Baseball...

So...a few more things to get off my chest today...

Lost in the Twins' win streak is the fact they have the second-best interleague record (10-3) in the majors. The best, you might ask? None other than the Kansas City Royals (11-3). No kidding. But the last time the Twins had a record that good in interleague play? 2006, when they went 16-2. And we all know how that season ended up...

Secondly, one of my preferred sports blogs, RandBall, started an interesting discussion today that I think we should piggyback onto: if you could have at-bat theme music, what song would you choose? We've heard some great ones with Twins players over the years...Joe Nathan, Justin Morneau, Corey Koskie, etc. What would you pick? The Sports Ace's selection: "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve. Backups, if that's taken, include "My Humps" of Black Eyed Peas fame (sidesplitting laughs every time when this song comes on Michael's cell phone on "The Office"), "Going the Distance" by Cake and "Song 2" by Blur. Let's go now...let me hear you out there.

I'm out like Novak Djokovic.

Kazaam

When I saw Shaq rapping about Kobe the other day, I couldn't help my brain from flashing back to one of the true low-lights in entertainment history: Kazaam.

Yes, when Shaq decided to take a break from his day job (and I don't mean the time he became a Miami cop), he made this extremely smelly piece of crap thinking he was a good actor. I found myself thinking again the other day that he should just stick to dunking on people, huffing and puffing up and down the court and missing free throws. I mean, he was a platinum-selling rap artist, but he was overrated there too. Way overrated. Did you actually ever listen to his music? I did, and I lost a little bit of myself in the process.

And, you may not have noticed, but the Twins have won SEVEN in a row and won games against the top two pitchers in the National League (Webb and Peavy) and baseball's all-time saves leader (Hoffman) in that stretch! But Gardy, why do you pull Kevin Slowey after six scoreless innings? If a guy's dominating, and he can take pressure off your bullpen, why not let him go? Maybe he knows something I don't, but come on...give the rookie a shot at a complete game shutout. Or at least a win...he didn't even get that last night.

I'm out like Pavol Demitra.

Sensational Sportscasting

Two things are starting to really bug me about sports and TV nowadays...

1. "The best/greatest/...in history"
I fear this is a growing trend. How many times did we hear the guy calling the NBA Finals say that someone/something was "the greatest in NBA/NBA Finals history"? Yes, there were some remarkable and memorable performances, but I think ABC/ESPN's announcing crew gets near-failing marks for their blatant sensationalism of the series. Not everything has to be a historical comparison, and let's be honest: there have been better series in the last 10-15 years than this one. So let's put some integrity back into sportscasting, for the good of sports. Don't get me wrong - I applaud efforts to add perspective to sporting events. I do that myself as an announcer. But I don't do it just to do it...a play or a game would truly have to rank up there before I'd say so.

2. Players posing with trophies
NBA players/coaches holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy for ads. NFL players celebrate with the Lombardi Trophy before they play the Super Bowl. NCAA athletes in a lot of sports (softball, basketball, etc) clutching the NCAA title trophy before they win it. I don't think most of these are Photoshop illustrations...the inherent problem here: THEY HAVEN'T WON THE TROPHIES YET. Isn't it a bit of a problem to get so comfortable with the greatest prize in your sport before you win it? I would say yes.

Let's borrow from the NHL for a minute...players have so much respect for the trophies of the game, especially the Stanley Cup, that they won't even touch the trophies until they win them. They won't touch lesser trophies, because it stokes the fire within to win the big one. They sure as hell wouldn't be seen dead gripping the Cup before they win it, for fear of throwing away their chance to win it and facing stigma and backlash from teammates and fans. Personally, I think it would be the worst kind of tease to get comfortable on film/photo with a championship trophy and then not win it. Why would you do that to yourself? The networks do it to promote the game...but I think the athletes sell themselves out by participating in it. I'd err on the side of respecting the game, my team and the trophy I'm striving to win and decline the photo op.

Of course, these things are driven by trying to make an event seem bigger than it really is, which in turn leads to higher ratings, more ad and sponsorship dollars, etc. It's all about money. But why isn't it enough anymore to simply appreciate these contests and the players in them? Maybe it's an unrealistic utopian sports vision I have, but I just don't get why tomorrow's games always have to one-up today's.

I'm out like 2001 World Series co-MVPs Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.

The West is Best - and It's Not Even Close

Seriously, Tiger won the US Open on a torn ACL? His performance was already legendary...now it's just downright sick. The sickest part though: although he's going to be out until 2009, it was almost worth it. Until he comes back, all we're ever going to talk about is how amazing his US Open run was. And he played three majors on that injury - two wins and a second. He's the best of all time. Get over it.

There's a great debate all of a sudden about whether the Eastern Conference of the NBA is better than the West. Boston is the champion, and Detroit had a great year too. But let me say emphatically: NO, YOU STUPID IDIOTS, the West is WAY better. You measure a conference top to bottom, not just by its best teams. The East may definitely have had the two best teams in the league this year, there's no doubt, but the dropoff from there was significant. Let's get real here...the West is clearly superior.

Let's compare the #8 seeds. The Denver Nuggets barely made the playoffs with a 50-32 record, one of the best records ever by a #8 seed (Golden State stayed home with a 48-34 record). On the other hand, Atlanta stormed in with a head of steam and pushed the Celtics to the brink despite a 37-45 regular season. For all you non-math majors out there, that's a 26-GAME DIFFERENCE with respect to .500 in records, from Denver being 18 games above .500 to Atlanta's 8 games below. The West had EIGHT teams with 50 or more wins, and the East had only three. The worst record in the West was five games better than the East's worst record. Only three East teams had winning records against the West: Boston, Detroit and Cleveland, but 10 West teams had winning records against the East. And, most definitively, the East sucked head-to-head against the West this year, going 192-258. That's a winning percentage of just .427.

Seriously people. Rumors of the West's decline have been greatly exaggerated.

I'm out like Tiger Woods.

Remembering Tim Russert

We lost another journalistic legend late last week, when Tim Russert collapsed at NBC's Washington bureau.

You only need to look as far as CNN, ABC, NBC, etc. to appreciate how huge he was: those networks broke their own news coverage plans and devoted several hours to a man from the competition. That alone tells you he was the best and most respected political newsman of his time. Personally, I followed him closely...I own and have read his first book, and when I was in DC last year, and I got off the bus outside St. Albans School (by the National Cathedral, where his son Luke went), I felt more awestruck than when I was on the National Mall. I was a great admirer.

The worst part of this, aside from the tremendous void among his family, friends and colleagues, is that the American people won't have the benefit of his letter-perfect analysis, opinion and coverage of the 2008 election and beyond. We would have been a better-equipped public with him at the desk.

Rest in peace, Tim.

The Weekend (My First Father's Day Edition)

What a weekend, for so many reasons...

--Yes, yesterday was my first Father's Day. I didn't think it would be a big deal, but it really was a special day. I took TLSA to the park, and we played on the swing. We watched the ducks at the pond. I took him with me to get my dad his gift, and his face lit up in wonderment when he entered a Best Buy store for the first time in his young life. And then he reached out and grabbed a Zeppelin CD...already he knows good music when he sees it. The beer was cold and tasty, and my home-grilled steak was perfect, as was the day of sports on TV. A round of golf may have topped the day off, but it was pretty darn good as it was. And the best part: it started all over again this morning, when my son woke up and I got him from his crib. As Bill Walton so sappily said on the NBA telecast last night, every day truly is Father's Day.

--My 10-year high school reunion was Friday and Saturday night, and I have to say that it was way better than expected. There were a few of the so-called "popular" people from my class that sort of kept to themselves, but for the most part everyone mixed very well. Several people I never talked to came up to me and said hello, and it was so fun to catch up and see how everyone was doing. I think it's a real credit to the Lakeville High School Class of 1998 that we all mixed so well. After all, we're truly all on the same team...good to see we acted like it. It didn't hurt either that I got a lot of oohs, ahhs and wows from everyone when they saw me!

--Tiger Woods. Can you even believe this guy? I think this was the weekend that he proved definitively that he's the best ever, regardless of whether or not he wins or loses the playoff today. Can you imagine playing 72 holes on a still-weak left knee, no less shooting 1-under at the US Open? Can you imagine sinking a 12-footer with your back up against the wall on hole 72? Can you imagine shooting 30 on Friday and two eagles on Saturday on the back nine - and that doesn't even account for the one-hop plop shot on 17? It was nothing short of a legendary performance, one we'll tell our grandkids about someday.

I know a lot of people that root for Tiger simply because they want to be on the side of the winning guy. That's boring. I watch him closely because I think he's the most unique talent in sports today, and I can't wait to see what he'll do next. I'll admit: when the putt fell yesterday, I did a fist-pump, Tiger style.

I'm out like Lee Westwood.

The NBA

Hey, congrats out there to the Bloomington Jefferson baseball team, who will play in the state championship game this afternoon at Midway Stadium. They've had a remarkable run, and having covered several kids on the team in other sports, I personally think they've got what it takes to win one more. Good luck today.

On the NBA, I must come out and say that I'm nowhere near as big a NBA fan as I used to be. The game, in my opinion, has become too much of a me-first game where ballhogs jack up fadeaway 3-pointers instead of setting screens and executing bounce passes. Plus, the integrity of the game is in serious question (can I get just one traveling call some year?). That said, I always enjoy this time of year because it always seems that the best TEAMS get to the Finals. Basketball is a team game, not an individual game, and I think the game is at its best when you have 10 capable players on a court giving their all for 48 minutes. That's what you get to see this time of year.

I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist (yet), given all the Donaghy discussion, but try this one on: whenever a team gets a big lead in a game, at any time in the game, they never seem to hold it. They may not lose the game, but they never seem to be able to preserve their lead throughout. It happened to the Celtics in Game 2, and it happened to the Lakers last night. Call it poor floor leadership or coaching, or just the human let-up response that occurs when you get up by 20 points. But I find it slightly amusing that when I see a team get up by 20, I can count on the losing squad being in the ballgame in the last four minutes. Of course, TV executives don't want to see prolonged blowouts...then people tune out later in the game. They want to see tight, memorable finishes. They want to see the blowups and emotion when a team loses a huge lead and when a team comes back from the brink. It just never fails...and to me, it's very interesting that this happens much more regularly than one would think it would.

That's all for now. I'm out like the Minnesota Lynx's streak of relevance.

Local Sports Marketing Trends

A couple of the latest sports marketing trends making waves in the Twin Cities area:

--A few Sundays ago, the St. Paul Saints did a promotion where they gave "bobblefoot dolls" away to the first few thousand fans. Instead of a bobblehead, they spoofed the Larry Craig sex solicitation incident at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, making the leg underneath the bathroom stall divider shake. This was met by scores of people who said it was over the top and in bad taste. To those people, I just want to say: get a life, and a sense of humor. The Saints are known for over-the-top, irreverent promotions that completely entertain and satisfy their core fan base, and this fits right in with what they've done all along. The same people that complained about this are not the ones most likely to sit outside for 3-6 hours on a rainy day and watch a minor-league baseball game. Not only do I believe this was a brilliant promotion, and extremely funny, but it's more evidence that the Saints know their audience, and they continue to deliver the goods. And just guess how many tickets they sold that day.

--The Minnesota Twins recently had two games in which they sold upper-deck seats along with all-you-can-eat concession coupons. These, apparently, were such huge successes that they are expanding the promotion to six more home games still this year - a rarity in the business today.

I'm not sure what it says about our society that people want to stuff themselves silly at a ballgame, or spend the majority of the game waiting in line where they can't see the game in the Metrodome's pathetically terrible concourses. Personally, when I go to a game, I actually like to sit in my seat and watch the game. But you have to tip your cap again to the Twins marketing team, the same folks who brought the bobblehead craze back to the sporting world several years ago. They've come up with another brilliant way of making their product relevant to the masses and creating an "enjoyable" game-day experience. And it's helping them making the best of a bad situation with the Metrodome and the 2008 edition of the team.

I dare you to find another sports market in this country with the top-to-bottom quality of team marketing and promotions that we have in the Twin Cities. You just don't hear of intelligent stuff like this happening in other places; on the flip side, for example, we heard all about the "19-0" plans made in Boston...we all know how well that worked out for the Patriots.

I'm out like Juan Rincon.

TSA's Weekend

So, a few thoughts from the weekend that was:

--In a weird sort of way, I'm glad Big Brown didn't win the Belmont. I'm not sure I could have listened to his cocky trainer gloat about him if he did. And you can just imagine the UPS ads that thankfully won't be airing now. Anyone else think the trainer is acting like a sore loser? No press interviews or anything? No doubt the Donald isn't happy about it...yes, the trainer wore a Trump cap in the stands - you would have seen it shortly before post time. I'm sure Trump paid for that privilege...and he can't be pleased that his horse came in last.

--Wow, is Rafael Nadal good or what? That was one amazing display of tennis against Federer.
Like you, I tuned in for a classic and ended up watching a rout of historic proportions. There's no doubt Federer is suffering (let's keep it in perspective, people...he's still #1 in the world) through his worst year in recent memory, but he's still the man to beat at Wimbledon. There's no doubt though about this: Federer/Nadal is the most intriguing thing to happen to men's tennis since Sampras/Agassi.

--Celtics/Lakers...ho hum. It was impressive how the Celts built their big lead in Game 2, but even more impressive how they managed to let the Lakers back into the game late. Wow, what a letdown in leadership by Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce...they got the win, but they may have awoken a sleeping giant.

Best sports you're not watching: the NCAA baseball super-regionals. Those kids sure are playing some entertaining baseball...there have been more plot twists than a I highly recommend you catch the remaining game today and then the College World Series starting Saturday.

I'm out like the Twins pitching staff.

A Broadcasting Legend Passes

I was saddened to hear the news of Jim McKay's passing today. As a sports broadcaster myself, I feel he's one of the few that I'd tell an up-and-comer to strive to be like - he always seemed to have the right words at the right time, but he never tried too hard to have them at the ready...he just told it like it was. He let the sports do the talking, not his ego. He told not just the bad stories, but the good and inspirational ones too. And off the air, he was as good a man (from the stories I'm reading) as there was. It's no coincidence the greatest of today (Costas and Michaels) called him a mentor and friend.

May Jim rest in peace.

Seasons Ending

I've been getting some comments recently from loyal TSA readers encouraging me to drop in some of my expert perspective on public relations/marketing (my career) and its intersection with sports. I'll get to work on this, and fold it in as I can.

As a first foray into this realm, if you haven't yet seen Bob Costas' recent 90-minute special on HBO about sports and the media, you are missing out. The hottest issues in sports and media today (social media/bloggers, fantasy sports, talk radio, etc.) get a thorough look in this show, and the panel discussions are riveting beyond imagination. It was easily the best 90 minutes of TV I watched in the month of May, and that includes the season finale of The Office. Check it out: http://www.hbo.com/costasnow/

On other matters, next week will be one of the more depressing weeks of the year. The NHL is over for the year (congrats, Red Wings), and high school sports are wrapping up with state tournaments this week. The NBA Finals and Twins are going, but not much else. That means, of course, that the volume of reading material in the local sports section will drop considerably by next week. I love reading about the Twins as much as anyone, but it will be three more months until football season pulls us out of this funk. The countdown is on.

Speaking of endings, there was a high school tennis match this morning between rivals Wyatt McCoy of Mounds View and Michael Sicora of Buffalo in the state semifinals. These guys have played each other hard at state the last few years, and the winner eventually won the state title. So their final match in their storied high school careers...started at 8 a.m. today. Seriously, what a buzzkill. By the time I read the paper, the match was already underway, and that's one I might have driven the half-hour to the U of M to watch. Who schedules these things anyways...

And the oddest thing I've seen in a long time: Kevin Slowey, pinch-running for Mike Redmond?

That's all for now. I'm out like 2007 Rallykiller Nick Punto.

Rallykiller, Introducing The Little Sports Ace

Wow, what a hockey game last night. I might be one of the few that stayed up to the end...Fleury was amazing in goal, and how about the Penguins tying it with less than a minute in regulation! The Red Wings reminded me a bit of the 1998 Vikings...so close to winning, yet so far. They'll either bounce back strong and dominate Game 6, or they'll get blown out. Hard to say what their emotions will do, but if I had to pick it, I say Detroit bounces back in a big way, takes Game 6 4-1 and wins the Cup.

No doubt some of you are familiar with my concept of Rallykiller. I love my Twins, but there's always one regular player whose performance seems consistently less than stellar...grounding into double plays in key spots, failing to take extra bases, etc. So I bestow the unfortunate honor of "Rallykiller" to those people. A Rallykiller can earn their way out of the title, if they play well, but they generally hold the title for a while...Nick Punto, Luis Rivas, etc. are former Rallykillers. Thus far this season, Mike Lamb held the title for a while, but Delmon Young took it over in early May.

The Twins and Yankees played a remarkable game last night, and Delmon Young did have three RBI doubles. That, along with Cuddy and Mauer's first homer, are promising signs. But, just for a minute, let's focus on Young's misplay in the 8th. On that double, it seemed he could have tried to stretch it into a triple. Instead, he stayed at second and was caught stealing in the next at-bat by Brendan Harris. The Twins won by one anyway, but Harris' at-bat would have scored Young if he were on third and produced a key insurance run. Delmon, despite showing signs of improvement, still appears a bit timid out there...unwilling or afraid to swing for the fences and do the little things to help the team win. In honor of his 8th inning, Young still, at least for a little while longer, is hereby dubbed Rallykiller.

If you didn't know, I am the proud father of a happy, healthy little boy. The Little Sports Ace (TLSA), as I'll call him herein going forward, turned 9 months old on Sunday and had his latest physical yesterday. 21 pounds, 9 ounces (74th percentile) and just under 30 inches long (94th percentile). He's getting to be a big, strong kid...right on schedule to being a first-overall draft pick someday. (Not seriously of course...I won't put any pressure on him to play sports. But, if it makes him happy, what dad wouldn't like to see his son earn a scholarship and play in the big leagues!)

I'm out like Boof Bonser.

My Own Welcome Back

Well, hello everyone...

Now that I've been laid off from my last job, I find myself with just a bit of extra time. So I figured I might re-visit my contribution to the online world and weigh in.

First thing's first: I hope Nick Blackburn is all right. What a shot he took yesterday...

Is anyone else excited about the Vikings' chances for 2008-09?

This just in: the Timberwolves still suck.

And I hope Doug Risebrough doesn't go off signing goons anytime soon, like he did with Chris Simon. That one really worked out for the Wild.

The coming Chanhassen High School has been placed in the Lake Conference, giving the league 12 schools starting in the fall of 2009. I think that's great, as the league has had an odd number of teams for years now. Next, the Lake needs to form two six-team divisions and get rid of that annoying rotating schedule it uses in just about every sport.

And I really don't have much sympathy for the Classic Lake Conference. Yes, it would be good if it had more than five teams, but there's got to be a reason why schools have left them in the past and no one will join them now. Personally, I think they should go after schools like Maple Grove, Shakopee, Prior Lake and Holy Angels. Wouldn't you love to see Edina and Holy Angels play at least two hockey games every season? Sign me up.

Also, I need to publicly apologize to Star Tribune preps reporter Jim Paulsen for a rant I put on him last fall, after a playoff football game. Jim, and the rest of the team there, you do a fabulous job, and it's a primary reason I subscribe to your paper and not the other one in town (despite the fact my wife works at the other one). Keep it up.

I'm out like Flip Saunders.