Fernandomania Gets Rookie of the Year

Today, in 1981, Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela won National League Rookie of the Year honors. The award didn't just cap a great year for the hurler. It capped the first season of Fernandomania.

Fernandomania was voted by the LA Times as one of the top 10 moments in Los Angelos sports history in 2011. It began on April 9, 1981. Dodgers hurler Fernando Valenzuela was getting the start on Opening Day.

Not many in the L.A. area knew what to make of the 20-year old Mexican pitcher. Nevertheless, Valenzuela showed he belonged as a Dodger starter. That Opening Day start ended in a 2-0 shutout of the Houston Astros.

The win over the Astros started what would soon be known as Fernandomania. Valenzuela pitched his way to an 8-0 record to start the season. During that span, the pitcher had pitched five shutouts and had an earned run average of 0.50.

His dominance on the mound won the hearts of Dodger fans. That love would grow, as he helped L.A. win their first World Series since '65 that season, pitching and getting the win in Game 3 against the Yankees.

Valenzuela's effort would land him the 1981 Rookie of the Year award. He pitched for the Dodgers until 1987. In 1997, he decided to retire. However, 31 years after the fact, Fernandomania is still engrained in the minds of Dodgers fans.

Sources:
Photo-http://www.truebluela.com/2009/4/25/853146/remembering-fernando-valenzuelas
http://www.todayinsport.com/day/december/2
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/12/las-greatest-sports-moments-no-9-fernandomania.html
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/1981-schedule-scores.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valenfe01.shtml

Beasts of the East

Today, in 1966, the Washington Redskins displayed the greatest showing of offensive talent in NFL History. Today, on November 27th, 1966, the Washington Redskins defeated the New York Giants by a final score of 72-41. This set the record for most points scored in one game.

Going in to the contest, the game didn't seem very important. Washington came into the contest at 6-6 on the season. The Giants were even worse, with a dismal 1-9-1 record. Little did the fans flocking to District of Columbia Stadium know that they're about to see history.

Redskin running back A.D. Whitfield stole the show early, scoring the game's first two touchdowns, a 5 yard touchdown catch and a touchdown run of 63 yards, to put Washington up 13-0 after the first quarter.

The Redskins would score three more touchdowns in the second quarter and twice more in the third. Most teams would slow up in the fourth period in such a one-sided affair. But the Redskins are not most teams. Washington scored 24 points in the final quarter, 14 points coming off of a punt return and an interception return.

The Giants effort was not to be forgotten either An interesting fact about this game was that the Giants actually had more yards offensively than the Redskins, the Giants with 389, the Redskins with 341 yards. New York was plagued by six turnovers in the game.

The 72 points scored by Washington still stands as the record for most points scored in a regular season game. The Redskins are also involved in the record for most points in a postseason game, giving up 73 points to the Chicago Bears in a playoff shutout.

The Redskins and Giants play this coming Monday. While the likelihood of either team breaking 70 is very slim, with both teams having defenses near the bottom of the NFL, fans may be in store for another shootout.

Sources-
Photo: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/628431-braves-on-the-warpath-the-25-greatest-games-in-washington-redskins-history/page/17
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1966.htm
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196611270was.htm
http://www.todayinsport.com/day/november/27
http://www.nfl.com/history
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&statisticCategory=TOTAL_YARDS&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2012&seasonType=REG

Happy? Birthday NHL

It's the National Hockey league's birthday, but I'm not sure it's going to be a very happy one. The league is currently on day 72 of their lockout and there appears to be no end in sight.

The NHL was founded on November 26, 1917, making today it's 95th birthday. So far 422 regular season games, the winter classic and the all-star game are cancelled, which leads me to wonder if the NHL will make it the five years it needs to have its name read as a Smucker's birthday or will it even make it through the 95th year?

Like most professional sports lockouts, this one is no different. The collective bargaining agreement expired and now the players association is in a bitter dispute with commissioner Gary Bettman. The root of the debate lies in the root of most disputes ... money.

However, some are now placing the blame solely on Bettman. This is the league's third lockout since Bettman took the reins 19 years ago.

But, regardless of the Twitter threats and name calling, is Bettman really to blame? Or is the problem bigger than one man? The sad truth is, unless a commissioner puts a quick and painless end to a lockout, it will always be his fault no matter what. The fans love to make a scapegoat of a commissioner. The commissioner is nothing more than a greedy, money hungry suit in the eyes of the fans. They have no personal connection to him. And, when it comes down to it, who are you going to side with, your favorite player or a man associated with a faceless corporation?

That's both the beauty and the beast of sports. We have allegiances. Each week we open our homes and our hearts to our favorite players. Whether it be on our television screens or the jerseys in our closets or the posters on our wall. We really don't associate with the man in charge. I can guarantee you there is not a large number of kids who have Gary Bettman posters hanging on their walls right now. We aspire to be like our heroes, not the man who pays them.

So, in the case of a lockout that has resulted in half a season being cancelled, of course we're going to point fingers at the guy in charge. We'll stand behind our favorite players until the end. But, maybe we should put ourselves in the other guy's shoes. He's got a lot more to answer to. He's got stock holders and journalists and media companies and advertisers to please.

In a war between the suits and the jerseys there can be no real winner, just a lot of compromise. And, on this 95th birthday of the NHL let's all hope they get a big box of compromise. 

Sources:
CBS Sports: Eye on Hockey http://goo.gl/zVwE8
Wikipedia: 2012 NHL lockout http://goo.gl/Uh42m

Malice at the Palace: Pistons/Pacers Brawl

The date: November 19, 2004

The Location: The Palace at Auburn Hills

The Reason: Showdown between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were the defending champion. The Pacers had a better record.

The Result: "The Malice at the Palace" It started as a fight between two players during the final minute of the game. Things turned ugly, however, when a fan threw a drink at Pacers player Ron Artest. Artest climbed into the stands and thus the brawl between players and fans was underway. At the end of the brawl 9 players had been suspended, 5 players had been charged with assault and 5 fans faced criminal charges and were banned from attending games from life.

The game not only changed basketball history but also the policies and rules for spectators. Following the brawl the league re-evaluated their alcohol policies and league commissioner, David Stern, vowed to impose lifetime, league wide bans on fans who cause trouble.

So the question stands, would stricter alcohol rules really have prevented the brawl? Probably not. Sporting venues already have alcohol rules. They try to limit serving as best they can. They stop serving as the game comes to a close. Ushers are constantly on the lookout for intoxicated, rowdy fans. Despite these policies, though, alcohol is a part of sports culture. As long as an adult is over the age of 21 there is nothing to keep him or her from enjoying an alcoholic beverage inside the confines of the stadium. While we can hope they'll be responsible for knowing their limits, that isn't always the case.

 Most people blame the lower inhibitions caused by alcohol as the reason behind the fan throwing a cup at Artest. So, if the stadium had done more to limit his alcohol intake or if he had stopped after two beers, would the brawl still occur? It may not have occurred as quickly, but the allegiance to a team or a player may have caused adrenaline charged fans to get involved. Alcohol and adrenaline are powerful forces and when you combine them, you've got a chance of malice.

Sources:
Wikipedia: Pacers-Pistons brawl http://goo.gl/EaNjc
NBA Hoopedia: Pacers-Pistons brawl http://goo.gl/aTLjX

Pedal to the Metal: Land Speed Record

November 15, 1965 flew by for Craig Breedlove. The 28-year-old had just set the land speed record in the Utah desert by traveling 600.601 miles per hour. His car was named the Spirit of America and it was powered by a Navy jet engine.

To give you a frame of reference, 600 miles per hour is  ...

• 55 times faster than the average human can run
• 9 times faster than the fastest animal, the cheetah
• the same speed as a jet airliner

So pretty impressive, right? Well, yes but there's more to the story than just a guy driving his really fast car in the salt flats. No, the biggest part of the story is the determination Breedlove exhibited to break the record. Now, I'm not just talking about the work that went into creating a car that was able to reach that level.

The first person to ever break the 400 mph barrier was a guy named Craig Breedlove. In 1963, he powered his car, named the Spirit of America to victory. Yes, two years before Breedlove broke the land speed record, he broke the 400 mph barrier.

But, like all records, they can be easily broken. The current land speed record is 760.343 set in 1997 by Andy Green. So, it looks like Craig Breedlove is out of luck for the time being.

Or, is he? Breedlove is determined to keep breaking records. Recently, he's announced he will attempt to hold the record once again. His goal? 800 mph. The date? Fifty years after he broke his first land speed record. He plans to try again in 2013 at the same Utah salt flats he broke the second land speed record.

So, I think we can all agree. Breedlove is determined and fast runs in his blood.

Sources:
ESPN Radio: http://goo.gl/yHA2K
History.com: Craig Breedlove sets new land speed record http://goo.gl/RbVvT
Fox News: Craig Breedlove going for 800 mph http://goo.gl/LDscf
Wikipedia: Land Speed Record http://goo.gl/3bfN

Sid Luckman Has The Game of His Life

Today, in 1943, Chicago Bears quarterback Sid Luckman set an NFL record when he threw for seven touchdowns in one game. Against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds, Luckman was able to show signs of the success what would become of the NFL in years to come. The success of the forward pass. That's not to say that the forward pass was not used before Luckman's historic day. It was a part of professional football offenses. But to truely comprehend the impressiveness of Luckman's feat, it should be made known that outside of fellow Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh, no other quarterback in the league in '43 threw for more than 20 touchdowns. Only the top six passers in the league that season had as many or more touchdowns that season than Luckman had in that one game against the Giants. Also, take note that while other quarterbacks have throw for seven touchdowns in a game, but none since 1969. Which is also surprising, seeing as how the league has involved into more of a passing league over the years. Luckman played 11 seasons in professional football, all with Chicago. He finished his career with nearly 15,000 passing yards, with 137 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965. And there's no doubt that the game Luckman had in 1943 against the Giants played a big role in that induction. Sources: Photo- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Luckman http://www.todayinsport.com/day/november/14 http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=135&tab=Stats http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1943/passing.htm http://www.nfl.com/history

On Goal

Today, in 1963, Gordie Howe tied the lifetime goal record as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. The previous record was set at a mark of 544 by Rocket Richard. Howe would go on to shatter the record, scoring another 257 goals to end his career at 801 scores. Howe played 33 seasons of hockey, a majority of those with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. He won six MVP awards, as well as six scoring titles throughout the course of his career. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1972. He played in nearly 2500 games, before hanging up the skates in 1980, at the age of 51. Sources: Photo-http://www.hockeychump.com/2010/04/hockey-quote-gordie-howe.html http://www.todayinsport.com/day/november/11 http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014254.html http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/howego01.html

Magic Johnson HIV+ 21 years+

On this day in 1991, basketball legend Magic Johnson made an announcement that shocked the world.

He was HIV positive. He had a disease that many believe he was immune from. Most people thought HIV and the imminent disease AIDS was a disease "other people" got. It was considered to be a disease only gay men could contract. We now know this is not true, and that is mostly thanks to the advocacy and example Magic has set for the rest of humanity.

Magic Johnson has a deadly disease, but 21 years later, he is still alive. He is now 53 and runs a foundation in his name dedicated to HIV education and prevention.

HIV/AIDS is now manageable thanks to advancements in medicine. Yes, there are fights to be had and pills to take, but diagnosis is not the grim reaper knocking on the door.

The Centers for Disease control estimates that 50,000 new cases of HIV are diagnosed every year in the United States. 61% of these new infections will occur in gay and bisexual men. African American men and women are estimated to have HIV rates 8 times higher than whites. In 2010, 20-24 year olds had the highest diagnosis rate with a little more than 7,500 new cases.

According to the Mayo clinic, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS but there are a variety of medications that can be taken to control the disease. The Mayo clinic recommends patients combine at least 3 different drugs from two different classes. The classes each block the virus in a different way. There are currently 5 different medications.

Magic has not let his disease define him. He is currently keeping busy with Magic Johnson Enterprises that includes Starbucks franchises, reloadable debit cards, movie theaters in undeserved areas and urban development. He is also a basketball commentator.

World Aids Day is December 1, 2012.

Sources:
ABC News: Magic Johnson's HIV Announcement Resonates 21 years later. http://goo.gl/L0OCm
Biography.com: Magic Johnson http://goo.gl/46IXz
NBA on TNT http://goo.gl/h1zRJ
CDC: HIV Statistics http://goo.gl/ZH1C
Mayo Clinic: HIV/AIDS Treatment and Drugs http://goo.gl/DHO8N

Bringing the Heat

Today, in 1987, the National Basketball Association announced the addition of four franchises to the league. One of those franchises, the Miami Heat, have been one of the more successful teams since that time. The other franchises that were announced that day were Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Orlando Magic. Since the Miami Heat started play in 1988, they have made 16 playoff appearances, good enough for tenth best since that time in a 30-team NBA. Out of those 16 appearances, they have made it to the conference finals, the semi-final round of the NBA playoffs, five times. In the 23 seasons that have come and gone since the first NBA game tipped off in Southern Florida, just 8 different teams have won the title. The Heat are ranked fifth among those teams, claiming two titles. Those two titles were captured over the span of just seven years. To say the Miami Heat are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history would be jumping the gun. However, since coming into the league in 1988, a year after it was announced they would join the league, the Miami Heat have become an established force in the NBA. Sources- Photo: https://www.facebook.com/nba http://www.todayinsport.com/day/november/4 http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/miami/heat.html http://www.nba.com/history/finals/champions.html http://nbahoopsonline.com/History/Leagues/NBA/playoffs/teams.html

CBS: Can Buy Sports?

What do your favorite show and your favorite sports team have in common? They could be owned by the same company. For years, media companies purchased sports teams to save money on broadcasting rights.

Today is just one of those days. In 1964, CBS purchased the New York Yankees for $11.2 Million.

This trend is not uncommon. Today many sport teams are owned by large corporations, broadcast or otherwise.

Here's a current look at who owns who

• Atlanta Braves. The Braves are currently owned by Liberty Media. Prior to this sale in 2007 they were owned by Time Warner, and before that from 1976-1996 they were owned by Ted Turner (CNN, TBS)
• Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are currently owned by a company known as Fenway Sports Group. It is made up of investors such as John Henry, Tom Werner and The New York Times. 
• The Chicago cubs are  now back in private control, but from 1981-2009 they were owned by the Tribune company (known for owning several newspapers)
• The Los Angeles Angels are also back in private control, but they were owned by Disney from 1996-2003. 
• The 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers are owned by Comcast.
• The Texas Rangers weren't owned by a media company or even any kind of corporation, but fun fact, they were owned in part by George W. Bush from 1989-1998.

And with a list this extensive, it may be surprising to hear that some media companies are shying away from purchasing teams. In an interview with Forbes's Mike Ozanian in 2011, JP Morgan top sports banker Scott Milleisen broke down the reason behind it into four simple words. Companies can't manage teams. Many of these big media corporations found out the hard way they knew nothing about managing a sports team. When their teams started to do poorly, they all of a sudden had to answer tough questions from their shareholders.

This creates a conundrum in my mind. Is it better to have a team owned by someone local who has an allegiance to the team and to its fans? Or, do you allow a large, faceless corporation buy the team and benefit from the corporation's vast resources and capital? I say, why can't we have our cake and eat it too? Why not let a big company with a lot of resources buy the company and then just employ someone local to actually manage it and run it. The company could write the checks. It would be a win-win. The company gets the broadcasting rights it desires and the team is successful.

What do you think? Should companies be allowed to purchase sports teams? How do you feel about companies owning too much? Does the corporate world have too much control over our sports?  Let's keep this discussion going in the comments!

Sources:
Forbes: Media Companies No Longer Want to Own Sports Teams http://goo.gl/XNTeU
Wikipedia: List of Professional sports team owners http://goo.gl/n1icQ

"Behind the Bag!"

Today, in 1986, a play that would, and has, lived on through the years occured. Today, in 1986, Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner let a ground ball get through his legs in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 6 of the World Series. Now, those who are not savvy of the event I'm talking about might think why has this moment lived on for the last 26 years? First, you have know a little bit of the history of the Boston Red Sox. In 1920, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth, who helped the team win the 1918 World Series and now considered one of the best baseball players of all time, to the New York Yankees. What occurred over the next several decades was a tale in Boston futility. In what was known as "The Curse of the Bambino," ("The Great Bambino," being one of Ruth's nicknames) the Red Sox struggled to get back to prominence. They didn't make another World Series until 1946, a series they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. They would make a few more World Series before '86, but could never quite end the curse. However, '86 seemed to be the magic number. Up 3-2 in the best-of-seven World Series against the New York Mets, the Red Sox has a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 10th inning. Boston was three outs away from reversing the curse. The first two batters of the inning were retired without fail. Nevertheless, the Mets strung together three straight hits to load the bases, scoring a run in the process. After a pitch from Sox reliever Bob Stanley got past the catcher to score another run, the game was tied. The batter was left fielder Mookie Wilson. The pitcher was Bob Stanley. The Mets were down to their final strike, when Bill Buckner became a name that would live on forever. The Red Sox would lose Game 7 to the Mets, and lose the series. The Red Sox would eventually reverse the curse in 2004, sweeping the Cardinals to win their first title since 1918. But the Bill Buckner play still lives on. Sources- Photo- http://actornice.com/imgs/bill-buckner-01.html http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610250.shtml http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/03/22/the_curse_timeline/

Happy Birthday Soccer!

Happy 155th birthday to the game of soccer.

On October 24, 1857 the world's first team, the Sheffield Football Club was founded in England. The team is still alive and well today.

To help tell their story they put together a nice little video to commemorate the occasion. The birthday site, 1857-football.com also allows visitors to create and send their own soccer birthday card. I've included the video below.

 

 The game of soccer has roots almost 2,000 years old, but it didn't really take shape until the 1800s in England. The Sheffield Football Club helped to organize games that were already being played at grade schools and universities throughout the country. They created a set of organized rules and even pioneered the first crossbar, corner kick, free kick and throw-in.

 Sheffield is not only the first football club, they are also participants in the first football rivalry. In 1860, their closest rival Hallam was formed. Their rivalry began as a local derby and is still played today.

Today the Sheffield Football Club is managed by Curtis Woodhouse. They are currently ranked 20 out of 22, so let's hope they have more fun celebrating their birthday than their season. The club is comprised of a men's team and a women's team.

You can catch the team back in action on October 27th against Briggs Town.

Sources:
Sheffield Football Club http://goo.gl/iHCwb
1857-football.com
Wikipedia: Sheffield F.C. Season 2012-2013 http://goo.gl/UQ6Gd
Wikipedia: Sheffield F.C. http://goo.gl/cnTFn

Oh Canada ... Where are you in the World Series?

How does a baseball team from Washington help break a losing streak for a team from Canada? The answer is easy ... move your team to Washington.

On this day in 1981, the first Canadian pennant hopes were lost when the Dodgers beat the Montreal Expos in the deciding game of the National League Championship Series.

This series was the first and last time in franchise history the team would make it into the postseason.

The game was a nail bitter, too, just adding to the suspense of a season already shortened by a players-strike. The Dodgers and Expos had tied it 1-1 heading into the 9th inning of Game 5. L.A.'s Rick Monday hit the game winning home run and sent the Expos packing north. Since the game was played on a Monday and lost by a Monday, Expo fans have referred to this historic event as "Blue Monday."

It's been pretty blue for Canadian baseball fans. They haven't seen a team from their nation in the pennant race since 1993 when the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series.  The Blue Jays were a powerhouse in the early 90s winning 5 division titles and back to back world series in 1992 and 1993. Since then their Octobers have been quiet.

Ironically, the team that makes the world series extra "worldy" hardly ever makes an appearance in the contest.

So what accounts for the lack of Cannucks in the world series? Perhaps it could be the limited number of teams. The Montreal Expos don't play there anymore. As of now, it's only the Blue Jays, putting a lot of pressure on one team competing against some pretty stiff competition in the American League. Or, maybe it's because October baseball overlaps the more popular hockey season? What do you think is keeping Canada from making it to the series? I'd welcome you to leave your thoughts in the comments.

But, we still haven't answered the question of how a team from Washington can break a losing streak. Seven seasons ago the Montreal Expos moved to Washington D.C taking on the moniker, The Washington Nationals. This year, 2012, the Nationals won NL East division and headed to the postseason. This marked the first time since the 1981 appearance that the franchise (under any name) made it to postseason. The Nationals didn't make it past the Division series, but they successfully ended more than 30 years of post season drought.

So, if you're a Montreal Expos fan, this year isn't so blue.

Sources:
Total Pro Sports: Blue Monday http://goo.gl/HFOP9
National Pastime: Baseball History: October 9th  http://goo.gl/uwMnz
Wikipedia: World Series http://goo.gl/xrCTS
Wikipedia: Toronto Blue Jays http://goo.gl/0OJV8

The Loveable Losers

Today, in 2003, one of the most infamous moments in the history of the Chicago Cubs, and maybe even Major League Baseball, occurred at Wrigley Field on the south side of Chicago. Today, in 2003, one of the most famous foul balls in history was hit. It was a big day in the windy city. The Cubs led the 2003 NLCS three games to two. If they won Game 6 in Chicago, they would advance to their first World Series since 1945. Going to the World Series would have given the Cubs a shot to win their first world championship since 1908. But then, it happened. In the eighth inning, with one man out, Florida Marlins 2nd baseman Luis Castillo popped a fly ball to left field. As the ball neared the fans on the left field line, Cubs left fielder Moises Alou jumbed for the ball. He was obstructed by a fan by the name Steve Bartman. Alou shouted at the umpires, wanting fan interference. He wouldn't get the call. At the time, Cubs pitcher Mark Prior had pitched a shutout, the Cubs leading 3-0, and had only allowed three hits. After the Bartman play, the Marlins struck for 8 runs on 5 hits to blow the game open to an 8-3 Marlins lead. Despite lapses by the Cubs fielders, including a bobbled double play ball by Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez, the fans blamed Bartman for the bad inning. Eventually, Bartman, who was being booed and had various items thrown at him, had to be escourted from Wrigley Field. The Marlins went on to claim the NL pennant in Game 7, and won the World Series. The Bartman play received a great amount of attention, from fans heckling Bartman, to police parking outside his house for protection, to even prankster posing as Bartman going on ESPN to dupe the station. Fans even today still blame Steve Bartman for a play that will likely transcend time. The Cubs have not won a postseason game since the Steve Bartman play. The ball Bartman is said to have interfered with was later blown up and served in a sauce at a local restaurant. It was just the latest of a series of unfortunate events to happen to a baseball club known as the loveable losers, a moniker devoted to the teams futility in contending for a championship. Sources: Photo-http://newsone.com/1552335/steve-bartman-catching-hell-30-for-30/ http://espn.go.com/espn/espnfilms/story/_/page/catchinghell/catching-hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6NsWdRfgAk&feature=related http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200310140.shtml

Prime Performance

Today, in 1992, Deion Sanders, also known as "Primetime," played in a game for the Atlanta Falcons, who were taking on Miami, before getting on a plane headed to Pittsburgh for an National League Championship Series game between the Pirates and the Atlanta Braves. While Sanders never actually left the dugout for the Braves, had he played he would've been the first professional athlete in history to play two sports on the same day. While that feat has never been accomplished, there have been other high profile athletes to play both football and baseball professionally. They include: Bo Jackson- Raiders (NFL) and Royals (MLB) Jim Thorpe- Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians (NFL), Reds and Braves (MLB) Brian Jordan- Falcons (NFL), Braves and Cardinals (MLB) Ernie Nevers- Bears (NFL) and Browns (MLB) To excel in one sport is a great accomplishment. To excel in two sports is truly remarkable. Sources- Photo-http://www.baseballcardbust.com/2011/08/deion-sanders-1992-upper-deck.html http://www.todayinsport.com/day/october/11 http://ccsabathia52.com/2012/02/20/feb-20th-%E2%80%93-deion-sanders-a-salute-to-african-american-heroes/ http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8244673 http://askville.amazon.com/Sports-trivia-man-play-Major-League-Baseball-game-NFL-day/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=4728311 http://www.cmgww.com/sports/thorpe/bio/bio.html

Dirty Soxs: The Black Sox Scandal

It's one of the most notable events in baseball history. Filled with conspiracy, the Black Sox scandal is one of the darkest days of the sport.

Today in 1919 was the final game of the series in which the Cincinnati Reds took the pennant even though the full extent of the scandal wouldn't be known for almost a year.

The story is a complicated one. There are questions about who exactly was involved and how deeply they were involved. Most historians agree though the event was one of the most famous scandals.

It all started in 1919 during the World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds.   Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were accused of fixing the games and losing the series. Most will agree the catalyst was the disdain and anger over manager Charles Comiskey. Comiskey had a habit of underpaying players. He used language and loop holes in contracts to avoid paying players the full salary or bonuses they felt they were due. It was because of their dislike that they tried to lose the games in hopes of winning a large sum of money by betting on the Reds. They got some help from New York gangster Arnold Rothstein who gave money to help finance the scandal. In the end it was the large number of bets being placed on the Reds that blew the scandal wide open.

The eight players, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Claude "Lefty" Williams, Buck Weaver, Arnold "Chick" Gandil, Fred McMullin, Charles "Swede" Risberg and Oscar "Happy" Felsch were banned from professional baseball for life.

The incident exploded on newspapers across the country. The headlines were straight and to the point. Some were emotional and others broke the news with a sense of seriousness.

The New York Times:

The New York Times is know for grand, explosive headlines and this one takes the cake. The font size and length of the headline shows how big of a deal this issue was. For many fans it came out of nowhere and this headline brought the dark days into the light.







The headlines in hometown Chicago showed how serious the issue was but in a calmer less explosive manner than the New York Times. These come from the Chicago Evening Post.

This headline still has the traditional old news style of big, bold black text. It is the language, however, that sets it apart from the New York Times. The Times uses words like fixing and "Promises to run them out of baseball." This colorful language begs to be read with a sense of urgency. The Chicago Evening post, on the other hand, uses language that is typical, like confess and indict. This headline reduces the feeling of scandal.


This headline demonstrates the same as mentioned above. The headline is big and loud, but the words used are relatively calm. This is an article that would come well after the scandal originally broke. It would be the kind of story that people would be waiting for. The large, bold font tells readers that the paper finally has the information they've been waiting for. The language may not be colorful but the size of the font says we've got what you want.

This final headline uses more of the colorful language, but has a subdued font and text. The phrase "plot to buy world's series" implies a scandal. This paper has the inside story of a  conspiracy. And, who doesn't like a little gossip and conspiracy. This headline tries to draw in readers who are looking for this gossip. They have the inside story about the plot. The sub headline mentions a $100,000 ring which adds another layer to an already complicated and exciting story that gossip hounds will eat up.







The Black Sox Scandal may have been one of the biggest scandals in all of baseball. This assertion is only backed up with newspaper headlines from the times. While there hasn't been a scandal of this magnitude in the baseball world in a while, the way we report big stories hasn't changed a bit. A good scandal is good for the news world as I'm sure these newspapers found out. Journalism is the rough draft of history and it is these drafts that help us piece together a scandal from almost 100 years ago.

Sources:
New York Times Archive
Wikipedia. org: Black Sox Scandal http://goo.gl/hQBB1
Chicago Historical Society: Chicago Black Sox http://goo.gl/ZTZ6m
Chicago Historical Society Photo Archive

How Sweet it is

Today, in 1984, Walter Payton passed Jim Brown to take 1st place on the all-time rushing list. Payton, known as "Sweetness," had the New Orleans Saints in his way of the all-time record. And in typical Payton form, he did not disappoint. It was a blistery 62 degrees at Soldier Field on that October day. Payton needed just 66 yards to surpass Jim Brown. Brown's rushing mark sat at 12,312 yards. Payton didn't get those yards all at once however. Payton showcased his ability to earn the hard yards. Trailing 13-7 in the first half Walter Payton punched the ball in from a yard out to put the Bears up one going into intermission. He was just two yards shy of Brown. Then, in the 3rd quarter, it happened. Payton broke the record to surpass Brown. True to form, Payton, who was not known as an outspoken player, declined for the game to be stopped when he broke the record. The game, like Payton, just kept on going. Payton would go on to rush for 88 more yards, ending his day with 154 yards and a touchdown. It was the fifth consecutive game Payton rushed for over 100 yards, the fifth of nine times Payton surpassed the century mark in '84. Of course we all know what happens next. The Bears shuffled their way to a Super Bowl victory in '85. Payton would go on to be inducted into the hall of fame in 1993. Payton would later be surpassed on the all time list by Emmitt Smith in 2002. It was a record that stood for 18 years. While seven more running backs passed Brown's mark, Payton still remains second on the all-time list. Payton rushed for 16,726 yards through his career. A lot of great memories in that career, no doubt what occurred on October 7th, 1984 being one of the greatest. Sources Photo-http://plimptonmovie.com/paper-lion/jeff-pearlman-on-his-walter-payton-bio http://www.todayinsport.com/day/october/7 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198410070chi.htm http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PaytWa00/gamelog/1984/ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_career.htm http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122711/index.htm http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/31 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PaytWa00.htm http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/80

Finding a Place in the Replacement Game

We all have feelings about the replacement refs. Like them or hate them, the fact was they were in charge. While the seasoned, regular officials were on strike, these replacement referees had to step in. Team owners and league officials were not about to stop a lucrative season just because they couldn't agree with the refs on a contract. There was too much at stake. 

No matter how much we'd like to think sports are about the love of the game, the spirit of competition or the display of human physical strength, the reality is, they're about dollars and cents. They're about seats filled, tickets sold, advertisers and sponsors. And, when money is on the line, you have to do what it takes to keep the bank account happy. 

In 2012 we had to hire replacement officials to accomplish this and even though they may not have done a stellar job, there were still tickets sold and seats filled. Because, what's more important, seeing your favorite player or watching the ref? 

In 1987, however, it was a completely different story. The regular refs were there, it was the players that weren't! On October 4, 1987 replacement players played their first game in NFL history, shocking not only fans, but the regular players who were on strike. 

Teams stopped at no great lengths to find players to replace those on strike. They found them in grocery stores, bars, semi-pro teams and even prison camps. These players did not have the glitz and glammar we're used to seeing in the NFL. They were somewhere in between in their careers. Most of them had little money, but they had big dreams.  (1)

There is always an event that turns the tide in a lockout situation. In the recent replacement refs situation it was the missed call that changed the Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers. In the 1987 situation it was arguably the replacement players game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins replacement team came to Dallas and won despite constant ridicule. They showed they were capable of competing despite their lessened ability. 

In any situation, fans are always happy to see the regulars return to work. Whether it's the regular players or the regular refs. But, what about the replacements? What happens to them? The answer, we don't know. They return to their lives before the spotlight. They've earned a spot in history, but only time will tell how they're remembered. The 1987 lockout is remembered two ways. Some look back on it as the "scab" season. Replacement players who tried to take the place of the more seasoned professional players. Others view the season as a magical one filled with realized dreams and a second chance at glory. 

But, all things must come to an end. So, whether you're a replacement ref realizing your dream of calling a professional big league game or a replacement player who thought his chance was over, you're just a moment of history. 

Sources: 

(1) ESPN: NFL. 1987 NFL Replacements Part of History http://goo.gl/5p8sM

ESPN Radio: This Day in Sports History-October 4 http://goo.gl/cFBSW

NFL: Top Ten Biggest Upsets: The Replacements http://goo.gl/Vyrw5

Picture: Real Clear Sports.com

The Fall Becomes Classic

Today, in 1903, the beginning of one of the greatest fall traditions came to fruition. On October 1st, 1903, the first World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Pilgrims was played. In the nearly 11 decades since then, the World Series has became a must see event every fall. The World Series has a rich history. The New York Yankees have own the most World Series of any other baseball team, with 27 titles. The Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals have never won a title. In the course of history, 20 teams have won the World Series in a sweep, when a team wins every World Series game played that year. The team with the most sweeps? You guessed it, the Yankees. They've swept the World Series eight times. The 1978 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees was the highest rated championship round since the series began being televised in the 1960's. The Yankees, of course, emerged victorious. The "Fall Classic" has seen great individual performances as well. In the history of the series, Mickey Mantle has hit 18 home runs, followed closely by his Yankee teammate Babe Ruth, who has 15 homers in his World Series career. On the mound, pitching great Christy Mathewson has shutout his World Series opponent four times, while Lefty Gomez is the only pitcher to never lose a game in his World Series career. We also have moments that have lived on through the test of time. Bill Buckner's gaffe for the Red Sox in '86 comes immediately to mind, as well as Bob Gibson's home run to beat Oakland in the series. Heck, I'll throw in another Yankee moment, when Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks singled to center to give Arizona the series in dramatic fashion. The World Series has had, and seen it all. And it all began on this day, 109 years ago, with the Boston Pilgrams and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston won the series that year in eight conests. Sources for this article: Photo-http://www.iknowarailroad.net/nation/index.htm http://www.todayinsport.com/day/october/1 http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wssweeps.shtml http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1978ws.shtml http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wsmenu.shtml http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rb_ws1.shtml http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rb_ws4.shtml

Moon Marooned

Today, in 1985, the Dallas Cowboys sacked Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon 12 times. It tied the all-time record for most team sacks in one game and was just the 5th time in NFL history that a team had recorded that many sacks in a single contest. The Cowboys won the game 17-10. While the feat is rare, that day in September was the second time in franchise history that the Cowboys had brought the opposing quarterback down that many times in one afternoon. The Cowboys recorded 12 sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1966. Since that game in 1966, hundreds of NFL games have been played. And, as mentioned earlier, just five games in NFL history have featured 12 sacks. So for the same team to establish the sacks record and then later tie that record is remarkable. Diving in further, three players recorded two sacks in that game vs. Houston. Dallas defensive tackle John Dutton was one of them. In the entirety of the 1985 season, Dutton had four sacks. And in the nearly three remaining seasons after that afternoon in his career he recorded just seven sacks. Too Tall Jones also had two in the game, but his is not as much as a statistical oddity like Dutton. Before Jones was making Geico commericals, he was eating quarterbacks for lunch. Also, in the 1985 season, Moon was sacked 46 times. That means, outside of the Dallas game that season, he was sacked 34 times. That statistic averages out to Moon being taken down for a loss just two times per contest. So the Cowboys were able to sextuple the average amount of times Moon was sacked per game. Not only was the Cowboys feat a rarity in football, but it was also a rarity in terms of Warren Moon, a typically mobile quarterback. On that night in September, the Oiler offensive line was virtually nonexistent against Dallas. Sources for this article: http://www.todayinsport.com/day/september/29 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198509290oti.htm http://www.nfl.com/history http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuttJo00.htm http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoonWa00.htm Photo: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/slideshow/Former-Cowboys-greats-join-in-lawsuit-against-NFL-42029.php#photo-2855309