The European team opened its defense of the Ryder Cup today in Kentucky. Over the past 10 years or more, this international competion has been transformed from a rather obscure event into one of golf's more compelling showcases with large, enthusiastic, flag-waving crowds and strong television ratings. Even without the presence of Tiger Woods this year, there is still a significant buzz leading into the latest chapter of this American-European rivalry.
Contrast this with another international sporting event taking place this weekend in Madrid - the U.S. vs Spain in tennis' Davis Cup. Even finding mention of it in the sports pages could pose a serious challenge. Quick. What is the Davis Cup? Who won the last Davis Cup? When did the United States last win? What is the format? If you answered "I don't care" to any or all of these questions, go to the head of the class. The Davis Cup was once a venerable tradition dating back to the amateur days of tennis when the men played in long white trousers. It continued to be popular in the golden era of tennis in the 1970's and early 80's. However, as tennis has declined in popularity over the last 20 years, so has the Cup. Now, it is a dinosaur sandwiched into a crowded schedule containing too many nondescript events. To make matters worse, the matches are dragged out for months.
The tennis powers-that-be should take a lesson from the Ryder Cup. A format for the Davis Cup should be devised so that the entire tournament could be played over one weekend. Otherwise it will continue to be a variation of the witness protection program - athletes with unfamiliar names playing in exotic places.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Suicide Squeeze
Milwaukee at Philadelphia in an important late-season game. The Phils had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the 7th but their 7th and 8th inning relief pitching has been increasingly unreliable. An insurance run or two would be most welcome so they could hand a lead to their indomitable closer, Brad Lidge, in the 9th inning.
In the 7th, the Phillies' fleet center fielder, Shane Victorino, was on second with no outs. So far so good. Pedro Feliz was next up. He is an inconsistent hitter with power, prone to the strike out. Somewhat surprisingly he bunted and the sacrifice was successful. Victorino advanced to third base, now with one out. The next batter was Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz is an excellent defensive catcher with a batting average barely above .200 all season. However, in recent weeks, his hitting has been showing signs of life. On his way to the plate, Ruiz matter-of-factly asked a teammate the sign for the squeeze. Manager Charlie Manuel, who has not called for the squeeze all year, heard this exchange and was somewhat bemused.
The relief pitcher for the Brewers was right-hander Carlos Villanueva who was pitching from the windup with Victorino on third. So the stars were aligned for a successful squeeze: fast runner on third, a right-handed batter to block the catcher's view, a pitcher using the windup, a good bunter, and presumably the element of surprise. A left-handed pitcher would have been even better, but what does it matter because Charlie Manuel NEVER squeezes anyway?
Ruiz worked the count to 2 and 1, and one of the balls was a pitchout - so much for the element of surprise. Villanueva then started into his windup. Victorino held his ground momentarily but then broke hard for the plate. In the meantime, Ruiz did not show bunt until the right-hander released the pitch. It was too late for the Brewers to react. Ruiz's bunt was soft and up the third base line, much better than was needed. Victorino scored easily, the Phils had their insurance run, and they went on to win. And Charlie Manuel was still bemused.
Baseball's suicide squeeze - a beautiful thing.
In the 7th, the Phillies' fleet center fielder, Shane Victorino, was on second with no outs. So far so good. Pedro Feliz was next up. He is an inconsistent hitter with power, prone to the strike out. Somewhat surprisingly he bunted and the sacrifice was successful. Victorino advanced to third base, now with one out. The next batter was Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz is an excellent defensive catcher with a batting average barely above .200 all season. However, in recent weeks, his hitting has been showing signs of life. On his way to the plate, Ruiz matter-of-factly asked a teammate the sign for the squeeze. Manager Charlie Manuel, who has not called for the squeeze all year, heard this exchange and was somewhat bemused.
The relief pitcher for the Brewers was right-hander Carlos Villanueva who was pitching from the windup with Victorino on third. So the stars were aligned for a successful squeeze: fast runner on third, a right-handed batter to block the catcher's view, a pitcher using the windup, a good bunter, and presumably the element of surprise. A left-handed pitcher would have been even better, but what does it matter because Charlie Manuel NEVER squeezes anyway?
Ruiz worked the count to 2 and 1, and one of the balls was a pitchout - so much for the element of surprise. Villanueva then started into his windup. Victorino held his ground momentarily but then broke hard for the plate. In the meantime, Ruiz did not show bunt until the right-hander released the pitch. It was too late for the Brewers to react. Ruiz's bunt was soft and up the third base line, much better than was needed. Victorino scored easily, the Phils had their insurance run, and they went on to win. And Charlie Manuel was still bemused.
Baseball's suicide squeeze - a beautiful thing.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Marion Jones Meet Jim Thorpe
Marion Jones was released from federal prison recently, mercifully to little fanfare. She had completed a six-month sentence for lying to federal prosecutors about steroid use and a check fraud scheme. The images of the young woman surrendering to federal authorities were a reminder of the sometimes transient nature of fame and fortune. One of the most popular, graceful and recognizable female athletes was reduced to a broken woman - stripped of her Olympic medals and separated from her young children.
While different in many respects, the Marion Jones soap opera is eerily similar to that of another track phenom from a century earlier, Jim Thorpe, who was proclaimed the world's greatest athlete after winning the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics. Thorpe too had to relinquish his Olympic gold; in his case, he had violated his amateur status by playing semipro baseball for $2 a game. For the rest of his life, Thorpe, who was part Native American, would have to fight racism, alcoholism and extreme poverty. Ironically, if Jim Thorpe were competing today, his Olympic victories would bring him unimaginable millions, his picture on Wheaties boxes, and his own talk show. But in early 20th century America, the part Fox and Sac Indian always seemed to be on the outside looking in.
If Marion Jones is feeling sorry for herself, she might look at the Jim Thorpe story. Although Jones' adversity has aged her prematurely, she is still a young woman with the opportunity to turn her life around. She might start by choosing her friends more carefully.
While different in many respects, the Marion Jones soap opera is eerily similar to that of another track phenom from a century earlier, Jim Thorpe, who was proclaimed the world's greatest athlete after winning the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics. Thorpe too had to relinquish his Olympic gold; in his case, he had violated his amateur status by playing semipro baseball for $2 a game. For the rest of his life, Thorpe, who was part Native American, would have to fight racism, alcoholism and extreme poverty. Ironically, if Jim Thorpe were competing today, his Olympic victories would bring him unimaginable millions, his picture on Wheaties boxes, and his own talk show. But in early 20th century America, the part Fox and Sac Indian always seemed to be on the outside looking in.
If Marion Jones is feeling sorry for herself, she might look at the Jim Thorpe story. Although Jones' adversity has aged her prematurely, she is still a young woman with the opportunity to turn her life around. She might start by choosing her friends more carefully.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Adrian Dantley
Adrian Dantley at long last has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Dantley is not well known to the younger generation and has probably been forgotten by many older fans. This may be due at least in part to the fact he played for seven different NBA teams from 1976-1991 - a journeyman superstar with no core constituency. In addition, Dantley was not flamboyant nor was he a self-promoter.
But Adrian Dantley's career was remarkable just the same. He was an exceptional collegiate player at Notre Dame where he is best known for helping the Irish end the multi-year winning streak of the legendary John Wooden/Bill Walton UCLA team of the 1970's. The raw numbers for Dantley's pro career are certainly impressive: over 23,000 points, career average of 24.3 points per game including several years with an average of more than 30 per game, led the league in scoring multiple times. Perhaps most striking was a lifetime field goal percentage of .540, this by a 6' 5" forward who played most of his game below the rim.
Dantley was not a great shooter but he was a great scorer; this is not as anomalous as it sounds. Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan were not great shooters but used their size, strength, ballhandling skills, and in Jordan's case, elevation, to obtain high-percentage shots, the prerequisite for prolific scoring. Jerry West once said that Elgin Baylor was a great scorer because he had more high-percentage shots than anyone else; West should know since he had a few himself. But while Adrian Dantley did not have the ballhandling skills of the "Big O" or the hang time or explosive quickness of Jordan or Baylor, he possessed keen intelligence, anticipation, Zen-like instincts around the basket, strength, and a deceptively effective first step - probably as efficient an offensive machine as the NBA has ever seen.
The Hall of Fame should have come calling years ago.
But Adrian Dantley's career was remarkable just the same. He was an exceptional collegiate player at Notre Dame where he is best known for helping the Irish end the multi-year winning streak of the legendary John Wooden/Bill Walton UCLA team of the 1970's. The raw numbers for Dantley's pro career are certainly impressive: over 23,000 points, career average of 24.3 points per game including several years with an average of more than 30 per game, led the league in scoring multiple times. Perhaps most striking was a lifetime field goal percentage of .540, this by a 6' 5" forward who played most of his game below the rim.
Dantley was not a great shooter but he was a great scorer; this is not as anomalous as it sounds. Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan were not great shooters but used their size, strength, ballhandling skills, and in Jordan's case, elevation, to obtain high-percentage shots, the prerequisite for prolific scoring. Jerry West once said that Elgin Baylor was a great scorer because he had more high-percentage shots than anyone else; West should know since he had a few himself. But while Adrian Dantley did not have the ballhandling skills of the "Big O" or the hang time or explosive quickness of Jordan or Baylor, he possessed keen intelligence, anticipation, Zen-like instincts around the basket, strength, and a deceptively effective first step - probably as efficient an offensive machine as the NBA has ever seen.
The Hall of Fame should have come calling years ago.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
FedEx Cup Blues
The PGA introduced the FedEx Cup last year, with a playoff format and buckets of prize money to generate interest in golf through the fall and the provide some finality to the season. When Tiger Woods won the first title, with Phil Michelson in hot pursuit, the new format was pronounced a success. But of course, Tiger could stand on his head for four days and he would elevate TV ratings. This year, the already byzantine scoring system is even more inscrutable, Tiger is on forced sabbatical, and Phil is out of contention. Not surprisingly, there are rumblings of dissatisfaction with the system. For many years, pro tennis has also experimented with different season-ending formats and venues, with limited success. While tennis is not as healthy as golf, the sports have one common denominator - they still revolve around their Grand Slam events. Attempts to create new majors or playoffs come off as contrived or confusing to fans.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Don't Ask Too Many Questions
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe presented his country's Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry with a prize of 100,000 American dollars which were reportedly packed in a suitcase. Mr. Mugabe, when not distributing gifts, is a ruthless dictator and international pariah whose economic policies have a resulted in an inflation rate north of 2 million percent. That makes foreign currency particularly valuable and Miss Coventry may not want to know the source of the President's largesse. One shudders to think what might have been in the suitcase had she lost.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Public Relations 101
The LPGA committed a public relations gaffe for the ages when it announced its foreign players must demonstrate a competency in speaking English when interacting with sponsors and pro-am partners, and when questioned in interviews and press conferences. The tour went so far as to threaten laggards with suspensions. It may be entirely reasonable to encourage lady golfers to converse in English and to help them in this endeavor as much as possible; the economic viability of the tour may even depend on it. But to make it mandatory has too many unpleasant connotations. If anything is to be required, it should be that LPGA executives take courses in public relations, tact and sensitivity.
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