Golf Stars

Syracuse alum Mike Tirico made an interesting and we think accurate point on ESPN radio the other day when he said that the Ryder Cup, staged last week in Kentucky, did more to introduce the current crop of young American golf stars to the sporting public in a week than the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs has done in three years. The Clarion is a long standing opponent of faux playoffs in sports that never had them. (NASCAR are you listening?)

Golf is not a sport that should have a playoff. It is a frivolous and foolish attempt to raise 'excitement' (by which the powers that be mean dollars.) The golf calendar has been for some time and continues to be shaped by the four majors. The Player of the Year in golf is not the equivalent of the Most Valuable Player in other sports. Golf is an individual sport and in fact, the player of the year is more equivalent to the title holder or champion in team sports. Both start again from scratch, they have to prove it all over again next year. To Tirico's point, it is oh so obvious when comparing the effects of real, organically generated enthusiasm: the United States win in the Ryder Cup, and faux advertising dollar driven enthusiasm: the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs.


Side note: Says here that Sooner Anthony Kim (who kicked Sergio's lily-livered behind in the Ryder Cup singles last week) will be one of the top Tiger major championship foils in the years to come.

Baseball thoughts

A few quick baseball notes as another regular season comes to a close, perhaps the first regular season in what will come to be thought of as the post-steroid era. It was a wonderful and memorable regular season in many ways. The baseball regular season used to be the gem of American sports. The World Series was an interesting duel to the death after the climax for the real survivors. The '51 Giants won the pennant, not the World Series. The '64 Phils didn't have the Wild Card to bail them out and the legendary curses of the Cubs and Red Sox were built on their inability to even get to the post season for decades of futility.

This regular season hasn't been quite legendary, but it has been notable for a number of reasons: the Rays breaking through and making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the Cubs season long domination of the Central and their fans hopes of finally breaking the curse, the irony of the Dodgers rise in the West behind Manny Ramirez and Joe Torre. On the individual performance side, the remarkable future Hall of Famer, Ichiro Suziki had his 8th straight 200 hit season since coming to America. Despite the Mariners horrific train wreck season, Ichiro got his hits and now has 16 straight 200 hit seasons included his Japanese League experience. And how about the Twins Joe Mauer trying to win a second batting title as a catcher! He's already the only A.L. catcher to win a batting title in the last fifty years. The only other two time batting champion as a catcher is legendary Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi, who caught Johnny Van Deer Meer's back-to-back no hitters, and led the Cincinnati Reds to the 1940 World Series title.

Finally, the Clarion is oh so glad to look at the list of home run leaders for the majors this year and only see one number over 40. Sanity and the glory of George Foster restored.

Poor Milwaukee

Don't worry Cubs fans, we'll get to you. Your heartbreak is still a few weeks away.

Right now, it is poor Milwaukee. The same old Brewers, darn if it isn't September, and the Brewers are fading fast, while Ben Sheets is sidelined with injuries. It is amazing to watch and sad for Brewers fans, they drew over 3 million this year. They get C.C. Sabbathia at the trading deadline, and he is phenomenal, dominant, so good, that people are talking about whether he can win the Cy Young Award in only half a season. But here it is, the stretch run and the Brewers are stumbling anyway, losing 13 of 17, firing their manager with 12 games to go. (The Clarion doesn't blame them for that move. They had to try something, and Ned Yost contributed mightily to the collapse last year by coming unglued down the stretch.) Yesterday's loss was the worst, up four runs with two out and nobody on in the 9th, they gave up four and lost to the Cubbies in twelve innings. Brutal. The Clarion has no sympathy for the franchise, which hasn't sniffed the playoffs since 1982. We loathe former Brewers head and evil commissioner Bud Selig for what he subjected the game to during his reign.

But for the pained Brewers fans to once again have it snatched from their grasp! At least Cubs fans know failure and defeat are their birth right. Milwaukee can't even claim to be the leader in that, Cleveland and Philadelphia have been deprived of major sports championships for longer stretches.

NFC North Preview

Technical complications and various other malfeasance kept the Clarion from keeping the promise we made to you two weeks regarding our NFL Preview and NFL picks. A loyal reader reminded the editor that we failed to complete our NFL picks on a timely basis last year, too. Then again, we had the Panthers in the Super Bowl last year and NY Giants missing the playoffs, so maybe making our picks late isn't enough to help the Clarion. Maybe if we would just wait a couple more weeks...




In the NFC North...

1st Place

Chicago Bears

We still can't bring ourselves to pick the Packers. Do we like Kyle Orton better than Aaron Rodgers? Forte better than Ryan Grant? It would be generous to give the Bears a push at those two skill positions. The argument starts with we like the Bears defense better. Furthermore, this is a typical post-parity NFL division where any team can beat any other on a given Sunday. We believe when it comes down to December Kyle Orton's experience during the Bears Super Bowl run two years ago will be the difference. The Bears will ask him to do less than the Packers ask Rodgers to do. At least 9 wins.

2nd Place

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has looked awfully good for the first two games. The Packers have won two divisional games, but somehow our gut feeling says there is struggle and strife ahead in Green Bay. We like their corners Charles Woodson and Al Harris a lot less than most of the experts. When we look closely at the Packers corners we are reminded of the legendary Elvis "Toast" Patterson, who made some glitzy plays, like Harris and Woodson, but earned his moniker more frequently. The Packers front seven on defense are tough, led by defensive end Aaron Kampman and linebackers Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk. They could easily win this mediocre division, but it says here that a tough November-December stretch that includes games at New Orleans, Jacksonville and the Bears, plus home tilts with Carolina and Houston keeps the Pack on the outside of NFC playoffs looking in, at least 8 wins.

3rd Place

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are not as bad as the Lions, but on any given week as sketchy as their quarterback situation is, a casual observer could be easily fooled. Adrian Peterson cannot be expected to shoulder the load alone, remember he was considered injury prone at Oklahoma in college. Gus Frerotte is an unlikely savior. The Clarion has more confidence in the future success of 3rd string former USC'er John David Booty than we do either Frerotte or the overwhelmed Tavaris Jackson. The Vikings defense will get demoralized about halfway through the season as they realize just how one dimensional and putrid the offense is. At most 7 wins. (Which is not to say they won't beat the Panthers this weekend.)

4th Place

Detroit Lions

Jon Kitna is a decent quarterback, although in light of his Halloween costume last year, perhaps a bit of a nut job. Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson and Mike Furrey are good wide receivers. Unfortunately, beyond that, the cupboard is pretty bare. It is mind boggling that Lions President Matt Millen still has his job. His record to date is a staggering 31 up and 83 down. The Clarion keeps hearing Detroit is a good football town. Having lived through, first, the Barry Sanders era and now the Matt Millen era, we can honestly say the Lions have sucked for so long that we have no idea if that claim is true or not.

Aaron Rodgers

Saw this interesting note in the USA Today, despite Aaron Rodgers' terrific start in his first two games as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, and as the replacement for future Hall of Famer Brett Farve, all may not be roses yet.

According to USA Today football columnist, Jarrett Bell, Rodgers is the first Green Bay quarterback to start 2 and 0, other than Farve, since Scott Hunter in 1971. Who is Scott Hunter you ask. And why is this a sign that the future may not be oh so rosy in Green Bay? Scott Hunter replaced a Hall of Fame quarterback, too, this one was a multiple Super Bowl winner, you might have recognized his picture above, Bart Starr. Hunter was out of Green Bay within three years without ever having led them to the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl.

Baseball notes

A couple of baseball quickies the Clarion heard or noticed in the last week; one we liked, one we loathed, and one that is transcendentally more important than our opinions.

The one we liked was Matt Holliday talking about playing in Fenway Park. Holliday felt like it was substantially better to play in Fenway than any road stadium of his career. He cited the difference between the Boston atmosphere and the atmosphere almost anywhere else with uncanny accuracy. As Peter Gammons related the story, Holliday said the key was in almost every other ballpark fans reacted to the action with their cheering and booing, whereas in Fenway fans anticipated the action with their sound. The comparison is hardly the same, the anticipation keeps the players on edge creating a playoff like atmosphere every game.

The one we loathed was Peter Gammons in the same radio interview waxing on about the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays knowing they were for real because of how good their run differential was. What? Talk about a meaningless stat!!! Run differential couldn't be less important, games count the same 1-0 or 15-1. It is our belief that Gammons was swayed by the fact that the Mothership started carrying run differential in their standings page. Come on Peter, you're better than that. Don't be fooled. (Just like last season in the NL where run differential signified little about who even made the playoffs, run differential is wrong again this year.)

The third one is a charitable cause, strikeoutsfortroops.org This is a charity started by the San Francisco Giants lefty pitcher, Barry Zito. It has given over a million dollars to wounded war veterans since its establishment. It is highly rated for its proper allocation of funds to the cause rather than overhead. It came to the Clarion's notice on September 11th when Zito was on the Jim Rome radio program discussing that USAA had agreed to make a $500 donation for every strikeout in the major leagues that day. The Clarion believes in the collective obligation of all American citizens to wounded war veterans.

Just desserts

For the first time in thirteen years, it has become apparent that the New York Yankees are going to miss the playoffs. The curse of the A-Rod continues.

Loyal readers know that the Clarion strongly opposed the re-signing of Alex Rodriguez and the firing of Joe Torre. It has long been our view that A-Rod is a me guy, who comes up big at the smallest moments and small at the biggest moments. His teams have never won. Clearly, the manager matters less than the every day clean-up hitter, but keeping A-Rod, and losing Torre were two huge mistakes. To complete the these things happen in threes short-sighted trifecta, the Yanks, fixing what wasn't broken, moved likely future ace closer, Joba Chamberlain, to the starting rotation, and from there, rapidly to the disabled list. Hopefully, they haven't irreparably injured his career. Surely, they have derailed his progress, while messing with his confidence and his state of mind.

The Clarion appreciates the irony of Joe Torre's surging Los Angeles Dodgers led by the inimitable Manny Ramirez making the playoffs while the the Yankees miss out. The Dodgers aren't there yet, but the Yanks are toast.

NFC East preview

It is hardly fair to call the tiny capsules we are going to do this year a preview, but we wanted to go on record with our NFL picks before the season started. The first game in recent years has been on a Thursday, this year is no different. It involves two NFC East foes, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants and the Washington Redskins under first year coach Jim Zorn. The Giants were a shocking revelation to the Clarion last year. We predicted against them the whole way. This year brings nothing different. Without further adieu then, our NFC East picks.

1st place

Dallas Cowboys

We like Tony Romo. We are unconcerned about the so-called Jessica Simpson curse. T.O. is a super talent on the field. Besides Owens the receiver corps is thin, but the running back stable is full. Bruiser Marion Barber III is ably backed by the rookie phenom Felix Jones. Their superb defensive line is good enough to make their linebackers and secondary appear almost Pro Bowl caliber. Over 10 wins.

2nd place

Philadelphia Eagles

Here at the Clarion, we love Donovan McNabb and we don't really care what anyone thinks about it. If the Eagles had ever, ever gotten the guy any wide receivers, he'd of brought them a couple of Lombardi trophies by now. The one year they gave him T.O., the only legit number one, let alone Pro Bowler that McNabb has ever played with, Donovan got them all the way to the Super Bowl. Brian Westbrook is a terrific back, running and receiving. Andy Reid is good coach, the defense is solid. Over 9 wins.

3rd place

Washington Redskins

Jason Campbell, this is it. This is the year for Redskins QB, Jason Campbell to breakthrough. He quarterbacked an Auburn squad, on probation, through an undefeated SEC season, which was the last time that has been done. The Clarion has always believed in him as a leader. He has the savvy, the composure and the arm strength to be a good NFL starter. It helps to have Clinton Portis in the backfield and Santana Moss and Antwan Randle-El split wide. Folks are worried about first year coach Jim Zorn, but the ancient editors at the Clarion's desk have confidence in Zorn dating all the way back to the Steve Largent era Seahawks. Zorn is a sharp football mind, given time he'll be fine. If it all comes together on the defensive side of the ball, especially with the addition of defensive end Jason Taylor, the Skins could make it three NFC East playoff teams. The Clarion predicts at least 8 wins.

4th place

New York Giants

The Giants fans should delight in this prediction, if only because predictions of success by the Clarion are the kiss of death for sports franchises. Still it is hard to love the Giants when they lost both of their starting defensive ends from last year, Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to injury. Worse they let underrated linebacker Kawika Mitchell depart via free agency. On the offensive side of the ball the Clarion has never been a fan of Eli Manning. (One David Tyree miracle catch from 0-1 in the Super Bowl.) Nor have we ever thought much of Plastic-o Burress, the Giants number one wideout. Amani Toomer is finishing a borderline Hall of Fame career, but he has to get old sometime. Says here that the Giants win around 7 games this year.

The rest of our NFL preview will be in the Clarion Sports section later this week.

Yankee ticket prices

In perhaps not the most well timed announcement, although as the inevitable becomes more and more clear, perhaps there really was no good time, the Yankees announced next season's ticket prices in the new ballpark yesterday.

They range from the scandalous, the first nine rows behind the home plate cost between $500 and $2,500, to the merely outrageous, "Field level seats" will go for from $75 to $325, the "main level" from $40 to $100 and the best seats in the front part of left and right field will be $75 to $100. There are a few seats in the barely palatable price range, "upper decks seats" from $20 to $65 and a few more in the best of luck category, nine sections of bleacher seats for $12.

At least these ticket prices will help the Yanks pay to keep A-Rod in town. If you're scoring at home, a pair of $2,500 seats behind home plate would be $405,000 for season tickets.

Special thanks to the New York Times for the assist on this one.