrival of heralded quarterback recruit Terrelle Pryor likely means Ohio State will revert to some of the spread schemes it used when Troy Smith piloted the ship from 2005-06. That worked out well, as Smith won the Heisman in 2006 en route to taking the Buckeyes to the BCS title game.




Running back Chris Wells wasn't completely healthy last season but still rushed for 1,609 yards.
STAR POWER: Is there a better running back in America than junior Chris Wells? He rambled for 1,609 yards and 15 TDs last season, and his 222-yard effort vs. Michigan means he'll never again have to buy a meal in Columbus. And get this: Wells did it all last season on a bum ankle and with a broken bone in a hand. Just think of what this freakish combination of power and speed will do when he's 100 percent – 2,000 yards and the Heisman Trophy, anyone?

IMPACT NEWCOMER: All eyes are on Pryor, the No. 1 recruit in the nation. Ohio State won a protracted and highly publicized battle with Michigan and Penn State for Pryor's signature. News flash: Pryor didn't come to Columbus to redshirt. That means returning starter Todd Boeckman is going to have to share his seat, even though he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media. Look for Ohio State to handle Pryor the same way Florida did Tim Tebow during his freshman season in 2006, getting 10-15 snaps a game. That plan worked well for the Gators, who won the BCS national title. And Tebow proceeded to win the Heisman as a sophomore last season. Hmmmm.

IT'S HIS TIME: The legacy of great Buckeyes wide receivers is long. Recent vintage has given us Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, David Boston, Michael Jenkins, Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr. Senior Brian Robiskie is ready to join that vaunted fraternity. He emerged as a top target last season, grabbing 55 passes for 935 yards and 11 TDs. Robiskie will have ample opportunity to amp up those numbers if defenses sell out to stop the run. And if foes opt to blanket Robiskie, blue-collar counterpart Brian Hartline is equipped to make them pay.

STRONGEST AREA: The line will be killer. NFL scouts already are clamoring for left tackle Alex Boone, center Jim Cordle and left guard Steve Rehring. Right guard Ben Person is just a notch below that trio. The only hole to fill is at right tackle, but staffers feel sophomore Bryant Browning – from Cleveland Glenville, which has sent so many big-time players to Columbus –will prove more than capable.

BIGGEST PROBLEM:The offense is searching for a fullback, but the coaches will find some big lug to serve as Wells' escort. The $64,000 question in Columbus: Can Ohio State make effective use of Pryor without disrupting the chemistry of what looks like a dynamite attack? Florida was able to pull it off because then-starting quarterback Chris Leak had the disposition to make it work. And Tebow is a team guy. Can Boeckman and Pryor co-exist?

OVERVIEW: Wells is the focal point of the offense, which means he has to stay healthy. But when he needs a blow, there are several capable replacements - including sophomore Brandon Saine. He's the team's fastest back and could see an expanded role as a receiver. Senior Maurice Wells also is a viable option. With the ground game humming behind a strong line, it will be key for Boeckman to play within himself. The last we saw of him, Boeckman was floundering. In the last three games of '07, he committed seven turnovers (six picks and a fumble) with just two touchdown tosses. Not good. Now, Pryor will be looking over his shoulder.

0
That's the number of road losses in the past two seasons. Ohio State could have a difficult time staying perfect away from Columbus for a third consecutive season with games at USC and Wisconsin.
GRADE: A

DEFENSE

THE SCHEME: Ohio State operates out of a 4-3 scheme, and coaches like to rely on the front four getting pressure without benefit of the blitz. That allows the secondary to play more varied coverages. But the Buckeyes aren't averse to mixing things up and bringing heat at unconventional times from unconventional places.

STAR POWER: Senior middle linebacker James Laurinaitis already is considered an Ohio State great. That he shunned the NFL and opted to return for his senior season cements his status as a legend. Laurinaitis is coming off a stellar season that saw him claim Big Ten defensive player of the year honors as well as the Butkus Award. He won the Nagurski Award in 2006. His trophy case should get even more full after this season.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: It will be difficult for any newcomer to have much of an impact on this veteran squad. But keep an eye on true freshman linebacker Etienne Sabino, who enrolled early and impressed in spring drills. He could be a key player off the bench at strongside linebacker behind new starter Curtis Terry for an outstanding corps that also features Marcus Freeman on the weak side.

IT'S HIS TIME: With end Vernon Gholston gone early to the NFL after notching a school single-season record 14 sacks last season, the role of tormenting quarterbacks has fallen to junior end Lawrence Wilson. He was primed to break out last season, but his season ended with a broken leg in the opener. Wilson's skills remind many of former Ohio State great Will Smith, with a quick initial step to the outside coupled with a powerful inside punch.

STRONGEST AREA: All three units are worthy of mention, but the secondary may be a cut above all of them. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, as with Laurinaitis, shocked many by opting to return for his senior season. Jenkins is a prototype NFL corner, blending good size (6-1/201) with good speed. The safety tandem of Kurt Coleman (strong) and Anderson Russell (free) often gets overlooked, but their presence allows Jenkins to play more aggressively knowing he has his back covered. Junior Andre Amos is one to watch at the other corner spot. He missed most of last season with a knee injury but has impressed. Amos could win the job over junior Donald Washington, who could face discipline after encountering off-field issues.

BIGGEST PROBLEM: If you look hard enough, you can find a few nits to pick. One of the biggest is the production of the tackles. It would help if the big guys became more proficient at generating pressure up the middle. The quartet of Todd Denlinger, Nader Abdallah, Doug Worthington and Dexter Larimore are back in the middle, but they need to generate more than the five sacks they combined for last season.

OVERVIEW: It will be difficult to top last season's defense, which ranked No. 1 in the nation by allowing just 233.0 yards and 12.7 points per game. But it's possible, given the array and abundance of talent that's on hand. One area staffers are emphasizing is turnovers (the Buckeyes generated only 19 takeaways in '07). But as long as this defense holds the line on last season's numbers, the Buckeyes will be poised for at least a share of a fourth consecutive Big Ten title.
GRADE: A

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Ryan Pretorius is steady and dependable – 18 of 23, including 6-for-7 from beyond 40 yards – but he had four attempts blocked last season. A.J. Trapasso enters his fourth season as the punter, coming off a season in which he averaged 41.5 yards and was a Ray Guy semifinalist. The one area that needs the biggest improvement is kick returns. Ohio State ranked 118th in the nation, averaging just 17.7 yards per return. That's shameful for a roster that teems with athletic ability. Wide receiver Ray Small will get another shot, but look for Saine and Maurice Wells, among others, to get looks. Punt returns are in good hands with veterans such as Robiskie, Hartline and Small. The coverage units also need to get better. Ohio State gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a score.
GRADE: B
COACHING
Tressel has shown in seven seasons that he may deserve a spot alongside Woody Hayes in Buckeyes lore when all is said and done. Tressel already has delivered a national title (2002) and gotten Ohio State to two more BCS title games (2006, 2007). And don't forget about the four Big Ten titles. Even better: He has mastered Michigan, owning a 6-1 record vs. "that school to the north." Tressel has built a stable staff that is a good blend of age and youth. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, quarterback coach Joe Daniels (who is battling health problems) and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock are sage hands. Co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell is one of the game's rising stars and is on the fast track. Assistant head coach/receivers coach Darrell Hazell also is one to watch.
GRADE: A
DATE OPPONENT
Aug. 30 Youngstown State
Sept. 6 Ohio U.
Sept. 13 at USC
Sept. 20 Troy
Sept. 27 Minnesota
Oct. 4 at Wisconsin
Oct. 11 Purdue
Oct. 18 at Michigan State
Oct. 25 Penn State
Nov. 8 at Northwestern
Nov. 15 at Illinois
Nov. 22 Michigan


SCHEDULE
The showdown at USC – the schools' first meeting since 1990 – will be one of the most anticipated regular-season games in recent memory. Even if the Buckeyes lose, there will be ample time for them to crawl back up the polls. If Ohio State wins, it may ride atop the polls at No. 1 all the way to the BCS title game. Why? Because after the visit to L.A., the Buckeyes have only two truly scary games: at Wisconsin and at Illinois. The Badgers have been an especially troublesome foe, winning three of the past five meetings. Ohio State should be motivated to whip Illinois after the Illini toppled the top-ranked Buckeyes last season in Columbus. What about the visit from Penn State, you ask? Well, the Nittany Lions are 0-7 in the Horseshoe since joining the Big Ten. Enough said. The season-ending game with Michigan? Tressel is 6-1 vs. the Wolverines, including 3-0 in Columbus. He's a lock to make it 7-1. Cue the fight song!

OUTLOOK
Go ahead and sing a few bars of "Carmen Ohio." And stop by the Varsity Club on West Lane Avenue for a couple of tall, cold ones. This looks like a great team, and the excitement along the banks of the Olentangy is more intense than usual. This edition of the Buckeyes may be better than the previous two, which advanced to the BCS title game. But unlike the 2006 and 2007 Buckeyes who got thumped in the championship game, these Buckeyes may finish the job. The roster is full of veteran talent, boasting nine returning starters on both sides of the ball. Two cherries on top: the kicker and punter also return. What's it all mean? Ohio State is primed to advance to the title game for the third season in a row.

OFFENSE
QB Todd Boeckman *, 6-4/244, Sr.
Terrelle Pryor, 6-6/225, Fr.
TB Chris Wells *, 6-1/237, Jr.
Brandon Saine, 6-1/217, Soph.
FB Curtis Terry, 6-1/229, Sr.
Ryan Lukens, 6-0/238, Sr.
WR Brian Robiskie *, 6-3/199, Sr.
Taurian Washington, 6-2/179, Soph.
WR Brian Hartline *, 6-2/186, Jr.
Ray Small, 5-11/180, Jr.
TE Rory Nicol *, 6-5/252, Sr.
Jake Ballard, 6-6/256, Jr.
LT Alex Boone *, 6-8/312, Sr.
Jon Skinner, 6-5/305, Sr.
LG Steve Rehring *, 6-7/345, Sr.
Kyle Mitchum, 6-3/291, Sr.
C Jim Cordle *, 6-4/297, Jr.
Michael Brewster, 6-5/300, Fr.
RG Ben Person *, 6-3/323, Sr.
J.B. Shugarts, 6-8/300, Fr.
RT Bryant Browning, 6-4/312, Soph.
Evan Blankenship, 6-3/290, R-Fr.
K Ryan Pretorius *, 5-9/169, Sr.
KR Maurice Wells, 5-10/196, Sr.
DEFENSE
E Lawrence Wilson, 6-4/274, Jr.
Thad Gibson, 6-2/240, Soph.
T Todd Denlinger, 6-2/292, Jr.
Dexter Larimore, 6-2/300, Soph.
T Doug Worthington *, 6-6/276, Jr.
Nader Abdallah *, 6-4/300, Sr.
E Cameron Heyward *, 6-6/287, Soph.
Tom Ingham, 6-1/243Jr.
WLB Marcus Freeman *, 6-1/239, Sr.
Ross Homan, 6-0/229, Soph.
MLB James Laurinaitis *, 6-3/240, Sr.
Austin Spitler, 6-3/234, Jr.
SLB Curtis Terry, 6-1/229, Sr.
Tyler Moeller, 6-0/216, Soph.
CB Donald Washington *, 6-0/194, Jr.
Andre Amos, 6-1/183, Jr.
CB Malcolm Jenkins *, 6-1/201, Sr.
Chimdi Chekwa, 6-0/188, Soph.
FS Anderson Russell *, 6-0/205, Jr.
Aaron Gant, 6-0/194, Soph.
SS Kurt Coleman *, 5-11/188, Jr.
Jamario O'Neal, 6-0/205, Sr.
P A.J. Trapasso *, 6-0/229, Sr.
PR Brian Robiskie, 6-3/199, Sr.

(NOTE: *--denotes returning starter; %--denotes returning starter who has changed positions.)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

These Sports Figures Could Not Stay Retired

L











Parcells' first two comebacks worked out well: he led the Patriots to a Super Bowl in 1996, just three years after taking over as head coach, and Jerry Jones lured Parcells out of a three-year retirement in 2003 to coach the Cowboys to three winning seasons in four years. Success in his third comeback attempt, turning around Miami, which went 1-15 in 2007, might take longer.
After completing the second of the Bulls' two three-peats in 1998, Jackson walked away unsure if he would find another ''basketball challenge'' to accept. But after a year off, he returned to coach the Lakers, leading Shaq and Kobe to a three-peat from 2000 to '02 before stepping down two years later. Of course, he came back to L.A. again the following year, and reached the NBA Finals two seasons later.
The Rocket flirted with retirement before each of his three seasons with the Houston Astros and waited until May 2007 to announce his final comeback with the Yankees. Clemens won his seventh Cy Young after his first retirement in 2004, but his 2008 season netted just a 4.18 ERA and 6-6 record.
Jordan's first comeback, after a stint in minor league baseball, resulted in three straight championships for the Bulls. His second comeback brought a new uniform and a somewhat diminished image as the Washington Wizards missed the playoffs during both of Jordan's seasons.
With rumors circulating of a third failed drug test, Williams retired and sat out the 2004 season before returning to the Dolphins in 2005. He finished the season averaging 4.4 yards per carry with six touchdowns, but was later found to have tested positive for drugs again. While serving his one-year suspension, Williams played in Canada. He returned to the NFL in 2007, but suffered a season-ending injury just six carries into his first game back.
The New York State Boxing Commission forced Ali into early retirement at 25 when it revoked his boxing license for refusing to serve in the Army. Ali returned three years later to stage his epic trilogy with Joe Frazier, and returned from a second retirement at 37, only to get embarrassed by Larry Holmes.
After 10 years away from the ring, Foreman came back from his second retirement in 1988. In 1994, at 45, he reclaimed the heavyweight title he had lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years earlier.
A chronic wrist problem forced Howe to retire in 1971 after a 25-year NHL career, but he got back on the ice two years later for the newly formed World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros. At 51 he signed with the NHL's newest team, the Hartford Whalers, and scored 15 goals in 80 games while helping the Whalers make the playoffs.
The former heavyweight champ retired in 1986 after a second loss to light-heavyweight champion Michael Spinks. Lured by a $3 million payday, Holmes made a comeback to fight Mike Tyson in '88 but lost in a fourth-round knockout and retired again. Coming back in '91, Holmes would eventually lose title bids against Evander Holyfield ('92) and Oliver McCall ('95) before beating Eric "Butterbean" Esch in 2002. He retired for good at 52, ending his 29-year career with a 69-6 record.
Forced to leave hockey for two months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1993, Lemieux returned to win the league's overall scoring record. Retiring again in '97, Lemieux maintained a position in the Penguins front office before returning to the ice in 2000 to finish with the league's best points-per-game average. Despite becoming the primary owner of the Penguins, Lemieux continued to play until his final retirement in '06.
In 1998, White retired after playing in two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers and being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Two years later he was back on the field as a Carolina Panther, finishing the season with six sacks and 16 tackles before retiring again.
No athlete is known for having more comebacks than Sugar Ray Leonard. His first retirement was in 1982 after he suffered a detached retina in his left eye. He returned a year later but re-retired after a fight with Kevin Howard. Leonard's next return, in '86, only lasted one fight as he beat Marvin Hagler in a split decision. In typical Leonard fashion, that retirement was only temporary and he came back in '88 before announcing two more retirements following loses to Terry Norris in '91 and Hector `Macho' Camacho in '97.

Monday, July 28, 2008

BIG TEN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW




Is Ohio State primed for unwanted three-peat?
With 9 starters back on both sides of ball, Buckeyes are Big Ten favorites


BIG TEN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
In Columbus, a city whose namesake sailed with a trio of ships, they understand the concept of threes. And so some may quiver at the thought of Ohio State, for a third consecutive season, playing in the BCS championship game versus yet another Southeastern Conference foe (Georgia).
Not to worry. These are high times on High Street, as the Buckeyes return nine starters on both sides of the ball. Coach Jim Tressel not only reeled in the nation's top recruit at any position, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, but he also landed Michigan's only returning All-Big Ten offensive player, guard Justin Boren, who made the unprecedented move of transferring from "Go Blue!" to OSU.
Beyond Columbus' confines, the supposed contenders to Buckeye hegemony all have a similar conundrum: inexperience in the backfield. Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin will have first-time starters at quarterback. Indiana may or may not have to replace junior Kellen Lewis (28 TD passes in '07), who was suspended for all of spring ball for the dreaded "violation of team rules".
At running back, Illinois loses Big Ten Player of the Year Rashard Mendenhall, while Iowa's running backs enter 2008 with a combined total of zero carries for the Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz currently has Paki O'Meara, a former walk-on who spent parts of his childhood in Melbourne, Australia, and Western Samoa, atop the depth chart.
Elsewhere, Michigan State is rising, as is Minnesota, which has nowhere to go but up following a 1-11 season. Purdue, as always, is overdue, but senior quarterback Curtis Painter should provide a masterstroke here or there. And at Northwestern, which is breaking in both a new offensive and defensive coordinator, they did not keep score during the spring game. If only …

CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR
Oct. 18: Ohio State at Michigan State

Call us crazy.
True, Wisconsin is undefeated (14-0) in Madison in coach Bret "I'm a" Bielema's first two seasons, and so the Buckeyes' Oct. 4 visit to Camp Randall Stadium might seem fraught with peril. The Badgers, however, have a first-year starter in quarterback in Allan Evridge and remain loyal to an Ambien-like offense.
The trip to East Lansing, however, represents a classic letdown game (a week before Penn State visits). For years, decades even, Michigan State was a repository of NFL talent with pre-school maturity. Second-year coach Mark D'Antonio is erasing that stigma. The Spartans may have lost six games in his first season, but none was by more than seven points.
Look out, Columbus. The other "school from up north" is the one to be wary of this
season.

NON-CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR
Sept. 13: Ohio State at USC

Those of us who proselytize that "the season is the playoff" are here to tell you that this is, at worst, a Final Four contest. These two last played in the Coliseum in 1989, with the Trojans humbling the Buckeyes 42-3. USC, in fact, has taken five straight from Ohio State dating back to New Year's Day of '75.
The Trojans are absolutely devastating on defense. Defensive end Everson Griffen, linebackers Ray Maualuga and Brian Cushing and safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays are potential first- or second-team All-Americans. Then again, the only unit to finish with a higher "total defense" ranking than the Trojans last season was Ohio State, who return nine starters themselves on defense.
The past three teams to win the national championship (Texas, Florida and LSU) all beat Ohio State. Will Pete Carroll's crew extend that streak to four? The good news is that the loser of this game still has a shot at the national title should it win out. And if that happens to be Ohio State, it will be that much easier for them to vent their frustrations the following week considering the name of their opponent: Troy.

OTHER KEY NON-CONFERENCE GAMES
Aug. 30: Illinois vs. Missouri at St. Louis

The Tigers are a preseason top-10 squad. Last season's 40-34 Mizzou win was a wild one.
Aug. 30: Utah at Michigan
Rich Rodriguez makes his debut as everyone in the Big House has the words "Appalachian State" on the tips of their tongues.
Aug. 30: Michigan State at California
Great opportunity — and test — for the Spartans.
Sept. 13: Oregon at Purdue
Ducks humiliated Michigan in Ann Arbor last September.
Sept. 13: Michigan at Notre Dame
In April, Charlie Weis talked trash about how the Wolverines, who have outscored the Irish 85-21 the past two seasons, would be making excuses for losing in South Bend this year.
Sept. 13: Wisconsin at Fresno State
Bulldogs coach Pat Hill lives for games such as this.
Lightning Rodriguez
At least Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) always had Shooter (Dennis Hopper) in his corner. Rich Rodriguez, the new coach in Ann Arbor, appears to be making friends at a slower pace thus far. To wit:
Quarterback Ryan Mallett, arguably the freshman with the greatest potential as a passer in the nation last season, transferred within weeks of Rodriguez's arrival.
Mallett's exodus opened the door for All-Everything recruit Terrelle Pryor, just the dual threat who should flourish in Rodriguez's system — except that Pryor chose Ohio State.
Alliterative athletes Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham, both wide receivers, opted to declare early for the NFL draft.
Junior-to-be offensive guard Justin Boren, an All-Big Ten selection in '07, quit the team, citing a "decline in family values". Boren then transferred to Ohio State.
The Michigan Daily reported that Rodriguez did not know the lyrics to "Hail to the Victors" at his inaugural press conference (you'd hope he at least knew the first four words of the song).
Lastly, Rodriguez gave the coveted No. 1 jersey, which since the days of Anthony Carter has only been given to a proven stud wide receiver (Carter, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, Braylon Edwards, etc.), to incoming freshman defensive back J.T. Floyd. Edwards, now a Pro Bowl wideout with Cleveland, actually endowed a $500,000 scholarship in regard to that jersey and is quite annoyed. "I'm going to have a talk with him about that the next time I see him," Edwards said in May. "We have a jersey scholarship fund for this whole deal. What is he thinking?"
And suddenly Jim Harbaugh may not be the least popular Division I football coach in Ann Arbor.
Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, MLB, OSU
The 2006 Nagurski Trophy and 2007 Butkus Award winner could easily be on an NFL roster. The Buckeyes have had two defensive players among the top 10 picks since 2005(A.J. Hawk, 5th, Packers; and Vernon Gholston, 6th, Jets) and Laurinaitis may be better than both of them.
Not your average Joes
The two longest-tenured coaches in the conference are Purdue's Joe Tiller (1997) and Penn State's Joe Paterno (Mesozoic). Both may be gone after this season. Tiller, 68, has already agreed to retire following this year while Paterno, 81, will not have his contract reviewed until after the season, which is quite the anomaly in Happy Valley.
Back-to-back-to-backbreakers

The Big Ten may not quite be the SEC in terms of overall talent, but in terms of hematomas, no conference may be tougher. A little compassion, then, for these schools who play three whirlpool-level foes in as many Saturdays:
Wisconsin: @ Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State (Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11)
Penn State: @ Wisconsin, Michigan, @ Ohio State (Oct. 11, 18, 25)
Michigan State: Ohio State, @ Michigan, Wisconsin (Oct. 18, 25, Nov. 1)
The Boren Identity
Though he was raised in Pickerington, Ohio, a Columbus suburb, Justin Boren accepted a scholarship to Michigan. After all, his father, Mike, had played in Ann Arbor under Bo Schembechler.
As a freshman, Boren actually started a game at right guard. Last season as a sophomore he started eight games at center and five at guard and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Then in March, Boren, citing that Michigan's "family values have eroded in just a few months", announced that he was transferring — to Ohio State. That, as far as anyone in Columbus can recall, has never happened.
Moreover, because Boren is transferring within the Big Ten, he is ineligible for a scholarship. Consider the year he must sit out, Boren is essentially saying he'd rather pay three years to attend Ohio State than attend Michigan two more years at no cost.
No huddle muddling
Indiana, Northwestern and Michigan are installing no-huddle offenses this season. The Hoosiers' effort should be interesting, as incumbent QB Kellen Lewis was suspended for all of spring ball.
And you may ask, How did I get here?
If you had the 2006 valedictorian from Adrian (Mich.) High School penciled in as the starting quarterback at Michigan this season, you must be his mom. Steven Threet initially enrolled at Georgia Tech in 2006, but then transferred home. He probably figured he'd be holding the clipboard for Ryan Mallett his entire career. Then it looked as if he'd be doing the same for Terrelle Pryor.
Threet is now a slight favorite to open the season as Chad Henne's replacement, albeit without Mike Hart and four of last year's five O-line starters.
Unhappy Val-Lee
Penn State linebacker and team captain Sean Lee tore an ACL during spring practice and will likely miss the season. There may be no player whose presence is more vital to his team's success this season. If this is JoePa's final season, Lee's absence is a cruel blow.
Meat The linemen
No conference serves up Grade A, 100% USDA-approved beef quite like the Big Ten (you may have noticed who was the No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft). In honor of that, here's our All-Meat Big Ten offensive line, a distinction based on Bunyanesque size, name or pure talent:
Eric Vandenheuvel, OT, Sr., 6-7, 321, Wisconsin
Steve Rehring, OG, Sr., 6-7, 345, Ohio State
David Moosman, C, Jr. 6-5, 292, Michigan
Zach Reckman, OG, Sr., 6-6, 308, Purdue
Ken Plue, OT, Fr., 6-8, 361, Purdue

Waiting in the wings
Michigan's 6-6, 292 backup guard Mark Huyge, provided he gains 25 pounds and renders the "y" silent.
Moonraker Boilermaker
And finally, a secretary in the Purdue football office has a Bond-girl name, Foxy LaFon, and a Bond-girl mane. Will someone please pick up LaFon? is likely a time-worn line in West Lafayette.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Illinois

Tight end Mike Hoomanawanui is scourge of opposing safeties and Big Ten Network broadcasters.
Indiana
Defensive end Greg Middleton led nation in sacks (16) last season.
Iowa
Quarterback Jake Christensen's first pass in the Hawkeyes' spring game was intercepted and returned 53 yards for a touchdown.
Michigan
Due to stadium renovations, Wolverines played their spring game at Saline High School, the alma mater of walk-on (and possibly starting) QB Nick Sheridan.
Michigan State
Linebacker Greg Jones led the Spartans in tackles as a freshman.
Minnesota
Big-time recruit Kevin Whaley (6,301 rushing yards in high school in Virginia Beach, Va.) was shot in leg during a drive-by shooting, and is recuperating at home.
Northwestern
Coach Pat Fitzgerald was recently elected to College Football Hall of Fame, as a player.
Ohio State
The nation's top-rated pass defense in '07 returns its entire secondary intact.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions are 0-5 versus Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin over the past two years.
Purdue
Brock Spack's defense has allowed 300-plus points the past three seasons.
Wisconsin
Among Big Ten coaches, only Michigan's Fielding Yost (who did not lose until his 57th game) had more wins in his first two seasons than Bret Bielema's 21.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

BUCKS BELIEVE TERRELLE PRYOR WILL CATCH ON FAST!!!


Tressel thinks Pryor will catch on fast


Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Terrelle Pryor's toughest tests this fall might not come on the practice field or in the meeting rooms, but when he ventures outside the Ohio State football complex.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel thinks top recruit Terrelle Pryor will catch on fast.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel expects Pryor, the nation's top-ranked incoming freshman, to be ahead of the curve in grasping the Buckeyes' offense and the demands it places on a quarterback. Tressel cited Pryor's extensive experience as a high school star -- lengthy playoff runs allowed him to play in 16 games in each of the last two seasons -- and his familiarity with different types of systems.
"They did all kinds of spread, wing-T versions, a lot of different things," Tressel said. "He has a little bit of an advantage. He's played so many games and done so many different things that it's just a matter of ... I don't think we do anything that he hasn't done. Now he will need to learn what we call it. I don't think there's going to be an unusual strain on him because of that."
What could weigh on Pryor is the amount of attention placed on him as an incoming freshman. Though senior Todd Boeckman will start at quarterback this season, much of the preseason buzz has centered on how Ohio State will use the multitalented Pryor this season.
Tressel said Pryor looks forward to learning from Boeckman, but as a perfectionist, the freshman wants to contribute from Day 1.
"He wants to please everybody," Tressel said. "He wants to make sure he's answering the question right or throwing the ball to the right place. ... I don't think you can disregard all the attention that he's got. He wants to come though. That's the kind of kid he is."
Many have wondered whether Ohio State will use Boeckman and Pryor much like Florida used senior Chris Leak and freshman Tim Tebow in 2006. Training camp will largely determine the Buckeyes' course of action, but Pryor won't wait long to get on the field.
"Especially in the early season, we've always tried to use multiple quarterbacks, just because over the course of the season, you never know how health is going to go and so forth," Tressel said. "Any time you can maximize the talent that you have. It's not unlike using some other receivers at different times. Absolutely, (using two quarterbacks) can happen."
How much time do you think Pryor will see this year? I don't think Tressel will bench Todd B. I have a feeling that we'll see a lot of him on 3rd downs. click on the comment below and leave your opinion......

Former Buckeye and Heisman Trophy Winner, Troy Smith, is Staking his Claim as Starting QB for the Baltimore Ravens


Former Ohio State Buckeye and Heisman Trophy Winner, Troy Smith, is Staking his Claim at Starting for the Ravens in week one v's the Bengals!


Head coach Brian Billick was not asked back for a 10th season in Baltimore, but it's still hard to see the purple-clad Ravens doing their thing without thinking of him and his long, mostly successful tenure with the team.

Flacco vs. Smith vs. Boller: It's way early in the Ravens' three-man camp quarterback competition, but it's never too early to start reading the tea leaves. I continue to think second-year man Troy Smith has the inside track on starting for Week 1, but do not discount rookie Joe Flacco's chances to force Baltimore into a tough decision over whether to play him right away. "I want to make it an easy decision, and I want to be the guy,'' Flacco told me Tuesday morning, moments after completing his very first NFL training camp practice. "I don't want to make it a tough decision. I want to make it as easy as possible. I want to go out here and prove that I'm the best and it's clear-cut. Those are my expectations.''
Flacco probably had the roughest practice session of his young Ravens career so far -- offseason workouts included -- on Tuesday, but his arm strength and accuracy are still eye-opening at times. He throws the ball on a line, and his delivery looks effortless.
"What you saw today is the worst he's thrown since he's been here,'' new Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "I think he's a little amped up. He overthrew a bunch of balls on the outside, but those balls had been on the money before today.''
Smith struggled mightily with his accuracy in Tuesday morning's workout, and if there's a knock on him, that's it. As for sixth-year veteran Kyle Boller, he played it safe mostly, dumping the ball off most of the time. Boller seems destined for Baltimore's No. 3 spot, but I still wonder if having Billick's stamp on him is the biggest hurdle he faces within the Ravens organization.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

REDEEM USA BASKETBALL IN 2008



THE REDEEM TEAM
Great article from CBSSPORTSLINE.COM

If Jerry Colangelo had doubts that his vision would take, they began to evaporate in the fall of 2005, shortly after Milwaukee Bucks swingman Michael Redd walked into a Chicago hotel suite for an interview with Colangelo, the man appointed to reverse the slide in the global fortunes of U.S. basketball. Dressed in sweats and with a garment bag slung over his shoulder, Redd greeted the former Phoenix Suns owner, then asked to duck into the john. Moments later he emerged -- in a suit and tie.
It's a story worth noting in part because Redd, a shooter of cane-sugar sweetness, will provide Team USA with a skill essential to success at the Beijing Olympics. But it's most notable because it shows that representing the land of the sport's invention is once again an honor worth getting gussied up for.
After decades of sending coaches overseas to stage clinics, the panjandrums of USA Basketball are now letting knowledge flow in the opposite direction. For the past three years Colangelo has presided over the first standing U.S. men's national team, using as his model the stable programs that have helped countries such as Argentina (at the 2004 Games) and Spain (at the '06 world championships) win the gold medals that Americans once took for granted. "It's a total 180," says guard Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, a returnee from Athens, where the U.S. was lucky to win a bronze. "In '04 we spent [three weeks] in training camp, then shot off to Greece. This team has been together for three years. We know the system and respect the system. We're just picking up where we left off [last summer]."
The U.S. program maintains a pool of 33 pros, all committed for a three-year cycle that includes a worlds and an Olympics. The team itself is chosen by a committee of one, Colangelo, who defers readily to coach Mike Krzyzewski. And an attitude overhaul is evident in all sorts of subtle ways. The USA on the uniforms pops in red, while players' names are writ in muted blue. Coaches and players all but pack copies of Fareed Zakaria's The Post-American World with their playbooks, hewing closely to talking points that ban arrogant references to hoops as "our game." Even the team's official slogan [United We Rise] and unofficial nickname [the Redeem Team] imply room for improvement.
An autopsy of the debacle in Athens turned up a number of causes. The team featured only three holdovers from the group that had qualified the previous summer, and seven of the original nine invitees withdrew. In the end some 14 players turned down Uncle Sam, invoking excuses from family obligations to lingering injuries to the security situation in Greece. As a result, coach Larry Brown took charge of a team with an average age of 23.6 years, and it showed. Behind the scenes, problems of dress and punctuality festered, and on the eve of the Games, Brown wanted to send several players home. Body language is the Esperanto of basketball, and both Stateside and in Athens people didn't like what they saw. Some players heedlessly inflated expectations -- as camp opened, Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, then 20, guaranteed a gold -- while others tried to pooh-pooh the poor results. "It's not like it's the end of the world," a 19-year-old LeBron James said in the aftermath of a loss to Puerto Rico.
Technically, LeBron -- or LeBronze, as he came to be known -- was right: The loss to Puerto Rico merely signaled the end of uninterrupted U.S. Olympic basketball hegemony dating back to the 1992 Dream Team. After losing to Lithuania in pool play and Argentina in the semifinals, Brown pronounced himself "humiliated," and the Americans headed home in a fog of alibis, citing the fouls whistled on center Tim Duncan and the zones they weren't used to shooting over. In fact, the U.S. sank the second-fewest 3-pointers of the dozen teams in the tournament, a performance that recalls an old chestnut about as American as they come: "There are only two great plays -- South Pacific, and put the ball in the basket."
Enter Colangelo, 68, who over a half century has been a player, coach or executive at every level of the game. "The way they conducted themselves left a lot to be desired," he says of the 2004 team. "Watching and listening to how people reacted to our players, I knew we'd hit bottom." Colangelo told NBA commissioner David Stern that he'd only assume duties as managing director if he was given autonomy. It's a measure of how abysmal the situation was that he immediately got what he asked for.
In 2005 Colangelo arranged face-to-face sit-downs with every prospective national team player, to hear in their own words why they wanted to represent their country. The few good men to set things right wouldn't be paid or guaranteed playing time, much less a starting spot. Still, Colangelo says, "I got buy-in. Halfway through my talk with him, LeBron said, 'I'm in.' " Indeed, among the nearly 30 players he approached, only the San Antonio Spurs' Duncan and then Minnesota Timberwolves foward Kevin Garnett turned him down.
With its star power and the smell of success, the expanding player pool became a recruiting tool in its own right; USA Basketball no longer found itself in the role of supplicant, and veterans such as Jason Kidd (now of the Dallas Mavericks) and Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) signed on. The prospect of exposing oneself to the Chinese market, home to more NBA fans than the U.S. has people, surely helped too. Says USA Basketball executive director Jim Tooley, "It's in vogue again to be playing for your national team."
There have been stumbles along the way. Two summers ago at the world championships in Japan, Greece, a team without a single NBA player, beat the U.S. in the semifinals with a flurry of high pick-and-rolls, an NBA staple. "It's been overanalyzed," Colangelo says of that game. "There were six minutes [during which] they made every shot and we missed free throws. But it might have been the best thing to happen to us. We kept pounding on our guys that the international gap had closed and we needed to respect every opponent."

2008 U.S. Olympic Team
Player Position Height Weight Team
Carmelo Anthony Forward 6-8 230 Nuggets
Carlos Boozer Forward 6-9 258 Jazz
Chris Bosh Forward 6-10 230 Raptors
Kobe Bryant Guard 6-6 220 Lakers
Dwight Howard Center 6-11 265 Magic
LeBron James Forward 6-8 240 Cavaliers
Jason Kidd Guard 6-4 212 Mavericks
Chris Paul Guard 6-0 170 Hornets
Tayshaun Prince Forward 6-9 205 Pistons
Michael Redd Guard 6-6 215 Bucks
Dwyane Wade Guard 6-4 212 Heat
Deron Williams Guard 6-3 205 Jazz


The coaching staff learned too. "We didn't know the international game well enough," says Krzyzewski, the coach at Duke since 1980. "[Greece] played with a physicality and intensity that our guys weren't accustomed to, and because we were young, it knocked us back. We now have the athletic ability and versatility to handle that." Krzyzewski will consider playing more zone, and he'll be deploying players who are more rugged, versatile and experienced. The additions of Kidd and Bryant have helped nudge the team's average age up to 26.1.
But even at the 2006 worlds, Colangelo and Krzyzewski could point to a remade culture. In contrast to the crowds in Athens, the Japanese cheered the Americans. And the U.S. players in turn cheered each other. "From Athens we learned we need time to develop camaraderie," Krzyzewski says. "We have to be committed to one another before we can be committed to the team. We're developing a program, not 'selecting a team.' No one ever 'selects a team'; you select people and hope they become a team."
That process continued last summer, as the third-place finish at the worlds forced the U.S. to qualify for Beijing. What at first looked to be a chore seems more and more like a blessing. Outside shooting, ball movement and a sense of urgency went missing in Athens; during the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament last July, the U.S. shot 47 percent from beyond the arc and collected assists on 68.3 percent of its baskets, feeding off the keynote struck when, on the first possession of the first game, its most celebrated player, Bryant, hit the floor for a loose ball. The Americans won all 10 games, by an average of 39.5 points. "We have the infrastructure, the buy-in, the changed culture," says Colangelo. "The bottom line is on us: We need to finish the job and win. "
The U.S. will never be able to duplicate the continuity and stability of some other national-team programs. When Argentina won the gold in Athens, 10 of its players had been together for at least five years. But, says Tooley, "we're getting as close as we can." Compared with the 15 practices and six exhibitions the 2004 team logged before the Games, the core of the '08 team will have worked out at least 70 times and played 29 games when it faces China in its opener on Aug. 10. Last summer's starting lineup of Kidd, Bryant, James, Anthony and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard returns intact.
"Our goal is to win a gold medal and be humble about it," says Kidd. "And if we do win by 50, to make sure it's because we're playing the right way."
During the Olympic qualifier last summer, after Bryant hit the floor for that loose ball, he was whistled for traveling, in accordance with FIBA rules that are strict on that point. "Our tendency the summer before would have been to start yelling, 'Hey, we're getting screwed,' " Krzyzewski says. "But instead of bitching and moaning, we were more like, 'Well, that's a travel. We didn't know that.' "
There's something to be said for humility. Until an athlete bows his head, after all, no one can hang a gold medal around his neck.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

NBA Summer League Stats



NBA Summer League Statisitics through Friday July 18th, 2008

2008 Points Leaders
Player PPG

Jerryd Bayless (POR) 27.7
Donte Greene (HOU) 25.3
Quincy Douby (SAC) 22.3
Wilson Chandler (NYK) 22.3
Alando Tucker (PHX) 21.7
2008 Rebounds Leaders
Player RPG

Kevin Love (MIN) 15.0
Joey Dorsey (HOU) 13.5
Elton Brown (DEN) 10.3
Marreese Speights (PHI) 10.2
Olumide Oyedeji (MIL) 9.5
2008 Assists Leaders
Player APG

Ramon Sessions (MIL) 7.3
Aaron Brooks (HOU) 7.0
Bobby Brown (NOH) 6.0
Mardy Collins (NYK) 5.3
C.J. Watson (GSW) 4.8

g min avg/pts
Jerryd Bayless (POR) 3 34.3 27.7 6.3- 14.0 0.452 5.3 1.3 .7 .3
Donte Greene (HOU) 3 34.7 25.3 7.6- 17.3 0.442 4.3 1.0 1.3 1.0
Quincy Douby (SAC) 4 33.0 22.3 7.2- 15.0 0.483 1.3 1.3 2.8 1.2
Wilson Chandler (NYK) 3 31.3 22.3 8.6- 17.0 0.510 9.0 1.3 1.0 1.0
Alando Tucker (PHX) 3 26.3 21.7 7.0- 12.0 0.583 4.0 1.0 .0 .0
Dahntay Jones (DEN) 4 25.8 21.5 6.2- 11.2 0.556 2.5 .5 .2 .2
Kevin Love (MIN) 3 30.3 20.7 7.6- 17.0 0.451 15.0 2.0 .3 1.0
D.J. Augustin (CHA) 3 29.7 19.7 6.0- 10.6 0.563 4.0 1.3 1.0 .0
Joey Graham (TOR) 4 32.5 19.3 6.0- 13.2 0.453 6.0 1.5 .5 .0
Andray Blatche (WAS) 3 28.3 19.0 6.3- 12.6 0.500 7.3 1.0 1.0 1.0
Anthony Randolph (GSW) 3 27.7 19.0 7.6- 15.0 0.511 6.3 1.0 1.3 1.3
Eric Gordon (LAC) 2 29.0 19.0 4.5- 14.0 0.321 5.5 2.0 1.0 1.0
O.J. Mayo (MEM) 5 31.0 18.8 6.6- 16.2 0.407 3.6 2.6 1.4 .2
Thaddeus Young (PHI) 5 34.6 18.8 6.4- 16.6 0.386 3.6 1.4 1.6 .2
C.J. Watson (GSW) 4 31.0 18.8 5.0- 11.2 0.444 3.5 4.8 4.2 .0
Marco Belinelli (GSW) 4 31.0 18.8 6.0- 14.5 0.414 1.8 2.0 1.0 .0
J.J. Hickson (CLE) 3 29.7 18.7 7.6- 13.6 0.561 8.0 .0 .0 1.7
DJ Strawberry (PHX) 3 28.3 18.3 5.6- 13.6 0.415 3.7 3.0 1.0 .3
Marreese Speights (PHI) 5 33.0 18.2 6.8- 14.0 0.486 10.2 .2 .2 2.2
Aaron Brooks (HOU) 3 35.3 18.0 5.6- 14.6 0.386 2.0 7.0 .3 .0
Petteri Koponen (POR) 3 33.3 17.0 7.0- 15.0 0.467 3.0 3.0 .7 .0
Robin Lopez (PHX) 3 27.3 16.0 6.0- 12.3 0.486 7.7 1.0 .0 1.7
Bobby Brown (NOH) 4 34.3 15.8 6.0- 13.5 0.444 2.3 6.0 .5 .0
Spencer Hawes (SAC) 4 33.5 15.8 5.2- 15.0 0.350 9.0 1.5 .2 2.0
Hilton Armstrong (NOH) 4 32.3 15.8 5.0- 9.7 0.513 6.5 .3 .2 .8
Anthony Roberson (NYK) 3 28.0 15.7 5.6- 15.0 0.378 2.0 .7 .3 .0
Al Thornton (LAC) 5 27.8 15.6 5.0- 10.8 0.463 5.6 1.6 .2 .8
Jason Smith (PHI) 5 30.4 15.6 5.4- 9.8 0.551 8.0 .2 .6 1.0
Maarty Leunen (HOU) 3 25.3 15.3 5.0- 10.0 0.500 4.0 1.3 .0 .0
Ramon Sessions (MIL) 3 28.7 15.3 4.0- 9.3 0.429 5.3 7.3 .3 .3
Arron Afflalo (DET) 5 32.0 15.0 4.4- 10.8 0.407 3.8 3.4 .6 .2
Jason Thompson (SAC) 4 27.5 15.0 4.5- 8.5 0.529 8.5 .5 .2 .8
Joey Dorsey (HOU) 2 30.5 15.0 7.0- 8.5 0.824 13.5 1.5 .5 .5
Rodney Stuckey (DET) 2 21.5 14.5 4.5- 11.5 0.391 4.5 2.5 1.0 .0

Friday, July 18, 2008

Free NCAA College Football Rosters for the PS3 and Review




I have all top 25 teams done and Ohio State's scheduled teams important players. Every player with a rating of 90 or Better. (which is all the all-americans)
leave a comment on this post with your email and i will email you back with the user name to put in your ea locker and download them for free.

Here is a review and video review from ign.com

NCAA Football 09 Review
School pride and spirit has never been louder or more important.
by Jeff Haynes


July 15, 2008 - College campuses are bastions of education -- ivory towers of learning, where students acquire skills and knowledge for their future. But every fall, these institutions are transformed with pomp, ceremony and pageantry that's rarely seen in other sports by a phenomenon known as Game Day. From the tailgating in the parking lots to the school chants in the stands, the energy surrounding a game can be truly electric and is only amplified when rivals face off against each other. EA Sports put the college atmosphere at the center of its latest installment of NCAA Football 09, which features a large number of adjustments from last year's title. While the Campus Legend mode has suffered in this year's title, elements like the addition of the online Dynasty balance out segments that have been lost, making this version of the game an impressive representation on the field.
There are a number of changes that have been made to this year's gameplay, many of which expand the nature of the offensive game on the field. For one thing, players will find that they are no longer trapped in animation when performing a juke or spin in this year's game. In NCAA 09, players can literally chain these moves together, spinning in one direction before spinning in the opposite direction or chaining a juke together with a hurdle to evade tacklers and break a play for additional yardage. It can be extremely satisfying to appear to be completely stopped by defenders, only to perform a couple of agile moves and weave your way through the crowd, driving the home crowd crazy. What's also cool is that you can use these maneuvers in concert with the larger holes and cutback lanes that will be made in defensive coverage to make big plays. Your ball carriers aren't the only ones with such evasive maneuvers, either; your quarterback can attempt to fake out defenders at any moment with a pump fake from the right analog stick and get defenders to leave their feet.
For the most part, these features work well and manage to include the fluidity and creative nature that many star athletes can bring to the game. There are a few caveats, however -- while it's easier to make cuts and spins within the game, players can accidentally fake and juke away from one player directly into the arms of other defenders who have no problem laying into the ball carrier. Another issue that crops up is that some cuts won't always be as smooth as you'd like them to be, particularly if you're moving laterally during an option. As a result, you'll find that either your player will sometimes move backwards during a juke or spin before they run forwards, making you lose yardage even if you're pushing up on the analog stick to direct the move. Additionally, their momentum will sometimes carry them out of bounds instead of making a cut up the field for a gain. This can be frustrating for many players as they try to establish a ground game or make a comeback only to put themselves farther in a hole.
On the defensive side of the ball, there aren't a lot of adjustments that have been made. There are stronger gang tackling mechanics, so you'll frequently see two or more defenders jamming a running lane and stuffing a ball carrier for a loss. You'll also see new hit animations that simply look painful, so linebackers have no problem blowing up a receiver that cuts across the middle of the field with a well placed shoulder that leaves him standing and the receiver laid out. On top of that, there's more attention paid to tipped balls and possible shoestring catches, so even if a ball seems knocked away from its intended target, it could easily wind up in the hands of a defender and going back for a gain or a score.
Ah, the majesty of Gameday.Now, traditionally, if you were playing a football title and managed to toss an interception (or the ball was tipped into the hands of a defender), you'd find that your quarterback's confidence would plummet, making you have to work to bolster his rattled nerves over the next few series of downs. That's somewhat mitigated with a new "mini-game" in NCAA 09 known as the Quarterback Quiz. After an interception and ensuing action, players are presented with a set of pictures and three different defensive schemes. By analyzing the photos (as a quarterback would on the sideline with his coaches), you can make a decision as to what defense was run against you on that ill-fated play. If you manage to choose correctly, your QB regains his composure and shakes the interception off as an accident. Pick the wrong play, however, and your QB will be completely rattled, potentially folding under the pressure and committing more mental mistakes. While the frustration of tossing a pick is significant, at least you can do something proactive about the situation, which is a great idea, and if you mess up, you're at least learning defensive schemes.

As I mentioned, if you manage to blow this call, your QB will lose his poise. Home crowds will feed on these situations, and with the noise that they generate, they can completely fluster shaky players. The twelfth man feature has been used before, but now nervous quarterbacks will find it practically impossible for them to accurately read routes prior to the snap which can potentially contribute to additional turnovers. The controller will also vibrate, giving you a tactile sense of the energy flowing through the stadium and washing over your players. Along with this, the noise can sometimes cause a number of mistakes from linemen or other players, causing stupid penalties to occur. In many sports situations, coaches will call timeouts to compose his squad. In NCAA 09, you can now take advantage of this strategy by directing your players on your offensive and defensive squad, telling them different strategies like getting the ball back, getting open or ignoring the crowd noise and focusing on their assignments.
Using your timeouts effectively even becomes a tactical strategy in this year's title, as astute coaches can disrupt kickers from accurately making field goals when the game is on the line. By calling for a timeout right before a key attempt to tie up a game or put one team ahead, you can trigger the Ice the Kicker mechanic. Not only will the kicking power meter be visually iced over, but the camera angle for the attempt will be dramatically changed along with a rumble in the controller and a thumping heartbeat. It's a hell of an effect and can put you on the edge of your seat as you keep your fingers crossed to send the ball through the uprights. It's enough to make you break out into a school fight song as the kicker becomes a hero.
Then again, you can leave that celebration up to the crowd and the cheerleaders. After every score for the home team, school squads will find mascots celebrating, cannons firing, fans chanting and the band striking up a rallying cry for their players. You'll even see flag carriers waving a large flag for the team or running along the sidelines. All of these help contribute to the ambience of the gameplay and how exhilarating a game can be. Players aren't restricted to a passive view of these events, either -- every time they score, they have an option of various celebrations. Depending on the team you play as, you can trigger a school-specific celebration, like a Tomahawk Chop, V for Victory, Hook 'Em Horns or Gator Chomp amongst others, which can get a large cry from the crowd.
If you're looking for a more energetic response, you can look for your mascot, who will be performing at one of the two end zones. If you happen to score at the end zone that he's stationed at, you can use the right analog stick to trigger a number of celebrations. Some of them may be school specific, like swordfighting with Knightro or tiger taming Mike, while others are more varied, like striking the Heisman pose. While amusing, it's somewhat unrealistic, as many of these mascot celebrations would easily result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That's particularly true were a player to hand off the football to a mascot and have him spike the ball. It's also rather strange in how it's handled because the game frequently eliminates these celebrations from replays or game movies, reducing the impact of these moments.
Bring it -- It's already been broughten.Apart from these gameplay features, there are some new twists to the other gameplay modes. For example, this year introduces the Coke Zero Mascot Mash Up, where players face off against the computer or a friend with squads comprised of the animated characters. The mode plays exactly like the standard game, with a few exceptions: instead of pulling off a traditional juke to fake out a defender, your mascots will spin or flip in the air, which can completely throw off your opponent. In can be extremely tricky to take another player's legs out only to have him nimbly flip over a diving tackle and keep running up the field. There are also new special teams mini-games where you play tug-of-war with your special teams or kick field goals from different spots on the field in a game of Horse (or Pig if you'd rather have a shorter game).
As for returning game modes, the Campus Legend mode makes a return with its focus on building your created athlete from high school star to college phenom. New this year is the ability to run through an entire week's worth of practice back to back without exiting back to the calendar. At first, this might seem like a useful tactic, especially if you're trying to climb the depth chart from the bench to a starter. However, the disadvantages of this far outweigh the positives, because you'll completely skip your evening activities, potentially ruining your GPA and not augmenting your stats outside of practice. With there still not being any team expectations of starting player performance or challenges to your starting spot in this year's game, this becomes another example of an unbalanced gameplay function in a large mode for the game.
Adding to the nonsensical nature of the Campus Legend mode is the removal of the evening activities that made players feel like they were actually contributing to their player's presence on his school's campus and his legend there. Last year, you could attend pep rallies, help out friends or play in pickup games amongst other actions; things that you'd expect a college student to do. That no longer applies in this year's game. Your Legend will only perform one of four tasks: hit the books, go to the gym, study your playbooks or visit the trainer. Not only is this extremely dry and boring, but it doesn't make you feel any connection to your school or your legend's success because the boosts that you get are even more anti-climactic than they were last year. Why this was removed when it only needed a few minor adjustments is truly a mystery.
By contrast, the Dynasty mode has a number of improvements that makes it seem much more detailed. Players gain a new set of recruiting tools that can be used to help coaches in their goals. This year, players can set specific tasks for their assistants to fulfill on their own, leaving you with more time to focus on pitching the players you really need for your squad. What's more, if you find that you're too busy to find out everything on a player but still want to engage their interest in your school, you can place a quick call into them, setting a specific amount of time that you want to devote there and immediately get a summary of random topics that are of interest to them. The more time you devote (up to an hour for this condensed discussion), the more of a snapshot you receive on a player.
The more significant addition is the ability to convert your offline dynasties into an online dynasty and vice versa. Up to twelve players will be able to enter a dynasty and vie for prospective students from the same pool of athletes across the country as well as pit their skills against each other to see who has the best team in the dynasty. If there's another team on your schedule that a player in your dynasty hasn't chosen, the game will substitute a computerized team for you to face off against. While you can join up to five dynasties, you can only be the commissioner of one, but that position has an incredible amount of power, including automatically advancing the action of a game week in case members of the dynasty go on vacation or don't actually play their games in a timely fashion. This way, everyone else isn't hampered by someone slow. This is a phenomenal addition to the franchise, and one of those things that reinvigorates online play, especially because you can save off a copy of the dynasty if you tire of playing online and wish to push ahead with your own experience.
Visually, NCAA 09 is much sharper than last year's game, and the animations highlight many of the changes that have been made. As I mentioned earlier, it's much easier to perform different cuts, jukes and spins, although there are some odd hitches that will crop up now and then. For example, you'll find that a number of times your players will drag their toes near the sideline even though they've still got a couple of feet to go before they near the sideline. You'll also find that many offensive receivers or halfbacks will get stuck on teammates as they go into motion, making it a little trickier to effectively pull off these plays because the timing of the play is thrown off. While much of the attention has been paid to the field, elements off the field seem to have suffered. Crowd animations are rather flat and repetitive, with characters that frequently repeat over and over again in the stands. Players on the sidelines have a rather wooden appearance to their faces and have a bland reaction to items on the field, while the photographers and other sideline bystanders don't contribute much. Even worse are the textures, which substitute some generic textures just off the field. Parking lots are bare, buildings are sometimes shown with little detail or randomly become transparent, and other sections outside of the stadium lose their visual fidelity, which is disappointing considering that there are brand new camera angles to show off a new presentation of the stadiums in the game.
The sound, on the other hand, is excellent, particularly because of the crowd atmosphere. The inclusion of a ton of chants definitely helps, although the true standout is the inclusion of custom soundtracks, which lets players assign sound effects or music cues to various gameplay moments. I personally think that playing "Take the Power Back" whenever my team gets a fumble or an interception is an excellent way to pump me up for the next series, and putting on Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" after a PAT feels particularly appropriate, especially since the drive summary is sponsored by Pontiac. The largest problem that occurs with sound, even apart from some dialogue repetition by Corso and Herbstreit, is the fact that school fight songs and cheers will frequently play over the NCAA Football theme music, degenerating into a cacophonous mess.
Closing Comments
College football is about atmosphere, and NCAA Football 09 manages to capture this environment handily thanks to items like school chants and cheerleader stunts. The improvement of jukes and ballcarrier moves adds depth to your offense, while the inclusion of features like the Quarterback Quiz and Icing the Kicker makes the overall gameplay stronger. The Online Dynasty is an excellent addition to this series, but the mistakes made with the Campus Legend mode keeps this year's title from being truly extraordinary.

IGN Ratings for NCAA Football 09 (PS3)
Rating Description
out of 10 click here for ratings guide
8.5 Presentation
The college atmosphere is very well done within the game, from the stunts and cheers to the mascots and celebrations.
8.0 Graphics
The visuals are stronger than they were last year on the field. Just off the playing field, however, are a number of visual issues that hold the title back.
8.5 Sound
The addition of custom soundtracks are a huge boon to the gameplay. However, the mixing of fight songs and NCAA Football music really is poorly done.
8.0 Gameplay
Many of the additions to gameplay are well done. Campus Legend mode is a shadow of its former self, while Dynasty mode is stronger because of its online play.
8.5 Lasting Appeal
The ability to migrate dynasties from online to offline and back again is a great feature that will keep players fighting for their alma maters for a long time.
8.4
Impressive OVERALL

Thursday, July 17, 2008

NFL Superstars that ended their career in a different UNIFORM

















Art Monk
Washington Redskins, 1980-1993
New York Jets, 1994
Philadelphia Eagles, 1995

Art Monk finished his 16-year NFL career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. Monk played the first 14 years with the Washington Redskins and won three Super Bowls with the team.
What many people might not remember about Monk is that the Hall of Famer played a season with the Jets in 1994 and ended his career after a season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995.

Bruce Smith
Buffalo Bills, 1985-1999
Washington Redskins, 2000-2003

During his time with the Buffalo Bills, Bruce Smith was one of the most beloved defensive ends in the NFL. Smith was drafted by the Bills in 1985 and stayed with them until 1999. During his time in Buffalo he went to four straight Super Bowls and was selected to 11 Pro Bowls.
In 2000, Smith parted ways with the Bills and suited up for the Redskins. While Smith was clearly out of his prime, it was with Washington that he broke the all-time sack record, previously held by the late, great Reggie White. Smith finally retired in 2003 with 1,224 tackles and 200 sacks.

Cris Carter
Philadelphia Eagles, 1987-1989
Minnesota Vikings, 1990-2001
Miami Dolphins, 2002

Cris Carter began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he made a name for himself with the Minnesota Vikings. With Minnesota, Carter became a three-time All-Pro and played in eight-straight Pro Bowls. The only player with more receptions in the 90's was the legendary Jerry Rice.
After the 2001 season, Carter opted out of his contract and shopped around for a new team. Instead of signing elsewhere he became an analyst on HBO's Inside the NFL. But by Week 9, the Dolphins had lured Carter out of retirement. Carter struggled in his return to the NFL, and once the season was over, he retired again, this time for good.

Deacon Jones
Los Angeles Rams, 1961-1971
San Diego Chargers, 1972-1973
Washington Redskins, 1974

No one had ever heard of the term "sack" until Deacon Jones came around. Nicknamed the Secretary of Defense, Jones unofficially tallied 26 sacks in 14 games in 1967 (sacks were not officially recorded until 1982) and claims to have recorded 173.5 sacks during his entire career.
In 1972, Jones was part of a multi-player trade and was sent to the San Diego Chargers. Jones was still a force in San Diego as he led all Chargers' defensive linemen in tackles and was named to the Pro Bowl. Jones would go on to finish his career with the Redskins in 1974.

Earl Campbell
Houston Oilers, 1978-1984
New Orleans Saints, 1984-1985

A Heisman Trophy winner in 1977, Campbell was the first overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. That year he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and the MVP and was an instant sensation. He led the NFL in rushing from 1978-1980, played in five Pro Bowls and finished his career with 9,407 yards and 74 rushing TDs.
In 1984, Campbell was traded to the New Orleans Saints, but his skills were already on the decline. He played a diminshed role for the Saints in 1984 and 1985 before retiring during the preseason of 1986.

Emmitt Smith
Dallas Cowboys, 1990-2002
Arizona Cardinals, 2003-2004

Emmitt Smith is one of the greatest running backs of all time and is the NFL's all-time rushing leader. In 1993, he became the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl, the NFL rushing crown and NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors all in the same season. Smith was named to eight Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls.
In 2003, Smith joined the Arizona Cardinals, but he could never recapture the magic of his days with the Cowboys. After two seasons, Smith was released by the Cardinals and signed a one-day contract with Dallas so he could retire a Cowboy.

Eric Dickerson
Los Angeles Rams, 1983-1987
Indianapolis Colts, 1987-1991
Los Angeles Raiders, 1992
Atlanta Falcons, 1993

Eric Dickerson is arguably one of the greatest running backs of all time. He is most known for his time with the Los Angeles Rams and the Indianapolis Colts when he was named to six Pro Bowls and was a five-time All Pro. He also holds the record for most rushing yards in a season with 2,105 in 1984.
His last couple of years with the Colts, though, were marred by contract disputes and suspensions. Dickerson was traded to the Raiders, where he showed glimpses of his old self but couldn't put everything together for the whole season. Following the 1992 season, Dickerson was traded to the Falcons, where he played a backup role. The Falcons then tried to trade Dickerson to the Packers in 1993, but the RB retired after failing a physical.

Jerry Rice
San Francisco 49ers, 1985-2000
Oakland Raiders, 2001-2004
Seattle Seahawks, 2004
Denver Broncos, 2005

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't think Jerry Rice is the best receiver in NFL history. Rice finished his career with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards and 209 touchdowns. He is the all-time leader in every major statistical category for receivers, was selected to 13 Pro Bowls and was named a 10-time All-Pro.
Rice had some success with the Raiders, but everyone will remember him as a 49er. He won three Super Bowl rings with San Francisco (1985, 1989, 1990) and was named the MVP at Super Bowl XXIII.
Rice left for the Raiders in 2001, tallying 83 receptions for 1,139 yards and nine touchdowns. He followed it up with an even better season in 2002 with 92 catches, 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns. It started to go downhill after that, though.
Rice left the Raiders four games into the 2004 season and joined the Seahawks. At the end of the season, Rice tried to make the Denver Broncos' roster during the 2005 preseason, but he retired before the season began.

Joe Montana
San Francisco 49ers, 1979-1992
Kansas City Chiefs, 1993-1994

Widely considered the best quarterback under pressure, Joe Montana was an astounding 4-0 in the Super Bowl (1982, 1985, 1988, 1990) and won three Super Bowl MVP awards (1982, 1985 and 1990). He tallied 40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns over the course of his career and led his teams to 31 fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins.
After missing the entire 1991 season and most of 1992, Steve Young had emerged as the 49ers' starting QB. Montana was traded to the Chiefs in 1993 and led them to the AFC Championship. He returned Kansas City to the postseason in 1994, but after a first-round loss he retired.

Joe Namath
New York Jets, 1965-1976
Los Angeles Rams, 1977

Broadway Joe is most well-known for brashly proclaiming that his Jets would upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III and then delivering on his promise.
With the Jets shopping Namath in 1977 but unable to engineer a trade, they released him. Namath found a home with the Rams, but previous injuries had taken a toll on his body. After four games with Los Angeles, Namath's playing career was over.

Johnny Unitas
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1955
Baltimore Colts, 1956-1972
San Diego Chargers, 1973

Johnny Unitas threw for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns over the course of his career. He was a nine-time All-Pro and was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times. Unitas also was the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards, and his 47-game touchdown streak between 1956-1960 is one that may never be broken.
Unitas was traded to the San Diego Charges in 1973, but the Hall of Famer retired after just one season.

Marcus Allen
Los Angeles Raiders, 1982-1992
Kansas City Chiefs, 1993-1997

Marcus Allen rushed for 12,243 yards and 123 touchdowns during his career and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He also was the MVP of Super Bowl XVIII after running for 191 yards and scoring two touchdowns to lead the Raiders past the Redskins, 38-9. After problems with Raiders' owner Al Davis, Allen joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993. He rushed for 764 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, and his achievements earned him recognition as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Allen went on to play for K.C. for four more seasons.

O.J. Simpson
Buffalo Bills, 1969-1977
San Francisco 49ers, 1978-1979

Before O.J. Simpson was known for his exploits in the court room and trying to "find the real killers," he was one of the greatest running backs the NFL had ever seen as part of the Buffalo Bills. He tallied 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns, was a five-time All Pro, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL MVP in 1973.
But many may forget that Simpson ended his career with the San Francisco 49ers. After his 1977 season was cut short by an injury, the Bills traded O.J. to the 49ers. Simpson, however, was never really able to get back on track and retired in 1979.

Reggie White
Memphis Showboats, 1984-1985
Philadelphia Eagles, 1985-1992
Green Bay Packers 1993-1998
Carolina Panthers, 2000

Reggie White started his career in the USFL, but he really made a name for himself in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Green Bay Packers. In the course of a career in which he recorded 1,112 tackles and 198 sacks, White was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a 10-time All-Pro, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers (XXXI).
White became a free agent in 1993 and left the Eagles to sign with the Packers. White went to two Super Bowls with the Packers, winning one of them. It was the only championship he won on any level. White retired in 1999 but came back in 2000 to play with the Carolina Panthers. He recorded only 16 tackles but still managed six sacks before retiring at the end of the season.

Ronnie Lott
San Francisco 49ers, 1981-1990
Los Angeles Raiders, 1991-1992
New York Jets, 1993-1994
Kansas City Chiefs, 1995

Ronnie Lott is one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs in NFL history. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler, earning selections as both a cornerback and a safety. He recorded 63 interceptions and notched five touchdowns throughout his career and also was an All-Pro nine times. He helped lead the 49ers to eight division titles and four Super Bowl victories.
Lott signed with the Raiders in 1991, going on to lead the league in interceptions that year but stayed for just one more season before signing with the Jets in 1993. His tenure in New York didn't last any longer, and after two years left left for Kansas City. Playing with the Chiefs in 1995, Lott was injured in the preseason. He signed with the 49ers in 1995, but his injuries kept him from ever suiting up, and his career ended.

Thurman Thomas
Buffalo Bills, 1988-1999
Miami Dolphins, 2000

Thurman Thomas helped lead the Buffalo Bills to four staight Super Bowls and recorded 12,074 yards and 88 touchdowns during his career. Thomas was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and was a six-time All Pro. He also was named the NFL MVP in 1991. Thomas is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons.
Thomas played 12 consecutive seasons with the Bills, but Buffalo ran out of room under the salary cap so Thomas signed with the Dolphins in 2000. He suffered a knee injury in November that year and never was able to return to competitive action.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Homerun Derbies of the Past!!!








1985 The first derby champion, Dave Parker, hit 6 homers to beat future hall of famers Jim Rice, Eddie Murray, Ripken Jr., and Ryan Sandberg in the Metrodome.
1993 Ken Griffey Jr. hits one off of the warehouse across the street from Camden Yards.
1996 Barry Bonds took his only derby crown in Veterans Stadium in Philly. Long before steroids.
1998 Griffey Jr. became the only 2 time winner at Coors Field.
2000 Sammy Sosa hit a record 26 homers at Turner Field.
2005 Bobby Abreu hit a record 24 homeruns in the 1st round at Detroit's Camerica Park. He ended up with a record 41 total, but only hit 6 homers the rest of the season.
2007 Everyone came out in their kayaks in San Francisco, but went home with nothing because their were no splash-downs.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Where are they now???? Anna Kournikova and Jim Abbott




Good article from http://cnnsi.com


Where Are They Now? Anna Kournikova and Jim Abbott

Now 27, Anna Kournikova is all grown up Story Highlights

Ten years later, Anna Kournikova has matured in attitude and in style
She's content with the phenomenon she was and the woman she's become
Kournikova now lives in Miami Beach and plays tennis a few times a week. Anna Kournikova's looks haven't changed much, but her outlook definitely has.
It's 1998 and I'm trying to interview Anna Kournikova. It's a bit like attempting to secure an audience with a world leader, which, Kournikova's handlers would have you believe, she is. Billed as "the most downloaded female on the planet," Kournikova is flanked by a battalion of handlers, agents, managers and other assorted obstructionists.
There are months of delays and unreturned calls. When favored with the courtesy of a response, the communication is annoying in the extreme. Can you send your questions in advance? Can you embed references to the products of Anna's various sponsors in whatever you write? That would really help speed the process! Finally, after more than a year, I am granted a 10-minute session at a hotel in New Jersey where Kournikova is being paid a prince(cess)ly fee to play in a weekend tennis exhibition. Monitored by yet another handler, Kournikova spends the excruciating session chomping on pink gum, staring at her nails, and performing a nimble feat of dialogue by giving yes/no answers to questions that begin with the word "how."
It's 2008 and I'm trying to interview Anna Kournikova. Half an hour before the appointed meeting time, my cellphone chirps. Chastened by experience, I steel myself for a call apologizing for a last-minute change of plans. But, no, it's Anna -- on an unblocked number -- confirming that she's running on schedule and if I'm having trouble finding a parking space at the Starbucks where we're scheduled to meet, I can always park at the adjacent Whole Foods. She arrives alone, pulling up in a tasteful but hardly ostentatious ride. She makes eye contact. She chews no gum. Ninety minutes into what is more a conversation than an interview, she is still going strong. No, I'm forced to admit, I have not read the book Eat, Pray, Love. "You really should," she says. "It's spiritual, but well-written at the same time."
She's 27 now, and while she pretty much looks the same as remembered, Anna Kournikova bears only the vaguest resemblance to the one-woman international conglomerate that damn near hijacked women's tennis a decade ago. While she's unwilling to concede that she's retired, she hasn't played a WTA Tour match in more than five years. The regal prom queen who once memorably remarked to a suitor, "You can't afford me," is now recommending literature. The tennis mercenary who allegedly made $50 million in off-court income before the age of 18 is now an ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America -- which sounds like so much p.r. until you learn that in April she went to gritty Tijuana, Mexico, to help open a youth facility.
When it's pointed out how little the Kournikova of today conforms to the image she created years ago, she nods her head so forcefully her Gucci sunglasses nearly fly off her face. "Of course, I'm a different person! People say, 'I can't believe how much you've changed!' What did they expect? People grow, evolve. It would be sad if I didn't change!"
Kournikova is now a RIPO -- Russian in Passport Only. She holds a green card and lives full time in Miami Beach, the port she entered in 1992, when she was a 10-year-old prodigy armed with talent and attitude in equal measure. "When Anna won a point, it wasn't an achievement," recalls Nick Bollettieri, her first American coach. "That was how it was supposed to go. I mean, she was Anna Kournikova." At age 14 she won the Orange Bowl, the top international junior event. At 17, in her breakthrough season of '98, she scored victories over Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf, advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. and French Opens, and cracked the Top 20 for the first time. With that, Anna Inc. was open for business.
Tennis gave me my life," she says. Does she wish she'd dialed back the hype machine? "It's hard. We did the best we could. But there was no blueprint."
The Kournikova phenomenon was a classic case of harmonic convergence. Women's sports -- tennis in particular -- were growing in popularity, eyed as a promising frontier by sports marketers. The Internet enabled fans from Minsk to Minneapolis to access Kournikova in a way they never could, say, Chris Evert. As the global economy kicked into high gear, you could scarcely find a more ideal exponent for it than an exotic Russian who spoke flawless English and performed all over the world.
Kournikova embraced it all. The daughter of communism (she was born in Moscow in 1981) took commercialism to new extremes. She endorsed products from watches to brokerage firms to sports bras, virtually every campaign built around her looks rather than her athletic prowess. When she wasn't pushing products, she was striking come-hither poses for magazines. (Full disclosure: In 2000, Kournikova, then 18, graced the cover of a certain weekly sports magazine, wearing little besides a peach shirt and a Mona Lisa smile.) The pundits could debate whether this was a feminist setback or a feminist triumph -- "What is she supposed to say, 'No, I don't want your money?' That's like winning the lottery and then saying, 'No, I don't really deserve it,' " no less than Martina Navratilova once said of Kournikova. Meanwhile, Kournikova was making bundles of cash for her sponsors, her tour, her agents and, not least, herself. Nathalie Tauziat, a higher-ranked but less publicized WTA player at the time, called Kournikova, "a blonde windfall."
But Kournikova's cult of personality exacted a price on her tennis. While the contagion known as Annamania raged and hormonally charged boys showed up en masse at women's tennis matches for the first time, an inconvenient truth persisted: Kournikova, for all her appeal, had never won a tournament. Pitted against the hype, her ability had little chance. Distraction was her destruction.
In the retelling, Kournikova was the tennis equivalent of the Fridge, a unique physical specimen rather than a creditable athlete. In truth -- and this is what gives the story a slightly tragic ring -- Kournikova was abundantly gifted. She played whimsical, well-rounded tennis and excelled at the net, an area of the court most contemporary players avoid as if it were quicksand. She reached as high as eighth in the singles rankings and in 1999 was the world's top doubles player. But the weight of never having won a title ultimately crushed her. "I put pressure on myself, especially as I got older," she says. "At 16, 17 you have no fear. You don't think or analyze. You just play on automatic. You can get smarter as you get older, but in sports you can be too smart, you know?"
Her fragile psyche was compounded by a fragile body. Foot, back and ankle injuries forestalled her career. By the spring of 2003 she was playing low-level challenger events in an attempt to revive her game. That May she withdrew from a match against a 16-year-old arriviste named Maria Sharapova. The following week Kournikova played in Charlottesville, Va., in front of a crowd consisting mostly of Virginia frat boys. She lost to a Brazilian ranked outside the top 300 and hasn't played a sanctioned match since.
Her impact unquestionably went beyond commerce and Internet photo galleries. Following the trail blazed at least in part by Kournikova, there are five players in the WTA's Top 10 from Russia or the former Soviet Union. "Anna," says fourth-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova, "showed there was possibility through tennis." As playing careers go, however, Kournikova's is a case of sizzle beating steak, in straight sets.
In assessing her record, Kournikova speaks with such candor and detachment that it's almost as if she's describing another person. "In a perfect world, would I have won a tournament? Yes. But I wasn't able to string those matches together. Sometimes I got unlucky, and sometimes I just lost." Regrets? "Not a thing. Except to be a little stronger physically. Come on, regrets? I grew up a little girl in the Soviet Union playing at a small sports club. Tennis gave me my life." Does she wish she'd dialed back the hype machine a bit? "It's hard. We did the best we could. But there was no blueprint." And whatever you do, don't lavish her with a shred of sympathy. "Hey, I took the money. It's simple. If you don't want the attention, don't take the money."
Tennis has come to rival boxing in the frequency of comebacks, so don't be surprised if Kournikova joins the swelling ranks of the "unretired." She works out daily and this spring clocked seven-minute miles running in a charity triathlon in Miami. Though her hands are noticeably free of calluses, she plays tennis a few times a week, sometimes on the public courts not far from her waterfront home. This summer she'll compete for the St. Louis Aces in the World TeamTennis league. "Honestly, who knows?" she says. "I'm young enough to still play. But physically could I take it?"
Meanwhile, she spends her days living what she admits is a charmed existence. Her parents, Alla and Sergei, divorced in 2004, but Alla moved to Palm Beach, remarried and has a three-year-old son, whose half sister is all too happy to babysit. "I get my kid fix," she says. "Then I say, 'Here ya go, Mom. See ya.' " Kournikova is a spokesperson for K-Swiss. She reads. When the urge strikes, she hits the South Beach clubs. And there are those Boys & Girls Club fund-raisers. "Don't get the wrong idea," she says. "I basically get dressed up and beg people for money."
Testament to the durability of fame, she still has run-ins with the paparazzi. She claims it's particularly bad when she goes out with her longtime boyfriend, singer Enrique Iglesias. "Girls look at him. Guys look at me," she says. "It goes with the job, but it gets annoying when you feel violated. Just take the picture and be done." She can still watch celebrity shows and learn about herself. For the record: "I'm not married, not pregnant, didn't have a boob job, no Botox. What else?"
If it sounds as though she's figured life out, well, she hasn't. "Here's one thing I don't get," she says. "Why are people afraid of getting older? You feel wiser. You feel more mature. You feel like you know yourself better. You would trade that for softer skin? Not me!"


Jim Abbott
He pitched the U.S. to Olympic gold two decades ago, then spent 10 seasons in the majors. Even now, he's an inspiration to athletes trying to overcome their disabilities

THE LETTERS come from Saratoga, Calif., from Fairfax, Va., from Monmouth Beach, N.J., written by determined mothers, desperate fathers and sometimes the children themselves. The content can be remarkably similar. A boy is born without the use of one hand. A doctor suggests that he try soccer, but the boy is interested only in baseball.
And before anyone can change his mind, he finds out that somebody played major league baseball despite having one hand, accomplishing more in the majors than most of his peers did with two. The boy is introduced to the legend of Jim Abbott.
Twelve-year-old Michael Branca learned the legend from his mother, Robin, who had heard about Abbott on the car radio during the 1988 Olympics. Ten-year-old Billy Inserra learned it from a children's book about Abbott, Overcoming the Odds, which Billy chewed on as a baby. And eight-year-old Blaise Venancio learned it on the Internet, watching video of Abbott artfully transferring his glove from his left hand, which is fully developed, to his right arm, which ends in a fleshy nubbin. Michael, Billy and Blaise are all Little Leaguers who practice the Abbott Switch, in which Abbott would catch the ball with the glove on his left hand, then cradle the glove in his right arm while pulling out his left hand and letting the ball fall into it.
Of course, none of them were alive 20 years ago, when Abbott went the distance for Team USA to win the gold medal game at the Seoul Olympics. None of them were alive 15 years ago, when he threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees. And none of them were watching nine years ago, when he tossed his last pitch, for the Milwaukee Brewers. Abbott wonders why, now that he's 40 and long retired from baseball, boys and girls keep writing him letters. Perhaps it's because they know he writes back.
Officially, Abbott is a motivational speaker, hired by corporations such as Prudential, Exxon and Wells Fargo to tell his story. Unofficially, he is the repository for everybody else's story. Abbott receives approximately 20 e-mails or letters a month, all of them heart-wrenching, many of them about children who are missing a hand, or part of a hand, or feeling in a hand. He responds to each one personally.
"To Blaise," reads the note to Blaise Venancio. "I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck with baseball this year. Hopefully you are having a great time playing. I know it is sometimes hard to do things a little differently from other kids. But believe me, if you stick with it, you can be just as good. Always believe. Anything is possible."
Blaise, from Monmouth Beach, N.J., is a natural lefthander who was born with Poland's Syndrome, which cost him the use of his right hand. When he started playing baseball, he wanted to wear a glove on his right hand, like all the other southpaws. His father, Matt, tried five different mitts, bathing them in oil to soften the leather, but Blaise couldn't close any of them. Finally in March, Matt showed Blaise the video of another lefty with a similar problem. Blaise decided then to copy the man in the video.
In May, wearing his glove on his left hand, Blaise ran in from centerfield to cover second base, making a backhanded pick-up of an in-between-hop throw. When asked how he did it, Blaise said, "Jim Abbott. He's my friend."
ABBOTT LIVES on a cul-de-sac in Corona del Mar, Calif., within walking distance of the beach. He spends his summers in Northern Michigan, at a house in the woods on a lake. He and his wife, Dana, have two physically gifted daughters, 11-year-old Madeleine and eight-year-old Ella, who pitch for their youth softball teams. Abbott also has hundreds, if not thousands, of other, physically challenged kids.
Abbott started meeting them shortly after he joined the California Angels in 1989, after an All-America career at Michigan. Sitting in the clubhouse, he would feel a tap on his shoulder, from a coach or a clubby. He knew what the tap meant: There was an aspiring baseball player outside who wanted to meet him. "They would always have their gloves with them," Abbott says. "I'd ask them to show me how they switched their glove, and they would do it real fast. And then I'd show them how I did it. And we'd do it together."
It's not just kids who draw strength from Abbott's story. On May 29, Abbott delivered a speech at the Ritz-Carlton on Lake Las Vegas for a corporation called Investors Capital. After Abbott's talk ended with a standing ovation, he walked into the lobby and was greeted by 36-year-old Adam Schenk. Schenk developed his first brain tumor when he was three. During surgery on a second tumor, when he was 30, Schenk had a stroke, resulting in massive nerve damage to the right side of his body, including his right hand. "When I was in the hospital, Jim is the one who inspired me to eat again and walk again and dress myself again," Schenk says.
Schenk and Abbott sat in the lobby of the Ritz for more than an hour, two guys talking baseball. Schenk recited all of Abbott's big league statistics—an 87--108 record, 888 career strikeouts and a 4.25 earned run average. "You know," Schenk told him, "it wasn't a very good record." Abbott nodded knowingly.
After he retired in 1999 Abbott got a call from Lilly Walters, author of One-Hand Typing and Keyboarding Manual. Walters, who lost part of her left hand in an accident when she was 10, wanted a testimonial for her book. But she also represented public speakers and asked if he was interested in a gig. Abbott was an unlikely choice, devoid of bluster and ego, a guy who kept his gold medal hidden at the bottom of a dresser drawer. Besides, even speaking at full volume Abbott often sounds as if he is whispering. But he enjoys connecting with an audience and feels that his story can make a positive impact on people's lives.
Still, "I don't want to talk about my playing days forever," he says. "You can't live in the past. You have to find the next phase, the next passion. Tell me: Where do I go from here?"
The answer lies in all those letters. They come from 13-year-olds like Andrew Christopoulos, who has a rare blood disease called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis that required weekly chemotherapy treatments for four months. Abbott's letter to Andrew read in part, "I've always believed that tough challenges make even tougher people. Andrew, you will always be up to any challenge. Always believe that."
Abbott does not like to be portrayed as an ambassador, but that will be his next job description. Neil Romano, the head of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, has tabbed Abbott to be the office's spokesperson. "Jim Abbott exemplifies," Romano says, "that people with disabilities have an awful lot to give."
Romano knows policy, but Abbott knows people. He knows so many, in fact, that it is impossible for him to remember all their names and faces. So when he thinks of them all, he often thinks of just one.
"His name is Joe Rogers," Abbott says. "He wrote me a letter once. He is a hockey player from Michigan, a goalie, and he uses his hand for his glove. He's going to Notre Dame [on a partial scholarship]. He's terrific, just the nicest kid in the world. I wish I could know every single one of them as well as I know him. I ask myself all the time if I'm doing enough. I wish I could do a lot more."