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(12/05/00 5:24am)
Football's faithful have a new reason to be excited this year, as the ever-exciting NFL Pro Bowl does not mark the last game until September. The newly formed XFL, which is owned by Vince McMahon of WWF fame, will begin in February and last into the spring.\nBut while many are anxious to see the XFL's quirky elements, such as no fair catches, the league's biggest problem is its competition.\nIn the last 10 years, football has become the nation's most popular sport. The NFL is the most successful professional league, and there is no reason why that would change in the immediate future. It is hard enough to succeed as a league, but with such strong competition it becomes nearly impossible. The XFL will be something new and different at first, but after a couple of years it will wear off and the best players will still aim for the NFL. \nIf McMahon really wants to have long-term success, he should look into a professional baseball league. There he will find a greater chance for profit, and he will be doing today's baseball fans a huge service. Major League Baseball has been so poorly run that fans are leaving in droves. Commissioner Bud Selig seems to have no clue what he is doing and no end to the league's troubles is in sight. Now seems the perfect time for an upstart league to enter the picture. Instead of aiming for a market of already-pleased football fans, why not attempt to steal the fans who are so upset with Major League Baseball?\nInstead of worrying about ridiculous rule changes (no fair catches will last only until the first paralysis), they can attack the true problems with their competition. Unlike MLB, they can share revenue and implement a salary cap. The biggest problem in baseball today is that the richest teams can afford the best players, and most of the league has no chance to ever compete for a World Series shot. Last week's signing of Mike Mussina by the New York Yankees is proof that baseball has a major problem. Any other team in the league would covet him, but the Yankees were able to offer an unmatchable contract and secure another of the handful of great pitchers in the league today.\nThe reason the NFL is so much better off today than baseball is simple. Major League Baseball's teams work separately from each other, as each team tries to succeed financially on its own. The NFL is the exact opposite. Teams work together to make the entire league a success. That, in the long run, leads to a large profit and a happy fan base. No NFL fan can feel more than two or three years away from contending for the Super Bowl, while small-market baseball fans will never feel the electricity of the post-season.\nIf McMahon were to attempt to start a pro baseball league with a centralized outlook, he could really be cooking. His success with pro wrestling has given him the money to compete for top stars. Small market fans would immediately change loyalties, because they would see hometown teams with a chance to win. He could also attack the game itself, by installing rules that would affect game play. \nPeople have turned to football over baseball for arbitrary reasons; football games are events, as they occur just once a week. Each game is important; as there are so few and playoff games are winner take all. Those are elements of the league, not the game itself. Sports fans still like baseball, but have been drawn away because of off-the-field reasons.\nFans might be against more baseball now, but the game was popular recently, and can be again, but it needs some kind of stimulation. A competitive league is the perfect solution to at least pose as a threat.\nFootball does not need that. The NFL is strong enough to withstand competition, and the XFL's tenure will be a short one.
(11/28/00 6:20am)
With the addition of the 32nd team, the Houston Texans, to the league in 2002, the NFL sees it necessary to realign the entire league. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his consultants are considering where each team should be placed and have promised a decision will be announced in March.\nThe league has decided to abandon the system in which each of the two conferences have three divisions. There will be eight divisions (four per conference) of four teams. \nWhile the league should start over completely, it has become obvious the NFL is trying to keep as many teams in their current conferences as possible. Under those guidelines, I have come up with a realignment structure of my own, in which only four teams switch over. I based my divisions mostly on geography and rivalries:\nAFC\nEAST\nNew York Jets, Buffalo, New England, Miami\nAll the teams are in the AFC East, and should be, geographically. This keeps intact the rivalry between the Patriots and the Jets.\nCENTRAL\nCincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Tennessee\nAll the teams compete in the same division. Breaking up either of the Browns' rivalries with the Bengals or the Steelers would upset all of Cleveland, as those games are about all they have to look forward to.\nMIDWEST\nIndianapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver\nThis division is new because it brings the Rams from the NFC West, and the Colts from the AFC East. The Rams have possibilities for two new rivalries with the in-state Chiefs and the Colts. The Broncos might remain in the West to remain true to geography, but, aside from Kansas City who will remain in Denver's division, the distance from Denver to its nearest division opponent (Oakland) is further than its furthest opponent under this plan (Indianapolis).\nWEST\nSeattle, Arizona, Oakland, San Diego\nMany people would hate to see the Cardinals move to the AFC, but I feel it would help them. It is absurd that they are in the NFC East, and they need to be in a division with some closer opponents. This is a franchise that needs some kind of identity, and maybe by switching over, that can be created.\nNFC\nEAST\nPhiladelphia, New York Giants, Washington, Baltimore\nThe Ravens have a new franchise and have little seniority in the AFC. An obvious rivalry with the Redskins would be created, which should ease the pain of Dallas moving out.\nCENTRAL\nGreen Bay, Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago\nThe NFC Norris, as ESPN's Chris Berman likes to call it, is the easiest division to predict because there are countless rivalries, and all four teams are close geographically.\nSOUTH\nAtlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville\nThis division has obvious geographic reasons, and a Florida rivalry in the making. Jacksonville might not want to move to the NFC, but it is young to the league.\nSOUTHWEST\nNew Orleans, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco\nSan Francisco is nowhere close geographically to the rest of the three teams, but its rivalry with the Cowboys will explode if they meet twice a year. The battle of Texas will be at stake, and while the old Oilers were an AFC team, I think the ownership in Houston should try to forget about the past as quickly as possible and try to create a completely new image for the city and football.\nThese divisions are balanced for the most part, but in the NFL, that should not matter, as teams change so rapidly. The strongest divisions would appear to be the AFC Midwest and the AFC East, but in three years, anything can happen.
(11/14/00 5:30am)
After years of success in Canada, Doug Flutie shocked us all, as the 5-foot-10 quarterback came to an aging Buffalo Bills team. Predicted to go nowhere in 1999, the Bills bolted into the playoffs under Flutie's endless fighting and remarkable leadership. \nWhile the NFL believed Flutie was good enough to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl, coach Wade Phillips believed Flutie wasn't the best quarterback on the team. Phillips rested Flutie for the season's final game and was so impressed by Rob Johnson's meaningless win against Indianapolis that he let him start in the post-season.\nFlutie was shocked. Buffalo lost to Tennessee.\nDespite cries of dispute from analysts and loyal Bills fans, Phillips again went with Johnson to start the 2000 season. But Johnson's injury against San Diego allowed Flutie to return. Flutie calmly came in and led the Bills downfield for a field goal and the win. \nJohnson is now healthy, and the biggest controversy outside of West Palm Beach, Fla., has resurfaced. Phillips announced Sunday that Johnson would start this week against Kansas City. Flutie was again shocked.\nFlutie went 3-1 in four starts this season, his only defeat a close 31-27 loss to Minnesota, arguably the NFL's best team. \nJohnson, on the other hand, is 3-3 as a starter, counting the San Diego win. In a little more time than Flutie, Johnson has been the better passer, with eight touchdowns to Flutie's three. He also has 500 more passing yards.\nBut Flutie has been sacked 20 fewer times and, more importantly, has brought victories. The Bills are legitimate wild card contenders and need every win they can get. \nFor some reason, though, Phillips insists Johnson is the better player, or at least the best fit in the Buffalo's offense. It has been consistently proven that Flutie is the man for the win. Phillips has shown zero respect for the man who repeatedly succeeds against the odds. Flutie was better than Johnson last year, and so far has been better this year, yet Phillips continues to shun him.\nAt this point in his career, Flutie deserves better. At age 38, he has one or two good years remaining. If he can find a team that will honor his effort, respect his ability and appreciate his victories, he should go there. Enough is enough, and Flutie does not deserve to be hurt anymore by Phillips' harsh decisions. \nWherever Flutie goes, let's hope it's a team that has Buffalo on the schedule, so Wade Phillips can see exactly what he ignored.
(11/08/00 1:47am)
In today's age of free agency and short-term expectations, patience has been forgotten. Owners and fans have become so focused on winning that the journey to the top has become irrelevant. While teams can now be brought together on a short-term basis, the true enjoyment of sport comes from watching a group of athletes with whom you, the fan, have become familiar, blossom into champions. \nOne doesn't have to look any further than right here in the state of Indiana to witness the growth of several teams. While others have opted for the quick fix method, Indiana sports owners have decided to let their players try to stick it out.\nThe Indiana Pacers were a mediocre club throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s. Players such as Reggie Miller, Rik Smits and Dale Davis went through difficult times, as they repeatedly battled during the regular season, only to get ousted in the first round of the playoffs by stronger opponents. After any year, management could have given up and tried a new approach, but instead it decided to let its players develop. It took until 1994, but eventually that group hit its stride, and was successful for the rest of the decade. As a fan of that team, the feeling in the first few successful years was a proud one. This team that I had seen together for years, this team that I watched fail time after time, had finally found a way to gel together and succeed. The same arena where I'd gone and seen thousand of empty seats now was filled with the enthusiasm that was finally coming through.\nThe Indianapolis Colts' newfound success is another case in which patience has pulled through. With the exciting exception of 1995, most of the decade was dismal. Annual doormats, the Colts always excited their fans with a high draft pick, and then disappointed them with a new way to fail. The offensive line was always a problem area. New linemen were coming into the system, but most were rookies.\nAdam Meadows and Tarik Glenn came in 1997. Meadows suffered through endless false start penalties, and Glenn spent his rookie season seeing the biggest and best the defensive linemen that the NFL had to offer. Larry Moore and Steve McKinney came in 1998, and the unit still struggled to give Peyton Manning time to throw the ball.\nBy 1999, they had developed the ability to trust and work with each other. They started every game, and developed into one of the best lines in the league. The Colts could have signed five of the best free agents and fixed the problem, but to see these same players who struggled through bad years to find success is what sports is all about. They didn't give up, but more importantly, the team didn't give up on them. Management let them struggle, knowing that over time, those struggles would result in the successful team we see today.\nI see the same situation developing right here in Bloomington, as the basketball program is essentially starting over. With the coaching change comes a new style, and with the departure of five graduating seniors comes fresh legs. While fans might feel detached from the new team, I say give them a chance. \nThe team will probably struggle out of the gate, and it might have a tough time winning in the Big Ten. But even if it does look sloppy, even if the losses pile up and even if IU doesn't make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1986, fans must be patient. And if fans and coaches allow this team time to work through troubles together, it will win games.\nAnd those victories will be that much sweeter.
(10/27/00 6:03am)
Seven players from the men's tennis team will get their final fall tournament action beginning today and continuing through Monday in Madison, Wis., at the Region IV ITA tournament.\nThe event features 128 singles players and 64 doubles teams from 29 schools, including top players from the area.\n"It is important to show teams around here that we'll be tough," senior Ian Arons said. "It is a chance to show how we've progressed over the fall."\nArons will compete in the singles matches and is on one of the two Hoosier doubles teams with senior Milan Rakvica. Their team is seeded fifth. The other team consists of junior Rahman Smiley and senior Ricardo Jordan. While these teams are not set in stone for the rest of the year, the coaching staff is excited with the possibilities they bring.\n"Ian and Milan are going to get better and better," coach Ken Hydinger said. "They both return great and will continue to work on serving."\nThe Hoosiers have not yet decided on a third doubles team, so this weekend's tournament is a bit of a false indicator for doubles, since only two pairs will be sent while most matches consist of three teams. Hydinger said while his current teams are good, the addition of a third pair could shake things up.\nSince the tournament is the last competitive match until the Big Ten Singles Championships Jan. 13, the players are looking for success, so they can spend the following few months satisfied with their fall accomplishments.\n"I think (the tournament) is extremely important about how guys are for winter," said sophomore Zach Held, who will compete on the singles side. "If guys are down after the tourney, practices won't go as well."\nBut Hydinger is looking at it differently. He sees the tournament as a chance for his players to be noticed and even ranked if successful. IU's only ranked singles player for the weekend is Rakvica, who goes into the tournament ranked eighth. Setting the tone for the winter is not as important because he feels the team will work hard regardless of this weekend's results.\n"It's just good to get in the van and go play," Hydinger said.\nAlso competing in singles matches for the Hoosiers are Smiley, senior Paul Jacobson and junior Ari Widlansky. Jacobson comes off of one of his best performances, as he reached the sweet sixteen in the All-American Championships earlier this month. \nSince many of IU's future regional opponents will compete, a unique aspect of the Region IV ITA tournament is the chance to scout. As hard as the Hoosiers have worked to improve, so have several other teams.\n"When people are playing, everyone's looking at them," Held said. "In tennis, you're always looking ahead to the next guy"
(10/25/00 5:32am)
The chaos has begun. \nThe team nobody could figure out is now scratching its head. Fans across the country have rediscovered hope that their team's championship chances have increased with what has recently occurred with the St. Louis Rams.\nWhat is the explanation for this newfound hope? Is it their defense, which allowed 54 points in Sunday's loss to Kansas City? No -- the defense has been poor all season. In the Rams' six victories, opponents have marched on them to the tune of 29 points-per-game, good enough to rank 27th in the NFL.\nIs it the injury to the multi-talented running back Marshall Faulk, whose absence would not only destroy the Rams' running game, but also take away a premiere pass option? No, his shoulder is healing quickly, and he expects to play next week against San Francisco.\nWhat has turned the football world upside-down is the loss of last year's league MVP Kurt Warner. He is out for 3 to 6 weeks with a broken pinkie finger from Sunday's game. While the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings are booking their Super Bowl flights, the Rams are still sitting comfortably, as they will soon release their secret weapon: the man who was supposed to be there all along.\nIU alumnus Trent Green has the ability to lead the St. Louis offense to the scoring heights it has become accustomed to with Warner. In just one half against Kansas City, Green threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns -- not much worse than what Warner has done this year.\nThe Rams can afford to remain comfortable with Green, not because he is more talented than Warner, but because the team has an outstanding offensive line, extraordinary talent in the skills positions (receivers and running backs) and a wonderful scheme on offense.\nSt. Louis is in the same spot now as the Dallas Cowboys found themselves during the first half of the 1990s. The worst player on the offense is indeed the quarterback. Dallas' fall from supremacy to mediocrity coincided with the break up of its stellar offensive line. Troy Aikman stayed in Dallas, but the team still lost. It has become obvious that he is not the pro-bowler people thought he was.\nWhile Warner's story has been amazing, it has been more a matter of chance and determination than skill. He finally found a place where he could fit in and succeed as a quarterback.\nThere is a reason, though, why Green was penciled in as the team's starter before his 1999 training camp injury. Green has been successful in the past, as he led the Hoosiers to two bowl games in the early 1990s, including a Copper Bowl victory in 1991. He started one season with the Washington Redskins. He threw 23 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions.\nAlthough it's unlikely he'll start, Green will succeed in the Rams offense.
(10/20/00 6:01am)
I guess it was inevitable. As eight teams entered the playoffs, everybody knew the two that would eventually be in the World Series.\nSure, the San Francisco Giants had the best record in baseball. Sure, the Braves' pitching staff makes them the annual National League favorite. The White Sox were supposed to sneak in, and the Yankees lost seven in a row the week before the playoffs. But did anybody really think that it would end up differently?\nIt seemed ESPN had already eliminated the other six teams before the first postseason pitch. The playoffs saw several day games, but every single primetime game on FOX and NBC just happened to feature one of the New York teams. Bob Costas couldn't wait to begin ruining the infamous Frank Sinatra line "Start spreading the news." Now the media and the New Yorkers have what they wanted. \nPlease forgive me for not mourning the fact that there has been no "Subway Series" in 40 years. I feel so bad for a city that "struggles" to get multiple World Series teams, while cities like Boston, Pittsburgh and Seattle that have a hard enough time getting one. Chicago has two teams, and neither one has been in the series since the White Sox lost to the Dodgers in 1959. But I am not surprised by the tears of a spoiled city.\nBut my cries are nothing new. The Big Apple has monopolized its share of World Series. Two New York teams have battled for baseball's title 13 times, including five times in the 1950s. But New Yorkers just can't get enough.\nAside from the secondary issues, the series does look exciting. Everybody is looking for the Yankees to be dethroned, and the Mets are a team that can do it. They have excellent left-handed pitching in starters Al Leiter and Mike Hampton and relievers Dennis Cook and John Franco. They have a good lineup from 1-9, and the heart needed to pull off an upset. They also might have some fans scattered throughout the Bronx, where the first two games of the series will be played. \nThe Yankees stumbled into the postseason, and have had trouble scoring runs. But they do have tremendous relief pitching and if the Mets cannot score off of the Yankees' starters, we could be looking at a three-peat.\nBut I have to say that I am rooting for the Mets, as they are the latest in a series of teams to challenge the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees just don't seem to deserve it this year. They got here by getting away with bad moves and poor decisions. Trading away two pitchers for Glenallen Hill, a player who could not even start for the Cubs? Trading four prospects for Jose Canseco, who did not even play in the ALCS? While the rest of Major League Baseball has to worry about trying to afford one superstar, the Yankees' only worries are which ones will start and which ones will pinch-hit. They backed into another division title over powerhouses such as the Devil Rays and Blue Jays. It just isn't fair.\nSo I call on you, the New York Mets, to give me some excitement I can remember baseball by over the winter months. You've made it this far, now go out and overcome the toughest of all odds. Show the Yankees that being a champion is more than having enough money to sign any superstar. Show them that a true champion shows heart and determination, and that those elements can overcome talent and experience. \nWe, the fans, simply want to be entertained. Watching the Yankees snore through another four-game sweep would only drive fans away. Make it exciting, and maybe we'll forget about New York's unjust domination of the sport (temporarily, of course), and join in the celebration.
(10/19/00 5:43am)
As the fall tournament season has reached the midway point for the men's tennis team, players have been able to work on their games at several individual tournaments and have shown signs of improvement already, their coach said.\n"(Senior) Paul Jacobson has had an exceptional fall," coach Ken Hydinger said. "(Junior) Rahman Smiley played well in the All-American Tournament."\nOne area that has not been solved is doubles teammates. Since most of the tournaments have been for individuals, the coaching staff has not yet been able to fully assess the team's best doubles pairings.\n"We feel behind in that area," Hydinger said. "We really haven't worked on it."\nThe Rolex Region IV Championships next weekend in Madison, Wis., will provide IU one more opportunity to play competitive tennis until the off-season ends Jan. 13. \n"We still have to get used to playing indoors," Smiley said. "The courts are faster, and the lighting is different. I also want to work on beating good opponents, not just playing them tough."\nThe team is also rounding out the singles lineup. While the top four spots have been filled, a couple positions remain open.\n"We're uncertain right now about the bottom of the lineup," senior Joey Balsiger said. "We need people to step up into those fifth and sixth positions."\nOverall, the team is happy with the progress it has made, Balsiger said. \nThe unscored tournaments have allowed players to work on improving while competing against good opponents.\n"We're coming along well and are improving so much day by day," Balsiger said.\nThe team did not know exactly what to expect coming into the fall season. After placing third in the Big Ten last year, many people were expecting a drop off. But with the addition of sophomore Zach Held, who transferred from Michigan, and the improvement of existing team members, the Hoosiers hope to be moving up in the standings.\n"Everyone is working real hard and the team is excited," Smiley said. "People think there will be a drop off, but we're looking to get better"
(10/04/00 5:28am)
As the individual season rolls along, the men's tennis team will send players to two tournaments this weekend. Three players will go to Stone Mountain, Ga., for the pre-qualifying round of the All-American tournament. Others will go to Louisville, Ky., for the Louisville Invitational.\nSenior Paul Jacobson, junior Rahman Smiley and freshman Bernard Tsepelman will compete in Stone Mountain in a tournament with all the best players in college tennis. The event will be unique, in that it will be crowded and individualized. \n"We can't really cheer each other on," said Smiley. "We are going as teammates, but playing as individuals."\nSmiley is the only IU player who competed in last year's All-American tournament in Austin, Texas. He said he understands the importance of the event, along with the meaning of being invited. \n"Every good player plays in it," Smiley said. "My personal goal is to make it to the main draw, but I'm really just going to try to concentrate in each individual match. There are just too many to try and look ahead."\nWhile winning is always the ultimate goal, the entire fall season is a prime opportunity to focus on improvement, as team play does not begin until February. Smiley said he will try to strengthen the mental part of his game, as his past problems have come from not being able to close out matches.\nSmiley will focus on the mental aspect, but Tsepelman said he will have a far different approach to the weekend. The tournament is the first of his college career, and he said he will use the event to gain experience.\n"I'm not really nervous," Tsepelman said. "I'm just excited. I'm looking for exposure for next year, and the years after that."\nTsepelman showed promise in the unscored Tom Fallon Invitational at Notre Dame two weeks ago, as he and Smiley were IU's only undefeated players. Each won five matches in four days. \nThe Louisville Invitational will be similar to the tournament in South Bend, in that it will be low key compared to some other national tournaments. The event will be good practice for competitors and will give another opportunity for coaching staffs to prepare for the Big Ten season. The matches will be drawn at random, and players will take the court many times in one day. \n"I like playing multiple matches, "said senior Joey Balsiger. "It's not physically hard, but it is a different way to prepare mentally. You can also fix mistakes right away in the next match."\nAnother nuance to the tournament is that no player knows when he will play next. Random draws will be occurring all day, so there is a possibility of playing one match right after another, or waiting several hours in between.\n"It is challenging in that you can't eat a big meal in between matches," Balsiger said. "You can't warm up properly, and you must be ready to go whenever"
(09/29/00 5:16am)
It might have taken a year, but sophomore Zach Held said he finally feels he belongs. After spending his freshman year at the University of Michigan, the Indianapolis native transferred to IU, and is now a key member of the men's tennis team.\n"He'll bring a lot to the program," coach Ken Hydinger said. "He's an honest, solid person, which is nice to bring into the program."\nHeld was recruited out of North Central High School by IU, but opted for Michigan. He finished his season with a 0.667 singles winning percentage and a doubles winning percentage of 0.524. \nHe said the decision to transfer came over the summer, and was not largely related to tennis.\n"I wanted to come home," Held said. "I wanted to be with all of my friends and my fraternity. It's where I belong."\nHis teammates said they are glad that he transferred.\n"Zach's got a fiery personality," senior Ian Arons said. "He's fit in real well. This team is closer than Michigan."\nThe team should be better, too. Last year IU finished third in the Big Ten at 7-3, slightly better than Michigan's 6-4. But on his own account, Held said he feels this team is much stronger than the one in Ann Arbor. \n"There is more character here," Held said. "There are more guys willing to put in extra effort. I can just tell we have a solid team."\nHis teammates said they hope Held can lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1964. As a sophomore, they seld Held brings a sense of leadership.\n"His presence makes you more confident," Arons said. "You can always count on him for a boost of energy."\nHis attitude also reflects his style of play. Hydinger describes him as an "aggressive baseliner," and a player who covers a lot of the court.\nWhile Held said he is very happy to be at IU, he has had a bit of trouble adjusting to Hydinger's coaching style.\n"We do a lot more conditioning and a lot more running than I was used to," Held said. "Our program is a lot more structured here, which is taking some time to get used to.\n"Coach has a very hands-on, in your face way of coaching here. At U of M my coach was very laid back."\nHeld said he felt IU was home. His brothers, Andy and David, played competitively for IU, and he has a family tradition of tennis and many high school friends at IU. But he did have to say goodbye to everyone he had met in Ann Arbor.\n"I had some close friends there," he said, "and it's hard to leave, but there are a lot of things here that I want to be a part of"