Northern Migration?

Although their college football and basketball teams have put them on the map in recent years, West Virginia isn’t exactly at the top of the most popular states to live in.  But Michigan?  I realize there’s more economic prosperity there, but I find it ironic that Rich Rodriguez has followed his former colleague John Beilein to Ann Arbor.  Yes, the colors are similar and the athletic program has great tradition and support.  But for Rich to follow John is less than a year is…interesting.  The OSU/Michigan rivalry must be quite a draw to make up for the colder temps, etc. 

Merry Christmas; You’re Fired

While we here at APJG have been on a holiday hiatus, the Bulls have been hard at work. The firing of Skiles came as a surprise, first and foremost because, despite the rough start, I never heard so much as a whisper that his job might be in jeopardy. And other people more well informed than myself have said the same, so—for once—I can’t chalk this up to my own ignorance.

It also came as a surprise because I’d put Skiles’ name near the bottom of the very long blame list for this season. I’m not going to feel bad for Skiles, much as I like him. Anyone associated with a 9-16 atrocity deserves whatever he or she gets. But surely his name must go below the players’ names, and probably even below John Paxson’s name. The issues the players must answer for are readily apparent. The most obvious issue Paxson has to answer for is the aborted Kobe deal. I can’t say I blame him for the Kobe deal, per se. While the deal certainly had its appeal, it also had enough roadblocks (starting with Kobe’s no trade clause) and enough pitfalls (starting with the risk of trading away the wrong package of players and being left with Kobe and a bunch of random bodies) to make the situation sufficiently complicated. However, the Kobe deal does stand as the most visible in an increasingly long line of would be deals that didn’t get done.

But back to the players. As counterintuitive as it might seem, I’d actually blame Paxson and Skiles more if the team was at least respectable enough to match last year’s performance. In that case, it would seem clear that Paxson and Skiles failed to realize that the team had maxed out its potential, and that the oft-discussed “next step” wouldn’t happen without one or more key roster moves. But who could have foreseen that a team almost identical to last year’s would regress to such a dramatic degree? Then again, maybe Paxson and Skiles could have foreseen just that possibility…if they’d paid attention to this year’s Bears team. It’s a local epidemic. But I digress.

It’s not just the Christmas Eve timing that makes this move seem abrupt. The fact that Paxson made this move without even the vaguest succession plan in place is what really suggests a sudden onset of haste. The official reason is “time for a change; can’t fire the entire team” but the unofficial reason is that Skiles had quit on his team and the team had quit on Skiles. The chatter seems to indicate that Skiles quit first though, to be fair, the players are the only ones chatting. Skiles has taken the high road.

Truth be told, the notion that Skiles quit doesn’t particularly interest me. Though I respect him as a coach, I’m willing to bet he did give up. Furthermore, the dirt on who quit first isn’t as salacious as it sounds. What really interests me is why Skiles quit on his team. It is possible he found a new interest, maybe model trains or civil war battle reenactments or something like that, and that he just stopped caring about basketball. Or it is possible that he lost his desire to coach, and, realizing that quitting wouldn’t produce the fat contract settlement that being fired would, he set about to get himself axed. But both of those possibilities seem at odds with every trait Skiles has demonstrated in his long public association with the sport.

A better theory is that Skiles saw something, be it a lack of talent and/or a failure of will on the part of players and/or management, and realized that the team was going nowhere. Seeing no value in keeping up appearances or coddling egos, he simply stopped pretending. That’s not completely excusable. Anyone with a job will tell you that toeing the company line, however much you don’t personally believe in it, is often part of the deal. However, that does sound a bit more like the Skiles we know and (at least in my case) love. And that’s also where this question becomes even more interesting. If this is the case, and if he’s right about it, then that makes Skiles sort of the canary in the coal mine. And just moving the canary out of the mine won’t forestall the impending disaster.

Exhibit A? Last night’s game. Oddly enough, firing your coach and then throwing a game plan together in a slap-dash manner with an interim-interim coach at the helm isn’t a way to get your team to stop playing like crap. Huh. Who could have predicted that?

Let the Bowling Begin

After a highly entertaining regular season, the 2007 College Football Bowl Season is off to a strong start. 

Congrats to Appalachian State on their dominating performance in last week’s championship game.  They looked like a team that beat Michigan, not one that lost to Wofford.

Then the Bowls started with an exciting finish between Utah and Navy in the Poinsettia.  Plenty of highlight, topped off with a strong TD drive and on-side kick recovery by Navy with under a minute left.  The Utes came up with an interception to stop the drive.  Good stuff.

Next up, Florida Atlantic University, currently playing well in their first bowl game ever.  In fact, they’ve only been playing football there for 7 years, and they’ve only been D1 for 3 years.  Great story.  They are up against Memphis, who faced the murder of a teammate earlier this season.  Such drama makes bowl games entertaining even beyond the game on the field.

Here’s hoping the next week and a half are just as entertaining.  Merry Christmas!

Steroid Fallout (Part 2 of Many)

What was that murmuring from the baseball world over the past week or so?  Oh, I think I can just make it out…some legally precise babble about not taking performance-enhancing drugs, I believe.

So it’s been over a week since the Mitchell Report named well-known names in the attack on doping in baseball.  And since then, there have been several, half-hearted statements issued by lawyers on behalf of players claiming they are innocent of such accusations. 

But what stands out to me?  The distinct lack of outraged players defending themselves.  If you really are innocent, why is it so important to wait for your lawyer to find time to help you draft a statement.  Speak up!  Tell us you were clean, and give us the details.  Tell us why the Report is wrong.  Grant interviews.  Show your face. 

Hiding behind carefully crafted written statements isn’t very convincing to me.  I know that we are supposed to believe that the accused are innocent until proven guilty, but it helps if you don’t act guilty.

Just my two cents…

This One is Obvious

Jessica Simpson, late of “Nick Lachey and…” as well as “John Mayer and…”, caused a stir over the weekend when she showed up at new boyfriend Tony Romo’s game, wearing his jersey and cheering him on. Tony promptly stunk up the joint, causing fans to blame her presence for his poor showing.

Now, I think it should be obvious that the true source of evil and calamity in this situation isn’t Jessica Simpson herself, but that ugly-ass pink Romo jersey she’s wearing. Come on, people!

Steroid Fallout (Part 1 of Many)

There are, of course, many implications of the Mitchell Report. But one of the more interesting nuggets is still several years from full realization: Hall of Fame voting.

The all-time hits leader is already on the outside looking in. Things weren’t looking too good for the all-time home run leader. And now that he’s finally getting his comeuppance, things are hazy at best for Roger Clemens, top 10 in all-time wins, top five in all-time strikeouts, number one in Cy Young Awards, and regarded by most as one of the best pitchers ever to hurl a fastball.

Then again, perhaps this report is the best thing Bonds and Clemens can hope for. Some voters may feel that the extent of steriod use in the league makes any individual player’s use more understandable (the “everyone is doing it” excuse that any teenager in America would endorse), and/or that it levels the playing field in some manner. Of course, the fact that certain players’ stats ballooned at a rate aggressively out of proportion to the overall increase seems to put the lie to that last theory—the old “everyone cheats, it’s just that we’re better at it” bit (Bill Belichick, patent pending).

So when all is said and done, the institution that baseball uses to honor its greatest players might be short three who are, statistically speaking, three of the greatest ever. Not that I plan on shedding any tears for the Holy Trinity of Arrogance. But if baseball’s bound and determined to recognize three men who had superior skills even before they began dabbling in their respective indiscretions, maybe they should just open up a new wing and call it the Hall of Infamy.

Orton It Is

Maybe the Kyle Orton Era begins this Monday. He’ll at least be given a chance to begin a possibly long and celebrated reign, since Lovie Smith named him the starter against the Vikes.

Though I still remain suspicious of Orton’s actual skill level, I think the time is right for this move. Can’t blame anyone for wanting to see just what you’ve got on your own roster, before you go off and spend free agent money and draft picks looking for outside help. Lord knows the Bears have plenty of other things they could use their money and their picks on. So maybe Orton establishes himself well enough to at least be in competition for the starting job come next year. Or maybe he establishes himself well enough to become trade bait. Or maybe he sucks, but at least you know.

Since his return, Grossman has shown things he hasn’t really shown before. He’s played well enough to merit an short-term, incentive-laden contract. And at the right price, I think the Bears will give it to him. The flipside is that the Bears were probably not the only ones taking notice of Grossman’s improved decision-making and turnover-preventing skills. And in a league desperate for viable QBs, there could very well be teams willing to sign him for more than the Bears are willing to pay.

Griese is a good veteran presence, and at least he gives the Bears something presentable off the bench. It’s not like he’s going to come into a game and throw four intercep…never mind.

Orton could be traded, could start, could be released, could go back to the bench. That’s what they aim to find out over the next three games.

From this barrel of what-ifs, I’m guessing the Bears will pull two of their three current QBs for next year’s roster. The third, our mystery guest, could be an instant starter. Think Donovan McNabb or Derek Anderson, though at this point both appear to be little more than pipe dreams for the Bears. The mystery guest could be a newly drafted Quarterback of the Future, because we really haven’t had enough of those in Chicago.

Yet at the same time, I’m of the mind that the Bears really have no choice but to draft or sign a quarterback every single year until they finally get this right. Do you have any better ideas? Yeah. Didn’t think so.

Number One

In a college football season filled with upsets, comebacks, parity, let downs and confusion, the dust has finally settled.  And the picture really isn’t that surprising.  The perennial powerhouses seem to rise to the top.

Take Appalachian State, for example.  After a season-opening stunner where they beat Michigan, they dropped a couple tough conference games.  But now, they are headed to their third straight Championship game.  The playoff system used in the division formerly known as 1AA (and D-II and D-III) have allowed the best teams to rise to the top to play for number one.  And along the way, there have been some thrills, chills and lots to cheer for.

Or, take the Ohio State Buckeyes.  After dropping in the 2007 rankings following a big loss to Florida last season and losing many starters to graduation and the NFL, they soundly beat in-state schools and rolled through the Big Ten.  Despite a hiccup against the up-and-coming Illini, Tressel has his club in the BCS Championship again, vying to be number one.  And USC, despite losing to Stanford, won the Pac-10 and is headed to the Rose Bowl, a standard trip across town for them in recent years.  So the complex BCS system, which combines computer rankings and “experts” votes in a formula few can understand, has allowed the best teams to stand in the national spotlight.  Along the way, there have been dominating performances, close calls and lots to cheer for. 

What is the best way to determing number one?  Two systems with similar results.  The teams that have solid football programs are still playing or getting ready to play.  And either way, we got to watch plenty of exciting football games.  As a fan, what more could I ask for?

I’m not sure I fully embrace our obsession with Number One.  Sure, it’s nice to know who the best is, especially when it’s my team.  But I love the excitement of the game, the passion of the players and fans, and the traditions that make every college football team beloved by their fans or despised by their rivals.  I love that every game matters.  That’s why I’m a college football fan.  I’m not sure that how we get to Number One is that important.  As long as I’m entertained all season.  And 2007 delivered.

Time to really dig into college basketball, which offers a completely different type of excitement…

Swing and a Miss!

That’s been the story for both of the local baseball teams. Suffice to say it’s been an interesting off-season so far, if by “interesting” you mean “whiffing spectacularly on most every potential trade and free agent signing.” Outside of the Cabrera trade and a few mostly inconsequential moves, we got nothing.

And while Sox fans are full of righteous anger at Kenny Williams, I will say one small thing in his defense. At least he’s swinging in the right ballpark. The Sox’s three most glaring needs were shortstop, bullpen and outfield. And Williams has made moves to address the first two. Now, granted, those effectiveness of those moves is still to be determined. And the whole situation has been clouded by a haze of belly-up attempts to sign a centerfielder, plus an ill-advised contract to a shortstop we no longer need. But again: at least he’s trying to address actual needs.

The Cubs, meanwhile, have spent their time attempting to answer important questions such as, “How many second basemen can a team have before the roster collapses in on itself?” And while they occupy themselves with this, their projected starting rotation remains Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Dempster, Marquis. I’m sorry–what? Marquis is on a very steep downhill, and Dempster hasn’t started in years. And when he did start, he wasn’t particularly good at it. If you think you’re going to win with this rotation…well, keep living that dream. And the outfield is still occupied by (left to right) Soriano, a player who may or may not be the second coming of Corey Patterson, and TBA.

Now, because I am carping about the pitching rotation, please don’t lump me in with all the slack-jawed Chicagoans who want us to go after Johan Santana. It’s going to take a boatload of players to land Santana, and many, many large boatloads of money to keep him–think in the neighborhood of $25 million. I’ll be the first to say the Cubs should spend like a large market team, but this isn’t a prudent way to spend that money. They’ve already paid ace money to Zambrano. Call me a killjoy, but I don’t want to spend $40-45 of the payroll on two players who aren’t even everyday guys (and yes, I know pitching wins championships, so spare me that chestnut). Not happening.

Think about what else you could do for Santana’s price. If you believe the rumors from the other side of town, Aaron Rowand can be had for $13 or $14 mil per year. Ditto Fukudome, the current object of their affections. Yes, I know Rowand’s a righty, but beggars can’t be choosers. In either case, that would still leave something in the neighborhood of $10-12 million to sign another pitcher, and as Ted Lilly showed last year, that money can get you something pretty decent if you spend it right. After you sign Rowand or Fukudome and a serviceable starting pitcher who will be an upgrade over what’s currently the back 2/5 of your rotation, you turn around and you trade Dempster to a team that needs a closer, and you fill some of your other needs that way. You put Kerry Wood in to do what you signed him to do: close. Then you make Marquis go to spring training and beat out Sean Marshall and whoever else is in competition for the 5th starter role.

This is, of course, all in theory, given the weak free agent class this year. And even if the Cubs “save” themselves $25 mil a year by not going after Santana, it’s quite a leap to suggest they’re going to dump that amount of money into the club. But roll with me on it.

I fear that the Cubs are going to be caught in the muddled middle this year. They probably won’t be good enough to contend for a championship. But they aren’t bad enough to merit backing up the truck and starting all over again (nor can they, with the contracts they’ve passed out over the last two years). They’ll be in the mix for a playoff spot in a division that was weak to begin with and hasn’t done a ton to improve itself since the season ended. But that’s about it.

In other words, I hope we all enjoyed 2007, because it looks like 2008 will be more of the same.

Osborne Agrees to Leave Peacefully

Lincoln, NE—Tom Osborne has ceded power after briefly seizing it earlier last week.

Osborne has agreed to peacefully abdicate the head coaching throne, giving way to new chief Bo Pelini. In exchange, the opposition forces have agreed to give Osborne a figurehead position in the new government. “Osborne will remain the athletic director, for the time being,” an opposition leader said.

Even after pro-Pelini forces had surrounded the Nebraska athletic offices, a defiant Osborne at first mocked their calls for surrender. “Sure, I’ll leave…when Notre Dame wins a bowl game!” Osborne remarked, speaking with reporters by phone while holed up in his office. “I’ve got provisions here to last me months,” he boasted. “And when my supply of beef jerky runs out, I can start eating the footballs. I’ve been living football since before most of these fools were born; if I can breathe and sleep football, then I can eat it too.”

However, as more and more of his supporters defected, Osborne’s bravado began to wane. Sensing that the time might be right for a settlement, a UN mediator stepped in. A mere 12 hours later, the peace accord was signed by both parties. “We are pleased that we were able to bring peace here,” the mediator said. “After that whole Middle East debacle, we really needed to get back on the positive side of things.”

In his first speech after assuming power, Pelini praised Osborne for agreeing to the treaty. “I’m glad that Osborne didn’t let the fact that I am younger, smarter and better-looking to get in the way of this deal. Pride can be a tough thing for an old man to swallow.”