Confederations Cup Success Could Equal Dream European Offers For Some

If the world was taught one thing from the Confederations Cup in South Africa, it was not to sleep on American soccer. The tournament was a wake-up call for anyone who questioned the legitimacy of the sport in our country....whether they were U.S. citizens or foreigners. The fact is, soccer has been and still is somewhat of an afterthought in our country, but the Americans' unbelievable performance in South Africa was most certainly a step in the right direction.

I can't be certain what sort of total impact it will have in American society, but there will certainly be one major perk for the players that made the dream finish a reality...transfer offers. Translation to American sports language: the potential to sign with an upper-echelon European team. You see, in the world of soccer, especially in Europe, the slogan is "What have you done for me lately?" If a manager's team has a disappointing record, they're fired. If a player plays poorly, they're on the bench. On a more positive note, if you train well during the week, you might just earn a start on the weekend. It doesn't matter how much they get paid or where they're from. It is a performance-based philosophy. Period. So naturally, the surprise results that the U.S. pulled off in South Africa have most definitely raised the eyebrows of European scouts. It was the same when Russia went unexpectedly deep into the Euro 2008 tournament. People noticed and players got offers.

It's really a rather novel concept. Up until this point, the U.S. has played scared against the historical international powers. They never really played with the confidence, urgency, or technical ability to be considered a worldly soccer power. Yes, the 2002 World Cup in Korea was an exception, but if you look at the larger picture, the team has been relatively weak and inconsistent. But now, after they perform well individually and as a team against some of the best players in the world, the scouts look at it rather simply and say, "If they can beat players from the top leagues in Spain, England, Italy, and Germany, then why can't they play their club ball alongside them?"

I completely agree. A performance like theirs in the Confederations Cup deserves to be put up there with the top soccer moments in history...doing the unthinkable and beating the world's #1 team! Of course some of these guys deserve to play for top clubs! I'm not saying all of them merit promotion, but it makes you think that guys like Donovan, Bradley, Clark, DeMerit, Davies and Bornstein should join U.S. players such as Dempsey, Spector, Bocanegra, and Altidore at top European clubs.

Sure enough...the first of what I believe to be many contracts offered to American players went down this week when Oguchi Onyewu signed a 3-year deal with A.C. Milan. A.C. Milan is easily one of the top 3 Italian clubs and historically is probably the most prestigious and well-known of the bunch. Say what you want about Onyewu's track record, the guy defended his ass off during the Confed Cup. And for me, it's not surprising that he got scooped up by a club like Milan because he is a beast in the back. I'm so happy to see an American player get the respect he deserves, and for it to be from such an A-list club, it's incredible.

I was waiting for a signing like this to happen and I truly believe that there will be a few more to follow. I look for DeMerit to move up to a better English club. I think Donovan has now shown his worth as an attacking midfielder. Charlie Davies has proven that he deserves to be playing somewhere other than Sweden with his speed and awareness. And as for the players that are already in Europe...well I think their playing time will increase and I consider their international reputations to be bolstered at this point. Dempsey, Spector, and Bocanegra will breakout with new levels of confidence. Jozy Altidore now has the power to put his foot down and go elsewhere in Europe after not appearing in a single game for Xerez, a second-tier Spanish team that he was loaned to from Villareal. It's a beautiful thing to see as a longtime soccer fan that has always wished American players the best.

The issue brings up a debate that I have in my own head sometimes regarding the future path of American soccer and its players. Do I, as an American soccer fan, want our top players to go to Europe to garner recognition and praise? Or do I want these players to play in the MLS in an effort to help build the game in our native country? It's always been tough for me to say. Of course on one hand, it would be nice for our top players to play in the MLS and create a buzz among Americans...maybe even to the point where the league reaches a level of quality so high that it makes top foreign players want to come play over here. But that may be my exaggerated optimism taking over. Because on the other hand, I'd love to see American players get the credit they deserve on a European stage, where the game means so much more. Winning over well-educated, die hard world soccer fans has to be the ultimate stamp of approval! And it would make me so happy to have some of our own men be able to experience that feeling.

So, who knows, it is a super interesting topic to speculate about, but the main point I had was that the U.S. National Team's recent performance in the Confederations Cup was a thing of beauty...not just to watch, but also ponder to the impact it will have afterwards. Many people may not believe it, but soccer in America is improving. The players. The national team. The MLS. And most importantly, the popularity! I can safely say that there aren't many people out there that are more delighted than me about where soccer is going in America.

Steve McNair: A Tribute To The Toughest Player I've Ever Seen

Under "toughness" in the dictionary, you might as well find a picture of Steve McNair. When he was taken down, he always got back up. When he sustained an injury, he always played through the pain, no matter how intense it was. In fact, there was a period of time where McNair's injuries forced him to sit out of practice during the week so that he would be healthy enough to play on Sunday. The guy was indestructible when it came to football. So when the news was released this weekend that McNair had passed away, my initial reaction was shock. I couldn't help but turn to the Steve McNair I knew from watching football, the "tough as nails" McNair.

The way he approached the game of football always appealed to me. Never did I have any official affiliation with him. I wasn't an Oilers, Titans, or Ravens fan. But I always enjoyed watching him play. He seemed to have the perfect combination of grace and toughness, skill and passion. I would definitely say that he was one of my favorite NFL quarterbacks during the better part of my childhood (easy for me to say because the Bears didn't ever have a high-caliber player under center). I was a close follower of the run that McNair's Titans made the year of the Music City Miracle, falling just one heartbreaking yard short of a Super Bowl Title.

As I look back on what McNair was like as a player, it makes it hard for me to believe the reality of the terrible tragedy that happened this past weekend. Because, if you really look at the murder scenario closely, the clues point to something rather negative on McNair's part. He didn't pull the trigger or anything, but let's face it...he was a married man and he'd obviously been dating another woman for months. And he'd clearly been associating himself with someone who had a couple of loose screws. He was staying in a small condo that instead of screaming "wealthy athlete," it reeked of scandalous, sneeky activity. The whole incident simply seems fishy. As a matter of fact, whether this is right or not, it makes the everyday fan look at the situation and question McNair's character.

For me, I liken it to the recent Michael Jackson conversation. How do you choose to remember him? Do you look at Michael as a hideous, plastic alleged-pedofile or do you still only think of him as one of the greatest dancers, performers, and singers of all time. Now, I'm not going to put this McNair tragedy on anywhere near the same level as the Michael Jackson story, but it is a bit similar. Because as I sit here and remember McNair, his play on the field is what comes to mind first, even if I'm aware of all of the disappointing details of his murder. So when Michael Jackson passed away, sure I thought of his classic songs, but I also thought about all of the odd, gross, and disturbing information that followed him around. And I think that it's clearly a product of when I grew up. I never really knew the young phenom version of Michael Jackson. All I really saw was the pale, fabricated Michael Jackson. But with McNair, I grew up watching his toughness and his on-field heroics...and now the new details of his murder don't seem to bother me as much.

I don't mean to make a ridiculous comparison here, but I honestly think the parallel makes sense when I go back and look at the situation. I also want to clarify that I'm not writing this to villify McNair. Yes, he obviously had some issues with his relationships and he also appeared to have been at least mildly involved in some shady activities. But I don't want to imply that these issues make him worthy of being tabbed a bad person because I really don't believe that is the case.

McNair's murder was a terrible tragedy and he was most certainly the victim. It was definitely not the way anybody envisioned such a tough, hard-nosed player moving on. And it just goes to show you that even the people like McNair, who was so incredibly rock solid on the football field, can find themselves in situations like the one over the weekend. When the news broke, it was just so odd to hear that he was the victim because when he played, he always seemed to be the one on top.

As the incident is investigated further, I'm sure more details will be released with both negative and positive implications towards McNair's character. But my lasting memory of him will not depend on the emergence of those details. It will be solely based on what he did on the football field. In the NFL, you're expected to be tough and you're expected to be able to handle anything that comes your way. But Steve McNair embodied something above and beyond that expectation...and that is how I choose to remember him.

Grab Bag of Random Sports Topics

I didn't feel like writing about a pressing sports issue from today's headlines, so I figured I'd post about a few random things that I've had an opinion on lately. Here's my outlook on some of the funny, odd, and well...kind of gross nuances of sports today.

Grunting in Tennis...

In recent years, the world has seen a drastic increase in grunting and screaming on the tennis court. On a professional scale, it occurs almost exclusively on the women's side. It seems as if you can't watch a match these days without having to mute the TV due to some Russian girl with a last name ending in "-ova" screaming her brains out everytime she hits the ball. Venus and Serena Williams have been known to do it, Maria Sharapova pleads the fifth (evidence above), and a few up-and-coming players seem to be taking the grunting to a new level. It is unbelievabllllly annoying. It sounds weird to say because not to be overly gross or anything, but normally for guys, the thought of girls screaming or grunting could imply something rather arousing...not in this case. Not even close. I think the people in charge need to take a long, hard look at this phenomenon and possibly do something to curb the madness. It's awful!

The Physical Nature of Soccer...

Okay, for all of you tough guys out there that make a point of insulting soccer every time it's at the forefront of a discussion, just relax. I've heard the argument before, it's not all wrong, but overall soccer IS a very physical sport. Now before I defend it any more, let me concede one thing. Yes, in international and professional soccer, diving, embellishing, faking injuries, and stalling have all unfortunately become common themes. I don't like it and I never will, even if I see the strategic reasoning. It is these types of things that fuel the typical soccer-hater's fire...and it's a shame. Because if you watch the game of soccer intently, you will see a whole lot more physicality than many people give the sport credit for. The shoving, slide-tackling, and head-bashing makes soccer anything but a sport for "wussies." Not only is the average player in better shape than most other athletes, they take a beating on the field. But people don't realize that until they play the sport with some degree of seriousness. I'm not saying it's football or hockey, but it's way more phsyical than it's portrayed in mainstream media and society.

First Base Conversations...

Have you ever watched a baseball game and seen the first baseman chatting with a baserunner from the opposing team? It has always been one of the things that I want to know. Of course, you may have situations where former teammates do some trash-talking. Maybe good friends. I'm sure they just talk about normal stuff. But what about bitter rivals? What if one doesn't speak english very well? They still talk to each other! Does one guy try out his spanglish? Does Albert Pujols tell Derrek Lee that he sucks or does he ask how his wife and kids are doing? Does the first baseman say "nice hit" or does he jokingly tell them to stop getting on base? I don't know....and I guess I never will unless I get close enough to a professional baseball player to ask him. I think it's a funny thing to speculate about, though.

Touchdown Celebrations...

They're not a subtelty anymore in the game of football. In fact, the celebrations in the end zone have practically turned into a contest among players. The prize goes to the guy that comes up with the most inventive dance or nowadays even a short skit! The spike just doesn't cut it anymore. Some of the performances are obviously rehearsed. Pretty soon, NFL teams will begin to hire choreographers. One of the interesting parts about the touchdown celebration craze is the fact that the league has tried to punish players for going overboard, but the players don't really care. We still have receivers and running backs using the football or the pylon as a prop, we have team celebrations, we have players doing their best impressions of the latest popular dances. I really don't have a problem with it. I think it adds to the entertainment of the game and offers a comedic element that many other sports don't exactly possess. There is one thing I have to say to players, though, as they consider excessively celebrating in the end zone: If you score a touchdown at a meaningless juncture in the game or from only a yard or two out, forget the celebration. Big deal...you ran a few yards. Wow...you scored a touchdown with 2 minutes left in the game and your team is down 49-14. Go ahead and celebrate! Do your dance, perform your skit, but pick the right time!

Golf Attire...

For a sport that is played during the warm part of the year in the warmest places in the world, golf has some pretty harsh wardrobe requirements. Under normal conditions, golfers play in the heat of the day under the relentless sun. Yet they aren't allowed to wear attire that helps them stay cool. Pants are a requirement on the PGA Tour and in most country clubs. But I think it's a bogus rule. Look, I know golf etiquette...it was taught to me by one of its most staunch enforcers, my dad. I get the whole "respect for the game" idea, but for me, whether someone wears shorts or pants on the golf course is irrelevant. Everybody knows that wearing slacks in hot and humid weather is miserable. It overheats your body, even if they're khakis! My point was driven home in a disgusting manner when I was briefly watching a Champions Tour event on the Golf Channel the other day. One of the players high up on the leaderboard was hitting a shot when I noticed a large stain of some sort on his slacks. Moments later, the camera person was nice enough to get a close-up shot on the player bending over to analyze the break in his upcoming putt. The stain that I had previously noticed from a distance was sweat. Let's just say it gave the viewer a good idea of what the guy's ass looked like. Plus, I'm sure it was extremely embarassing for him. So all I'm saying is perhaps the tour should allow the players to wear shorts...not grungy ones, but you know, the nice dress shorts. It still looks fine. Give these guys a break, it's damn hot out there!

I'll try to think of some more of these little mini-topics because Lord knows I probably have thought about it/have an opinion on it. Go Cubs! Beat the Brew Crew tonight!

The Inexplicable Nature of the Pittsburgh Pirates

For professional sports teams, the mantra is "you're in it to win it." Obviously, right? Why compete, why do anything if you don't put winning at the top of your list? Well...there is a team out there that apparently hasn't gotten the memo. I have no choice but to question whether the Pittsburgh Pirates subscribe to the whole "winning is important" idea. I say this because as I look at their collection of trades/offseason moves in the past decade, I'm left speechless...and not in a good way. It is the type of situation where you, as an onlooker, say to yourself "man, my 5- year old nephew knows better than that."

Now, I kid a little bit, but let's just take a look at what has prompted my bewilderment with the changes they've made to their team in recent years. While the city of Pittsburgh hasn't seen a winning team in 16 years, the Pirates have actually had some good players...the type of guys you try to keep to build your franchise into a contender. But so far, the Pirates have done the opposite. They've continuously traded their best players in exchange for "promising" young prospects. Here is a list of key players that the Pirates have let go in the past decade in chronological order:

-Brian Giles (left in '03 after 4 straight 30 HR seasons and 2 All-Star appearences in '01, '02)

-Aramis Ramirez (left in '03, combine his '01 & '02 seasons and you get a .267 average, 52 HRs and 183 RBIs)

-Jason Kendall (left in '04 after batting .319 and striking out the least per at bat in the MLB in '03)

-Xavier Nady (14 HRs and 40 RBIs in 75 games before being traded in '08. Promising hitter)

-Jason Bay (Traded 5 days after Nady. Hit over 20 HRs in five different seasons for Pittsburgh, including 2 seasons over 30 HRs. Over 100 RBIs twice, around a .280 batting average in those seasons)

-Nate McLouth (Traded in '09. Coming off an All-Star season in '08: 26 HRs, 46 2Bs, 94 RBIs, .276 average)

-Nyjer Morgan (Traded in '09. Struggled for a starting spot for a few years, finally got a chance this year and did well: .277 average, 27 RBIs in leadoff spot most of the time, 18 stolen bases)

Look, I know stuff happens in the league. There are a lot of factors that go into trades, signings, etc. But I look at the above group and see a lot of great players, especially outfielders.  The worst part about it is that a lot of these guys had quite a bit of gas left in the tank when they were shipped out of Pittsburgh.  Some of them, like McLouth, were just entering their prime!  It's like the organization doesn't want to achieve success.  And by the way, Pirates, if you're going to trade away one of your better players, at least make the deal with a winner.  They just traded Nyjer Morgan in exchange for WASHINGTON NATIONALS PLAYERS!  Come on!!!!  

I mean, let's break it down.  Giles was a monster for awhile, and from the left side of the plate, too. Jason Kendall made up for his lack of power at the plate with great speed and valuble defensive abilities at catcher. Aramis Ramirez was quickly becoming the power-hitting 3rd baseman that every team wanted. Jason Bay was their established veteran who hit for power and provided an important presence in the clubhouse. McLouth and Nady were the up-and-coming outfielders that seemed to be the answer the Pirates were looking for. And after all of the carnage (losing Bay, Nady, and McLouth), Nyjer Morgan provided a burst of speed and a consistent bat in the lineup.  But of course, he too wasn't in the future plans of the organization...not that I think they have any discernable plans anyway.  

It is crystal clear that the Pirates don't have trouble saying "all good things must come to an end" because that is literally what they do every season. The Pirates have shipped off virtually every valuable player on their team in recent years. The joke of the century was the fact that the Pirates GM, Neal Huntington, was recently featured in ESPN The Magazine in a piece about young general managers that were supposedly on the rise. Give me a break! He has stripped the team completely. And the worst part about it is that he and the previous Pirates executives have waited until the player in question has an unbelievable year...for a few of them, their best year!

Now, I realize that there is a lot strategy that goes into running a professional sports team...I'm not that naive. Dealing established players for prospects is something that every team does from time to time, but when you do it on a cyclical basis, all you're doing is wedging yourself into a constant rebuilding phase. You get good prospects, they grow up to be solid players and then right when they have personal success, you dump them for new youngsters?  That is not the way to run a team! The Pirates players have even recently spoken out against the moves and I don't blame them. It is deflating to see the best players in your lineup move on to bigger and better things.  As a player, you want to be able to come to the ballpark with confidence in the people around you.  I don't think the Pirates players have that feeling about the executives. 

Usually when management makes a move, you can see where it's going, whether you support the decision or not.  But Pittsburgh's major moves in the past decade have been senseless and I frankly don't see the reasoning behind them.  Normally, I would advise trusting the people at the top because they have more experience and access to more information than the typical outsider.  However, I'm beginning to question both of those things in the Pirates case: do you really have the experience to be doing this?  Do you trust the people feeding you information?  

The bottom line is that the management is butchering this team.  Honestly, some decent players have come out of the Pirates farm system like Andrew McCutchen and Freddy Sanchez, but with the organization's recent track record of trading away their lone bright spots, should they be asking themselves "Am I next?"  If that is the case, then I hope they get out of Pittsburgh as quick as they can...their team is going nowhere fast.      

Neal's Live Blog from the Cubs/Sox Game

I have been fortunate enough to be able to go out into the field and cover both Cubs and White Sox baseball this summer, so thought it would be cool to kind of do a "Live From The Ballpark" post. I have my essential duties before and after the game, but during the game, I can sort of sit back and relax, so I figured that this time I would do something constructive. Here it goes:

12:30- A perfect summer day in Chicago. I arrive at the ballpark and pick up my media credentials. As I walk in, Ozzie Guillen and Sox GM Jerry Reinsdorf are addressing the media out by the front desk...huh, not the usual protocol. I opt to avoid the media frenzy...don't even have my recorder ready.

12:35- Head up to the press box to put my crap down so that I don't have to lug it around the field when I try to get pre-game audio.

12:45- I get situated in the Cubs dugout while the Sox are taking BP. I sit down in the dugout with other media personnel and Cubs infielders Andres Blanco and Jake Fox. Both super nice guys.

12:57- After a decent wait, Lou is finally here, just dying to talk with us (cough cough). He is in rare form today, kind of goofy mood. I bet he got a good night's sleep last night. Answered every question well and provided some great sound bites for all of the radio shows tonight...funny shit.

1:15- Hang out on the field for a bit to watch the Cubs take BP and watch Aramis Ramirez take some grounders. He's almost ready to come back from his injury! Looked pretty good. Also some good people watching time. The Cubs/Sox series attracts just about every media outlet possible. It was crazy.

1:30- Press box time. It's F'in hot as hell, so I'd like to be in the shade. Grab a little food, grab some soda, see what the lineups are for the day. Wow, Theriot with a day off at shortstop...weird! Thank god Jake Fox and Micah Hoffpauir are in the lineup. They've been hitting very consistently lately....and with a lot of power too.

2:00-Hangin' out. Reading about Michael Jackson's death. Terrible event. He made some great music to dance to, especially "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." Many of you guys may already know that I've declared that to be one of the most fun party songs.

2:30-Most of the media are up here now. Some are calling into radio shows, others writing stories. There seems to be quite a buzz about Sweet Lou's pre-game media session. All of the media seemed to be salivating over the material that he was able to feed them today. There will definitely be some good newspaper columns tomorrow.

3:08- Top of the first. Man, Contreras is dealing! He has been unhittable in his last 3 starts. Strikes out Soriano and Bradley....which I guess hasn't been too hard this year, but let's give Jose some credit for his pitching.

3:12- Jermaine Dye takes Randy Wells deep. Cubs love giving up those early inning homers.

3:18-Jake Fox doubles down the line for the Cubs. Man, this dude is locked in! Hit his 1st career bomb yesterday in Detroit. Great guy too, very good with the media. This is the guy that was leading nearly every minor league offensive category in the nation. We just need to find a consistent place for him in the field once Aramis Ramirez returns.

3:37- After a rare leadoff hit for the Cubs by Geovany Soto, what do you know ? A bunt caught by the pitcher, a strikeout by Soriano and a lineout by Kosuke Fukudome. Damnit!!

3:40- Good crowd on hand as always at the Crosstown Classic. Seems to be slightly more Sox today, which is no surprise seeing as we're playing at The Cell. Really great ballpark, especially since the renovations a few years back.

3:42- Scott Podsednik is up again. Singled in his first at-bat. This guy has been a monster for the Sox in the leadoff spot this year. Huge offseason pickup...and to think nobody else was going to sign him!

3:50- Game has quieted down. White Sox went 1-2-3 in the 3rd, Cubs haven't been able to string hits together. Wind seems to be blowing out though, Dye's homer didn't seem like it was hit that hard. Derrek Lee just singled. If it wasn't for yesterday, he would've had a 23 game hitting streak. I really think we're about to see some homers because of this wind.

3:53- What do you know!!! Jake Fox just went deep. 2-run shot!! This guy is unreal right now. He has 5 hits in his last 6 ABs with 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, and 5 RBIs. We need him in the lineup. The score is now 2-1 Cubs through 3 1/2 innings....I swear I'm writing this as I go. My home run prediction in the previous line was just a good call I guess.

3:58- Thome goes opposite field for a solo shot. The ball is flying out of here! We may have a slugfest on our hands. The weather is actually awesome now, not balmy like it has been. I think the lake breeze is helping a lot today. Wooo! Dye almost hit another one out, Soriano caught it a foot shy of the track and did his stupid little hop. He really needs to improve his fielding...and I don't think he will until he gets that knee fixed.

4:04- All of the media personnel snickers as Geo Soto nearly hits one out. "Your marijuana needs to make you just a bit more stronger," they say. Terrible joke. It was just discovered that he tested positive for weed during the World Baseball Classic. Woop-di-doo.

4:08-Milton with a great diving catch...I'd call that a Web Gem Nominee. Jake Fox also looking decent at the hot corner. They said that they've been really working with him on improving at the position. Whoa, whatta ya know! Geovany Soto actually gunned down a would-be base stealer...Gordon Beckham was the victim. His arm seems to be improving. Can't be worse than A.J. Pierzynski...last time I checked, he had thrown out only 8% of base stealers.

4:17- Top of the 6th now, Contreras tweaked his back after a pitch to Fukudome. That would be a terrible setback for him. By the way, he is to baseball what Greg Oden is to basketball. They each look like they could be 60 years old. Contreras is actually 37, but he looks elderly! Tied 2-2 through 5 1/2 innings.

4:24- Milton Bradley is now out of the game. Uh....ohhhh. Not another injury! Actually just got word that he may have thrown a tantrum in the dugout. Well, now Ryan Freel is in right field. The King of Small Ball, Scotty Pods, just laid down a perfect drag bunt down the 3rd base line. This guy is good!

4:36- Attendance is 39,015...only the 2nd sellout for the Sox this year. That is weak!

4:38- Geovany Soto says "In your eye!" to all of the people making fun of his marijuana admission. He just cracked a long 3-run homer to center field. 5-2 Cubs. Didn't stop the jokes from ringing through the press box. And oh by the way, before that, Jake Fox hit a single. His 2nd game in a row being a triple short of the cycle and we're only in the 7th. He'll get one more crack at it. This kid is amazing!

4:46- The old bunt down the baseline that the 3rd baseman waits to go foul and it never does. Nice leadoff single for Kosuke. Stolen base too! Wow the Cubs are actually manufacturing runs potentially?

4:59- Jake Fox at the dish. Could he go 4-for-4? Lines out to center....still a great game. We need him in the lineup on a daily basis.

5:00-Well that was kind of entertaining, but my live blog has to immediately come to an end. I have to go get post game sound in the locker rooms in a few minutes. Time to prepare! Still 5-2 after 8 1/2 innings.

After the game I was able to attend Lou Piniella's press conference as well as speak with Jake Fox, Geovany Soto, and Derrek Lee. All 3 guys are very cool. Lou was kind of pissed off despite the win because of a situation that occurred involving Milton Bradley. Big surprise! Bradley apparently threw his helmet down and busted the Gatorade cooler. So Piniella told him to go home in the middle of the game! Can't be good for team chemistry. The Bradley signing has really blown up in the Cubs face.

All in all, fun day at the park. Cubs and Sox. Ozzie and Lou. Gotta love it. Hope you enjoyed my "Cubs/Sox Live Blog."

Lou Says He Still Has The Fire, Doesn't Need To Show It

When a team struggles, people look for answers...and the Cubs just so happen to be in that position this season. The North Siders sit at one game under .500 (34-35) and seem to be playing about as inconsistent as humanly possible. Their performance this year has been nothing short of puzzling, so Cubs fans have started the Blame Train. For one reason or another, Lou Piniella seems to be a popular scapegoat. So today at U.S. Cellular Field, I was in the dugout before the game when Lou Piniella met with the media as usual. Only this time, Lou was ready to clear the air about people blaming things on him, which was a topic that he did his best to avoid up until this point.

So while the Cubs manager may seem quieter these days, he insists that his passion for the game hasn't wavered. "I've got as much fire as ever," says Piniella. "I just don't think that arguing with the umpires is going to help. I really would be making a fool of myself, like when I was younger." Sure, it may be surprising to hear that perspective from a man who was notorious for his tirades, but I understand what he is getting at here. He furthered his explanation by citing the fact that baseball is in a different era. Years ago, it may have been commonplace for a manager to sprint out of the dugout and put on an Oscar performance after a bad call, but maybe Piniella thinks that baseball has recently moved on from the base-throwing, dust-kicking, hat throwing antics.

"Arguing with umps isn't going to change anything," said Piniella. "If you want me to put on a show, I'll give you a show, but the league office is going to end up suspending me." I agree with him; I don't think he needs to go out there and argue. The bottom line is that a manager is hired to put the best lineup on the field, make the proper decisions during the game, and motivate his players as needed. Lou Piniella can't go stand behind his players at the plate and tell them when to swing nor can he can't go out there and pitch. It is up to the players. And the guy has done just about all he can do to try to get the team going. Whether it was changing the lineup, sending guys down, bringing guys up, or making situational moves, Piniella has tried everything that could possibly be a catalyst for this team's success.

I know that some culpability has to come with the manager's role, but when you have someone like Lou who has clearly tried everything across the board, it's exhausting to hear the amount of people calling for his head. You wouldn't believe how many angry Cubs fans we get calling into the radio show asking for Piniella to be fired. The question I always ask them first is "do you really think firing Lou Piniella would actually help the Cubs win more games?" Who else is going to come in? The manager of one of the minor league affiliates? Our pitching coach Larry Rothschild? Lou is the best person to have at the helm in this situation.

Firing coaches isn't always the best thing for a team. Exhibit A: Gerald Perry. The Cubs fired him from his position as hitting coach a few weeks ago because of all of the troubles they've had at the plate. Let's just say it hasn't made the wins start to magically appear. Perry ultimately took the blame for something that wasn't fully in his control. So when people want Lou Piniella out of his role as Chicago Cubs manager, I think that it's simply a cop-out. People want someone to blame, so they don't see why it shouldn't be the manager. But I don't think that is the way to handle a struggling baseball team...maybe in a different sport, but not baseball.

Look, all I'm saying is that the guy took us to division crowns the last two years. Now it's just a matter of actually playing up to our potential in the playoffs. Although the Cubs have struggled this year, they are still in the thick of things in the NL Central. "We are in it, we'll make a run, so just be patient," said Piniella in the dugout before the game. Hey, Lou has enough experience in baseball to be able to properly assess situations. So if he says that the Cubs still have yet to hit their sweet spot, then I'll take his word for it. Until then, people just need to relax and look at the season realistically. If you want to blame someone for the poor start, look at the guys with the bats in their hands. They are the ones who play the game...not Lou.

Hansborough's Skill Set Won't Cut it in the NBA

When it comes to professional sports, athleticism reigns supreme. Dominant players in the upper ranks ultimately have success because they can jump high, hit hard, or run fast (among other abilities). Take a guy like Lebron James...he simply overpowers his opponents because is athletically superior. It's not the other guy's fault; it's just that he is hard to stop because of some of the things he can do on the court. In the end, that is the million dollar question: Can you stand up to the athleticism of the pros?

The reason why I'm bringing this up is because of an argument that I've heard many people having lately. As Thursday's NBA Draft approaches, there has been extensive media coverage of many of the league's potential newcomers. Blake Griffin, who will be chosen by the Clippers with the #1 overall pick, doesn't have any doubters regarding his athleticism. But others in the draft, and I'm going to go ahead and really go after Tyler Hansborough, may not be able to measure up to the league's premier athletes. Sure, Hansborough was the quintessential college basketball player...huge heart, maximum effort, mental and physical toughness, good student of the game. But he has never showed me the sheer atheltic ability and body size needed to succeed in the NBA.


Hansborough nearly reached legendary status at University of North Carolina with effort and passion as his driving forces. Those attributes made him a relentless player both mentally and physically and ultimately were the reasons that he was able to achieve so many great accolades. But outside of a handful of authoritative dunks, Hansborough never really showed above average athleticism. I'd even say that half the time he shot the ball, it looked like he was merely throwing it towards the basket, hoping for it to go in. Let's just say that "grace" should not be his middle name. Don't get me wrong, the guy made a hell of a name for himself doing everything it took to win...and he was rewarded for it. He was one of the centerpieces on two NCAA championship-winning teams under Roy Williams, so he is a proven winner. But none of that gets you anywhere at the next level. It's great that he loves the game of basketball and tries his ass off every minute he is on the floor, but the NBA is about physicality, size, and athleticism. You don't get an A for effort anymore.


While his effort may not be rewarded at the next level, his height will give him an advantage, right? Well let's see here...Hansborough is listed at 6' 10" in his NBA draft profile, but I've seen him listed several times at 6' 8" including his UNC player profile. I sure don't think he looks 6' 10", but let's just say he is. In the college game, a player is immediately considered to be at least a mild threat if he has that kind of size. In the professional game, it's more like "Okay, it's great that you're tall, but what else can you do?" Nearly everybody that plays the 3, 4, or 5 positions in the NBA is going to be pretty damn tall.


So if you now take Hansborough's height and throw it to the wayside, what else is he honestly going to do for an NBA team? He doesn't have a consistent shot, especially anything outside a mid-range jumper. He won't be able to make a living in the paint because he'll be guarded by players that are bigger and stronger. He's also not going to blow by anybody off the dribble because his ball-handling skills and speed are below average. Listen, I know I'm ragging on the kid, but there are too many people out there that truly believe Hansborough is going to be a household name in the NBA. I realize that if he works hard like he typically does, he will be able to improve under the tutelage of the nation's best basketball minds. But, in my opinion, you are sorely mistaken if you think Tyler Hansborough is going to burst on the NBA scene and make a splash. I think it will be a ripple at best if we're going to stick with the metaphor.


I understand the desire for your favorite college basketball players to succeed in the pros. I love following my favorite athletes from the college level, especially basketball. But sometimes your hopes for them are unrealistic. You also have to understand that the college game and pro game are very different. In college, effort, courage, enthusiasm, and passion go a long way, but in the pros the question solely becomes "are you athletic enough to compete?" Now I'm not saying any of those intangible attributes don't help you as a professional, but in the end, you need to be able to compete physically.


Hansborough is just another example of a player whose college game may not translate well to the professional game. It happens every year in sports. So as I look at this year's NBA draft field, I see guys like Hansborough, who did everything well in college, but may not succeed as a pro. On the other end of the spectrum, you take a guy like B.J. Mullens (Ohio St.) that looked like nothing more than a dead oak tree on the court last year. Mullens is expected to be a mid-first round pick because of his 7' 1" size. To be an elite player in the NBA, you have to have a specific set of skills and attributes...and unfortunately for guys like Hansborough, they may not have what it takes.