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Friday, January 11, 2002
Friday Thoughts, Opinions and Notes  By Ben Maller I try to avoid the Los Angeles Times sports section. I find it among the worst in the country. Other than Bill Plaschke and T. J. Simers, there is nothing of any substance there. However, I must take this chance to rip Bill Dwyre and the politically correct asshole's who continue to shove figure skating down the throats of Southern California. Real sports fans don't like Ice Skating and they sure as hell don't want to read feature articles on the sport. Heck, fans in So Cal don't even watch NHL Hockey. It reminds me of back in '99 when the Women's World Cup was played at the Rose Bowl and got overcovered by the Times. Does anyone care, these days, about any women soccer players? I don't think so! Steve Spurrier is the Carolina Panthers leading candidate to become their next head coach. It would be odd to see Spurrier coach a Florida State QB in Chris Weinke at the NFL Level. The Panthers need a lot of help if they want to run the "Fun N Gun." (They need a lot of help even if they don't run the "Fun N Gun.") Mike Tice seems like a good enough guy and I hope he does well as a head coach in Minnesota. The fact is the reasons he was hired have to do with he'll work cheap, he's going to be the NFL's least paid coach and also the fact the Vikings think they are going to be rebuilding over the next few years. Dennis Green will make more money not to coach the Vikings than Tice will to coach. According to the NFL rumor mill, the Miami Dolphins are not convinced that Jay Fiedler is the answer at QB. The Fish could be in the market for a new signal caller if Fiedler doesn't do well against the Ravens. The way the Oakland Raiders have played, you wonder if the team has moved back to Los Angeles. Maybe Art Shell is back coaching them. Terry Glenn of the Patriots is giving Randy Moss of the Vikings a run for his money when it comes to the biggest dick in the NFL. Glenn was suspended from the playoffs after repeatedly missing practices and meetings. Dolphin Fans should be embarrassed. With approximately 16,000 tickets still available at Thursday's 4:05 p.m. television blackout deadline, Dolphins fans without tickets will have to listen to Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens on the radio or take a road trip to Orlando, Tampa or beyond to watch it. The game will be blacked out in South Florida. Did you know? Since 1992, 14 of 32 National Football League teams have gotten new stadiums. Ten more already have plans for new stadiums or major renovations of their present ones.  Football.com has the top four picks in the NFL Draft going this way: 1.) David Carr, 2.) Julius Peppers, 3.) Bryant McKinnie, and 4.) Joey Harrington. Ben Maller Trivia Question of the Week: What NBA team will not be seen on TNT or NBC this season??  Florida athletic director, Jeremy Foley, had the greatest job in all of college football open and he panicked. After Bob Stoops and Mike Shannahan said thanks but no thanks instead of waiting and getting the next big candidate, the Gators hired Ron Zook, the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. Zook will be a disaster and the SEC power will shift to Tennessee. Former Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys coach, Barry Switzer, told the Orlando Sentinel that the NFL is easier on a coach than big time college ball. "Coaching pro football is a lot easier than coaching college football," Barry Switzer said Tuesday afternoon in Orlando. "College football is 365 days a year. Pro football is all about winning and trying to get to the Super Bowl. That's it." Switzer said. Roy Williams will be a stud in the NFL. Oklahoma will have a devil of a time trying to replace college football's best defensive player. There were some amazing stats from this past college football season. Do you know who had the Highest TD-to-pass-attempts percentage? David Carr? Rex Grossman?Byron Leftwich? No. Try Brian St. Pierre of Boston College, who had 25 TDs despite throwing just 279 times. On the opposite spectrum, San Diego State's Lon Sheriff had just three TDs in 235 attempts. Notre Dame averaged just 101 yards passing per game. That was good for next to last, just ahead of Ohio. With 127 infractions, Arkansas was college football's most penalized team. The most disciplined team was Navy, easily the least penalized with just 39 infractions. To see the stats and more go to FoxSports.com. Insiders tell me that left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii, the Japanese pitcher the Dodgers won the rights to this week, has better stuff than Chan Ho Park. According to baseball people he has a higher ceiling. We will have to see if he has the manhood to pitch well in big games. The Disney Angels tried to copy the Yankees pinstripes and that didn't work so now they have stolen the Texas Rangers' uniforms. Why not just copy the Cubs or Red Sox?  Let's hope that Matt Herges can handle the Dodgers closer job in 2002. Unless the Mets are willing to trade Armando Benitez for Gary Sheffield it's Herges' job to lose. Attention Dan Evans and Bill Stoneman, here is a list of some players who are still available via free agency: Pokey Reese, Kenny Lofton, Todd Jones, Gil Heredia, Steve Reed, Brian Bohanon, Pedro Astacio and Chuck McElroy. The Texas Rangers had the 3rd highest ticket prices in baseball last season behind the Yankees and Red Sox. Well, after Chan Ho Park and Juan Gonzalez arrive in Texas the prices are going to go up by 10.4% this year. Remember that old line of thinking in baseball: Build a new stadium and then the team will spend gobs of money on free agents. The Milwaukee Brewers opened Miller Park last year and have made no major roster moves this offseason. The Brewers biggest move was picking up Dave Stewart as pitching coach. I know that the LA Sports Arena is right near campus, but I think USC should play all their home games at the Forum. Their is something special about playing in a building that saw the Lakers' golden years. Henry Bibby outcoached Steve Lavin, no surprise there. As long as Steve Lavin wins 2 games in the NCAA tournament, he seems to be able to keep his gig. Duke is lucky they lost on an NFL Sunday. That would have been a huge story if it had happened after the Super Bowl. A tough blow to the Miami Heat, point guard/stud Anthony Carter underwent surgery to repair a lower abdominal injury and could be out close to a month. Carter has missed nine games with the injury and delayed a decision on surgery for 2 1/2 weeks, hoping rest would heal it. Alvin Gentry better get the kid Clips to win some games outside Los Angeles or Gentry will be looking for a broadcasting job. Of all the team nicknames, the one that could be taken as racist is the Redskins. I happen to think the name pays honor to the warriors but I can understand why some would see it as racist. "Scores," the Strip Club that Howard Stern has made famous, is going public. You heard me right. You can buy stock in the New York adult club. What kind of sick bastard turns in a co-worker for running an office pool? Some guy in New Jersey who was working at AT&T was turned in by one of his coworkers!. Who says you have to stop when you get old? 83 year old Detroit Tigers broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell will be back for his 42nd season with the team (and 55th overall)- Harwell signed a one-year deal to continue doing play-by-play. Ted Robinson, who would have been a great hire for the Angels radio job, has taken a gig with the New York Mets. Robinson spent the last nine years with the San Francisco Giants. Who's going to replace Darren Sutton? The Anaheim Angels have talked with Ken Levine, Geoff Witcher and at least one other local Los Angeles radio sports personality about their radio opening.  Witcher a former host of Dodger Talk was last the voice of now defunct Los Angeles Stars of the ABA. ESPN Radio 1050am in New York benched Scott Ferrall a few weeks ago. Ferrall who was doing a late night local show moves to mornings on WNEW an FM Talker that used to employee Fox Sports Radio's Steve Mason. Nice publicity stunt by KXTA this week to offer $5 million dollars to National Champ Miami and runner up Oregon if they would have played a one-time winner take all game. Problem is half the Miami team has already headed to the NFL Draft. Another problem, the NCAA wouldn't ever go for it. What the hell, though, all it cost the station was a cheap insurance policy. They should have offered $10 Million heck $100 million they still wouldn't have played!  Now a message from our sponsors... A friendly reminder to listen to my radio show this weekend on your local Fox Sports Radio station. It's me along with Bob Page at the Fox Sports Update desk from 5am till 8am(est) Saturday morning. Sunday morning from 4am till 7am I'll be back again. (Heard coast-to-coast) Sunday night, listen to my show from 10pm till 2am along with Jason Smith on your local Fox Sports radio station. (Heard coast-to-coast and around the world.) Ben Maller Trivia Question of the Week Answer: The Denver Nuggets will not appear in any of the NBA's national television broadcasts this season. Said former Laker guard Nick Van Exel: "They put other teams on that did worse than we did last year. But that's the NBA. They have that great marketing plan." Big Ben Maller's Five Star NFL Wild Card Weekend Pick   N.Y. Jets (10-6) at Oakland Raiders (10-6) The Line: Raiders -4 Ben's Pick: Silver and Black -4 Did You Know? Raiders have won AFC-high 22 playoff games. Did You Know 2? Raiders have not lost a playoff game in Oakland since 24-13 loss to Pittsburgh in 1974 AFC Championship game. Win and: If the Jets win, they'll travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers on Jan. 20 for the right to move on to the AFC championship game. The Raiders, who are the third seed, would take on the New England Patriots on Jan. 19 if they defeat the Jets. Last Meeting: Last Week - Jets beat Raiders 24-22. John Hall made 53-yard FG with :59 remaining for victory. Big Ben's Breakdown: This is a simple bet, taking history and running to the sports book. Looking at the numbers--the Jets are in trouble. Of the four teams that won both the last game of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs against the same team, none have won both on the road. To make matters worse, no sixth-seeded team, which the Jets are, has reached the AFC championship game. The Raiders outplayed the Jets last week and if it had not been for a missed field goal and a missed pass they would have beaten New York. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is expected to play this week. Oakland's offense has struggled of late, averaging 13.3 points in three games before scoring 22 Sunday. I just can't bet on Vinny Testaverde in a playoff game. The guy is like Jim Everett used to be with the Rams. BenMaller.com Final Score: Raiders 26, Jets 20 Other NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks: Eagles -3 vs. Buccaneers, San Francisco +4 at Green Bay. Miami -2 1/2 vs. Baltimore. permalink
It's Official Fred Roggin is Bad Thanks to everyone that voted even those in the KNBC 4 Sports Department who stuffed the "ballot box"!
permalink Thursday, January 10, 2002
BENMALLER.COM's 10 WORST DRESSED SPORTS TEAMS In Honor of Mr. Blackwell's worst dress list. .10) Houston Rockets - Pajamas .9) Arizona State Sun Devils - Yellow and Brown? No Thanks .8) Anaheim Angels - They copied the Texas Rangers .7) San Diego State Aztecs - What a mess .6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bring back the Orange and White! .5) Iowa State Cyclones - Yellow and Red Mess .4) Tampa Bay Devil Rays - They play as their uniforms look, like crap. .3) Denver Broncos - Bring back the classic old look .2) BYU Cougars - New Wave, just ugly. .1) San Francisco Giants - Orange, Black, Brown the colors of vomit. permalink Wednesday, January 09, 2002
THE BENMALLER.COM SPORTS QUOTE HALL OF FAME Timeless sports wisdom "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes." -Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." - Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann 1996 "You guys line up alphabetically by height." - Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." - Bill Peterson again "If the NBA were on channel 5 and a bunch of frogs making love were on channel 4, I'd watch the frogs, even if they were coming in fuzzy." Bobby Knight, Coach at Indiana Clemson recruit Ray Forsythe, who was ineligible as a freshman because of academic requirements: "I play football. I'm not trying to be a professor. The tests don't seem to make sense to me, measuring your brain on stuff I haven't been through in school." Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson hooking up again with promoter Don King: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton." Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes." Shaquille O'Neal on whether he had visited the Parthenon during his visit to Greece: "I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to." Shaquille O'Neal, on his lack of championships: "I've won at every level, except college and pro." Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is." "The NFL, like life, is full of idiots." Randy Cross of CBS Sports "Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many players on the field" Jim Boulton "Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck." Don Schula Dolphins' coach "Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up." Muhammad Ali, boxer "If you're not going to ask an intelligent question then get out!!" -Matt Williams, Diamondbacks 3rd Baseman when asked by Ben Maller if Chan Ho Park was a dirty player. "It's all about wins and losses, wins and motherf***ing losses" -Tony Phillips, Angels leftfielder during the collapse of 1995. "I believe salaries are at their peak, not just in baseball, but all sports. It's quite possible some owners will trade away, or even drop entirely, players who expect $200,000 salaries. There's a superstar born every year... But still there is no way clubs can continue to increase salaries to the level some players are talking about." Peter O'Malley, 1971. "I am the most loyal player money can buy." Don Sutton, Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and California Angels "I knew June was Pedro [Guerrero]'s favorite month, so I told him that in the U.S., June had sixty days. I'd see him in July and say, 'Well, Pedro, it's June 52 and I see you're still hot.'" Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda, after Pedro Guerrero hit 15 home runs in June and .460 in July "The only way I'm going to get a Gold Glove is with a can of spray paint." Reggie Jackson "All ballplayers should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill." Babe Ruth "When I was a small boy in Kansas, a friend of mine and I went fishing. I told him I wanted to be a real Major League baseball player, a genuine professional like Honus Wagner. My friend said that he'd like to be President of the United States. Neither of us got our wish." Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the USA 1992- Pat Williams, Orlando Magic general manager, on his team's 7-27 record: "We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play." 1982 - Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt." 1981 - Tommy Lasorda, Dodger manager, when asked what terms Mexican-born pitching sensation Fernando Valenzuela might settle for in his upcoming contract negotiations: "He wants Texas back." 1966 - Darrell Royal, Texas football coach, asked if the abnormal number of Longhorn injuries that season resulted from poor physical conditioning: "One player was lost because he broke his nose. How do you go about getting a nose in condition for football?" 1981 - Mike McCormack, coach of the hapless Baltimore Colts after the team's co-captain, offensive guard Robert Pratt, pulled a hamstring running onto the field for the coin toss against St. Louis: "I'm going to send the injured reserve players out for the toss next time." 1991 -Steve Spurrier, Florida football coach, telling Gator fans that a fire at Auburn's football dorm had destroyed 20 books: "But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet." 1986 - Jim Finks, New Orleans Saints G.M., when asked after a loss what he thought of the refs: "I'm not allowed to comment on lousy officiating." 1991 - NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki, on racing Saturday nights as opposed to Sunday afternoons: "It's basically the same, just darker." 1991 - Jim Colletto, Purdue football coach and former assistant at Arizona State and Ohio State, on his 11-year-old son's reaction after he took the job with the Boilermakers: "He said: 'Gosh, Dad, that mean's we're not going to any more bowl games." 1986 - LaVell Edwards, BYU football coach and one of 14 children: "They can't fire me because my family buys too many tickets." 1991 - Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.' " 1991 - Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings." 1987 - Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject." The key to bad teams: Peter Principle: The theory that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent. Click Here for the latest news on the Dodgers and Angels permalink Monday, January 07, 2002
Big Ben's Weekend Wrap
By Ben Maller Commissioner Paul Tagliabue should take that bogus sack away from Michael Strahan of the New York Giants. Brett Favre of the Packers rolled over with 2:42 to play to give Strahan his 22nd sack and a new record, breaking Mark Gastineau's record from 1984. Strahan did not earn the final sack and it would be a crime if the record was allowed to stand.  The Oakland Faiders are making me look like a complete Jackass. The Faiders have lost 4-of-6 to end the season. To make matters worse, their loss to the Jets allowed New York to make the playoffs and made me sing on 120 radio stations coast-to-coast.  Hats off to Marshall Faulk of the Rams who has had the greatest four year run of any running back in NFL History. Faulk became the first player in NFL history with 2,000 yards from scrimmage four years in a row. The Rams Traveling Circus became the first in league history to score 500 points in a season three consecutive years.  Rams QB Kurt Warner just wrapped up the 2nd greatest season in NFL history. Warner finished with 4,830 yards passing, second only to Dan Marino's 5,084-yard season in 1984 with the Dolphins. BenMaller.com NFL Trivia Question of the Week: If the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Minnesota Vikings tonight then both teams from last year's Super Bowl will have not qualified for the playoffs. When was the last time this happened? Kordell Stewart has thrown 6 interceptions in his last two games against the Browns and Bengals. Not a good sign for the Steelers as they enter the playoffs. Emmitt Smith of the Cowboys became the first NFL running back to gain 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons. Smith is closing in on Walter Payton's NFL Record. Career Rushing Totals: Emmitt Smith 16,187 yards Walter Payton 16,726 yards Priest Holmes, of Kansas City, was the best free agent pick up in years. Holmes won a close NFL rushing race with Curtis Martin of the Jets. Holmes broke the Chiefs' franchise record mark of 1,480 set by Christian Okoye when he won the 1989 league rushing crown. Rod Smith of Denver edged Jimmy Smith of Jacksonville 113-112 for most receptions in the NFL. David Boston of the Cardinals is heading to the Pro Bowl after finishing with the NFL lead in receiving yards with 1,598 yards. Three Rookie Stars Hats off to Colts rookie running back Dominic Rhodes who finished the season with 1,104 yards and became the first undrafted rookie in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Bengals' rookie DE Justin Smith sacked Tennessee QB Steve McNair, giving him 8 1/2 sacks for the season and the Cincinnati rookie record. Cleveland S Anthony Henry intercepted his 10th pass of the season, one short of the NFL record set by Everson Walls in 1981 No team in the NFL rolled over more than the New Orleans Saints who finished the season with four straight losses, and the Saints gave up an average of 40 points in those games. New Orleans also was outscored 78-0 over their last seven quarters of action. The Bengals started the season 2-0 then went 2-10 and finished the season 2-0 for a 6-10 record their best since 1994. Something to keep in mind next season... The Raiders have not lost a regular-season game by more than 10 points since a 44-21 setback at Buffalo on Dec. 13, 1998, a span of 48 games. It's amazing how great those Chicago Bears' uniforms look now that they are NFC Central champs again. Keith Traylor is the new Fridge for Chicago. The New England Patriots are looking better and better to win in the AFC playoffs. Don't tell the 49ers but the Green Bay Packers have never lost a home playoff game played at Lambeau Field. Since winning back-to-back Super Bowls, the Denver Broncos have gone 25-and-23. Big Ben's Three Game Balls 3.) Jeff Garcia, 49ers, threw four touchdown passes, two of them to Terrell Owens in a rout of the Saints. 2.) Marshall Faulk, Rams, gained 226 yards rushing and receiving and scored a touchdown in St. Louis win against Atlanta. 1.) Keith Traylor, Bears, 350-Pound defensive tackle, set up a third-quarter touchdown with a 67-yard interception return against Jacksonville. The Carolina Panthers set an NFL record with their 15th straight loss. It's the first time a team has lost 15 consecutive games in one season. The Patriots have limited the opposition to 17 or fewer points in six straight games and 11-of-16 contests in '01.  Seahawks QB Trent Dilfer has won his last 15 starts. Big Ben's Three Bums 3.) Brian Griese, Broncos was intercepted four times and was sacked five times against Jim Mora's Colts. 2.) TIE Aaron Brooks, Saints threw four interceptions and Ricky Williams fumbled three times. 1.) Rich Gannon, Raiders, missed a wide open Roland Williams with a pass that would have resulted in a touchdown. Instead it allowed the Jets to get the ball back and kick a game winning field goal. BenMaller.com NFL Trivia Question of the Week Answer: 1999 with the Denver Broncos who went 6-10 and the Atlanta Falcons who went 5-11 NFL Stat of the Week: Since 1997, the worst five teams in the NFL: 1.) Browns .255, 2.) Chargers .288, 3.) Bengals .291, 4.) Panthers .342, 5.) Cardinals .367 Random Weekend Thoughts... Mike Shannahan is now a legitimate candidate for the Florida coaching job. I still think Bob Stoops will end up with the Gators. Reggie Sanders signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. Sanders hit 33 Homers for the D'Backs last season he is due for a bad year. Juan Gonzalez has had a change of heart and now wants to return to the Texas Rangers if they raise their offer. The Anaheim Angels will show off their new 2002 logo at a Wednesday news conference. You saw the logo here first.  Duke's loss to Florida State Sunday night ended their 22-game winning streak. That loss would have been a big story had it not come late on an NFL Sunday. The Latest LA Sports-Talk radio mistake gets started today. Click Here For Details permalink |
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