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(04/25/02 4:14am)
Remember all the talk last summer about the new zone defense that would be allowed by the NBA this season? How point guards would only have eight seconds to bring the ball up the court? The changes were supposed to increase scoring and ball movement, and they did. In the playoffs, though, the teams that benefitted from the rule changes will fall to those teams that did not need to adjust their games at all.\nThe new rules helped teams like New Jersey and Dallas, which have fast-paced offenses, become more effective. But the best defenses will have no problem stopping that. Those teams are at their best when their opponents miss a shot, allowing them to grab the rebound, dart to the other end of the court and put in a layup. This works against average and bad teams -- the ones that take a lot of jump shots and have poor rebounding -- but those teams have, for the most part, been filtered from the playoffs. \nThe teams that remain are the ones that can battle inside for easy baskets, drastically reducing the number of fast break opportunities. Once they are forced to operate in a slower, half-court offense, their scoring becomes blatantly average.\nThe new allowance of zone defenses only works against teams that give the ball to one player, and allow him to play one-on-one every possession. Stars like Allen Iverson and Vince Carter have been virtually shut down. Iverson's 76ers, last year's Eastern Conference Champions, entered the postseason ranked just sixth. Carter encountered his worst season in the NBA and watched his team perform better without him as they rallied to sneak into the playoffs as a seven seed.\nThe zone defense, however, will not work against the teams that run their offenses around their centers -- the teams that always come out on top in the end anyway. Defenses are still not allowed to keep a player under the basket for longer than three seconds at a time without defending a specific player. Shaquille O'Neal will still be able to clog up the middle without a problem.\nEvery year in the playoffs, individual defensive performances are better. Defense is all about intensity, and during the playoffs, intensity is at its highest point. There will be far fewer opportunities for easy baskets and scoring will go down. Offenses often become more cautious, deciding to run plays that do not run a high risk of resulting in a turnover.\nThis is where the phrase "playoff experience" comes in. Young ballhandlers are often nervous and try to do too much. The players who understand patience and know the importance of sticking to the gameplan will shine during this time. While this results in lower scores, anyone who has had postseason success will admit that remaining cool and collected is far more effective.\nThe new rules have done their job -- affecting teams that relied on one superstar -- but at this point, the teams that do not have to rely on one player will be the ones who advance the furthest.
(04/18/02 6:19am)
Over the past six months, sports fans have seen their favorite channel go through some major overhauls. Some of the new programs on ESPN have been for the better and others have been downright awful. The key to success for the network, though, is to stick to what they know -- and that is showing sports.\nAn onslaught of original programming has swept their airwaves. "Pardon the Interruption" and "Unscripted" are shows that go against everything that ESPN used to stand for -- objectively showing and reporting sporting events and news. While the shows are entertaining and occasionally insightful, they do not relay the kind of fair journalism that they have produced since first going on the air in 1979.\nThen came the disastrous attempt at a movie. "A Season on the Brink" was proof that not anyone with a few editing machines can put together a quality motion picture. Aside from the quality of the story and script, which is debatable, the production was simply awful. From poor lighting to bad acting to inserting actual game clips, there was nothing good about the way this movie was made.\nPerhaps ESPN is trying to become a more well-rounded network. It is trying to add some color to the bland objectivity it has used in the past. Now there is more commentary, feature shows (examples include "Sidelines" and "The Life"), and even an attempt at comedy, with Jay Mohr's new talk show, "Mohr Sports."\nWhat the network is forgetting, though, is that it already has plenty of action, drama and entertainment -- the games themselves. For years, ESPN has brilliantly brought college basketball and football, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League into our homes every night. These games are full of all of the elements -- down to the wire finishes, upsets and spectacular athletic accomplishments -- that the network is searching for with this new programming. \nWith that in mind, ESPN should be applauded for some of the other programming decisions it has recently made. For this baseball season, it added two more games during the week -- Monday nights and Wednesday afternoons. ESPN is also a part of ABC's new contract with the NBA, and will show regular season and playoff games beginning next year.\nThese are the programs that made the network what it is today. These are the programs that sports fans want to see.\n ESPN has spent years building a wonderful reputation as a provider of thorough sports programming and analysis. Its employees are respected because they are both knowledgeable and charismatic. The network is only hurting its image by allowing people like Jay Mohr onto its airwaves to mock and insult the events and people they are trying to promote the rest of the day.\n Sports are wonderful because they encompass all of the aspects of a program that other networks try so hard to capture. Why would ESPN not want to take full advantage of the assets it already has?
(04/10/02 5:10am)
Things were looking bad for the IU basketball team -- down by double digits to the Duke Blue Devils, the deficit growing with every passing possession. And then, miraculously, something happened. Just like that, a light came on.\nLiterally.\nIn my dorm room, a light came on. And what do you know? The Hoosiers made a comeback. Sure, there was now a glare on the television, but when we turned the light off again, the Hoosiers turned the ball over. \nWe were just going to have to deal with the glare, play-through-the-pain, if you will, for the sake of the team. Light back on -- IU pulls off the upset. To us it was obvious -- the Hoosiers won because we had the light on during the second half. Rest assured, that light was on throughout the rest of the tournament, glare and all.\nPut any thought into it, and it makes no sense whatsoever -- but superstition drives fans all the time. It gives us a sense of importance. And while most fans will concede that they understand their beliefs are silly, they still do it -- we all do it.\nWhen the Indiana Pacers were in the playoffs, a friend of mine watched every game in the same seat, in the same shirt, always with popcorn in hand. One night he could not watch the game, so he popped the popcorn, rested the shirt comfortably on the chair, and left. When he returned, it had all been moved -- and the Pacers lost. He had let his team down.\nAs fans, we want to feel needed. The team we root for becomes a part of our lives, and we want to become a part of the team -- no matter how exaggerated the circumstances.\nFan superstitions are not the same as athlete superstitions. Athletes do things that make them feel more comfortable and confident when they perform -- both feelings are essential to their own success. We fans, though, have no direct impact on the final outcome, so we create it in our minds:\n"It was tough wearing that same, dirty T-shirt every time the Hoosiers played, but I suffered through that pain -- for the sake of the team."\n"I'm sorry, but you can't sit in the Lazyboy tonight, you want us to win, don't you?"\nI believe that the rituals created by fans are essential to the success of sports. When people switch seats at half-time, or go make their popcorn after the third quarter, or give the same people a high-five in the same order every time a three-pointer is made, the games are infinitely more fun to watch. Looking back afterwards, win or lose, the experience was enjoyable -- and enjoying sports is the most important thing for fans.\nSuperstitions add to the passion of sports enthusiasts. When we wear our lucky T-shirt all day, we show our pride and help the entire community get psyched up for the big game. We display our colors proudly not simply because we have team pride -- but because the team needs it in order to win.\nSo the next time your team is making a postseason run, and you notice that your actions are mysteriously contributing to the victories, keep them up -- after all, the team, the campus, the city -- we're all relying on you to bring us a win.
(04/03/02 5:18am)
While the NBA's Western Conference leaders are battling for the top spots with grace and style, the East is a far different story. Coaches are struggling to put a healthy squad on the floor, and games are no longer contests to see who will win, but who will survive.\nBetween now and the playoffs, Eastern Conference teams will continue to beat up on each other as they jockey for the best postseason position. Teams are already missing key elements -- Milwaukee's stars are all injured in one way or another, Philadelphia is without Allen Iverson, Toronto is desperately trying to push their way back into the picture without Vince Carter -- and once the playoffs begin, things will only get more physical.\nAlready banged up, the playoffs have begun in the East. Every team has something to fight for and lowering intensity will be a sign of weakness.\nLast season, the 76ers survived two intense, seven-game playoff series against Toronto and Milwaukee. By the time they reached the Finals, every part of Iverson's body was bruised and sore. It was truly a heroic display of determination by the feisty guard, but he was far to weak to put up a fight against the Lakers.\nBut the effects of a long playoff run appeared throughout the Philadelphia lineup. After the season, Iverson, guard Eric Snow and forward Aaron McKie all needed surgery. This year, look for the same painful, gut-wrenching style.\n In order to reach the NBA Finals, this year's Eastern Conference representative will have to do the same thing the 76ers did a year ago. Players will have to be as determined and focused as Allen Iverson was. They will have to play through pain, because any decision to nurse an injury will leave their team vulnerable to being consumed by some stronger-willed opponent.\n For that reason, any of the teams that are in the playoff hunt can make a long run. If New Jersey, the conference's top seed, lays back, then they can be beaten -- by anyone. If Detroit fails to play as intensely and craftily as they do now, they will fall.\nFrom a fan's perspective, the playoffs will be enjoyable to watch. All of the teams in the race have the talent to make it to the Finals, but not every team has the heart. The team that makes it out of the East will be the team that dives for the loose balls, battles for the key offensive-rebounds, and makes the little plays that separate the good from the best.\nPlaying through pain is not the smartest move to make, but those who do -- and survive -- will gain my respect because it is truly a sign that they are determined to get the job done -- no matter what the cost.
(03/07/02 5:53am)
Sure, the NCAA basketball tournament is tough to handle. Games are at awkward times like noon on a weekday, and at 10 p.m. on a Friday. Spring break is sacrificed, and dedication is a must , or else failure is inevitable.\nSo, this year, like every other, I vow to do my very best to stay focused during this will-testing, maniac month.\nOh -- you think the players have it tough? \nHow about trying to wait through the four longest days of the entire year? You all know the feeling -- the 90 long hours between the announcement of the brackets and the first tip-offs Thursday. \nThose excruciating days, spent mostly mulling over the upsets I should be picking in the pool and trying to map out which games I will watch at what time (that reminds me -- thanks so much to the good people who bring us digital cable. I can watch all four games at once). \nAnd no, the new "play-in game" Tuesday that involves the two worst teams in the field does not make things any easier.\nAnd if anyone thinks that sitting in front of the TV for hours watching buzzer-beaters followed by upsets and squeekers is easy, they obviously haven't tried to live through the same automobile or investment commercials over and over and over.\n The fact is, sports fans, like the teams, we have to come together now -- we must show our strength when all is on the line and do what we do best. When everyone else is out partying next week, we must show our loyalties to the sport that has been keeping us entertained through the cold winter and tough courses. \nWhile our old high-school friends are gathering to party at the local dance clubs, we cannot be weak, because deep down we know that some Cinderella will pull of a huge upset during the 10 p.m. games.\nAnd it doesn't stop there. The tournament not only calls for top performance, but also that extra effort. Endurance is a must as well. Three weeks is a long time to remain focused on a task, especially during those four-day layoffs. Even with classes resuming, we must not waiver.\nSome simple-minded souls may find those third and fourth round games less exciting than the opening rounds or the Final Four, but we want to see those No. 1 seeds get knocked out, and that second week of play is when it will happen.\nNow is the time to get ready. The basketball gods have given us Conference Tournament Week to condition ourselves for the real thing. This week should help the selection committee finalize the official bracket, giving us enough conversation to last throughout March.\nAnd just like a true champion must do, we must be grateful simply for the opportunity we have to be a part of the endless drama. While there will be bickering over seeds and upsets that eliminate true contenders, it could be worse -- we could have the BCS.\nPrepare yourself, sports fans, because this kind of excitement is unique to this time of year, and we cannot let it slip by us. It will be tough, and some will fall. In the end, though, it will feel wonderful knowing that, win or lose (in the pool), we gave it 100 percent, and are already getting set for next year.
(02/27/02 6:11am)
A comfortable feeling set in as I watched the new-look Indiana Pacers take the court for the first time last week against the Cleveland Cavaliers. While it was strange to see them play without the speed and razzle-dazzle that they have entertained us with thus far this season, one thought keeps reoccurring as the players grow more accustomed to one another: This is what a basketball team is supposed to look like.\nReplacing Jalen Rose -- a flashy, talented scorer -- with Brad Miller, who is nothing but muscle and determination, is tough to swallow at first because Rose's style is so entertaining. But Miller brings the intensity, size and defense that can take a team from decent to championship material.\nThe Pacers offense now has a true focus. With Jamal Tinsley, a genuine point guard, and Jermaine O'Neal, a superstar-in-progress, there is a sense of order every time the team comes down the court. Too often before the trade with Chicago, which brought Miller along with Ron Artest, Kevin Ollie and Ron Mercer, Rose's determination to run the offense and tendency to abort the scheme would backfire and not allow for any kind of offensive consistency.\nNow, the team knows exactly what it is trying to do. Coach Isiah Thomas wants O'Neal to get his points. The Pacers are 13-5 when he scores 20 points or more this year, compared to just 15-23 when he does not. Bringing in a true center, Miller will give O'Neal more chances to get to that 20-point mark, as opponents' bigger defenders will be forced to play Miller, not O'Neal.\nThe offense is now solid all around. If defenses overplay O'Neal with guards, Reggie Miller will make them pay with jump shots, or Tinsley will find a way to get to the basket. If they leave Brad Miller open under the basket and try to stop O'Neal, he will destroy them with high-percentage shots.\nSure, the pace is slower, and the highlight reels may not have as much eye-candy, but this team now eerily resembles the same foundation that the Pacers used in the 1990's and 2000 that helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals five times and the NBA Finals once. \nThey used to rely on Rik Smits's jumper, which would often require double teams. Now Indiana is using the same strategy. The scary thing, though, is that O'Neal and Tinsley are far more gifted talent-wise than Smits and Mark Jackson were. Once this offense gets into a groove, it could be extremely dangerous for many years.\nBut it doesn't stop there. Adding Miller to the lineup along with Artest makes the Pacers stronger on defense, too. All season, Indiana has lacked the size inside to compete with powerful teams. Miller replaces Jeff Foster in the starting lineup. While Foster would get his rebounds, he had a hard time stopping scorers. Foster has moved to the bench, where he can work against less forceful centers and continue to bring in rebounds.\nNow, teams will have to work a little bit harder, and rely more on jump shots in order to put points on the board. Artest, who replaced Rose in the starting lineup, is far better defensively than the former Pacer. he gets his hands in on dribblers, hounds jump shooters and is always in someone's face.\nThis team fits the championship mold that a coach and general manager could want. It is now up to Thomas to continue the improvement of his young stars. If he can, the Pacers will be back among the NBA elite for years to come.
(02/20/02 5:58am)
Ever see the movie "The Great White Hype"? \nIt's a satire on the boxing industry that matches a dominant champion against an unknown contender. During the weeks leading up to the fight, drama builds as the champion, James "The Grim Reaper" Roper, shows little care and does not prepare at all. \nThe challenger spends the time training hard and convincing the world that he can actually win the fight.\nIn the end, though, the champion -- fresh off cigarettes and ice cream -- turns out to be so much better that he wins in one round, on one punch.\nA glance at the NBA scene shows shocking similarities. \nEvery year, around this time, fans and journalists scare up any lingering sign of doubt and blow it way out of proportion. These pseudo-reasons portray the hope every fan has that just maybe, this year, the Los Angeles Lakers will not hoist the trophy come June.\nWe saw this last year. The media spent the entire season writing the Lakers' eulogy, citing poor team chemistry and strong play from other teams as reason for a "failed dynasty." And just like Roper, the champion awoke when the time came. LA ended the season with an eight-game winning streak and cruised to the title.\nAnother year, another set of absurd reasoning. So they lost to the Bulls twice. So they are only No.3 in the Western Conference. So what? Haven't we learned our lesson yet?\nThe Lakers get bored with the regular season. It is long, tedious and frankly, unnecessary. They get lazy and do not care if they occasionally lose games they shouldn't.\nCredit goes to teams like New Jersey, Minnesota, Detroit and Sacramento, as they bring us excitement during the regular season. \nTheir success and exciting play are fun to watch night in and night out. The fire and determination that brought them to the top of the league give us hope that the hard worker, the dedicated, determined group of players will show the Lakers how a true champion wins.\nBut the Lakers are just too good. Whenever they choose, they can wipe off the dust and beat any team in the NBA by 20 points. They are so far above any other team that they do not need the preparation that the regular season provides.\nBut, just like in "The Great White Hype," we can hope. It would certainly be nice to see Los Angeles stagger to the post-season starting line and stumble out of the gate, getting beaten by a smaller, weaker team that used desire to pull off the unthinkable. It would be nice to see Shaquille O'Neal rusty and Kobe Bryant as unpolished as he is right now.\nSo don't blame the media or other teams for creating a belief that there is actually a chance the Lakers will lose; that hope is what the NBA lives on right now. It is the only cause of excitement during a predictable, drawn out, over-rated regular season.
(02/13/02 5:32am)
When Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant went to Philadelphia to participate in the All-Star game last weekend, he thought that he would be celebrating his accomplishments as an NBA basketball player. What he got was a rude awakening.\nDuring his 31 point performance, Bryant was consistently booed. It happened every time he touched the ball, and most noticeably, when he was awarded his Most Valuable Player trophy.\nThe fans from Philadelphia were bitter with Bryant, not because his West team beat their East team in the game, but because they feel that he has abandoned the city that raised him.\nBryant's history is well documented. The son of former 76er Joe Bryant, he went to high school at Lower Merion, after which he jumped straight to the NBA.\nSince his success, though, he has rarely returned, and the people who watched him as a youngster feel that he owes them something.\nThis raises an interesting question: Should athletes be expected to remain committed to their hometowns? I believe the answer is yes. Not because they owe the city or its citizens, but because they help to create an identity for a place that can never be erased.\n Cities love their products. I am from Indianapolis, and we are very proud to claim athletes as "our own." From NBA hall-of-famer Oscar Robertson to current Toronto Raptor Eric Montross, to Arizona basketball standout Jason Gardner, we are proud of what we have been able to produce.\nWhether they like it or not, these citizens-turned-celebrities represent where they come from, and to forget it or ignore it sends a message that their original communities were of little significance to them.\nPhiladelphia is more special than many cities in that many celebrities are loyal to it long after they leave. Actors Will Smith and Bruce Willis can often be seen at basketball games and have created a sense of pride for the city that Kobe Bryant has ignored.\nBryant spent eight years away from Philadelphia as his father played in Italy but returned for high school. While his ties to the city may not be as strong as lifelong citizens, he must recognize that the time he spent there was important to the people who knew him and who were affected by his presence. \nEven in Bryant's case, he should recognize the fans that encouraged him during his high school basketball career as he undoubtedly entertained thousands of his peers in small gyms across the city.\nJust last week, former Hoosier Isiah Thomas attended the IU-Iowa basketball game and received a roaring ovation when introduced over the loudspeaker. Thomas was only here in Bloomington for two years, but IU basketball fans always claim him as a Hoosier and certainly appreciate every time he recognizes the place that helped him achieve greatness.\nFans understand that things change. Bryant was a member of the opposition when he was in Philadelphia last June for the NBA Finals. He told the media that he was representing Los Angeles because that is who he played for. Nobody expects him to go easy on his hometown or remain loyal to the team he grew up watching, but that does not mean total abandonment.\nAthletes and other celebrities must realize that their accomplishments make the people who have crossed their paths proud. People who grew up in a city can identify with each other, even if they have never met. Kobe Bryant may have only spent a small portion of his life in Philadelphia, but his time there was honored and appreciated. Through Bryant, the city has built a slightly stronger identity.\nIt is his responsibility to show his own appreciation for the identity that the city has given him.
(02/06/02 5:46am)
Let's face it, baseball fans -- this off-season has been nothing but bad news. Ever since Arizona's Jay Bell scored the winning run in of one of the most exciting World Series ever, baseball has been dealing with problem after problem.\nAnd worst of all, nothing has been solved.\nIn November, the owners voted to eliminate contract two teams: Minnesota and Montreal -- but were unable to pull it off. Now those teams will play the upcoming season with doubt surrounding their futures and with fans who have been essentially forced away.\nBoth teams will come into the 2002-2003 season knowing they have no chance at a championship, yet they must play it out.\nAnd let's not forget the free-agent frenzy that has taken place over the past few months. Once again, the big boys have managed to take talent away from their "younger brothers." The Yankees managed to strengthen themselves by signing Jason Giambi from Oakland, Rondell White from the Chicago Cubs and David Wells from the Chicago White Sox.\nThe Mets brought in big names like Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn and Jeremy Burnitz, and in exchange gave up one established player (Kevin Appier) and several young prospects.\nAll of the big acquisitions came from the handful of teams that can afford stars. Every year, more teams drop out of contention for the post-season, and this year is no exception. \n Take the Philadelphia Phillies, for example. This team showed promise last season in competing for the NL East title. They battled Atlanta all season and previously unheard names were spoken around baseball circles. What were they able to do this winter? They added Ricky Ledee, a Yankee reject, and Terry Adams, a traveled pitcher who has started 22 career games.\n How are they supposed to compete with the Mets, or the Braves, who are able to dish out the big bucks just to plug holes? Scratch the Phillies from the list of contenders.\nSure, there may be one or two shocking clubs that are able to overachieve and make the post-season, but don't bet on it.\nBaseball has had problems like these for a long time now, yet they fail to fix them. All they try to do is delay decisions and play on as if everything is just wonderful.\nBut they've gone too far now. The damage has been done, and until the labor issues that are causing all of this strife are solved, things are just going to get worse.\nI'm sorry, baseball fans, I know that the month of February should be a time of anticipation and hope, but not this year. I cannot be optimistic while the MLB heads further and further in the wrong direction.\nThings get even more depressing when we hear about the possibility of a work-stoppage on the horizon. The is the same issue left unsolved eight years ago when a mid-season player strike disenfranchised thousands of fans. If the league halts play again, who knows how many more fans will lose interest all together.\nSo, Major League Baseball, fix your problems. \nIt is unfair to the fans, the players and the teams to continue in this state of limbo while the same one or two teams profit every year. If it means a strike or a lockout, then so be it, but this time solve the problem.\nOtherwise, the trend will continue, and every year one or two more teams will get scratched from the list of contenders, and may as well join Minnesota and Montreal on the slate for contraction.
(01/25/02 5:43am)
It has been a busy week in the world of sports. Being a hard-working journalist, I thought that I would wrap it up for you…and spice it up with my own thoughts.\n• ABC and ESPN picked up NBA broadcasts beginning next season. Here's to hoping that they can clean up the mess left by NBC over the past couple of seasons. Ever since Michael Jordan left the Bulls, their broadcasts have been lackluster and less professional. Their work comes across as if they have given up without Jordan, and now that he's back, it is too late. If ESPN does as well with the NBA as it does with every other sport it covers, the league could once again rise to greatness.\n•How bad is the state of professional boxing? Tuesday, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis were set to announce their April title bout, but before the announcement came, Tyson lunged at Lewis and a fight broke out. The sport is so desperate that they have sunk to WWF lows with these obviously staged brawls. This marks the second straight heavyweight-title fight in which the two fighters went at it before the event -- in the fall, Hasim Rahman and Lewis used the same strategy to promote a fight on the set of ESPN's "UpClose." If this is the only way to attract fans, then boxing is in serious trouble.\n• The NFL coaching saga continues as the Indianapolis Colts have landed former Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy in what seems like a perfect marriage. The Buccaneers, however, were shunned by Bill Parcells, and now their interests have shifted from a man out of coaching for several years to a man who already has a job -- Raiders coach Jon Gruden. How can a team pursue a man who already has a job you ask? Apparently they can "compensate Oakland with draft picks." So basically, they can make a trade for a head coach -- proof that coaches' salaries should count against the salary cap. Lost in the mess is the fact that the Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers are still coachless.\n• Speaking of Jon Gruden, look for the Oakland Raiders to be next year's version of the Minnesota Vikings. They are aging rapidly, and with Gruden already admitting that he does not want to extend his contract there, players are going to have no motivation. Like Cris Carter and Randy Moss acted this year, the veterans in Oakland will get frustrated, leading to a poor season.\n• Trying to weed out the pretenders from the men's college basketball scene? Let me help -- Illinois. The Illini have tripped in the less-than-impressive Big Ten with losses to Wisconsin and Purdue (a trend that will hopefully continue this Saturday here in Bloomington). Sure they can win the conference championship, but they should be an early exit from the NCAA tournament.\nKeep an eye, on Kansas. A team that usually dominates a weak Big 12 and then stumbles come tournament time, the Jayhawks are now ranked second in both polls after defeating the numbers five and six teams in one week (Oklahoma and Oklahoma St., respectively). Look for this team to make a lot of noise come March.\n• Finally, I can't conclude without mentioning that I absolutely love ESPN's newest television show "Pardon the Interruption," starring sports writers Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon. For 30 minutes every day, these two surprisingly funny writers banter about the happenings around sports. They create a wonderful blend of informing and entertaining -- because, after all, that is what sports are all about.
(01/17/02 5:45am)
There is no argument that the National Football League is full of parity. It's been that way ever since 1998, when the Atlanta Falcons came from nowhere to run off a 13-3 season and a trip to the Super Bowl. The following season, the St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts went from cellar dwellers to powerhouses. Every team now knows it has a shot at the Super Bowl every year.\nCritics have been having a field day. This parity, they claim, has taken away one of sports' greatest phenomena -- the dynasty.\nGone, they say, are the days of the Cowboys and 49ers. The conference champion was guaranteed by many to be, for all intents and purposes, the Super Bowl champion before the final game was even played.\nNo longer is it possible, they say, for teams to run off three or four consecutive strong seasons, leaving a mark in the history books for all fans to remember as the "team of the decade."\nMeanwhile, the St. Louis Rams are battling for their second Super Bowl title in three years.\nThree years that have seen St. Louis go 37-11, win two division titles (the Rams lost a tiebreaker to New Orleans in 2000, preventing a third), and collect three league Most Valuable Player awards.\nNow while the definition of a dynasty can always be argued, the Rams are dangerously close to achieving the title. After a 14-2 regular season record, they are the favorites to go on to take Super Bowl XXXVI. There is certainly no reason to believe they will tail off before making another run or two for a title.\n I happen to feel that parity is better for a sport than dynasty domination -- I find it wonderful that fans of every team can look optimistically to the season. Unlike Major League Baseball, where half of the league's teams are hopeless in a title quest, the NFL can promise fans that it will not have the same half-dozen teams always playing in the postseason.\nStill, those who embrace dynasties are not forgotten by the NFL. Should St. Louis continue its domination of the league, it will certainly have its dynasty.\nThe National Football League has been able to set up a system that incorporates both parity and dynasties. This allowance for all kinds of possibilities is why the league is the best-run and most successful in American sports today. While it has its weaknesses, such as player loyalty, it remains far less flawed than any other system.\nIt's time for cynics to realize that the system works. Teams of today and the future can and will be remembered just like we remember the 49ers and Cowboys of the early 1990s. Or the Steelers of the 1970s. Or the Packers of the 1960s.\nAnd given the current state of the league, achieving the title is that much more impressive.
(01/10/02 4:57am)
It's here. Football's most exciting time has finally come, and this year promises to be better than ever.\nForget the bowl games. Forget Monday Night Football. Forget everything etched in your mind thus far this year. The NFL playoffs are here, bringing excitement.\nThis past NFL season has been a good one, but the drama of the league has been missing for quite some time. Long ago, the playoff teams were determined, and all we could do was sit and wait for the games to be played out.\nNow, it seems we will finally get to see the best teams battle each other for the prize. If that alone is not enough to tickle your spine, worry not -- it gets better.\nI'd say we've had enough games played on 74-degree mild-weathered afternoons. How about some battles in tough conditions. Games are going to be played in New England, Chicago, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. \nDuring the brisk month of January, we are sure to see some football, as the great Dan Dierdorf says, "the way it's meant to be played." In the snow, in the mud, in the sleet. It doesn't matter -- just as long as teams are overcoming outside elements to prove that they indeed deserve to be crowned as champions.\nThe rough weather will add another element for teams that are supposed to win. The chance for an upset increases when conditions are less than favorable. Games are closer, balls come loose more easily and players slip and slide all over the field.\nThis year's playoffs will also give us a chance to see a variety of styles. Forget about baseball, where in the end, pitching will always prevail. Here, we have teams loaded on offense (St. Louis and San Francisco), teams loaded on defense (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Chicago) and teams that are balanced (Philadelphia, New England, Green Bay).\nWe have teams that come in with momentum (New England, St. Louis and Chicago) and teams that stumbled to the finish line (Oakland, New York and Miami).\nOf course, there are the expected teams (St. Louis and Oakland) and some surprises (Chicago, Pittsburgh and New England).\nThis variety will give each game its own storyline. Every contest will be a battle between two teams that have been fighting throughout the autumn and preparing since the summer for a chance and this very moment. Everyone has something to prove -- whether it's "we're no fluke," or "we won't flop," the determination has grown exponentially since the regular season.\nBut what kind of playoff preview would this be without some predictions?\nLet's start in the NFC, where the question is simply "Who can stop the Rams?" The answer? No one.\nThe only teams capable of stopping St. Louis' potent offense can't score themselves. Even if Tampa Bay or Chicago were able to slow down the Rams' potent offense, they just can't put the points on the board. \nGreen Bay would have a chance if it could get the Rams at Lambeau Field, but St. Louis has the comfort of playing at home throughout the playoffs. San Francisco looks like a team that could do it but has failed twice already this season.\nSt. Louis over Chicago in an NFC championship rout.\nContrarily, the AFC is up for grabs. Pittsburgh, the favorite, does not score enough points to dominate games against playoff-caliber teams. With star running back Jerome Bettis hurt, its offense will not be the same. New England is led by a young, inexperienced quarterback. While the Patriots have played well this season, the defenses in the playoffs will eventually get the best of Tom Brady.\nOakland is tired and coming unravelled. The Raiders are a great team but do not have the energy or heart to make it through a rigorous post-season run. I am picking Baltimore to again beat the odds and make it to the NFC championship game, but it will fall to Pittsburgh, who simply has the better team.\nIn the end, St. Louis will claim its second title in three years in an entertaining Super Bowl. \nThe most exciting thing about this year's playoffs is that the teams are so close that anything could happen.\nI can't wait.
(12/07/01 6:11am)
The NFL finally compromised with the officials after week one this season. The referees were on strike, and the league used "replacement refs" until the issue was settled. Now, it looks like the NFL would have been better off with the backups.\nReferees this season have been constantly confused and repeatedly criticized on the spot by television analysts. \nMaybe it is just me, but this year it seems that just about every close call is being challenged by head coaches. Often, the first glance at the replay shows that the referee was wrong, and the decision to overturn the original call will be a simple one.\nBut coach's challenges are far from the end of the troubles we have seen from NFL referees.\nTwo game-turning blunders have occurred already this season. One happened in Tennessee, where the Titans scampered in the last seconds to get a game-winning touchdown. The officials pondered for several minutes over what to do and finally decided, basically, to give a "do-over," upsetting both teams. \nThe second big-time error took place in New Orleans, where Peyton Manning of the Colts faked a spike as the clock expired, prompting an official to inadvertently blow his whistle. Manning scored on the play, but the touchdown was nullified. Instead of ending the half when the whistle was blown, the crew somehow decided to give the Colts one more play, which was used to kick a field goal.\nAnd let's not forget the referee who got in the way of the wide open New Orleans receiver who would have scored an easy touchdown this past Sunday. Wasn't that pass interference?\nNow I understand that referees are human, and they make errors like all of us. I also appreciate the fact that they are willing to overturn their calls if video shows that they were wrong.\n Another area in which the referees are failing is subjective calls. Most of the time, their work is black and white; was he in or out of bounds? Did he grab the facemask or his shirt?\n But some of the time, the referees must decide for themselves if the action was a violation of the rules. This season, it has been apparent that their definition of a "late-hit," which is a 15-yard penalty, is skewed.\nNearly every time I have seen it called this season, there is no way in which the defender could have pulled back or laid up. Often, the quarterback is looking for a receiver as the defender lunges, then the throw is made as the QB gets nailed. If the defender cannot stop, the penalty should not be called. As much as the league wants to protect its quarterbacks, it cannot mean defenses easing up.\nCoach: Hey -- why didn't you try to sack him?\nPlayer: Well, I thought that he was maybe gonna pass, so I had to let up.\nIt cannot work like that, and something must be changed.\nThe officials also forget about offensive pass interference, as wide receivers such as Randy Moss of Minnesota routinely push off defenders, creating space to make the catch. It happened last week when Tai Streets of the San Francisco 49ers got away with the infraction on ESPN Sunday Night Football. All three ESPN analysts ridiculed the referees for their poor work.\nWith such terrible officiating, it is a wonder why the league was so interested in bringing these guys back. The people who were once seen as the final authorities of the rules now seem to simply be as confused as the fans.
(11/29/01 6:13am)
The door is about to fall over. At least it had better, or else the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will realize that it will never be answered; they will never get into the promised land that is the Super Bowl. \nThe Bucs have been knocking on the door for years now, but every year, they find a way to disappoint their fans and watch the Super Bowl from home. \nThey are no longer the up-and-coming, surprising team that deserves a moment in the spotlight. They are no longer young, hungry hopefuls that are just happy to make it to the post season.\nTackle Warren Sapp leads a veteran defense that has been tested time and time again, and always prevails. The offense has always struggled, but the more games they play and failures they ensue, the better they become. Quarterback Brad Johnson was brought in because of his knowledge and experience, even though all of his statistics were worse than previous QB Shawn King.\nThis team has been good now for four years, and it is time for them to stop knocking on the door and barge in, invited or not.\nIt is not that this team is lucky. It is a solid club that focuses on defense. \n The Bucs win games by wearing down opponents and forcing mistakes.\nThey also have attempted desperately to improve their flaws. The offense, which has been sick, has been through countless quarterbacks. They added superstar receiver Keyshawn Johnson, but none of the additions seem to be putting points on the scoreboard.\n For the second straight season, the Bucs got off to a slow start. At 5-5, they will have to win five of their final six games to simply make the playoffs.\nThey can do it.\nWe have seen the determination from the Buccaneers in the past. With their backs against the wall, they find ways to pull out needed victories.\nBut even that, at this point, will not be enough. Tampa Bay fans should no longer be satisfied with making it to the postseason. In fact, anything short of the Super Bowl will lead to thoughts of getting rid of coach Tony Dungy, which could also mean breaking up the team, as the players have shown support for their leader. \nThe competition in the NFC is fierce, but the Bucs should not be scared by anybody. The strongest team, St. Louis, is certainly vulnerable, as Tampa Bay went into St. Louis and won last week. Along with St. Louis, Chicago is also tough, but the Buccaneers now have experience and postseason poise, an element these teams lack.\nIt would be a shame to see this Tampa Bay team denied entrance into the Super Bowl. No football fan can deny that, over the past several seasons, the Buccaneers have been one of the best teams. While they watch different clubs parade past them year after year, frustration has certainly built up, as they have been so close for so long.\nNot seeing the Bucs in the big game would leave fans with a false sense of how great the team truly has been.
(11/15/01 5:11am)
NFL players obviously know the risks they take every time they suit up and take the field. Sixty minutes of hard hitting war leads to injuries ranging from small to permanent.\n But this season the injuries that are decimating players and teams seem to be centralized around one body part -- the knee. Over the past few years, the knee injury has been the most devastating to NFL, specifically to running backs. It has ended seasons and limited careers.\n Glance at the NFL injury report: Jamal Lewis, Jamal Anderson, Emmitt Smith, Terrell Davis, Tyrone Wheatley, Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk. This could be a list of Pro Bowl electees ordinarily, but this year, they have all spent time out of commission because of knee injuries. \n Robert Smith noticed the trend, and retired from the Minnesota Vikings at age 28, because he decided the risk was simply too high. Running back is certainly not the only position hampered by knee injuries, but those who play the position put more stress on that part of the body than most others. Running backs are required to stop and start quickly. They must also change directions and remain balanced, which means staying low to the ground. Top that off with trying to block defenders sometimes twice their size, and it is easy to see why so many stars are falling.\nPerhaps the scariest aspect of these injuries is its randomness. Most injuries players suffer come from constant strain or repeated abuse. When the knee goes though, it happens quickly and subtlety. One play ends a season, and possibly a career.\nEdgerrin James has never been close to an injury in his NFL career. He hyperextended his knee in a simple attempt to run out the clock against Kansas City. In 1999, Jamal Anderson hurt himself in just the second week of play after his breakout season. He has never been the same. Terrell Davis hurt his knee defending an interception that same year and is still recovering. Jamal Lewis hurt himself in the preseason.\nFor some reason, tearing or damaging the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, which is what all of these players have done, is a setback that doctors and trainers have been unable to mend well enough to return players to past form. An unfortunate complication has risen, because the movements that lead to the injuries are so important to the position. One error though, and the player may never be the same.\nOf course, I am no doctor. I do not want to pretend that I know enough to solve this dilemma. But I can say from a fan's perspective that something must be done. These injuries tend to occur without much outside contact. That is, the hits a player takes during a game are not the problem in this case. \nIt seems that a device a player could wear that would prevent moving the leg in the wrong direction might greatly reduce the amount of knee injuries. Curing the ailment after it occurs is not working yet, so perhaps attempting to prevent it is a better goal to pursue.\nIf no advancements can be made, running backs will continue to fall like flies. The motions they make on every play put them at risk to this devastating injury. Even the best-conditioned, least-injury prone athlete cannot escape the danger of a damaged ACL. \nThe league is losing its top running backs, but hopefully they will search harder for a way to limit the problem, so that the stars can continue to play without such fear, and fans can rely on seeing their favorite players every week.
(11/08/01 5:33am)
NBC began its coverage of the NBA season with an unusual November game Saturday night. While the network usually waits until Christmas to air games, this year it felt it could not wait to return Michael Jordan to the airwaves.\nRatings have fallen over the past few seasons and the network's coverage of the NBA has slipped, but Saturday was the worst sports broadcast I have ever seen.\nThe usual studio hosts were nowhere to be found. No Hanna Storm, no Bob Costas and no Peter Vescey. While I was never impressed with Storm's knowledge of basketball, she did have a respect for the broadcast itself, which is the least you can ask from a host.\nAssuming that Saturday's broadcast was typical, the new studio team is now hosted by Ahmad Rashad. While Rashad may be qualified to host Inside Stuff, his goofy attitude does not fit the description of studio host.\nRashad's laidback attitude is multiplied, though, as he is joined by former New Jersey Nets forward Jayson Williams and former Philadelphia 76ers president Pat Croce. The two spent halftime cracking jokes at players and high-fiving each other any chance they could get. While Williams can claim expertise in the area, it is obvious that NBC has sunk to the level of using a high-profiled fan as an analyst in an attempt to pull in viewers.\nThe only credible analyst on the show is former NBA coach Mike Fratello. Fratello often tried to discuss actual NBA topics but failed as his "colleagues" could not have cared less.\n But the studio show is only a small fraction of the broadcast. The game itself was no better. Marv Albert is obviously qualified and respectable, but I have had enough of Bill Walton and Steve Jones as color-men. Jones' nickname, "snapper," probably refers to his Amateur Basketball Association days, but it more accurately describes how he and Walton constantly snap at each other while the game passes them by. Here's what a typical conversation might sound like:\nAlbert: And there's a foul on O'Neal, as Iverson will be forced to leave the game in need of stitches.\nWalton: Awwwwww, come on, O'Neal barely touched him, it's not his fault Iverson is so small! Centers never get any respect in this league.\nJones: What are you talking about?! O'Neal backed into him and conceded guilt.\nWalton: That wasn't conceding, he was raising his hand because he wanted the ball. Guards are such ball hogs.\nJones: You must be crazy Bill, that was obviously a foul.\nWalton: Awwww, come--\nAlbert: Well that's the end of tonight's game, Lakers win it 109-100, let's send it back to the studio for more in-depth analysis.\nAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!\nThrow in Jones' awful lisp, and you get a telecast that does anything but add insight to the game.\nI grew up watching NBC greats like Costas, Vescey, Matt Guokas and Doug Collins, who were able to accurately analyze the games. Quite simply, this year I would much rather watch the game on mute or something else entirely.\nI love the National Basketball Association. In my opinion, TBS and TNT do an outstanding job covering the league during the week on cable, and the local games I get to watch (usually for the Indiana Pacers) are high-quality broadcasts.\nAfter this season, the contract between the league and NBC is up. Unless the network makes some changes, I hope that the NBA demands better coverage of its games because what NBC has produced is downright embarrassing.
(11/01/01 5:35am)
Ever since the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants plowed their ways into last season's Super Bowl, the talk of the National Football League has been defensive domination. Teams have been scrambling like mad to find ways to break through the controlling curtains that have shut scoring down.\nIt seems as though the the most popular offensive approach is trick plays.\nAn area that has been left virtually untapped over the past five or six years is now showing its face all over the NFL. Offenses have discovered that defenses do not plan for these, and they provide the big play result that may be enough to carry them for the entire game.\nOffenses are also realizing that scoring chances are so few that they should try anything to keep the ball once they have it- even faking a punt or a field goal.\nRunningbacks and receivers are throwing the ball, tight ends and kickers are rushing the ball and linemen are catching the ball. NFL offenses are turning themselves upside down in order to catch opponents off guard.\nSo the offense has finally found a strategy; the question for the rest of the season will be the execution. More than with any other play calls, trick plays must work. After being shown a trick play one time, a defense will never again be surprised. If the play is unsuccessful at first, it will never work.\nIn week eight, for example, New England attempted a play against Denver in which wide receiver David Patton threw the ball. The play worked for a touchdown one week earlier against Indianapolis, but the Broncos were ready for it and intercepted the pass.\nNew England had excellent execution against the Colts, but the failure against Denver cost them points, as they were in the middle of a long drive.\nFor fans, these plays are great. We love risky moves and exciting surprises. Personally, I hope that the trend continues. Defenses will constantly be on their feet and the chance for a big play is always there.\nBut the defenses have been so good lately because they not only discovered appropriate strategies, but were able to execute them perfectly. That is what the offenses must now do in order to compete.\nThis sounds easier than it will be- asking big Jerome Bettis to throw the ball, or asking Brian Griese to outrun cornerbacks is a tough challenge. Coordinators must also invent and implement new plays every week, because once a play is exposed its top quality- the element of surprise- is gone.\nNow that the trend has developed, the offenses have already gained an advantage. Defenses must play more cautiously, opening chances for normal plays to be effective.\nBut in order to keep teams alert, trick plays must continue, and that element of the game will make for some quirky games with exciting results.
(10/25/01 5:30am)
The NBA season opens Tuesday night with more confusion than usual. For the first time, the league will allow teams alternatives to the man-to man defense. The heated debate over this and other rule changes -- coupled of course with Michael Jordan's return -- is leading to strong anticipation for the season's start.\nThe league is stating that allowing teams to play zone defenses will help increase scoring. This makes no sense. To aid the offense, they will allow the defense to have more freedom? I don't think so. But what the new rule will do is increase action.\nThe NBA is not telling the public what it really is trying to do is eliminate teams' strong dependencies on single players. Teamwork is at a low-point in league history, and fans are showing their frustrations by not tuning in. Players such as Allen Iverson and Vince Carter are often the only players to touch the ball on offense. \nNot only have defenses picked up on this and become extremely effective at stopping it, but even when successful it is simply boring for fans to watch. \n Even though these "slashers" occasionally make fascinating plays, for the most part fans do not enjoy watching one player dribble for 15 seconds, spin around and then maybe score.\n What the NBA really wants is to help teams combat that particular offensive style. Teams will now implement complex defenses in which a defender or two will always be available to help cut off driving lanes of the slashers. The slashers will be forced to pass the ball and move without the ball more than in the past. \nInstead of one player holding the ball and the other four watching, every player will move around and be more involved.\nLet's rid ourselves of the zone myth right now. Fans will not see conventional zones like the 2-3 that are used at the college level. That kind of play can be compared to using the option offense in the NFL. While it works well in college, any professional defensive team would crush it repeatedly. Even the five worst NBA players are quick enough, accurate enough at shooting and talented enough to beat that kind of defense easily every game. \nThe kind of action that the new defenses will bring should please fans. If we see ball movement, player movement and increased action all around, we will be happy whether the ball goes in the basket or not.\nThis rule change alone, I believe, would work beautifully, but the league just couldn't stop there.\nThe reason the league is not explaining the truth to its fans is because of the paradox it creates. The NBA has realized that it must reduce the tendencies of these slashers, but it acknowledges that they are the top stars and most talented players the league has to offer. With ratings down, surely the NBA does not want to eliminate its top selling points.\nSo in order to keep its top stars happy, they added a quirky exception to the newly-allowed zone defense: Defenders cannot stand under the basket for longer than three seconds without closely guarding a player.\nThis rule is absurd for two reasons. It contradicts every problem that the league is trying to fix.\nFirst, players will not be able to stand where they must in order to stop slashers. Second, players will be so confused that they will get called for this violation over and over -- especially in the beginning. This will stop play and decrease action -- which of course goes directly against the NBA's intentions. \nThe rule is also so subjective to the referees' opinions that it will only create anger and frustration.\nThe league must acknowledge that, although slashers such as Carter and Iverson are its current selling points, and although they are extremely talented players, fans are showing through their absence that this style of basketball is not the kind that they want to see. \nInstead of aiding them, which will only be detrimental, they should focus on letting the new defenses create new superstars that fans want to watch.
(10/18/01 5:35am)
The importance of pitching in the Major League Baseball playoffs has never been more evident than in this season. The remaining teams all boast strong pitching staffs and were able to eliminate clubs such as Houston and Cleveland, who "snuck" into the post -season with their bats.\nRandy Johnson and Curt Schilling's performances thus far have been mind-boggling (combined 3-1, 1.03 ERA). The Yankees and Mariners had two of the top three American League pitching staffs during the regular season.\nBut now, with such talent remaining and so few games left to play, it will be the hitters who make the difference for their teams.\nBecause runs are now so difficult to come by, each one is more valuable than the last. The players who put runs on the scoreboard are giving their team a huge advantage.\nPlayers' careers are often judged by their post -season accomplishments, and this is why: The regular season has them competing against some awful pitchers, but to be able to come up with the big hit against the league's Cy Young Award winner under added pressure is something entirely different.\nOften, the ability to hit well in the post -season comes through experience. Seattle, New York and Atlanta have plenty of that. These teams have been playoff regulars for the last decade. But Arizona, even with a lineup full of veterans, is still green when it comes to the post -season.\nLuis Gonzalez, Mark Grace and Matt Williams are all superb veteran hitters, but that becomes diluted as they do not know the pressures of playoff baseball. Of the three, only Williams has been to the World Series, and that was 12 years ago with the San Francisco Giants.\nThe Diamondbacks have the best two starting pitchers in baseball, and are certainly playing well right now, but if they cannot get help from the lineup, the team will struggle. Counting on three hit shutouts every night is risky.\n Seattle, on the other hand, complements its pitching staff with solid hitting from Ichiro, who batted a sick .600 in the series against Cleveland, to Edger Martinez, whose veteran leadership will be imperative for a victory over the three time defending champions.\n This post -season, somebody will need to step up to the plate and produce winning plays. Whoever it is will have accomplished a terrific feat, as hitting these pitchers is something no team has been able to do thus far. We know it will happen; somebody has to win. Watching the drama unfold will be a thrilling way to close a thrilling season.
(10/16/01 5:27am)
It's finally here.\nAfter six months of dedication, six months of tough competition, six months of some of the closest races, greatest performances and record-breaking statistics, Major League Baseball's postseason is upon us.\nThis season has been special. The home run record was again broken. The Seattle Mariners tied the 1906 record of victories in a season with 116. \nPlayoff races lasted longer than usual, as three races went down to the last week. It's now time for the season's exciting climax that will answer questions fans have been asking for months now.\nAnyone notice?\nIf the baseball playoff's arrival snuck past you, don't think that you're alone. For years now, the marketing of the post-season has been pathetic. With the NFL underway, fans seem to fade from baseball, even in its greatest moments, and Major League Baseball does not seem to want to compete.\nWhether it is the fault of the league or the networks that broadcast the games is debatable, but the reality is that both parties can do more to increase interest.\nBroadcasters have decided that the only team worth actually showing is the New York Yankees. A quick glance at the broadcast schedule for the first round shows that the defending champions are playing every night in primetime, always on national broadcast (as opposed to cable, where the other teams are being showed).\nThe league should insist that the other teams involved must be more exposed, as the viewers lose interest in watching the same team every night. They assume that a New York victory is a foregone conclusion and that the other series are of no importance, and eventually decide even the Yankees are not worth watching.\nWith four teams currently fighting for a trip to the World Series, it is painfully obvious that FOX, this year's lone network broadcaster, cares only about one of them. Every other series goes by unnoticed, as every game is played on cable and during the daytime.\nDid anybody see Curt Schilling's two complete games against St. Louis? Does anyone realize that the Houston Astros have made the playoffs in four of the last five years, but have never made it out of the first round?\nThis kind of storyline dominates talk in the NFL and the NBA, but barely makes the baseball radar because of such poor exposure.\nIf the other teams were exposed, more drama would unfold and more viewers would return the next night. This is done quite effectively by the NBA and NBC, as weekends consist of triple-headers, so every team gets to bask in the national spotlight. \nIt might bring a decline in television ratings at first, but I believe that it is imperative for Major League Baseball to find a way to dominate a weekend afternoon on a network -- even if it means going against the beast that is the NFL.\nBaseball legends are created during the post-season. The game with the nation's greatest history is remembered by moments from the playoffs -- Kirk Gibson's famous pinch-hit home run, Bill Buckner's fatal error, even Babe Ruth's home-run point.\nBut through poor coverage, a season that has been one of the most exciting in recent history will be compromised and unfortunately forgotten.