John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, February 02, 2013
Thinking out loud…and wondering whatever happened to Joe Kapp?
• Rajon Rondo’s injury…while never good for the individual, of course…might be beneficial to the Celtics in the long run. His absence will force Danny Ainge and the organization to take hard looks at what it will take to become viable – as a title contender, and not just make the playoffs…
• The real question is, however…do you re-build around Rondo, or someone else? And does anyone stick around to help? Paul Pierce has some value to contending teams, I would think…so does Boston do the unthinkable…and trade him? They should kick the tires on it…
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said before the Pro Bowl he would seriously consider doing away with the league’s “all-star” game, if better performances weren’t forthcoming. The NFC then proceeded to score 62 points on the AFC. Promises, promises…
• Seriously, though…hasn’t the idea of an all-star game just about worn itself out…perhaps in all sports with the exception of baseball? One reason – and ridicule if you must – is because baseball’s game MEANS something. Three…two…one…let ‘er rip…
• And USA Today released this week a poll stating that 61% of the respondents – NFL players – do not approve of Goodell’s performance on the job. Since when does the rank-and-file opinion mean anything here? Goodell is in his job to stand up for the sport itself…and lead by making tough and often unpopular decisions. The players may not like his choices, but it’s not their job to like anything he might or might not do. Play football, period…
• Besides, I’ll wager that some Saints and Steelers players were also a part of the group of players polled, right? Maybe a few Patriots players who remember Spygate, too?
• And if Ray Lewis is guilty of using “deer antler spray” to help heal his torn triceps muscle this season, and get him back onto the playing field where he helped his Ravens beat the Patriots, can Pats’ fans call this “Deergate?”
• Lewis denied, naturally, any use of the spray that contains a substance banned by the NFL (IGF-1). The substance does stimulate muscle growth…and shows the lengths some athletes will go in order to further themselves, if not their careers. More on this later…
• I have to admit, I’m more than a little tired of Lewis’ sanctimonious blather about what his religious beliefs might be. Let’s see, by my count – two Super Bowl appearances, each marred by controversy…13-year-old unsolved murders, and PED’s. Simply, he is one of the pre-eminent narcissists within a league full of them. Where there’s smoke…
• Tweet of the Week – from @SteveRushin – “Who has superhuman endurance and easy access to deer antler? Say it ain't so, Santa.”
• This is the first Super Bowl since 2002 without Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger participating at QB. Think about that for a second…
• Favorite media moment this week had to be from media day in New Orleans, when the 49ers’ Randy Moss called himself “the greatest receiver to ever play this game.” Jerry Rice, Don Maynard, Fred Biletnikoff and a few others might not agree…but I’ve always loved his stagger…er, swagger…
• At mid-week, the get-in price for Super Bowl tickets was about $1K less – per ticket – than it was last year. Why? I’ll wager that for some, New Orleans (even though it should always be a Super Bowl destination) is a “been-there-done-that” deal for many…
• What’s the trick to winning the big game? According to ESPN Stats & Info – the 49ers went 4-0 vs. AFC East this year. The last three teams to sweep all four AFC East teams won the Super Bowl (2006 Colts, 2009 Saints, 2011 Giants)…
• Stupid is as stupid does…since this is the first Super Bowl in New Orleans since the Patriots beat the Rams in 2002, naturally former St. Louis RB Marshall Faulk was asked if being back in the Superdome returned any memories. “”I’ll never be over being cheated out of the Super Bowl,” was part of his response, before back-pedaling and saying what a great coach Bill Belichick was, and how he loved Bob Kraft. “If you lost a game and your brother cheated you, you’ll remember that.” So will we Kevin, so will we…
• In honor of Super Bowl parties everywhere…if you really crave Game Day foods from that stadium you’ve been to…there’s a site that lets you order take-out and delivers to you – for a price…
• A report in the Newark Star-Ledger said the NY Jets were having “exploratory” discussions involving quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Is that anything like having discussions with your doctor about a frontal lobotomy?
• Here’s a “Zen” question for you – if you wouldn’t/won’t let your son play football because of the physical nature of the sport, the risk of major injuries and/or the risk of concussion…do you still watch football yourself?
• A shocker: Deadspin spun out a story that originated from the Miami New Times this week that a “Balco East” lab specializing in HGH was found in Miami. Among the clients were Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez. Stunning, huh?
• Should the New York Yankees, who owe A-Rod more than $100 million over the next five years, try to void his deal over this? He did tell Peter Gammons he’s been clean since 2003…and records exist that he was a client of this lab as recently as 2009. Guess who has now “lawyered up?”
• In a sad, sorry kind of way…if A-Rod’s goal was to be remembered for his baseball career, I think he has succeeded…
• Not for nuthin’…but the guy who ran the Miami lab, Anthony Bosch, was tied to Manny Ramirez when Ramirez was suspended for 50 games in 2009 for violating baseball’s drug policy. Which tells me these players knew exactly who they were dealing with – and did their deeds, anyway. If baseball really wants to clean this up, you have to kick these guys out of the sport…for good. Is Pete Rose’s betting on baseball any worse than this?
• Big East commissioner Mike Aresco said in Connecticut this week that the “old” Big East would be seeking to keep the league name, which might make things difficult for the “new” Big East/Hoop Seven to take it with them. Or, they just raised the financial stakes involved, one or the other…
• Syracuse and St. John’s have announced they will continue to play each other starting next season, after Syracuse moves to the ACC. While the move makes sense for Orange fans, does it really make sense for St. John’s? Syracuse has long considered MSG to be their second home…why would you let them play you in your building, when you might not have a definitive home court advantage? And especially when they consider you a second-class citizen?
• Don’t look now…but St. John’s has quietly crept up on the rest of the Big East. 3rd place? Five wins in a row? JaKarr Sampson seems like a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year. But the big fall for the Red Storm could be coming, as the schedule gets tougher down the stretch…
• What a couple of weeks for Villanova. After losing to PC on January 19th at the Dunk, the Wildcats then beat Louisville and Syracuse back-to-back, before dropping a tight one at Notre Dame…and Darrun Hilliard is named not just Big East Player of the Week, but the National Player of the Week for averaging 18 points and 5.5 rebounds in those first two wins. And the Friars loom again Sunday, this time on Nova’s turf…
• It seems to me that Ed Cooley certainly knows what it will take for his Friars to become consistent winners in the Big East. But it also seems that some players won’t – or can’t – buy in. Tough decisions are still looming, and you saw the first dose of that Thursday night…
• The Friars’ fight is undeniable. But figuring out a way to make the big play – or stop one – is clearly a hang-up. The major difference between PC and most of the rest of the Big East this year (outside of Louisville and Syracuse, perhaps)…no one steps up to make a play when it’s needed, except for walk-on Ted Bancroft. That’s asking a lot from a non-scholarship player…but it’s the truth. That’s also a leadership void on this team. Blame the coach if you must, but the coach also needs players who believe in what he wants them to do…
• Tweet of the Week II, from RIC head basketball coach Bob Walsh - @CoachBobWalsh: “Your job as a coach isn't just to deliver the message; it's to make sure the message gets across.” Amen…
• Tweet of the Week, part III: Recruiting 101 – Really want a player? Take them to a strip club…
• Wanna know what happens when you have a big-time athletic program, and your football team – ahem – smells a bit? Here you go…
• Maybe Tennessee doesn’t have strip clubs? Just sayin’…
• My buddy Bernie boasts that his wife took him to a strip club for his birthday. But she bolted on him pretty quickly after a few patrons and dancers came up to say “hey, good to see you again.” He caught her as she grabbed a cab out of there, and she gave him a pretty good verbal beating over his dalliances…to which the cabbie replied “wow, got yourself a good one tonight, huh Bernie?”
• The barn door might have just opened for college athletes this week…as federal court judge Claudia Wilken ruled the NCAA cannot legally prevent football and men’s basketball players from legally pursuing a cut of live broadcasting revenues. The original anti-trust lawsuit (brought about by former UCLA star Ed O’Bannon) asked for a share of monies made from “re-broadcasts,” which means the NCAA could be on the hook for billions…not just millions…of dollars…
• Forty years ago this week…the New England Patriots selected John Hannah, Sam Cunningham and Darryl Stingley in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. Whoa. And if you remember that, you may join me on the sidelines with all of the other old people, ya’ geezer…
• Is Cup Fever building yet? The Bruins earned 11 points out of a possible 12 in their first six games this season, prior to the Buffalo loss. And Shawn Thornton’s moxie is off the charts, even though 6-8 John Scott might have gotten the best of their brawl Thursday night…
• Bravo to RI District 21 State Senator Nicholas Kettle for his proposal that would allow teachers a choice of joining a union…or not. Right-to-Work has been successful elsewhere, but certainly will never be in RI until people like Mr. Kettle continue to step up for what is right…as opposed to what has “always been done.”
• The only man to play quarterback in the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Grey Cup, Joe Kapp is best remembered, perhaps, for leading the Minnesota Vikings to the big game in 1969. They lost SB IV to Kansas City, 23-7. The NFL and AFL then merged, and with Kapp a free-agent, the Boston Patriots signed him to a four-year deal that made him the highest-paid player in the league at the time. Commissioner Pete Rozelle stepped into the deal and forced the Patriots to give up TWO #1 draft picks as compensation to the Vikings for the signing. Kapp did not play well in a single season with the Pats, as the team finished 2-12. So, the Patriots drafted Jim Plunkett with the first pick in the ’71 draft, and Kapp was done as a player. He later coached at his alma mater, Cal-Berkeley, he performed as an actor…and also took a turn as general manager of his former CFL team in British Columbia. Kapp was responsible for signing Doug Flutie, who starred in the CFL for a decade. He lives in California and still works/entertains as a public speaker…and is also known for still packing a punch…
• Don’t forget - the 37th annual Cranston Sports Collectors Show returns to the West Valley Inn TODAY - Feb. 2nd, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is $3. Sponsored by the St. Joseph Men’s Guild of the Immaculate Conception Church, the sports memorabilia show is the oldest of its kind in New England, with more than 1800 dealers and collectors participating…and fans attending. Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen will be in attendance, buying your cards and other sports collectibles…if, of course, they’re actually worth something. But you won’t know unless you go…
• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Richard in Cranston, RI via Facebook – “(Big East commissioner Mike) Aresco is blowing smoke because that's all he can do at this point. If the B10 adds two teams from the ACC (UNC/VA/GTECH), watch out for the ACC to come calling for UConn and Cincy.” Richard: Agreed. I also think the talked-about alliance between the Big 12 and ACC is a way to potentially ward off the Big 10’s potential poaching of ACC schools. But it won’t matter. Once Maryland’s exit fees from the ACC are determined by the courts (and it’s anything south of $50 million), the floodgates will most likely open up again. If Aresco really wanted to do something about realignment, he’d best become buddies with Big 10 commish Jim Delany…because that guy is driving this bus…
• 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, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• 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 37937…and send email to the show - golocal@weei.com .
• The recently released “Rhode Island Radio” from Arcadia Publishing is available for sale, and the book tells the story of the 90-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. Mark your calendars, and join me for a book signing event next Saturday - February 9th at Barnes & Noble on Route 2 in Warwick, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm! If you’re in search of the gift that says “Rhode Island,” you’ve found it. Or, find it in local bookstores and online right here…
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