John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Thinking out loud...and wondering whatever happened to Lee Leonard?
• It didn’t turn out the way Friar Fans had hoped for, but the NCAA’s decision on Ricky Ledo’s eligibility this week was a logical conclusion to the entire circus. Let’s remember, Ledo didn’t exactly set the world on fire with his academic travels early on in high school, so it’s simple to see the NCAA wants to find out how much he’s actually “invested” in school. It’s a good question…
• Ledo has said the right things, thus far. And he told GoLocalProv.com it is his intent to stay at PC through this year, in order to be eligible next year…while the rumors from so-called “expert” reporters on Twitter and message board posts continue to circulate on his eventual plans, some still suggesting an early entry into the professional ranks. Is it possible to just take him at his word, and let him be a college student this year?
• Unless you’re inside someone’s head, how do you really “know” what someone is going to do? People lie to your face every day. And I ask myself this question every day…
• Here’s another thought. Why does it always seem like “next year” is the year your team is going to be good?
• Not for nuthin’…but the Friars could be scary-good. Next year…
• As for this year, with the release of the schedule this week, PC gets another tough shake to open the Big East slate…with a road trip to Louisville (a probable national title contender) and a home game with Syracuse in their first three contests. But then wait until February…
• Playing at the Pizzitola Sports Center on Brown’s campus for the first time ever December 28th should be a lot of fun. And talk about a tough ticket…don’t be surprised if PC also decides to play at Bryant’s Chase Athletic Center some day…
• CBSSports.com’s Jon Rothstein listed URI’s 6-10 Jordan Hare as one of his 20 freshmen “under the radar” for this next season…
• I’m pegging the over/under on the number of Patriots’ wins this season to be about 12 ½. Does that sound about right to you? Or is that too low?
• Me? I’m taking the “over,” although I have certainly been accused in the past of being an eternal optimist, or even a homer. But I said this week on “Patriots Playbook” this team is capable of making a 2007-like run…provided that injuries are a relative non-factor, of course…
• Injuries in football are like death and taxes. They are inevitable. The teams that prepare for them are the teams who usually win…
• Is the “Summer of Gronk” over yet? While the tales of Rob Gronkowski’s life and times were well-chronicled in Sports Illustrated, I can’t help but think how lucky the Patriots are to have him around. Not just for his obvious football ability, which is prodigious, but also for his honest, too-good-to-be-true attitude towards life and sport. Here’s a guy who simply doesn’t know any better…so let’s not spoil it for him?
• Two lockers are still intact at Gillette Stadium, following the cut down to 53 players – Deion Branch and Niko Koutavides. Brian Waters just had his name plate removed Friday, casting further doubt on his availability...even though he is under contract. Why can’t someone just tell us what we already think we know? Are we guarding secrets of national security?
• I know the answer to that question, but if I told you what I knew, I’d have to punch you in the mouth…
• Have you noticed? Not only has Josh McDaniels been entrusted with scheming the offense again for the Patriots, he’s also slowly working back into player evaluation. He certainly had a hand in Brandon Lloyd’s arrival, and more recently, the addition of Greg Salas and Michael “Don’t ask me to pronounce” Hoomanawanui. It will be interesting to see how this plays out…
• And as far as evaluation goes, it’s clear Tom Brady doesn’t have a hand in any of it. After all, the team cut loose three of his friends in Branch, center Dan Koppen and backup QB Brian Hoyer. It is, as they say, a business first…
• I can’t imagine…but if the Patriots can keep Chris Johnson hemmed in, can a Titans’ team with a neophyte starter at QB (Jake Locker) and without a top WR (suspended Kenny Britt) still beat you? Well, it is the NFL. On any given Sunday…
• Art Modell’s death this week undoubtedly brought tears…of sorrow in Baltimore, where he returned pro football to a city once-wronged by the Colts’ departure…and of joy in some parts of Cleveland, where he moved the original Browns from in 1996 and never lived it down. One thing is certain, the modern day NFL would not be what it is now without Modell’s influence through four decades of ownership. Modell was the mover-and-shaker behind the scenes in getting ABC to televise football on Monday nights, back in 1970…
• Hey, the NY Jets are at least scoring off of the field – they’ve got the highest ticket prices in the NFL. The highest average, non-premium ticket price in the league is $117.94, edging the Patriots (at #2) by a mere 10 cents per ticket. Three other teams have non-suite ticket prices at more than $100 per seat – the NY Giants, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. The cost for a family of four to enjoy Fireman Ed’s antics at MetLife Stadium? $443.93, up about 4% from a year ago…
• The Jets should still be a fun team to watch this year. Not because they might actually be good, or because Rex Ryan is the head coach…but because you just never know what anyone will say. WR Santonio Holmes said this week Mark Sanchez was initially “rattled” by the trade that brought in Tim Tebow. Way to throw your QB under the bus, Santonio. Bet you’ll see a lot of big plays come your way now…
• The question was harsh and perhaps a bit disingenuous, and certainly could have been phrased differently…but WEEI’s Glenn Ordway asking Bobby Valentine if he had “checked out” on the season was something we’ve all wondered about, right? My thinking is Valentine was so shocked the question was asked, he played right back into it with the whole “I’d punch you in the mouth” retort. Bobby V may or may not be a good manager, but he’s also no dummy…
• Remember, Valentine managed in New York once-upon-a-time. He had to know his management style in Boston would be equally scrutinized, of not more so. He’s worked in network TV, where criticism is everything. But I imagine his working in Japan for several years – surrounded with a different culture of respect – gave him false hope for thinking he wouldn’t be challenged (as much) here…
• Honestly? Valentine has done just about all he can do with this roster. I’d split the “blame pie” like this – 50% on the Red Sox players’ performance, 40% on team management for baking this pie in the first place, and 10% on Valentine for executing the eating of said pie. I’m whistling in the wind here, but I’d like to see him come back with a chance to work with a truly competitive team…
• Plus, who doesn’t want to see his reaction when he goes to the mound to relieve John Lackey next season? “Gimme the ball, John, or I’m going to punch you in the mouth…”
• My buddy Big E sez punching someone in the mouth is simply inoculating them against “shut the bleep up-itis.” It is, in fact, preventative medicine…
• I know a lot of Yankee fans. But come on, don’t you have to be pulling just a little bit for the Baltimore Orioles? The great irony here, of course, is that you’d also be pulling for Dan Duquette, too…
• It was 17 years ago this week (Thursday) that Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s record of 2131 consecutive games played. Think about that for a moment…and wonder where your life has gone. There’s a growing generation out there that has little, if no, understanding here…
• Give them credit. It may not be much of a story, but it should be…the Pawtucket Red Sox reaching the post-season, after most (all?) of the team has been called up to Boston at one time or another throughout the entire baseball season. Kudos to manager Arnie Beyeler for not only keeping the team together, but keeping them focused on development – and winning…
• Did you see the story this week about the Utah mom who was caught potty training her daughters at a restaurant dining table? Holy crap. Literally…
• Big East schools should be licking their lips in anticipation…the Big 12’s new media deal with ABC/ESPN/Fox is worth $2.6 billion, or about $20 million per year, per school. Or…should they fear the market is drying up? Right now, I’m still bullish on the new BE and the national footprint. ESPN is officially on-the-clock, but I’d be stunned if a deal gets done before their window of exclusivity runs out in November…
• Sounds like there could be minds changing in Storrs…according to Mark Blaudschun on ajerseyguy.com, Jim Calhoun – once thought to be adamant about returning his program to the elite within the Big East – may now be considering stepping down. Calhoun continues to recover from his off-season bicycle accident where he broke his left hip, and he mentioned to Blaudschun an announcement on his future could come within the next couple of weeks…
• Ok, when is a punishment really a punishment? Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin suspended two of his top defensive players for the Aggies’ opening game against Louisiana Tech last week. But since the game was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac, the actual opener is really this week – against Florida – in A&M’s first-ever SEC game. Are the players still suspended? Umm, no…
• Wrap your arms (or your wallet) around this – Florida State is a 70.5 point favorite against Savannah State this week. Yes, that’s correct. Seventy and one-half points…the largest pre-game point spread, ever…
• Stupid is as stupid does…ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd said this week the SEC was more successful in football than other areas of the country because the south has more “poverty and obesity.” What?!? Umm, Colin…you want a do-over on this one?
• It’s one thing to say bold things on the radio (right, Glenn Ordway?). It’s another matter entirely to say stupid things just to get attention…but I hear WAY too much of that these days. Just sayin’…
• You want Laugh Out Loud funny? Have you seen one of the new SportsCenter commercials, featuring the scholarly-looking “professor,” John Clayton?
• Speaking of ESPN, Friday, September 7 was the 33rd anniversary of its existence. Born on the date in 1979, ESPN – as we all now know – has changed the culture of sports forever on our landscape. Lee Leonard, who was the first person to speak and be seen on the fledgling cable-channel, viewed by barely a million subscribers nationwide at the time, welcomed viewers to an experience that “may convince you you’ve gone to sports heaven.” Leonard was a radio personality on WNBC in New York in the 1960’s, and also later hosted a show on CNN. Now 83, Leonard hosted a public affairs show in New Jersey in the 2000’s…
• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Ryan in Reno, NV via Facebook: “Who do you think will have the bigger year? Hernandez or Gronk?” Ryan: That’s almost like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. You can’t. Love them both for their respective abilities, but it’s quite possible Hernandez has more of the surprise factor going for him this year. It stands to reason Gronk will be a focus for the defenses he faces, whereas no one is quite sure where Hernandez will even line up…making him harder to defend. While I think both (if healthy) will be productive, Hernandez is the one who is liable to make more noise...
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to jrooke@golocalprov.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• And you’re up early anyway…don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 850850…and send email to the show - golocal@weei.com .
• Looking for your midweek football fix? Jump into the “Patriots Playbook” on Patriots.com Radio, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:00-4:00 pm ET. We’re live with commentary, interviews and your calls and questions on the Patriots and the NFL via social media. It’s a great way to break up the day at work! But if you can’t make it for the live webcast, never fear…the podcast will be near…
Comments:
Vincent Hanna
10:43am on Sunday, September 09, 2012
If Ledo will be a lottery pick in the 2013 draft, why would he remain at PC? Wouldn't it be in his best interest to go for the money? What is the positive of staying at PC for a full year when he can't play? It's obviously clear the kid will be a NBA player. If any of us had a chance to be paid millions of dollars to achieve our dream. Would we waste a year to have the opportunity to play basketball at a BiG East basement dweller?
If the PC fans can take their blinders off, they'll realize it's in Ledo's best financial interest to never play for PC. His goal is to make to the League. Why should he wait? So, the PC rump swabs have a chance to see their team come in 12th place?
John Rooke
10:18pm on Sunday, September 09, 2012
Vincent - you're hardly impartial here. It's one thing to say Ledo should run for the money, but it's another thing altogether taking shots at your arch rival like you do. How about just giving your opinion, without coloring it Rhody blue?
Or, how about giving the kid credit for coming around and making a wise choice? You know, patting a local kid on the back? Nah, that wouldn't be any fun, would it?