Solutions Talk

"I" Can't produce a winner

Today's Notable Quote: "I can't really tell you where he failed the club. I think that we reached a point this season where our team didn't compete for a long time." - Donnie Walsh, Knicks Team President - speaking about the firing of Isiah Thomas

Isiah was a great high school and college player. He seems like a genuinely "nice guy" during filmed interviews. I've wondered for years where he was hiding "the fire in the belly" that most successful coaches seem to have. Guess he wasn't hiding something that didn't exist...

http://www.comcast.net/sports/articles/nba/2008/01/10/Knicks-Thomas/

Book: Coaching Lessons from a "Great"...

Today's Notable Quote: "I must admit that, though a fanatic football fan, I find that most coaches' books leave me cold." - Tom Peters, at the beginning of his blogpost and strongly positive review of Bo Schembechler's book Bo's Lasting Lessons.

A short and insightful post from Tom Peters and his dispatches from the new world of work Weblog. Enjoy reading the post while I run out and buy the book...

Fans are Fans are Fans...or are They?...

Notable Quote: "Purple allows women to feel like they're part of something, other than just tickets to the game, tailgating, the standard norm that's offered to them on a daily basis," says Gabrielle Dow, a Ravens marketing director. From Church of the Customer weblog today.

Great perspective on Football "fandom" from Jackie Huba in the Church of the Customer Blog today.

"The Scooter" - A great Yankee is gone

Today's Notable Quote: "He is the greatest shortstop I have ever seen in my entire baseball career, and I have watched some beauties." - The late great Yankees manager Casey Stengel.

Time passes...and with it pass some of the great examples and icons of sporting history.  Perhaps not the most "well-known"...and certainly far from the most controversial son of the "Great American Past-time", nevertheless--Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto was a great player, and by all accounts--a great human being to boot! Phil Rizzuto

#10 - A "lifelong" Yankee...

The boys in pinstripes are on their way back...

Today's Notable Quote: “One to go to .500, and then we can start thinking in terms of starting our season and, basically, seeing how far over .500 we can get. That’s going to be the determining factor, the standard by which we make the playoffs or don’t make the playoffs. It’s all about the record. That’s what our goal is. We have to keep paying attention to today.” - Joe Torre, Yankees manager.

With Roger Clemens, A-Rod, and Jeter bringing strong performances - and a supporting cast doing their part, the Yankees are only a game away from the .500 mark. If they continue at the current pace - they will be challenging for the lead by early August.  Yankees Keep Smashing Their Way Toward .500

The legend from NY's glory years would likely look favorably on the team's recent performance.

NBA Finals: The "Stars" Come Out

Today's Notable Quote: "“Stars carry teams, and the Spurs do a pretty good job of containing people.”- San Antonio's 3-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan.

I can't help myself. Growing up in Indiana and watching some of the most intense high school basketball in the nation (mostly on television in the 1960's), along with my own modest success as a player and coach has given me a love for the game that can't be killed by today's version of "NBA Showtime". It's just that I don't watch as often...or as early in the year. My viewing of the NBA tends to start during the second round of the playoffs...and continues through the finals. Call in May/June "Madness".

Catching a game early in the season (mostly on television) is rare. This year, however, thanks to my cousin's connections, my sons and I got to see the Lakers defeat the Portland Trailblazers as Kobe Bryant scored a league-season high 65 points. Wow! As Tim Duncan said in today's linked article, "Stars carry teams." 

If the Cleveland Cavs are to stand a chance in the finals...it is most certainly up to 22 year old Lebron James. "King" James will have to get his game together in a hurry to avoid a quick and painful elimination by the crafty group of veteran plays in San Antonio. Stay tuned...Spurs Show That James Has Much to Learn

A fixture on nearly every driveway or backyard in Indiana.

A "Ruthian Blast" from the past...

Today's Notable Quote: "On May 25, 1935, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Ruth went 4-for-4, drove in 6 runs and hit 3 home runs in an 11-7 loss to the Pirates. These were the last three home runs of his career. His last home run cleared the roof at the old Forbes Field, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat, and fittingly a "Ruthian" clout on his last home run and near permanent retirement from play." - from the Wikipedia entry (linked below) on Babe Ruth.

72 years ago today, George Herman (Babe) Ruth hit the last of his 714 home runs. His often-chronicled career started on the pitching mound, where he compiled a more-than-respectable 89 - 46 won/loss record. From pitcher to outfielder - and ultimately first baseman...Ruth's career was truly amazing. Though his amazing records may be topped by some of today's bigger, stronger, and in some cases "chemically-assisted" stars--Ruth's achievements will always hold a special place in the hearts of baseball fans around the world.  Ruth is regarded by many historians and fans as the greatest baseball player of all time

NBA 2007: Hoop Nightmares?

Today's Notable Quote: "Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals." - Dr. James Naismith (1861-1939), inventor of BasketBall.

Reading about the current "Tankgate" situation in the NBA (teams that are out of playoff contention are reportedly benching their best players for minor injuries...and almost certainly insuring that the teams will lose--and get a higher draft pick) has made me sick. Comcast Sports Editor Lee Russakoff's article proposes "solutions" to this sad state of affairs--yet it makes only a passing--and somewhat cynical reference to appealing to the integrity of league players and representatives as a solution.

Certainly, professional basketball seems to have drifted far from the ideals upon which it was founded. The second half of the 2007 NBA season was a joke for almost half of the league. Bad teams purposely tanked games to get better draft picks, and they were blatant about it.

Is the desire for a "top pick" in the draft driving down the quality of play in the league?

Yanks win in 13...

Today's Notable Quote: "It ain't over till it's over." - Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (1925 - )

There are no clocks regulating the expiration of time for the game in baseball. Technically speaking, a game could go on forever.  In Major League Baseball, the longest game played was a 26-inning affair between the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves on May 1, 1920. The game, called on account of darkness, ended in a 1-1 tie. Two minor-league teams, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings, played a 33-inning game in 1981.

Last night, during a 13 inning affair which lasted 4 hours and 25 minutes, the New York Yankees pulled even at 5 and 5 for the season. Not a bad start considering the challenges they've faced defensively (13 errors in 10 games) and with their pitching staff.  Last night's win in Oakland could provide the impetus for better things ahead. "This could be a big early-season win," said Giambi, who had been 0 for 5. "We might look back and say, 'That was the beginning.' Hopefully, this is the one that really turns it around for us."

With 152 regular season games to go--it's too early too tell...but it's always great to win the close ones. Giambi’s Homer in 13th Cures All for Yanks

13...13 innings--count 'em...

Mike Tyson: Out of Rehab...a "new" man?

tuToday's Notable Quote: (Mike Tyson, following his fight with Evander Holyfield in which he bit Holyfield's ear) "I felt Holyfield was using his head illegally. I told the referee I wasn't getting any help, so I went back to the streets. I cannot defend it, but it happened."

Mike Tyson cleans up well. Take a look at him in a suit and tie (no tattoos, no visible piercings, no angry grimace)--and you'd be hard-pressed to believe that the man has had such a troubled career and life. 

Now that the former fearsome "World Heavyweight Boxing Champion" has achieved sobriety--he will stand trial for charges related to possession and use of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and driving under the influence. If convicted, he could face significant prison time. Stay tuned...Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared in court Thursday and was given an Aug. 20 trial date on charges of drug possession and driving under the influence of drugs.

Flanked by his attorneys, Mr. Tyson goes to court...